The Curtain Falls

Chen Xiao looked at Ao Xie, feeling a slight sense of relief in his heart. He had truly feared that this Ao Xie would fail to learn his lesson and continue to carry himself with the mentality that he was the greatest under heaven.

Now, seeing Ao Xie suppress all of his arrogance, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, the heavenly tribulation had ended, and the tribulation clouds were gradually dissipating.

"Rise. Once you have settled your family affairs, come to Moon-Gazing City in the Glazed Heaven Palace's Void Border within three days to find me."

Chen Xiao's voice resonated within Ao Xie's heart, and in an instant, his entire being returned to his own room.

"Pfft!"

The moment Chen Xiao's feet touched the ground, he could not help but spit out a mouthful of blood, followed by a bout of violent coughing.

"Using the power of the heavenly tribulation to attack beings outside the range of the tribulation clouds—the backlash is indeed not insignificant."

Chen Xiao gave a bitter smile. Just moments ago, he had truly feared that those few Mystic Immortals would continue to strike at Ao Xie, so he had directly condensed the power of the lightning tribulation to attack the seventeen Mystic Immortals of the Sea Ghost Clan, pinning them down there.

However, those seventeen individuals were Mystic Immortals who were not within the range of the tribulation clouds, nor had they entered the tribulation zone. Once they were outside the area covered by the heavenly tribulation, they were no longer subject to the laws of the tribulation, and Chen Xiao's authority could not intervene. For Chen Xiao to forcibly condense the lightning tribulation to strike them, he naturally had to pay a heavy price.

At this moment, Chen Xiao's internal organs had been slightly shaken by the backlash of the lightning tribulation; these were only minor injuries and not a major concern. However, those few bolts of lightning had completely exhausted all of Chen Xiao's true essence. As of now, his body was empty, and the true essence that had been comparable to the Nascent Soul Realm was entirely depleted.

It was fortunate that Chen Xiao had the protection of the Thunder Virtue Heavenly Book; otherwise, this blow alone would have cost him his life.

Even more serious, however, was the backlash to Chen Xiao's spirit and consciousness. This was not something that could be recovered from in a day or two.

Chen Xiao sat cross-legged on the ground, the Nine Heavens Thunder Virtue Universal Transformation Art running frantically. The remaining tens of thousands of Heavenly Mystery Stones in his storage ring rapidly transformed into streams of spiritual energy, replenishing his body.

For now, Chen Xiao's true essence and divine sense were both severely overdrawn; he would be unable to select another tribulation disciple for some time.

Above Moon-Gazing City, Nangong Xiangyan, together with his twelve subordinates at the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, had fought a fierce battle with Shi Chou for a full three hours. In the end, Shi Chou was outnumbered; after killing three of the Nangong Family's Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, he fled in a panic under the protection of his black coffin.

Shi Chou was warlike, but he knew how to read the situation. If he had continued to drag it out, he would have lost his life there. Shi Chou himself had suffered severe injuries; had it not been for that black coffin—an immortal artifact of unknown grade—constantly shielding his body, he likely would have been torn to pieces by Nangong Xiangyan and his subordinates long ago.

Nangong Xiangyan's losses were also significant. Not only had he lost three Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, but his remaining men were all wounded, and he himself had suffered a heavy blow, with even his dark red immortal sword nearly shattered.

Seeing Shi Chou escape under the protection of the black coffin, Nangong Xiangyan spat out a mouthful of blood, howling in rage.

In the days that followed, the cultivators in Moon-Gazing City talked incessantly about that great battle. The strongest person in Moon-Gazing City was merely a late-stage Tribulation Transcendence cultivator; now, two Void Immortals at the Mahayana Realm, along with twelve late-stage Tribulation Transcendence experts, had fought in the city, naturally opening the eyes of all the cultivators in Moon-Gazing City.

The cultivators in the city were no strangers to Nangong Xiangyan; he was the envoy from the Glazed Heaven Palace who had come to Moon-Gazing City for the second time to bestow honors upon the Chen Clan.

Two months later, people from the Red Capital would arrive to lead Chen Tiannan to the Red Capital to receive his rewards, and Nangong Xiangyan's stated reason for remaining here was to await their arrival.

As for Shi Chou, this was his first appearance in the Glazed Heaven, and everyone speculated wildly about his origins.

Some said he was an evil cultivator guilty of heinous crimes, while others claimed he was a descendant of the Yue Family, the original City Lord's family, and had come this time merely to reclaim everything that belonged to them.

In any case, opinions on Shi Chou's origins were divided.

After Chen Xiao learned of this, he silently mourned for Nangong Xiangyan and the others. Including Nangong Xiangyan, not one of the ten survivors would live.

Behind Shi Chou stood an immensely powerful super-faction. Shi Chou had spent thirty years challenging others throughout the Glazed Heaven. In the first few years, many had treated him as a madman and besieged him.

But Shi Chou was like a cockroach in the mortal world—impossible to kill. Even if a hundred Mahayana Realm cultivators besieged him, he could still escape with his life. However, every cultivator who participated in those sieges would vanish within ten days—which, of course, meant they had all perished.

And if an Immortal were to take action against Shi Chou, then that Immortal, along with the faction behind them, would surely be wiped out overnight.

Shi Chou was clearly a core disciple of an unknown super-sect, released to be cultivated as a priority. As for Shi Chou's actions, the Glazed Heaven Palace actually turned a blind eye, letting him do as he pleased.

Three days later, another young man arrived at the gates of the City Lord's Mansion in Moon-Gazing City, specifically asking to see Chen Xiao.

After the incident with Shi Chou, the guards at the City Lord's Mansion had learned their lesson: if they encountered strange individuals, it was best not to offend them if possible. If it turned out to be another Mahayana Realm expert, their deaths would be in vain.

The young man before them had long, snow-white hair, a golden crown atop his head, and silver battle robes that shimmered with a dazzling light under the sun. He looked majestic and imposing, exuding an air of grandeur.

When Chen Xiao received the news, he knew that his second tribulation disciple, Ao Xie, had arrived. He instructed the mansion guards to bring Ao Xie to his small courtyard; a single tribulation disciple was not enough to warrant Chen Xiao greeting him in person.

Although the Crystal Dragon Palace and Moon-Gazing City were far apart, there was an inexplicable connection between a tribulation disciple and Chen Xiao. Ao Xie could rely on this connection to quickly arrive in Chen Xiao's vicinity.

"Ao Xie greets the Master!"

Upon seeing Chen Xiao, a flicker of excitement appeared in Ao Xie's cold eyes. He knelt on one knee and spoke.

This was the existence capable of embodying the Heavenly Punishment and wielding the heavenly tribulation. To be fortunate enough to become his tribulation disciple meant he was an agent of the Heavenly Punishment. As a disciple of the Transformation Tribulation, he would assist the Tribulation Master in managing the Transformation Tribulation in the future. Their prospects would be limitless; it was not even impossible for them to break through the shackles of the Supreme Immortal and become legendary Fruit Status Immortals.

"Mm, rise." Chen Xiao nodded. His true essence had recovered by half, but the damage to his spirit could not be healed in the short term.

"From now on, just call me Young Master. Do not mention the word 'Master' again."

"Yes, Young Master."

Ao Xie's voice was clear and bright. Although his demeanor remained cold, the arrogance he once possessed was gone, clearly having gained much insight after undergoing the tribulation.

"Young Master, this is an Eight-Treasure Heavenly Spirit Pill."

Ao Xie took a jade bottle from his storage ring and presented it to Chen Xiao with both hands.

Chen Xiao frowned slightly and did not take the bottle. "You know my identity, but my cultivation is inferior to yours. I do not wish to see a Mahayana Realm Dragon Clan Prince display a humble expression when facing a Golden Core Realm cultivator."

Ao Xie's body trembled.

"Whether demon or human, what we cultivators seek is simply to follow our true hearts and act according to our will. Since you do not feel genuine respect for me in your heart, there is no need to put on such an act."

Chen Xiao's tone was indifferent. He could clearly see that Ao Xie's actions were not coming from his heart, but rather that he was suppressing his true nature to deliberately act with respect toward him.

Chen Xiao was Ao Xie's Tribulation Master; how could he not perceive Ao Xie's thoughts? If Ao Xie continued to act against his own nature and force a show of respect, it would not be long before inner demons inevitably took root in his heart.

Begging for votes. As for that... the twelve-thousand-word update request, please don't; it makes my teeth ache just looking at it. I'll try to have a burst of updates tomorrow...