Big Data Cultivation
Chapter 1336: Unstable Hearts

Chapter 1336: Chapter 1336: Unstable Hearts

Master Xiaomeng heard this and smiled slightly, "Indeed, Feng Jun is quite skilled at deduction. Chi Luan did a good job on this matter."

The Zhi Zhang furrowed her brows, "Stop showing off your disciple... I remember Chi Luan mentioned wanting to assign two Rongxuns to protect Feng Jun in secret. Is Qu Jianlei one of them?"

"Yes," Master Xiaomeng nodded. Her relationship with Qu Jianlei was known by at least twenty percent in the Crimson Phoenix Sect, so she didn’t intend to hide it. "He volunteered as soon as he heard about my disciple’s matter."

A Master couldn’t help but speak out, "I’ve heard that Feng, the Loose Cultivator, is extremely skilled at deduction. Many Qi Refining Disciples in the sect are crazily taking on tasks now, just to match the Fire Marrow Pill... Even if not for the Fire Marrow Pill, some are using Spirit Stones to buy sect contributions at high prices. Master Xiaomeng, you really trained a good disciple."

Master Xiaomeng smiled amiably and arched her hands, "You’re too kind. It’s mainly because Sister Zhi Zhang values her, and the support of all of the fellow sisters. As for my training of her, I truly don’t dare to take credit... I just let things grow freely. It’s the good atmosphere of our Crimson Phoenix Sect from top to bottom."

Seeing her so joyful, another Master seized the chance to ask, "Xiaomeng, what opportunity did Qu Rongxun actually get?"

"Deduction," Master Xiaomeng looked at her, seemingly puzzled by the question, "Qu Rongxun had some opportunity to form his Core for a while, but because it’s his second attempt at Core Formation... he hesitated to attempt it and even asked me if he should. He’d rather not form his Core."

The Masters exchanged knowing smiles: who wouldn’t know the grievances between these two?

"And then, didn’t he secretly protect Feng Jun some time ago?" Master Xiaomeng spread her hands without explaining further—what comes next, you all can guess.

A Master furrowed his brows and tentatively asked, "So what opportunity for Core Formation does Qu Rongxun have? After all, it’s a second attempt... how did he obtain it?"

Master Sumiao’s face slightly darkened, "Sister, that’s his opportunity, the way you ask... I didn’t have the heart to ask him. He wanted to give it to me, but how could I accept?"

Chi Luan inwardly marveled at the skill of her teacher, "I still have a long way to go in the art of casual nonsense."

She naturally thought Feng Jun being skilled at deduction was inevitable. What she wanted to know was what treasure Feng Jun gave Qu Rongxun.

But from her teacher’s words, Feng Jun being skilled at deduction was just the triggering factor—Qu Jianlei had already found the treasure long ago.

To be honest, she didn’t believe this reason: what doesn’t her teacher tell her?

At least decades ago, her teacher would occasionally complain: Qu Jianlei seemed to have given up on Core Formation, which isn’t good. If he’s missing some treasure, go find it, like the Thousand-year Yin Yang Ganoderma.

In recent decades, she hadn’t heard her teacher mention this, so she knew her teacher was so disappointed that she didn’t want to bring it up anymore.

As for this time, she was quite certain that Qu Jianlei most likely got his opportunity from Feng Jun—her teacher’s words just confirmed everything, though she never intended to reveal it. Instead, she felt infinite admiration for her teacher in her heart.

"So that’s how it is," the Crimson Phoenix Zhi Zhang nodded without further inquiry into the details. She was a person who focused on overseeing the whole picture, and it was indeed uninteresting to question such personal matters of the fellow Masters at this time.

Moreover, she could understand her fellow Master’s feelings. When a sycophant brings you the only bone he has, would you take it?

However, in the end, she furrowed her brows, "Feng Jun’s journey is quite imprudent. Second attempt at Core Formation... sigh, how much confidence does he have? He shouldn’t ruin his reputation."

She indeed felt worried for Feng Jun. One must admit, this is the true mindset of someone in a higher position—Core Formation opportunities are certainly precious, but one or two of them don’t catch her attention... or rather, aren’t worth her full focus.

What’s really notable is Feng Jun being so casual in deduction, Qu Jianlei daring to casually impact Core Formation—that’s what made her feel regretful.

Master Xiaomeng heard her, seeming to imply that Qu Jianlei was not cautious enough. She couldn’t help but speak again.

"Qu Rongxun is of considerable age, not someone imprudent, probably has a significant degree of certainty... As there’s still the Tribulation Cloud, I assume he doesn’t want me to witness another failed Core Formation attempt."

These words did reveal a hint of melancholy, but everyone could sense her genuine nature.

The two Masters exchanged glances, with one quietly voicing out, "Luckily, the Great Elder has left, or else there would be harsh words."

The Crimson Phoenix Zhi Zhang nodded at this, "Qu Rongxun’s first failed Core Formation was probably because the Tribulation Thunder didn’t strike, right?"

Core Formation involves three Tribulation Thunders. Tribulation Thunder not striking means the process halted midway without reaching the Golden Core stage right before the Thunder hit.

The Zhi Zhang’s question was essentially redundant. If core formation brought down the Tribulation Thunder and still didn’t achieve Golden Core Master, the individual would be utterly finished—being alive would be considered great fortune.

Of course, the Cultivation World is a place full of wonders; any sort of accident can happen. But in all likelihood, Qu Jianlei hadn’t summoned the Tribulation Thunder back then; otherwise, he wouldn’t still be at peak Transcendental stage—after all, it’s youthful impatience.

"Mm," Master Xiaomeng nodded, speaking expressionlessly, "With the Tribulation Thunder arriving this time, I might as well be at ease. At worst, I watch him turn to dust before me."

"It probably won’t come to that," the Zhi Zhang tilted her head to look at her, offering comfort, "Considering this Tribulation Cloud, at least it’s Superior grade pill. There should still be a chance, Xiaomeng, just protect him with peace of mind."

Though she knew, high, middle, and low grade pills don’t guarantee success. Even higher grade pills make transcending tribulation more challenging,

So she comforted with a word and was about to leave, "I’ll wait for the good news from my junior sister."

However, before she could move, a white flash emerged from within the tribulation cloud, and a thunderbolt as thick as a barrel struck down directly onto Master Xiaomeng’s cave dwelling.

Master Xiaomeng’s cave dwelling was built to accommodate cultivation at the Golden Core High Stage, even though she was currently only at the Mid-Stage Golden Core.

The spiritual energy in such a cave dwelling is certainly enough for breaking through at the peak of the Out-of-Dust Stage, but the restrictions in the cave dwelling couldn’t withstand the tribulation thunder — if it were the restrictions for a Golden Core, it would mean that the Golden Core bears the cause and effect of resisting the tribulation, and the tribulation thunder would be even more intense, so the restrictions were lowered earlier.

Seeing this, Master Xiaomeng couldn’t help but stomp her foot. "Destroy my cave dwelling, Qu Jianlei, if you have guts, don’t die, and watch how I deal with you!"

Actually, it couldn’t damage much else; she lent him the cave to breakthrough to Golden Core. Did she expect the tribulation thunder not to fall?

The Zhi Zhang laughed and said, "Huh, the first strike of tribulation thunder is over... what’s this fragrance, have you all smelled it?"

The two masters exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously, "Indeed, there’s a unique aroma."

Qu Jianlei encountered the tribulation thunder on the third day after consuming the Heavenly Fragrance Fruit. Earlier, there were restrictions from the Out-of-Dust Stage in the dwelling. Now that the restrictions were dispersed by the tribulation thunder, it surely leaked immediately; how could it escape the masters present?

"Seems to be an exotic fruit," the Zhi Zhang turned and looked at Master Xiaomeng, speaking thoughtfully, "Is the fruit quite sour?"

"How would I know?" Master Xiaomeng replied with a bitter smile and spread her hands, "I certainly wouldn’t try his opportunity."

There was nothing wrong with these words, and she spoke quite frankly — she truly hadn’t tasted it.

The Crimson Phoenix Zhi Zhang gave her a deep look and then slightly nodded, "This is... anyway, it’s a tremendous opportunity. I’ve encountered such a scent at a True Immortal gathering of the Azure Phoenix, just a piece as small as a fingernail, that was a Qi-replenishing Fruit of the Nascent Soul True Immortal, extremely sour."

Master Xiaomeng blinked and asked with confusion, "A True Immortal gathering... could he have such an opportunity?"

In fact, she already regretted it — why did I frantically research exotic fruits the past couple of days?

Even when she was researching, she was already cautious and believed she was sufficiently careful, but upon hearing it was a Qi-replenishing Fruit of the Nascent Soul True Immortal, she couldn’t help but feel a bit frightened.

It’s not that she feared the news of him obtaining an exotic fruit — after all, he had already eaten it, could it be refined again?

The key concern was if her movements were discovered, it might lead to new issues arising.

Additionally, she still had her own concerns, "Wouldn’t a Qi-replenishing Fruit of the Nascent Soul True Immortal cause his body to explode from consuming it?"

The understanding was more or less correct, but the Zhi Zhang had a better grasp of such matters than she did, "Ordinary pinnacle cultivators of the Out-of-Dust Stage certainly couldn’t handle it, but since he’s already weak and in his second attempt at the Golden Core, it’s instead a great opportunity."

Since that’s the case, there’s no problem then, Master Xiaomeng secretly nodded.

The first strike of tribulation thunder lasted for about twenty seconds before finally dissipating.

The Crimson Phoenix Zhi Zhang, however, was not in a hurry to leave; she expressed with great interest, "Judging by the intensity of this tribulation thunder, could it possibly become a superior-grade pill?"

The tribulation clouds continued to gather in the sky, increasingly dense and so dark that you couldn’t even see your hand in front of you.

By this time, most of the disciples in the sect knew someone was undergoing the Golden Core Tribulation, and there were four or five divine senses of Golden Core Masters scanning over in succession.

These were all Masters who couldn’t come in person, but upon seeing there were several Golden Core protectors present and even the sect Zhi Zhang, they no longer focused on it — as to who exactly was attempting to form a Core, they would know in due time, wouldn’t they?

However, four or five higher Out-of-Dust period masters arrived, who were all disciples of Master Xiaomeng, but Master Xiaomeng spoke aloud, "Those at the high rank of the Out-of-Dust Stage can come over, those below mid-stage should step back."

This wasn’t because she tailored her approach based on cultivation level but generally speaking, those at the high rank of the Out-of-Dust Stage can gain insights of the Great Dao by watching the Core formation closely, which is greatly beneficial for their own future breakthrough to the Golden Core.

But those at mid-stage Out-of-Dust are at risk, especially early-stage Out-of-Dust, observing the tribulation could likely affect their heart of the Dao ninety-nine times out of a hundred.

As Master Xiaomeng herself mentioned, she wasn’t particularly skilled in cultivating disciples — even though she had produced the likely next Zhi Zhang of the Crimson Phoenix, so in such a situation, she had to adhere to the standards to stop unsuitable disciples from approaching.

More than a dozen figures were still rushing over from afar — those were also high-rank disciples, but not Xiaomeng’s students, due to the flight restriction below Golden Core in Crimson Phoenix Sect, they had to use their own legs to observe the Golden Core Tribulation closely.

Zhi Zhang, observing the situation, couldn’t help but sigh, "Xiaomeng, you should have mentioned this to everyone earlier."

(Updated to here, calling for monthly votes.)