The Three-Revolutions Golden Core could bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bare bones.
Repairing a mere Dao Foundation was child's play.
But how could such a heaven-defying pill possibly come without tribulation?
Li Yang naturally understood this. However, the reason the Shelter Grotto-Heaven had "Shelter" in its name was that it could conceal the secrets of heaven.
"Time can't be wasted. Otherwise, Heaven's will might misjudge things, and we'll end up under its watch completely."
This was a program set by Heaven's will. As soon as a Golden Pill was born, the energy of its new life would draw down a Thunder Tribulation. If too much time passed, the tribulation would naturally determine whether the secrets of heaven were concealed. By then, Heaven's will would descend.
That Madman might even turn his gaze this way.
Li Yang wasn't sure whether that person had his eye on him, but the Thunder Tribulation hadn't appeared inside the Cavern Heaven, so he figured that gaze wasn't focused on him.
So he needed to emerge from seclusion as soon as possible and bring the Golden Pill into the world.
But the question was, if the Golden Pill survived the Thunder Tribulation and his master used it to restore his foundation and successfully transcended his tribulation, would that be judged as interfering with the great trends of heaven and earth, drawing their attention?
"Who cares? I'm doing it!"
Some things could be done, and some things couldn't. Back then, he'd been a starving little beggar at a thatched shrine outside the city. His master had brought him to the Immortal Crossing Sect; otherwise, he'd have died long ago.
If he had to risk his life for his master, what was there to fear?
Having made up his mind, Li Yang quietly switched places with his avatar in the alchemy room, and the Three-Revolutions Golden Core appeared in the furnace.
Boom!
The lid of the furnace was blown open, and a streak of golden light shot skyward, only to be stopped by the Composite Grand Array he'd set up.
Even so, the Thunder Tribulation locked onto it, and a Tribulation Cloud began gathering above the alchemy room.
"What's going on?"
The sudden change alarmed the other three people on Lesser Qiong Peak, especially Old Daoist Qi Yuan, who felt his heart leap into his throat.
The Tribulation Cloud drifted past, nearly triggering his own Thunder Tribulation.
If it had been triggered, the two tribulations combined would have meant certain death for him.
Forcefully suppressing his aura, Old Daoist Qi Yuan rushed out of the Thatched Cottage, only to find Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e staring at the alchemy room nearby with their mouths hanging open.
"Changshou, Ling'e, do you know what's going on?"
The two looked at Old Daoist Qi Yuan. Li Changshou shook his head. "Master, I don't know."
Lan Ling'e seemed to have an idea, though she wasn't certain. "Maybe Senior Brother refined some kind of Immortal Pill."
She knew very well that Li Yang had been refining Immortal Pills. With the Thunder Tribulation hanging over the alchemy room, it didn't take much to guess what was happening.
She just didn't know what kind of Immortal Pill Senior Brother had refined to possess such power.
Unlike Li Changshou, who kept everything under wraps, Li Yang hadn't concealed much of his talent for alchemy. His guiding principle was to apply one generation's work, conceal the next, research the one after that, and conduct preliminary research for the generation beyond.
Because he'd made ample preparations, the current situation didn't arouse Old Daoist Qi Yuan's suspicion.
In his view, his second disciple simply had that kind of talent.
"To refine an Immortal Pill that requires Heaven's scrutiny, Xiao Yang's talent for alchemy may well surpass his talent for cultivation."
Li Yang didn't know what Old Daoist Qi Yuan was thinking. Right now, he was worried about the Three-Revolutions Golden Core.
He didn't know whether it could survive the Thunder Tribulation.
Crack!
As he worried, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky and struck the Golden Pill, blazing with dazzling light.
"The first bolt. It's fine!"
Li Yang could clearly feel a lightning pattern appear on the Golden Pill. Its medicinal properties had also been tempered. It was a good sign.
Crack!
Without much buildup, the second bolt of lightning came down as well.
In an instant, sparks flew from the Golden Pill. The terrifying bolt crashed against it like lightning striking metal.
"The second lightning pattern. The Golden Pill has shrunk a little, but its quality has improved considerably."
The third Thunder Tribulation was the final one. After brewing for several breaths, it crashed down.
Boom!
Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the alchemy room. The furnace was blasted apart, and the scattered lightning fluid sent the entire room collapsing in flames. Even Li Yang's Three-Revolution Immortal Body felt a tingling numbness.
But Li Yang paid none of that any mind. His gaze remained fixed on the Golden Pill.
"It's formed three lightning patterns, and its spiritual nature is taking shape."
Li Yang keenly sensed the spiritual nature brewing within the Golden Pill. He hurriedly formed a hand seal, and a Jade Gourd flew out, poised to act.
Just then, a beam of divine light suddenly fell from the Tribulation Cloud and enveloped the Golden Pill. When the light faded, the Golden Pill turned into a streak of golden light and fled into the distance.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Li Yang had been watching it closely. How could he let it escape? The Jade Gourd generated a strange force of suction, then spat out a beam of white light that wrapped around the Golden Pill and swept it back.
The Jade Gourd landed in Li Yang's hand. He gave it a gentle shake, and a smile appeared on his face.
"It really worked!"
"Xiao Yang, are you all right?"
After the Tribulation Cloud dispersed, Old Daoist Qi Yuan and the other two hurried over to the alchemy room. They didn't dare cast spells to put out the fire or clear away the collapsed ruins. Instead, they called out loudly.
Hearing his master's voice, Li Yang flew straight out of the flames.
"Master, I'm fine!"
Li Yang came before his master, his face alight with excitement. He held out the Jade Gourd as if presenting a treasure.
"Master, look! I refined an Immortal Pill. Try it. It might restore your Dao Foundation."
Looking at Li Yang's face, sooty and smoke-blackened, yet grinning to reveal two rows of white teeth, Old Daoist Qi Yuan felt a lump in his throat and a sting in his nose.
This silly little disciple! Why was he so foolish?!
Did he think Old Daoist Qi Yuan didn't know how difficult this Immortal Pill was to refine?
"You little brat! Do you know how close you came to scaring me to death?"
A surge of anger rose in Old Daoist Qi Yuan's heart. That brat had been completely reckless with his own life. He was only at the Void Refining Stage, yet he'd refined an Immortal Pill and drawn down a Threefold Thunder Tribulation. How dangerous was that?
Was he not afraid of dying?
"Heh, Master, nothing happened!"
Li Yang nimbly dodged Old Daoist Qi Yuan's Dust Whisk, grinning ingratiatingly as he brought the Jade Gourd closer.
"Master, give it a try. See if it can repair your Dao Foundation."
Old Daoist Qi Yuan knew his own condition. How could a mere Immortal Pill restore his Dao Foundation? If it could, his foundation wouldn't have been so badly damaged.
Still, it was his disciple's kind intentions, so he accepted the pill and swallowed it right in front of Li Yang.
Li Yang knew his master hadn't given it a second thought. He'd only done it to reassure him, but his master was in for a surprise.
Sure enough, as the Golden Pill went down, Qi Yuan immediately felt its surging medicinal power. His expression changed, and he hurriedly sat down to meditate and absorb the vast energy.
"Junior Brother, is this..."
Li Changshou was anxious, but Li Yang raised a finger to his lips and gestured for silence. Then he sent a voice transmission: "This is a Three-Revolutions Golden Core. It can restore Master's Dao Foundation."
Li Changshou's eyes widened. He'd heard of this thing countless times. It was an elixir of the Grand Pure Sage. How had Junior Brother managed to refine it?
Then he looked at his master. His aura was constantly changing, gradually growing steadier. It was clear that his Dao Foundation was indeed being repaired.
"Let's protect Master while he meditates!"
The three formed a triangle and cautiously stood guard over Old Daoist Qi Yuan.
Three days later, Old Daoist Qi Yuan had completely absorbed the Golden Pill's medicinal power, and the aura around him grew ever deeper. The moment he opened his eyes, before he could rejoice over his repaired Dao Foundation, he sensed that majestic might of heaven.
"My Heavenly Tribulation is really coming!"
Before you continue