Chapter 361: The Beginning of the Heavenly Supreme Tribulation and the Reactions of Various Factions
Ancient Secret Realm, atop the Sacred Spirit Peak.
Looking at the increasingly volatile tribulation clouds overhead, Xiao Tiance remained unfazed. As long as the spiritual energy in his Supreme Sea was not fully replenished, the tribulation would not descend.
Instead of worrying about the thunderous tribulation, he delved deeply into studying the cultivation method for the Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Body and the associated warnings.
"As expected of a Primordial Physique," he thought. "While it's perilous to cultivate, with each tribulation overcome, one's strength increases significantly. With my current power, if I successfully withstand one tribulation and advance to Spirit Grade Heavenly Supreme, even at the early stage, I'll have absolute confidence in facing an average Immortal Grade Heavenly Supreme."
Xiao Tiance's thoughts turned to Ling'er. "Ling'er has already achieved the realm of a Grandmaster Spirit Array Master. Once I ascend, she too will gain the power of a Heavenly Supreme. Combined with her mastery of spirit arrays, even if she faces the Western Battle Emperor alone, she might not be at a disadvantage."
The bond between Xiao Tiance and Ling'er was unique. Not only could they share their strength, but their thoughts and combat experience were also interconnected. Any breakthrough by one would enhance the other. This synergy allowed them to cultivate at nearly double the usual speed. With Ling'er being the essence of a world and Xiao Tiance possessing exceptional talent, their combined progress far outpaced ordinary cultivators.
"Hoo!"
After thoroughly understanding the Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Body, Xiao Tiance exhaled deeply. He began channeling his cultivation technique, replenishing the last bit of spiritual energy in his Supreme Sea.
"Boom! Crackle!"
As soon as his Supreme Sea was fully filled, the tribulation in the skies roared to life. Like a beast that had been holding back for too long, it descended with ferocity.
"Whoa! It couldn't wait a second longer?" Xiao Tiance was momentarily surprised. Yet instead of resisting, he allowed the first bolt of lightning to strike him directly. He even deactivated the defensive spirit arrays he had set up earlier.
"Boom!"
The lightning bolt hit Xiao Tiance squarely, reducing his clothing and hair to ashes. However, despite its formidable power, it left his body unscathed.
"Not bad, but this is far from enough to pose any real threat," he remarked.
A few breaths later, as the first tribulation faded, Xiao Tiance took a moment to assess his condition. He noticed that the spiritual energy in his Supreme Sea had been further refined by the tribulation lightning. Additionally, the destructive lightning energy coursing through his body had expanded and strengthened his meridians.
Nearby, Ling'er and Fatty were initially concerned. However, seeing Xiao Tiance emerge unscathed from the first bolt, Fatty exclaimed in astonishment:
"His physical body is terrifying! At this level, it's already comparable to some Immortal Grade Heavenly Supremes who haven't cultivated their physique!"
Ling'er grinned and replied confidently, "Of course! My master has always prioritized cultivating his physical strength. And let me tell you, he's an unparalleled genius in cultivation. Fatty, you won't regret following him in the future.
"Your Heavenly Dao Sect's patriarch was indeed incredible a peerless figure of his time. But I've always believed that my master will surpass even him someday."
Ling'er's words were meant not just to praise Xiao Tiance but also to win over Fatty, encouraging him to follow wholeheartedly. After all, Fatty, being the artifact spirit of a near Absolute Saint Artifact, possessed knowledge of countless secrets that could greatly aid Xiao Tiance in the future.
Fatty pondered for a moment before replying, "Let's wait until he survives this tribulation. The Heavenly Supreme Tribulation consists of nine bolts, each stronger than the last. Even with his strong body, I doubt he'll get past the fifth bolt unscathed without additional means."
Ling'er chuckled, confident as ever. "Just keep watching. My master will surprise you."
As if to confirm her words, Xiao Tiance suddenly leaped into the air, diving straight into the tribulation clouds above.
"What's he doing?!" Fatty was stunned. Since when did someone face a Heavenly Supreme Tribulation with such recklessness?
Ling'er was equally shocked. She could sense the immense danger hidden within the thunderclouds. She had assumed Xiao Tiance would simply endure the tribulation below, but he had chosen to dive headfirst into its fury.
"I see!" Fatty exclaimed in realization. "He's trying to cultivate the Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Body. But starting with such a powerful tribulation? Even if he survives, the subsequent tribulations will be even more terrifying!"
The realization left Fatty awestruck. The Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Body was indeed powerful, but it was a gamble of life and death. Choosing such a powerful tribulation as the starting point was audacious, perhaps even foolish.
Meanwhile, Ling'er felt a twinge of worry but ultimately trusted Xiao Tiance's judgment. "Master will succeed. He always does," she whispered.
Within the storm, Xiao Tiance's bold move had enraged the tribulation clouds. Feeling provoked, they began unleashing waves of lightning at him.
Beyond the Sacred Spirit Peak, the scale of the tribulation had drawn the attention of others in the secret realm.
"Uncle Lin, could this be Xiao Tiance undergoing the Heavenly Supreme Tribulation?" Ye Qingqing asked in astonishment as she gazed at the terrifying spectacle in the distance.
"Judging by the aura, it's definitely him. I initially thought that no matter how talented Xiao Tiance was, he'd wait until he left the Ancient Secret Realm to attempt his Heavenly Supreme breakthrough. But to think he's acting so quickly he really is bold. If the spatial collapse occurs before he successfully overcomes the tribulation, he'll be gravely injured, if not killed," remarked the young man, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Uncle Lin, ever since we first met him, it's been clear he's no ordinary person. His boldness doesn't surprise me at all," Ye Qingqing replied with a light laugh. "Besides, once he leaves this Ancient Secret Realm, he'll undoubtedly clash with the Western Battle Emperor. I suspect he's rushing to advance to Heavenly Supreme precisely to prepare for that confrontation."
"You have a point, Miss," the young man nodded, though he sighed. "Still, making such a swift decision to break through might not necessarily be a good thing."
"No need to worry, Uncle Lin. Xiao Tiance may be prideful, but he has every reason to be. Most peak Earth Supremes would tremble at the mere thought of facing the Western Battle Emperor. But he? He not only disrespected the Western Battle Hall but also dared to cross the Black Heaven Ancient Clan before we intervened. Someone like him, if he doesn't fall, is bound for greatness. I truly believe that in the near future, he'll become one of the rare peak powerhouses of the Great Thousand World," Ye Qingqing stated with a confident smile.
"You're not wrong, Miss. If he survives, his rise to the top is only a matter of time. However, you've overlooked one key detail," Uncle Lin said, his tone turning serious.
"Overlooked? What do you mean?" Ye Qingqing asked, puzzled.
**"From my observations, Xiao Tiance is not reckless. Judging by how he handled the Western Battle Hall, he's never taken a loss. Someone like him wouldn't foolishly pick a fight with the Black Dragon and Black Phoenix siblings once he knew they belonged to the Black Heaven Ancient Clan. Even without your intervention, he wouldn't have truly attacked them.
"As for facing the Western Battle Emperor, I doubt he'll lose either. First, anyone bold enough to challenge the Western Battle Hall must have carefully considered how to deal with the emperor. Second, you might have forgotten that in the Great Thousand World, the death of a Heavenly Supreme is forbidden,"** Uncle Lin explained calmly.
"Ah, I had forgotten!" Ye Qingqing exclaimed, realization dawning on her. "Once Xiao Tiance becomes a Heavenly Supreme, the Great Thousand Palace will detect his presence the moment he steps out of the Ancient Secret Realm. They'll likely invite him to join their ranks. In that case, whether he and the Western Battle Emperor even fight at all becomes uncertain."
As a candidate for the Holy Maiden of the Tai Ling Ancient Clan, Ye Qingqing was privy to many secrets. She understood that the Great Thousand Palace, the most powerful force in the Great Thousand World, upheld one principle above all: opposing the invaders from beyond the void. They would never allow two Heavenly Supremes to fight to the death, as it would undermine their primary objective.
"Let's leave now, Miss. We've gained plenty from this exploration," Uncle Lin suggested. Glancing toward the distant Sacred Spirit Peak and its roiling tribulation clouds, a trace of melancholy flickered in his eyes.
"Very well. Let's go. This journey has been quite fascinating, and we've met some intriguing individuals," Ye Qingqing agreed. With a final glance toward the peak, she turned and followed Uncle Lin away.
Elsewhere in the secret realm…
Black Dragon and Black Phoenix had just obtained a rare treasure. As they celebrated, their expressions darkened abruptly.
"Brother, it seems getting our revenge won't be easy. The clan won't risk offending a Heavenly Supreme just for us," Black Dragon said grimly.
Black Phoenix's face also clouded over. After a moment, he let out a cold snort. "It's too early to say that, Brother. The Heavenly Supreme Tribulation consists of nine bolts, each stronger than the last. Xiao Tiance may be formidable, but that doesn't mean he can survive all nine tribulations. Who knows? He might die under the thunder before we even need to act."
Hearing this, Black Dragon chuckled bitterly. "Brother, there's no need to deceive ourselves. If someone like Xiao Tiance can't survive the Heavenly Supreme Tribulation, then few in the Great Thousand World ever could. Losing to him is no disgrace I admit my defeat willingly."
Having faced Xiao Tiance in battle, Black Dragon fully understood just how terrifying his strength was. While he still smarted from the humiliation, he couldn't deny Xiao Tiance's overwhelming power.
Black Phoenix sighed heavily. "I understand, Brother. But we've never suffered such humiliation before. It's hard to accept."
"Haha, you're right, Brother. Still, if he truly ascends to Heavenly Supreme, losing to such a figure isn't so bad. Let's not dwell on it. While this space remains intact, let's focus on finding more useful treasures," Black Dragon replied with a hearty laugh, motioning for Black Phoenix to follow.
Meanwhile, near the Sacred Spirit Peak…
Winter Elder, Spirit War Son, Spirit Sword Son, and other powerhouses of the Western Battle Hall watched the tribulation clouds with dark expressions. If there was one person they all despised most, it was Xiao Tiance. After all, he had humiliated their hall repeatedly.
"Elder Winter, should we really continue opposing someone like him? His cultivation speed is terrifying, even surpassing our master's," Spirit War Son finally spoke, breaking the tense silence.
"Indeed, Elder. Should we report to the master and have him intervene personally?" Spirit Sword Son added quickly.
Winter Elder snorted, though his unease was evident. "What's there to fear? No matter how talented he is, even if he succeeds in becoming a Heavenly Supreme, he'll still only be a Spirit Grade Heavenly Supreme. The hall master is an Immortal Grade Heavenly Supreme. Xiao Tiance is just a petty clown compared to him."
Though his words were confident, Winter Elder couldn't deny the heavy sense of dread Xiao Tiance's rise evoked. Nevertheless, the repeated humiliations dealt by Xiao Tiance had deeply wounded the Western Battle Hall's pride. Letting it go was simply not an option.
"The hall master is invincible. A mere Xiao Tiance is insignificant," Winter Elder said, as much to reassure himself as to convince his companions.
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