Above the firmament, tribulation clouds churned like ink-dark waves. Purple lightning twisted through their depths as muffled thunder rolled and the might of the heavens pressed down, making the entire Green Lotus Mountain Range tremble.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly fell into chaos. A judgmental pressure originating from the Heavenly Dao shrouded every blade of grass, tree, mountain, and stone within a hundred miles.
Qin De sat cross-legged at the heart of the Inverted Bagua Formation, his expression as stern as iron. His Xiantian Great Perfection spiritual power surged like a boundless ocean, pushed to its absolute peak. He gazed up at the tribulation clouds without a trace of fear, his heart set only on transcending the mortal world and ascending to the Immortal Dao.
"The heavenly tribulation has arrived!"
Feng Yuzi's expression turned grave. He tensed, ready to protect Qin De at a moment's notice.
Rumble—!
The first violet-gold bolt of heavenly lightning descended like a giant dragon from the Ninth Heaven, tearing through the clouds with the destructive force to incinerate mountains and boil seas! Its radiance illuminated heaven and earth, its thunder reverberated through the mountains, and the air twisted and scorched beneath the violent current. Even Qin Yu felt his heart tighten beneath that terrifying pressure.
Qin De threw back his head and roared. His fists shot forward, his life's cultivation condensed into a single blow as he met the divine thunder head-on!
The lightning exploded in a blinding flash, and a violent shock wave swept in every direction.
Just as the heavenly thunder roared and everyone's attention was drawn to it—
Hidden in the shadows, the Xiang Family's men sprang into action. Killing intent surged in the eyes of their leader, Wu De, as he bellowed:
"Attack! Use the tribulation to disrupt his focus and kill Qin De!"
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—!
Four black figures shot out like ghosts. They were none other than the Four Directional Killing Gods, whom the Xiang Family had kept hidden for years! All four elders were at Xiantian Great Perfection. They struck with lethal moves, their blade energy surging like a tide and their force tearing through the air as they charged straight at Qin De in the formation!
At the same time, Wu De and Wu Xing swiftly divided their roles—
"Junior Brother, keep Feng Yuzi occupied!"
"I'll hold Yun Ce back!"
With a low shout, Wu Xing moved like lightning. Golden Core energy erupted from him as he charged at Feng Yuzi and locked onto him.
Wu De's eyes narrowed. His spiritual power surged as he launched himself at Yun Ce, intending to use his meager Golden Core Late Stage cultivation to hold off this mighty late-stage Nascent Soul expert head-on!
A despicable ambush, planned long in advance, erupted without warning!
"Wu De, Wu Xing! You vermin dare interfere with the prince's tribulation?"
Feng Yuzi shouted angrily and immediately swept out his sleeve to block them.
Yun Ce lifted a hand and gave a casual wave. A gentle yet resilient barrier of spiritual power spread out, effortlessly stopping Wu De's attack.
Rumble—
Their forces collided, and the shock wave sent shattered stones and plants flying.
Wu De's heart was rocked. The man before him had casually dispelled his all-out strike! But the arrow was already on the string; he had no choice but to fight. Gritting his teeth, he desperately channeled his true essence and tangled with Yun Ce, hoping only to hold him back for a moment and give the Four Directional Killing Gods a chance to kill Qin De.
In an instant, the four-sided encirclement was complete:
The Four Directional Killing Gods surrounded Qin De, Wu Xing fought Feng Yuzi, and Wu De desperately kept Yun Ce occupied.
Just as the first wave of attacks was firmly held back, a voice as indifferent as the Heavenly Dao itself spoke directly into Feng Yuzi and Qin Yu's minds—
[I'll hold Wu De in place. You two can attack without worry.
Feng Yuzi, you take Wu Xing. Yu'er, leave the Four Directional Killing Gods to yourself.]
Feng Yuzi's mind stirred, and he instantly understood.
Yun Ce intended to hold off the strongest of them, Wu De, by himself and leave the rest to them as a test!
Fighting spirit erupted in Qin Yu's eyes. Flame-like spiritual power soared into the sky as crimson fire energy blazed around him, making him look like a war god come to life.
"Father, focus on surviving the tribulation. Leave these Xiantian Stage nobodies to me!"
Qin Yu didn't hesitate. He flashed forward and planted himself in front of the four assassins, unleashing the full force of his Xiantian Great Perfection aura.
"Brat, you dare block our way? You're asking for death!"
The Four Directional Killing Gods sneered viciously. The four surrounded Qin Yu, their blades pouring down like a storm as they sealed off every avenue of escape.
In their eyes, Qin Yu had only just reached Xiantian Great Perfection. He was young and inexperienced—how could he withstand the combined assault of four veteran experts?
But in the very next moment, they learned what despair felt like.
Qin Yu's body was unbelievably powerful, a High-Grade Spirit Artifact concealed on him, while his fire energy was fierce and scorching. He neither dodged nor retreated. Wearing the Yan Chi Gauntlets, he met their blades head-on, his fists exploding in a blaze of flames!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Qin Yu moved like a blur. Each punch carried immense weight, breaking through skill with sheer force. Wherever his fists swept, blade energy shattered and their attacks rebounded. The Four Directional Killing Gods' battle experience, honed to perfection, became a joke before his overwhelming strength and speed.
The battle turned white-hot in an instant.
Qin Yu closed in and slammed a Mountain Crushing Fist into the chest of the first assassin. The sharp crack of breaking bones rang out as the man's body burst apart on the spot. His eyes bulged, and he died unseeing!
Qin Yu spun and swept out with his leg. His flaming kick cut through the air, sending the second assassin flying to his death before he could even scream.
The two remaining men, enraged and shocked, roared as they counterattacked with everything they had, but Qin Yu kept them firmly suppressed. Seizing an opening, he struck with both fists. His fire energy pierced their bodies and shattered their dantians and spiritual meridians!
After just a few dozen breaths of combat, Qin Yu had wiped out the Xiang Family's Four Directional Killing Gods with overwhelming force!
Elsewhere, the battle was just as fierce.
Wu Xing clung to Feng Yuzi, unleashing a torrent of violent Golden Core Mid Stage spiritual power. Every move was ruthless as he tried to hold Feng Yuzi down at all costs. "Feng Yuzi, today is the day you die!"
Feng Yuzi gave a cold laugh and stopped holding back. "Wu Xing, do you really think you can keep me trapped?"
Vmmmm—!
A dazzling red sword beam surged from his body into the sky, its vast spiritual radiance sweeping across the battlefield. The pressure of a High-Grade Spirit Artifact filled the air!
A flying sword that was a High-Grade Spirit Artifact! Feng Yuzi had finally decided to use one!
The moment the sword beam appeared, Wu Xing's expression changed. He stared in disbelief.
"A High-Grade Spirit Artifact? You actually had such a treasure hidden away!" Then greed flashed in his eyes.
A Golden Core cultivator wielding a High-Grade Spirit Artifact could double his combat strength!
Feng Yuzi stood atop the High-Grade Spirit Artifact flying sword, formed a sword seal with his hand, and soared through the air. The red sword beam surged like a mighty river, and sword energy whistled in every direction, each strike aimed straight at Wu Xing's vitals. Wu Xing blocked in a panic, driven back again and again. In moments, he was covered in sword wounds, his spiritual power thrown into disarray.
"How dare you wound me like this!" Hatred flashed in his eyes.
Wu Xing roared and desperately counterattacked, but Feng Yuzi's sword pierced his shoulder, making his Golden Core tremble violently.
"Hmph! For such despicable conduct, you deserve to die!"
Feng Yuzi's gaze turned cold. His sword beam flared, and its fierce energy pierced Wu Xing's chest, shattering his Golden Core!
After a shrill, despairing scream, Wu Xing, a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator, died on the spot, his body and soul destroyed!
In just a short while, all four of the Four Directional Killing Gods had fallen, and Wu Xing was dead.
Of the enemy forces present, only Wu De remained.
Yun Ce had held Wu De back with casual attacks until now, and he was already exhausted in both body and mind. Seeing all his companions dead, he looked up at the white-robed figure hovering in the air. Yun Ce appeared utterly unruffled, yet made Wu De's soul tremble. Terror that seeped into his bones overwhelmed him.
The tide had turned!
So what if he got the Crimson Prosperity Pill? His junior brother was dead, his subordinates were all wiped out, and he had no chance of escaping. He began to regret getting involved in this mess, but it was too late.
"I'll take you all down with me!"
Madness flashed in Wu De's eyes. His spiritual power suddenly surged and twisted out of control, and the Golden Core in his dantian shuddered violently. He was about to detonate it and take everyone with him!
The explosion of a Golden Core could level the entire valley. Qin De was in the middle of his tribulation—he would certainly suffer a devastating blow, his soul scattered!
"Know your place." Seeing Wu De's crazed expression as he tried to self-detonate, Yun Ce finally stopped holding back.
He took a single step forward, and the space within several yards instantly froze. The air seemed to turn into molten iron. Wu De couldn't even move a finger.
Yun Ce lightly flicked his finger. A boundless, invisible surge of Nascent Soul power shot through the air, too fast for the eye to follow, and pierced Wu De between the brows!
Crack—
The Golden Core in Wu De's body, on the verge of exploding, was instantly suppressed and crushed by this supreme force. Not even a trace of its power escaped.
He couldn't even let out one last scream before his body turned to ash. Before Yun Ce, a Nascent Soul cultivator, Wu De, a Golden Core cultivator, didn't even have the right to self-detonate!
Thus, every one of the killing moves Xiang Guang had arranged to disrupt Qin De's tribulation was wiped out!
Beneath the dark clouds, thunder rolled as bolts of lightning crashed down one after another.
Qin Yu and Feng Yuzi stood side by side, breathing a little heavily, their eyes still shining brightly.
Yun Ce slowly lowered his hand. His white robe remained immaculate as he looked back toward the formation. His voice was calm, yet filled them with complete reassurance.
"The tribulation isn't over. Qin De, focus on weathering it."
There would be no more interruptions, no more threats.
Qin De drew a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had witnessed every terrifying moment. Grateful, he looked at Yun Ce, Feng Yuzi, and Qin Yu, then devoted himself completely to the lightning tribulation.
The thunder roared, tempering his mortal body.
His body, soul, and spiritual power were undergoing the baptism of the heavenly lightning, step by step transforming and rising to a higher level.
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