Chapter 288: Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, the Dao Root Sprouts

Was the five-nine heavenly tribulation already this powerful?

"Boom…"

In that split second, nine massive heavenly lightning bolts descended from the dark void clouds onto Qiao Huizhu's head.

Qiao Huizhu likewise extended her supreme spiritual artifact.

Open…

The Ironwood Shield erupted open.

Yet, this time, it failed to block it.

The heavenly lightning struck once and pierced straight through the Ironwood Shield's defense.

Of course, the Ironwood Shield had consumed most of the lightning's energy, but what remained struck Qiao Huizhu and sent her spitting blood.

Boom…

Boom…

Yet even under these conditions, the dark clouds above showed no sign of fading.

They continued gathering lightning.

The sixth wave.

"Ice Origin Talisman…" He Pingsheng roared: "Ice Origin Talisman!"

The Ice Origin Talisman is a third-rank talisman.

The shield it activates will surely block the sixth wave of heavenly lightning.

But it must be activated in advance.

With Qiao Huizhu's current spiritual sense, she couldn't activate it successfully in less than ten breaths.

Fortunately, the sixth wave was still building.

"Open…"

A few breaths later, the third-rank Ice Origin Talisman was fully activated by Qiao Huizhu.

"Six-nine heavenly tribulation—what an extraordinary talent!" The Nascent Soul woman in the void gazed at the storm clouds and spoke calmly: "I recall the last six-nine heavenly tribulation in Hongshi City was one hundred and sixty-four years ago!"

The difference between five-nine and six-nine heavenly tribulations isn't merely one level.

It's worlds apart.

It's not about spiritual roots, nor talent.

It's about fortune.

It's about Heaven's favor.

Boom…

The heavenly tribulation fell like rain once more upon Qiao Huizhu's head.

But this time, protected by the third-rank Ice Origin Talisman, the blow was fully blocked.

Yet the talisman's glow dimmed slightly.

One-third of its energy had been depleted.

Yet what stunned everyone was that the dark clouds above showed no intention of dispersing.

They continued gathering lightning.

"Good heavens… seven-nine tribulation?"

The onlookers below all gaped with open mouths.

The three Nascent Souls in the void were stunned, their scalps prickling.

Seven-nine heavenly tribulation!

If one truly summoned a seven-nine tribulation, they were unquestionably an extraordinary being.

As long as they survived the killing tribulation, becoming a Soul Transformation cultivator—or even higher—was not impossible.

Open…

This time, without He Pingsheng's reminder, Qiao Huizhu immediately activated her second Ice Origin Talisman.

Two supreme Ice Origin talismans formed a combined defense.

Whether this could withstand the seventh heavenly lightning depended entirely on this moment.

…

"Brother, have you ever seen a seven-nine heavenly tribulation?" the Nascent Soul woman asked the Nascent Soul elder.

The elder shook his head: "I've heard of it, but never seen it…"

"Such a genius is truly peerless!"

"This is my first time!"

As he spoke, the elder looked upward again, murmuring: "Surely there won't be another…?"

"If it's eight-nine tribulation, then…"

Boom…

Before the elder finished speaking, a thunderclap split the void.

The dark clouds transformed into an inverted mountain, its peak crackling with lightning, as countless bolts coalesced again like spectral phantoms.

"Damn it!" The elder, who hadn't cursed in centuries, blurted out: "Eight-nine tribulation…"

"Good heavens! Eight-nine tribulation!"

"This is true peerless brilliance! In all of Hongshi City—not even all of Liang State—has such a prodigy appeared in eighteen thousand years!"

The elder, the middle-aged man, the woman!

All three Nascent Souls stared wide-eyed at Qiao Huizhu.

They all thought the same thing: as soon as she survived the tribulation, they would claim her as their disciple immediately.

To miss such a disciple would be to forfeit the greatest opportunity of a lifetime.

With a disciple like this, one could do nothing else for the rest of their life and still ascend to the highest heavens.

Boom…

Vast lightning transformed into a sea of thunder and crashed down upon Qiao Huizhu.

Qiao Huizhu wore the 【Seven-Clasp Sharp Metal Armor】, and two Ice Origin Talismans forming shields—but neither shield was at full strength, as both had absorbed the sixth and seventh waves of heavenly lightning.

In addition, Qiao Huizhu extended the 【Ironwood Shield】.

Four second-rank defensive talismans.

And a shield formed by a divine technique.

At this moment, she had maximized her defenses to their absolute limit.

He Pingsheng's heart rose to his throat.

He had prepared thoroughly—but good heavens, who could have foreseen an eight-nine tribulation?

He Pingsheng regretted it!

He regretted not preparing more defensive treasures.

If his wife perished under this eight-nine heavenly tribulation, it would be catastrophic!

Fortunately, the lightning sea vanished quickly.

Qiao Huizhu's figure reappeared.

Her face was pale, blood continuously spilling from her lips.

Blood stained her entire body.

But… she had endured it.

The storm clouds above dispersed.

A golden light suddenly descended from the highest heavens, settling upon Qiao Huizhu.

Bathed in the golden light, her body—moments ago torn and bleeding—began healing at a visible, rapid pace.

"Divine Creation Golden Light… it's Divine Creation Golden Light!"

"Good heavens! Everyone who receives Divine Creation Golden Light is no ordinary being!"

"Obviously! Would anyone ordinary survive an eight-nine tribulation?"

Divine Creation Golden Light is a special phenomenon.

He Pingsheng had previously learned of it through the 【True Cultivation Archives】: it is a golden light that only appears after surviving at least a six-nine tribulation.

This light isn't merely for healing the body—it can solidify the Dao Root.

Yes, the Dao Root.

Anyone who survives a six-nine heavenly tribulation immediately achieves Golden Core passage.

At this very moment, Qiao Huizhu had done so.

A few breaths later, the golden light fully sank into Qiao Huizhu's body.

Qiao Huizhu moved, and the next instant stood before He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng grasped her hand: "Sister, you… achieved Golden Core passage?"

"Yes yes yes…" Qiao Huizhu exclaimed excitedly: "Husband… my Dao Root has sprouted!"

"That's wonderful… thank you… sob sob sob…"

Qiao Huizhu stepped forward and embraced He Pingsheng tightly.

The surrounding cultivators were filled with envy.

Good heavens!

Who is this man?

What incredible luck—he's got such a powerful cultivation partner, and on top of that, she's stunningly beautiful.

Some even glowed with envy, staring at He Pingsheng.

"Hmph…" The female Nascent Soul sighed coldly from the void: "If I recall correctly, you're the owner of the Grand Void Alchemy Shop, aren't you?"

He Pingsheng lifted his head and gazed into the void.

He recognized the female Nascent Soul—she was the woman who had once blocked Mi Cangyuan.

She got utterly crushed by Mi Cangyuan.

"Take your filthy hands off her!" the female Nascent Soul said coldly. "This girl is far beyond your worth!"