Outside the main hall, Ji Zining looked at Ji Chenkong and Chen Qingqian as they walked toward her.
After giving them a gentle smile, Ji Zining turned her gaze to the sky.
The already dark night sky was now covered by even darker clouds.
The clouds stretched over a vast expanse, enveloping every region within a thousand miles.
Inside the deep-black tribulation clouds, streaks of purple tribulation lightning rolled, each carrying a terrifying presence.
As Ji Zining watched the tribulation lightning, she felt as though it had locked onto her.
So this is the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation?
It does look like it has some power. Any single bolt of tribulation lightning seems capable of killing a Golden Core Realm cultivator.
But if this is all it takes to stop me from breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, it's nowhere near enough!
Ji Zining looked away and tentatively raised her foot, stepping into the air.
"Thump!"
Though she had clearly stepped on air, a faint sound rang out, accompanied by ripples spreading in every direction.
A glimmer of wonder appeared in Ji Zining's eyes.
She felt as though the gravity between heaven and earth no longer affected her.
She only had to channel a little spiritual power into her feet to step directly on air!
Without further hesitation, Ji Zining stepped out with her other foot and quickly walked up toward the sky.
At last, Ji Zining reached the heavens, beneath the tribulation clouds.
Looking down at the buildings, now the size of broad beans, Ji Zining felt an indescribable thrill.
Without relying on any tools, she had managed to fly!
So this is cultivation?
"Rumble!"
A terrifying sound rang out, interrupting Ji Zining's savoring of the moment.
She raised her head and saw purple tribulation lightning covering everything as far as the eye could see!
The first bolt of tribulation lightning had descended!
At this sight, the expressions of all the cultivators in Flowing Moon City hardened in unison.
The very first bolt of tribulation lightning was enough to make them feel the threat of death!
This Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation for the Golden Core Realm was abnormal! Far too abnormal!
There was no shortage of Golden Core Realm cultivators among them, but when they recalled their own tribulations, the lightning had been nowhere near this terrifying.
They even felt that this first bolt of tribulation lightning was more frightening than the last bolt they had faced during their own tribulations!
Was Eldest Princess Ji Zining's cultivation talent truly that terrifying?
As everyone knew, the deeper one's talent and foundation, the more terrifying the tribulation lightning and the wider the area covered by the tribulation clouds.
An ordinary Golden Core Realm cultivator's Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation covered only ten miles. For those with better talent, it would cover several dozen miles, or a hundred miles.
They had never heard of or seen one that covered a thousand miles!
Inside the imperial palace.
Chen Qingqian clutched Ji Chenkong's hand, her face tense.
"Husband, Ning'er didn't prepare anything for her tribulation. She won't come to harm, will she?"
Ji Chenkong patted Chen Qingqian's hand and shook his head slightly.
"You don't need to worry about Ning'er's strength. Although she only just started cultivating, I have a feeling."
"As she is now, she can fight a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator!"
She can fight a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator!
Chen Qingqian's delicate body trembled.
Ning'er has only just broken through to the Golden Core Realm First Layer, yet she can fight a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator? Is that possible?
But she knew very well that her husband would not make things up. That meant her Ning'er was already stronger than she was!
After cultivating for one day, Ning'er had surpassed her Golden Core Realm Peak cultivation and combat strength.
This...
High in the sky.
Ji Zining watched the tribulation lightning descend toward her, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
The next instant, streams of white spiritual power, tinged with wisps of immortal spirit Qi, flew out of Ji Zining's body.
The white spiritual power then condensed into a longsword and slashed heavily at the tribulation lightning overhead!
Ji Zining had not yet had time to learn any Divine Abilities or spiritual techniques, but all those cultivation novels she had read had not been for nothing.
She knew exactly how to use spiritual power and how to fight with it!
"Clang!"
Amid the sword's ringing cry, a white Sword-Ray shot from the longsword.
The Sword-Ray bared its sharp edge and sliced straight through the middle of the tribulation lightning.
"Sizzle!"
The pillar of tribulation lightning was split in two, the halves streaking past either side of Ji Zining.
The purple lightning scattered in every direction without causing Ji Zining the slightest injury.
Watching it all, Ji Zining willed the longsword of spiritual power into her hand.
She raised her head and beckoned to the tribulation clouds overhead with her free hand.
"Come on, keep going!"
Her voice echoed through Flowing Moon City, leaving the cultivators watching in utter shock.
She had cut through such terrifying tribulation lightning with a single sword strike?
Was she really only at the Golden Core Realm First Layer, having just broken through?!
"Rumble!"
As though the tribulation clouds had sensed Ji Zining's provocation, the purple tribulation lightning within them rolled ceaselessly.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The next second, three bolts of tribulation lightning descended in succession, bearing down on Ji Zining with unparalleled might.
At the sight, Ji Zining was delighted rather than alarmed. She stepped on the air and charged toward the tribulation lightning.
"Come on!"
"Clang!"
She swung the longsword in her hand, and its ringing cry rose again, sending out streak after streak of sharp Sword Qi.
Ji Zining struck the tribulation lightning again and again, cleaving it into fine strands of lightning.
As she watched the lightning vanish into the air, a trace of regret appeared in Ji Zining's eyes.
If she had a body cultivation method, she could use this lightning to temper her body and improve her physical combat strength.
I wonder if I can get a body Cultivation Method from my next sign-in?
Ji Zining shook her head, gathered her focus, and concentrated on facing the tribulation lightning.
"Rumble!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"..."
"Clang!"
"..."
Tribulation lightning rolled, and the sounds of its descent and the sword's ringing cry echoed incessantly through the skies above Flowing Moon City.
Every cultivator in Flowing Moon City stared blankly at Ji Zining as she underwent her tribulation overhead.
In the depths of their hearts, they all asked themselves: Is this really the Golden Core Realm First Layer?
Why does it feel as though the power of each sword strike is more terrifying than that of the Golden Core Realm Peak?!
"Clang!"
With one final ringing cry of the sword, the twenty-seventh bolt of tribulation lightning was cut down as well.
Ji Zining dispersed the longsword of spiritual power in her hand and looked up at the tribulation clouds, which no longer held any tribulation lightning. She smiled gently.
"The Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, is that all?"