On the shattered mountain peak, after yet another round of heavenly tribulation, the terrain had become even more fragmented.
Even the mountain itself had been further shaved down.
Atop this broken peak, Doctor Chen sat cross-legged with a solemn expression.
The wounds left on his body by the tribulation had completely healed, leaving no trace behind.
Even his appearance had reverted to the youthful look he had when he first stepped into the Precelestial Realm.
A profound and powerful aura was emanating from him, steadily growing in intensity.
With his own experience of overcoming tribulation, Lu Qing could tell that his master was currently condensing his Golden Core of Spiritual Power, undergoing a transformation in his spiritual power.
After a long while, Doctor Chen’s body suddenly trembled. A perfectly complete yet faintly "immortal" aura emerged from him.
At that moment, in Lu Qing’s vision—enhanced by his ability—his master's information changed.
【Cultivation: Superior Golden Core, Initial Golden Core Realm.】
【Comprehended the Dao of Water and Fire, condensed a Water-Fire Golden Core, and wields Water-Fire Spiritual Power.】
【Possesses astonishing comprehension, has mastered an unparalleled Sword Dao Domain, peerless in offense.】
【Blessed with an innate divine ability, with immense potential.】
... ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel·fıre·net
"So, it really is a Superior Golden Core," Lu Qing mused inwardly as he observed the changes.
However, he wasn’t surprised.
His master's tribulation cloud had been golden, and it was the most formidable Nine-Thunder Heavenly Tribulation.
If even that wasn't enough to form a Superior Golden Core, it would have been truly unreasonable.
What caught his attention more was one particular detail.
"Master actually possesses an innate divine ability—was it that streak of light from before?"
Lu Qing suddenly recalled that before the tribulation vortex dissipated, a streak of light had shot out and landed on his master.
That must have been the Heavenly Bestowal, just like how he had received two divine abilities when he transcended his tribulation in Zhongzhou.
"I wonder what kind of divine ability Master has obtained…"
Lu Qing knew well the might of divine abilities.
Even a minor divine ability vastly outclassed most spells, granting the power to fight above one’s level.
Take his own Phantasm, for example—once unleashed, even that gray-robed man, who was at a higher cultivation realm than him, had been utterly unable to resist and had fallen into its illusion.
His master's Heavenly Bestowal was sure to be extraordinary.
As Lu Qing pondered, Doctor Chen, having completed his breakthrough, slowly opened his eyes.
A flash of divine light flickered within them before quickly retracting, returning to their usual calm state.
At the same time, his youthful appearance faded, reverting to his elderly visage.
Lu Qing, along with Xiao Yan and the others, slowly flew toward the shattered peak.
"Congratulations, Master, on successfully transcending the tribulation and condensing your Golden Core," Lu Qing said with a smile.
"Congratulations, Grandpa Chen!" Xiao Yan chimed in with a cheerful voice.
Both Xiao Li and Wuxing expressed their congratulations in their own ways.
Their demeanor also carried newfound respect.
After all, the terror of the heavenly tribulation had been something they had experienced firsthand from nearby.
That their master's master had endured such fearsome tribulation and emerged victorious, stepping into the Golden Core Realm, was an awe-inspiring feat. 𝘳äꞐôᛒЁS̩
Spirit beasts were instinctively drawn to power, and both Xiao Li and Wuxing couldn't help but feel deeper reverence for Doctor Chen.
"Hehe, I must thank you, Ah Qing, for the treasures and spirit stones you gave me. Without them, I wouldn’t have made it through this tribulation.
Unfortunately, the treasured armor you gave me was damaged by the tribulation lightning."
Doctor Chen glanced at the ruined armor lying nearby, looking slightly distressed.
After being ravaged by so many bolts of tribulation lightning, the armor had been completely destroyed, its spiritual essence extinguished—it was now nothing more than an ordinary object.
"Master, if the armor was able to absorb so much of the tribulation lightning, then it has already fulfilled its purpose. It’s no great loss.
If I find the right materials in the future, I can forge you a new one," Lu Qing reassured him.
"Let’s leave that for later."
Doctor Chen put away the ruined armor, storing it in his spatial artifact.
Even though it was now unusable, it had played a crucial role in his survival—he wasn’t about to discard it so casually.
"Master, did you gain any insights from this tribulation?" Lu Qing inquired.
"Ah, right!" Doctor Chen suddenly recalled something and exclaimed, "Ah Qing, do you know why that final tribulation bolt never struck?"
Even now, thinking back on his tribulation, Doctor Chen still felt a lingering sense of dread.
He had never expected his tribulation to be this perilous.
By the end, he had been convinced he was going to fail.
But then, inexplicably, the final tribulation lightning had never descended, allowing him to succeed.
However, at the time, he had been too focused on healing to notice the cause.
"Master, I suspect it was due to the merit you have accumulated over the years from your selfless acts of healing and saving lives. That merit may have shielded you from the final strike," Lu Qing explained his speculation.
Doctor Chen was momentarily stunned after hearing this.
He had never expected such a reason.
It took him a long moment to gather his thoughts, but in the end, he wasn’t sure what to say.
"That’s why I said, Master, your successful tribulation transcendence was the fruition of your years of accumulated virtue," Lu Qing said with a smile.
Doctor Chen shook his head but remained silent.
For years, he had practiced medicine not for merit but simply because he couldn’t bear to see people suffer in sickness and despair—he wanted to ease their pain.
That was why he had been willing to use his rare and valuable medicinal herbs to save Lu Qing back then.
And each time he healed a patient, he felt deep contentment—a genuine joy from within.
That was the sole reason he had spent years refining his medical skills and dedicating himself to healing others.
Never had he sought rewards.
Yet, unbeknownst to him, it was precisely this virtue that had allowed him to overcome his tribulation.
At that moment, a voice called out.
Wei Shanhai and Lin Zhirui, along with others, were moving swiftly across the forest canopy, making their way toward them.
Soon, they arrived at the shattered peak.
"Congratulations, Senior Chen, on successfully transcending the tribulation and stepping into the Golden Core Realm!"
Upon reaching Doctor Chen, the group offered their congratulations in unison.
Wei Shanhai and the others, in particular, wore genuine smiles of joy.