Unrivaled Martial Emperor

Chapter 395 - Golden Core Tribulation

Chen Fan was advancing to the Core Formation realm and everyone in the sect could sense it.

The immense medicinal energy of the Extreme Profound Elixir surged through Chen Fan, entangling, rubbing, and stirring his boundless primeval force. This energy ignited fiery flames that burst from his acupuncture points.

These flames filled the air, causing sparks and flashes of electricity to dance around him.

The powerful electric arcs resembled a dragon or a snake, swirling in the air and scorching the ground beneath Chen Fan.

Whoosh!

Simultaneously, a vast amount of primeval stones floated around him, forming a ring. A mass of pure primeval qi burst out, pouring into him, trying to ignite his primeval force and brewing up an earth-shaking explosion.

Had this explosion occurred, anyone in Chen Fan's position would likely have been instantly killed.

However, Chen Fan practiced the Heaven Seizing Art—an unrivaled divine technique that plundered the luck of heaven and earth to shape one's body and refine their blood and soul to unimaginable levels.

So, although his primeval force was burning, it did not produce a huge explosion.

Given Chen Fan’s current cultivation, triggering such an explosion was challenging. It required the primeval qi to reach an extreme point to trigger a chain reaction in his primeval force, ultimately summoning a tribulation of heaven and earth.

Cultivation was the act of going against the heavens—a life-threatening act. And that could attract catastrophic tribulations from the Heavenly Dao.

Below the Core Formation realm, the Heavenly Dao didn’t resonate with martial artists strongly. Thus, cultivating would be a smooth process without any major catastrophes.

However, reaching the Core Formation realm marked a qualitative shift. The primeval force inside a martial artist would metamorphose into true primeval energy—something strong enough for the Heavenly Dao to sense clearly.

Consequently, when an Illusory Core realm expert sought to ascend to the Core Formation realm, they would encounter their first tribulation from heaven and earth.

Successfully overcoming this trial would lead to the formation of their golden core, becoming a Core Formation realm expert.

Failure, however, would result in being consumed by the tribulation and dying.

All the inner sect disciples looked in the direction of Chen Fan’s residence. Their eyes flickered as they discussed among themselves.

“Such intense qi fluctuations. Heavens, Chen Fan's foundation must be exceptionally robust to trigger such a significant phenomenon. It’s unbelievable.”

“I know, right? With that kind of foundation, he'll undoubtedly be strong enough to overwhelm experts at the same cultivation level even as at the Core Formation realm.”

“But crossing this hurdle won't be easy. He will have to survive the tribulation first. The stronger Chen Fan's foundation, the more difficult his golden core tribulation will be, and the slimmer his chances of success.”

“You have a point, but he consumed the Extreme Profound Elixir, and he’s also Grand Elder Wei Buyu’s personal disciple. He’s probably given Chen Fan some treasure for passing the tribulation. I’m sure this hurdle wouldn’t stump him.”

“Let’s wait and see. We’ll know soon whether he can safely pass through his golden core tribulation.”

“......”

“Hmm, such powerful fluctuations... That kid has stirred up quite a commotion. Those fluctuations are much stronger than ours were; his foundations must be exceptionally deep.”

Several figures stood on a mountain top, looking into the distance at Chen Fan’s mountain.

These people’s auras were so powerful they could strike fear in others. They were the holy disciples of the Spring Autumn Sect, experts in the Core Formation realm.

The holy disciples discussed among themselves.

"It all hinges on whether he can safely navigate the golden core tribulation. Once he does, he will become a top expert at the first level of the Core Formation realm. Hoho, Ding Yi, and the other holy disciples at the first level will be under pressure.”

“Hehe, the pressure of being surpassed by a newly promoted holy disciple will be quite something.”

“Let alone Ding Yi and the others, the pressure is huge even on us. I heard some things about this Chen Fan. He’s a prodigy of the heavens. He came this far in a year and a half.”

“......”

Wei Buyu also sensed Chen Fan's aura during his tribulation. He shook his head in disbelief. “This kid... he’s already trying to advance? How reckless of him, to not even tell me about it in advance. I could have given you some treasure for passing through the tribulation...

“Well, if he survives the golden core tribulation without outside help, his strength will be even greater. Even his future will be even brighter than those who passed their tribulation by relying on treasures.”

......

Lightning shuttled through space densely. The area had seemingly become a perilous region where no living creatures could survive.

Due to Chen Fan’s robust foundations in the Yuanfu realm and his mastery of an unparalleled divine technique, the scale of his tribulation was equal to more than ten people advancing into the Core Formation simultaneously.

Menacing winds and clouds swirled in the skies above him.

From the void, dense, pitch-black clouds emerged, within which lightning dragons darted wildly, their crackling echoing ominously and sending shivers down people's spines.

“Look, Chen Fan’s golden core tribulation has appeared. The Extreme Lightning Universe Great Tribulation is unique to Core Formation realm experts. It targets the golden core condensed by the person undergoing the tribulation. It has a total of nine lightning forces. If one fails to withstand it, their golden core may shatter at best, or at worst, they could die.”

“Oh my god, what a terrifying tribulation aura. Those tribulation clouds likely span over a thousand meters wide."

“It’s more than that. Look, you guys, his tribulation clouds are still expanding. It’s too terrifying.”

“......”

Countless people witnessed a vast expanse of pitch-black tribulation clouds enveloping Chen Fan’s mountain peak. The terrifying lightning was like a bright light piercing through the dark universe, carrying a suffocating aura and flickering non-stop.

Chen Fan stood under the center of those tribulation clouds, targeted by the tribulation’s power. He could flee to the ends of the world, but there was no escaping the tribulation unless he stopped trying to advance to the next realm. That was the only way to make the grand tribulation dissipate.

He didn’t move, and his mind was completely immersed in the breakthrough, refining the medicinal efficacy of the Extreme Profound Elixir with all his might.

The illusory core within his dantian spun crazily, constantly crumbling and condensing, emitting strands of golden light.

The core formation, true to its name, involved the formation of a golden core within one's dantian. He was nearing the culmination of this process.

Once the entire illusory core disintegrated and reformed into a golden core, he would have successfully advanced into the Core Formation realm. Then, he would be considered a top-tier expert in the Great Chu Empire.

Thirty percent.

Fifty percent.

Seventy percent.

......

Inside his dantian, the illusory core buzzed intensely, drawing various energies from his limbs and bones, channeling them into itself. The process turned it into a “core nucleus.”

Wisps of golden light constantly shot out from the “core nucleus,” trying to bathe the entire dantian in a radiant golden hue.