Chapter 862: Luoxue'er Forms Core Stage

News that Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator had gathered a group of people quickly reached Chen Mobai's ears.

Although participants were sworn to secrecy, the group began purchasing various elixirs, talismans, and magic tools in Beiyuan City. According to local tradition, this clearly indicated they were forming a team to explore a cave mansion.

As Chen Mobai expected, these individuals subsequently left Beiyuan City, using the Five Elements Sect's teleportation arrays, which spanned the entire Eastern Wilderness, to travel to Cloud Dream Lake.

After Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator also left Beiyuan City, Luo Yixuan reported to Chen Mobai, asking, "Master, do you need me to go with you?"

Chen Mobai, being cautious, considered the situation. "This matter might involve demonic cultivators, and I'm not sure of their methods. It's better if I go personally," he said, worried that Luo Yixuan might not be strong enough.

After all, Granny Ming had once mentioned that many demonic cultivators were still hidden within the three border regions of Eastern Continent. Her Moonlit Blade was acquired during a trade fair in a desolate ruin, exchanged with a cultivator from the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect.

Although Chen Mobai had previously cleared out the Eastern Wilderness, no one knew if any hidden demonic cultivators remained in the vast Cloud Dream Lake.

"Understood, Master," Luo Yixuan nodded after hearing him. She then suggested that given his noble status, he would always need an attendant, and proposed that she accompany him.

However, Chen Mobai shook his head directly, refusing. "No need, I also need to ask another fellow Daoist for help." Besides, a Core Formation cultivator was needed to oversee Beiyuan City.

Leaving a disappointed Luo Yixuan to look after the home, Chen Mobai did not head to Cloud Dream Lake immediately. Instead, he turned towards Heavenly Peng Mountain.

"Your Water Mirror Reflection technique will be perfect for Cloud Dream Lake, allowing you to showcase your skills," Chen Mobai told Qing Nü. She was very pleased to hear he wanted to take her out. Coincidentally, the Heaven-Swallowing Serpent had finished absorbing spiritual energy and was now in a stable slumber.

Qing Nü put the Heaven-Swallowing Serpent into her spirit beast pouch and, with an expectant look, followed Chen Mobai out. After all, her outings since arriving in the Eastern Wilderness had been few and far between.

Wind and Rain Dock.

Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator, being the last to arrive, discussed the final details of the operation with Hong He before they both entered the agreed-upon cave mansion. Six Foundation Establishment cultivators were already inside.

After exchanging greetings, everyone gathered in small groups to chat. Soon after, the remaining few Foundation Establishment cultivators, who were purchasing their final supplies at Wind and Rain Dock, also arrived.

Hong He was the second to last to arrive. Upon entering, he feigned a reclusive demeanor and sat directly in a corner.

Once everyone had arrived, Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator distributed formation flags. These were for the Sky Strike Cloud Water Formation, which they were to practice together. If so many Foundation Establishment cultivators worked in unison, they could break through even powerful Tier 3 restrictions.

Practicing at Wind and Rain Dock would create too much commotion, so they decided to find a secluded body of water in Cloud Dream Lake, a type of location abundant in the area.

"We'll go to Dazhi Island. Three hundred li beneath the water outside that island, there's an ancient teleportation array. Passing through there will take us to our target water mansion. We can practice the formation near that ancient array..." Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator explained her plan, and everyone nodded repeatedly, indicating their agreement.

Just as they stood up, preparing to leave together, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly began to surge and undulate with an abnormally violent fluctuation.

Startled, everyone immediately rushed out of the cave mansion. They then saw beams of pure, dense aquamarine spiritual energy surging towards the central tower of Wind and Rain Dock.

At the top of the tower, a powerful energy fluctuation continuously spread, eventually transforming into a torrential waterfall that swept across the heavens and earth, condensing and absorbing the surrounding water spiritual energy. Faintly, a brilliant golden light flickered at the center of the waterfall.

"This is... Core Formation!" The Foundation Establishment cultivators participating in this operation mostly harbored a desire for Core Formation. Several of them had even read about Core Formation insights in Beiyuan City's library, instantly recognizing what was happening, and their faces turned pale with shock.

"I heard that Deputy Hall Master Luo of the Five Elements Sect's Hall of Merit cultivates the Skyfall Art and exchanged for Core Formation spiritual items over two years ago. It must be her undergoing Core Formation," Xiang Xieyuan, the only Eastern Wilderness Foundation Establishment cultivator in the team, remarked with a mix of emotion and envy upon seeing this scene.

Judging by the aura and spectacle, she had clearly succeeded in Core Formation.

"After Core Formation comes the Heavenly Tribulation. The Five Elements Sect, out of caution, might close the teleportation arrays here at Wind and Rain Dock. Let's leave before the tribulation begins," Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator said, analyzing the situation calmly despite her own envy, and offered a suggestion.

"We shouldn't miss this opportunity. Not everyone gets to witness a Core Formation. I think we should wait until after the Heavenly Tribulation before heading to Dazhi Island," Xiang Xieyuan countered, and his suggestion quickly gained widespread support.

It was only because the Five Elements Sect was powerful now, and Sect Master Chen was benevolent, that they had the chance to witness a major sect cultivator undergoing Core Formation. Before the Eastern Wilderness was unified, when major sect cultivators underwent Core Formation, they would first activate their mountain-protecting formations and then expel all non-sect cultivators within a hundred li radius. Those who dared to disobey were instantly turned into corpses.

"If that's the case, then let's wait," Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator cursed inwardly. However, she knew that these Foundation Establishment cultivators, who aspired to Core Formation, would never leave when faced with such a spectacle. She could only go along with the majority.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiang Xieyuan took the lead, heading towards the central market of Wind and Rain Dock, wanting to get closer to the tower for a clearer view. The other Foundation Establishment cultivators, not wanting to be left behind, immediately followed. Hong He, to avoid raising suspicion, exchanged a glance with Jade Auspicious Rogue Cultivator and also joined the main group.

Upon reaching the central market of Wind and Rain Dock, they found that the area was already under martial law. Although Chen Mobai's new policies since taking charge of the Five Elements Sect were more humane, there were still fundamental rules regarding their own cultivators undergoing Core Formation.

Centered around the tower, a Tier 4 grand formation had been activated. Nujiang, the master of Wind and Rain Dock, personally led the disciples of the Water Lineage to guard the area, preventing external demons from disturbing Luo Xue'er during her Core Formation.

Nevertheless, from the market, everyone could still observe extremely dense spiritual energy gathering from all directions towards the top of the tower. This energy was swept up and absorbed by the spiritual energy waterfall, then injected into the brilliant golden light, making it increasingly dazzling.

During this process, dark clouds began to appear in the sky, with flashes of crimson fiery light and lightning flickering within them, as if fire dragons and thunder serpents were coiling, emanating a terrifying pressure that struck fear into the hearts of all Foundation Establishment cultivators!

This was the Heavenly Tribulation!? Even the cultivators of Wind and Rain Dock's Five Elements Water Lineage were witnessing this scene for the first time. Ji Guanhai and the other cultivator who had taken the Water Element Core Formation Elixir hadn't even successfully condensed their Golden Cores, so a Heavenly Tribulation couldn't be triggered for them.

Beneath the tower, Nujiang saw this scene, and a hint of relief flickered in his eyes, though his expression carried a slight sigh. He was relieved that Luo Xue'er had formed her Core, adding another successor to the Water Lineage. His sigh was for the fact that neither Luo Xue'er nor Luo Yixuan originated from his Wind and Rain Dock.

However, at least they were both from the Five Elements Sect! Nujiang consoled himself with this thought!

Meanwhile, in the distant market, Hong He, witnessing this scene, once again regretted cultivating demonic arts. If he were still in the Five Elements Sect, he would be the one successfully forming his Core and triggering the Heavenly Tribulation... No... he should have already formed his Core twenty years ago.

But there was no medicine for regret in this world. Hong He could only seize the present moment, carefully observing the various phenomena surrounding Luo Xue'er.

After all, both were forming their Cores using water-element cultivation methods, so there were bound to be similarities. He recalled the insights on Nujiang's Core Formation that Chen Mobai had given him. Luo Xue'er also cultivated the Skyfall Art, and by comparing her current phenomena with those insights, he subtly gained understanding in areas he hadn't fully grasped before.

Soon after, the Skyfall at the top of the tower suddenly expanded several times, like a torrent reversing towards heaven and earth, sweeping away all the vast spiritual energy from its surroundings. Then, the heavens and earth roared! A crimson fiery long rainbow, like a scarlet sword descending from the sky, instantly pierced into the Skyfall.

The fierce clash between water and fire immediately caused terrifying fluctuations in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. All the Foundation Establishment cultivators witnessing this scene turned pale.

If they had faced such a Heavenly Tribulation, they would probably have been turned to charcoal by the tribulation's scarlet sword in an instant. Yet, Luo Xue'er met it with her Skyfall Art.

But this was only the first wave. Next, dark red Bing Fire Divine Thunder, like lasers, crisscrossed and crashed down upon the graceful female cultivator at the top of the tower.

Hong He couldn't help but clench his fists, worried for Luo Xue'er.

However, Luo Xue'er quickly took out a dark cloth, infused it with spiritual power, and blocked all the Bing Fire Divine Thunder.

Among this batch of Five Elements Sect disciples at the peak of Foundation Establishment, Luo Xue'er had the highest chance of success. After all, with an external Golden Core combined with the Water Element Core Formation Elixir, her chances were nearly fifty percent. Moreover, she had accumulated some merit from opening up the Mo River in Xiaojun.

That's why Chen Mobai had told her to visit Heavenly Peng Mountain and borrow a tribulation-passing magic tool from Qing Nü before her seclusion. This way, after Luo Xue'er successfully formed her Core, she would also owe Qing Nü a favor.

Employing the enchanting incantation Qing Nü had taught her, Luo Xue'er utilized fifty percent of the dark cloth's power, naturally and easily passing her Core Formation Heavenly Tribulation.

As the last crimson flame sword and Bing Fire Divine Thunder were blocked, the dark clouds in the sky transformed into a torrential downpour, finally dissipating.

Core Formation succeeded!

Upon realizing this, the disciples of the Five Elements Water Lineage felt an even stronger sense of belonging to the sect. Luo Xue'er's success meant that they, too, might have a chance to form their Cores.

Meanwhile, outsiders like Xiang Xieyuan looked on with faces full of envy. If they were disciples of the Five Elements Sect, they wouldn't have to risk their lives forming teams to explore cave mansions.