There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 278 I am now so strong

the other side.

The Taoist in green robes was originally using magical chains to drag the several sealed Cangming Water Vein cultivators along with his disciple Murong Zhiqing.

But as the surrounding spiritual energy fluctuated, he suddenly stopped, looked up at the rolling dark clouds that had suddenly gathered above Xishui Town, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Oh? Someone has formed their Core? Judging from the gathering of spiritual energy in this location, the range is so vast. There are no Yin Spirit Perfection cultivators around here. Could it be that young Chen?" He stroked his beard and chuckled, then nodded slightly after calculating with his fingers. He was about to tease his disciple a bit more, but when his gaze swept across the sky again and he saw that the tribulation clouds were still gathering, his expression changed. "No! The gathering momentum of these tribulation clouds is fierce and intense. I haven't seen such a scene for hundreds of years! This kid's Core Formation has actually attracted such divine jealousy?"

He abruptly turned his head and solemnly said to Murong Zhiqing beside him, "Disciple, come with me immediately! If this child can successfully form his core, his foundation and potential will far exceed my previous estimates! If we can marry him, perhaps the ancient omen will be fulfilled, allowing our Li Huo clan to find a glimmer of hope for a new life in the great calamity to come! Remember, the key to the omen lies in your choice! Whom you choose will change the course of history!"

With a flick of his sleeve, he enveloped Murong Zhiqing and the prisoners, transforming them into a streak of blazing light that hurtled straight towards Xishui Town!
Meanwhile, in another secluded corner outside the town.

Su Yue, dressed in red, stood against the wind, her skirt like fire. Her captivating eyes were fixed on the increasingly fierce calamity clouds above the town, her beautiful face filled with surprise and doubt.

“Who else in this town is on the verge of forming his core, besides Chen Qiu? He… he’s really going to form his core right now?” She bit her lower lip tightly, her nails digging into her palms. “If that happens, won’t my carefully laid plan, using the opportunity at Thousand Reef Cave as bait to lure him into my trap, be in vain? Once he forms his core, his horizons will be even higher, how could that little bit of opportunity still tempt him?”

The thought that the two "life-and-death bonds" she had painstakingly cultivated, even using the sect's secret treasures, might be ruined by the other party's improved cultivation level filled her with intense frustration and anxiety.

"No! We can't let him succeed like this!" A resolute glint flashed in her beautiful eyes. She formed a hand seal to transmit a message, and then, with a flickering red shadow, she disappeared into the town like a wisp of red smoke, seeking an opportunity to strike.

Not far away, under an ancient pine tree.

The monk Huiming of Kuchan Temple clasped his hands together, looked up at the churning, gathering clouds of calamity, and felt the aura of destruction lurking within them. His handsome face was filled with solemnity and regret.

"Amitabha." He murmured a Buddhist chant. "The heavenly tribulation is so severe, which shows that this benefactor is indeed of extraordinary foundation and has profound blessings, further confirming that he is undoubtedly the reincarnation of a true Buddha! What a pity! What a pity! Such a treasure of Buddhism, if it cannot be introduced into my Lotus Dharma Realm and carefully nurtured, will instead be tormented in this mortal tribulation, and may even perish. How can this humble monk sit idly by?"

Having said that, he no longer hesitated. His monk's robe fluttered as he strode towards the center of the tribulation clouds. His steps seemed slow, but he was actually shrinking the distance between them, and in the blink of an eye, he was already close.

Yunluo Pharmacy.

Seeing the surging tribulation clouds in the sky, Zheng Qingtian immediately came to Chen Qing's house and said, "Brother, rest assured and overcome the tribulation. I have already activated a great formation for you, which can protect you and this town. You don't need to have any other worries..."

"Thank you, brother. But there's no need to worry. This calamity is ordinary and won't harm the medicine shop, much less affect mortals!"

Inside the house.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged, his spiritual energy surging like a tide. He had absorbed all the fierce medicinal power of the nine spiritual pills. Inside his dantian, a golden core had already condensed and was slowly rotating, absorbing a massive amount of spiritual energy!

But just as the golden elixir was about to be formed, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. The Yin spirit in his Niwan Palace reflected and he sensed waves of energy, some strong and some weak, some bright and some dark, rapidly approaching from all directions!

"The winds and rains from all directions converge here; calamity has arrived for humanity."

Instead of being surprised, Chen Qing laughed.

For him, the Core Formation realm was already second nature, and he had even personally forged the legendary Nine-Turn Golden Core! Moreover, he possessed half a Dao Fruit's external realm, making his perception of the energy of heaven and earth and his own fortune and misfortune extremely acute.

“When the Immortal Dynasty was at its peak, the lightning tribulation was magnificent, which was the essence of the righteous energy of heaven and earth. Its power was fierce and domineering. I used the lightning pool as a furnace to forge the tribulation sword, so I can say that I know its nature very well.” His mind raced as he compared the differences between heaven and earth in different eras. “But now the spiritual energy of the world is depleted, and the lightning tribulation is weak, almost non-existent. On the contrary, it has allowed me to glimpse some of the origin of lightning magic and the ingenuity of the operation of tribulation power.”

"The tribulation clouds of this Immortal Dynasty at the end of its reign appear fierce, but in reality, they are strong on the outside but weak on the inside. They are much weaker than when the dynasty was at its peak, and in my eyes, their operation is full of flaws!"

At this thought, a glint flashed in Chen Qing's eyes.

"I once mastered the power of the celestial dynasty's lightning tribulation and refined it for my own use; I have also seen through the weakness of the lightning tribulation in this world and grasped its essence. The accumulation of these two lifetimes has been integrated into one body, and now I am terrifyingly strong. I can be said to be a specialist in lightning. What is there to fear in the face of such a tribulation of a declining world?"

"Boom!!!"

As if in response to his thoughts, the first bolt of lightning, as thick as a bucket and dark in color, roared down fiercely towards him from the thick, inky clouds above the house!
Before the lightning even arrived, the oppressive aura made the crowd who had rushed to the courtyard gasp for breath!
Chen Qing slowly raised his head in the light of the lightning.

"Well done!"

Instead of dodging or avoiding, he let out a long laugh and then raised his hand to grab upwards in a precarious manner!
In an instant, the surrounding spiritual energy gathered, and wisps of azure flames swirled around it. When the spiritual energy melted into it, it transformed into a giant azure flame palm, which grasped the fierce lightning bolt in one swift motion!
"Zzzzz—" Lightning leaped and struggled in his palm, its destructive power about to erupt, but it was tightly enveloped, burned, and refined by the Qingqiu Strange Fire!
Then, Chen Qing clenched his five fingers together, and the giant palm of azure fire tightened, actually squeezing the tribulation lightning into a deformed and twisted shape!
The Yin spirit flew out, its spiritual light illuminating the thunder, following the method of enlightening its destiny in its previous life, and refined this tribulation lightning!

Immediately afterwards, Chen Qing flicked his wrist, sending the lightning bolt, which had been partially refined and tamed, flying back towards the churning tribulation clouds above!
"boom!"

The lightning bolts thrown back were like sparks splashed into boiling oil, instantly igniting the accumulated tribulation power within the tribulation clouds!
The entire tribulation cloud trembled violently, and lightning of various colors—red, gold, purple, white…—manifested, roared, and rolled one after another like enraged thunder dragons! Its power and level of chaos suddenly increased several times!
Chen Qing, using the lightning he had refined as a guide, used his divine sense like a stringed puppet to pull and guide the raging lightning that filled the sky!
His gaze shifted, sweeping over the figures around him, some in the light, some in the shadows, each with their own hidden agendas.

"Ok?"

"What is he going to do?"

Outside the courtyard, the Taoist in green robes, Consort Li, Monk Huiming, Su Yue, and other figures who had just arrived and were lurking in the shadows, were all taken aback when they saw Chen Qing's actions, their faces showing confusion and surprise.

But the next moment, everyone's expression changed drastically!
"not good!"

"You brat!"

Several bolts of violent lightning, guided by Chen Qing's divine sense, deviated from their original trajectory and struck down fiercely towards their location with thunderous roars!

"Boom!"

"Crack!"

Thunder shines in the world!
"Good lad!" The Taoist in green robes swayed, his sleeves billowing as flames surged, transforming into a barrier of fire that blocked the lightning bolts aimed at him and Murong Zhiqing. Amidst the flying sparks, he was both amused and annoyed. "He actually used us as shields to face his tribulation, drawing in heavenly lightning to share the burden of his calamity! How cunning!"

On the other side, Consort Li waved her sleeves, and streaks of crimson light flashed like ribbons, blocking a purple lightning bolt that twisted like a snake. Although she looked disheveled, her beautiful eyes shone with admiration: "Such exquisite manipulation of tribulation lightning can only be done by someone with a very deep understanding of the nature of lightning! That bastard Zhang San, this time he probably really got lucky!"

"Amitabha!"

Monk Huiming was the first to be hit. A golden Buddhist light had just risen when it was shattered by the crimson lightning! He groaned, his monk's robe was charred black, and blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth. He had already suffered internal injuries!
At the critical moment, a crack suddenly appeared between his brows, and a flawless relic shot out and hovered above his head! Furthermore, a dignified and compassionate Buddha image appeared behind him, which barely managed to withstand the subsequent erosion of the lightning!

Upon seeing the approaching lightning, Su Yue felt a sudden alarm and her face paled instantly. She dared not linger any longer. With a sharp cry, she transformed into a red shadow and retreated rapidly. At the same time, she flicked her hands, shooting out several streams of pink mist that slightly deflected the pursuing lightning, leading it towards a dense forest outside the town!
"boom!"

Lightning flashed into the forest, instantly sending up a shower of wood chips and scorched earth!
However, a jet-black palm print burst forth from the depths of the forest, shattering the remaining lightning!

As the palm print faded, a blurry black shadow could be vaguely seen standing in the shadows of the forest, giving a cold glance toward the town before disappearing from sight.

In addition, several figures that were originally hidden very deeply were also forced to reveal themselves by this indiscriminate lightning. Some used magic weapons, while others used secret techniques. Various spiritual lights flashed as they hastily resisted this sudden "heavenly tribulation"!
In an instant, within a radius of several hundred feet centered on Chen Qing's courtyard, lightning snakes danced wildly, roaring incessantly! People from all sides displayed their extraordinary abilities, creating a chaotic scene!

The townspeople were trembling with fear, believing it to be divine punishment!

But they soon discovered that the terrifying lightning was actually circling around the town, as if someone was controlling it from behind!
For a moment, they were all filled with awe and stopped what they were doing to bow to Yunluo Pharmacy.

"This tribulation of lightning came because of me, frightening the mortals, yet it has instilled in them awe and made them worship me. This is truly going against the natural order. No wonder those who practice religion have always rejoiced in calamities..."

Chen Qing sat in the eye of the storm, manipulating the thunder and lightning, mixing the heavenly tribulation with the human tribulation, and then calmly opened his mouth and inhaled, swallowing the tribulation energy left behind after the thunder scattered into his belly, which propelled the nascent golden core to rotate!

One turn... two turns... three turns... four turns... seven turns... eight turns... nine turns!
In the blink of an eye, the Golden Core has undergone nine transformations!
Then, with each turn, a series of strange phenomena appeared!

The elixir fire flickers, calamity patterns follow, destiny stars manifest, seeds of supernatural powers sprout, and magical treasures radiate light…

As soon as the projection of his/her self appeared, Chen Qing's eyes lit up, and he immediately focused his mind on it, outlining the outline of his/her past life!

"Buzz!"

As the blurry outline of the Hidden Star Dharma Master gradually took shape, a door hidden within it suddenly burst open!

(End of this chapter)