Losing

Boom! Boom! Boom…

Streaks of heavenly lightning struck the sect-protecting formation, the booming sounds chilling all the disciples. Before the rolling thunderclouds, the Xuanling Sect seemed to shrink into insignificance.

Chang Tianyou stared grimly at the heavenly might. He turned to an elder beside him and asked, "Which disciple of our sect is undergoing tribulation?"

A Golden Core Realm expert was like a weapon of mass destruction to a sect. Adding another Golden Core Realm expert would elevate the Xuanling Sect's status even further.

"I'm not sure. I can't sense it at all, but I've already ordered disciples to inquire," the elder replied, shaking his head.

The Xuanling Sect encompassed numerous mountain ranges. If someone wanted to hide, it would be difficult to find them unless they investigated based on the flow of spiritual qi.

However, Qin Jun was currently inheriting a cultivation technique. The Qi Refining Art was suppressed, so he wasn't automatically absorbing spiritual qi. Furthermore, the heavenly tribulation was blocked by the sect-protecting formation. No one would associate such a tribulation with Qin Jun, a mere cultivator at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"It's either Senior Sister Zhong or Senior Brother Zhuo. That's great, our Xuanling Sect will have another Golden Core Realm expert!" Chang Qianqian exclaimed, clapping her hands.

Beside her, Chang Hao gazed at the rolling thunderclouds in the night sky, a hint of envy in his eyes. Although his talent was exceptional, it still paled in comparison to Senior Sister Zhong and Zhuo Junjie. Chang Tianyou's expectation for him was to break through to the Golden Core Realm before the age of fifty, which put immense pressure on him.

Meanwhile, on another mountain peak, halfway up the slope, in front of a wooden house, a man in black stood in the garden, gazing up at the heavenly tribulation. His face was stern, and a light stubble graced his chin, adding to his masculine charm. He was Zhuo Junjie, the Xuanling Sect's top genius.

He was thirty-four years old this year, and his cultivation had reached the Grand Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Realm, yet he remained just a step away from the Golden Core Realm.

"Zhong Ling, I didn't expect I'd still lose to you," Zhuo Junjie muttered with a wry smile.

On the other side, by a small river, a woman in white sat in meditation on a large rock. Moonlight bathed her face, revealing a delicate countenance etched with shock and disappointment.

She was the top female disciple genius of the Xuanling Sect, Zhong Ling.

Her age and strength were similar to Zhuo Junjie's, and they regarded each other as rivals. For over twenty years since they joined the Xuanling Sect, they had left disciples of the same cohort far behind, with only each other to push them.

"Zhuo Junjie, I've truly been defeated by you this time…" Zhong Ling murmured bitterly.

Both geniuses believed the other was the one breaking through to the Golden Core Realm and causing the heavenly tribulation. It wasn't just them; even the other disciples shared this thought.

Meanwhile, the culprit, Qin Jun, was still immersed in the skill inheritance of the Purple Rainbow Lightning Method.

"Tsk, no wonder the Young Master came to the Xuanling Sect," Howling Celestial Dog marveled, looking at the heavenly tribulation.

The Spirit Stones consumed by the Xuanling Sect to activate the sect-protecting formation were undoubtedly immense. If Chang Tianyou knew the truth, he would surely want to kill Qin Jun.

What are Spirit Stones?

Spirit Stones are condensed spiritual qi from heaven and earth, serving as universal currency among cultivators. They can be used not only for cultivation but also to power formations.

The heavenly tribulation's power was immense. The Spirit Stones required to block it were immeasurable. However, for the birth of a Golden Core Realm expert, Chang Tianyou felt it was worth it!

"I wonder if the Xuanling Sect will cause trouble for the Young Master?" Daji chuckled charmingly. Since meeting Qin Jun, she had witnessed his progress, which was nothing short of divine speed. Now that he had comprehended divine abilities, such a Lord would surely stir up immense waves in the world.

Howling Celestial Dog scoffed from the ground, "The strongest in this small sect is merely at the Mortal Transformation Realm, and there's only one. If they dare to be presumptuous, I'll destroy their entire sect!"

As a Demon King, Howling Celestial Dog's temper was only gentle towards Qin Jun.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Jun's consciousness slowly returned.

He opened his eyes, and faint electric sparks flickered within them. He let out a long breath, his face filled with satisfaction.

The Purple Rainbow Lightning Method was indeed a top-grade Heaven Grade cultivation technique. As a lightning-attribute technique, its destructive power was the strongest among all attributes. Its mental cultivation realm was divided into six layers, with each layer granting a spell.

The spell associated with the first layer was Palm Thunder. As the name suggested, it condensed lightning in the palm, which could be unleashed upon an enemy with immense lethality.

With each breakthrough in the mental cultivation realm, the Qi absorption speed would double. The first layer alone was comparable to twenty times the Qi absorption speed of the Qi Refining Art!

"System, show me my current stats!"

Qin Jun suppressed his excitement as he spoke in his mind. As soon as he finished, a semi-transparent attribute template appeared before him:

Host: Qin Jun!
Race: Human!
Level: Foundation Establishment Realm Fifth Level (4210/5000 Experience Points)!
Bloodline: None!
Divine Abilities: Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits Transformations!
Cultivation Techniques: Purple Rainbow Lightning Method (Heaven Grade Upper Rank)! Qi Refining Art (Mortal Grade Middle Rank)!
Summoned Gods and Demons: Daji! Howling Celestial Dog!

He was very close to leveling up again. Especially looking at the Divine Abilities section, he couldn't help but grin.

Having learned the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits Transformations, he was already like a half-baked immortal. Flying through clouds, turning stone into gold, expanding and shrinking his body—all were within his capabilities. He could even alter fate, though it was akin to Zhuge Liang lighting a lamp to extend his life, with a low chance of success, making it rather useless.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits Transformations encompassed numerous divine abilities. It would take a normal person a lifetime to master even half of them. However, with the Mythological System, Qin Jun directly achieved complete mastery. But executing them was difficult. Not only would he be exhausted after using at most two divine abilities in a short period, but many of the major divine abilities were beyond his reach due to his low realm and insufficient spiritual power.

Still, he was quite content.

Thinking of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Transformations, his heart burned even hotter.

The Seventy-Two Transformations didn't mean only seventy-two forms; it implied myriad changes. The Monkey King's seventy-two transformations in Journey to the West left an impression of mere shapeshifting, but most readers overlooked the fact that the Monkey King could make monsters completely unaware of his presence when using his transformations. That was the truly impressive part!

He didn't believe the monsters and deities were foolish; it was likely that the Monkey King's seventy-two transformations could alter not only his appearance but also his aura!

However, the Seventy-Two Transformations were still too far off for him. Whether he could ever draw them was another question.

With that thought, Qin Jun didn't get up. He continued to sit cross-legged, absorbing qi and practicing according to the mental cultivation method of the Purple Rainbow Lightning Method. Due to the skill inheritance, he had directly learned the first layer of the mental cultivation. The methods for the remaining five layers were also firmly imprinted in his mind; breaking through was only a matter of time.

After waiting another half hour in the courtyard outside the door, Daji and the Howling Celestial Dog also returned to their rooms to rest. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one for many.

After the heavenly tribulation dissipated, Chang Tianyou excitedly instructed the elders to summon Zhuo Junjie and Zhong Ling to the Hall of Discussion.

Regardless of who broke through to the Golden Core Realm, it would be a great boon to the Xuanling Sect!

Zhuo Junjie and Zhong Ling soon arrived in the main hall. Chang Qianqian eagerly leaned in and asked, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, who among you broke through to the Golden Core Realm?"

Chang Hao looked at them with a dejected expression, while Chang Tianyou wore an excited look. The other officiating elders also gazed hopefully at Zhuo Junjie and Zhong Ling.

A twenty-hour bus ride, I'm going to die QAQ