The tribulation clouds gathered thicker and denser, as if condensing into a solid mass that could fall from the sky at any moment. The cultivators who had originally only intended to watch the excitement gripped their magical tools tightly, sweat soaking through their backs.

Beneath the tribulation clouds, Huan Zong stood in the courtyard without retreating a single step. His ink-jade eyes narrowed slightly as his right hand swept out, grasping his natal sword. The precious sword trembled slightly in his hand, sword energy leaking out and producing sounds like dragon roars or howling winds. The strong wind blew his robes, the snow-white hem rolling in the evening sunset glow, dyed with specks of gold.

“Young Master.”

Huan Zong raised his hand to interrupt Lin Hu’s words, not turning back as he said: “No need for more words.”

Lin Hu pressed his lips together: “Yes.” He drew his own natal sword and looked up at the tribulation clouds in the sky, his clothes rustling loudly. At this moment, he fervently hoped Miss Kong Hou could safely pass through the dream tribulation. He turned back to glance at the many cultivators around holding up magical tools. Most of these cultivators were still at Foundation Establishment or Heart Movement stage—normally he would find it hard to notice such people, because they were too insignificant, too unremarkable.

But these ordinary cultivators were willing to stand forth at this moment, expending spiritual energy for someone unrelated to them. This left Lin Hu both surprised and filled with an indescribable emotion.

Could cultivation level truly represent everything?

In the main hall, the emperor with twisted expression and the fearful officials seemed separated by a water curtain, placing her and them in two different worlds. Kong Hou reached out to touch the water curtain. Her hand passed through it, touching only emptiness.

Behind the water curtain was nothing—no resplendent palace, no emperor or officials. Only she stood in the void, heaven and earth gray and hazy, boundless and endless.

Thunder sounded. She suddenly raised her head and saw lightning like a giant dragon striking directly toward her. The dragon’s face resembled her father emperor’s vicious countenance.

Now she had long since learned not to fear, had obtained love, had learned to love. As a cultivator, one needed not only a brave heart, but also love for all things in the world. Understanding this point, Kong Hou summoned her natal magical tool Phoenix Head and crashed straight toward the thunderbolt.

Boom!

The tribulation thunder struck straight down. The massive air current cut painfully across everyone’s faces. Huan Zong looked up at the sky and raised his sword. From Foundation Establishment advancing to Heart Movement stage, if one passed smoothly, the Heavenly Dao would only send down one tribulation thunder. If one’s mental state was unstable, three consecutive thunderbolts would fall. After these three tribulation thunders, most cultivators couldn’t withstand them—either their spiritual platform was destroyed or their lives were lost. Some sect elders, to protect disciples, would act as Dharma protectors during tribulation. If the disciple couldn’t endure, they would help block the latter two thunderbolts. This way, even if tribulation wasn’t successful, the spiritual platform and life could be preserved.

After the first tribulation thunder fell, everyone entered a combat-ready state. They saw dark clouds rolling in the sky, lightning flashing, seemingly gathering even greater force to strike down. Everyone silently felt regret—after this incident, who knew how long that tribulating fellow Daoist would need to recover.

Just as the second thunderbolt was about to strike down, Huan Zong leaped onto the rooftop.

A strong wind rose. The evening sunset retained only its last trace of faint light.

The second thunderbolt had been brewing for a long time but didn’t strike down. Instead, it transformed into a wind carrying heavenly merit rain bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. The entire Yicheng was surrounded by rainwater, sinking into water mist.

In Nameless Medicine Hut, the tea-serving child looked at the rain outside the window: “Ancestor, which cultivator successfully tribulated?”

The rocking chair swayed gently. Nameless Zhenren lying on it opened his eyes and raised his hand: “Everyone go get basins and catch the rainwater.” This kind of water used for alchemy was a good thing.

The medicine servants took containers to the courtyard to catch water. Old Nameless looked at the gradually darkening sky, snorted lightly, and closed his eyes again.

“Great-great ancestor, those cultivators from seven days ago broke their appointment.” The child sat on the footstool. “Next time they come, should I take a stick and chase them out?”

Nameless Zhenren didn’t even open his eyes: “Those three people—even I can’t beat them. If you have this courage, go ahead yourself.”

“That formidable?” The child laughed dryly: “Guests are guests. Although these three people don’t keep their word, I also can’t start fighting at the slightest disagreement. If word got out, wouldn’t it ruin your reputation, Ancestor?”

Seeing the ancestor didn’t respond to him, the child felt somewhat embarrassed. He turned and grabbed a large bowl, also running to the courtyard to catch water.

The cultivators watching the excitement around the inn’s small courtyard hadn’t expected that the cultivator in the courtyard would actually pass the dream tribulation. Ice-cold rainwater fell on them before they hurriedly came to their senses. The cultivators crouching in trees jumped down one after another and ran into the open air to get rained on. Some rough-and-tumble men who weren’t too particular even directly removed their outer robes, exposing their entire upper bodies.

This was rain sent down from passing a dream tribulation—it contained even more spiritual energy than rain from ordinary tribulations.

In the room with a large hole blasted through it, a fair hand reached out from the ruins, groping around and only touching shattered rubble and ice-cold rainwater. Kong Hou was still somewhat dazed. She had just been sleeping well—how did she get struck by lightning?

Pushing away the broken wood pressing on her, Kong Hou climbed out from a pile of broken tiles and rotten wood. Countless curious eyes stared at her, frightening her into retreating several steps. Where did all these people come from? Were they all here to watch how she got struck by lightning?

“It’s alright.” A brocade robe carrying a faint medicinal fragrance was draped over her. Huan Zong bent down and extended his hand before her: “You can’t stay in this room. Come with me.”

Kong Hou obediently placed her hand in Huan Zong’s, only then discovering her hand was filthy, smudging Huan Zong’s clean, fair hand. She felt somewhat embarrassed, but Huan Zong acted as if he hadn’t noticed. Using his other hand, he pulled up the outer robe draped over her: “Is there anywhere on your body that feels uncomfortable?”

Kong Hou shook her head.

“Fellow Daoists, please return. This place still needs to be cleaned up, so we won’t disturb your rest any longer.” Seeing Kong Hou following the Young Master to the adjacent room, Lin Hu didn’t notice the several men outside who had removed their upper garments to get rained on. He cupped his hands toward everyone: “Thank you all for your concern, fellow Daoists.”

Those men who had removed their clothes also felt somewhat embarrassed. They had originally thought the one tribulating was a male fellow Daoist—they hadn’t expected it to be a delicate young girl. Without Lin Hu urging them, they all hugged their robes and squeezed out of the small courtyard, drawing waves of laughter.

Escorting Kong Hou to the adjacent room, Huan Zong saw she was still dripping with water, even the outer robe he’d just draped over her completely soaked through. He withdrew to the doorway: “Change your clothes first. I’ll come back later.”

Kong Hou looked down at herself and only then discovered her clothes were both dirty and torn, as if she’d rolled on the ground several times before getting up. Taking out her mirror to look at her face, her face was stained with dust, her hair also stuck together in clumps—truly disheveled to the extreme.

The hand holding the mirror trembled slightly. Her image… was gone…

After receiving the merman scales the sect master sent tonight, she had happily gone to sleep. The sect’s affection for her, and the hope for Huan Zong’s illness, had let her fall asleep with a smile. She had merely refused her mother’s request in a dream and prepared to oppose her father emperor’s decision—how did she get struck by lightning?

In this day and age, were even dreams this strict?

With no hot water available temporarily, Kong Hou could only use a cleaning spell on herself. Although every time she used a cleaning spell, she always felt as if she hadn’t washed, at this moment for the sake of her image, she couldn’t worry about that much.

Changing into clean dress and skirt, placing Huan Zong’s large outer robe to the side, Kong Hou seemed to still smell that faint medicinal fragrance. The sound of rain outside the window continued. Through the rain sounds, she seemed able to see the rain’s falling trajectory, even sense the spiritual energy contained in the rainwater.

Spiritual energy?

Kong Hou sat cross-legged and discovered her spiritual platform had become much more solid. Five-colored spiritual roots crisscrossed on the spiritual platform, protecting it firmly and securely. At the spiritual platform’s center, a ball of five-colored spiritual energy had almost condensed into a solid form.

She had advanced to Heart Movement stage?

Kong Hou finally reacted. No wonder her five senses had become much more sensitive, and the rain outside contained spiritual energy. A few days ago, her cultivation had just reached Foundation Establishment great perfection. She had thought it would take two or three more years before she could attempt Heart Movement stage—she hadn’t expected to tribulate without warning in her sleep.

Opening her eyes, she carefully recalled the events before falling asleep. It seemed no different from usual, at most…

At most, she had been somewhat excited when seeing the merman scales. She had been happy for Huan Zong, and even happier for herself. The sect’s trust in her was more precious than anything. Could it be that because she had received so much care from her sect, her mental state had improved?

Only after receiving love could one love others.

Kong Hou uncrossed her legs and sat with knees bent. After a long while, she laughed softly and shallowly. How fortunate she was to have received this precious care and love. Perhaps heaven had seen her misfortune, so it let her meet her master, let her meet Yunhua Sect.

“Kong Hou, are you ready?” Huan Zong’s low voice sounded outside the door.

“Ready.”

Huan Zong pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Kong Hou sitting on the floor with her knees hugged, he walked before her and crouched down: “Why are you sitting on the floor?”

“Huan Zong,” Kong Hou looked at him with a sweet smile, “thank you just now.”

If Huan Zong hadn’t draped his outer robe over her, her disheveled appearance might have been seen by even more cultivators. If word got out later, when others mentioned her, they would say: “Oh, that person wearing torn clothes, filthy all over—that’s Miss Kong Hou from Yunhua Sect?”

Just thinking about it made her feel terrible.

“The floor is cold. Don’t sit long.” Seeing she didn’t want to move, Huan Zong took out two meditation cushions from his storage ring: “Sit on these.”

Kong Hou accepted the cushion and stuffed it under her bottom: “I didn’t even react before I was tribulating.”

Huan Zong wanted to tell her that this situation had been extremely dangerous, but he also didn’t want her at such a young age to be filled with fear of tribulation, which would affect her next advancement to Core Formation stage. So he said: “Perhaps it’s because your luck is good, so you unknowingly passed through the tribulation.”

“That’s true. Senior brothers and sisters all say my luck is excellent, that I’m a natural cultivation seedling.” Kong Hou listened to the rain sounds outside. “I wonder when the rain will stop. I hope when we go to Nameless Zhenren’s place to collect medicine tomorrow, it will have stopped raining.”

Huan Zong paused, only then understanding Kong Hou thought it was still the middle of the night. He glanced at the sky outside that had completely darkened: “First consolidate your mental state. I’ll act as Dharma protector for you here. We’ll talk about collecting medicine tomorrow.”

“The inn’s building…”

“Lin Hu will handle the compensation matter. Now close your eyes and meditate, circulate energy into your body.” Huan Zong smiled helplessly. He didn’t know how this young girl had such good energy—just finished tribulating and still had the leisure to worry about these trivial matters.

“Oh.” Seeing Huan Zong’s expression had become serious, Kong Hou obediently crossed her legs and closed her eyes.

The spiritual energy in the air was extremely abundant. Kong Hou discovered the meridians inside her body had widened considerably, and spiritual energy entered her body much faster. Wrapped in comfortable spiritual energy, Kong Hou’s body felt extremely comfortable. She instantly forgot everything between heaven and earth, falling into a meditative state.

After compensating the inn owner with a large sum of spirit stones, Lin Hu walked through the corridor and came to the room door. He raised his hand, preparing to knock, when he hesitated and lowered his hand, returning to his own room. A premonition told him that going directly back to his room might be more appropriate.

As cultivators, they quite trusted mysterious premonitions.

By midnight, the rain had already stopped. When Kong Hou opened her eyes again and pushed open the window, crystal-clear dewdrops hung on the courtyard trees’ leaves. Dawn light shone on the dewdrops, which refracted specks of light.

“Huan Zong, the rain has cleared.” Kong Hou leaned on the window and looked back. “Let’s go to the medicine hut.”

Huan Zong opened his eyes and stood up, straightening his robes: “Shouldn’t we eat breakfast first before going?”

“The elixir is more important. We cultivators skipping one meal doesn’t matter.” Kong Hou lifted her skirt hem. “You prepare—I’ll go call Senior Lin.”

Watching her hurriedly run out the door, Huan Zong paused, the corners of his mouth showing an extremely faint smile.

“Senior Lin, is the visiting gift prepared?”

“We should go.”

“Miss Kong Hou, today is already…”

“Lin Hu.” Huan Zong stepped across the threshold. “Let’s go.”

Lin Hu glanced at Huan Zong and cupped his hands: “Yes.” This young girl still didn’t know—yesterday was the day to collect medicine. The Young Master, to act as her Dharma protector, hadn’t even left the door, let alone gone to collect medicine.

Since the Young Master didn’t mention it, he wouldn’t talk too much either. Talkative attendants were annoying.

Outside Nameless Medicine Hut, a child in green robes was sweeping fallen leaves from the steps. Seeing Huan Zong and the other two approaching, his expression changed. With a stern face, he said: “Wait here. I’ll go report to Zhenren.”

“This child has quite a temper.” Kong Hou whispered to Huan Zong. “Is this a consistently bad temper passed down in one lineage?”

“He’s not a child.” Huan Zong said. “They’re patients afflicted with childhood syndrome—their voice and height are similar to children’s, and even their lifespan is less than normal ordinary people. However, this person has cultivation, so he should have received Nameless Zhenren’s favor, not only avoiding an early death but also stepping onto the cultivation path.”

“I see.” Kong Hou suddenly understood. In her childhood, she had seen introductions about such people in books. It was said some nobles even raised such people for entertainment. Now was better—these people could not only support themselves but also attain profound cultivation.

Although Nameless Zhenren’s temper wasn’t very good, his heart was good.

After waiting a while, the child came out: “Zhenren asks you to enter.” However, toward Kong Hou and the others, his eyes weren’t eyes and his nose wasn’t a nose—he was extremely dissatisfied with them.

A seventh-rank official at the prime minister’s gate—Kong Hou… Kong Hou wouldn’t offend him. She stuffed a storage box into the child’s hands: “Thank you for helping to announce us.”

“What is this?” The child held the box in confusion.

“This is our visiting gift for Zhenren.” Kong Hou smiled. “I’ll trouble you, senior, to give it to Zhenren.”

Hearing the words “senior,” the child’s expression eased slightly. He complained in a small voice: “Really troublesome.” Though he said this, his hands steadily held the wooden box.

After entering, a silent male servant led them inside. The male servant was missing an arm, yet his walking posture was graceful, making it hard for people to notice his deficiency.

The medicinal smell in the inner courtyard grew heavier and heavier. Kong Hou followed the male servant into a courtyard and saw Nameless Zhenren fiddling with medicinal herbs on the table, so she stood in the corridor without making a sound.

Nameless turned to glance at them: “Well, finally remembered my shabby medicine hut?”

Kong Hou looked at Huan Zong in confusion. What did Zhenren mean by this?

“Please forgive me, Zhenren. This humble one was delayed by matters.” Huan Zong cupped his hands and bowed to Nameless Zhenren.

Nameless snorted with a laugh: “I thought you didn’t care about death or losing your cultivation.” His gaze fell on Kong Hou. “Last night’s merit rain came because of you. Thanks to you, I also collected quite a lot of rainwater. This matter, I won’t hold it against you.”

He took out three medicine bottles from his bosom and tossed them out. Lin Hu hurriedly flew up to catch them: “Thank you for bestowing medicine, Zhenren.”

“Don’t talk about bestowing or not bestowing—I don’t like that set.” Nameless waved his hand and said to Lin Hu: “Unless absolutely necessary, don’t casually eat the elixirs. With your cultivation level, you should also know that developing dependence on elixirs isn’t a good thing. For his condition, I heard that in ancient times a secret formula was passed down that could rebuild the spiritual platform and bring the dead back to life. But where this formula is hidden, I’m not clear.”

“Thank you for telling us, Zhenren.” Lin Hu didn’t directly reveal they had obtained this formula—they just needed medicinal materials that were difficult to find throughout the entire cultivation world.

“To be frank, the formula Zhenren mentioned—this junior has a copy.” Huan Zong looked at Nameless. “If Zhenren doesn’t mind, this junior can lend it to Zhenren for a look.”

“Really?” Nameless Zhenren said in disbelief. “You have this lost formula?”

Huan Zong took out the copied formula: “Whether it is or isn’t, Zhenren will know after looking.”

After his excitement, Nameless didn’t reach out to take the formula in Huan Zong’s hand: “Rare formulas are so hard to obtain. You’re showing me this—what do you want to get from me?”

“Although rare formulas are difficult to obtain, there are no methods inside that harm heaven or reason. Even if I show it to Zhenren, what does it matter?” Huan Zong placed the formula in Nameless’s hands. “Consider it this junior thanking Zhenren for the gift of medicine.”

After spending a long time with Kong Hou, Huan Zong seemed to have also picked up some of her optimistic attitude. No matter how miraculous a formula was, leaving it sitting there made it a dead object. Better to give it to a master skilled in medicine—perhaps it would benefit even more people.

Nameless looked at him twice, confirming he wasn’t lying, and opened the formula. Suppressing his excitement as he finished reading the formula, Nameless sighed: “Worthy of being a formula passed down from ancient times. Most of the medicinal materials are now very difficult to find. What use is having an empty formula?”

“Zhenren is so capable—after seeing this formula, perhaps you can find substitute medicinal materials.” Kong Hou said. “At that time, wouldn’t even more people benefit?”

“Finding substitutes for this kind of formula would probably be as difficult as ascending to heaven. Young girl, you’re ultimately naive, seeing everything simply.” Nameless put away the formula and smiled. “However, you’re right. No matter how difficult something is, one should try. If it truly succeeds, I, Nameless, will be remembered for ten thousand ages.”

Kong Hou silently thought: Your name is Nameless. Ten thousand years later, when other cultivators see this name, they’ll probably think this was something created by a cultivator without a name.

How important names were—Nameless Zhenren probably hadn’t experienced this yet.

“Then this junior wishes Zhenren success in achieving his aspirations.” Huan Zong bowed again. “We’ve disturbed you much today. This junior takes his leave.”

“Wait a moment.” Nameless Zhenren called out to him. “Before I find substitute medicinal materials, you’ll probably still need these medicinal materials mentioned in the formula.” He took out an ebony box from his storage ring. “Although you gave me the formula without compensation, I’ve never liked taking advantage of others, especially good-looking men like you.” Men like this who looked so good—owing them favors would keep him from sleeping at night.

“Inside is a piece of dried Henggong fish meat, left behind by my martial great-granduncle’s martial great-granduncle. These years it’s been sitting in the box untouched. Take it.”

Henggong fish looked extremely ugly, and dried Henggong fish was even uglier. Kong Hou accepted the box and glanced inside before closing the lid. Fish from ancient times really weren’t particular about appearances—too casual.

Seeing they were still standing there, Nameless raised an eyebrow: “What are you still standing here for? Waiting for me to keep you for lunch?”

“This junior takes his leave.” Kong Hou stuffed the ebony box to Huan Zong and cupped her hands toward Nameless Zhenren. “Please take good care of yourself, Zhenren.”

“If fewer visitors like you come, I’ll take care of myself.” Nameless waved his hand and stopped speaking.

The three exchanged glances, cupped their hands together in salute, and withdrew.

After Huan Zong and the others left, Nameless Zhenren took out the formula again and looked at it over and over for a long time. He didn’t doubt Huan Zong was deceiving him. Although he hadn’t deliberately inquired about these three people’s identities, observing their words, actions, and cultivation, he could guess they came from major sects.

Disciples from major sects mostly cared about face—they couldn’t do this kind of deceptive thing.

“Zhenren.” The child walked in. “The pill furnace in Room A is about to produce pills. Do you want to go look?”

“No need. For ordinary pills, let the people below watch.” Nameless noticed he was holding a box in his hands. “What’s this?”

“This is a visiting gift from the three guests who came just now for you.” The child placed the gift box on the table. “Please examine it, Zhenren.”

“A visiting gift?” Nameless sneered. Since when had he been particular about such things? Opening the gift box, the top layer was neatly arranged with various rare medicinal materials. Removing the top layer of compartments, at the bottom of the box lay a high-grade divine artifact glowing with brilliant Dharma light. Such a rare divine artifact—even Nameless, upon seeing it, couldn’t help but be moved.

This truly was a visiting gift full of sincerity. Nameless closed the box lid. He had probably already guessed these people’s origins.

Coming out from the medicine hut, Kong Hou was so happy she was almost bouncing as she walked: “I said collecting these medicinal materials wasn’t difficult at all. In just this short time, we’ve already found two of them. If we work harder, we might gather them all soon.”

Huan Zong smiled helplessly. Seeing Kong Hou smiling as she approached a vendor’s stall to buy snacks, he stopped in place to wait for her.

There were many customers at the stall. Kong Hou, relying on a likeable face, quickly caught the stall owner’s attention. He packed three large bags of fragrant dried meat for her. Hugging the dried meat, Kong Hou squeezed out from the crowd and gave Lin Hu and Huan Zong each a bag: “Where there are many customers, the taste definitely won’t be wrong.”

The meat was quite dry, initially a bit hard to chew, but after chewing a few more times, it was so fragrant one wished to take several more bites. Kong Hou said: “Really fragrant indeed.” Turning back to see neither Huan Zong nor Lin Hu had moved, Kong Hou only then remembered they weren’t the senior sisters who constantly shared delicious food with her. Guessing they felt embarrassed to eat on the street, Kong Hou also put away the dried meat in her hand: “Let’s eat on the carriage.”

Huan Zong extended his slender, fair fingers, took a strip of dried meat from the paper bag and put it in his mouth, smiling at Kong Hou: “Very delicious.”

Kong Hou’s eyes instantly curved with her smile. She gently tugged Huan Zong’s sleeve: “Then let’s eat slowly on the carriage. What’s the next town?”

“The next relatively large town is called Yancheng, also where Hefeng Studio is located.” Huan Zong said. “Yancheng has many waterways, and the local fish is exceptional. After arriving in Yancheng, we can properly taste the local fish.”

“Good, good! The meat on a fish’s belly is the most delicious.” Kong Hou nodded. “But first I need to send a flying message talisman to the sect to tell them the good news that I’ve broken through Foundation Establishment stage.”

“I also need to send a message to the sect.” Huan Zong said. “Tonight we’ll rest another night at the inn and leave tomorrow morning.” Giving the formula to Nameless Zhenren—perhaps he should inform the sect.

Being by Kong Hou’s side, Huan Zong had unconsciously developed some of her behaviors.

For instance, frequently sending messages to the sect. For instance, buying gifts for sect elders. And for instance, no matter how big or small the matter, telling the sect—even if he could completely decide himself, he could still tell them.

The flying message talisman Kong Hou sent to Yunhua Sect made everyone in Yunhua Sect extremely happy. Four years to Foundation Establishment, two years to Heart Movement—this was a genius among geniuses, Yunhua Sect’s future! Kong Hou’s personally transmitted senior brothers and sisters were especially happy. The more accomplished brothers and sisters in their generation, the less pressure on them—this was simply wonderful news.

When everyone was happy, they scraped together two thousand spirit stones, planning to send them to Kong Hou after she reached the next main city.

In Liuguang Sect, Peak Master Song He’s expression was somewhat grave: “Sect Master, could martial nephew have had problems with his mental state and been possessed?”

It wasn’t that he was overly suspicious—martial nephew had simply been too strange recently.