Heavenly Tribulation Is Nothing, It Can't Kill This Idiot Me!

Lin Yuan stood on the open ground outside Shrek City, his silver-white hairband fluttering lightly in the morning wind. He raised his eyes to gaze at the sky, silver-white patterns swirling within his violet eyes as he quietly activated his space authority. His fingertips traced through the void, and a spatial rift about a foot wide suddenly opened. Black mist surged from the rift, vaguely revealing a lush forest and a clear lake on the other side.

"Going back." He whispered to himself, then leaped, stepping into the rift.

Inside the rift, space twisted and light shifted. In an instant, Lin Yuan found himself standing on solid ground. A rich life aura washed over him, the humid air carrying the fragrance of spirit herbs and the gentle warmth of the lake. Before him lay the familiar Lake of Life, its water as blue as a gemstone. Ancient trees towered on the shore, their branches dappled with sunlight that made the lake's surface shimmer.

"Xiao Yuan!"

A clear shout rang out, and a figure in emerald green dashed over. Biji transformed into human form, her green dress flowing in the wind. She hurried to Lin Yuan's side, reaching out to ruffle his silver hair, her eyes full of smiles. "You're finally back."

"Did Sister Bi Ji miss me?" Lin Yuan said, deliberately tilting his head. A hint of mischief flashed in his violet eyes as he gently tugged on Biji's sleeve, his tone carrying a hint of childish plea.

Biji was amused by his demeanor. She reached out and tapped his forehead, her voice fond. "Of course I missed you. It's not just me; your Sister Zi Ji misses you every day too."

Just then, Lin Yuan tiptoed slightly, reaching out to gently support Biji's shoulder. He quickly planted a kiss on her soft lips.

Biji froze, her emerald eyes widening instantly. Her cheeks flushed a visible shade of red, even her ear tips burning hot. She instinctively took half a step back, looking at the smiling youth before her, momentarily unable to react.

She raised a hand to cover her lips, her emerald eyes filled with shock, which then gave way to shyness. She coughed lightly, pretending to be calm, and turned her face away, her voice trembling slightly. "You're so unserious. You're this old and still messing around."

"I said when I was little that when I grew up, I'd marry both Sister Bi Ji and Sister Zi Ji." Lin Yuan's smile deepened. He reached out and took Biji's slightly cool hand, gently stroking her delicate skin. His tone was serious, yet carried the unique slyness of youth. "What I said as a child still counts. Sister Bi Ji is so beautiful and dotes on me so much; it would be a waste not to marry you."

Biji's ears turned even redder from his direct words, but she didn't pull her hand away. She just shot him a light glare. "You're just talking nonsense. Be careful Sister Zi Ji hears you." Just as she finished speaking, a clear, cold voice came from the woods. "Biji, who are you talking to?"

Zi Ji, dressed in purple, with a slender figure, walked quickly through the dappled sunlight in the forest. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Lin Yuan, and she hurried forward. But upon seeing their clasped hands and Biji's flushed cheeks, she raised an eyebrow and teased, "Oh, you're already bullying Biji as soon as you get back?"

Lin Yuan released Biji's hand and turned to face Zi Ji. Before she could react, he wrapped an arm around her waist and planted a soft kiss on her lips as well. Zi Ji froze, then playfully pushed him away, scolding, "You've gotten bold! You've only been gone a year, and you're already getting handsy with me?" Despite her words, there was no anger in her eyes, only a hint of undisguised joy.

"This is a welcome gift for my sisters." Lin Yuan smiled and took a step back, spreading his hands. "Besides, I'm fulfilling my childhood promise. Consider this a pre-emptive stamp, so you two don't go back on your word later."

Biji had also recovered by this time. She walked forward and lightly patted Lin Yuan's arm, saying helplessly, "Stop messing around. The Master and the others are waiting for you. The Ice Empress is already here, on the small island in the center of the Lake of Life."

A flicker of anticipation flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes. He nodded. "Alright, let's go."

The three walked side-by-side towards the small island in the center of the Lake of Life. The water parted automatically beneath their feet, forming a crystal-clear path. Mist swirled on the island, and in a stone pavilion entwined with vines, several figures were quietly waiting.

Gu Yue Na sat in the center of the stone pavilion, her silver-white gown accentuating her cool and noble demeanor. Upon seeing Lin Yuan, the indifference in her eyes instantly melted. She stood up and walked towards him, naturally pulling him into a hug. "It's good that you're back."

Lin Yuan buried his face in her neck, greedily inhaling the familiar scent, his voice soft. "Sister Nana, I missed you so much."

In the stone pavilion, Di Tian stood beside the Ice Empress.

The Ice Empress, in her human form, was a delicate and cold beauty of about 1.6 meters, dressed in an emerald green gown. Her skin was as fair as snow, translucent like jade. Her dark green hair was styled into twin tails that fell behind her. Her golden eyes were captivating, and a biting chill emanated from her. Seeing Lin Yuan look over, she raised an eyebrow slightly. "Little Dragon God?"

"Sister Ice Empress, a Dragon God is a Dragon God. Why add 'little'?" Lin Yuan lifted his head from Gu Yue Na's embrace, a hint of mischief in his violet eyes. His tone carried the defiant air of youth.

The Ice Empress's golden eyes curved into a cold arc, and the chill around her surged slightly. "What? You're not convinced? With your small frame, calling you the Little Dragon God isn't wrong." She took a step forward, condensing a wisp of ice crystals at her fingertip and flicking it gently towards Lin Yuan's forehead. "Even though you're the reincarnation of the Dragon God, your current soul power hasn't even reached level 40. If you truly faced me, a 400,000-year-old Soul Beast, you'd probably be frozen into an ice sculpture."

Lin Yuan casually raised his hand and crushed the ice crystal before his forehead. As it shattered, it turned into fine water droplets that coalesced into a small ice flower in his palm. His violet eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint ripple spread through the space around him. An invisible Dragon Might quietly permeated the air. "Sister Ice Empress, don't underestimate me. How about we make a bet?"

"A bet for what?" the Ice Empress raised an eyebrow.

"A bet on whether I can swallow your entire 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation." Lin Yuan flicked his finger, and the ice flower in his palm dissipated into fine ice crystals. A confident glint flashed in his violet eyes. "If I win, you have to agree to one condition. If I lose, I'll recognize you as my sister and give you a drop of Dragon God Blood Essence."

The Ice Empress's golden eyes suddenly brightened, and the chill around her seemed to momentarily freeze. Dragon God Blood Essence was a treasure beyond compare for Soul Beasts, capable of purifying bloodlines and breaking through bottlenecks. Even a single drop was enough to elevate her cultivation by another level. She appraised Lin Yuan with great interest. "Fine, I'll bet with you. If you win, what condition do you want me to agree to?"

"Become my bodyguard. Whatever I ask you to do, you have to do it, for as long as I need you." Lin Yuan's lips curved into a sly smile, his violet eyes sparkling with mischief. "Of course, I won't ask you to do anything evil. At most, you'll spar with me, or help me fend off trouble when I go to the human world."

The Ice Empress's golden eyes narrowed slightly, and the chill around her surged again. "You've really thought this through. However, if you want this 400,000-year-old Soul Beast to be your bodyguard, you'll need to show me some real skill. Don't try to renege on the Dragon God Blood Essence if you can't swallow the tribulation."

"Don't worry, I always keep my word." Lin Yuan patted his chest, his silver-white hairband fluttering with the movement. "By the way, how long until the Heavenly Tribulation descends? I can't wait to try it."

"It can be anytime. Honestly, I'm not confident I can successfully pass the tribulation myself." A hint of solemnity crossed the Ice Empress's eyes, and the chill around her involuntarily subsided. "The power of a 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation far surpasses anything before. The lightning tribulation is especially fatal for Soul Beasts. If Di Tian hadn't said you had a way to harness the power of the Heavenly Tribulation, I might have chosen to continue suppressing my cultivation and postpone the tribulation."

"Don't worry, a mere lightning tribulation can't kill me, the '250' me." Lin Yuan waved his hand. "Uncle Di Tian, is there a place in the Star Dou Great Forest suitable for passing tribulations?"

Di Tian stepped forward, his immense Dragon Might suppressed but palpable. He said in a deep voice, "I've already prepared one for you. A hundred miles west of the Lake of Life, there's a place called Meteorite Cliff. At the bottom of the cliff is a natural Spirit Gathering Array that can both buffer the impact of the Heavenly Tribulation and gather world origin energy to aid in recovery. The terrain there is open and won't affect other Soul Beasts."

Gu Yue Na gently stroked Lin Yuan's silver hair, her voice soft yet cautionary. "The power of the Heavenly Tribulation is far beyond your imagination. Even with the Dragon God's Heart protecting you, you cannot be careless. I will be with Di Tian and the others guarding at the edge of the cliff. If anything goes wrong, we will immediately disperse the Heavenly Tribulation."

"I know, Sister Nana." Lin Yuan nodded with a smile, his violet eyes sparkling with eagerness. "I'm going to swallow the entire Heavenly Tribulation, so how could I easily get into trouble? Oh, right, why don't I see Sister Auspicious Beast?"

"Auspicious Beast has been in seclusion since you left the Star Dou Great Forest, trying to achieve human form as soon as possible," Biji said.

Lin Yuan nodded in understanding. He flicked his finger, and a wisp of wind element transformed into a mischievous vortex, twirling around Biji's hair tips. "It seems Sister Auspicious Beast is working very hard. I probably won't see her during this month-long holiday."

Zi Ji walked forward and poked his cheek, her voice teasing. "Worry about yourself first. Don't end up being struck by lightning into a burnt-fur dragon."

"I won't." Lin Yuan batted her hand away, silver-white patterns swirling in his violet eyes as a slight ripple spread through the space around him. "I'll show you all what true Dragon God heritage looks like."

With that, he turned to Gu Yue Na, taking her slightly cool hand. "Sister Nana, let's go. Let's get this Heavenly Tribulation over with."

A gentle smile bloomed in Gu Yue Na's eyes as she gently squeezed his hand back. "Okay, whatever you say."

The five of them stepped onto the water path and left the island, speeding towards Meteorite Cliff west of the Lake of Life. Di Tian led the way, his immense Dragon Might forcing the Soul Beasts along the path to retreat. The Ice Empress was surrounded by a chilling aura; wherever she passed, fine ice crystals formed on the ground. Biji and Zi Ji flanked Lin Yuan, their eyes scanning their surroundings vigilantly. Gu Yue Na, however, held Lin Yuan's hand throughout, her steps unhurried, her faint aura making even the world origin energy docile.

In less than half an hour, the silhouette of Meteorite Cliff appeared before them. It was a stark black cliff, its walls sheer and marked by the erosion of time. At the bottom of the cliff was a vast, circular open space, the ground faintly glowing with the patterns of the natural Spirit Gathering Array.

"This is it." Di Tian stopped, transforming into his human form and pointing to the bottom of the cliff. "The Spirit Gathering Array has been activated. World origin energy will automatically gather here, enough to support you in absorbing the Heavenly Tribulation's energy."

The Ice Empress stepped forward, her golden eyes sweeping over the cliff bottom. Her emerald soul power erupted, and the terrifying aura of a 400,000-year-old Soul Beast surged towards the sky. "I'm ready. I can summon the Heavenly Tribulation anytime."

Lin Yuan released Gu Yue Na's hand and slowly walked towards the edge of the cliff, his silver-white hairband whipping in the strong wind at the summit. He looked down at the cliff bottom, the Spirit Gathering Array glowing like scattered stars. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face the others, his violet eyes filled with confidence. "Everyone, retreat to a safe area. Don't get caught in the Heavenly Tribulation."

Gu Yue Na gave him a deep look and cautioned, "Remember, if you can't hold on, call out to us immediately. We will intervene."

"Got it." Lin Yuan waved his hand, then leaped, falling as lightly as a feather and landing steadily in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array.

After everyone had retreated several miles to a safe distance, the Ice Empress took a deep breath, her emerald soul power erupting, and the terrifying aura of a 400,000-year-old Soul Beast shot towards the sky. The clouds above instantly churned, and the clear sky rapidly darkened. Heavy dark clouds spread like ink, and lightning flickered within them, emitting dull roars.