A Failure in the Spotlight

The twelfth stage, beyond the limits of extraordinary theory, lies a desolate wasteland, a place of transcendence, a realm beyond the established planes.

Wang Xuan embarked on his journey back to the mortal world. His speed increased dramatically, and he quickly entered the Earth of Fate, then merged with his physical body and returned swiftly.

The moment he opened his eyes, he felt that his physical condition was not very good. When his primordial spirit was transforming, his physical body was also improving and becoming stronger. However, when he was struck by the blood-red lightning, some red light also appeared on his body. Now he was about to be cooked.

"Separating the mind and body is not good when facing the heavenly tribulation. Each will be in danger, unable to coordinate or support each other, which has significant drawbacks."

Fortunately, although his physical body was only partially mature, it was still active. He possessed Super Material, which had an extremely strong activity level, and he was immediately engulfed by the silver light.

At the same time, he went to gather celestial herbs, not daring to be careless, as there were powerful figures outside eyeing him covetously, and he had to ensure that he was in the best possible condition.

Soon after, he had a piece of celestial medicine leaf in his mouth, his whole body was glowing, his flesh and blood were resonating, and his body was rapidly recovering.

Wang Xuan's heartbeat was extremely powerful, especially now, with increased blood flow, it was like an engine of immortality, delivering all kinds of Supernatural Power to every part of his body.

Within his bones, the marrow shone brightly, constantly producing blood. The newly generated power expanded violently, replacing the old, extraordinary blood, resulting in a complete blood transfusion throughout his body.

Crimson liquid oozed from his body, and a rich vitality permeated his body, making him completely different, as if he had been reborn!

The internal organs trembled together. The organs that were once relatively "weak" are now reborn, strong and powerful, shining brightly like little suns illuminating the body.

The process lasted a long time. Wang Xuan continued to peel, and the charred keratin on his body fell off. His eyes and brows were glowing, and his eyes were clear.

Only then did he feel that he was completely perfect, both in body and spirit, and in the strongest state he had ever been in, from the inside out.

"Standing in a new world is like being reborn, a qualitative change in life. The twelfth stage is called rebirth." He felt that this was in line with the true meaning of this realm.

"You succeeded?" Chen Yongjie looked at him from a distance, then looked down at himself. Half of his body was charred black, indicating that he had been severely affected.

However, his current level... has returned to the eighth dan!

The drop from the ninth level to the eighth level was so extreme that it left Cheng Yongjie numb. How many times had he ridden a roller coaster back and forth like this? He was stuck with the eighth level.

"It's done!" Wang Xuan nodded.

Chen Yongjie comforted himself, saying that this drop in skill level was not a bad thing; he was consolidating his foundation, which also proved that he, Chen the Eighth Dan, was very stable!

He believed that he was still better than those outsiders, some of whom were on the verge of falling to the bottom, Ming Dao their foundation was not solid enough.

This Major Earthquake was extremely severe. Even the incarnations of the most powerful immortals in the human world have dropped in cultivation level. For example, Lei Tuo's face is now extremely gloomy, almost dripping with water. He has dropped to the first level of the Carefree Journey!

There was also the top-tier deity Yuan Lei, who had fallen from the third level to the second. She was very silent, her undulating body covered in armor. She seemed lost in thought. If things continued like this, when the Great Barrier disappeared, would the deity also quickly become a mortal?

This dramatic change terrified even the gods!

The Supernatural Practitioner everywhere were already shrouded in gloom and filled with wails. The fact that they had dropped their cultivation level twice in one day was unprecedented and terrifying.

In outer space, the massive steel fortress, as large as a city, dimmed, and even the guardians of order within it refused to speak.

In each spaceship, no one smiled; all that remained was pain, and a sense of uncertainty and unease about the future.

"All conditioned phenomena are like Illusionary Bubble, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning; in the end, they are all empty." Qing Mu seemed relieved and somewhat liberated, but his heart was full of bitterness, and he was ultimately unwilling to accept it.

"Back to basics, I've returned to the mid-stage of Grandmaster. Life is like a dream," he murmured to himself.

The Little Fox Immortal looked at the group and said, "Ma Er, Zhao Er, Wu Fanren, Master Qing, Immortal San, this is our current cultivation level. Oh, and Xiong Er too!"

The final "Legend of Sword and Fairy 3" refers to herself, Xiong Er" refers to the Mechanical Xiao.

Five bolts of lightning struck down from underground, hitting the Underground Palace and landing on Wang Xuan. This surprised him. What was going on? Even after merging his body and spirit, he still had to undergo a tribulation in the mortal world?

In the Land of Nothingness, after experiencing the terrifying crimson lightning, the five blows he just received didn't seem like much of a deal to him; they didn't hurt much.

In fact, after the five bolts of lightning, the so-called heavenly tribulation dissipated and did not continue, because the mysterious tribulation of lightning seemed to sense that he could withstand it and disappeared instantly.

On the ground, within the decaying barrier, the masters of several giant palaces were moved as they witnessed the blinding lightning descending from the sky and entering the earth.

"He's transcended the tribulation! He's about to advance to the Great Realm of Carefree Journey! This... we should stop him!" Lei Tuo was anxious and disappointed. With the balance of power shifting, that young man would definitely be able to contend with all the gods in the future!

In particular, the young man found out about his previous hostility, which was bad news.

He was intimidated; his cultivation level had dropped, and he was no match for Wang Xuan. He whispered to Yuan Lei, "Fellow Daoist, aren't you going to make a move? The Book of Years is on him!"

"Something's not right. There were only five bolts of lightning. He... failed?" Yuan Lei asked in surprise.

In other giant palaces, some people have also made this judgment: throughout history, some extraordinary talents who have stood at the Eleventh Stage level have undergone tribulation and transformation when they advance to the Carefree Journey, and their strength has increased dramatically.

Some will fail. After experiencing several bolts of lightning, they will not be able to withstand them and will be severely injured, damaging their solid and profound extraordinary foundation. Those who are slightly injured will need to recuperate, while those who are severely injured may end up in obscurity.

After all, the tribulation is a crucial and special process. Few people can experience it before they become immortals, and not everyone can endure it!

Inside the decaying barrier, everyone waited in silence. Even Xu Fu frowned, sensing something was amiss.

In outer space, the various spaceships captured images of the decaying barrier, and people were shocked, realizing that something might have happened there.

The immortal Lei Tuo, with his flowing golden hair, laughed and said, "He has largely failed. It's understandable; he encountered the worst moment of the Great Mythological Ebb Tide!"

Someone nodded and said, "That's right. A new supreme treasure is born, and the old supreme treasure is roaring. Everyone in the world is losing cultivation levels. For him to break through at this time is like going against the current and dancing in a sea of fire. He is inherently inferior and is already in a position of defeat!"

In outer space, everyone was stunned, especially Qing Mu, Zhao Qinghan, and Wu Yin, whose hearts were in their throats, worried about Wang Xuan.

The Eleventh Stage level Breakthrough Assassin recently ushered in the most glorious moment of his life, successfully slaying a god!

But in the blink of an eye, he encountered the biggest setback of his life, his breakthrough was blocked, and he was suspected of being severely injured by a heavenly tribulation.

"Throughout history, there have been very few Supernatural Practitioner the Eleventh Stage level. The heavenly tribulation at this level is extremely rare. It is the greatest test that Heaven can give to a Limit Breaking Being, and it is also the most profound blessing. If you can get through it, the sky will be the limit!"

"Well... all I can say is that he was really unlucky to have encountered this critical moment of four earthquakes in a row today. Everyone was losing their cultivation level, so he naturally encountered the most serious setback."

"What a pity! Such a heavenly tribulation is rare in this Mythological Era, especially since ancient times. It should be the only one! In a normal era, he should be incredibly brilliant now, having successfully overcome the tribulation. But now, he has become a victim of the times, suffering a crushing defeat!"

People were talking about how, from the decaying barrier to outer space, all sorts of extraordinary beings realized what had happened and learned the "truth."

Some felt it was a pity, some smiled, some shook their heads, and some remained silent.

Many people suddenly realized that not long ago, the various extraordinary individuals were gloomy and depressed, but now, upon hearing that a young man who was even more amazing and stronger than Ten Stages limit-breaker had failed his tribulation, the atmosphere immediately eased.

"It's human nature to be so weak. When you learn that someone else is in a worse situation and has missed the chance to be recorded in history, your own suffering seems insignificant."

Some people felt ashamed, while others were unfazed, their faces breaking into smiles, and their mood improved considerably.

Underground, Wang Xuan got up. This time, he had undergone a complete skin peel and blood transfusion. The ground was covered in crimson. He calmly smeared some of the blood on his body, making himself covered in bloodstains.

Then, he found a suit of armor, blasted it to pieces, put it on, and began smearing it with his remaining blood, looking quite miserable.

Of course, charred old skin is also a good pigment; the skin must have black and ash.

"You're such a scoundrel! Tell me, who do you want to kill?" Chen Yongjie stared wide-eyed at the scene. He knew that Ancestor Wang was no kind person now!

Wang Xuan calmly replied, "What are you thinking? I'm tired of fighting and killing, and I don't want to have conflicts with people, so I'll keep a low profile. As long as I fail, the outside world will be very happy and at ease, and they shouldn't make things difficult for me."

Chen Yongjie was speechless, and finally sighed, "I also want to be this low-key, to be a silent powerhouse, but right now, my strength doesn't allow it!"

Wang Xuan said, "I'm doing this to make things convenient for others and myself, to build good relationships. I don't want to have any serious conflicts with those people. Anyway, I've done what I should do. I'll try to keep a low profile and be patient."

This is his true feeling. Who would willingly get into conflict and be in the eye of the storm? Especially now, when things are in turmoil outside and everyone else is losing their composure, while you are enjoying the spotlight, it's impossible not to attract countless eyes.

This is a critical moment. All the Super Peerless are fighting each other for the most precious treasures. The most powerful gods are falling, and their divine blood is staining the Great Barrier and the Immortal Realm.

"Hmm, there's still something missing. Your Essence, Qi, and Spirit aren't strong enough, and your Super Material isn't restrained enough. You need to lower your cultivation level." Wang Xuan's demeanor changed instantly.

His face was pale, his cultivation was somewhat weak, he looked listless, his primordial spirit was dim and seemed to be riddled with holes, and he carried the residual aura of the Lightning Tribulation, indicating that he was seriously injured.

He said that such changes were nothing. He had thoroughly studied the Supreme Scriptures and pondered the Great Spirit Coffin Technique. Whether in terms of physical body or spirit, he could make it very realistic.

Especially now that he's at his level, he can deceive even the most powerful beings who are merely incarnations in the human world.

"Let's go, it's time to leave the pass. Hmm, the eyes are a bit off, they need to be dim, not bright. Alright, perfect, that's a wrap!" Wang Xuan was very satisfied, looking dejected and badly injured, but speaking confidently.

"Is this really okay?" Chen Yongjie thought to himself, not knowing what to say.

"Very good, everyone will be fine!" Wang Xuan nodded.

"That's not right. You seem to be barely at the Eleventh Stage right now, right? There's an aura that's even stronger than a Limit Breaker emanating from you." Chen Yongjie pointed out his flaws.

Wang Xuan said, "Too much of a good thing is bad. Being too fake is also not good. The closer it is to the truth, the more realistic it will be. Give them the illusion that I barely managed to maintain the Eleventh Stage, but my body and foundation were severely damaged and I am destined to fall in the future. Wouldn't that give them more anticipation? Hmm, in addition, I am now full of problems, so I am not so much of a threat to them. We should be able to live in peace."

Chen Yongjie turned and left, not wanting to talk to this "loser" anymore. He felt that the man was full of malice and was not a good person.

Wang Xuan put away the Golden Tree, the Primordial Spirit Chain, and other items, officially leaving seclusion and heading towards the surface.

When he emerged, he was astonished to find a dense Supernatural Practitioner waiting for him, all eyes fixed on him, scrutinizing his every move.

Moreover, in outer space, all spacecraft were capturing images of him immediately to determine if something had happened to him.

"Wang Xuan, he..." Wu Yin was a little emotional. Seeing his disheveled appearance, her face immediately broke down, filled with worry and anxiety.

"Wang Xuan!" some people whispered.

At this moment, all the supreme experts from the several giant palaces came out, staring at Wang Xuan and checking the true state of this tribulation seeker.

At this moment, it can be said that everyone is watching this "loser," and it is certain that he has broken through and failed to cross that barrier!

Even the Great Daoist Master Xu Fu was deceived, let alone others.

After all, not everyone has Spiritual Heavenly Eye, and Wang Xuan's level in the human realm is no weaker than theirs, so it is naturally difficult for him to see through them.

"Come to me!" Xu Fu was afraid something might happen to him, so he sent Wang Xuan over to ensure his safety.

"I'm already in this state, so the gods and immortals should be at ease now, right?" Wang Xuan said with a bitter smile, looking utterly desolate.

The gods stared at him in silence, especially the top gods and immortals, who looked at Wang Xuan and Chen Yongjie again and again, confirming some things.

Chen Yongjie was shaken down; he was with Wang Xuan, so the other person should have also been shaken.

In fact, Wang Xuan's cultivation level did seem to have declined. He barely managed to maintain the Eleventh Stage, but given his injuries—his primordial spirit was riddled with holes and his foundation was shattered—it wouldn't be long before he dropped to the Ten Stages. In the end, he wouldn't be able to hold onto the realm of breaking the limit and would fall directly to the ninth stage. That's how cruel and terrifying it is to fail the tribulation.

A gray-haired man, Supreme Deity from the Imperial Way Palace, spoke, "What a pity. He was a promising young man, but he has suffered such a tribulation. The Great Barrier and the supreme treasure shook violently together, and everyone's cultivation level dropped. He has encountered the most unfriendly era for extraordinary beings."

What else could Wang Xuan say? He gave a bitter smile and said, "I'm going home now. I'll live an ordinary life and leave the Supernatural Realm. Farewell, everyone."

At this moment, countless people felt regret. Even those who had been hostile before, or those who were jealous, envious, or hateful, were now shaking their heads, feeling relieved yet with mixed feelings.

This was a brilliant and extraordinary genius with limitless potential, but it ended like this. In fact, this also foreshadowed their future, as each of them may be forced to "leave the circle" in a few months.

"How could this happen?!" In outer space, Qing Mu, Zhao Qinghan, Wu Yin, and the others found it hard to accept this reality and were deeply saddened.

"How pitiful, he's going to be crippled." The Little Fox Immortal looked listless, knowing that losing a big backer meant he was destined to have far fewer snacks.

Wang Xuan walked slowly, his body covered in blood and charred black, toward the Ferryman.

"Wait!" the golden-haired immortal, Lei Tuo, spoke calmly, "I won't make things difficult for you. Hand over the Book of Years, and you may leave!"

The Supreme Deity Yuan Lei also spoke calmly, saying, "Leave behind the Book of Years."