Qin De Undergoes the Tribulation, Trouble Comes Knocking

Above the firmament, the tribulation clouds churned like ink-black waves, with purple lightning snaking through the depths of the clouds. Muffled thunder rolled, and the crushing might of the nine heavens pressed down, causing the entire Green Lotus Mountain Range to tremble.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly turned chaotic and violent, as a pressure of judgment originating from the Heavenly Dao shrouded every blade of grass, tree, and stone within a hundred-mile radius.

Qin De sat cross-legged at the center of the Inverted Bagua Formation, his expression as solemn as iron. The Xiantian Great Perfection spiritual energy within him surged like a vast ocean, pushed to its absolute peak. He raised his eyes to gaze at the tribulation clouds, his eyes devoid of any fear, holding only the determination to transcend the mortal realm and ascend to the path of immortality.

"The Heavenly Tribulation has arrived!"

Feng Yuzi's expression tightened, his entire body tensing as he prepared to stand guard at any moment.

Boom--!

The first purple-gold heavenly lightning bolt, like a dragon from the nine heavens, tore through the clouds and crashed down with the destructive power to incinerate mountains and boil the seas! The lightning illuminated the world, the thunder shook the mountains, and the air was twisted and scorched by the violent current, its terrifying aura making even Qin Yu's heart tighten.

Qin De let out a long roar toward the sky, his fists striking out in a sudden burst. He condensed his entire life's cultivation into a single blow, meeting the divine lightning head-on!

The lightning exploded, the intense light blinding, and a violent shockwave swept across all directions.

Just as the thunder roared and everyone's attention was fully captured—

Hidden in the shadows, the members of the Xiang family, led by Wu De, saw a fierce glint erupt in his eyes as he hissed:

"Attack! While the Heavenly Tribulation distracts his mind, kill Qin De!"

Whoosh-- whoosh-- whoosh--!

Four black shadows, ghost-like, suddenly darted out; they were the Four Directional Killing Gods, hidden by the Xiang family for many years! All four elders were at the Xiantian Great Perfection stage, and their opening moves were lethal. Blade energy surged like a tide, tearing through the air as they lunged straight for Qin De, who was undergoing the tribulation within the formation!

Meanwhile, Wu De and Wu Xing immediately divided their tasks—

"Junior brother, go and entangle Feng Yuzi!"

"I will hold back Yun Ce!"

With a low shout, Wu Xing's figure moved like lightning. His Golden Core aura erupted, and he lunged directly at Feng Yuzi, locking onto him tightly.

Wu De narrowed his eyes, his spiritual energy surging as he charged ferociously toward Yun Ce, intending to use his meager Golden Core Late Stage cultivation to hold off this Nascent Soul Late Stage powerhouse head-on!

A despicable, long-planned ambush suddenly erupted!

"Wu De, Wu Xing, you petty scoundrels, how dare you disturb the Prince's tribulation!"

Feng Yuzi roared in anger, immediately waving his sleeves to defend.

Yun Ce also raised his hand in a light wave, spreading a soft yet resilient barrier of spiritual energy that blocked Wu De's offensive with effortless ease.

Boom--

The energy collided, the shockwaves blowing away shattered stones and vegetation.

Wu De felt a storm of shock in his heart—his full-force strike had been neutralized by the man before him with a mere wave of his hand! But now that the arrow was on the string, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and fight to the death, desperately circulating his true essence to entangle his opponent, hoping only to delay Yun Ce for a moment to buy the Four Directional Killing Gods a chance to assassinate Qin De.

In an instant, the encirclement was complete:

The Four Directional Killing Gods besieged Qin De, Wu Xing fought Feng Yuzi, and Wu De desperately entangled Yun Ce.

Just as the first wave of the offensive was steadily blocked, a voice as indifferent as the sound of the Heavenly Dao echoed directly into the minds of Feng Yuzi and Qin Yu—

[I will stabilize Wu De; you may strike with confidence.

Feng Yuzi, leave Wu Xing to you; Yu'er, leave the Four Directional Killing Gods to you.]

Feng Yuzi's mind shook, and he understood instantly.

Yun Ce intended to hold back the strongest enemy, Wu De, with his own strength, leaving the other enemies to them as a form of tempering!

The fighting spirit in Qin Yu's eyes exploded. Flame-like spiritual energy soared into the sky, and the crimson fire spiritual energy around him burned fiercely, as if a god of war had descended upon the world.

"Father, rest assured and undergo the lightning tribulation; leave these Xiantian-stage scum to me!"

Qin Yu did not hesitate. His figure flashed, and he blocked the path of the four killing gods, his Xiantian Great Perfection aura erupting without reservation.

"You yellow-haired brat, you dare to block our path? You're courting death!"

The Four Directional Killing Gods sneered viciously. The four of them surrounded him, their blade light pouring down like a rainstorm, locking off all of Qin Yu's room for evasion.

In their eyes, Qin Yu was merely a youth who had just entered the Xiantian Great Perfection stage; how could he possibly withstand the siege of four veteran experts?

But the next moment, they learned the meaning of despair.

Qin Yu's physical body was incomparably strong, with high-grade spiritual artifacts hidden about his person, and his fire spiritual energy was tyrannical and scorching. He did not dodge or evade, wielding his Yan Chi Gauntlets to meet the blade light head-on. As his fist shadows exploded, flames spread across the plains!

"Bang-- bang-- bang--!"

Qin Yu's movement technique was as fast as an afterimage, each punch heavy as a thousand jun. Using force to break finesse, wherever his fist wind passed, blade energy shattered and the force recoiled. The Four Directional Killing Gods' profound combat experience became a joke in the face of absolute power and speed.

The fierce battle instantly reached a fever pitch.

Qin Yu closed in, a Mountain Crushing Fist slamming into the chest of the first of the Four Directional Killing Gods. The sound of shattering bones was crisp and piercing; the man's body collapsed on the spot, his eyes wide open, dying with deep resentment!

Immediately following, Qin Yu spun and swept his leg, the fierce flame-leg energy cutting through the air. The second killing god was blasted away and killed before he could even let out a scream.

The remaining two were filled with shock and rage, roaring repeatedly as they launched a desperate counterattack, only to be ruthlessly suppressed by Qin Yu. Seizing a momentary opening, Qin Yu struck with both fists, his fire spiritual energy penetrating their bodies and directly shattering their dantian and severing their spiritual meridians!

In just a few dozen breaths of battle, the Xiang family's Four Directional Killing Gods were all wiped out by Qin Yu with thunderous momentum!

On the other side, the slaughter was equally intense.

Wu Xing clung tightly to Feng Yuzi, his Golden Core Mid Stage spiritual power pouring out in a violent torrent. Every strike was vicious, aimed solely at pinning Feng Yuzi down until his death: "Feng Yuzi, today is the day you die!"

Feng Yuzi sneered, no longer holding back: "Wu Xing, do you really think you can trap me?"

Hum—!

A brilliant, dazzling red Sword Qi of immense spiritual power erupted from his body, the pressure of a high-grade spiritual artifact sweeping across the entire field!

A high-grade spiritual artifact flying sword! Feng Yuzi had finally decided to use his high-grade spiritual artifact!

The moment the sword light appeared, Wu Xing's expression changed drastically, filled with utter horror:

"A high-grade spiritual artifact? You actually possess such a supreme treasure!" A flash of crazed greed immediately crossed his eyes.

A Golden Core cultivator equipped with a high-grade spiritual artifact would see their combat power double instantly!

Feng Yuzi stood atop his high-grade flying sword, fingers forming a sword seal as he soared through the air. The red sword light surged like a rushing river, Sword Qi whistling and crisscrossing, every strike aimed directly at Wu Xing's vitals. Wu Xing parried in a panic, retreating step by step. Within moments, his body was covered in sword wounds, his spiritual power in complete disarray.

"How dare you wound me like this!" A look of bitter resentment flashed in his eyes.

Wu Xing roared, launching a desperate counterattack, only to have his shoulder pierced by Feng Yuzi's sword, his Golden Core trembling violently.

"Hmph! For such despicable conduct, you deserve to die!"

Feng Yuzi's gaze turned cold, and the sword light surged, the sharp Sword Qi instantly piercing through Wu Xing's chest and crushing his Golden Core!

After a shrill, desperate scream, Wu Xing, a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator, perished on the spot, his soul scattered!

In a mere moment, the Four Directional Killing Gods were wiped out, and Wu Xing was killed in battle.

Across the entire field, of the enemy forces, only Wu De remained.

Wu De had been held at bay by Yun Ce's effortless attacks until now, and he was already exhausted. Seeing all his companions dead, he looked up at the figure in white hovering in mid-air—composed and detached, yet radiating a presence that made his very soul tremble—and a bone-deep terror instantly overwhelmed his mind.

The situation was lost!

What did it matter if he had obtained the Crimson Prosperity Pill? His junior brother was dead, his subordinates were all wiped out, and he didn't even have a chance to escape. He began to regret wading into these treacherous waters. But it was all too late.

"I'll take you all down with me!"

A look of utter madness flashed in the depths of Wu De's eyes. The spiritual power around his body suddenly turned violent and distorted, his dantian's Golden Core trembling violently; he was attempting to self-destruct his Golden Core to drag everyone down with him!

A Golden Core self-destruction had enough power to overturn the entire valley. Qin De was in the middle of his tribulation; he would surely be severely wounded and his soul scattered!

"Overestimating yourself." Seeing Wu De's crazed expression and his intent to self-destruct, Yun Ce spoke calmly, finally getting serious.

He took a single step forward, and the space within a radius of several meters instantly solidified. The air felt as if it had been cast in molten iron; Wu De couldn't even move a single finger.

Yun Ce flicked his finger gently, and a formless yet boundless power of the Nascent Soul Realm shot through the air. It was too fast for the naked eye to track, piercing directly through the center of Wu De's brow!

Crack—

The Golden Core within Wu De, on the verge of self-destructing, was instantly suppressed and crushed by this supreme power, not even a trace of its residual force escaping.

He couldn't even let out a final scream before his body turned to ash. In front of the Nascent Soul Realm expert Yun Ce, the Golden Core stage Wu De didn't even have the qualifications to self-destruct!

With this, all the killing moves deployed by Xiang Guang to disrupt the tribulation were completely annihilated!

Beneath the dark clouds, thunder rumbled, and bolts of lightning struck down one after another.

Qin Yu and Feng Yuzi stood side by side, breathing slightly heavily, but their eyes were brilliantly bright.

Yun Ce slowly withdrew his hand, his white robes still spotless. His gaze returned to the formation, his voice calm yet incredibly reassuring:

"The heavenly tribulation has not ended. Qin De, focus on your tribulation."

No more disturbances, no more hidden dangers.

Qin De took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had seen the heart-stopping events that just transpired. He cast a grateful look at Yun Ce, Feng Yuzi, and Qin Yu, then poured his entire being into the lightning tribulation.

Thunder roared, tempering his mortal frame.

His physical body, his soul, and his spiritual power were all undergoing a transformation and sublimation, step by step, toward a higher realm under the baptism of the nine heavens' divine lightning.