"So, how long does this usually take?" Shinji asked Kenji.
"Heck if I know! It's not like I have ever done this before!" Kenji replied.
"What about your, ex-master? Didn't he tell you anything?" Shinji asked.
"I don't think so?" Kenji replied.
"You don't sound so sure!" Aiko muttered.
"Look, I'm not proud of it, but I basically just lazed about while acting like an asshole after reaching golden core! Plus, I was never all that great at studyin in the first place!"
*Sigh*
The two just looked disappointedly at their cultivator friend and sighed. After they were so lucky as to crash-land into a lake, saving them from an almost certain death, the three disciples, alongside some of Aiko's ancestors found themselves right in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, the rocket was also waterproof and floated on water, making it possible for them to use it as a boat. The group had swiftly gotten to work on modifying the rocket into a rocket boat using the material they had on hand. Fortunately for them, and unfortunately for their master, Nox had left them with a small fortune in magic stones, metals, artifacts, and much more, which she originally planned to pick up once she escaped with the UFO's energy source. Thinking their master had intentionally left these supplies with them to help them survive on their own, the trio set sail for the shore, only to immediately be attack by a school of unique-grade piranha sharks that tore their ship asunder.
Fortunately, they managed to escape thanks to some of Aiko's ancestor golems having the ability to fly. However, pretty much anything they couldn't carry in their pockets was taken to the bottom of the lake, due to being shorthanded on flying golem's and pressed for time.
One of the things that survived was the mystery box Nox had grabbed right before running from the 2nd moon. Inside it was something incredibly valuable, the mythical grade 'Pill Of Immortality'. One of the most sought after mythical pills in the world, whose recipe is only known to the Tsuki Royal family. It is a universal cultivation boosting pill that is compatible with all nine types of qi. Legends has it, if consumed, it will guarantee one's advancement into the immortal realm.
Upon hearing this explanation from Aiko's ancestor, and having seen what an immortal was capable of firsthand, the two mages immediately crammed the pill down Kenji's throat, before anybody could stop them. Not knowing that you are supposed to wait until reaching indigo core before consuming it, nor having enough knowledge on cultivation to know that making a golden core take a mythical grade pill was a bad idea, the two watched as Kenji, exploded, repeatedly.
The pill's energy was far too great to be contained by a mere golden core body, and under normal circumstances, he would have been blown into bits the moment he swallowed the pill. However, thanks to his hard work in the demon realm, and the particularly powerful aura he possessed, his enhanced body was able to endure it somehow. While it definitely didn't make him an immortal, it certainly did have a positive effect on his cultivation, despite nearly causing his qi to deviate in the process.
The large amounts of dense elemental energy that surged through his body not only caused his qi to undergo a qualitative difference, the amount he managed to absorb before it was over, was enough to push him from the initial stage to the peak of golden core, and now he was ready to advance into nascent soul. Of course, that was just a drop in the bucket compared to how much energy was in that pill, and had another cultivator seen this they would have likely been screaming bloody murder at them for wasting such a precious treasure. Fortunately, everyone aside from Kenji was a mage, and hence, didn't really care so long as he didn't die.
After that, the group started looking for a suitable place for Kenji to have his advancement, eventually settling on an ominous mountain top which is where they have been camping for the last week and a half, while watching Kenji meditate where the fire energy was the densest, and protecting him from any dangers he might face.
One of the greatest threats a cultivator might face while advancing, is not the risk of failure, but the high risk of being attacked by a magical beast while they are attempting it. It is so dangerous in fact, that it is considered the number 1 cause of death for cultivators. This is because when a cultivator is about to advance, they often gather and/or release large amounts of elemental energy, something magical beasts are very fond of. This often causes large hordes to flock towards cultivators attempting to advance, and due to how delicate the process is, the cultivators have to dedicate all their attention to the task, leaving them unable to defend themselves. It is for this very reason that many cultivators pick up the art of enchanting, as it allows them to prepare defensive barriers to protect them from such threats. However, with the resources needed to make an effective barrier now at the bottom of a shark-infested lake, they had no choice but to fend off the beasts themselves.
*Rumble*
"*Huff* Jeez, this is starting to go from annoying to dangerous! *Huff* Please tell me you're almost done?!" Shinji complained while lying down on the pile of magical beasts he just killed.
However, Shinji did not get any response from his fellow disciple. Looking over, they saw Kenji who seemed to have entered a trancelike state as his body began to glow red.
"I'm just going to assume that is a good sign!" Shinji muttered.
"At least, we won't starve if it isn't!" Aiko said as she looked hungerly at the pile of magical beasts.
While the mythical grade golem ancestor could have easily delt with the hordes of magical beasts on his lonesome, his body had been critically damaged during his fight with the king of the 2nd moon, making it difficult for him to fight, and while the rest of the golems weren't necessarily weak, they had been brought along more for their technical skill in order to help fly the UFO rather than their combat prowess. Hence, why Shinji and Aiko couldn't afford to sit back and relax while they waited for Kenji to finish.
Shinji, having trouble taking out all the beasts rushing at him with just his spells, was making full use of his 'Fires of Death', having mastered it to a point where he no longer needed to make physical contact with an opponent to use it. He can now spontaneously create it anywhere within a certain range of himself, allowing him to kill anything that gets within his reach. The distance is rather short though, being limited to a radius of 1 meter, on top of the fact that it takes a moment before its effects can seeped deep enough into their bodies to deal lethal damage. Meaning he still has to survive at least one attack from his opponent before they die, which might not sound so hard, if you forget the fact that all his opponents here are unique-grade magical beasts that most definitely are capable of ending him in that one strike should he take a direct hit.
While Shinji was busy dodging for his life in a game of kill or be killed, Aiko was either helping with repairing her ancestors' bodies or using some makeshift golems she crafted out of the environment to stall for time.
*RUMBLE*
*CRACKLE*
*BOOM*
Then finally, the first tribulation lightning struck down. However, while Shinji and Aiko let out a sigh of relief as their goal was finally in sight, the more experienced golems became more alert. Surviving all the tribulation lightning is the final step in becoming a nascent soul, however, it is also the most crucial and most dangerous face of the process, and not just because of the lightning strikes. It is because of how much attention it brings to you. The moment the first lightning strikes down, it lets everybody for several miles know that you are advancing and that you are currently vulnerable, and there are some who make a living off of taking advantage of that.
"Well, well, well! Look what we got here!" A man said as he entered the scene.
He was wearing dirty armor and sporting a scar across his face. Following behind him stood a group of around twenty or so, ruffians with ominous smiles plastered on their faces.
"Hm? Who ar-!"
*Crackle*
*Bang*
*Crash*
Just as Shinji was about to ask who these people were, one of the men used his qi to close the distance in an instant and punch him. Fortunately, Shinji had reflexively used aura to strengthen his body, or this man's punch would have gone straight through his stomach rather than just sending him flying into the wall of the mountain.
"Hehe! We hit the jackpot here, boss! These kids really are just a bunch of small-fries!" The man who just hit Shinji said.
*Crackle*
*Boom*
"That's some nice lookin toys you got there, girly! Why don't you have them carry all your stuff and follow us!" The leader of this group of vultures said to Aiko while looking her over.
The group seemed to let out a chuckle at the frightened expression on Aiko's face as she backed away behind the golems protecting her.
*Cough*
"Damn! That hurt! Ugh!" Shinji said as he staggered back on his feet.
There was blood running down the side of his lip, his whole body was covered in bruises, and his right arm had gone limp.
"Hm? The runt's still alive? Hey, Koji! I think yer losin your touch!"
"Hmph! Just a fluke boss! Give me a sec and I'll have it fixed!"
"STOP!"
Just as the hooligan was about to go for another strike that would most definitely do more than just break a couple bones, Aiko shouted for them to stop, releasing a staggering pressure for a brief moment, causing the group to freeze up momentarily.
Not realizing what she had just done, she said.
"Y-You just want our stuff, right? If we give it will you take it and go?" Aiko asked.
"Hehe! Sure! But those golems look hard to carry, so, I'm sure you won't mind comin with us missy! After all, you know how to move these things, right?" The leader of the group said, as he tried to keep a straight face.