Chapter 219 - 215: Core Formation at Birth, Du Youqian’s Divine Abilities

The Stone Egg had "eaten" three rounds of Tribulation Thunder, but it was still not satisfied. The thought it transmitted to Du Youqian was clear: ’I want more!’

The good news was that after three rounds of Tribulation Thunder, cracks finally appeared on the Stone Egg.

The Great Sage Bloodline was about to hatch!

The intensity of the Golden Core Thunder Tribulation wasn’t particularly high.

There were a total of nine rounds of Geng Metal Tribulation Thunder. The first round had one bolt, and the ninth round only had nine.

For Cultivators from Minor Sects, it might have been difficult to withstand.

But for a True Inheritor of a Major Sect, these nine rounds of Geng Metal Tribulation Thunder were less a disaster and more of a supreme treasure used for Body Tempering and refining one’s Golden Core.

A Cultivator who passed through the baptism of the Tribulation Thunder unscathed would have at least double the Magical Power, Divine Sense, and physical strength of a Core Formation Cultivator who used various methods to avoid it.

So now, Du Youqian faced a choice.

Should he prioritize his own baptism by the Tribulation Thunder, or let the Stone Egg receive it?

He only thought for a second.

’Even without the baptism of the Tribulation Thunder, I’ve already reached Core Formation. I’ll just be a bit weaker than Core Formation Cultivators who went through it.’

’Besides, it’s not like I won’t have a chance to make up for it later. When someone else undergoes Core Formation, I can just go and leech off them.’

’But if the Stone Egg misses this chance, who knows how long it will be before it hatches!’

The choice was easy.

Du Youqian didn’t recall the Stone Egg. Instead, he looked up at it, watching as it joyfully met one bolt of Tribulation Thunder after another.

The fourth round! The fifth round!

More and more cracks appeared on the Stone Egg, forming a dense web.

Just when Du Youqian thought the Stone Egg couldn’t take any more, it rallied its strength and endured the sixth, seventh, and eighth rounds of Tribulation Thunder.

With a CRACK, the eggshell shattered.

A tiny, furry body leaped out and shot into the air, just in time to meet the nine bolts of the ninth round of Tribulation Thunder.

The nine bolts of Tribulation Thunder wove together into a giant silver net that descended upon it.

The Celestial Net is vast; who can escape its reach?

The tiny figure didn’t flee. Instead, it excitedly charged upward to meet the thunder. A bolt of Tribulation Thunder struck its body, releasing the stench of something burning.

But it paid it no mind and continued toward the second bolt...

Du Youqian focused his gaze.

It was, indeed, a little monkey.

"CHEE! CHEE!"

Was it crying out in excitement, or in agony from the strikes of the Tribulation Thunder?

As the bolts of Tribulation Thunder rained down upon it, its body—originally smaller than an adult human’s palm—began to grow rapidly.

By the time all nine bolts had struck, the Monkey was nearly as tall as Du Youqian’s knee.

Some smaller species of monkey only reach this height as adults.

In the sky, the clouds receded and the thunder dissipated.

The Monkey, covered in Demon Qi, landed and devoured the fragments of the Stone Egg’s shell in a few bites. It then turned and charged toward Du Youqian. Du Youqian tensed, on high alert. Magical Power suffused his body, and his Defensive Treasure was ready to be activated at a moment’s notice.

But the little Monkey simply headbutted its way into Du Youqian’s embrace. The hand Du Youqian had raised in defense gently lowered, stroking the fur on its neck.

The Little Monkey closed its eyes, chirping "CHEE CHEE," seeming to greatly enjoy the sensation.

Having spent so long in Du Youqian’s Storage Treasure Pouch, it seemed to be very familiar with him and showed no shyness at all.

Perhaps it already considered Du Youqian family...

And Du Youqian, too, found himself growing fond of it at first sight.

It wasn’t just because it was so adorable.

It was also because Du Youqian had spent so much time, energy, and resources—even giving up his own opportunity with the Tribulation Thunder—just so it could be born.

People always develop feelings for those and that in which they have invested the most.

This was, in fact, the perfect time to form a contract.

Du Youqian had no shortage of contracts on hand.

But he still remembered the words of that Vermilion Bird.

’The Great Sage Bloodline will not be enslaved...’

He also remembered his own promise.

He would be friends with the Little Monkey.

’So, forget about any contracts.’

Du Youqian gently patted the Little Monkey.

The fur that had been scorched by the Tribulation Thunder was healing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Charred skin flaked away, quickly replaced by new, tender, pink flesh.

Du Youqian’s eyelids twitched as he watched. This healing was even faster than that of a Tier Four Shapeshifting Demon King.

He then extended his Divine Sense to perceive the state of the Monkey’s body.

’That massive Demon Core was blinding.’

’Is there any justice in this world? Any fairness at all?’

’A Core Formation Demon King right from birth? How is anyone else supposed to compete?’

’Oh, right, Great Sage Bloodline. That explains everything.’

Sensing a number of people approaching, Du Youqian carried the Little Monkey and turned to go inside.

This presented an immediate problem.

The Human Race and the Demon Race were mortal enemies. Now he was holding a young demon. How was he supposed to prove he wasn’t a traitor to his race?

The Little Monkey was adorable, and Du Youqian had invested a great deal of effort into hatching it.

But regrettably, he couldn’t keep the Little Monkey with him.

’So, what should I do?’

The image of an old monkey appeared in Du Youqian’s mind. It wore a Phoenix Wing Purple Gold Crown, was draped in Golden Chain Armor, and wore one (yes, only one remained) Lotus Silk Cloud-Stepping Shoe.

’Speaking of which, that old monkey’s days are numbered, aren’t they?’

’It’s the perfect time to visit it and leave the Little Monkey in its care for a while.’

~~~~~~~~

A streak of sword light shot out from Du Youqian’s immortal’s abode, flying swiftly toward the sect gate.

The people waiting outside Du Youqian’s abode to congratulate him were all surprised and uncertain.

’What is Yu Zhenchuan doing?’

’He just succeeded in his Core Formation, so why isn’t he seeing anyone? Is he rushing out for something important?’

’What is he holding? Why is it shielded from Divine Sense? Why isn’t he responding to our greetings via Divine Sense?’

But Du Youqian had no intention of stopping.

This was the sort of thing it was better for people to hear about than to witness firsthand.

He couldn’t let anyone get their hands on actual evidence.

As long as he left no evidence, as a Core Formation Master and a True Inheritor of the Sect, he was now one of the highest-ranking figures within it. Clearing his name would be easy.

A True Inheritor was justice. A clean background was justice. And a Core Formation Master was the greatest justice of all.

With this triple "justice" buff, even if someone had detected Demon Qi in his abode, they would have no grounds to accuse Du Youqian of anything.

’Accuse Du Youqian? Investigate Du Youqian?’

’Who in the court below dares to bring a case against this official?’

~~~~~~~~~~~

After leaving the sect gate, Du Youqian immediately boarded a Flying Boat and sped away.

He soon arrived at Five Wishes Mountain in the Han Kingdom and landed.

As soon as he released the aura of a Core Formation Master, the animals in the mountains scattered in a panic.

After a long moment, the old monkey came running over. Upon seeing Du Youqian, its furry face lit up with a humanlike expression of pleasant surprise.

"CHEE CHEE CHEE, CHEE CHEE!" It gestured wildly, exchanging greetings with Du Youqian.

Only then did it point at the Little Monkey in Du Youqian’s arms, who was looking around curiously. "Chee?"

"He’s a little guy I’m raising," Du Youqian said with a smile. "But he’s still young. I was hoping you could look after him, teach him how to survive in the forest, far away from humans. And don’t be fooled by his size; he’s definitely not weak."

The old monkey gestured a few more times, and Du Youqian understood its meaning.

It knew its days were numbered. At most, it had ten years left.

It was telling Du Youqian not to wait too long to come back for the Little Monkey.

"Only ten years?" Du Youqian couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.

The old monkey stood on its tiptoes, raised a long arm, and patted Du Youqian’s shoulder in silent comfort.

"I know. Birth, old age, sickness, and death are things no one can escape," Du Youqian sighed. "If you are reborn as a human in your next life, I will find a way to provide you with Guiding into the Dao, so that you too can enjoy a long life, alright?"

The old monkey chittered, "CHEE CHEE CHEE CHEE."

*No need for Guiding. I will find the old Daoist myself.*

"Is that so? I hope you can find Master, then."

Du Youqian plucked the Little Monkey from his shoulder and handed it to the old monkey.

The Little Monkey was reluctant to leave him, but it didn’t resist the old monkey.

Though just born, it seemed to possess a certain wisdom, knowing that Du Youqian was doing this for its own good.

However, when Du Youqian’s Flying Boat took off, the Little Monkey chased it for a distance before leaping into the air to follow.

"Go on now. You can’t follow me yet. Go stay with the old monkey. I’ll come see you when I have time!" Du Youqian conveyed via his Divine Sense from the Flying Boat.

The Little Monkey stopped its pursuit, its large eyes welling up with tears.

It had only just been born, and already it had to face a farewell.

It suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a stone ball.

Judging by its luster, it seemed to be the shell of the Stone Egg, which the monkey had refined into its current form.

The Little Monkey grabbed the stone ball—which was larger than its own paw—and threw it with all its might.

The stone ball transformed into a streak of light and caught up to the Flying Boat.

With a wave of his hand, Du Youqian caught the stone ball in his palm.

He smiled, understanding. ’Is the Little Monkey giving me a souvenir?’

He rummaged through his Storage Treasure Pouch, intending to find a Treasure to give the Monkey in return.

But in the next moment, his expression changed.

Information was pouring out of the stone ball.

The information rushed straight into his mind, giving him no opportunity to refuse or block it.

By the time the information transfer was complete, Du Youqian’s head throbbed as if it had been split open with a chisel.

The information contained no words, pictures, or sounds—it seemed to be nothing but long strings of meaningless symbols.

But in that short span of time, Du Youqian had mastered the first of his Divine Abilities in this life.

He raised the stone ball and examined it carefully.

It was just an ordinary, unremarkable stone ball.

But it was this very ball that had transmitted the Divine Ability to him.

It didn’t teach him the Cultivation Technique for the Divine Ability; it made him master it directly.

"Copper Skin Iron Bones..." Du Youqian shook his head. "It would be a terrible waste for someone with this Divine Ability not to pursue a Body Refining Technique."

Unfortunately, with No Regrets for Pill Formation, his Cultivation Technique for this life was already set, and it would be difficult to switch.

And it wasn’t certain he’d be able to comprehend this Divine Ability in his next life.