Huo Rong bit her lips as her worried gaze didn’t move away from the mansion gates. “Then what should we do? We can’t just sit here and wait to see what happens to him!”
Bing Rong took a deep breath. “Let’s tell Master about this. She must learn about this.”
…
In a secluded space far from the Desolate Continent, two stunning women sat beside a serene bamboo pond.
The tranquil atmosphere was broken only by the occasional ripple in the water as koi fish swam lazily beneath the surface.
“Hehe, you were so mischievous back in the day,” said the snow-haired beauty with a melodious laugh, her voice as sweet as bell chimes.
Her lean figure was wrapped in elegant white robes embroidered with delicate snowflake patterns, her hourglass frame exuding an elegant grace that contrasted with Shen Yuxin’s curvaceous allure.
Shen Yuxin chuckled, brushing a stray strand of her white hair behind her ear. “And you weren’t? Don’t think I’ve forgotten all those schemes you roped me into, Yue Xian. You nearly got us thrown out of the sect more than once.”
“Oh, please,” Yue Xian replied, rolling her icy-blue eyes playfully. “If anything, I was the one keeping you from getting caught. You’re the one who couldn’t keep a straight face to save your life.”
Shen Yuxin’s lips curled into a smirk. “And yet, here we are, both alive, thriving, and as beautiful as ever.”
Yue Xian arched a delicate brow. “Thriving, yes. But you, Yuxin, have certainly been full of surprises lately. First, adopting a son, and now I hear from you that he is also your Dao Companion. What’s so special about this boy, anyway?”
Before Shen Yuxin could answer, a faint ring sounded in her mind. Her expression shifted immediately, anticipation replacing her earlier lightheartedness.
She looked at the corner of her eye, where a faint name was shimmering. She exhaled a disappointed sigh as she was expecting someone else to message her.
She opened the screen, activating the Harem Connect panel.
“Bing Rong?” she said, her voice filled with doubt.
A projection of Bing Rong’s face appeared, her expression tense. “Master! It’s Yuan’er! He’s—he’s undergoing a tribulation. The skies are darkening, and the energy feels… unnatural. Huo Rong and I don’t know what to do. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever felt before. Even our tribulations were far different than this.”
“It seems more like… punishment rather than a trial.”
Shen Yuxin shot to her feet, her earlier composure completely shattered. “A tribulation?! Why didn’t you inform me sooner?!”
“I’m sorry, Master,” Bing Rong replied, her voice trembling. “But we also just found out and informed you as soon as we could.”
The connection ended, leaving Shen Yuxin staring at the faintly glowing screen in front of her.
“Yuxin,” Yue Xian said, rising gracefully from her seat. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Yuan’er,” Shen Yuxin said, her voice laced with worry. “He’s attempting something reckless. I need to go to him immediately.”
Yue Xian’s expression turned curious. “This Yuan’er… he must be extraordinary for you to choose him and show such concern. I’m coming with you. I want to see what makes him so special.”
“There’s no time for debate,” Shen Yuxin said, already forming intricate seals with her hands. “Come if you wish, but I won’t wait.”
Yue Xian smiled faintly, her movements as fluid as water as she mirrored Shen Yuxin’s actions. “As if I’d let you leave me behind.”
The air around them shimmered as the fabric of space warped and fractured. With a sharp crack, the two women stepped through the rift, their figures disappearing into the void.
…
Back at Shen Yuan’s courtyard, the oppressive tribulation clouds churned, their intensity growing by the second.
Bolts of lightning crackled ominously, illuminating the anxious faces of Huo Rong and Bing Rong, who stood just outside the mansion gates.
Suddenly, the fabric of space above them tore apart, and two radiant figures emerged, their overwhelming presence instantly leaving everyone breathless.
But they soon reigned back their cultivation base as the others exhaled in relief before curiously looking at the two newcomers.
“Master!” Huo Rong exclaimed, relief washing over her as she recognized Shen Yuxin. Her gaze flickered to Yue Xian, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. “And… an honored guest?”
Shen Yuxin landed gracefully, her expression grim as she approached the mansion. “What is the situation?”
Bing Rong quickly stepped forward. “We don’t know. We were doing our work and all of a sudden a tribulation cloud began forming on top of Shen Yuan’s mansion.”
Just then, Yue Lan’s urgent voice echoed in the minds of the three of them.
[He is attempting to refine his core for the tenth time in the Origin Core Creation Realm. This has not been done even in the higher realms.]
All three of the women’s eyes widened in shock as they heard what Yue Lan said.
Shen Yuxin’s worry deepened, her gaze locked on the mansion as a deafening crack of thunder echoed through the skies. “Yuan’er… what are you thinking?”
[You all stay outside. He needs to take care of it himself. If you intervene, then it will only make the situation worse.]
Yue Lan helplessly said.
The three of them could do nothing but stare at the mansion in worry.
Yue Xian curiously looked at the courtyard before looking at Shen Yuxin as she sent a message through her divine sense.
‘Do you know what is happening inside? Are you sure it’s Shen Yuan and not someone else?’
Shen Yuxin nodded her head, her gaze still locked on the mansion ahead. ‘He is attempting to refine his core for the 10th time. And that attracted the tribulation.’
Yue Xian raised an eyebrow. ‘There has been no shortage of fools who try to refine their cores 10 times, but none of them could attract the heavenly tribulation.’
‘Because none of them reached close to accomplishing that impossible feat.’ Even though her face was filled with worry, she could not hide the faint hint of pride lingering on her face.
Yue Xian got silent as she looked inside the mansion.
Sect Leader Mei Hua also sent a message to Shen Yuxin, asking about the situation.
She brushed her off by saying everything was under control and that there was no need to worry.
Mei Hua could do nothing but sit back down beside her lake as her curious gaze landed on Shen Yuan’s courtyard from an unknown distance away.
…
Back inside Shen Yuan’s mansion, the oppressive atmosphere grew heavier as the energy within him churned violently.
His core pulsed with intensity, nearing the brink of its transformation. Shen Yuan’s eyes remained tightly shut, his expression calm despite the raging storm inside and out.
Above, the tribulation clouds churned like a tempest. The first bolt of lightning gathered, its raw power illuminating the darkened sky.
With a deafening CRACK, the thunderbolt descended, its target unmistakably Shen Yuan.
Everyone worriedly looked at him, waiting for him to dodge the attack or move away from the impact, but he did none of it as he stayed still in his position.
The golden lightning struck his body directly, causing a blinding flash that illuminated the entire courtyard.