What did she mean with that?
Xifeng was momentarily stunned, WHAT DID SHE MEAN? How could one cultivate this state and not know about the tribulation! What exactly did her elders do! Was she some kind of wild child?!
Obviously Xifeng knew next to nothing about Kou, the only proper instructions she had gotten were far back in the sect. Shi Shi never had bothered and the friends on Alchemy Island barely had a clue about human cultivation as it is.
"Ah..." She was about to try to explain but it was already too late.
A multicolored lightning bolt shot down from the heavens and landed right on Kou. This was kinda tingly. It was an unexpected reaction of someone that was just hit with lightning but she was perfectly fine, she felt how the lightning was burning through her body, but it did not damage her - yet. She felt how this lightning was burning away some of the medical residues that were left in her body, from all the pills she had taken up until now.
Her gaze shot up slightly, and what she saw in the heavens...made her gasp, her eyes widening. That small Lightning bolt was .. little more then a teasing, what was rumbling up there were bolts as wide as a tree crackling with power.
"No way!" Kou tried to back off but it was as if some higher power was freezing her in place. If all of these bolts came down on her she would be a small pile of ash afterward! "No way!" If you thought about it Kou's cultivation had been going smoothly until now, she was blessed with outstanding talent and help from outside sources...the more talented one was the stronger their Heavenly tribulation would be, that was why people like Xiu Shihong spend a year preparing for it.
Obviously, Bingqing had no idea how dangerous all of this was, and Xifeng just assumed the girl was prepared, who got so strong and had not prepared to enter Core-Formation after all! Xifeng was about a mile away but Kou could still hear her. "Refine the heavenly energy that shoots down on you and forge your core in it, the quicker you are the bigger the chance you might not be jerky at the end!"
Wow, such helpful advice! Kou rolled her eyes and let out a deep breath, icy energy was gathering around her. She would try to weaken the stronger lightning before it hit her and just take the weaker bolts. There was nothing to it now, it was do or die!
Another bolt of Lightning hit her this time far bigger than the one before, this was not ticklish this hurt a lot! She felt how the energy was penetrating her body and put all her effort into withstanding it and directing the energy to her core....
15 minutes later.
She was covered in ash her skin was burned, her clothes were in tatters, her hair had been on fire multiple times and she was just about to start crying. "WHEN WILL THIS END!" She screamed at heaven as the next lightning bolt crashed into her body, she already had reforged her core, it was clear and big, a perfect Ice Core, but the Lightning still did not stop!
When she opened her mouth a cloud of ash left her and she fell on her behind. Somebody just had fun torturing her here! She would find out who actually did this at some point when she was strong enough and she would show them what real suffer...BZBZBZBBBBBZZZZ
Another Lightning Bolt interrupted her thoughts and she got shocked again, this one was stronger than before, so much so that it almost knocked her out.
Xifeng sat back, looking somewhat sorry for the girl, having such good talent truly was being punished by the heavens right now! She could do nothing to help her at all, just feel with her as she flinched every time a lightning bolt hit her. "You are almost .. done..." She tried to encourage but she was not quite sure about that.
Kou, was just about done now. Her body was littered in cracks and she was not sure if she even had any blood left in her, it must've all evaporated from boiling by now, she stood up slowly after being hit another time and glared at the heavens, she pulled together all her power and simply shoot a giant Icicle against the Lightning bolt that was currently shooting towards her "SHUT UP ALREADY!" Obviously, she knew nobody heard her up there... but still, this was rather frustrating, and she really did not want to die by Lightning.
This Lightning bolt was the strongest one, and she felt her skin break, cracks, and bloody lines formed under the heavenly power as she struggled to withstand it, her hair singed even more and ash was covering her skin, she really was at the worst possible state right now! But she did not give up! She would withstand this! She still got loose ends to clean up and she would not let it be over like this, presenting all of her will and Qi she went against this attack, she went against the very punishment from the heavens, she would not perish here at all.
And then there was silence.
Xifeng was breathless. Such a strong tribulation spoke for great talent. People like this usually needed a long time to prepare to fight it off and even then some would die, this here was nothing less than a miracle! The girl's luck was not bad at all!
However as Kou turned around her eyes rolled back she spat out a cloud of ash and fell to the ground, unconscious once more, who would've imagined she would drop down the moment it was over... This girl really got knocked out an awful lot.
Utilizing some of her strength Xifeng just floated the girl back inside the cave, and while doing so she gave her a proper look to.
Jep, that was core formation alright, She had formed a very pure Ice-Core that was seething with energy, obviously, it was very special and not comparable to the lesser cores. As long as she used her Yin based energy she would be able to display powers rivaling and even dwarfing those of golden-core cultivators, indeed she was very specialized but in that, there was quite some strength to be found, Xifeng was sure that the girl could stomp any lesser core-formation person in the empire if she wished to, the only people that could hold a candle were those in the late stages or that actually had a golden core.
Somewhat satisfied Xifeng glanced at the slightly singed Kou, and with a wave of her Wing Magical energy gathered around her cleaning all the dirt away and restoring her skin and hair back to normal. Xifeng was a phoenix after all! Also, she preferred eye candy to be in good shape...
With a chuckle she landed on Kou's shoulder "Mh, her skin is really soft and pale, my god. These men in the empire have no taste, if she went to the Southern Dynasty she would be praised where she went just for the beauty.
"Mh... now that she is out anyway... maybe now is a good chance to get a peek..." The bird was grabbed, and the situation seemed fairly familiar as Kou opened her eyes icy blue light filled the cave and she let out a deep sigh. "What are you even doing, weird bird.."
Letting out a deep sigh Kou shook her head and pumped her left arm up into the air her eyes glowing as she just stayed in the victory pose for a little, she had arrived in CORE FORMATION! What was that? She was not even twenty by a longshot! Incredible! Awesome! Great!
She glanced at Xifeng for a moment, that bird was sent to her by her mother, so she really did not care at all what it thought of her. Kou rose up into the air, effortlessly employing Farstriders steps, it was so easy to use now! All her training was totally worth it!
She shot towards the empty tundra followed by Xifeng, the bird was speechless, this girl was not humble reserved or dignified at all! What was she doing throwing rocks around and creating giant Ice sculptures in the middle of nowhere! Actually... it looked quite fun, and the girl's cheerful and unrestrained laughter was quite cute, but still! A Core Formation cultivator should not act like this at all! What about the mysterious Aura!
Many years later the natives would still find weird Ice sculptures in the middle of nowhere depicting a beautiful young girl with a spear, some cute animals as well as a youth with striking eyes, a girl wearing glasses - as well as an old lady with fox ears. It was quite a weird sight! But they could feel the might of the spirit in these statures so nobody dared to do anything to them.
...
After letting out some steam Kou came to a rest, she pulled out her Pill furnace and started to create a few essence argumenting pills, quite basic golden core pills that would restore some Qi and Spiritual sense in her, and a few meant about 50 of them. Obviously her Alchemie knowledge was quite deep by now. Actually, she was very proud of it, it was an actual skill she had and was good at! Not just stealing, running away, or cultivation! She was sure that she could become a Master at some point, even if her current experience was limited, and her teacher had been a rock.
It took her about 2 days to finish up, she actually did not need to sleep anymore but she still took a short nap before spreading everything out in front of her carefully. She knew which way DongZhou was, and she could find her way to the Sect from DongZhou, and then she just had to get Shi Shi and do whatever she needed to do to free her. Easy right?
She nodded slightly, weapons on Belt. She did not like the dagger being in the storage treasure, she preferred it there. Pills and spirit stones ready, she had nothing else she could use right now, she had no arrays no secret weapons, or even just a plan. Because the Plan was to be a road roller and stomp everyone that protested! She knew she was powerful now after all!
Xifeng blinked slightly and flew in front of Kou's face her wings flapping up and down to stop her as she was ready to leave. "Stop Stop Stop! Can you stop having an inner monologue and explain to me what you are doing? I have no idea if you are not aware of that and I very much preferred if I knew what the heck is going on." Kou just glanced at her, she was not really used to having a companion like this, she never talked much after all. with a grumpy Harumph! Kou scooped up the bird placing her in a pocket of her cloak. "We are going to save my grandma, I don't know from what or how, but we gonna do it." That was all the explanation Xifeng got before Kou shoot up into the air.
With the power of her Ice Core, she could go for hours like this! She jumped freely through the air, the dream the creator of Farstriders Steep was fulfilled, she was pretty much flying at this point, it took her about 2 hours and she penetrated the DongZhou shield sneakily, clad in shadows before she ran a few miles before she once more shoot up into the air.
She loved this feeling, she felt so free in this moment, the wind fluttering by her, the effortless way she crossed a distance that had been incomprehensibly huge before! And so just a few hours away from Ancient Cloud Sect she pulled out the flying treasure she had gotten before, sitting down cross-legged as she threw a few pills in and started to cultivate, she would be in top condition when she arrived!
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
....
Elder Gui, laughed out loud, this new batch of trainees truly had it coming, the sect head hat increased the strictness of the training in the last few years, so much so that those poor children always left exhausted and pale-faced after his runs. He had since then reached the peak third realm, his mortal body already having advanced into the mid-fourth, he was a very rare type that found it easier to cultivate their body then their soul, and so he could even fight others that had already fully stepped into the fourth realm!
It was for that very reason he was an Elder! They were about 2 hours away from the sect and he was just about to allow the children to rest when a cold aura suddenly washed over him, his eyes went wide and every hair on his chiseled frame stood straight as he glanced to the sky. This power was clearly a Core Formation elder! And not just anybody but someone with quite the high cultivation, quickly he waved at the children.
"To your knees all of you!" He shouted as beautiful flying treasure landed in front of him, his eyes went wide. The dark cloak around her shoulders was unable to hide the beauty. The female in front of him seemed like a flower created from the most beautiful ice, her skin was pale, her eyes strikingly blue, her hair was as white as the snow, only long and fluffy fox ears had two black tufts, just barely could he see the crystal blue cheongsam she wore under her cloak, as well as her lithe figure. But much more shockingly she did not look any older than 16 or 17 years old!
He was standing there his mind rolling for a second. But he was an elder! And quickly managed to compose himself cupping his hands in a deep bow "This Gui greets honored Miss." His bow was so deep that it was almost uncomfortable.
...
Why exactly did he bow down to her? Her ears twitched slightly, all the eyes on her were uncomfortable, she landed out of an itch to greet the elder that had supported her before, but now, she felt like he did not even remember her and treated her very differently, luckily she heard Xifeng's voice in her head, giving her a quick explanation. As it was normal to treat a Core Formation person like this when your own cultivation was as weak as Elder Gui's
"Mh." Kou nodded slightly towards the Elder.. she pulled her disciple token out holding it in his direction her nose slightly curled. " I want to go inside, am I still allowed with this or do I have to use force?" Obviously the Ancient Cloud Sect had its own defensive array that kept dangers and evil cultivators out, one could only get inside if they had the token, and a token would only acknowledge the one that had feed it with Qi.
Elder Gui was once more left speechless. Fluffy ears... a tail, actually.. 2 tails, white hair. His brain felt like it was about to melt. He remembered the small scruffy girl from years back. Who would've known she grew up to be such a beauty and so powerful even, in fact, it was ... incomprehensible for him! Was she not dead? He remembered that she died in the Ning Disaster! And how the Ning had suppressed any search parties for her.
What kind of good luck did this supposed to be dead girl run into, to return such a short time later as a Core-formation Master! And she even came back to the sect after what had happened, what a good girl!
His throat was dry and he quickly nodded. "You can pass Senior-Sister, this Gui will bring you back with him if you wish so."
Quickly she shook her head, a bit weirded out about being called Senior-Sister by the man easily twice her age and simply flew back up. If she could get inside just like that, well that was easy enough was it not? She just left the Elder behind and passed through the defensive array without a hitch, entering the Ancient Clouds inner lands.
Quite quickly multiple aurae's flared up, not just one Core Formation elder appeared on a flying treasure but actually 4! Two of them were the Sect Master and Grand-Elder and the other two were old elders that had long since stepped into seclusion!
Every single one of them was far older than a hundred years, the oldest of them that already had one foot in the grave was actually 670 years old this year! Seeing this fragile-looking flower appear in front of them creating an Aura that felt as big as the heavens was actually quite surreal, each of them had a violet core, it might not be the best, but it also was by far not the worst! But this girl, as they could tell was clearly just in the early gold-core and already had such an aura to her!
One of them actually was in the late middle stage, while the rest all had settled in in the "Early" mid-stage core-formation, there were actually a few more early core elders in the conclave area but they did not have the ability to stand up here.
They were all quite confused as the girl did not seem hostile she just floated there looking at them with large ice-blue eyes, she did not introduce herself at all for a moment, usually, it was the custom, to do so! She just floated there, looking at them.. seemingly aloof.
Kou tilted her head slightly to the side as one of the Elders, the only woman of the 4 made her way closer. "Young Miss, this one is Elder Eclipse, you have invaded ancient clouds territory!" Even if this girl was strong she still had to mind her manners! This was not a place someone could just waltz into, actually, how did she even get in without the array giving any warning to them!
Kou really did not want to deal with these Elders, and quickly pulled Xifeng out of her cloak "You explain.."
Xifeng felt very mistreated right now, she had send Kou many words to say, how she should act but this girl seemed to not care about her face at all! She wanted no respect and did not give a care about it. Carefully she floated forward halfway to the Elders before she started to speak.
"Greetings, this one is little Fei, my Miss sadly is very tired so I shall speak for her."
The elders were once more taken aback, this little bird was so adorable and pretty, and it could actually speak! It was a spirit beast of considerable worth and power and they became even more guarded towards its owner, that was still looking at them with cold eyes, it was actually a bit unnerving.
Not to speak of Xifeng, that had been degraded from Pheonix princess to.. whatever this was... right now. "Young Miss is actually a disciple of Ancient Cloud Sect, her name is Yun Kou, and she has returned after being sweeper away for a few years." The bird's voice was quite beautiful too, and the elders exchanged looks. A Disciple of Ancient Cloud Sect? One they had never heard of that reached Core Formation at such a young age? How was that even possible.
But now Elder Gui had made it inside, his back drenched in sweat as he had run all the way here. "Outer Court, Elder Gui reporting, this is indeed Miss Yun Kou that was under my and Miss Yee's tutor ledge for a year or so." The Core Elders exchanged a few helpless looks before nodding towards Gui. Kou was actually getting a bit impatient here, she did not know these elders, she had no feelings towards them. She liked Elder Gui but these people had no connection with her so she waved her hand to gather Xifeng back up.
"Elder Gui, go and prepare suitable housing for the young Miss." The oldest of the 4, Qin Yu spoke out. His words had quite the weight in the hearts of the other elders, but before Gui even had a chance to move on Kou just shook her head. "I've come to gather something I have left behind, I will not stay." With these words Kou simply turned around, flying towards the Outer Sect houses. Shi Shi's space was not that far away from there so she made her way there.
The Elders were once again left speechless... How could someone reach Core Formation without an ounce of common sense like that! She did not care about their, or even worse, her own face at all! What would people think if she just barged into an Outer Sect House as a Core Formation Elder!
Elder Eclipse rubbed the back of her head and looked down towards Gui who was just as shocked as the other elders. "What kind of Monster have you and the other outer sect elders created! We must investigate What she is doing, so lets follow.."
They actually could not find her at all! She had entered the Outer Sect and had vanished afterward!
...
Shi Shi's home was still the same, a Large Cave, a pound, and a small field with medical herbs growing. Everything seemed neatly tended, the shield was a little weak which left Kou slightly worried as she landed in front of the Cave.
What came out of that Cave was not comparable to the Shi Shi she had known, in just these few years she had turned from a stout and playful elderly woman into someone that looked like she had one foot in her grave, her body seemed drained and withered, her arms were thin and her back was hunched
Kou's hearth hurt as she watched her move around, the woman did not even have the power to notice her anymore, so Kou quickly jumped down from her flying treasure and moved so that Shi Shi would notice her.
The elderly woman froze solid, her brows narrowing and her eyes becoming small. "You dumb girl, why would you come back here." That was the first thing she said before making her way over, Kou was quickly smacked the stick Shi Shi used to hold herself up a few times. "I went through all that effort to send you out, but you giant idiot came back, I told you not to come back did I not?!"
Kou just took the hits, if it had been anyone else she would've already retaliated but Shi Shi? She could hit her a few more times..Kou should've come earlier... Abusing her power Kou opened her left hand, a pill appeared inside and she stuffed into Shi Shi's mouth to make her shut up.
This was another Essence Argumenting Pill, it was a 4th level pill and would help Shi Shi gain some strength back, hopefully. The Woman swallowed and calmed down a little. "Girl.. you need to leave, as quick as you can. You can't bring me with you. I'm bound here, and once that old loser wakes up he will be at-least a Nascent Soul, you can't beat him.
Kou curled her nose slightly and shook her head. "So I just break in.. now and kill him?" She did not see the problem but Shi Shi shook her head multiple times. "The only reason he was able to bind me here was that he is a lucky bastard that managed to get his hand on a special inheritance that made him a Master at array formations, you can't break through it, there is no chance for you too."
Kou was stumped for a moment. "So how do I save you? I won't back down if I need to die here with you so be it, I trained that hard to save you." She was in a very poor mood now, her eyes watery as she stared at Shi Shi "You can't die, you aren't allowed to!" Kou knew she had a family with Bingqing, but Shi Shi was the first person that had ever given her warmth the person that had the highest place in her heart. She would definitely stay here and fight if she could not safe Shi Shi!
Shi Shi fell silent for a moment. This girl... she became so pretty, just like I was before... she might even be prettier, and she has no arrogance to her.. she is still as simple as she had been before.. and she won't take no for an answer here... She would stay here and fight... so she might as well give her an option that did not involve fighting a Nascent Soul, with a deep sigh, Shi Shi turned around.
"Many years ago I listened to some of the Elders talking. The Ning Royal family apparently has a treasure that can break any array. If you can break the array on me and support me afterward, I may be able to take part of the power that despicable loser has drained from me back and handing the ass whooping of his lifetime. I probably will only last for about a month or two, so you would have to be quick."
Obviously, Shi Shi wanted to live, but she rather die than have Kou die for her she stepped forward to touch Kou's forehead, her divine sense was so weak by now that she could not check the girl's body otherwise. What she saw surprised and saddened her. What kind of training did this girl do, how many pills did she take to become so strong? She had spent her youth just for training. Shi Shi was never able to give her a normal and comfortable family life.
But... with this power, Kou would be able to do this if she were careful! With her hand still on Kou's forehead, Shi Shi left a mark on Kou's soul. "Refine this mark later, it has the method of transforming in it. Your bloodline is quite strong you should be able to easily transform into a fox, use it to infiltrate the royal palace, also take this." She pulled a small pendant out of her sleeve and put it around Kou's neck.
"This will hide your power of anyone below the Nascent Soul stage."
Kou looked at the pendant and finally stepped forward to hug Shi Shi firmly, both of her tails came out from under the cloak and hugged around the woman as well as she for the first time in a while started to cry. "Kou will help you, I will be filial and save Shi Shi! You just wait here for me to come back!"
As quickly as they had meet .. just as quickly they had to part. And Kou had an open goal in mind. She reappeared in the middle of the sect, with dark eyes she looked at the shocked elders that had to spend some time looking for her. Where did this girl come from!
"I found what I wanted, I will go back to training."
This was all the words they got.. they wanted an explanation! But the girl already was shooting away through the air.
The elders exchanged helpless looks, but there was nothing they could do here! Each of them had cold sweat on their backs! The girl's aura was completely gone, for such feat one had to be considerably powerful, and she might've even been far more powerful then she had shown them earlier.
"Lets just... forget this happened, no need to bother the old ancestor with this, he will just get finicky if he hears about a random Core Formation kid, he worries to much."