I conquer the immortal with my strength.

Chapter 718 The Tribulation of the Golden Immortal
“When fellow clansmen suffer misfortune, they show no compassion, but instead kick them while they're down, repeatedly making things difficult and humiliating them. What use are such people, even if they are exceptionally talented, to the family? They are just wasting resources!” Xia Daoming said calmly.

"Oh!" Zhu Chixuan's expression darkened slightly upon hearing this. He glanced at Zhu Qiluo out of the corner of his eye and said, "Did Zhu Liao and the others harass and humiliate you just now?"

"Yes, Ancestor!" Zhu Qiluo bowed and replied, then briefly recounted what had just happened.

"A bunch of scoundrels! You've made a fool of yourself in front of Fellow Daoist Xia! I saw that Qi Luo had ruined her foundation and had no hope of achieving the Golden Immortal Path. According to ancestral rules, I terminated her Golden Immortal Mantle and freed up some special resources that should have been given to her. This was also for the long-term benefit of the family. I didn't expect that these unworthy descendants would kick her while she was down and take the opportunity to humiliate and make things difficult for Qi Luo!" Zhu Chixuan said with a grim face.

"The Zhu family is large and powerful, so it's normal for some unworthy members to emerge. However, I've heard that the Zhu family elders unanimously want to send Qiluo to Blood Lake Ridge to apologize, which is going too far!" Xia Daoming said in a deep voice.

"Sigh!" Zhu Chixuan did not argue after hearing this, but let out a long sigh.

Seeing this, Xia Daoming did not continue speaking, but simply looked at Zhu Chixuan quietly.

Zhu Qiluo's lips moved, but she ultimately didn't dare to speak.

Zhu Chixuan remained silent for a long time before speaking again: "Qiluo did not do anything wrong regarding the matter of Blood Lake Ridge. It's just that the situation developed beyond her expectations. Blood Lake Ridge, relying on its power, bullied others and did not follow the rules. They actually wanted to provoke a conflict between two Golden Immortal forces because of a dispute between juniors."

Logically, the Heavenly Court should have intervened to mediate this matter, but the Heavenly Court of Chijiang Prefecture was weak and inactive, unwilling to step in, or perhaps they had ulterior motives.

Originally, this was nothing. My Danxia Mountain still has me in charge and the heritage left by generations. How could the Gong Sha couple destroy it so easily? If they really want to touch my Danxia Mountain, they should at least consider whether they can bear the consequences.

Moreover, there are tribulations in cultivating immortality, and there are also tribulations in the development of a family. Only by facing difficulties head-on can one make progress and transform, instead of shrinking back in the face of tribulations. If one does so, whether it is cultivation or family development, one will inevitably regress instead of progress.

"However, my Heavenly Tribulation is approaching, and I cannot afford to fail! The Blood River Technique of Gong Shasong and his wife is extremely insidious and vicious; if I were to become tainted by it, my chances of survival in this Heavenly Tribulation would be slim. The elders know the secret of my Heavenly Tribulation and naturally want to push Qiluo out to avert disaster. Even though I know this is inappropriate, I cannot be too harsh on them."

"It's all because of my recklessness and unfilial piety that I've caused this..." Zhu Qiluo finally realized how precious it was that her ancestor had protected her until now, and she couldn't help but feel extremely guilty, kneeling down and shedding tears.

"I see. It seems the Zhu family members aren't all heartless and narrow-minded. Otherwise, I would only try my best to protect Qiluo, but I wouldn't care about your Zhu family." Xia Daoming's expression softened considerably upon hearing this.

The Heavenly Tribulation of a Golden Immortal also occurs only once in a while.

However, the Heavenly Tribulation of a Golden Immortal is different from the Heavenly Tribulation of a True Immortal.

When a true immortal survives a tribulation, their cultivation level will break through to the next level.

However, the tribulation of a Golden Immortal is merely a tribulation and has nothing to do with breakthroughs in cultivation.

If you can get through this, you can extend your lifespan a little longer.

Some Golden Immortals improve their cultivation after surviving the Heavenly Tribulation, while others are injured and unable to recover, resulting in a decline in their cultivation instead of an increase.

As for those who break through a realm by relying on heavenly tribulation, they are extremely rare among Golden Immortals, existing only in very few cases.

The only thing that all Golden Immortals have in common when facing the Heavenly Tribulation is that if they fail to pass it, they will die and their cultivation will be extinguished.

The power of the tribulation for a Golden Immortal is commensurate with their cultivation level. Generally speaking, the tribulation a Golden Immortal in the Condensation Realm must undergo is basically within the range of the Condensation Realm.

However, the power of the Heavenly Tribulation will increase with each tribulation, and after twelve tribulations, its power will exceed the realm's limits.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the heavens are jealous of talent, and in rare cases, heavenly tribulations may strike across realms from the very beginning.

Zhu Chixuan was not a powerful Golden Immortal of the Condensation Realm. If he were to be tainted by the Blood River True Water before his tribulation, even if he could survive the tribulation, his strength would be greatly diminished. If Blood Lake Ridge launched a second attack at that time, Danxia Mountain would likely be unable to hold out.

If the heavenly tribulation cannot be overcome, Danxia Mountain will inevitably fall without a Golden Immortal guarding it.

Upon hearing that Xia Daoming intended to help the Zhu family, Zhu Chixuan was greatly shocked, and a look of disbelief appeared on his face.

This time, when the conflict with Blood Lake Ridge turned sour, some of his former Golden Immortal friends made excuses and refused to help. Zhu Chixuan never expected that this mysterious Twelve True Immortal would be willing to lend a hand.

"Thank you for your righteous help, Fellow Immortal Xia. Speaking of which, I haven't formally thanked you yet for helping Qiluo get rid of the calamity of the Blood River True Water!" After saying that, Zhu Chixuan stood up and bowed deeply to Xia Daoming.

“I once guided Zhu Qiluo in her cultivation. In a way, she is half my disciple. How could I sit idly by and watch her foundation be destroyed?” Xia Daoming waved his hand and said.

"More than a hundred years ago, Qi Luo's cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and she showed amazing talent in comprehending the Dao of Fire. Could it be that she was guided by you, fellow immortal?" Zhu Chixuan was greatly shocked upon hearing this and blurted out.

Back then, when Zhu Qiluo returned, Zhu Chixuan specially considered her. Unexpectedly, he himself gained some insights from this experience. It was because of this that Zhu Chixuan decided to promote her to be his personal successor. He had a deep impression of this matter.

Xia Daoming smiled but remained silent.

Zhu Chixuan was shocked by what he saw, but still found it hard to believe. He turned to look at Zhu Qiluo.

"Reporting to the Ancestor, it was Senior Xia who guided me, and later, with the Ancestor's personal and vigorous cultivation, that enabled me to reach the Twelfth Ascension True Immortal realm in such a short time," Zhu Qiluo said, bowing.

"So it turns out that Fellow Daoist Xia has long been kind to my Zhu family. I was really rude just now!" Zhu Chixuan was still surprised when he received the confirmation, but he quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Xia Daoming again.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, you flatter me." Xia Daoming waved his hand, then his expression turned serious. "Fellow Daoist, let's talk about the couple, Gong Shasong and his wife, at Blood Lake Ridge!"

"In terms of cultivation level, both of them are at the early stage of the Condensation Realm, not yet at the middle stage. I believe I am no less than either of them. As long as I do not take the initiative to attack and hold Danxia Mountain, I should be able to remain invincible."

What makes Gong Shasong and his wife so terrifying is their perfect harmony and coordination. Together, they not only greatly increase their combat power, but they also cultivate the extremely insidious Blood River Technique. Once someone is tainted by the Blood River True Water released by the couple, it will be like a bone-deep infection, difficult to eradicate. Not only will their magical treasures be defiled, but their cultivation will also be damaged.

That's why, unless forced to, even a late-stage Golden Immortal of the Condensation Realm wouldn't want to provoke the couple, lest they be tainted by the Blood River True Water, suffering losses to their immortal treasures and their own cultivation. That's precisely what I'm wary of. And it just so happens that the Heavenly Tribulation is approaching, otherwise why would I fear their threat?" Zhu Chixuan said, his face full of frustration and helplessness.

　That concludes today's update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)