82 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

**Chapter 82** As the first heavenly thunder fell, a tremendous force descended upon Yan Zhuguang, engulfing her in violet lightning and raising a cloud of dust so dense that nothing could be seen clearly. Amidst the smoke and flashes of purple, Yan Zhuguang, who was undergoing her tribulation, was obscured, leaving those watching from afar unable to discern her current state. Yun Mixue had only a fleeting glimpse of the moment the lightning tribulation struck. It appeared Yan Zhuguang made no efforts to defend, seemingly determined to withstand the blow outright. How reckless! Yun Mixue couldn't help but worry. This girl was a bit too bold, wasn't she? Did she think playing with a thunderstorm was fun? Unfortunately, outsiders are forbidden from interfering with the tribulation's workings. Yun Mixue couldn't hastily extend her spiritual senses to check on Yan Zhuguang's condition. She could only deduce from the second wave of thunder that followed quickly that Yan Zhuguang was currently not in deadly peril. Worry as she might, Yun Mixue could do nothing more than watch over Yan Zhuguang and attend to the operation of the Qinggong Pagoda. Her demeanor remained calm and composed, though her heart was quietly tense. Others were also keenly focused on Yan Zhuguang. Her prowess had increased so rapidly that it filled them with a sense of crisis. Could Yan Zhuguang's strength match her talent? This lightning tribulation was more terrifying than any golden core tribulation cloud they had ever seen. Could she overcome it? The subject of everyone's attention, Yan Zhuguang, was actually doing well. Despite advancing through her tribulation in plain sight, she was no stranger to adversity, having experienced much in her past life. Frankly, the arrays she had set up were not so much for the tribulation itself but rather to ease the fears of her senior sister and guard against other cultivators who might pose a threat. In Yan Zhuguang's eyes, those cultivators—who appeared dazzling but harbored untold malice—were far scarier than the heavenly tribulation. Yan Zhuguang hadn't planned on using external help to get through the thunderstorm. If she couldn't handle a mere golden core thunder tribulation, how could she ever hope to endure the divine or tribulation phases in the future? Every thunder tribulation is a trial, but also an opportunity for strengthening. Failure to adapt early on and instead relying on treasure arrays and other shortcuts would leave her with serious losses in the end. Even if she could barely pass, there might be permanent injuries, and ascending to the celestial realm afterward would mean trailing far behind others. These were lessons learned from Yan Zhuguang's experiences. She intended to endure the thunder tribulation head-on, using the opportunity to practice body tempering, refining her new spiritual roots, and making them more in tune with her body. After all, being of the wood spirit constitution and having cultivated wood-based techniques, her body's recovery rate was swift. Any injuries incurred could be healed without lasting effects. Nonetheless, while Yan Zhuguang spoke lightly of it, enduring a thunder tribulation physically is no simple feat, often feeling akin to torture. As a system that experiences the terror of the tribulation alongside its host, the "Rescue the White Moonlight" system, despite having witnessed its host's indifference countless times, still found the falling tribulation thunder particularly frightening. The unfettered power of the tribulation surged into the host's body, and even the system, with its advanced design, felt some minor effects, indicating the sheer terror of the energy and the immense harm it posed to the host. The system hid in its own small space, trembling, just hoping for the fearsome tribulation to end soon. Alas, what the system hoped for seemed unlikely. It seemed that perhaps Yan Zhuguang's rapid cultivation speed provoked the heavens' envy—the typical nine strikes of a golden core tribulation were dragged out over three whole days and nights before mercifully ending. With each strike, the tribulation thunder grew fiercer. After the first three strikes, the storm hesitated, gathering more strength before unleashing the fourth. From the fourth strike onward, the tribulation clouds would pause after each thunder, absorbing new energy to fortify themselves. This odd tribulation was thus protracted over three days and nights, and when the final bolt fell, the violet thunder had grown as wide as a hand, pouring like a small, purple waterfall from the sky onto its target, causing all who watched to hold their breath. When the explosive power finally dissipated, and the oppressive tribulation clouds dispersed, the bizarre golden core tribulation was finally over. A platinum beam of sunlight suddenly broke through the clearing sky, shining directly upon where Yan Zhuguang stood, now a large crater in the ground. Although the appearance of the pit was indistinct, those present understood that with that ascendant light shining down, as long as there were no other mishaps, the Fenghua Sect had gained yet another golden core disciple. Yun Mixue, who had been vigilantly watching, felt relieved—Yan Zhuguang had safely passed her tribulation. Thank goodness. Between the dissipation of the tribulation and the descent of the platinum light, Yan Zhuguang activated whatever array formations remained intact from the tribulation's devastation. Only after these precautions did she relax into her contemplation of the heavenly dao. It wasn't that she doubted her senior sister's ability to protect her; it was simply that Yun Mixue had to oversee the Qinggong Pagoda's operation. Yan Zhuguang, when capable of safeguarding herself, didn't want her sister to be distracted on her behalf. Yan Zhuguang seemed to have planned for every detail. Yun Mixue, however, was unaware of her intentions. Even if Yan Zhuguang wanted her not to be distracted, Yun Mixue's spiritual senses continued to shield Yan Zhuguang, protecting against unexpected dangers. The perils of the thunder tribulation were followed by the challenges of heavenly comprehension and the metamorphosis into the golden core, none of which were easy. After a tribulation, the mysteries of universal energy do not instantly fade; the spiritual senses of a foundation establishment cultivator transitioning to a golden core state enhance transiently in comprehension of the heavenly dao. During this period, one's perception of the heavenly dao becomes intensely smooth, yet it's accompanied by the peril of inner demons. A single misstep can affect one's mindset, lead to unstable cultivation, or even result in enlightenment deviation. One cannot afford to take this lightly. This meditation took nearly a month, right as Qinggong Pagoda was about to close. As disciples were ejected one after another, a crowd of Fenghua Sect's inner disciples quickly gathered at the Pagoda's entrance. Disciples knowledgeable of the situation swiftly vacated the entrance while some were still bewildered, and before they could react, they were engulfed by those emerging later. After quite a commotion, order around Qinggong Pagoda was finally restored. The golden core titled disciples maintaining the Pagoda's operation had no time for amusement at the exiting disciples' antics, as their focus was fully on shutting down the Pagoda. However, Yun Mixue noticed that among these emerging disciples, Su Qi'er was not included. Could it be that she had entered a state of epiphany at just this time? While guiding Qinggong Pagoda's closure, Yun Mixue pondered, planning to inform the sect master once the tower returned to its usual state. Su Qi'er's identity was highly sensitive, so there was no room for any mistakes. Yan Zhuguang's period of enlightenment during her golden core breakthrough stretched nearly three months before she finally emerged from her enlightenment state. By then, Qinggong Pagoda had long been closed. She opened her eyes, a subtle glint flashing within. As she began to survey her surroundings, her gaze was filled with a swath of white. It was her senior sister. Not far away, her senior sister was deftly maneuvering two white silk ribbons, her form as graceful as a fairy. She glided among the treetops, at times leaping, at times whirling, as if honing her techniques. Each movement cascaded flakes of snow, thick veils of ice mist transforming the verdant trees below into a frosty scene that, at a glance, resembled a painting. For these past months, her senior sister had constantly been by her side. Even though Yan Zhuguang's consciousness was immersed in enlightenment, she could still feel that familiar presence. Yan Zhuguang's lips curled into an unstoppable smile. She waved away the formations she had set around her and stood up from the crater left by the thunder's strike. Yun Mixue, guarding Yan Zhuguang, naturally couldn't immerse herself in cultivation. At Yan Zhuguang's slightest movement, she noticed immediately. In a flash, Yun Mixue was at the edge of the pit, bending slightly, extending an ice-white, slender hand towards Yan Zhuguang. Yan Zhuguang placed her hand into Yun Mixue's, and with a gentle exertion from Yun Mixue's cooling grip, she leaped out, flinging herself into Yun Mixue's embrace. "Senior sister, I've reached the golden core stage!" Yun Mixue wasn't prepared for Yan Zhuguang's sudden leap, but she swiftly encircled her waist, stepping back to steady the playful girl clinging to her, preventing any chance of her falling. Yan Zhuguang, one hand hanging over Yun Mixue's shoulder, tilted her head back and beamed proudly at Yun Mixue, reporting her achievement with glee. "Zhuguang, you've done brilliantly!" Yun Mixue was generous with her praise. She brushed Yan Zhuguang's face gently, "Our little soot-cat has maintained this unkempt look for three months. Now, get down and clean up." Yan Zhuguang awkwardly wiped her face with her tattered sleeve, then drew out a cleansing talisman to tidy herself up. She playfully complained, "I've been sitting here for months, and my legs are numb. I can't walk anymore, let alone fly on a sword. Senior sister, take me back." Having successfully advanced to the golden core stage, Yan Zhuguang had grown taller, now standing almost on par with Yun Mixue. Hanging off her used to be nothing unusual, but now it seemed a bit odd. Yun Mixue looked resigned. "What are you doing like this? Come down, and I'll take you back, you lazy girl." "I don't want to," Yan Zhuguang declared, resting her chin on Yun Mixue's shoulder. "This is convenient." "Let's go back, senior sister. I need to change my clothes. They're all tattered from the tribulation." Yun Mixue chuckled helplessly. "Now you realize your clothes are ruined? I prepared enchanted robes for you to wear that could withstand some of the tribulation and aren't easily damaged." Yan Zhuguang, hanging close to Yun Mixue's ear, murmured, "But if the ones you gave me got ruined, what would I do?" Yun Mixue ultimately relented, teleporting Yan Zhuguang back to Zhouxue Peak. They landed in the snow-covered courtyard, and hearing Yan Zhuguang's words, Yun Mixue said, "If you don't wear them, what's the point of me preparing them for you?" "I just want to keep them safe." Yan Zhuguang jumped down, giving Yun Mixue a bright smile. "I'll go change now. Afterward, you must tell me all that's happened during this time, okay?" Yun Mixue nodded. "Alright, hurry up. Don't catch a chill." Yan Zhuguang's voice echoed as she walked away, "I won't catch a chill; I've reached the golden core stage!" Watching her back gradually fade into the distance, Yun Mixue couldn't help but shake her head.