Chapter 234: Natal Spiritual Artifact

The heavenly thunder, embodying the will of the Dao, struck fear into the Old Sect Master and others just by its presence. A Golden Core cultivator facing a heavenly tribulation? It was astounding.

The Old Sect Master recalled his youth, battered during his travels for opportunities. He’d once met a Holy Land direct disciple who mentioned that while most cultivators faced tribulations only at Nascent Soul, true prodigies—those who amassed unimaginable foundations in their realm—might trigger tribulations as early as Foundation Establishment or Golden Core.

Such prodigies were rare, perhaps a handful per century, treasured by great sects and clans, their existence closely guarded to prevent assassination. This secrecy led ordinary cultivators to believe tribulations began at Nascent Soul.

For Ye Chen to draw a tribulation at Golden Core—how formidable was his strength? The Old Sect Master even began to doubt: had Old Monster Wang really been killed by a sneak attack during a critical moment of possession, or was there more to Ye Chen’s power?

…

Above, thunderclouds churned, as if countless thunder dragons swam within. Inside the seclusion chamber, Ye Chen remained calm. The tribulation was fearsome, but it didn’t feel overly dangerous.

As a second-grade perfected artifact refiner, he knew divine thunder was the ultimate tool for tempering materials. He’d been fretting over how to refine his Black Yellow Primordial Essence—now, the tribulation offered the perfect solution. He’d use it to forge his natal spiritual artifact.

The first bolt of divine thunder descended, silver and brimming with destructive force. Ye Chen didn’t resist. Instead, he raised his hand, meeting it head-on. His Myriad Star Body, Primordial Supreme Heart, and Ancestral Dragon Blood-forged Golden Core had elevated his physique to an extraordinary level. Emboldened, he dared to channel the thunder into his body.

The divine thunder surged through him, its destructive aura seeking to obliterate everything. Yet, his body radiated divine light, and the thunder’s power was weaker than expected. What it destroyed, he rapidly restored. Guiding the thunder through his body, he treated it as a tempering process.

After the first refinement, he moved his hands, summoning the mountain-like Black Yellow Primordial Essence. Using the divine thunder’s power, he began tempering it. The Primordial Essence flowed, and with his eyes closed, Ye Chen unleashed his top-tier techniques, weaving mysterious patterns into it. Bolt after bolt of thunder fell, but they didn’t disrupt his focus.

Ye Chen’s body underwent a rapid transformation, each surge of divine thunder refining him further. Before him, the Black Yellow Primordial Essence shimmered, its mysterious patterns glowing as they took shape.

After a moment’s hesitation, he began channeling the divine patterns he’d comprehended from his Primordial Supreme Heart, imprinting them into the Primordial Essence. With each strike of divine thunder, more patterns fused, causing the Primordial Essence to radiate a faint divine light, growing increasingly extraordinary.

By the sixth bolt, Ye Chen hesitated again before imprinting patterns from his five-colored Golden Core—the True Dragon Treasure Technique. His understanding was limited, so he could only embed a few.

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Moments later, he added patterns from his Heavy Pupils, unsure of their effect but driven by instinct. A natal spiritual artifact grew stronger the more it resonated with its master. By weaving in patterns from his innate Divine Abilities and Golden Core, he ensured maximum compatibility.

Thus, he faced the ninth and final bolt of divine thunder—the most terrifying yet, as if the heavens themselves were enraged by his audacity, intent on obliterating him.

Gazing at the still-unformed Black Yellow Primordial Essence, Ye Chen realized he hadn’t decided on the weapon’s form. Sword, spear, staff, or club? Axe, halberd, or hook?

The ninth bolt was coalescing. If he didn’t choose soon, he’d have to rely on his seventh-grade Myriad Star Fire to slowly refine the Primordial Essence—a process that could take ages given its resilience.

After a brief pause, an idea sparked in his mind.