Shang Lingshu and his close friends were all extremely surprised. Because they were familiar with Chen Shanji, they knew that although he had already reached the top level of the Golden Core stage, he would need at least twenty more years of accumulation to advance to the Nascent Soul stage. How could he have succeeded in one fell swoop today?
In fact, not only them, but even Chen Shanji himself was baffled. He respectfully asked, "Master, what is this...?"
"Shanji, you withstood the Southern Fire Tribulation with your own will and effort. After the tribulation, your merits increased by one level, thus you broke through the Core Formation and became a Nascent Soul," the Tianyi Sect Master explained.
"Wow..." Exclamations of surprise rang out from the square. Such a good thing had happened, and many people were now eager to try their luck.
The Sect Master of Tianyi Sect looked around and understood everything. He suddenly said, "That red ripple just now was the last aftershock of the Southern Fire Calamity. Its power was only one percent of the calamity itself."
As soon as he said that, the room fell silent. Those who had been eager to try secretly lowered their rolled-up sleeves and began to have second thoughts.
The aftershocks alone were already so powerful they were almost fatal. What if it were the actual Southern Fire Calamity? They couldn't help but shudder, their courage bursting like a punctured balloon, instantly vanishing without a trace.
"Shanji, you should return to your place first. If no one can survive the second tribulation, then this matter will be over. I will then offer sacrifices to our ancestors and inform True Man Bailu. This Qiankun Ring will then be yours."
"Yes, thank you, Master."
P.S.: It's past midnight, please vote.
My good friend wrote a novel called "Superpowered Masters on Campus," have you guys added it to your favorites? ^_^
Li Bin, an ordinary-looking, average-born college freshman with no special skills, unexpectedly obtains three special ability crystals—a memory crystal, a musical crystal, and a coordination crystal—during an accidental injury.
Reasonable wish fulfillment, gradually escalating the plot, close to real life, never going too far, featuring many beautiful women, each with their own personality...
Volume 3, Chapter 90: The Tribulation of the Five Elements (Part 1)
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The Sect Master of Tianyi sighed slightly and said, "Unfortunately, the person who could withstand the simultaneous unleashing of five tribulations is no longer in this world. You can only use the power of the Southern Fire within this Qiankun Ring. However, even though it is only one line of power, it is still extraordinary."
After Chen Shanji returned to his seat, the Tianyi Sect Master said loudly, "Continue."
This time, the vast majority of people chose to give up. If they hadn't experienced it firsthand, they might have still harbored some wishful thinking. But having tasted a trace of the lingering power of the Southern Fire Calamity, those who dared to step forward were extremely rare, practically nonexistent.
At least, without Chen Shanji's terrifying willpower, very few people would be willing to go up there and embarrass themselves.
Within a few hours, about ten people went up one after another. However, without exception, no one could survive the first ordeal, let alone the second.
Chen Shanji secretly felt lucky. His constitution was fire-based, and he often practiced in places with strong fire energy. Otherwise, he would not have survived this first tribulation.
Having survived this first ordeal, he had no strength left to continue...
Seeing that the crowd was sparse and no one was willing to step forward, the voice of the Tianyi Sect Master suddenly rang out: "Is there anyone else?"
The disciples looked at each other, but no one responded.
"Is anyone still here?" A second voice drifted over.
Zhang Yaqi was about to take a step when she felt a tightness in her wrist. Turning around, she saw Xiao Wenbing, who looked shaken and shook his head at her.
"That blow hurt too much; we don't need the Qiankun Ring anymore," Xiao Wenbing said softly.
Having clearly suffered before, he was filled with fear of this Southern Fire Calamity.
"Is... anyone... still here?" The Heavenly One Sect Master's voice was loud and somewhat grating. This was the third and final time he had asked this question.
The Sect Master of Tianyi Sect stood in mid-air, looking down at the square. After a long while, no one answered.
Of the five tribulations, those who can overcome even one are exceptionally strong-willed, one in ten thousand. His eldest disciple's performance already satisfied him greatly.
But as his gaze swept over the thousand-plus disciples... was he truly satisfied?
The Sect Master of Tianyi sighed inwardly, opened his mouth, and was about to announce the end of the treasure bestowal ceremony.
Suddenly, a weak, faint, and seemingly powerless voice quietly rose from the silent square:
"This disciple... is willing to give it a try."
Xiao Wenbing gazed at that clean and pretty face, his heart surging with emotions he could hardly contain.
However, Zhang Yaqi turned around and smiled, gently freeing herself from his hand, and gracefully walked away.
In her eyes, it was still the same persistence, the same unwavering dedication.
"That stubborn temper of his..." Xiao Wenbing scolded softly, but his eyes were already filled with a thin layer of tears.
※※※※
A female disciple at the early stage of Core Formation walked to the center of the square and stood before the Qiankun Circle, under the watchful eyes of a group of men.
Countless eyes were focused on her. Her face was flushed, but her hand firmly gripped the Qiankun Ring that countless people both loved and hated.
A faint red light appeared around her, as if a pen was constantly deepening that single color.
Within ten steps, everything was dominated by a vibrant red, so red that other colors were invisible, and human expressions were obscured.
Fire is associated with upward movement. In the Five Elements, the power of fire represents heat and upward movement.
However, the Southern Fire Calamity among the Five Elements Calamities is an unrestricted high temperature. The crimson color deepened continuously, and the temperature in the field kept rising.
Zhang Yaqi took a deep breath of the scorching air. Every inch of her skin felt like it was burning. Her blood had long since evaporated. Although her appearance remained unchanged, in her mind, she had become a dried corpse, a charred, dehydrated corpse.
Her vision was already blurred, and she was drenched in sweat. However, the last bead of sweat that had just seeped out was swallowed up by waves of fiery energy that burned deep into her bones.
The flames engulfed him, reducing his bones to ashes. The pain was unbearable.
Zhang Yaqi's body seemed to ripple slightly in the air, about to turn into a wisp of smoke and disappear.
Xiao Wenbing felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. He took a step forward, about to rush into the red light. However, a small, cold hand had already firmly grasped his wrist.
"open."
Feng Baiyi stretched out her other hand, and in that fair little hand was a golden talisman.
"A life-saving talisman? How come it's on you?"
"Zhang Yaqi asked me to pass this on to you. She wants me to say something to you."
"What?"
"This time, she wants to see how far she can go by relying on her own strength."
Xiao Wenbing's steps seemed to be imbued with immense force. Although Feng Baiyi had released her hand, Xiao Wenbing was unable to take that step no matter what.
No matter how slender the figure swayed precariously, that delicate little hand never let go. Finally, the red light dissipated and spread out, turning everything within ten steps into a yellowish-brown expanse.
Fire gives birth to earth; after being consumed by raging flames, the calamity of the Central Plains will ensue.
Soil is called "grain" and provides essential nutrients for all living things. However, at this moment, each grain of soil floating in the air is filled with a heavy killing intent.
Grain by grain, they coalesce into a mountain.
Looking up, Zhang Yaqi saw a majestic mountain gradually taking shape above her head in that earthy yellow landscape.
The immense pressure bound her body, and she watched helplessly as the mountain pressed down inch by inch towards her head.
Her face was filled with horror, but her eyes were unusually firm, and her small hand clenched even tighter.
Mount Tai pressing down, shattering one's body to pieces.
When that mountain truly pressed down on her, she could no longer breathe, could no longer think. In that moment, she felt as if she had turned into a lump of minced meat, leaving only a faint longing.
However, when the earthy yellow color faded, her slender waist remained perfectly straight, without the slightest bend.
Unyielding and indomitable, she would never bend even if Mount Tai were pressing down on her. Even now, she carried an immense weight on her shoulders.
Volume 3, Chapter 91: The Calamity of the Five Elements (Part Two)
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The outermost layer of red began to spread again, reaching within thirty paces of the center of the square.
A tiny white light suddenly appeared in front of Zhang Yaqi, just a tiny speck. Then, starlight began to twinkle continuously in the space.
Like a constantly changing neon light, it flashes layers of white light incessantly.
The earthy yellow color seemed to have been driven away, moving ten steps away.
Earth gives rise to metal, which in turn brings the calamity of the Western Metal.
Metal is associated with change and is the most destructive and destructive of the five elements.
The tiny specks of light were like sharp daggers, constantly stabbing in and out. Each flicker of light brought her excruciating pain.
To be torn to pieces, to suffer unbearable pain.
Zhang Yaqi gave a bitter smile, feeling each bit of flesh and blood leaving her body. Faced with this excruciating torture, she could no longer endure it. Her knees finally buckled, and she collapsed heavily to the ground.
Her hands had lost all strength and could no longer grip the Qiankun Ring tightly. But just as she was about to let go, she seemed to hear an aged voice: "Persistence, perseverance..."
She didn't know where the sound came from; it seemed to emanate from the Universe Ring, or it seemed to be a direct shout from the depths of her heart.
Persistence and perseverance are essential.
Suddenly, an unexpected, unquenchable flame ignited in her eyes, and her small, already powerless hands gripped the smooth ring tightly once more.
The number of white dots continued to increase, but Zhang Yaqi's body, which was sitting on the ground, stopped swaying. Her eyes were fixed on the Qiankun Ring in her hand, and her body was like an unchanging rock, completely still.
Countless bright spots shimmered with dazzling light in the space. However, in Zhang Yaqi's hand, a dark black spot appeared in the center of the Qiankun Ring.
It was like a black hole that could devour everything, and that little bit of blackness gradually began to expand.
Red, yellow, white... these three colors began their third outward diffusion.
Within ten steps of the Qiankun Circle, everything was plunged into darkness—an absolute realm of darkness.
Regardless of the color, a blurry figure could be seen, but at this moment, in that area dominated by black, nothing could be seen anymore, and no one knew what had happened. All they could do was wait, endlessly wait.