The Heavenly Tribulation

At the Yunlan Mountain, a flash of cyan light streaked across the sky and landed directly within the Yunlan Sect. It was none other than Yun Yun, returning to her sect!

Nalan Yanran, who was cultivating at the peak of Yunlan Mountain, immediately went to Yun Yun's chambers upon learning of her return. Yun Yun's residence was located behind the mountain.

When Nalan Yanran arrived at the door, she knocked gently. After a moment, the sound of footsteps came from inside, and the door creaked open to reveal Yun Yun.

"Teacher!" Nalan Yanran greeted respectfully, though she was puzzled by Yun Yun's slightly swollen eyes. She couldn't help but wonder what had caused her teacher such distress.

"Come in," Yun Yun said, her voice slightly hoarse, her usually cold and delicate face now tinged with a layer of frost.

Nalan Yanran followed Yun Yun inside. Once inside, Yun Yun took out a purple crystal and handed it to her. "This is the Purple Spirit Crystal I found for you. Give it to Elder Gu He and ask him to refine the pill for you."

Nalan Yanran hesitated before accepting the crystal. "Teacher, are you all right?" she asked, concerned.

Yun Yun forced a slight smile. "I'm fine. Go focus on your cultivation."

Although Nalan Yanran was smart, she couldn't guess what could have upset her teacher so much. She had no choice but to say, "Please take care, Teacher. I will go see Elder Gu He now."

"Mm, go ahead," Yun Yun replied with a nod.

After leaving Yun Yun's quarters, Nalan Yanran made her way directly to the Pill Hall, which had been specially built for Elder Gu He, where he normally refined pills. As she entered the hall, she was greeted by the scent of medicinal herbs. Inside, Elder Gu He was refining a pill, a faint white pill floating above the cauldron.

Seeing Nalan Yanran enter, Gu He smiled gently. "Yanran, what brings you here?"

Nalan Yanran obediently handed over the Purple Spirit Crystal. Gu He's eyes gleamed with appreciation. "Your teacher has returned?"

Nodding, Nalan Yanran responded, "Yes, my teacher just returned and gave me this crystal."

Gu He infused his palm with Dou Qi and lightly tapped the cauldron, causing the faint white pill to land in his hand. "The Snow Spirit Pill is complete!"

The air was filled with a fragrant aroma, and Nalan Yanran respectfully congratulated him. "Congratulations, Elder Gu He, on successfully refining a fifth-tier pill!"

Gu He chuckled and replied, "Your teacher and I are old friends. From now on, you may call me Uncle Gu." He then examined the Purple Spirit Crystal and commented, "As expected of Yun Yun, the quality of this crystal is exceptional. I'll start working on refining the Purple Spirit Liquid for you right away."

Nalan Yanran hesitated before softly saying, "Uncle Gu, when I saw my teacher earlier, she seemed troubled."

Gu He's eyes flickered thoughtfully. "I see. I will begin refining the liquid for you. Come back in ten days."

Nalan Yanran nodded, bowed, and left the hall.

After pondering for a while, Gu He decided to visit Yun Yun's chambers.

...

Meanwhile, in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yu stood in the now empty cave, feeling a wave of melancholy after Yun Yun's departure. After regaining his composure, he prepared to leave. Just as he turned around, he caught sight of a faint red stain on the stone bed, momentarily causing him to lose focus.

Suddenly, Xiao Yu felt a surge of Dou Qi coursing through his meridians, signaling an impending breakthrough to the Dou Master level. He tried to suppress the turbulent energy within him, remembering that Yun Yun's strength had also broken through during their encounter. Something didn't seem right.

He recalled the *Chaos Cultivation Technique* he had been practicing, which consisted of two main paths: **Chaos Body Refinement** and **Clear Spirit Refinement**. The technique's introduction also mentioned the balance of yin and yang, an interaction of opposites. Could it be that this technique also had a dual cultivation aspect?

The Dou Qi within Xiao Yu was becoming uncontrollable. As he prepared to sit down and cultivate, he suddenly sensed a foreboding presence—a mysterious power that seemed to lock onto him from above!

Elsewhere in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the Amethyst Winged Lion King, weakened from its injuries, returned to its cave to heal. It, too, sensed the powerful force enveloping the area, a force that even it dared not provoke.

The lion slowly emerged from its cave, staring at the growing storm clouds on the horizon. An oppressive energy filled the air, causing even the normally fierce beast to narrow its eyes in apprehension. Its cub whimpered in fear, trembling at the sight of the darkening sky.

Xiao Yu also felt the change and stepped out of the cave. His pet, Xiao Bai, bared its teeth at the sky, trying to show its defiance. But nothing could stop the gathering storm clouds.

Xiao Yu's mind raced as he recognized the phenomenon. "A Heavenly Tribulation?"

His expression darkened. "This wasn't in the original story! What's going on?"

A system notification rang in his mind.

**"Congratulations, host! You are about to break through to the Dou Master realm. However, due to your exceptional talent and cultivation technique, Heaven is jealous of you, and thus the Heavenly Dao has sent a punishment. Every future breakthrough will trigger a Heavenly Tribulation. The host has altered the cultivation landscape of the Dou Qi Continent and is thus rewarded with a Diamond Shield and a Heaven Spirit Pill!"**

Xiao Yu stood frozen in shock. **Jealous of me?** What kind of twisted logic was this? And every breakthrough would come with a Heavenly Tribulation?

Crack!

Thunder rumbled across the sky. Xiao Yu quickly checked the system rewards. The **Diamond Shield** could block one divine lightning strike from the tribulation, while the **Heaven Spirit Pill** would instantly restore his Dou Qi to its peak state.

Dark clouds churned violently overhead, growing thicker and denser as if becoming solid. Xiao Yu flew up toward the ominous clouds, his wings of purple light fluttering behind him.

Crack! Crack!

As he neared the clouds, the lightning within them grew more chaotic, and a terrifying pressure locked onto him, making every hair on his body stand on end.

Not far away, the Amethyst Winged Lion King watched in shock, recognizing Xiao Yu as the human who had stolen its treasures. "It's him?"

Its cub growled, while the lion whispered to itself, "I thought he left with that human Dou Emperor. So he stayed behind... Is this terrifying phenomenon caused by his monstrous talent?"

Xiao Yu's eyes blazed with determination as he glared at the heavens above. "Let's see how strong you are, Heaven!"

His defiance seemed to further anger the sky. Thunder roared as a streak of purple lightning began to form, heralding the arrival of Dou Qi Continent's first Heavenly Tribulation!