Chapter 362: Success or Failure?
"Don't worry. The Palace Master is invincible. That Xiao Tiance is nothing more than a clown jumping around in front of him."
Inside the ancient secret realm.
Although Elder Lingdong said this confidently, fear had already started to creep into his heart.
He knew very well that in the entire Western Heaven Battle Palace or even the surrounding areas of the Western Heaven Continent the only true Supreme was the Western Heaven Battle Emperor. If Xiao Tiance truly succeeded in ascending to Supreme status, it would spell disaster for Elder Lingdong.
After all, the Western Heaven Battle Emperor wasn't likely to risk making an enemy of another Supreme just for the sake of his subordinates. What's more, with Xiao Tiance's rapid cultivation progress, it wouldn't be long before he reached the pinnacle of Earth Supreme and surpassed even that level. And here he was now, attempting to cross the Tribulation of Supreme.
In other words, at the pace Xiao Tiance was advancing, he might soon completely surpass the Western Heaven Battle Emperor in strength.
If that happened, even if the Western Heaven Battle Emperor chose to confront Xiao Tiance after the latter's breakthrough, it wouldn't be long before he found himself being targeted by a Supreme level powerhouse.
At this moment, after hearing Elder Lingdong's words, Ling Zhanzi frowned slightly. If it were before, he might have believed Elder Lingdong's assurances. But now, he was starting to doubt them.
"Elder Dong, I have a suggestion. I'm not sure if I should say it," Ling Zhanzi said.
"Saint Son, feel free to speak your mind. There's no need for formality between us," Elder Lingdong replied after some thought.
"This is what I think: if Xiao Tiance successfully survives the Supreme Tribulation, then when we return, we cannot maintain the same attitude as before.
Every Supreme powerhouse is an extraordinary individual. To avoid creating such an enemy for the Western Heaven Battle Palace, we need to handle this situation carefully. Don't you agree?" Ling Zhanzi said solemnly.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, Xiao Tiance was truly someone they could not afford to provoke.
Even if it meant risking punishment from the Western Heaven Battle Emperor, Ling Zhanzi was determined to mend relations with Xiao Tiance. At the very least, he wanted to ensure that Xiao Tiance's animosity toward the Western Heaven Battle Palace did not grow.
As for Gu Xun'er, he had long given up on the idea of taking her back to the Western Heaven Battle Emperor after she reached the peak of Earth Supreme. That unrealistic fantasy had been abandoned ever since he witnessed Xiao Tiance and his allies' power in Luoshui City.
His decision to confront Xiao Tiance before was merely a matter of pride.
After all, as the heir to the Western Heaven Battle Palace, Ling Zhanzi was unwilling to compromise its absolute prestige unless it was absolutely necessary.
Unfortunately, encountering a monster like Xiao Tiance was just bad luck.
Nearby, Elder Lingdong watched Ling Zhanzi deep in thought and frowned before asking, "Saint Son, are you suggesting we bow to Xiao Tiance and return the puppet we captured?"
"Yes, that's the best option for now. Once Xiao Tiance ascends to Supreme, we cannot remain his enemy.
Even though our master is powerful, it would be best to avoid provoking a Supreme powerhouse if possible.
After all, while the Western Heaven Battle Palace is vast and influential, we lack the top tier combat strength to contend with Xiao Tiance and his allies. If war breaks out, who knows how many lives will be lost?
Therefore, I propose that after we return, we avoid informing Master of this and instead have Ling Feizi return the puppet to Xiao Tiance.
If Master blames us later, I will bear the consequences alone and ensure you are not implicated," Ling Zhanzi said firmly.
Although this choice was humiliating, humiliation was unavoidable for those who had yet to achieve absolute power.
Over these past few days, Ling Zhanzi had thought things through and made up his mind. No matter what, he would prevent a direct conflict between the Western Heaven Battle Emperor and Xiao Tiance.
Even if the Western Heaven Battle Emperor was enraged by their decision and saw it as a loss of face, Ling Zhanzi was prepared to deal with the consequences.
The moment Ling Zhanzi finished speaking, Ling Jianzi chimed in, "Elder Dong, I agree with my senior brother. We cannot afford to make Xiao Tiance an enemy of the Western Heaven Battle Palace. Doing so would only weaken our strength unnecessarily.
If Xiao Tiance successfully ascends to Supreme, then with Miss Xun'er, Xiao Xuan, and that puppet, whose strength rivals the peak of Earth Supreme, can we truly resist them?
Also, Elder Dong, don't you think Xiao Tiance is extraordinarily unusual?
Based on our information, when Xiao Tiance first appeared in the Western Heaven Continent, he hadn't even reached Earth Supreme. Yet, in just a short time, by the time he appeared in the Blood God Clan, he was already at the peak of Earth Supreme.
Such rapid progress is unheard of in the entire Great Thousand World. And now, in such a short period, he's already undergoing the Supreme Tribulation.
If his cultivation speed remains this terrifying after reaching Supreme, then the Western Heaven Battle Palace might one day be destroyed by his hands.
So, rather than letting Master confront Xiao Tiance and create enmity, it's better for us to keep this from him for now. If Master questions us later, my senior brother and I will bear the responsibility."
It was clear that no one could become the Saint Son of the Western Heaven Battle Palace without being exceptionally intelligent.
Elder Lingdong had also considered these points. However, his original plan had been to eliminate Xiao Tiance before he fully rose to power, thereby eradicating the threat once and for all.
Now, listening to the two Saint Sons, Elder Lingdong began to calculate his options. His biggest fear was not that the Western Heaven Battle Emperor would lose to Xiao Tiance, but that Xiao Tiance might escape and become a Supreme level enemy. If Xiao Tiance's cultivation speed remained as terrifying as before, the Western Heaven Battle Emperor might one day fall to him.
After letting out a long sigh, Elder Lingdong finally smiled bitterly and said, "Fine. Xiao Tiance is indeed someone we cannot completely provoke.
When we return, as long as he willingly hands back Saint Linglong, we won't trouble the Palace Master about this matter."
"You're wise, Elder Dong. Let's proceed with this plan," Ling Zhanzi and Ling Jianzi said in unison, bowing slightly.
Sacred Spirit Peak.
As Xiao Tiance bathed in the tribulation clouds, countless bolts of lightning struck him like they had found a conductor.
Crack!
Thunderclouds roiled, and lightning raged as if determined to destroy him.
However, unlike how dangerous it seemed to outsiders, Xiao Tiance was not only relying on his formidable physical strength to withstand the strikes but also using the tribulation lightning to temper his body while cultivating his Heavenly Dao Ten Thousand Tribulations Body.
The Lightning Tribulation: Did Xiao Tiance Succeed or Fail?
At this moment, all the lightning struck Xiao Tiance directly. But instead of showing pain, his face revealed pure enjoyment. As the consecutive bolts of lightning descended, a colossal giant, hundreds of meters tall, began to form around him.
Although this giant was not as massive as the ten thousand meter figure Ling Zhanzi had once summoned, the aura it emitted was enough to make Ling'er, Fatty, and even the spirit fish in the Sacred Spirit Pool below tremble uncontrollably.
Crack! Boom!
The lightning grew increasingly powerful, and Xiao Tiance's aura became more and more terrifying. What was initially a hundred meter tall shadow of a giant began to solidify. With each successive strike of lightning, the giant grew even taller, gaining several dozen more meters in height.
"Hahaha! Bring it on! More!"
After enduring three consecutive bolts of tribulation lightning, Xiao Tiance felt his physical condition and became exhilarated. Laughing wildly, he taunted the heavens.
But as his words echoed, the tribulation clouds rolled even more violently. Their scope, originally spanning thousands of kilometers, expanded further.
Boom! Crack!
This time, the lightning struck Xiao Tiance with force greater than the previous three strikes combined.
Spurt!
Despite his incredible resilience, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood as the lightning landed.
"So strong! Hahaha! Now this is more like it!"
Although he was injured, Xiao Tiance was even more thrilled. This strike not only wounded him but also brought him closer to ascending to Supreme status.
After that bolt of lightning, the Supreme Dharma Body a colossal giant grew even taller by several dozen meters. Not only that, but it began actively absorbing the surrounding lightning energy. At the top of its head, the energy coalesced into a small ball of lightning.
The lightning sphere was only the size of a thumb, and compared to the hundred meter giant, it seemed insignificant. Yet the energy contained within this tiny sphere was so immense that even Xiao Tiance, on the verge of becoming a Supreme, felt a chill.
With such a discovery, Xiao Tiance eagerly awaited the next strike, hoping it would be even stronger.
But he didn't need to hope. The Supreme Tribulation was inherently designed to escalate with every strike. Sure enough, the tribulation clouds grew more turbulent and unleashed another terrifying bolt of lightning.
Boom!
This time, under the blinding illumination of the lightning, one could see Xiao Tiance's entire skeleton through his body.
This strike was far more powerful than the four that had come before it.
Time passed, and Xiao Tiance endured eight strikes of tribulation lightning in total. By now, his body was severely injured, his skin charred all over, making him look like a lump of coal. Even his spiritual energy was nearly depleted.
If the ninth and final bolt was more powerful than all the previous strikes combined, there was a real possibility he would perish.
Below, the tribulation clouds were condensing rapidly in preparation for the ninth strike. Ling'er, looking up at Xiao Tiance's battered form, could see his dire condition clearly.
"Little Sir, you must hold on!" Ling'er said anxiously, her voice trembling with worry.
When Xiao Tiance endured the seventh strike, Ling'er had already wanted to join him in facing the tribulation.
However, Fatty stopped her, explaining that interfering with the tribulation would not only fail to help Xiao Tiance but might even provoke a more severe lightning strike.
After all, divine wrath was not to be challenged.
Though Ling'er was deeply worried, she could do nothing but silently pray that Xiao Tiance would survive.
"You really don't need to worry so much," Fatty reassured her. "Although he looks terrible now, there's already a faint sign of life force emerging from within him. That's a clear indicator that he's about to overcome the Supreme Tribulation.
"Besides, you've said it yourself he never acts without a plan. If he dared to cultivate the Heavenly Dao Ten Thousand Tribulations Body during a Supreme Tribulation, it wasn't a spur of the moment decision."
Ling'er didn't respond, her gaze fixed firmly on Xiao Tiance above. She had already resolved that if he truly couldn't endure it, she would rush to protect him even at the cost of her own life.
Fatty sighed and continued, "Really, don't be too anxious. This kind of situation has been documented in the Heavenly Dao Sect's records of Supreme Tribulation breakthroughs.
"Typically, it's only after the ninth strike that one achieves rebirth from near death. No matter how dire he seems now, as long as he withstands the ninth strike, he'll experience an incredible transformation."
Hearing this, Ling'er turned to glare at Fatty before falling silent again. Knowing her concern, Fatty wisely stopped speaking.
Boom! Crack!
Finally, the long awaited ninth bolt struck after nearly three minutes of brewing.
As the lightning descended, Xiao Tiance's arms and legs began to vaporize under its immense power. His entire body seemed to melt into nothingness, as if he were vanishing into the void.
"Did… did he fail?"
Seeing this, Ling'er felt her strength drain from her body, and she collapsed onto the surface of the Sacred Spirit Pool.
Fatty didn't collapse, but his heart was heavy with regret. He began to second guess his decision to give Xiao Tiance the Heavenly Dao Ten Thousand Tribulations Body.
With Xiao Tiance's strength and incredibly resilient body, a straightforward Supreme Tribulation would have posed no issue. However, attempting to cultivate the Heavenly Dao Ten Thousand Tribulations Body during the tribulation had significantly increased its difficulty.
Watching Xiao Tiance's disintegrating form and the fading Supreme Dharma Body, even Fatty's eyes dimmed with despair.
"Did… did it really end in failure?" Fatty murmured, sighing deeply.
Within the lightning, Xiao Tiance felt his body growing lighter and his soul power rapidly draining. Darkness consumed his vision as if he were falling into an endless void.
"Is this really the end?"
He muttered to himself, memories flashing through his mind his journey from the Dou Qi Continent to the Great Thousand World, all the battles and struggles along the way.
Just as Xiao Tiance felt himself fading, a sudden light flashed in his mind. The power of the ninth lightning strike began to be absorbed into his body.
As the energy was fully absorbed, an immense surge of power flowed through him. At the same time, his seemingly vanished body began to regenerate, piece by piece.
"Did… did he succeed?"
(End of Chapter)
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