Chapter Sixty-Eight: Settling the Score

Wang Li’s hesitation stemmed from Master Sheng’s warning not to entangle himself in too many karmic threads. Assisting only Ling Xiao was manageable; at worst, it would add a single line of karma, and even that was within his capacity to bear. Furthermore, Master Sheng had passed the “Thunderous Justice” technique to Granny Zheng. By teaching this method, Wang Li had already created karmic ties with two people. Yet since these actions aligned with Master Sheng’s intentions, Wang Li trusted that the old master would have a way to resolve the karma between him and the two others. Still, he kept Master Sheng’s warning close to heart, concerned that accumulating too much karma might affect his future.

Thus, he asked Master Sheng, "Master Sheng, what should I do? Should I refuse them?"

“No need,” Master Sheng replied. “The ‘Thunderous Justice’ is merely a foundational technique. It’s not as powerful as you imagine, and the karma involved is limited. Passing it on to several people won’t make much difference.”

“But no matter how small the karma, it must be repaid,” Master Sheng continued. “Before the selection ends, you must settle these debts.”

Wang Li, curious, asked, “How should I repay karma?”

“It’s simple. Aside from Ling Xiao, don’t let the others participate in the recognition of the sacred artifact.”

Master Sheng explained, “Within the Selection Ruins, the karmic threads of the participants all point toward the final sacred artifact. If they don’t come into contact with it, the karma will be naturally resolved.”

Although Wang Li didn’t fully grasp Master Sheng’s words, he understood a few things.

“So you mean the karma within the Selection Ruins is different from that of the outside world?”

“More or less. The Selection Ruins is a closed minor world, influenced by the will of the world itself. Most of the karma that arises here can be completed within its own cycle. Unless a predetermined outcome is changed, the world’s will won’t let the karma here spill outside.”

“But you once said that no one can control karma. Can the will of the world do so?”

“No one can control karma. If I explained further, you wouldn’t understand. All you need to know is that karma here isn’t the same as outside.”

Wang Li began to comprehend. “So this is why you let me take the lead here?”

Master Sheng replied, “Think whatever you like... Just remember, don’t pass on techniques lightly. It’s bothersome!”

With Master Sheng’s answer, Wang Li felt no further qualms. He addressed the group, “I can teach you the ‘Thunderous Justice’ method to help you pass your tribulations. However, you must pay a price.”

Hearing this, the group exchanged uneasy glances.

Jiang Yu spoke, “Steward Wang, what kind of price do we need to pay?”

Wang Li clasped his hands behind his back and said calmly, “Hand over your main cultivation techniques to me. Additionally, anyone who practices ‘Thunderous Justice’ must follow my commands until the selection ends. If you accept these two conditions, you may inform others as well.”

The group looked at each other, weighing the risks and benefits. They quickly made their decision and nodded in agreement. Their own methods weren’t particularly advanced, mostly not involving their sect’s core techniques. Exchanging their own methods for one of similar rank was not a loss, and they wouldn’t risk leaking their sect’s secrets. Most importantly, the ‘Thunderous Justice’ method could increase their success rate in overcoming tribulations. Even if they didn’t know how effective it would be, having something was better than nothing.

Seeing their agreement, Wang Li said to Ling Xiao, “Ling Xiao, place the player and the method card in the main tent of the camp. Anyone can use it, but they must swear an oath first. Do you understand?”

“I understand, Master!” Ling Xiao replied eagerly, his heart filled with joy.

By instructing Ling Xiao to oversee the use of the player, Wang Li was giving him the chance to connect with the masters of Vengeance City, an enormous advantage for building valuable relationships.

News spread through New Vengeance City that Steward Wang was teaching the ‘Thunderous Justice’ method to help disciples survive their tribulations. Everyone was excited.

Helping others through tribulations was something only the great sects could do, and even then, the number of tribulation arrays was limited. Most people would never have the chance to use such arrays in their entire cultivation lives. Now, they had an opportunity to access a method that could increase their odds of surviving tribulations. How could they not be thrilled?

Steward Wang was truly a good soul—a generous elder with a caring heart.

This was the persona Wang Li had sought, and at last, he truly embodied it.

With the support of ‘Thunderous Justice,’ those who sought to break through the Foundation Establishment realm came forward, one after another.

Wang Li counted them and was astonished: within three days, twenty-seven cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment had stepped forward.

“If all of them succeed, Vengeance City will have thirty Golden Core masters—including myself, thirty-one!” he thought. “With so many strong cultivators, those outer missions... are nothing!”

In high spirits, Wang Li began to attempt forming his own core.

Yes, forming his core—not undergoing tribulation.

Master Sheng had shielded Wang Li’s fate; even the will of the world couldn’t find him, so the heavenly tribulation thunder couldn’t strike him—there was no target!

Wang Li’s process of forming his core went smoothly.

For cultivators, forming a core is neither too difficult nor too easy. Before attempting it, one must reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, accumulate enough spiritual power, and then use one’s heart blood to condense a core nucleus in the lower dantian. Spiritual power is compressed into this nucleus, forming a ‘false core.’ Finally, the power of tribulation lightning tempers the false core, solidifying it into a true Golden Core.

Few cultivators fail at the first two steps; most failures occur during the final stage—when tribulation lightning enters the body.

No matter how strong a cultivator’s physical body, it cannot withstand tribulation lightning directly. One must use spiritual power to resist the damage to the flesh, but those with weak foundations often exhaust their spiritual power during the formation of the false core, leaving no reserve to fight the lightning. Furthermore, tribulation lightning brings not only destructive force, but also a chance of mental assaults or seeds of inner demons. While spiritual power can be supplemented with pills or rare treasures, mental attacks and inner demons are harder to resist. If the mind falters and inner demons take root, only sheer willpower can overcome them. Thus, the success rate is low.

This is the greatest risk of tribulation.

A tribulation array can eliminate the mental assaults within the lightning, greatly increasing the odds of success. The ‘Thunderous Justice’ method has a similar effect, though it has yet to be fully tested.

Yet neither method can counter inner demons, so cultivators still need a firm Dao heart and unwavering resolve.

For Wang Li, these risks in forming his core meant nothing.

His deep reserves of spiritual power, immunity to inner demons, and extraordinarily strong soul were more than enough to ensure he could survive the tribulation.

The only problem was... he couldn’t summon the tribulation lightning, and thus couldn’t temper his false core.

But with Master Sheng’s help, tempering the false core was a trivial matter.

Master Sheng guided Wang Li to channel the ‘Thunderous Justice’ method at full force, using his own thunder attribute spiritual energy to continuously compress the false core, forcibly altering its structure until Wang Li successfully condensed—not just one, but a multitude of Golden Cores!