We said we would experience life, fairy, how did you become real?.

Chapter 445 An old friend whom I have missed for a very, very long time (4000 words)
Jiang Qingyi returned to the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Jiang Qingyi saw two brocade boxes on the stone table.

"Someone come here," Jiang Qingyi called out towards the door.

"Your Excellency, Imperial Preceptor."

Soon, a maidservant came out respectfully and bowed to Jiang Qingyi.

"Who sent these two gift boxes?" Jiang Qingyi asked.

"Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor."

The maid answered.

"These two gift boxes were sent by Consort Xue of Ningxue Palace and Consort Mu of Hanjiu Palace."

"The two ladies also asked their maids to convey a message that they had seen what the Grand Preceptor had done for His Majesty, and these two items were meant to make up for it."

"They also said that they could refine the pills themselves in the future, so there would be no need to trouble the Grand Preceptor."

Hearing the maid's reply, Jiang Qingyi frowned, and finally waved her hand: "I understand, you can go now."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

After the maid left, Jiang Qingyi opened the gift boxes sent by Consort Xue and Consort Mu.

The gift Bai Ruxue sent was a ten-thousand-year-old sea lingzhi mushroom, which has miraculous effects on replenishing qi and blood.

What Qin Siyao sent was a bottle of ten-thousand-year-old Hundred Flowers Wine, with effects similar to those of Sea Lingzhi.

"Humph!"

Jiang Qingyi snorted coldly and closed the box.

How could she not know what Bai Ruxue and Qin Siyao were thinking?

They already knew that they had refined the Heaven-Stealing Pill for Xiao Mo.

The Heaven-Stealing Pill consumes one's essence and blood.

They brought these things to replenish their qi and blood only because they didn't want Xiao Mo to owe them a favor.

But what did he do to Xiao Mo have to do with them?
"Do they really think of themselves as my master's wives?"

Jiang Qingyi closed the box, snorted coldly, and turned to walk into the room.

The next morning.

Xiao Mo got up early.

Today, Xiao Mo is going to establish his foundation!

Xiao Mo boarded the carriage and headed to the remote plain that had been planned long ago.

Wei Xun wanted to go with Xiao Mo, but Xiao Mo refused.

Of course, Xiao Mo didn't even bring Si Li with him.

Xiao Mo did not distrust Wei Xun and Si Li.

Instead, Yan Ruxue and Qin Mujiu will go with them, and they will help set up the altar and formation.

Yan Ruxue and Qin Mujiu didn't want others to know that they were cultivators at the middle three realms.

Not long after, Xiao Mo, dressed in a blue robe, stood on this desolate land.

This first tribulation was indeed a bit nerve-wracking for Xiao Mo.

Although Xiao Mo survived many tribulations in the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes, it was ultimately just a simulated life within the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes.

In the book "Hundred Generations of Books," death is not true death.

If you die in real life, then you are truly gone.

So, on this small plain, Xiao Mo carefully arranged the altar.

He planned to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth before undergoing the tribulation, hoping that the lightning strikes would be gentler.

Jiang Qingyi snorted at Xiao Mo's behavior and turned her head away, muttering softly, "What's there to worship? Our cultivation still depends on the whims of Heaven?"

Xiao Mo pretended not to hear.

Xiao Mo was not unable to understand her thoughts.

Because Xiao Mo had previously asked Jiang Qingyi about the things she needed to pay attention to when undergoing her tribulation.

Jiang Qingyi said there was nothing to pay attention to. When she was going through her tribulation, she would first curse the heavens and regard them as ants.

Xiao Mo could only say that this method was suitable for geniuses, but not for him.
After all, cursing the heavens during a tribulation is likely to bring retribution.

Unless one is a genius with extraordinary talent, ordinary people, especially a mortal emperor like himself, should honestly follow the procedures.

Jiang Qingyi felt that Xiao Mo's preparations were unnecessary.

Bai Ruxue, with a smile on her face, helped Xiao Mo set up the altar and personally placed the offerings on it.

Xiao Mo felt that Yan Ruxue's attitude towards undergoing tribulation was quite correct.

Look at them, they respect the way of heaven, that's what a normal cultivator should do.

After Bai Ruxue finished setting up the altar, she reached out to straighten Xiao Mo's clothes and said with a smile:

"My husband, don't be anxious when you are undergoing your tribulation. Just concentrate. We have already given face to the Heavenly Dao. If that damned Heavenly Dao is ungrateful and dares to make things difficult for you, I will remove a piece of it!"

Hearing Yan Ruxue's words, Xiao Mo was at a loss for words.

It seems that for Ru Xue, her level of respect for the Heavenly Dao is entirely based on whether the Heavenly Dao "knows how to honor her".

"Your Majesty, the auspicious time has arrived, it's almost time." After setting up the magic array for Xiao Mo, Qin Siyao happily ran to Xiao Mo and said lightly, "Your Majesty, don't worry, the Foundation Establishment Realm is very simple, it'll be over in the blink of an eye."

"Thank you all."

Xiao Mo bowed in greeting.

Even though Ru Xue and Mu Jiu's identities are a mystery, it seems that with them around, this tribulation is not too difficult.

Half an incense stick later, Bai Ruxue and the other two left a mile away from Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo took a deep breath, unlocked his cultivation level, and attempted to establish his foundation!

Thunderclouds continued to gather above Xiao Mo.

The area within a five-mile radius of Xiao Mo was shrouded in darkness, as if a torrential downpour was about to begin.

"Boom!"

A flash of lightning was followed by a deep rumble of thunder.

Xiao Mo took a deep breath, swallowed the Heaven-Stealing Pill, and prepared to face the tribulation lightning.

These days, Xiao Mo has read a lot of books about Foundation Establishment.

Under normal circumstances, the Foundation Establishment Tribulation consists of only two stages.

Once you've passed that stage, you can begin foundation building.

If one fails, at best one will suffer severe injuries, and at worst one will perish, with both body and spirit annihilated.

There is a chance, however slim, that the cultivator might be able to return to establish their foundation again.

However, according to Xiao Mo's understanding, only one in a thousand cultivators successfully establish their foundation for the second time.

"boom!"

The moment the thunder roared, the purple light from the horizon crashed down.

Xiao Mo did not dodge.

There's no way to avoid lightning strikes.

He stood still, taking the first bolt of lightning head-on.

As the lightning dissipated, he lowered his head and coughed twice, a burnt taste rising from his mouth, his throat feeling as if it had been smoked.

Xiao Mo's face, hands, and the skin exposed by the tear in his clothes all bore black marks from the burns.

He blinked, shook his head, and saw tiny golden stars still floating in his vision, while a buzzing sound lingered in his ears.

Xiao Mo looked at the three people in the distance, his vision was somewhat blurry, and he could only see their vague shadows.

Before Xiao Mo could catch his breath, the second bolt of lightning struck.

This time, the lightning did not crash down directly in mid-air, but suddenly contracted and condensed, transforming into the shape of a long sword, with the tip pointing directly at Xiao Mo.

"Lightning tribulation taking human form?"

Bai Ruxue's voice was very low, but she had already taken half a step forward.

Jiang Qingyi and Qin Siyao, who were beside her, also took a step forward, and the three of them changed their expressions almost simultaneously.

The so-called tribulation transformation is a phenomenon that only occurs when cultivators in the Dragon Gate Realm undergo tribulation.

Above the Dragon Gate Realm, when spiritual energy is condensed to a certain degree, the tribulation lightning descended by the Heavenly Dao will take different forms depending on the cultivation method practiced by the cultivator undergoing the tribulation.

But Xiao Mo is only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Two lightning bolts are already the limit for the Foundation Establishment Realm's tribulation, so how could there be a transformation lightning bolt?

Xiao Mo, however, had no time to think about these things while he was on the plains.

The longsword formed from the lightning tribulation was already upon them.

He raised his hand, and the spirit sword that Jiang Qingyi had given him earlier was already in his palm.

Xiao Mo condensed a sword aura and slashed at the lightning sword. The two forces collided, producing a muffled thud.

The shockwave pushed outwards, scattering gravel and dust that rose three zhang (approximately 10 meters) high.

As the smoke and dust cleared, Xiao Mo bent his knees and slammed one knee into the ground, his long sword plunging straight into the earth.

He lowered his head, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth onto the scorched earth in front of him. His arms, neck, and forehead had several small cuts on his skin, from which blood seeped out, mixing with the grayish-black sweat.

Bai Ruxue clenched her sleeves tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The second lightning tribulation has passed.

But the sky did not clear up.

The dark clouds pressed down even lower, and something could be vaguely seen moving within the churning cloud layer.

A moment later, a head popped out.

That was an ancient thunder beast.

The Thunder Beast was entirely dark blue, and its eyes had no pupils, only two brighter balls of lightning.

It didn't make a sound, but simply lowered its head and stared intently at Xiao Mo on the ground.

"The third lightning bolt???"

Xiao Mo raised his head and looked at the thunder beast, wondering if he was seeing things.

He began to doubt whether he was undergoing the Foundation Establishment Tribulation.

The lightning tribulation materialized, descending in three waves in succession; even the Dragon Gate Realm is no match for this.
Xiao Mo felt a little helpless.

Having acquired the Chaos Emperor Bone and consumed the Heaven-Stealing Pill refined by National Preceptor Jiang, what merit do I possess to deserve such "favor" from Heaven?

At the same time, Bai Ruxue had already made a move.

The spiritual energy in her sleeves was almost tangible, and the black pupils in her peach blossom eyes turned into golden vertical pupils.

Jiang Qingyi also gripped the long sword in her hand tightly.

Before anyone knew it, Qin Siyao had already taken out a Ten Fiends Gun.

They knew that if they intervened now, Xiao Mo's Foundation Establishment attempt would be ruined. His first attempt at Foundation Establishment would fail, and it would be incredibly difficult for him to ever cross that threshold again.

If he doesn't intervene, Xiao Mo will die here.

However, just as the three were about to move, Xiao Mo stood up.

His knees left the ground, his back straightened again, blood was still flowing, but he did not bend over again.

A faint light shone from his body.

"This is?"

Bai Ruxue and the other two looked at Xiao Mo in surprise.

The light was neither dazzling nor sharp; it was as gentle as if it were shining from a great distance.

This is neither the radiance of spiritual power nor the protection of a magical artifact.

It's like the accumulated merit and fortune of countless lights in every home!
Xiao Mo took a deep breath, and his sword intent intensified.

He walked through the streets and alleys of the people, treating those suffering from the plague and personally tasting the medicine.

He had seen the smoke rising from the stove, supported the poor, and heard the cries of children at night.

He braved torrential rain to go to the dam and worked day and night to control the flood.

The "ordinary," "minor," and "insignificant" auras of life that the cultivators on the mountain would consider condensed into a thin halo, protecting him.

Xiao Mo gripped his sword tightly.

He didn't look at the thunder beast, nor at the churning tribulation clouds in the sky.

He simply lowered his eyes and gazed at the spirit sword in his hand.

Then, he swung his sword.

This sword strike leaves no way out, no room for retreat.

He poured the last bit of spiritual power in his body, the last bit of strength in his bones and blood, along with the faint halo of "ten thousand lights," into this sword strike.

The sword's edge points upwards.

The Thunder Beast swooped down.

at the same time.

In a separate courtyard of Bailu Academy.

A woman in a dark-colored long dress is reading a book in the room.

Suddenly, the woman put down the book in her hand and quickly walked out of the room.

Standing in the courtyard, the woman gazed into the distance, her delicate, fair hands unconsciously clenching tightly.

"Dean, what's wrong?"

Hu Die, who was practicing calligraphy in the courtyard, looked up and saw her teacher staring blankly into the distance. She quickly walked over to Shang Jiuli's side.

In Hu Die's memory, the gentleman was always elegant, dignified, and composed.

It was the first time she had ever seen her husband so nervous.

Shang Jiuli shook his head and slowly said, "It's nothing. It's just that an old friend of mine has reached the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Old friend?"

Hu Die blinked, her expression even more puzzled.

Logically speaking, all of the gentleman's old friends should have been great monks.

How could the words "old friend" be associated with foundation building?

"Yes"

Shang Jiuli smiled and turned his head to look at his disciple, then patted her head.

"An old friend who was my teacher for a very long time, someone I miss dearly."

Central China.

Confucian academy.

In the heart of this world of laws, a place that scholars from all over the world dream of.

A streak of dark, literary light rose from the Confucian Temple, soaring straight into the sky.

A gentle breeze swept through the Confucian academy.

A gentle breeze is pleasant, carrying the scent of ink.

Scholars, moved by this, felt a surge of righteous spirit within them.

This is the style of turning pages.

"How is this going?"

"What a strong book-turning vibe!"

"Could it be that a sage has been born?"

"A strange phenomenon at the Confucian Temple! How many years ago was the last time this happened?!"

"A sage. How long has it been since our Confucian school produced a sage?"

The disciples in the academy, seeing the strange phenomenon, discussed it amongst themselves with their friends, speculating about what was going on.

"Palace Master. Palace Master's direction: Confucian Temple"

A young Confucian scholar rushed into the courtyard of Kong Sheng, the head of the Confucian academy, in a panic, stammering slightly.

"I know, I know everything."

With his head full of white hair, Kong Sheng slowly got off the soft couch and walked to the window.

The old man, who looked like an ordinary villager, rolled up his sleeves, looked into the distance, and remained silent.

"Palace Master, what exactly is going on with this strange phenomenon at the Confucian Temple?" The Confucian scholar approached Kong Sheng, his heart filled with doubt. "Could it be that a sage has truly descended to earth?"

"Yes, a saint has been born."

Kong Sheng turned his head and looked in another direction.

That is the Confucian Temple.

The Confucian Temple enshrines four sages.

But among the four sages, there is one blank space that seems so abrupt.

It was as if a statue had once been there, but was eventually moved away.

"Jin Che, do you still remember the story I once told you?" Kong Sheng smiled as he looked at his last disciple.

Jin Che was taken aback: "What do you mean, sir?"

Kong Sheng smiled slightly, but his eyes were full of loneliness:

"Once upon a time, there was a very young sage who did many, many things and lived up to the expectations of the people."

"But the world has let him down."

(End of this chapter)