Heavenly Tribulation

Misty Cloud Mountain.

A streak of azure light tore across the sky and flew straight into the Misty Cloud Sect. It was Yun Yun, returning at last!

After learning that her teacher had returned, Nalan Yanran, who had been cultivating atop Misty Cloud Mountain, immediately headed to Yun Yun's chambers. The sect leader's residence was located behind Misty Cloud Mountain.

Nalan Yanran arrived outside Yun Yun's door and knocked. Before long, footsteps sounded from within. With a soft creak, Yun Yun opened the door.

"Teacher!" Nalan Yanran was puzzled when she saw Yun Yun's slightly red and swollen eyes, but she still respectfully addressed her as teacher.

"Come in." Yun Yun's voice was somewhat hoarse, and a trace of coldness lingered on her cool, beautiful face.

Nalan Yanran nodded and followed Yun Yun into the room. Yun Yun picked up the Purple Spirit Crystal from the table and handed it to her. "This is the Purple Spirit Crystal I found for you. Take it to Elder Gu He and have him refine pills for you."

Nalan Yanran accepted the Purple Spirit Crystal with some hesitation, then asked, "Teacher, are you all right?"

Yun Yun knew that something was off about her current state, but she still forced a faint smile. "I'm fine. Go cultivate."

Though Nalan Yanran was clever, she could not imagine what troubles could have left her teacher so upset. She could only say, "Then please rest well, Teacher. I'll go find Elder Gu He now!"

"Mm, go." Yun Yun lightly nodded.

After leaving the room, Nalan Yanran headed straight for the Pill Hall. It was a grand hall the Misty Cloud Sect had built for Elder Gu He, where he usually refined pills whenever he was in the sect.

As soon as Nalan Yanran reached the hall, she caught the scent of pills and walked inside. The moment she entered, she saw Elder Gu He refining medicine. A pale white pill floated quietly within the pill furnace before him. When he saw Nalan Yanran enter, Gu He smiled faintly. "Yanran, what brings you here?"

Nalan Yanran obediently took out the Purple Spirit Crystal. Gu He's eyes lit up slightly as he asked, "Your teacher has returned?"

Nalan Yanran nodded slightly. "Yes. This is the Purple Spirit Crystal Teacher gave me!"

Dou Qi surged from Gu He's hand as he slapped the pill furnace. At once, the pale white pill appeared in his palm. "The Snow Spirit Pill is complete!"

An unusual fragrance wafted from the pill in Gu He's hand. Nalan Yanran congratulated him, "Congratulations, Elder Gu He, on refining a Fifth Grade Pill!"

Gu He chuckled and put away the pill. "Your teacher and I are old friends. From now on, just call me Uncle Gu He." As he spoke, he took the Purple Spirit Crystal Nalan Yanran offered and examined it before praising, "As expected of Yun Yun. This Purple Spirit Crystal is of exceptional quality. I'll begin refining Purple Spirit Liquid for you at once!"

However, Nalan Yanran softly said, "Uncle Gu He, when Teacher returned just now, she seemed to be troubled by something."

A glint flashed through Gu He's eyes. "I understand. I'll begin refining the Purple Jade Liquid for you immediately. Come find me at the Pill Hall again in ten days!"

Nalan Yanran nodded. "Then Yanran will take her leave first!"

After standing in the hall for a while, Gu He pondered for a moment, then headed toward Yun Yun's chambers.

Meanwhile, after Yun Yun left, Xiao Yu remained in the Monster Mountain Range. Looking at the empty cave, he felt a wave of melancholy. He quickly collected himself and prepared to leave, but the moment he turned around, he saw that glaring patch of crimson on the stone bed, leaving him dazed!

Suddenly, the Dou Qi within Xiao Yu began surging wildly through his meridians. His expression changed. This was a sign that he was about to break through to the Dou Master realm! He desperately suppressed the frenzied Dou Qi within him. Thinking of how Yun Yun's strength had also broken through to Four Star Dou Huang, Xiao Yu felt that something was not quite right. Then he suddenly remembered the Chaos Cultivation Source Method he cultivated!

The Chaos Cultivation Source Method was divided into chaos and clarity: chaos tempered the body, while clarity tempered the spirit. Yet at the beginning of the Chaos Cultivation Source Method, there was also a method of yin and yang union. Xiao Yu's heart jolted. Could the Chaos Cultivation Source Method also have the effects of dual cultivation?

The surging Dou Qi within Xiao Yu was nearly beyond suppression. Just as he was about to sit cross-legged on the stone bed and break through to the Dou Master realm, he suddenly sensed a chilling aura of death. It was as if some mysterious force had locked onto him from the unseen!

On the other side of the Monster Mountain Range, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had suffered a severe loss in strength after losing the horn on its head. After Yun Yun left, it returned to its cave to heal. Yet it suddenly sensed an incomparably powerful force enveloping heaven and earth, one so overwhelming that it did not even dare resist. What kind of power was this?

It rose and slowly walked out of its cave, only to see vast dark clouds gathering in the distant sky. An immensely oppressive aura spread through the air, causing even a mighty overlord like it to narrow its beastly eyes. The young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King beside it trembled slightly as it stared fearfully at the dark clouds overhead!

Xiao Yu also sensed that something was wrong and walked to the entrance of the cave. Xiao Bai bared its fangs at the gathering clouds, seemingly trying to intimidate them, but that did nothing to change the fact that the sky was now filled with dark clouds!

Seeing this scene, a term suddenly surfaced in Xiao Yu's mind: Heavenly Tribulation!

Xiao Yu's expression immediately turned ugly. "What is this nonsense? There wasn't any mention of a Heavenly Tribulation in Battle Through the Heavens!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for being about to break through to the Dou Master realm. Because the host's talent and cultivation method have incurred the jealousy of the heavens, the punishment of the Heavenly Dao has descended. Every breakthrough into a major realm from now on will bring heavenly punishment. It is hoped that the host may gain enlightenment and achieve breakthroughs amid heavenly punishment. Since the host has single-handedly altered the cultivation landscape of the Dou Qi Continent, you are specially awarded one Vajra Bodyguard Shield and one Heavenly Spirit Pill!"

Xiao Yu stood there blankly as he listened to the system's voice in his mind. What did it mean, the jealousy of the heavens? And every breakthrough into a major realm would bring a Heavenly Tribulation from now on?

Crack!

A thunderclap rang out. Xiao Yu hurriedly examined the system rewards. The Vajra Bodyguard Shield could block one divine lightning strike from a Heavenly Tribulation, while the Heavenly Spirit Pill could rapidly restore the Dou Qi within his body to its peak state. It seemed the system had prepared them to help him face his first Heavenly Tribulation!

Dark clouds churned overhead, their pitch-black layers nearly solidifying into substance. Xiao Yu stared at the tribulation clouds, swallowed, then spread the Purple Cloud Wings behind his back. With a slight flap, he shot toward the mass of dark clouds.

Crack! Crack!

When Xiao Yu arrived beneath the dark clouds, the lightning and thunder within them immediately began to rage. He felt a terrifying aura lock onto him, making every hair on his body stand on end!

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, standing outside its cave in the distance, also spotted Xiao Yu. It immediately recognized him as the human who had sneaked into its cave to steal the Purple Spirit Crystal and the Companion Purple Crystal Source. Its enormous purple eyes narrowed. "It's him?"

The young Purple Crystal Winged Lion King became agitated as well, letting out low growls. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King muttered, "I thought he had left with that human Dou Huang. But it seems this human never left. This terrifying disturbance was actually caused by him. Could it be because his talent is simply too monstrous?"

"You thieving heavens, let me see just how strong you really are!" Xiao Yu stared resolutely at the Heavenly Tribulation above. It seemed that such defiance enraged the heavens, and pale violet heavenly lightning began to appear amid the rolling clouds. The first Heavenly Tribulation of the Dou Qi Continent descended!