Chapter 24: Crossing the Tribulation

Uncle Bai, Qiuye, and Mu Zishuo, watching from afar, were all extremely tense. Immortal Diancai immediately comforted them: "I managed to cross the tribulation successfully. My disciple's current strength alone surpasses mine, and this second incarnation is merely a qi-refining stream. I believe the heavenly tribulation won't be too severe; he will surely succeed."

"Mm." They all nodded. Yu Wei also nodded repeatedly, but a wave of unease stirred in her heart.

Because she had taken Lü Zu as her master, she knew well that Lü Dongbin had faced the Nine-Nine Thunder Tribulation back then. Clearly, the qi-refining stream could also encounter a terrifying heavenly tribulation.

"Whoosh."

On the distant solitary peak, Ji Ning's original body, which had been sitting cross-legged, vanished into thin air, having entered the Water Mansion. Only the black-robed Ji Ning remained seated there.

At the same time, the Golden Lotus Primordial Spirit within the black-robed Ji Ning finally made the final breakthrough, reaching 'Return to Void Perfection' and actively summoning the heavenly tribulation...

Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~~

The wind rose.

"It's begun."

"It's the Wind Tribulation."

"The heavenly tribulation has started." Immortal Diancai and the others watched intently.

The surroundings had been tranquil, but suddenly a fierce wind arose, forming wind blades. The blades grew smaller, their color continuously transforming, their power increasing until they became black blades, each one no weaker than an Immortal-ranked magic treasure.

"Just the beginning of the Wind Tribulation is this strong." Immortal Diancai and Yu Wei both changed color. Both had crossed tribulations and had experience. Clearly, the heavenly tribulation of Ji Ning's second incarnation was starting out too fiercely, far surpassing theirs.

The black-robed Ji Ning, sitting cross-legged, watched calmly and said softly, "Nine Leaves, emerge."

Instantly, a huge, snow-white lotus throne appeared beneath Ji Ning. Upon closer inspection, the lotus throne had nine snow-white lotus leaves. It was the most powerful treasure prepared by the Celestial Immortal Wuxiao when he led the army of the Fraternal Order of the Netherworld to attack Mingxin Island—the先天灵宝 'Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus'.

This Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus possessed formidable power, excelling at trapping enemies. Even without an owner, it could draw upon the cold energy of the world's forces to form countless tiny 'snow lotuses' that frenziedly bound foes. With an owner channeling magic power into it, its might was even more astonishing.

When Celestial Immortal Wuxiao had wielded this先天灵宝, he was confident he could trap Ji Ning. This shows the treasure's immense power.

Back then, Old Man Yuan had killed all members of the Fraternal Order of the Netherworld and given all the treasures to Ji Ning. As for those Pure Yang magic treasures, they were temporarily unusable. Ji Ning hadn't hurried to give them to his senior apprentice-sisters, since his own tribulation was imminent. Moreover, under his master's protection, this period was very safe. How to distribute the treasures would have to wait until after the tribulation.

As for the 'Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus', Ji Ning had refined it directly.

Because such a treasure greatly aided Ji Ning, and also because refining a先天灵宝 was extremely difficult, depending on whether the treasure was willing. This 'Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus' had a spirit, manifesting as a white-clad girl. After being tempted by the Luohou Bow and the Water Mansion's big bear, and seeing that Ji Ning was indeed extraordinary and that a Dao Ancestor had acted for him, she quickly and willingly acknowledged Ji Ning as her master. Thus, Ji Ning easily refined this先天灵宝.

If the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus had not been willing, the refinement would have been troublesome; only a Pure Yang True Immortal could forcibly refine it, and it would take a long time.

But once it was willing, Ji Ning refined it easily.

"Rustle rustle rustle~~~"

Beneath Ji Ning was the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus throne, surrounded by countless snowflakes, each taking the form of a tiny snow lotus. Thousands upon thousands of them completely protected the area. Although it was better at trapping enemies—since all the lotuses focused on one person—it could still defend. Naturally, the larger the defense range, the lower the defensive power, but as a先天灵宝, its might was still extraordinary.

Swish swish swish swish swish swish!!!!!!

Dense flying swords floated around Ji Ning, as if clustering around him. Although he had deployed the先天灵宝, as a precaution, Ji Ning also summoned his many flying swords, ready to block at any moment.

"Rumble~~~"

First came the howling gale.

Then various terrifying celestial winds, all with astonishing power.

But no matter how fierce, the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus, this先天灵宝, directly withstood them, without Ji Ning needing to use his sword formation.

"The final Celestial Immortal Wind of the Wind Tribulation is coming." Watching from afar, Immortal Diancai and the others tensed.

The Celestial Immortal Wind was formless and colorless; no magic treasure or spell could block it.

Whoosh!

The Celestial Immortal Wind descended, easily passing through the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus's obstruction, through Ji Ning's skin, and directly into his second incarnation, the 'One Qi Primordial Water Pearl'. For a normal human, it would enter through the crown of the head, but Ji Ning's second incarnation was this water pearl, which was still very fragile under the mysterious 'Celestial Immortal Wind'.

This Celestial Immortal Wind only appeared during heavenly tribulations. It was a manifestation of the Dao in the operation of the Three Realms. No magic treasure or technique could block it. If one's Dao-heart was unstable, the Celestial Immortal Wind would burn the physical body to ashes.

Thus, the Dao-heart must be stable.

Ji Ning had experienced the Karmic Fire Tribulation; how ordinary could his Dao-heart be? He felt his Zifu space within the One Qi Primordial Water Pearl tremble and undergo changes, and the water pearl itself was being transformed. Once he truly became a Celestial Immortal in the future... the water pearl would completely disappear, and the true core of the second incarnation's life would be the 'Golden Core'.

...

The Wind Tribulation passed, and the Fire Tribulation came.

The weather changed drastically. A huge red cloud appeared in the sky, and the temperature soared. But Ji Ning's Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus, consuming only a little magic power, could draw on vast amounts of world forces to lower the temperature. For a time, fire was above and snow below—truly snow and fire did not blend.

"The Fire Tribulation is here. But Ji Ning's protective treasure easily withstood the Wind Tribulation; I believe it won't be difficult to withstand the Fire Tribulation either." Immortal Diancai smiled.

"The Wind Tribulation and Fire Tribulation are of similar power. With such a powerful protective treasure, Junior Apprentice-Brother can easily withstand them without consuming much magic power." Yu Wei worried, "Now I'm afraid of the Thunder Tribulation."

Indeed.

The先天灵宝 Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus was astonishingly powerful and consumed little magic power. Unfortunately, Ji Ning had not yet figured out how to apply his heartforce to the 'Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus'. If he had, the might of his flying swords might not even match that of the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus. After all, it was a先天灵宝. Although Ji Ning's flying swords numbered in the hundreds and the Grand Thousand Sword Formation was extremely strong, they were only Immortal-ranked top-grade. Of course, Ji Ning had mastered the use of heartforce in the Grand Thousand Sword Formation, so its power far exceeded that of the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus.

The Wind Tribulation passed!

The Fire Tribulation was also withstood! The final Celestial Immortal Fire also caused the One Qi Primordial Water Pearl to undergo another transformation.

Finally, it was time for the Thunder Tribulation.

...

However, there was a long interval between the Fire Tribulation and the Thunder Tribulation. This was the heavenly tribulation allowing the tribulation-crosser to recover magic power. In fact, Ji Ning had relied solely on the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus and his Dao-heart to withstand the Celestial Immortal Wind and Fire, consuming very little magic power.

"I wonder how many thunderbolts Master's tribulation will have." Xiaoqing said worriedly.

"I had a Six-Nine Thunder Tribulation." Immortal Diancai said anxiously, "My disciple's encounters far surpass mine, and he was even entangled by karmic fire. I'm afraid the Thunder Tribulation will be very severe."

They were all worried.

But they didn't know...

Ji Ning had actually received teachings from three True God Dao Ancestors: Patriarch Bodhi, Sanxiao Daoist, and Old Man Yuan. Among them, Old Man Yuan and Patriarch Bodhi were top-tier Dao Ancestors in the Three Realms. Although Sanxiao Daoist had not become a Dao Ancestor, as a Chaos True God, his divine ability 'Star Picking Hand' was famous, ranking among the top ten great divine abilities in the Three Realms.

With so many inheritances, even his qi-refining tribulation would not be minor. Not to mention that he also mastered heartforce and was entangled by karmic fire.

Half an hour passed.

"Rumble~~~" The calm sky suddenly produced two enormous dark clouds, each covering half the sky, plunging the world into complete darkness, with no light visible.

"What's happening?"

"Why has the sky darkened?"

The Ji clan members within Yan Mountain, as well as people from other tribes and even demons, looked up at the sky in confusion.

The sky had suddenly become pitch black. The dark clouds were so vast that they covered the entire ten-thousand-mile Yan Mountain!

"How could..." Yu Wei, Immortal Diancai, Mu Zishuo, Uncle Bai, Xiaoqing, and Qiuye looked up, their faces changing color. Yu Wei's face turned pale.

The two enormous dark clouds covering the ten-thousand-mile Yan Mountain slowly moved toward each other. Because they were so huge, they seemed to move slowly. At the same time, crack! crack! Thunderclaps began to sound, and massive lightning serpents appeared between the two clouds.

Ji Ning watched calmly.

He was not surprised at all.

Soon, a huge vortex of thunder and lightning clouds formed in the sky. Its size still covered half of Yan Mountain, showing its immense volume and terrifying contained power.

"Boom!"

A heavenly thunderbolt, like a divine sword, flew out from the vortex of thunder and lightning clouds and struck down directly.

"Block."

Ji Ning had now stood up. Hundreds of flying swords floated around him, and the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus was beneath his feet. At the same time, a huge lotus formed hundreds of feet above Ji Ning, composed of countless 'tiny snow lotuses' gathered together, forming a barrier to block the heavenly tribulation. Ji Ning preferred to use the先天灵宝, as it consumed very little magic power.

Boom~~ The first heavenly thunderbolt could not shake the power of this先天灵宝 at all.

One heavenly thunderbolt after another descended.

Soon it rose to the Four-Nine Thunder Tribulation.

Then further.

Five-Nine Thunder Tribulation, Six-Nine Thunder Tribulation...

"It's reached the Seven-Nine Thunder Tribulation." Qiuye couldn't help saying. Now Mingxin Island had a considerable collection of books, many obtained after Ji Ning killed some immortals, and Qiuye had naturally browsed through them.

"Master is about to be unable to hold on." Xiaoqing said anxiously.

It was now the sixty-first heavenly thunderbolt.

The huge lotus formed by the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus was already tottering.

"Grand Thousand Sword Formation, emerge." The black-robed Ji Ning, standing on the Nine-Leaf Snow Lotus below, pointed into the distance above. Instantly, a golden flying sword condensed in front of his chest and shot into the sky.

Boom.

The huge lotus in the sky had vanished, while layers of lotuses formed around the black-robed Ji Ning.

Once the Grand Thousand Sword Formation was deployed, containing a trace of heartforce, it easily blocked the heavenly thunderbolt.

"Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation."

Soon it reached the level of the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation, causing Immortal Diancai and the others watching to have their hearts in their throats. For a qi-refining stream to provoke the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation? Even if one had taken a Dao Ancestor as master, it shouldn't be this terrifying.

...