NOVPUB"So, a profound foundation does not guarantee one will pass the Thunder Tribulation," said Ding Chun solemnly. "On the contrary, their challenge is greater, and their success rate is actually even lower... This is the balance of the Heavenly Dao."
Upon hearing Ding Chun’s words, Wang Ba felt a solemn reverence in his heart.
He had transitioned from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core with relative ease, without encountering any major difficulties due to his profound foundation, everything had proceeded naturally.
In his heart, he had naturally assumed that reaching Nascent Soul would be the same.
However, hearing Ding Chun’s words made him suddenly realize that it might not be so.
Even if he had enough time to grind slowly, the matters of cultivation might still require full effort.
"Then now, let me help you open up your Second Dantian," Ding Chun said.
Wang Ba hurriedly took out the stone that the other party had given him.
Half a day later.
After Wang Ba left Tianji Peak,
Ruan Ziyin walked over to Ding Chun with a puzzled look, waving her little hand in front of Ding Chun:
"Master? Master?"
Ding Chun was jolted from his absent-mindedness.
"What, what’s wrong?"
Ruan Ziyin didn’t understand, "Junior Brother Wang has gone far away, why are you still staring? Is it because Junior Brother Wang is learning too slowly? Even if he’s too slow, you still have to teach him properly... Master, why are you looking at me like that?" 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
Ding Chun looked at Ruan Ziyin with a complex gaze, about to say something but then hesitated.
For some unknown reason, Ruan Ziyin felt that the look her master, which was always full of satisfaction and affection, suddenly contained a hint of disdain when he looked at her...
No, that must be an illusion!
How could Master disdain me!
Ruan Ziyin quickly shook her head.
Looking at the silly and naive little apprentice in front of him, Ding Chun sighed inwardly and couldn’t help but look into the distance again.
There were only faint clouds in the sky.
Even though the figure was no longer visible,
Ding Chun still couldn’t help but mutter softly:
"The surnamed Yao, why does he deserve this..."
...
Chunyuan Peak.
In front of a bamboo house in the mountains,
Wang Ba looked at the figure in front of him, who was diligently concocting a medicinal decoction and looked very familiar, yet he couldn’t help but be surprised.
"This... Brother Qin?"
"What are you doing here?"
The figure was beautiful, with delicate makeup—it was Qin Fengyi from the Great Jin’s Qin Family, with whom he had once gone on a patrol mission to the West Sea Country.
Seeing Wang Ba, Qin Fengyi was also stunned, but she immediately seemed to think of something and stared at Wang Ba fiercely.
She huffed coldly.
Immediately after, she swept up the medicine stove with a flick of her sleeve and turned to walk away directly.
From the door of the bamboo house, a figure noticing the commotion stepped out lightly.
The figure was dressed in a simple white robe, looking a bit pale and listless—it was Xi Wushang, who had recently failed his Crossing Tribulation.
Seeing Wang Ba, Xi Wushang’s eyes lit up.
"Junior Brother Wang? What brings you here?"
Wang Ba also showed a smile upon seeing Xi Wushang.
But subconsciously glancing at Xi Wushang and then at the departing Qin Fengyi aroused his curiosity:
"Senior Brother Xi, you and Brother Qin are..."
Xi Wushang, as if his tail had been stepped on, hurriedly replied, "Ahem, there’s nothing between us, don’t overthink it."
As soon as he finished speaking,
a dull booming sound came from the bamboo grove in the distance.
Xi Wushang immediately showed a slightly stiff expression.
Wang Ba finally understood and smiled again, raising his hand, "Yes, yes, nothing at all... Congratulations, Senior Brother Xi."
"Hmm... Hmm? What congratulations? I’m in this state, are you here to mock me?"
Xi Wushang said with a bitter smile, spreading his hands.
Wang Ba laughed,
"Not at all, I just wanted to offer some comfort to Senior Brother Xi, but it looks like it’s not needed now."
After saying that, he pretended to leave.
"It’s needed, it’s definitely needed," replied Xi Wushang, stopping Wang Ba with a helpless expression. "After my failed Tribulation, everyone’s afraid to hurt my pride by visiting me... I’ve been suffocating here alone."
As he spoke, he took out a few jars of spirit wine from his Storage Treasure.
"Today, you must join me for a drink!"
He began to make arrangements to go to Xuanwu Market to get a few dishes.
However, Wang Ba was always prepared and simply took out the food Tao Ruyi had made, reheating it with mana.
Although it was not as fresh as when first cooked, there was no need for such formalities between the two.
"Senior Brother Xi, perhaps we should also call Brother Qin over? After all, she came from so far away for you..."
Wang Ba thought for a moment, then spoke up.
"Not for me... Well, I’ll call her over," said Xi Wushang hesitantly, and then headed into the bamboo grove.
Before long, they both came back, one after the other.
Qin Fengyi’s face was still frosty upon seeing Wang Ba,
but compared to when they had first met earlier, she seemed a bit calmer.
The three of them sat down, and just as Xi Wushang was about to lift the wine jar, Qin Fengyi couldn’t help but say angrily,
"The Heterologous Spiritual Energy in the spirit wine is not beneficial to your recovery!"
Xi Wushang was unconcerned,
"How can I not have a few drinks when Junior Brother has come?"
Wang Ba quickly advised,
"Let it be, Senior Brother; your recovery is more important."
Nevertheless, Xi Wushang still lifted the wine jar.
Seeing this, Qin Fengyi snatched it away in anger, declaring,
"I’ll drink for you!"
With that, she tilted the wine jar toward Wang Ba and immediately lifted her delicate neck, tilting back and drinking from the mouth of the jar.
No wine spilled out.
She gulped it down eagerly.
Xi Wushang watched, dumbstruck.
