The sky was filled with thunder clouds.
Through the protective formation of the Lianhua Valley, the active lightning snakes outside could be clearly seen.
"Activate the formation!"
A low voice resonated from the depths of the Lianhua Valley. The speaker was the current valley master, Lu Renxing.
On the immortal cultivation continent, whenever a disciple triggered a tribulation, the sect would open the protective formation not only to avoid unnecessary damage to the formation, but also because every cultivator who faced the tribulation needed to truly experience it in order to absorb its power. If they relied solely on the protection of the formation, it would be considered a failed tribulation.
Boom...
As the formation was activated, the disciples in the valley could clearly feel the pressure from the tribulation!
"Is this the Heavenly Tribulation? It's so terrifying."
"We can feel this pressure even on the edge. What kind of pressure is the senior brother facing?"
"Senior brother is truly a rare genius. He has reached the level of triggering the tribulation in just over thirty years of cultivation..." A white-bearded disciple sighed.
In Lotus Valley, strength reigns supreme. Many disciples have been in the sect for fifty or sixty years. Due to their strength, they have always remained as outer disciples.
"The top ten disciples are all like geniuses. I heard that Tenth Junior Brother has already reached the tenth level of Qi Refining," another disciple sighed.
"Tenth Junior Brother? Hmph, that guy only seized someone else's spot when Fifth Senior Brother was heavily injured, otherwise, without the identity of the top ten disciples, how much stronger could his practice be compared to mine..." a cold young man sneered.
"Fifth Senior Brother? You mean Ding Yan..." another disciple dismissed, "Ding Yan has been missing for several years, even if he returns now, he definitely isn't a match for Tenth Junior Brother. He might even be easily defeated by me."
"That's not for sure," the former speaker argued.
"Sigh, after suffering heavy injuries, it's already good enough over these years to restore his cultivation to its original state. As for reaching the tenth level of Qi Refining, it's simply impossible," another disciple interjected.
While the disciples were discussing, deep within the Lotus Valley, it was quiet as if the catastrophe's influence was isolated here.
This was a serene little valley, with fallen leaves fluttering in the autumn wind, presenting an autumn scene.
Beneath the fallen leaves was a cobblestone path, with a stone table on the side. Two elderly men sat cross-legged beside it, with black and white pieces scattered on the table. If an inner disciple of Lotus Valley were to enter at this moment, they would undoubtedly discover that these two men were none other than the Valley Master Lu Renxing and the Elder Xue Ming, two of the three Great Immortals of Lotus Valley.
"Elder Brother, it's your turn to make a move," Xue Ming raised his long beard from his forehead and said with a smile.
Lu Renxing frowned and pondered, "I didn't expect your chess skill to have improved. This move is truly unexpected..."
Xue Ming smiled but said nothing.
After a while, Lu Renxing made a move.
At that moment, a sudden thunderous roar echoed from outside, signaling the beginning of the heavenly calamity.
"The tribulation has begun?" Lu Renxing raised his head and looked outside.
In an instant, a gleam flashed in Lu Renxing's eyes, and a green aura flickered from the depths of his eyes!
This green aura was not caused by the elemental force of a Qi Refining cultivator, but originated from a higher level of power. It was precisely because of this power that a huge gap was formed between the Great Immortals and Qi Refining cultivators.
Not reaching Great Immortal, not entering the Immortal Sect!
If Ding Yan were here, he could definitely tell at a glance that the green aura in Lu Renxing's eyes was indeed Immortal energy!
Immortal energy is the power of Immortals. After transcending the mortal realm, the reason why a cultivator can become a Great Immortal is that their body has begun to possess Immortal energy, even if it is extremely rare.
Ding Yan was extremely familiar with Immortal energy. In his past life, he was struck down by an Immortal weapon, and the energy emitted by that weapon was precisely Immortal energy.
Xue Ming didn't pay attention to the outside commotion. Instead, he saw the momentary flicker of energy in Lu Renxing’s eyes and immediately said, "Brother's cultivation has improved again. Perhaps he will soon be able to face the next thunder tribulation and achieve the status of a Thunder Tribulation Great Immortal..."
"No tribulation is that easy to endure," Lu Renxing shook his head.
"The time limit given by Motian Sect is getting shorter and shorter. During this period, if we cannot gather five Great Immortals, we will be deprived of the opportunity to enter the Celestial Gate..." Xue Ming also frowned, "Motian Sect has become increasingly dominant in recent years... Fortunately, some of the disciples they accepted this time have outstanding aptitude. Especially the top ten disciples of this generation, several of them are not inferior to you and me in terms of aptitude."
"Aptitude?" A trace of indifference flashed in Lu Renxing's eyes, "Under the might of the heavens, nine deaths for every lifetime. No matter how good their aptitude is, it is meaningless. Among the cultivators of our generation, there are plenty with excellent aptitude. Among these ten people, if one of them achieves Great Immortal status after transcending the mortal tribulation, then it won't be in vain to give them such treatment."
Xue Ming fell silent.
The treatment of the top ten disciples was certainly not given in vain.
Those disciples whose aptitude did not result in them becoming Great Immortals were not valued by Lu Renxing, regardless of how outstanding they were.
"It's just a pity for that kid Ding Yan. I remember that his Dao heart was extremely firm..." Xue Ming sighed.
"As far as Great Immortals are concerned, the law of the jungle is the only truth. Compared to Ding Yan, I am more optimistic about that kid Yun Feng," Lu Renxing put down the chess piece in his hand, stood up, and looked at the sky outside the valley, "I just don't know where that kid is now. When did he leave the valley? I didn't even sense it..."
"It should be some small trick. The guardian formation of our sect was laid down by our Senior Uncle himself, and those who haven't achieved Great Immortal status are simply impossible to pass through," Xue Ming speculated.
Lu Renxing nodded.
It had never occurred to them that Ding Yan could silently pass through the guardian formation. Because even they would require a lot of effort to pass the guardian formation without alerting anyone, but Ding Yan was just a junior at the Qi Refining stage.
"We don't need to worry about him for now. I don't believe he won't come back to claim the jade plaque when the time comes." With that, a hint of reminiscence appeared on Lu Renxing's face, "The mortal realm... If I hadn't returned to the mortal realm back then, I'm afraid I wouldn't have become a Great Immortal no matter what..."
Fulfilling one's wishes was also part of a cultivator's practice.
Many powerful cultivators died during their tribulation, turning into dust because they harbored a trace of regret at the last moment.
When Lu Renxing was not yet the valley master, he had also returned to the mortal realm, accompanying his loved ones to the end of their journey. Only after his return did he successfully pass the tribulation and become a Great Immortal.