The day of Qin De's Tribulation Transcendence was fast approaching.
On the outskirts of the Great Wilderness, the Green Lotus Mountain Range stretched for a thousand miles. Ancient trees towered into the sky, and miasma filled the air. Ordinary martial artists would be forced to turn back from such an environment, but it was an ideal, secluded place for Yun Ce and the others to undergo Tribulation Transcendence.
Qin De had not wanted Qin Yu to risk his life. After all, the power of a heavenly tribulation was unpredictable, and the imperial palace was watching them like a tiger eyeing its prey. The slightest misstep could spell utter ruin. But Yun Ce had said simply, "The heavenly tribulation is near, and the Immortal path is within reach. Such a spectacle is the best training for Xiao Yu. He'll have to undergo Tribulation Transcendence one day, too. Witnessing someone else's tribulation firsthand will benefit him greatly."
Qin De pondered for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement.
The four of them flew through the air in pairs—Feng Yuzi carried Qin De, while Yun Ce carried Qin Yu. Yun Ce's white robes fluttered in the wind as his late Nascent Soul spiritual sense spread like a tide, covering a hundred miles in every direction. Everywhere it passed, the mountain contours, the demonic beasts' lairs, and the ley lines underground were all laid bare.
"Roar—"
From time to time, demonic beasts in the forest were roused by the intruders' presence and charged at them with a roar. There were enormous black wolves, fierce tigers with impenetrable scales, and even towering apes nearly ten feet tall. Every one of them possessed the fearsome power of a Xiantian martial artist.
But before the two Immortals, these demonic beasts were no more than chickens and dogs.
With a casual wave, Feng Yuzi sent out a green wind blade sharp enough to cut through metal and jade. The demonic beast fell with a cry. Qin Yu was just as busy. Crimson fire spiritual energy coiled around the gauntlets on his fists, and every punch unleashed an eruption of flames, blasting the charging beasts to ashes. As they pressed on, blood stained the grass and trees, and demonic beasts lay strewn across the ground—but none could stop them for even a moment.
As he slew demonic beasts, Qin Yu watched his surroundings without blinking. He could clearly sense a faint pressure from Heaven and Earth hidden throughout the mountain range, as though it might draw down divine punishment at any moment.
"Master, will the heavenly tribulation really lock onto Father on its own?" Qin Yu couldn't help asking.
Yun Ce nodded slightly. "A heavenly tribulation arises from the Dao-heart. Once a cultivator reaches the threshold, the Heavenly Dao will send down a trial. It can't be avoided or escaped; you can only face it. The more secluded the location, the purer the power of the heavenly tribulation will be, undisturbed by the aura of the mundane world."
As he spoke, Yun Ce suddenly stopped. A flash of light gleamed in his eyes.
"Found it."
He turned and descended toward an unremarkable valley.
Qin De, Feng Yuzi, and Qin Yu hurried after him. Deep in the valley, a cave lay hidden in silence. Weeds and wildflowers grew thick around it, and it looked utterly ordinary, even a little dilapidated. Yet the closer Qin De came, the stronger the call of the heavenly tribulation grew in his heart.
Feng Yuzi swept the area with his spiritual sense. His face filled with astonishment, and he exclaimed, "What a naturally formed illusion formation! It contains the principles of the Eight Trigrams of Heaven and Man, spreading outward and drawing inward. It can conceal the fluctuations of the heavenly tribulation while drawing in the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth to aid the tribulation! Brother Yun, your eye for these things is truly admirable!"
Qin De, too, felt relieved. With such a blessed location to aid him, his chances of succeeding in the tribulation had increased by several tenths.
Yun Ce smiled faintly, making no claim to the credit. "It was just good fortune. Feng Yuzi, you're skilled in formations. The Xiantian Bagua Formation is already here, so lay down an Anti-Bagua Formation as well. With the two formations working in tandem, they can draw in the power of Heaven and Earth and weaken the heavenly tribulation."
"Gladly!"
Feng Yuzi accepted the task at once. He understood that Yun Ce was not incapable of setting up formations; he was deliberately giving him a chance to show what he could do. This mysterious Immortal might seem aloof, but he knew how to give others their due.
Feng Yuzi wasted no time. He took out dozens of green formation flags, his wrists moving rapidly as their shadows flashed. He sent out one hand seal after another, hiding some flags in ancient trees, burying others underground, and suspending still more in midair.
"Direct and inverse Bagua, draw in the spirit, gather the qi—form!"
He gave a low shout, and light burst forth.
An invisible vortex of energy formed around the cave, drawing in spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth in a torrent and creating a faint veil of light. Within it, their minds felt calm, and the flow of spiritual energy through their bodies became several times smoother.
"Brother Qin, the rest is up to you." Feng Yuzi finished and stood up. A trace of fatigue showed on his face, but anticipation was even more evident.
Qin De took a deep breath and slowly walked onto the open ground in front of the cave. He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, releasing the full force of his Xiantian Great Perfection aura. It shot straight into the sky.
His aura stirred the might of Heaven.
The clear sky darkened at a visible speed. Clouds gathered, and fierce winds rose. The world grew oppressive, as though some supreme being were slowly opening its eyes in the Ninth Heaven.
The heavenly tribulation was coming!
Meanwhile, on another secluded cliff in the Green Lotus Mountain Range,
Wu De and Wu Xing stood with their hands behind their backs. Four white-haired elders stood silently behind them. Their auras were as deep as an abyss, and every one of them had reached Xiantian Great Perfection. They were the Four Directional Killing Gods, long hidden by the Xiang Family and obedient only to the imperial family.
"Senior Brother, Qin De's aura has appeared. He's right in the center of the Green Lotus Mountain Range." Wu Xing narrowed his eyes. His spiritual sense darted forward like a spike, only to be gently repelled by an invisible barrier.
Wu De furrowed his brows, his expression grave. "That barrier... Feng Yuzi couldn't have set it up. It seems that Yun Ce, the new Immortal of the Qin Family, really is here."
At the mention of Yun Ce, a trace of apprehension crossed Wu Xing's face as well.
They had heard that Yun Ce had reached the Nascent Soul realm, though they didn't know whether it was true. The difference between the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms might seem to be only one major realm, but in reality, it was like the difference between Heaven and Earth. Golden Core cultivators were revered in the mortal world, but before a Nascent Soul expert, they were no different from ants. The brothers were at the Golden Core Mid Stage and Golden Core Late Stage, respectively. If they fought Yun Ce head-on, they probably wouldn't withstand even one move.
"Senior Brother, are we still going to act?" Wu Xing asked in a tense whisper.
Wu De sneered, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. "Act? Why wouldn't we? The Crimson Prosperity Pill is already in my hands. Wouldn't it be a waste to give up now?"
He paused, then lowered his voice. "When Qin De undergoes Tribulation Transcendence, he'll be at his weakest and least able to divide his attention. We don't need to clash with Yun Ce head-on. We only need to keep Feng Yuzi occupied, then have the four of them seize their chance to kill Qin De. If Qin De's mind falters when the heavenly tribulation strikes, the lightning will shatter him, body and soul!"
Wu Xing's eyes lit up. "Brilliant, Senior Brother! No matter how powerful Yun Ce is, he can't protect Qin De and guard against our ambush at the same time! And once the heavenly tribulation arrives, Yun Ce won't be able to help Qin De withstand it. Qin De will have to face it on his own."
Wu De looked up at the tribulation clouds thickening overhead, the corners of his mouth curling into a cruel smile.
"Just wait."
"The moment the lightning falls will be the moment Qin De dies!"
Howling winds roared as dark clouds pressed down overhead.
Within the Green Lotus Mountain Range, one group awaited the heavenly tribulation, ready for the ordeal, while another lay in ambush, waiting for the chance to strike.
Thunder rumbled as the heavenly tribulation drew near.
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