The Spirit Transformation Heavenly Tribulation was the "Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation": three stages, with twenty-seven bolts of tribulation lightning in total.
However, the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation varied in intensity from person to person. Usually, the more exceptional a person's talent, the stronger the tribulation lightning they faced.
That was why people said heaven envied the talented.
Han Xuanji possessed the Immortal's Aptitude, so his tribulation lightning was obviously far more powerful than an ordinary person's.
A terrifying presence spread through the air, enough to make every living creature tremble.
It seemed unwilling to give the person undergoing Tribulation Transcendence any time to prepare.
Soon, bolts of crimson lightning struck down from the heavens, seemingly tearing apart the space they passed through.
Han Xuanji did not panic. He let the lightning strike him directly, then circulated his Thunder Method. The mighty power of the lightning instead became nourishment for him.
If an ordinary cultivator had tried that, they would probably have been reduced to ashes.
But Han Xuanji was different. He had obtained the Myriad Tribulations Thunder Body through signing in, and his body-tempering method had reached major completion. Only then did he dare try it.
The result was favorable as well.
His Limitless Thunder Method, which had originally been cultivated to the limit of the Nascent Soul Realm, now advanced rapidly. With the help of that power, his physical body was also tempered, growing ever stronger.
Perhaps Han Xuanji's actions had provoked it.
Before long, the second stage of tribulation lightning quickly began to take shape.
Within the purple thunderclouds, lightning transformed into thunder dragons that let out snarls.
"The intensity's gone up."
A trace of solemnity flashed through Han Xuanji's eyes.
He was neither stupid nor reckless. Seeing such power, he naturally would not try to force his way through it.
Boom!
Before the thunder reached him, nine thunder dragons roared as they charged at Han Xuanji.
Han Xuanji's gaze hardened, and he said in a low voice:
"Rise!"
The next instant.
Nine flying swords soared into the air. Powerful sword intent surged upward as they formed a sword array to protect him.
Though the thunder dragons came on fiercely, the flying swords were all lightning-attribute swords forged from special materials, with exceptional resistance to lightning attacks.
Rumble!
Amid the roar of the thunderstorm, the nine flying swords were blasted apart.
But the power of the tribulation lightning had also been weakened. By the time it struck Han Xuanji, it looked dangerous, but in truth posed no threat to him.
He had passed through two stages of tribulation lightning without much difficulty.
Han Xuanji did not let his guard down. Instead, he looked solemnly at the sky.
The third stage of tribulation lightning was slow to arrive, but the sky above the valley suddenly darkened, as though night had fallen early.
Han Xuanji realized that this final stage of tribulation lightning was no simple matter.
It seemed ready to hit him with something big.
Before long, five-colored lightning interwove into a net in the sky. Tribulation lightning of the five attributes-metal, wood, water, fire, and earth-churned within the clouds, reinforcing and counteracting one another. Together, they formed a vast Five Elements lightning array, like a deadly trap laid by the Heavenly Dao itself.
"The Five Elements Heavenly Tribulation?"
Han Xuanji's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart grew cold.
This tribulation was extraordinary. In an ordinary Spirit Transformation cultivator's Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, the third stage had only two attributes that reinforced and counteracted each other, and that was already enough to give many cultivators a headache.
Yet his tribulation had actually developed into the Five Elements Heavenly Tribulation.
The five elements cycled through one another, their power terrifyingly strong.
Let alone a cultivator who had just broken through to Spirit Transformation, even an average cultivator at the fourth or fifth level of Spirit Transformation might not be able to get through it unscathed.
"Heavenly Dao, you forced my hand!"
Han Xuanji took a deep breath.
He did not dare take it lightly. He immediately unleashed the Flying Immortal Sword Instruction. Powerful sword intent swept across the sky, like an immortal dancing with a sword, and sword light tore through the heavens.
Rumble!
Nine bolts of five-colored lightning fell in answer, carrying the dreadful power of the five elements.
Sword light and lightning collided. Though the sword light did not completely shatter the lightning, it scattered much of it.
Immediately afterward, Han Xuanji brought out over a hundred Law Artifacts for use in Tribulation Transcendence.
Even if each one could only hold out for a single breath before breaking, together they were enough to weaken the lightning's power by another third.
Finally.
Some of the scattered tribulation lightning struck Han Xuanji. He hastily circulated his Thunder Method and pushed his Undefeated Golden Body to its limit. In the end, he let out a muffled grunt and successfully underwent Tribulation Transcendence.
With the lightning tribulation over, the dark clouds quickly dispersed, and the sky instantly became perfectly clear.
Only the surrounding trees bore witness to the great terror that had just occurred.
Almost all the purple maple trees nearby had been scorched black, but a few survived. They had also acquired a trace of spirituality, becoming a kind of spiritual material.
Han Xuanji did not linger in the joy of successfully undergoing Tribulation Transcendence. He hurriedly took out a high-grade spirit pill and swallowed it to restore himself to good condition.
"I finally did it."
Han Xuanji could not help the corners of his mouth from rising.
Thanks to the tempering of the tribulation lightning, his cultivation had completely stabilized, and his physique had grown much stronger. Compared to before his breakthrough, he had undergone an earthshaking transformation.
No wonder people said one's cultivation realm was the foundation.
It was practically impossible for a Nascent Soul Cultivator to contend with a Spirit Transformation cultivator without outside help. The quality of their spiritual power was on entirely different levels.
Now that Han Xuanji had reached the Spirit Transformation Realm, a casual stroke of his Sword Qi was enough to equal the full-powered attack of many Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.
"Someone's coming."
Suddenly, Han Xuanji sensed something and frowned.
He had chosen this place to undergo Tribulation Transcendence partly because it was close to the Divine Profound Sect, so he could run if things went badly.
"Three people, all Spirit Transformation cultivators. Their presence feels like that of devil path cultivators."
Han Xuanji's expression tightened, but when he realized they were Devil Cultivators, he breathed a sigh of relief instead.
With his speed, even if he could not defeat them, he could leave whenever he wished.
Once he reached the Divine Profound Sect's territory, he did not believe they would dare pursue him.
At that moment, three figures swiftly approached from the distance and arrived before Han Xuanji.
The one at their head wore a crimson robe and looked exceptionally imposing. His presence was the strongest of the three. He was a cultivator at least at the Spirit Transformation Realm Fourth Layer, someone a cultivator who had just entered the Spirit Transformation Realm would find hard to match.
"Fellow Daoist, I am a protector of the Heavenly Devil Cult. If you are willing to submit to our Heavenly Devil Cult, we will not harm you."
Venerable Red Dragon spoke as he looked at Han Xuanji, an intimidating pressure emanating from his entire body.
This place was not far from the Divine Profound Sect, so they preferred to persuade him with reason.
If Han Xuanji refused, they could only try to take him away.
"Our Heavenly Devil Cult is the foremost devil sect in Northern Nether Province, with experts as numerous as clouds. If you sincerely submit and perform meritorious service, even breaking through to Void Return won't be impossible."
Venerable Red Dragon tempted him.
"Just the three of you?"
Han Xuanji did not answer, asking a question of his own instead.
He had yet to sign in enough at the Divine Profound Sect, and he did not want to go to a devil cult and become someone else's underling.
He could have figured it out with his feet: if he agreed, they would certainly take plenty of precautions against him. He might even end up as high-grade cannon fodder.
In truth, Han Xuanji had underestimated the status of a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
Even an outsider would not be treated so poorly as to be sent to his death. At most, he would have more responsibilities and be first in line for dangerous missions.