Who Is Undergoing a Tribulation?

"Not good!"

Seeing Tang Ya's injuries rapidly healing, Tie Li sensed trouble and erupted with soul power once more, attacking Tang Ya again.

"Old bastard, you're courting death."

By now, Tang Ya's injuries had completely healed. Seeing the Ironblood Sect's leader attack her again, she was furious beyond measure.

She knew she was not yet a match for a Soul Emperor, so she did not choose to confront Tie Li head-on. Instead, she used the Tang Sect technique, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, to evade Tie Li's attack, slip past him, and race toward the remaining Ironblood Sect disciples.

Dark Blue Silver Grass spread across the sky, continuously reaching toward those one-, two-, and three-ring sect disciples.

Devour activated. The Blue Silver Grass rapidly drained their life force and soul power, sending a steady stream of energy into Tang Ya's body.

Forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine...

While using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade Tie Li's attacks, Tang Ya also controlled the Blue Silver Grass to assault those disciples, turning them into nourishment for that tree.

Throughout this process, her soul power rose rapidly as well.

Now, Tang Ya was only one step away from becoming a Soul King, so she set her sights on that Soul King elder.

She knew very well that while being pursued by a Soul Emperor, it would be difficult to find an opportunity to use Blue Silver Grass to approach a Soul King. After all, even an ordinary Soul King was not someone those ordinary two- and three-ring disciples from earlier could compare to.

Tie Li continued pressing closer step by step.

Just then, Tang Ya slowed down her Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and deliberately exposed an opening.

Tie Li had already arrived before her. Just as his attack was about to strike Tang Ya, she slightly adjusted her posture, and the blow landed heavily on her lower abdomen.

Pfft—

She spat out a mouthful of blood. The tremendous impact sent her flying backward at high speed—and naturally, in the direction where that Soul King elder stood.

"Not good, I fell for it!"

Seeing this, Tie Li immediately understood. He had not expected this young woman to be so calculating.

That was right. Tang Ya had exposed an opening precisely to trade an injury for an opportunity, using Tie Li's attack to send herself flying toward the Soul King elder.

"You only realized it now? Too late."

Only when the Soul King elder saw Tang Ya flying rapidly toward him did he realize that her target was actually him.

Unfortunately, it was already too late. He was not a Soul Emperor, after all, and had no ability to fly.

Tang Ya was sent flying with tremendous speed and force. Before she reached the elder, she had already spread Blue Silver Grass throughout the air and launched her attack.

"Sect Master... save... me—"

Several thick dark vines tightly bound him, continuously devouring his life force.

Soul King achieved!

"The tables have turned, old bastard. Your time to die has come!"

After draining the Soul King elder's life force, Tang Ya turned in midair and landed steadily. Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, she spoke coldly to Tie Li.

"Don't think becoming a Soul King means you can contend with me!"

Enraged by Tang Ya's provocation, Tie Li charged at her...

Half an hour later, Tang Ya seized Tie Li by the throat and fiercely lifted him up, her voice icy.

"For the murder of my parents, do you know your wrongdoing?"

"Cough... cough... sects... fighting... each other... has always been... you die, I live... the winner... lives... the loser... dies."

Held aloft by Tang Ya, the Ironblood Sect's leader spoke weakly.

"Killing... your clansmen... was merely... a convenient matter... what have I... done wrong... The strong... are meant to... ruthlessly trample... the weak, aren't they?"

Hearing this, Tang Ya tightened her grip around his neck.

"Even if... you kill me... you won't be able... to live either..."

"Evil soul masters are not tolerated by the world. I... will wait for you... in hell..."

Before he could finish, Tang Ya directly snapped his neck, devoured all his life force, then left without looking back.

"So what?"

The next day, the Heaven Dou Express reported that the Ironblood Sect had been destroyed by an unknown force. Its sect master, elders, and many disciples had all vanished without a trace. Only a tree bearing golden leaves remained, with over two hundred fruits hanging from it—the exact number of people who had disappeared from the sect...

Thus, Tang Ya's great vengeance was avenged, while the Tang Sect's sole remaining survivor was Bei Bei.

"From now on, the Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe will be led by you. You will be the chieftain of the Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe."

In the Ice Jade Scorpion Grand Canyon of the Far North, the Ice Empress solemnly spoke to the Ice Jade Scorpion beside her, whose cultivation had reached one hundred and ten thousand years. Around them, dozens of Ice Jade Scorpions with cultivation exceeding ten thousand years listened.

"Chieftain, you absolutely must not. I..."

Just as this Ice Jade Scorpion was about to say something, the Ice Empress directly interrupted her.

"There is no need to say more. My decision is made. The Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe should not have to rely on my protection for its entire existence. My great tribulation will arrive in less than a hundred years. If I fail to pass my next great tribulation, and I am no longer here, are you all supposed to stop living?"

The Ice Empress spoke with unwavering resolve. Though she did not deliberately release any pressure, the Ice Jade Scorpions below felt their entire bodies tremble. As the emperor of the Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe, the Ice Empress naturally possessed absolute suppression over her people.

For a moment, the Ice Jade Scorpions below fell silent. After all, the Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe had lived so peacefully over the years precisely because of the Ice Empress's protection. Now that she was leaving, it was inevitable that her clansmen would have trouble adjusting.

Hearing the Ice Empress's words, this Ice Jade Scorpion with over a hundred thousand years of cultivation froze and could not help sinking into thought.

Only after a while did she look at the Ice Empress and say earnestly, "I understand, Chieftain. From now on, Future will lead the Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe. I definitely will not let you down."

"Very good. You're full of spirit. I also believe that you will be able to manage the Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe well in the future."

The Ice Empress patted her scorpion shoulder in praise, then turned to Yao Shi, who had been waiting for a long time. "All right, I've said everything that needed to be said. Let's leave now."

"We're leaving so soon? Won't you stay a little longer? It's not like I'm in such a hurry to leave."

The Ice Empress shook her head. "No need. The Ice Jade Scorpion Tribe has lived too comfortably under my protection these past years. My departure may be a good thing for them. For us soul beasts, the more comfortable life is, the faster death often comes."

Yao Shi nodded in agreement. "Indeed. That is how the strong prey on the weak."

"Then let's go now."

"Mm."

As she spoke, the Ice Empress grabbed Yao Shi again and flew away from the Ice Jade Scorpion Grand Canyon.

Just as the two left the canyon, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the already pitch-black sky of the Far North.

Seeing this, Yao Shi turned and asked, "Ice Empress, could this have formed because your great tribulation arrived early?"

"No, it isn't. Although there is not much time left before my great tribulation arrives, it would not come this quickly." The Ice Empress was equally stunned by the sight. She decisively descended and placed Yao Shi on the snow nearby.

"Judging from the intensity of the tribulation clouds and the heavenly lightning they are about to unleash, the soul beast undergoing the tribulation has at least reached the level of a ferocious beast."

The Ice Empress explained this to Yao Shi.