CHAPTER 504: TRIBULATION PASSED, GOLDEN CORE REALM SPIRIT BEAST

"What... is that?"

Xiao Yan stood frozen in shock, staring at Xiao Li, who had grown to a towering height of several zhang. His fur burned like true black flames, and he radiated an immensely powerful aura.

She had never known that Xiao Li possessed such an ability.

Beside her, Wuxing was equally dumbfounded.

Only now did it realize that when Xiao Li got serious, he could be so terrifyingly powerful.

The aura Xiao Li was exuding made Wuxing feel that even its own fleshly body might not be able to withstand a single claw strike from him.

Boom!

Under the shocked gazes of Xiao Yan and Wuxing, the ninth golden tribulation lightning struck down without any flourish, directly hitting Xiao Li.

The tribulation lightning, filled with the aura of destruction, instantly pierced through Xiao Li’s body.

Golden lightning spread across his entire being, scorching his incredibly resilient fur until it was charred, his skin torn open, and his body covered in countless wounds.

The final lightning strike of this Golden Tribulation was unbelievably powerful. Even with Xiao Li’s full strength, his deepest reserves tapped, and his mastery of Size Manipulation, he was nearly shattered by this one attack!

Lu Qing kept his eyes locked on Xiao Li, his hands faintly glowing.

If Xiao Li’s life force weakened beyond his predetermined limit, he would intervene immediately.

With Lu Qing’s current strength—progressing steadily even under the world's constraints—not even a Golden Core Tribulation could stop him from saving someone.

Fortunately, under Lu Qing’s watchful gaze, though Xiao Li’s body was ravaged to the brink of destruction by the tribulation lightning, he endured.

His life force was steadily declining, but it never fell below the threshold that required Lu Qing’s intervention.

As the golden tribulation clouds dispersed, leaving behind a streak of flowing light, the vast tribulation vortex also gradually faded away.

Lu Qing finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Xiao Li!"

Once the mountaintop quieted down, Lu Qing, along with Xiao Yan and Wuxing, rushed to the scene, where the land had once again been reduced to scorched earth—this time even shaved down by another layer from the tribulation lightning.

At this moment, Xiao Li was completely enveloped in thick white mist.

That was the Heaven’s Bestowal, the life force infused with the Rules of Heaven and Earth, granted upon a successful tribulation transcendence. It aided the one who endured the tribulation in reconstructing their body and healing their injuries.

Xiao Li had already dispelled his Size Manipulation, returning to his original form.

However, the gaping hole in his chest—nearly severing his body in two—remained a horrifying sight.

Fortunately, under the nourishment of Heaven’s Bestowal and the lingering medicinal power of the Five Elements Lotus Seed, Xiao Li’s injuries were healing at a visible rate.

His entire being was undergoing an extraordinary transformation.

Finally, after a long while, as the mist formed by Heaven’s Bestowal dissipated, Xiao Li opened his eyes.

Not only were his wounds completely healed, leaving no trace of scarring, but his body now radiated an overwhelming aura, so powerful that the air around him twisted and distorted.

That was the might of a Golden Core Realm—or, for spirit beasts, the Demonic Core Realm.

His presence was so intimidating that even Xiao Yan and Wuxing struggled to withstand the pressure.

Realizing this, Xiao Li quickly retracted his aura under conscious control.

"Ah... Ah Qing! I… I passed the tribulation!"

After suppressing his aura, Xiao Li excitedly exclaimed.

However, this time, instead of using Soul Transmission, he actually spoke aloud.

His voice was youthful and childlike, identical to when he transmitted his thoughts via the soul.

But clearly, speaking this way was new to him, and he stumbled over his words.

"You finally made it," Lu Qing said with a smile. "That was truly dangerous. We were all quite worried."

He was not surprised that Xiao Li could now speak.

According to ancient texts, most spirit or demon beasts, unless of a particularly unique species, would be able to refine their Laryngeal Bone upon reaching the Golden Core Realm, gaining the ability to speak.

Clearly, Xiao Li belonged to this category.

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, widened her eyes in astonishment upon hearing Xiao Li speak.

"It’s all thanks to you, Ah Qing, for giving me the Five Elements Lotus Seed. If not for it, I might not have made it through," Xiao Li said, still shaken by the memory of the lightning tribulation.

Before facing it, he had thought himself mentally prepared.

But only when the tribulation truly descended did he realize that no amount of preparation could ever be enough.

Even with Size Manipulation, which massively amplified his strength and bodily resilience, he had still felt utterly powerless against the final strike.

In that moment, he truly believed he was about to be obliterated, reduced to dust.

Fortunately, the Five Elements Lotus Seed that Lu Qing had given him contained an immense amount of life force, constantly replenishing his essence and preserving his physical form.

Without it, he wasn’t sure if he could have survived.

"You were too frugal with it." Lu Qing sighed. "If you had consumed all the Five Elements Lotus Seeds I gave you, you wouldn’t have been in such a dire situation."

"I thought… since the Five Elements Lotus Seed was so precious, I should conserve it. I didn’t expect the tribulation to be so overwhelming," Xiao Li said, feeling a little embarrassed.

"There was no need for that," Lu Qing said helplessly. "Treasures are, in the end, just objects. Your lives are far more valuable."

For this tribulation, Lu Qing had prepared extensively for both Xiao Li and Wuxing.

Not only had he refined multiple Magical Artifacts for them to resist the tribulation, but he also provided them with Mid-grade Spirit Stones for emergencies.

Most importantly, he had given each of them three Five Elements Lotus Seeds to recover from severe injuries in critical moments.

Yet, Xiao Li had only consumed one, which left Lu Qing speechless.

Had he taken them earlier, their tribulation would have been far less perilous.

"Wuxing, when your tribulation comes, don’t hold back on using your treasures. Your survival is the priority," Lu Qing instructed.

Compared to Xiao Li, Wuxing was much more straightforward. Lu Qing didn’t want him to make the same mistake.

"Understood, Master!" Wuxing replied immediately.

After witnessing Xiao Li’s tribulation firsthand, Wuxing now fully understood that Heavenly Tribulation was no joke.

Even with Xiao Li’s terrifying power at the final moment, he had almost perished.

If Wuxing dared to be careless, he might not even get the chance to regret it.

Realizing this, his previously inflated confidence from refining the True Blood of a Dragon Tortoise and evolving his bloodline had finally settled down.

"Alright, then. It’s your turn now. Be careful."

Lu Qing gave his final instructions before leading Xiao Li and Xiao Yan away.

He left Wuxing at the site where Xiao Li had just transcended his tribulation, ready to face his own.

Boom!

As Lu Qing and the others returned to their previous location on the mountain peak, the sky suddenly darkened.

An overwhelming might surged from above.

The tribulation vortex, which had already disappeared, appeared once again.