Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 295 Golden Core Tribulation

Three years were spent inside the space, while only three days passed in the outside world.

For the past three years, Lin Yan has been sitting under that enlightenment tea tree, using the wisps of Daoist energy it emits to finally master the "Flesh Refining" stage of the "Great Zhou Celestial Body Refining Technique," without any further hindrance. The true essence within his body has also been repeatedly refined and condensed to the extreme that the Foundation Establishment stage can achieve, truly reaching the point where there is no further progress.

He took a deep breath and stored all the top-grade healing pills he had accumulated, along with a mountain of top-grade spirit stones, into his storage ring. He took one last look at this safe haven he had stayed in for so long, and with a thought, his figure vanished from the void, reappearing on the desolate and lonely Rockel Island.

As soon as their feet touched the cold rocks, Elder Zhen, Elder Fu, and Elder Dan came to greet them.

"Young Master, the Ninefold Complex Array has been fully set up and can be activated at any time." The Array Master spoke first, his tone steady.

Elder Fu's face was unusually solemn. He stepped forward and said, "Young Master, the Heavenly Tribulation's senses are very sharp. We cannot get too close to you, otherwise we might be judged as joining forces to undergo the tribulation. In that case, the power of the Heavenly Tribulation would increase dramatically, which would be counterproductive. We will protect you from a distance on our swords, but ultimately, this most crucial hurdle can only be overcome by you alone." He paused, his voice slightly hoarse, "Young Master... please take care."

Elder Dan didn't say much, but silently stuffed several heavy jade bottles into Lin Yan's hands and patted his arm hard.

Lin Yan glanced at the three loyal seniors, taking in their concern and worry. He said nothing, only nodded heavily, then resolutely turned and walked step by step towards the open space in the center of the island, faintly shrouded in the spiritual light of the array.

On this isolated island, the winds of change are blowing.

Lin Yan no longer suppressed his aura. The "Heaven and Earth Creation Technique" circulated within his body at an unprecedented speed. The pure and vast true essence surged like a boiling river, and the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection soared into the sky without reservation!

It was like throwing a boulder into a calm lake. Almost the instant he unleashed his full power, the previously clear sky overhead visibly darkened! Thick, inky clouds gathered from all directions, churning and hanging low, as if to crush the entire island. A fierce gale howled, whipping up rocks and seawater, emitting a shrill, ghostly wail.

Within the thick clouds, blinding lightning bolts began to dart and intertwine wildly, emitting a deep and majestic "boom," and a destructive aura permeated every inch of air, making it suffocating.

Lin Yan took a deep breath of the air filled with the aura of thunder, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. He did not immediately activate the nine-layered protective array set up by the Array Master. Normally, the Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation consists of twenty-seven lightning strikes, usually three times nine. He made an extremely bold decision—to use these first few strikes of heavenly lightning as the final boost to his breakthrough to the Body Refining Realm of the *Great Zhou Heavenly Star Body Refining Technique*!

Without hesitation, he swallowed the Golden Crow Blood Pill bestowed upon him by Elder Dan. The pill instantly transformed into a blazing, violent energy within his body, like a wild horse unleashed, or magma surging through his meridians and flesh, bringing a searing pain. Lin Yan dared not delay, immediately channeling his full power into his body-refining technique, guiding this immense medicinal force to forcefully permeate and cleanse every inch of his flesh and blood.

Just as the medicinal effects clashed fiercely with the physical body, at the most critical moment—

"Snap!!!"

A deafening thunderclap exploded! A dazzling bolt of lightning, as thick as a bucket, like the spear of divine judgment, tore through the dark sky and struck Lin Yan squarely on the head!

"Ugh—!"

The immense impact sent a violent jolt through his body, causing him to let out a muffled groan. Indescribable pain instantly engulfed his entire being, as if every inch of his skin and every muscle was being torn apart and burned, his limbs and bones screaming in agony. A fear originating from the depths of his soul threatened to consume him.

But he held fast to the last vestige of clarity in his mind!

He clenched his teeth so tightly that you could hear them grinding together. With his powerful willpower, instead of circulating his true energy to dispel or resist the destructive power of the lightning, he actively activated the secret technique recorded in the body-refining manual. Just like guiding the violent medicinal power, he forcibly absorbed the destructive lightning energy that permeated his body into his body bit by bit!

"Sizzle—!"

The lightning entered his body, violently colliding and intertwining with the medicinal power of the Golden Crow Blood Pill and his own flesh and blood. This process was far more unbearable than simple excruciating pain; it felt as if countless red-hot steel needles were piercing and churning inside him, or as if he had been thrown into a furnace forged by heaven and earth, undergoing the most cruel forging.

He was drenched in sweat, his body trembling slightly uncontrollably, and charred marks appeared on his skin, even oozing beads of blood that were instantly evaporated. But the stubborn ruthlessness within him was also fully unleashed.

"Come on! Let's see if your tribulation lightning will shatter me first, or if I'll borrow your power to forge an unparalleled foundation!"

He not only guided the lightning to cleanse his entire body, but also, despite the excruciating pain, gritted his teeth and actively used a portion of the violent lightning tribulation power to fiercely stimulate the medicinal power of the Golden Crow Blood Pill that had not yet fully dissolved within his body!

This is an almost self-destructive and insane act! It's like pouring hot oil on a raging fire!

"boom!"

Two extremely powerful and domineering energies were forcibly combined within his body, unleashing an even stronger effect and more fiercely forging his flesh and bones. In this extreme pain and destruction, his entire body seemed to groan from unbearable strain, yet in the next moment, it greedily absorbed the faint but essential life force contained within this destruction, undergoing a slow but steady transformation.

The residual power of the first lightning tribulation had not yet completely dissipated, but Lin Yan withstood it and successfully transformed it into nourishment for his body refinement. He was slightly out of breath as he looked up at the increasingly thick and densely lightning-filled tribulation clouds in the sky. Instead of fear, his eyes burned with an even more intense flame.

It seems that Heaven has sensed his intentions, or perhaps it simply does not allow any form of "exploitation".

The calamity clouds overhead suddenly churned violently again, lower than before, their destructive aura multiplied. Blinding lightning gathered within the clouds at an unimaginable speed!

"BOOM—!!!"

A bolt of lightning, thicker and darker in color than before, struck his crown chakra once again with uninterrupted force and overwhelming divine might!

"puff--"

This impact far surpassed the previous ones. Lin Yan's entire body trembled violently, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which also contained fragments of his injured internal organs. He felt as if his internal organs had been instantly thrown into the core of lava, experiencing a clear, almost roasting pain, and his consciousness became momentarily blurred.

We cannot fall! If we fall now, all our previous efforts will be in vain, and we will surely die!

A strong will to survive and a strong sense of Dao sustained him. Just as his consciousness was about to be swallowed by the excruciating pain, he relied on a fierce determination and, almost instinctively, swallowed the second Golden Crow Blood Pill that he had prepared beforehand!

The new, scorching hot medicinal power exploded in his body instantly, colliding violently with the newly invaded, even more violent second lightning tribulation power, as well as the residual power of the first lightning tribulation that had not yet been fully consumed!

"Ughhhhhh—!"

This was no longer the piercing of steel needles, but rather as if countless red-hot iron hammers were frantically forging his body, every inch of meridian, every bone, and every internal organ groaning in agony from the unbearable strain. His body surface began to show more severe charring and cracking, and even the faint smell of flesh could be smelled, making him look utterly miserable.

But in his eyes, which were illuminated by the lightning and shone brightly, burned an indomitable flame.

He memorized the previous method and, with his indomitable will, repeated it once again!

Using the "Great Zhou Celestial Body Refining Technique" as his foundation and his own tenacious divine sense as his guide, he forcefully sought the delicate balance point among these three violent energies that were enough to instantly tear an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator to shreds. He guided them as if riding three out-of-control ferocious beasts, continuing to temper his already severely injured body in a more cruel and in-depth way!

The pain was several times greater than before.

But with each surge, collision, and fusion of energy, he could clearly feel that his flesh and blood were being forcibly cleansed of impurities and infused with even greater power in this extreme destruction, becoming more resilient and radiating a deeper vitality.

When the third lightning bolt, crackling with bluish-purple light, struck, blood seeped from Lin Yan's eardrums. He mechanically swallowed the third Golden Crow Blood Pill, letting the three different types of lightning and fire fight each other in his meridians. His spine hummed under the strain, but at that moment, fine star patterns appeared.

The fourth lightning bolt transformed into a chain of lightning that coiled around his body. The instant the pill entered his throat, he clearly heard the crisp sound of his ribs breaking. But new flesh and blood were visibly enveloping the broken bones, gleaming with a metallic sheen.

The fifth lightning tribulation descended from above in a spiral pattern. Lin Yan coughed up blood from his seven orifices, yet he laughed loudly, looking up at the sky. His internal organs were reshaped amidst the lightning and fire, and his heart pounded like a war drum. The top-grade spirit stones in his storage ring automatically scattered around, forming a vortex of spiritual energy.

The sixth lightning tribulation actually condensed into the shape of a knife and axe. When Lin Yan swallowed the sixth pill, the white bone at his fingertips was already exposed. But the writhing flesh at the wound shimmered with starlight, and each tremor caused the spiritual energy around him to resonate.

The seventh lightning tribulation possessed both ice and fire properties. The instant the pill dissolved, frost formed on his left side, while flames ignited on his right. Just as his consciousness was about to dissipate, the eight major realms within his sea of ​​consciousness suddenly activated on their own, forming a chaotic canopy above his head.

Before the eighth tribulation lightning struck, Lin Yan swallowed the remaining three Golden Crow Blood Pills simultaneously. The instant the tribulation lightning struck, all 365 acupoints on his body lit up at the same time, like a reflection of the starry sky. Beneath his shattered skin, the newly formed tissues had a translucent, glassy texture.

As the ninth lightning bolt transformed into a golden dragon and swooped down, Lin Yan's jade-like bones were already visible on his standing body. The instant the lightning pierced his body, he let out a long roar that shook the heavens and the earth, and his flesh and blood instantly underwent nine collapses and reconstructions.

He was gambling with his life, betting that his will could hold out until his physical body completed its transformation, betting that this Heavenly Tribulation tempering path could pave the most solid Golden Core path for him!

As the thunderclouds dissipated, the figure in the center of the scorched earth slowly straightened up. The charred outer shell peeled away inch by inch, revealing the shimmering, iridescent skin beneath. With a casual wave of his hand, the air crackled and tore apart.

The Body Refining Realm of the Great Zhou Celestial Body Refining Technique - Third Stage Achieved!

The old man's voice, trembling, came from afar: "Young Master... the real test is about to begin."