Chapter 306: Heavenly Tribulation
The wooden-faced Daoist was charred black all over, having nearly turned to ashes moments ago!
Each bolt of purple lightning was as thick as a water vat, stirring the nine heavens as it crashed down from the sky. The thunderous radiance was terrifying, scorching the earth and rocks until they were charred.
The wooden-faced Daoist’s expression changed drastically. This was Purple Firmament Lightning, specifically targeting him. It could break his Nine Tribulations Body. Unless his divine art had reached perfection, there was no way to withstand it.
The lightning was horrifying. He was like a tender branch in a storm, on the verge of snapping at any moment. His Daoist robe had turned to ashes, and his body was covered in terrible burn marks.
“It’s you again, you dead dog! Your nose is really sharp. I haven’t settled the score from last time yet!” the wooden-faced Daoist shouted. He was one with Duan De, no different from him.
“Stubborn Daoist, I regret not taking you last time. Today, I’ve come specially to make you my human pet!” the big black dog bellowed. It controlled the lightning, shaking heaven and earth with terrifying radiance.
A big dog boasting about making him a human pet—how could Daoist Duan, who never suffered losses, bear this? He was so angry his fingers trembled, wanting to go over and skin the dog alive, then stew a pot of black dog meat, swallowing it all down, meat and broth.
“You dog demon, I must refine you!”
“Human pet, don’t be disrespectful to this emperor. Be careful, or I’ll train you slowly later.” The big black dog was as arrogant as a wolf with a bushy tail.
“Unscrupulous… Heavenly Venerable!” Duan De chanted his title softly, his body emitting waves of precious light.
“It’s useless. I know you’ve cultivated the Tribulation-Transcending Divine Art. All of this was arranged for you.” The big black dog laughed slyly.
On the mountain peak, Dao patterns covered everywhere, completely sealing it off. It controlled the Purple Firmament Lightning, bolt after bolt of thunder, turning the place into a sea of lightning.
Although Duan De’s cultivation was profound, he couldn’t break out of this forbidden zone. Trapped on the mountain, one bolt of Purple Firmament Lightning after another struck him, making him tremble all over, charred and nearly destroyed.
In the distance, many cultivators couldn’t see what was happening here, only the thunder shaking the nine heavens.
The Dao patterns Black Emperor had carved were very mysterious, isolating the mountain peak from the outside world. Only the lightning falling from the sky could be seen.
“Dog demon, we have no past grievances or recent enmity. Why are you doing this? What do you want?” the wooden-faced Daoist demanded.
“Hand over all the Source, and I’ll take you as my human pet.” The big black dog held its bald tail high as it replied.
“Damn it!” The wooden-faced Daoist Duan De was furious. “Boundless Heavenly Venerable, you dog thing is too malicious! Today, I’ll sacrifice my cultivation if I must, just to take you down, you beast!”
Beside him, Ye Fan chuckled, light flashing in his hand. He had already prepared the Dark Jade Platform, and this operation was about to be completed successfully.
Tu Fei chimed in from the side, “That dog, if you can really make him your human pet, then I’ll truly admire you.”
“Woof!”
“Boom!”
A bolt of purple lightning struck, nearly landing on Tu Fei’s head. He quickly shut up, not daring to say anything more. In this forbidden zone, the big black dog ruled.
“Nine heavens and nine earths… refine the indestructible body!” the wooden-faced Daoist Duan De chanted softly.
But his voice was quickly cut off as the big black dog roared directly, “Heavenly Tribulation!”
Ten thousand zhang of lightning fell from the sky, all the purple light merging together. Purple mist filled the air, radiance dazzling—this was a world of lightning!
Everywhere was Purple Firmament Lightning, everywhere was thunder. Every inch of space was filled with terrifying light, enough to destroy everything.
“The Heavenly Tribulation among the Nine Tribulations Dao Patterns?!” the wooden-faced Daoist exclaimed in shock.
“Boom!”
This was no longer a single bolt of lightning; it could truly be called a sea of lightning. Endless purple light gathered together, pressing down, striking the unscrupulous Daoist until his body cracked, about to shatter.
Although he was formed from divine power, not flesh and blood, he still felt a piercing pain. He cried out, “You actually mastered this ancient method?!”
“This emperor knows much more. Hurry up and become my human pet!” the big black dog shouted.
“Damn it, unscrupulous Heavenly Venerable!” Duan De was so angry his nose was twisted, but the situation was stronger than him, and he was truly helpless.
“Boom!”
Endless lightning crashed down, striking Duan De’s body until it grew faint, his divine power dissipating significantly, nearly destroying his form.
“Human pet, surrender! I will grant you supreme glory!” The big black dog was extremely impassioned, just like Duan De not long ago, who had cursed all the Holy Lands in his purple robe.
“Unscrupulous… damn Heavenly Venerable, dead dog, don’t get too cocky!” Duan De gritted his teeth and persisted, trying to find a way to break free.
“Boom!”
The sea of lightning pressed down, driving Duan De into the soil, his mouth full of sand.
“Human pet, tremble! Your master is angry, and his wrath will shake the nine heavens!” The big black dog was solemn and sacred, surpassing Duan De from earlier.
Tu Fei was dumbfounded. “Damn, is this dead dog getting into character too? Not content with Duan De’s preening before others, does it also want to look down on the world?”
“Boom!”
A thousand bolts of lightning interwove, falling down in a dazzling display, striking Duan De until he rolled his eyes.
“Human pet, repent! Kneel before me, and this emperor will forgive your crimes!” The big black dog grew more and more exalted, its large head held high, like an inviolable deity.
Ye Fan was speechless too. This dead dog was really getting into the act, treating itself like a god, even more Duan De than Duan De himself.
“Human pet, return from your lost path! This emperor is omnipresent, walking with you, guiding you back to my seat!” The big black dog was majestic, completely looking down, solemn and dignified.
“Boom!”
Ten thousand bolts of lightning shattered Duan De’s arms. Although his divine power could reform them, it still made him curse in pain.
“Damn it!” The wooden-faced Daoist Duan De’s face turned completely green. He had never suffered such a great loss, being looked down upon by a dog holding its head high, boasting about making him a human pet. It made him feel like vomiting blood.
“Dead dog, what do you want to make this stop?” Duan De couldn’t hold on any longer. This deity born from the Dao Palace must not be lost, because he still needed this incarnation to save his main body.
“Black Emperor, make him hand over the Source first!” Ye Fan shouted. This dead dog was just enjoying itself too much, almost forgetting the real business.
“Human pet, worship! This emperor forgives your crimes. Prostrate at my feet, and I will guide your path forward!” The big black dog was getting more and more into it.
“Boom!”
Lightning fell, making Duan De jump and dodge.
“Damn it, is there no end?!” Duan De trembled with rage.
“Hand over all the Source quickly, and I’ll make it stop.” Ye Fan transmitted his voice through the lightning.
“You have no humanity! This is what I fought for, risking life and death! How can you do this?!” Duan De cried out unwillingly.
“Daoist, isn’t this how you usually act?” Ye Fan taunted.
“I always leave some leeway, but you…” The wooden-faced Daoist Duan De was disheveled and miserable.
“Human pet, bow your head! This emperor forgives your ignorance!” Black Emperor, in the pose of a divine prophet, sent down Purple Firmament Lightning, cutting off his words.
“Human pet, pray! This emperor…”
“Human pet, kowtow! This emperor…”
The big black dog was truly addicted, its majestic voice continuous, lightning also wildly striking, making Duan De want to vomit blood.
“Dead dog, collect the Source quickly!” Ye Fan couldn’t stand it anymore. This guy was torturing people too much.
“Human pet, from now on, convert to this emperor. I will be with you, glory will be with you, and I will guide you toward the immortal path of longevity. My human pet, kneel down!” The big black dog finally finished its last words.
It was truly tormenting. Even Ye Fan and Tu Fei couldn’t stand it, let alone the unfortunate Duan De.
Duan De was struck by lightning until white smoke rose from his body. He had less breath in than out, with only half his body left, lying there motionless like a dead dog, but still cursing under his breath.
“Dead dog… damn it… black dog meat… I’ll stew you alive…”
“Human pet, do you submit or not?” Black Emperor held its head high and demanded.
“I’ll give you the Source. Open this place’s restrictions quickly.” The wooden-faced Daoist flicked his hand, and a large pile of Source, colorful and radiant, appeared on the ground.
Ye Fan didn’t step forward. “That’s only about ten thousand jin of Source. Far from enough.”
“Don’t be too greedy!” Duan De said in a deep voice.
“Then there’s no room for negotiation. Black Emperor, continue with the lightning.” Ye Fan sneered coldly.
“Do you really think you can kill me?” The wooden-faced Daoist’s body suddenly grew faint. He disintegrated on the spot, turning into nothingness.
“The Tribulation-Transcending Divine Art—the deity is immortal, omnipresent, hard to destroy.” The big black dog’s eyes gleamed. “But running into this emperor is his bad luck. Does he really think disintegrating can escape this tribulation?”
“Boom!”
Lightning interwove, filling every inch of space. The electric light was like a sea, drowning the mountain peak.
“This is the Nine Tribulations Dao Pattern. No matter what you turn into, as long as you’re alive, you have to undergo the tribulation!”
“You…” Duan De screamed, his voice coming from the void.
“Hand over the Source. We don’t want to waste words. If you don’t produce sixty thousand jin of Source, you’ll turn to ashes today,” Tu Fei shouted.
“My human pet, if you don’t know what’s good for you, don’t blame this emperor for being ruthless,” the big black dog threatened.
“Fine, you’re ruthless enough. I’ll give you all the Source on me.” Duan De was anxious, afraid that his main body outside would be destroyed.
The sky was filled with sparkling light as numerous Source blocks fell from above, landing on the mountain peak. It was a dazzling sight, colorful and blinding.
So much Source piled together, its spiritual energy dense, making one feel lost. These shiny things were truly captivating.
“Black Emperor, trap him. I’ll collect the Source!” Ye Fan didn’t want to be ambushed by Duan De.
Everything went smoothly. Ye Fan waved his large sleeve, gathering up all the Source on the ground—over fifty thousand jin. This was a massive fortune.
If he added the twenty-five thousand jin he already had, plus that grain of Divine Source, he could almost break through to the fourth level of the Dao Palace.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, heaven and earth shook. The mountain peak shattered, all the Dao patterns cracked, and the ten-thousand-zhang lightning disappeared.
“What’s happening?!” Tu Fei was shocked.
“Bad news. Some ruthless person destroyed everything with absolute force!” The big black dog’s heart raced.
Without a word, Ye Fan took out the Dark Jade Platform, threw it on the ground, and jumped onto it with Tu Fei. Then he put the Black Emperor into his sleeve to avoid exposure.
“Boom!”
At the same time, a second violent tremor came. All the Dao patterns were shattered. Heaven and earth returned to clarity, and everything was revealed.
There, Duan De’s true main body was in a miserable state, covered in blood, disheveled. He had escaped here and rallied many cultivators to attack together, breaking open the mountain.
“Plop!”
In the sky, the wooden-faced Daoist, caught in the final surge of Purple Firmament Lightning, was charred all over and fell down.
Duan De and the wooden-faced Daoist sensed each other and immediately understood everything. They were so angry they nearly coughed up their hearts.
“Damn it, you…” He pointed at the two standing on the Dark Jade Platform, his whole body convulsing. He had worked so hard, nearly been killed, and now all his Source had been looted.
Many cultivators didn’t understand what had happened. Earlier, the purple-robed youth “Ye Fan” had been chased by them until he spat blood, but he hadn’t been this agitated. What was going on now?
“No!” In the distance, Ji Haoyue’s expression changed. He was a natural Divine King Physique, with a strange connection to the Sacred Body, and he sensed something.
Ye Fan turned his back to the crowd and waved his hand, matching the flamboyant Duan De from before. But the results were vastly different.
Duan De had fallen from heaven to hell at the last moment, while Ye Fan successfully began to cross the void.
At this moment, Duan De’s intestines were cramping with anger. His stomach ached, his liver ached, his lungs ached, his teeth ached… his whole body ached.
Light flashed, the array patterns shimmered, and Ye Fan and Tu Fei’s figures vanished into the open void.
“Stop them! Don’t let them cross the void!” Ji Haoyue shouted.
Xia Jiuyou, for some reason, had already moved before Ji Haoyue shouted. Nine dragon energies beneath his feet turned into colorful ribbons that shot through the air, flying forward.