This Is a Heavenly Tribulation!

During these nine years, he cultivated supernatural powers, practiced the "Law of Heaven and Earth" and "Three Heads and Six Arms", and also cultivated the Thunder God Eye to the peak of the First Tribulation, but its power was only so-so for Ji An.

The Second Tribulation wasn't that he didn't want to cultivate, but rather that he simply couldn't buy that much Thunder Essence in Anchan Commandery.

But there's one power I've never quite grasped: the power of the Heart Force!

"It's too difficult. Without guidance, even though my cultivation level is already comparable to many True Immortals, I just can't seem to grasp the essence of Heart Force." Ji An thought to himself, "Could it be that I really have to wait until I become Bodhi's disciple to practice the 'Houyi's Archery'?"

"Heart Force" can be considered the third major cultivation method in "Desolate Era", but it is also the most difficult to cultivate.

In the original work, even the protagonist Ji Ning only sensed the power of the mind and entered the realm of Heart Force after obtaining the "Houyi's Archery".

Although Ji An's understanding of the Dao was astonishing, it was merely something forcibly "piled up" by the "Universe." Therefore, although he had been searching for the power of the "heart" for the past nine years, without guidance, he had no effect whatsoever.

"Never mind, the Immortal Fate Assembly is almost here anyway, so there's no rush."

Of course, during these nine years, besides his own cultivation, Ji An's younger brother Ji Ning, who had been discouraged, was also very diligent.

He wasn't pestering Ji An to instruct him on the "Ways of Thunderfire and Fire" and "Flowing Water" (the two Minor Dao of fire and water that Ji An had comprehended).

Ji An practiced swordsmanship on his own, and although he was able to learn those sword techniques thanks to his extremely high level of skill, he truly hadn't even touched the door to the Dao of the Sword.

Occasionally, he would also take on missions from Yinglong Guard, such as hunting down wanted criminals or powerful demons that were causing havoc in the region.

This brought Ji An's Yinglong Guard level to the level of Four-Clawed Yinglong Guard.

Of course, this was not the limit that Ji An could reach; it was just that the time was too short to accumulate that many merit points.

After all, even with just these four-clawed Yinglong Guards, it was only after Ji An killed the seven Dharma Kings of the Blood God Church that he accumulated enough merit points to advance to the level of a four-clawed Yinglong Guard.

This was also the battle that made Ji An famous.

The seven Dharma Kings of the Blood God Church, although they were only at the level of loose immortals with Loose Immortal of 100,000 years, were only in comparison to Ji An.

It should be noted that a 100,000-year-old Loose Immortal is considered a top-tier Loose Immortal, and their strength is quite good among all Earth Immortal Loose Immortals. In the entire Anchan Commandery, only the eight major forces have reached such a level of strength.

Not to mention that Ji An wasn't defeated one by one, but rather gradually.

Of course, after Ji An accepted the mission from Yinglong Guard, he originally only went to hunt down one of them. He did not expect that the seven of them would gather together to attack the stronghold of a Primordial Spirit force, and were directly wiped out by Ji An.

Not to mention, Ji An wasn't even injured when he killed them.

This has led to speculation about whether his strength has reached the level of an 800,000-year-old Loose Immortal.

This is also why the Blood God Church has never bothered Ji An, since the leader of the Blood God Church is only a Loose Immortal with a strength of nearly 500,000 years.

Not to mention the Blood God Church, having lost its seven Dharma Kings, is now reduced to only four immortals. Revenge?

They're already grateful they can maintain their status as one of the eight major powers; after all, they're different from the other eight.

"It's Chinese New Year," Ji An sighed, looking up at the moon in the sky.

"Young Master, Master and Young Master are waiting for you." Chuncao walked over from a distance.

Ji An nodded.

Chuncao was Ji An's maid when he was a child. In the original story, she died not long after returning to her tribe, but Ji An, who knew the original story, naturally saved her.

So, during those nine years, after Chuncao's father passed away, Chuncao returned to the Ji Clan.

"Let's go." Ji An walked ahead, with Chuncao following behind.

"Young Master, the tribe has sent twelve more youths. Counting the batch from five years ago, plus the earliest group, there are now twenty-eight tribe youths arriving in total," Chuncao said softly. "I think the tribe is really going too far. The eldest master and young master already spend a lot of time cultivating; where would they find the time to teach these youths?"

Ji An smiled slightly, "Those teenagers are a bit weaker, so you and Qiuye will guide them from now on. Your skill level is already sufficient."

Over these nine years, Ji An guided Chuncao, Ji Ning guided Qiuye, allowing the two to learn from each other, which was also one of the topics for the two brothers Ji An and Ji Ning.

After all, the difference in their cultivation levels was too great. For Ji An, even if his second Primordial Spirit remained at the Myriad Phenomena Perfection realm, it was still something that Ji Ning could not contend with.

Chuncao nodded and followed slowly behind.

The Spring Festival passed quickly, and not long after Ji An's fame spread throughout Anchan Commandery, Ji Ning's reputation also spread far and wide once again.

During a mission for the Yinglong Guard, Ji Ning killed a Primordial Spirit Daoist at the peak of his cultivation, suffering only minor injuries in the process!

The Ji Clan was originally just a small power in a corner of Yan Mountain, yet it produced figures like Ji An and Ji Ning.

Don't underestimate Ji Ning just because of the huge gap between him and Ji An. You should know that at Ji Ning's age and level, he can kill Primordial Spirit Daoist at the peak. In the entire Great Xia World, he can rank among the top 10,000 in an era, let alone just Anchan Commandery!

The news spread quickly throughout Anchan City, and among Ji Ning's friends, Beishan Baiwei was the first to receive it.

He slammed his hand on the table in his excitement, knocking over fruit platters and wine jugs, startling the musicians.

Seeing the messenger servant Pu An, kneeling on the ground, he immediately threw out a jade bottle and bestowed ten taels of Essence Liquid upon him, which the Violet Palace Mansion Realm servant hurriedly caught.

Beishan Baiwei paced back and forth in the hall, repeatedly praising Ji Ning's prowess. "He has been in the Black-White College for more than ten years, yet he has only reached the Perfection of the Myriad Phenomena Perfection, and he was able to kill a heretical cultivator who had reached the Perfection of the Primordial Spirit Perfection. He marveled that Ji Ning's thirty years of cultivation were comparable to those of the Sloppy Daoist and the Fire Saint, who had cultivated for more than two hundred years. He was secretly glad that he had befriended Ji Ning and made the right bet."

As for Ji An? That's beyond his reach!

After regaining her senses, Beishan Baiwei dismissed the musicians and maids, her eyes filled with anticipation: with Ji Ning's progress far surpassing that of reincarnated immortals, as long as he did not perish on his path of cultivation, he would surely become a top immortal in the future, and at that time she could also receive powerful assistance like her father.

Over the past nine years, Northmont Blacktiger and Northmont Yin, who were originally evenly matched, have rapidly gained a significant advantage after Northmont Blacktiger acquired Ji An as an ally.

The father received help from the eldest brother in the "Twin Stars of the Ji Clan," and he received help from the younger brother, which was excellent!

Black-White College.

"Senior Brother Ji Ning is truly amazing! Ten years have passed, and he's grown to such a level!" Mu Zishuo had been engrossed in studying puppetry, was immediately excited upon hearing the news. "It's been so many years since I've seen Senior Brother; it's time to pay him a visit!"

Ji Ning's fame spread far and wide after this battle, and many people wanted to visit him, not to mention that they could take the opportunity to pay their respects to the renowned Universe Immortal of Anchan.

With a little effort, Mu Zishuo quickly gathered a group of like-minded people.

"Walk!"

"Go to the Ji Clan West Prefecture!"

"I haven't seen Beiming for many years, and he has become so accomplished! And the Celestial Immortal of the Universe, I even went to listen to his sermons back then."

The dozen or so people accompanying him were mostly people with close ties to Ji Ning, including two reincarnated immortals. Once one's strength reaches a certain level, one will naturally earn the recognition and the desire to befriend others.

Soon, the group left the Black-White College and headed straight for the Ji Clan West Prefecture.

Meanwhile, in Shangshui Commandery, in the Dongyan Mountain Range.

Dressed in a white snow robe, Nine Lotus sat cross-legged on the rock. Since the Ji Clan returned, she had been placed in Ten Thousand Lotus Cave by the Dongyan Ancestor, and nearly nine years had passed in the blink of an eye.

She tried to break the formation every day, but the formation set up by the Dongyan Ancestor reflected her Dao heart. Breaking the formation was, in essence, a cultivation practice of understanding one's true nature and realizing one's own enlightenment.

Nine Lotus never got her wish.

"Master! Master!" came an urgent call from outside the cave.

Nine Lotus opened her eyes and asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"

Even when trapped inside the cave, her servants would still relay important matters from the outside world through the simple method of shouting from outside the cave.

"Master, we just received news that Ji Ning, one of the Twin Stars of the Ji Clan, was ambushed by a Nascent Primordial Spirit Daoist at the peak of his cultivation while chasing a criminal—" The servant hadn't finished speaking.

"Is he alright?!" Nine Lotus interrupted urgently, "As his elder brother, how could Ji An not protect him!"

Upon hearing this news, she felt a pang of panic, and even her fear of Ji An lessened somewhat.

"Master, Ji Ning is unharmed. Ji Ning killed that Daoist with his Godfiend Body Refinement Myriad Phenomena Perfection Realm, and he only suffered minor injuries. But for a Divine Demon, that's not even a minor injury," the servant replied.

"What!" Nine Lotus exclaimed in surprise.

Nine Lotus was genuinely surprised. Although she had always admired Ji Ning, in her eyes, the handsome young man Ji Ning was ultimately as close as her own younger brother.

She had long known that Ji Ning was exceptionally talented, but she never expected him to be so monstrous!

These two brothers, born of the same mother, are both incredibly talented.

"There are three reincarnated immortals in the Myriad Phenomena Realms of the Black-White College. Senior Sister Yu Wei has been cultivating for the shortest time, while the other two have been cultivating for over ninety years. Ji Ning has only been cultivating for thirty years, yet he can rival those two, or even surpass them!" Nine Lotus suddenly felt a pang of panic.

This feeling of panic was exactly the same as when she was brought back to the sect and learned of Ji An's strength.

However, the anxiety back then was due to the rise of the Ji Clan; but the unease now is for Ji Ning alone.

What's wrong with me?

Why does this feeling of panic feel so familiar—what is it that I'm so uneasy about?

Nine Lotus realized that her panic was irrational and repeatedly questioned her own conscience.

Having been trapped in the Ten Thousand Lotus Cave for nearly nine years, she was already on the verge of realizing her true nature. Ji Ning's extraordinary strength became the final opportunity to help her break through the shackles.

"So this is who I really am." Her eyes were clear as water as she murmured to herself, "I will take control of everything, lead the Dongyan Clan to the top of Great Xia, and leave my mark on history."

This ambition has always been hidden deep within me, and all my past choices stemmed from it.

She calmly pondered: Ji Ning was stronger than expected, but even if he could truly cultivate to become Heavenly Immortal, it would still take a thousand years. She didn't believe in love at first sight, only in love that grows over time, and she was even more convinced that after a thousand years of companionship, the two of them would definitely become Daoist partners willing to die for each other.

As for the Ji Clan, we simply won't take them over!

Ji An and Ji Ning are only brothers, not the same person.

Without further hesitation, Nine Lotus stepped towards the great formation. This formation, which had imprisoned her for nine years Dao-Heart Reflecting Formation, did not hinder her this time, and she successfully walked out of the Ten Thousand Lotus Cave.

"Master!" The maid outside the cave knelt down in surprise and joy upon seeing Nine Lotus emerge. "Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Master!"

Nine Lotus smiled faintly and left the Dongyan Mountain Range of Shangshui Commandery that very day, heading straight for Yan Mountain in Anchan Commandery.

In the canyon, the Dongyan Ancestor, who was leisurely fishing, looked surprised and muttered to himself, "Ruyin, although she resembles you in appearance and temperament, her true nature is completely opposite. This Nine Lotus's temperament is much stronger than yours; she is truly a born leader! It seems that choosing her to lead the Dongyan Clan will greatly benefit our clan, and if the Ji Clan can produce two Heavenly Immortals, it will also be a great help to me."

Although he was True Immortal, he had no Heavenly Immortal under his command.

Besides concealing their own strength, the Dongyan Clan has never produced Heavenly Immortal in its hundreds of millions of years, making them even weaker than those top clans without True Immortal in charge.

As long as the Ji Clan members can break through to the Heavenly Immortal realm, he can use the Nine Lotus connection to bring them under his command.

Yan Mountain, within the Ji Clan West Prefecture.

Beishan Baiwei and Ji Ning sat facing each other at the table, clinking glasses and chatting animatedly.

The two were discussing Chen Jin's death when they heard a shout from outside.

Senior Brother Ji Ning!

A loud shout pierced the air and instantly resounded throughout the entire Ji family compound.

"Haha!" Ji Ning jumped up upon hearing this, his face full of joy.

"Oh? Who has come that makes you so happy?" Beishan Baiwei looked surprised.

"It's my junior brother Shuo!" Ji Ning replied with a smile.

Before he finished speaking, he pulled Beishan Baiwei along and flew into the air to meet them. In the distance, a dragon boat warship broke through the air and a group of cultivators flew down from the ship.

Ji Ning looked at the crowd disembarking from the warship and exclaimed in surprise, "So many people!"

This group of people were all fellow disciples of the Black-White College at the Myriad Phenomena Realm, including Senior Brother Blood Shadow and Senior Sister Yu Wei. Each of them was a highly regarded elite in the academy. Upon closer inspection, there were as many as fifteen of them!

The disciples of the Black-White College arrived at Mingxin Island in a grand procession, chatting and laughing. Qiuye had instructed her servants to prepare everything in advance, as such distinguished guests from the academy could not be neglected.

The fellow disciples stayed there for two days, but not seeing Ji An, some of them took their leave.

Mu Zishuo, Senior Sister Yu Wei, Senior Brother Cangjiang, and Beishan Baiwei stayed behind for the time being.

One day.

Ji Ning and his entourage gathered in the Ji family hall, sat down, and enjoyed the immortal wine and spiritual fruits.

These past few days, they have been exchanging techniques and discussing the Grand Dao, having a wonderful time.

Taking this opportunity, everyone also told Ji An about the upcoming Immortal Fate Assembly.

As they talked, they came to the topic of a great being.

"Beyond Heavenly Immortals?" Mu Zishuo couldn't help but ask, "I only know that Heavenly Immortals are carefree immortals who have transcended the Three Realms. What realm is above Heavenly Immortals?"

Yu Wei and Cangjiang exchanged a glance before Yu Wei slowly spoke, "It's True Immortal, Pure Yang True Immortal!"

"True Immortal-- " Mu Zishuo murmured softly.

"Only by comprehending a complete Dao can one become Heavenly Immortal," Yu Wei continued. "But to cultivate into True Immortal, one must comprehend a complete Grand Dao."

Mu Zishuo nodded slightly, and Ji Ning nodded in agreement.

As they were talking, they suddenly sensed a gentle breeze blowing in the distance. Ji Ning and the others could feel the fluctuations of the wind around them gradually intensifying. Suddenly, a gale appeared in the world, with gales coming from all directions, all heading in one direction.

"This is... Heavenly Tribulation!"