Chapter Thirty-Two: The Heavenly Tribulation Descends Without Warning

Junyang walked over and casually conjured a massive pot, washed the fish meat, and placed it inside.
"This needs to be stewed, with spring water infused with spiritual energy."
With those words, she produced a silver gourd no larger than a thumb. Though the mouth was tiny, it poured forth spring water in a torrent, filling the immense pot.
Junyang pondered for a moment, then took out the Celestial Pepper Blossom that You Xiyue had gifted her last time. She pinched off a small piece and tossed it in, while the rest she stored in her universe pouch.
Turning to You Xiyue, she said, "Little Ancestor, fire."
Junyang's pot was no ordinary vessel, and thus could not be heated with mundane flames.
You Xiyue stepped forward, forming a nimble spirit seal. Instantly, the base of the pot glowed red, and the contents began to boil.
Flames rose from beneath, and You Xiyue withdrew her hand, took out the Dream Mushroom, and sat nearby.
She glanced at the four greedy-eyed companions. "Ye Linyi, your reaction is too slow. You couldn't even dodge the ox tail attack."
"...," Ye Linyi tore his gaze from the pot and looked at You Xiyue.
"Yan Qingye, you bolster the enemy's momentum and destroy your own team's spirit."
"!!!"
"Ming Chenyu..."
Ming Chenyu straightened, looking over respectfully.
"You're better than they are."
At the praise, Ming Chenyu's lips curved ever so slightly, but You Xiyue continued,
"But when the ox tail struck Ye Linyi, it still means your reaction lagged by half a beat. You assumed the ox would attack Feng Qinghe first."
"Yes, Master. I understand."
"Feng Qinghe."
"I'm here, Master."
"Your spiritual power is the weakest. You need to cultivate harder. Your attacks are hesitant."
"I understand, Master."
"Good." You Xiyue cradled Snow Jade in her arms and said calmly, "Reflect well on the battle just now."
"Yes!"
Their attention was no longer on the pot. All four closed their eyes, recalling their teamwork, growing increasingly frustrated the more they thought about it.
Even as the aroma filled the entire protective array, none of them stirred.

After Yuan Yibai took the Dream Yin-Yang Pill, his injuries improved considerably, and he went to help Junyang.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Everyone looked around, only to discover that a dark ring of insects had appeared around Feng Qinghe as she entered meditation.
"Not good, it's the Heart-Devouring Calamity of Myriad Insects!" Ming Chenyu shouted, rousing the others. They quickly retreated, distancing themselves from Feng Qinghe, leaving only Junyang and You Xiyue standing their ground.
Junyang sorrowfully eyed the bit of fish soup spilled by the tremors.
"What a waste!"
She held the scalding pot in both hands, her heart aching more with each glance.
You Xiyue, unconcerned, merely frowned and looked up at the sky.
From afar, clouds gathered, growing thicker and thicker.
Yan Qingye followed You Xiyue’s gaze and asked in surprise, "Why is there also a lightning tribulation?"
Turning, he saw spiritual energy surging around Ye Linyi, and the clouds converging right above his head.
"!!! You're crossing tribulation too?" Yan Qingye hastily pulled Ming Chenyu back even further.
"Two heavenly tribulations won't affect each other, right?" Yan Qingye worried aloud, never having encountered two people transcending tribulation in the same place.
Ming Chenyu shook his head. "I don't know."
Just as the words left his mouth, a bolt of heavenly lightning seemed to deliberately strike askew, heading straight for Feng Qinghe.
"Is it really this exciting?" Yan Qingye couldn't help but pull Ming Chenyu back two more steps.
Junyang remembered her promise to help Feng Qinghe block the heavenly tribulation. She glanced at the fish soup, then at Feng Qinghe, torn between the two.
If she hesitated any longer, Feng Qinghe would be struck into ruin.
"Yun Xiling," You Xiyue acted without delay.
Yun Xiling flew from You Xiyue’s arm, rushing swiftly to Feng Qinghe.
Arriving at her side, it first shielded her from the incoming lightning, then expanded rapidly, encasing Feng Qinghe in a tent-like form.
The pitch-black swarms of ferocious insects could not breach Yun Xiling, instead crawling all over its surface, biting and gnawing, covering it densely.
Occasional stray bolts of lightning were also blocked outside.
Feng Qinghe only needed to fend off the few black insects attacking her directly.
Ye Linyi was not so fortunate; after all, this was the tribulation from celestial to true immortal.
Thick bolts of lightning crashed down repeatedly, scorching the ground black.
Unable to withstand it, Ye Linyi coughed up a mouthful of blood, but the lightning refused to relent.

"Don't just endure—learn to attack and absorb. You're a lightning spirit root; there's lightning spiritual energy in the tribulation," You Xiyue reminded.
Ye Linyi's eyes snapped open in sudden enlightenment. He summoned the Thunder Serpent Spear and thrust it at the descending heavenly lightning.
The lightning followed the spear straight into Ye Linyi’s body.
Though the pain was excruciating, Ye Linyi felt an unprecedented surge of highly pure lightning spiritual energy and his eyes widened in delight.
The tribulation seemed unwilling to let him succeed and struck harder.
Ye Linyi refused to yield, meeting it head-on. His robes were charred and tattered, but he cared not, absorbing the lightning spiritual energy like a bottomless pit.
"Why do I suddenly feel envious?" Yan Qingye watched as Ye Linyi’s spiritual energy, almost depleted by the tribulation, began to rise again.
"Did we always cross tribulation incorrectly?" Ming Chenyu frowned in thought.
Before this, he had always waited for the tribulation to finish its attacks, barely surviving each time, never considering fighting back.
"Perhaps...," Yan Qingye recalled, shuddering at the memory.
With You Xiyue’s help, Feng Qinghe soon finished her tribulation. The black insects swiftly vanished, slipping away through cracks in the earth, their origin unknown.
"Master," Feng Qinghe approached, bowing in thanks. "Thank you, Master."
"Mm. When lightning comes, you must learn to dodge. Waiting to be struck? You’re not a lightning spirit root," You Xiyue quipped.
"Yes, Master," Feng Qinghe replied, scratching her forehead sheepishly before turning to Ye Linyi.
Ye Linyi was blackened to the extreme—even his teeth were charred.
Finally, after withstanding the last bolt of lightning, he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
Yan Qingye hurried over, extended a finger, and poked Ye Linyi.
"Hey, brother, are you alright?"
Ye Linyi laughed between gasps. "I'm...fine..."
"Is he struck silly? Why is he laughing?" Yan Qingye asked Ming Chenyu in confusion.
"Just look at his nascent soul," Ming Chenyu replied.
"Nascent soul?" Yan Qingye released his spiritual sense and peered into Ye Linyi’s dantian, where he saw the tiny nascent soul with its right hand wrapped in lightning. "What...what is this?"