After taking the Foundation Establishment Pill, Sheng Zheng followed Guo Xingyue's instructions to begin his cultivation. When he woke up, he found Guo Xingyue still deep in meditation. Not wanting to disturb his master, he wandered around the underground palace but found no way out. Bored, he sat down and checked his own progress with his spiritual sense, only to be astonished to discover that he had already reached the initial stage of the Qi Refiner phase. This realization left him in shock, as according to Guo Xingyue's teachings, reaching the Qi Refiner stage typically took at least fifty years. Could it be that he had been in this underground palace for fifty years?
While still in a daze, he suddenly saw Guo Xingyue spit out blood, his face turning pale. In a panic, Sheng Zheng rushed forward and exclaimed, "Master, are you alright? What happened?"
Guo Xingyue opened his eyes and smiled weakly at the anxious Sheng Zheng. "I'm fine. There's no need to worry. You've made good progress; reaching the initial stage of Qi Refiner in just fifty years is quite impressive."
"Fifty years? Have we really been here for fifty years? Master, you wouldn't be joking with me, would you?" Sheng Zheng gasped in surprise.
Guo Xingyue laughed and replied, "Silly boy, time in cultivation is not measured in years. Fifty years is but a blink of an eye for cultivators. As your cultivation level increases, you'll come to understand this."
After a pause, Guo Xingyue took out a jade pendant from his storage ring and poured various martial arts cultivation methods into it. He handed it to Sheng Zheng, saying, "Zheng'er, I am a practitioner who entered the Dao through martial arts, and most of my skills are related to it. Now that you have reached the initial stage of Qi Refiner, you can go without food, so this is a perfect time for you to focus on your training. This jade pendant contains various martial arts techniques; practice diligently to reach the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible."
Taking the jade pendant, Sheng Zheng asked in confusion, "Master, doesn't it usually take nearly a hundred years to reach the Nascent Soul stage?"
Guo Xingyue nodded, "Indeed, I will also take this time to train diligently. We must escape soon, as danger is imminent."
Time flew by, and after roughly a hundred years, Sheng Zheng had finally advanced to the initial stage of the Nascent Soul but had not yet overcome the Nascent Soul tribulation. During these more than one hundred and fifty years of cultivation, Guo Xingyue had made significant improvements as well. Not only had he restored his original cultivation level, but he had also advanced further, reaching the late stage of the Split Spirit level. His magic essence and true essence, while not completely fused, had begun to intertwine under the influence of the lightning energy, circulating together within his Nascent Soul. The spiraling true essence now possessed not only the balanced qualities of true essence but also the devouring abilities of the demonic essence. Combined with the energy of the lightning, the power of his true essence had increased significantly, and Guo Xingyue's body had been thoroughly strengthened through the transformation brought on by the demonic essence, allowing him to withstand attacks from mid-grade magical artifacts.
Guo Xingyue handed a treasure-level metallic flying sword to Sheng Zheng and instructed, "Zheng'er, this flying sword matches your attributes. You should refine it now; we will need it shortly, and there may be battles ahead, so familiarize yourself with the sword techniques."
While Sheng Zheng practiced the sword techniques, Guo Xingyue released his spiritual sense to survey the surroundings for any potential threats. He couldn't help but recall the mysterious man who had claimed to be the former king of the Liro Kingdom. Ever since that encounter, he had not reappeared. Guo Xingyue hoped they would meet again in the future, perhaps to uncover the truth behind that encounter.
As Guo Xingyue and Sheng Zheng emerged from the secret passage, they found themselves in a mountainous area. The sun had not yet risen, and the early morning mist enveloped the forest, while early birds chirped happily, flitting about. This was Sheng Zheng's first experience in the great outdoors after such a long period of confinement, and he took a deep breath, exclaiming, "Master, this place is beautiful! I haven't seen such scenery in ages!"
Guo Xingyue smiled and said, "A day in the mountains can feel like a hundred years in the outside world; you'll get used to it in time."
Just as the two were conversing cheerfully, the sky suddenly darkened. A dark cloud swiftly gathered in the heavens.
"Master, the tribulation for my Nascent Soul has arrived! We need to hide!" Sheng Zheng shouted in alarm.
Guo Xingyue was well aware of the dangers posed by tribulations. He quickly executed a movement technique to teleport to a hundred feet away, keeping an eye on his disciple as he prepared for the tribulation. Guo Xingyue thought to himself: Although Zheng'er is a martial artist, his foundation is still unstable. While he can rely on the Foundation Establishment Pills for this initial advancement, the upcoming tribulation could seriously injure him. With the proximity to the Praying City, it would be impossible to avoid attracting the attention of demon cultivators. I can only hope that those who come after him are not too strong.
The clouds grew darker, and a yin-yang fish formed within the swirling mass. As its eyes gleamed ominously, a bolt of lightning descended toward Sheng Zheng.
"Quick, protect yourself!" Guo Xingyue yelled, though he knew Sheng Zheng was already on high alert.
Sheng Zheng stood firm, drawing his sword in preparation to meet the impending lightning strike. As the lightning struck, he released his flying sword to intercept it. The impact sent shockwaves throughout the vicinity, and while he managed to dissipate the first bolt, he was also knocked back, injured but still standing.
As the second bolt of lightning followed closely, Sheng Zheng steeled himself, channeling the energy of the Foundation Establishment Pill to bolster his strength before engaging with the lightning again. The clash echoed through the mountains as the second strike shattered against his flying sword, causing him to stagger yet again.
Finally, the sky darkened even further as the final bolt of lightning prepared to descend. Sheng Zheng took a deep breath and focused all his energy into his sword, invoking Guo Xingyue's most potent technique—the Moonfall Star Sink—determined to withstand this blow.
With a deafening boom, the third lightning strike collided with his sword, but despite his fierce defense, the residual energy sent him sprawling back to the ground, severely injured.
Guo Xingyue, observing the scene from a distance, felt a wave of concern wash over him. He swiftly rushed to Sheng Zheng's side, channeling a stream of true essence into his disciple's body to assist in his recovery.
As the storm clouds dissipated and the sun rose in the sky, the birds returned, chirping in the aftermath of the tribulation, as if commenting on the events that had just unfolded. Guo Xingyue stood beside Sheng Zheng, ready to protect him as they faced the unknown threats lurking in the aftermath of this ordeal…