Northern Derivation Chapter 38: Achievement

The Heavenly Peak was crowded with many cultivators. It was rumored that they had all gathered to witness a cultivator at the False Core stage attempting to break through their cultivation level. In the Han'e Mountain Range, where Nascent Soul cultivators rarely appeared, Golden Core cultivators reigned supreme. Since the old Nascent Soul monsters were perpetually in seclusion and indifferent to worldly affairs, a Golden Core master was undoubtedly a top-tier hegemon in this region. Naturally, this attracted everyone to watch, hoping to gain some insight or benefit.

The lightning clouds had dissipated after three strikes, and within half a day, all cultivators across the nineteen peaks of the Void Sword Sect were aware of the event. Several peak masters even arrived at the scene. However, after probing with their divine sense, they felt something was amiss: why was there only a cultivator at the peak of the late Grain Evasion stage inside the cave dwelling? Where had the Golden Core cultivator gone? With a creak, the cave gates opened, and a young man stepped out, drawing the gaze of the crowd.

It was Mo Hao, who had changed his clothes and come out for some fresh air. He was in high spirits, stretching his body and closing his eyes as he greedily inhaled the fresh air following the tribulation. But when he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by cultivators. He immediately realized what had happened—a lightning tribulation was a phenomenon associated with advancing to the Golden Core stage, so it was only natural that he would be watched.

Just as Mo Hao was feeling overwhelmed by the sea of cultivators, Jiang Jianfeng descended from the sky on a cloud of auspicious mist, landing lightly beside him. The cultivators bowed to the Sect Master. Jiang Jianfeng signaled for them to return, and although they were full of questions, they dared not defy the Sect Master’s order and dispersed. However, five cultivators remained rooted to the spot. Jiang Jianfeng frowned upon recognizing them, and Mo Hao realized that the situation was not as simple as it seemed.

While pondering why these five had stayed, Mo Hao felt Jiang Jianfeng tucking something into his hand. He took it and felt an egg-shaped stone. Jiang Jianfeng looked at the leader of the five and said slowly, "Mu Huanzi, what is the meaning of this? I believe this is still the territory of Heavenly Peak. Even if not, I am the Sect Master. I have already ordered everyone to leave; why have you five not departed?"

The cultivator named Mu Huanzi showed no respect for Jiang Jianfeng, saying dismissively, "Brother Jiang, that is a wrong way to put it. We are all members of the Void Sword Sect; why must you draw such clear boundaries? Today’s appearance of a new Golden Core cultivator is a sign of our sect’s prosperity. We simply wished to pay our respects to this fellow Daoist."

Jiang Jianfeng chuckled instead of getting angry. "Where is this successful Golden Core advancement? Surely you, Junior Brother, have probed with your divine sense. Is there any Golden Core cultivator here besides us? Even if one had just advanced, or even if they were a mid-stage Golden Core expert using concealment techniques, they could not escape your divine sense!"

"Oh? Then tell me, why did a lightning tribulation appear at Heavenly Peak today? Don't tell me it was conjured up by this little brat at the peak of the late Grain Evasion stage behind you!"

Jiang Jianfeng smiled. "Indeed, it was my disciple who triggered the tribulation. Mo Hao, hand over that item! I told you not to mess with it, yet you didn't listen to your master. Once this matter is settled, you are grounded for a month!"

Mo Hao reacted quickly, realizing Jiang Jianfeng was referring to the stone he had just been given. With an aggrieved look, he pulled the egg-shaped stone from his storage pouch. Upon seeing it, Mu Huanzi gave a start and asked, "Brother, what do you mean? Are you saying this object triggered the lightning tribulation?"

"Exactly. Does Junior Brother not recognize it?"

Mu Huanzi stepped forward to examine the stone closely. He looked puzzled at first, then showed a hint of shock. "Could this be a Thunder-Attracting Stone? No wonder, no wonder! It seems I have made a mountain out of a molehill. Since that is the cause, please forgive my intrusion on your peak today. I shall come another day to offer a formal apology!"

After saying this, Mu Huanzi spoke to the other four, who then adopted looks of sudden realization and bowed before retreating. However, Mo Hao clearly saw a look of disbelief lingering on Mu Huanzi's face.

Once the five had left, Jiang Jianfeng looked at Mo Hao. Mo Hao invited Jiang Jianfeng and Meng Xin into the cave. After they were seated, he returned the stone to Jiang Jianfeng and stood quietly to the side. Jiang Jianfeng gestured for him to relax. After tucking away the stone, he looked at Mo Hao with disbelief.

"Today's tribulation was truly strange. If your Senior Sister hadn't sent me a sound transmission, I wouldn't have known you were undergoing a tribulation while advancing to the late Grain Evasion stage. This was my oversight. Fortunately, you survived it; otherwise, you would have suffered damage to your Great Dao. As I see it, the Fluorescence Mist Secret Realm won't open for another year. Stay in my cave for this year and do not leave. Those five, including Mu Huanzi, are not to be trifled with. They will eventually realize the truth, and I fear they will come to cause trouble for us at Heavenly Peak!"

Mo Hao nodded, but a hint of hesitation appeared on his face. Seeing this, Jiang Jianfeng asked, "What is it? Do you have unfinished business?"

Mo Hao hesitated for a moment before saying, "Master, you are wise. The predecessor who gifted me the 'Heavenly Remnant Divine Scroll' had an agreement with me: once I mastered the basic techniques of the Five-Colored Divine Light at the late Grain Evasion stage, I would help heal their spirit beast. I swore a Great Dao oath that I would go immediately upon mastery; otherwise, I would never have a chance to reach the Foundation Establishment stage!"

Upon hearing that it concerned the benefactor who had gifted the scroll, Jiang Jianfeng pondered for a moment and nodded slowly. "If this concerns your cultivation, I cannot refuse. Very well, stay here to practice, and have Meng Xin keep watch. When you have mastered the refinement technique of the Five-Colored Divine Light, let Meng Xin accompany you. That way, I will be at ease."

Knowing this was the greatest concession Jiang Jianfeng could make, Mo Hao bowed in thanks. Jiang Jianfeng said nothing more and walked toward the cave entrance. As he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back. "Next time you break through, make complete preparations for the lightning tribulation and find an uninhabited place. It was fortunate that this happened within the sect; had you been outside, you would have been at your most vulnerable immediately after the breakthrough!"

With that, Jiang Jianfeng stepped onto his cloud and flew into the distance, vanishing into the horizon. Meng Xin watched Mo Hao, a strange look flickering in her eyes. She did not know why, but Mo Hao seemed to lack a sense of awe toward their master.

Mo Hao sat cross-legged on the jade bed in the cave and took a deep breath. He had to master the difficult Five-Colored Divine Light technique within half a year. Meng Xin kept watch outside, bored, until a few days later when she called her registered disciples, Tan Ya and Lan Heng, to keep her company.

"Both of you, cultivate your techniques properly here," Meng Xin said sternly to her two disciples. Tan Ya and Lan Heng exchanged glances, confused. Usually, Meng Xin let them train freely; why was she forcing them to cultivate today? Tan Ya, who was on good terms with Meng Xin and spoke freely with her, asked, "Master, do you have something on your mind today? You can tell me!"

Whether Meng Xin was in a bad mood or not, she gave a cold snort and ignored Tan Ya, who then obediently sat down to circulate her energy. Seeing that even Tan Ya had been snubbed, Lan Heng also settled down to cultivate without a word.

As for Mo Hao, his progress was swift. He first pushed the Heavenly Remnant Divine Art to its limit, then took out the second volume of the scroll Jiang Jianfeng had given him. He followed the instructions to gather the Five Elements spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Though the Five Elements were supposed to clash, the Heavenly Remnant Divine Art forced them to condense together. Instead of dispersing this energy throughout his body, Mo Hao channeled it into his right index finger.

"Condense!"

A five-colored light flickered at his fingertip. Though it vanished in an instant, it was enough to excite him. He had managed to condense a hint of the light on his first attempt. With each subsequent attempt, the five-colored light at his fingertip grew slightly more visible with every influx of spiritual energy.

"This... how long will it take to cultivate a Five-Colored Divine Light that wraps around my entire arm?"

He wondered if he could absorb several times the amount of spiritual energy at once, but remembering the agony he felt when first practicing the scroll, he hesitated. However, with two pressing matters at hand, he had no choice but to master this technique.

Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and absorbed several times the usual amount of spiritual energy. He felt his meridians swell as if his body were being stretched to the point of pain, but he managed to condense the energy and force it toward his finger.

"Wait, it actually works, though it’s incredibly painful!"

The five-colored light on Mo Hao's finger grew visibly. He was overjoyed; he had only been testing a theory, and it had actually succeeded.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Amidst the anxious waiting of Meng Xin and her two unlucky disciples, Mo Hao finally emerged from the cave. Meng Xin appeared before him immediately.

"Did you succeed?" she asked, with a mix of doubt and expectation. Mo Hao nodded slowly.

"I wouldn't say fully successful, but it should be enough to help you retrieve that treasure, Master!"

With that, a flickering five-colored light danced on his finger like a flame.

"Go!"

The beam of light shot toward a large boulder by the entrance. However, Meng Xin and the others noticed nothing unusual; the light simply vanished. They looked at Mo Hao in confusion—why couldn't this technique even break an ordinary rock?

Mo Hao, perhaps anticipating their reaction, flicked his finger. With a sword-finger gesture, he split the rock down the middle. All three gaped in shock. The stone was reduced to a thin outer shell, while the interior had long since turned into powder. As Mo Hao split it, dust filled the courtyard.

Having tested the technique inside the cave, Mo Hao wasn't as surprised. But Meng Xin, despite being at the False Core stage, had never seen such a technique. While some rare poisons could dissolve a cultivator's flesh, the fact that this Five-Colored Divine Light could dissolve an inanimate object like stone in an instant was truly heaven-defying.

Mo Hao withdrew the light into his body, feeling that it wasn't merely an offensive technique—it must have many other marvelous uses he hadn't yet discovered. Now that it was mastered, it was time to fulfill his promise to Liu Yue, but first, he had to report back to his master.

Meng Xin dismissed her two disciples. Tan Ya and Lan Heng, the two poor souls, breathed a sigh of relief. They looked at Mo Hao with tears in their eyes, having been relentlessly drilled by Meng Xin for half a year. Hearing they were granted a month to recuperate, they hurriedly agreed.

Meng Xin took hundreds of spirit stones from her pouch to give them, then added some trinkets for Tan Ya, knowing she had been too harsh on them. Although Tan Ya and Lan Heng were only registered disciples, Meng Xin treated them as her own.

"Lan Heng, accompany your junior sister to Yue City. There are many cultivators there, including some at the Foundation Establishment stage. Do not cause trouble. If your junior sister loses even a hair, you’ll see how I punish you when we return!"

"Yes, Master! I understand!"

Mo Hao and Meng Xin set off for Jiang Jianfeng's cave. After paying their respects at the entrance, they were invited inside. Jiang Jianfeng praised Mo Hao's Five-Colored Divine Light and, before they left, handed him a map and a talisman. After reporting back, the two flew on their swords toward the direction of the Clear Water Pool.