The Tribulation Ends

Above the heavens, the thunder tribulation, bearing both danger and vitality, shattered the clouds with earth-shaking roars. Like the Nine-Bend Heavenly River, it poured down without end, sweeping toward Lu Shengjun.

Lu Shengjun was brimming with heroic spirit as he roared a single word: "Fight!" Golden light shot from his fiery red pupils, piercing the heavens. The blood clouds around him transformed into green clouds, while the four Divine Apes each guarded a cardinal direction, as though they were about to evolve an illusory world independent of space itself to withstand the terrifying baptism of lightning.

Lu Shengjun's surging blood energy rolled endlessly. His violet-gold giant staff swept across the skies with power capable of crushing ordinary Heavenly Sovereigns, as though it would smash through the firmament itself. His battle might was invincible!

This impassioned scene made the distant apes feel their blood energy stir restlessly, and they silently marveled at how each generation produced new talents.

It seemed that within a few hundred years, their Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe would produce a second peerless Late Saint Grade expert. By then, the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe would have the biggest fist among the Divine Beast Race!

"Nine Revolutions Divine Ape Transformation, Third Revolution—Ancient Ape Illuminating the World!"

The blood energy over Lu Shengjun's body began to burn. The four Divine Apes beat their chests and roared, devouring the vast spiritual energy between heaven and earth like whales drawing in water.

The green clouds rapidly swelled, and the boundaries of the illusory world swiftly expanded. Even some of the thunder tribulation's scattered power was swallowed by it, forming a small world nearly capable of standing against the thunder tribulation's black clouds.

Within that world, Buddhist chants and sacred hymns resounded, bells rang, and drums thundered, as though countless ape monks were chanting within. Incalculable golden Buddhist script condensed around the world, colliding with and annihilating the black lightning.

Such methods could only be described as divine!

If Lu Shengjun's cultivation could reach the level of a Super Divine Beast, he would truly be able to create an entirely new small world!

Legend had it that some Lower Planes of the Great Thousand World had been created this way by Heavenly Sovereigns who had mastered this path in ancient times, eventually breeding life of their own.

The Great Ape King of Heaven smiled contentedly at the sight, his face full of gratification as he watched Lu Shengjun fight.

Those monks might be hiding disaster within themselves, but their cultivation methods did indeed possess many unique merits.

With his insight, he could naturally see that Lu Shengjun's move combined the strengths of both Spiritual Mountain and the ape tribe. It could be called the culmination of Lu Shengjun's century of cultivation.

No wonder he had been able to use this move to Rebel Against the Higher, severely wounding and defeating a Heavenly Sovereign.

What a pity.

At the thought of Spiritual Mountain, a shadow fell over the Great Ape King of Heaven's heart.

Over the past year, he had continuously sent people to secretly record the situation on the Sacred Buddha Continent. Now, he understood that the place was practically a living hell.

Only Vajra King Shi Luo still had some conscience, sending his monks down the mountain to slay demons. Yet they had already encountered quite a few obstacles.

There had been no movement within Spiritual Mountain itself, but some other Buddhist Sect Super Powers had begun secretly interfering. This showed just how rotten and dark the Buddhist Sect had become!

"Strange, though. Before I sent Sheng Jun to Spiritual Mountain a hundred years ago, I specifically had people investigate it. While there were indeed some filthy factions within the Buddhist Sect, no misconduct could be found at Spiritual Mountain.

"Shi Zhen even descended the mountain personally back then and slew several old devils. It did not seem fake.

"How had Spiritual Mountain become like this in merely a hundred years?"

After thinking it over, the Great Ape King finally turned his suspicions toward Old Monk Xuanjie.

"If he has been exerting influence from the shadows... then it is somewhat possible. But what would make him willingly fall into depravity? To advance his cultivation, or extend his lifespan?"

Remembering some information and rumors about him, the Great Ape King felt a headache coming on.

Old Monk Xuanjie was the most renowned expert among Spiritual Mountain's previous generation of cultivators aside from the former Mountain Lord. Not only was he a Saint grade Heavenly Sovereign, his attainments in alchemy had also reached the level of a Saint grade Grandmaster Alchemist.

Alchemists had always been highly sought after in the Great Thousand World. Xuan Jie had also been generous and charitable in his youth, bestowing favors upon many people during his travels through the Great Thousand World. Naturally, he had become a highly respected elder of his generation. Even a madman like the Ape King held considerable respect for him.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, the Ape King would never have suspected him of being the mastermind behind everything.

"If it really is him, then with Sheng Jun's temperament, they will inevitably clash in the future.

"That old fellow has earned favors from quite a few Heavenly Sovereigns. I need to think of a way to win over some allies..."

The Ape King's mind raced as his gaze swept across the surroundings. Suddenly, it settled on a certain Great Philanthropist Ye who was contemplating life.

"This kid carries quite a bit of Beast Tribe aura in his body, yet he has never refined Spirit Beast Essence.

"I could have him catch a prodigy from the Divine Beast Race and try establishing a Bloodline Link. When the time comes to attack Spiritual Mountain, he will have a part in it too!"

"As for human experts... the Flame Emperor of the Endless Fire Domain seems to like young talents of this sort, those who hate evil with a vengeance.

"He also has a daughter who sleeps year-round. When there is an opportunity, I can let this kid try getting acquainted with her. But he absolutely must not go too far."

The Great Ape King had no qualms whatsoever about plotting against his fellow Beast Tribe members. After all, the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe feared no one. But the Flame Emperor... he truly could not beat that man, and he could not even see through his depths.

He had also considered the Martial Ancestor, but he did not know that the Martial Ancestor had a young daughter. Naturally, the Flame Emperor became his first choice.

Moreover, the Flame Emperor was also an alchemist. When it came to rallying people, no one dared claim to be better than him.

"The Burial Spirit Ruins will open before long. I can have him enter with those little monkeys and try his luck."

"Hehe, if this kid catches a Little Phoenix and brings her back, that would be fun. Those feathered birds would be so furious they would cough up blood!"

At this moment, Great Philanthropist Ye had no idea that, as someone fond of promoting unity and united fronts, he had already been made the core Tool Person in a certain black-hearted Great Ape King's united front plans. The Great Ape King had even considered having him form a marriage alliance.

Meanwhile, Lu Shengjun's thunder tribulation had reached its final stage.

The final and strongest black lightning within the clouds condensed into a gigantic black ape in the sky.

The Black Ape likewise gripped a giant staff, its aura as vast and surging as the sea. It looked down disdainfully upon Lu Shengjun, who had transformed into a golden Giant Ape.

Knowing that the critical moment had arrived, Lu Shengjun pushed his divine ability to its limit. His hot blood boiled endlessly as the four Divine Apes merged into one and fused into his body. The Buddhist light within the small world grew ever more brilliant, illuminating the dark heavens.

Strands of ethereal white flames appeared upon the long staff and burned fiercely, containing terrifying power capable of incinerating a Heavenly Sovereign's divine soul!

"Nine Revolutions Divine Ape Transformation, Fourth Revolution—Heaven-Piercing Soul Shaker!"

With resolute eyes, the Golden Ape swung his battle weapon and charged toward the final thunder tribulation. In an instant, the sky was filled and engulfed by golden and black light, erupting with a collision capable of effortlessly destroying a Lower Plane.

Amid such an intense collision, every hidden reserve within Lu Shengjun's body was thoroughly stimulated. He broke through layer after layer of cultivation shackles, bringing about a tremendous leap.

The might unique to a Super Divine Beast brewed and erupted from the golden Giant Ape's body. Spiritual energy fluctuations that connected heaven and earth surged in every direction, bringing an entirely new transformation. Mysterious purple auras emerged across his fur.

"This is... the spiritual energy fluctuation of an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign!"

Having witnessed everything firsthand, Lu Changling felt that he had truly grown old. After using Heaven-Piercing Soul Shaker, Lu Shengjun's cultivation had directly broken through the limits of the Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign realm and entered the domain of the Immortal Grade.

"He truly is as formidable as his grandfather! Even the Purple Ape King Qi, which represents the most powerful bloodline, has appeared during his transformation! Good, good, good! Excellent!"

Flames rose in Ye Kong's eyes. Though he had long known that it was normal for the Divine Beast Race to make explosive breakthroughs after long accumulation, this sight still made his blood boil.

A man should be like this, reaching out to meet the heavens!

Only with sufficient strength would he no longer have to be like he was four years ago—enduring his disgust while dealing with that group of beasts, secretly gathering fragmented information as he waited for someone from the mountain to arrive.

If the person who came had not been his senior brother or that muddleheaded Shi Luo, he would not even have dared reveal the slightest displeasure, afraid that one of them would find a flaw.

It was true that he was the Mountain Lord's direct disciple, but if they dared commit those acts, what was so difficult about deceiving their superiors and subordinates to kill a weak little monk? He did not dare gamble on it!

"Elder Lu, why do I feel that Senior Brother's aura is still rapidly strengthening? He is not going to break through to the Mid Immortal Grade, is he?"

Seeing that Lu Shengjun was still growing stronger, Ye Kong could not help suspecting that his senior brother was planning to give them an even greater surprise.

"This... it is not impossible."

Though he was somewhat unwilling to believe it, Lu Changling's senses told him that his cultivation truly could no longer keep up with the times!

At that moment, the golden Giant Ape let out a furious roar and swung his staff, utterly crushing the Black Ape into scattered Lightning Light. He then opened his mouth and swallowed it all.

More than ten breaths later, the dark Lightning Light had been completely devoured. The rising sun reappeared, and the golden Giant Ape's aura had also climbed to its peak.

Mid Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign, Lu Shengjun!

"Phew, wonderful. With Senior Brother's current strength, it should not be difficult for him to give that Western Heaven Battle Emperor a thorough beating. From now on, we can finally travel the Great Thousand World with greater peace of mind."

Ye Kong's eyes shone as he began looking forward to the future.

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Thank you all, dear readers, for your support.