Chapter 130: Surviving the Heavenly Tribulation

The Mysterious Heaven Domain is situated in the region between the western reaches of the Central Plains and the ocean, serving as a natural boundary between the two. In truth, the reason the eight great super-sects of the Central Plains have left the Mysterious Heaven Domain undisturbed is not merely because it is teeming with formidable experts, but because its very existence acts as a natural barrier against incursions from the maritime clans of the sea. For many years, this has provided a significant measure of convenience for the stability of the Central Plains.

Long Yun’s Jade Sword Sect is located in the far south of the Central Plains, separated by a journey of nearly a month—though, of course, this applies only to ordinary people. For Long Yun and Yan Qingqing, who excel in speed, the journey could be shortened to just ten days. The two traveled at full speed, chatting and laughing along the way, enjoying a quite pleasant journey. By the sixth day, they had already entered the western region of the Central Plains.

"We still haven't caught up with Senior Brother Xiao Leng after all this time. Could it be that he didn't choose this route?" Long Yun could not help but sigh.

Yan Qingqing offered a faint smile, though it looked somewhat forced. Her complexion was subtly pale, and she had been secretly wiping beads of sweat from her forehead several times. Long Yun, focused entirely on their rapid travel, had not noticed this.

Hearing Long Yun’s words, Yan Qingqing replied with slightly labored breath: "Brother, didn't you say this was the shortest path to the Mysterious Heaven Domain? Our speed is faster than Brother Xiao Leng's, so we will likely arrive before him. We can wait at the gates for a few days to see if we can meet him!"

Long Yun nodded without speaking.

"Ugh—" Yan Qingqing let out a muffled groan. Her delicate body trembled suddenly, and her speed dropped. She felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her meridians and could not stop a spasm.

Only then did Long Yun notice her abnormality. His expression changed instantly. He pulled Yan Qingqing into his arms and, observing her increasingly pallid face, asked with heartache: "Qingqing, what is wrong?"

He immediately descended to a patch of grass, sat down, and let her lean against him, feeling the constant tremors racking her slender body. Long Yun’s heart ached.

Yan Qingqing forced a smile and said: "Don't worry, Brother, I am fine. I can still hold on!"

Long Yun frowned. He channeled his true energy into her body, and his expression shifted violently, turning into a look of profound regret and pained remorse.

"You have been suppressing the growth of your true energy for all these days?" Long Yun understood in an instant. Yan Qingqing was not injured; rather, the true energy within her had expanded to such a degree that her meridians could no longer withstand it. Back at the Jade Sword Sect, Yan Qingqing had been only one step away from breaking through to the Innate Tribulation Transcending Realm, awaiting the descent of the heavenly tribulation to attain an immortal body.

However, just as she was about to undergo the tribulation, Long Yun had brought news of Xiao Leng and proposed that she accompany him to the Mysterious Heaven Domain, leading her to secretly suppress her true energy. Throughout their journey, despite her efforts not to absorb external spiritual energy, the energy within her had continued to grow through the constant depletion and replenishment caused by their travel. Now, she had reached the breaking point. For the past two days, she had been barely enduring the stabbing pain in her meridians, refusing to let Long Yun delay their journey on her account. Today, she could no longer hold on.

"You foolish girl! Why are you so reckless? If something were to happen to you, how could I ever forgive myself?" Long Yun could not help but stroke her head, chiding her softly with a pained heart.

A flush of color returned to Yan Qingqing’s pale, pretty face. She breathed heavily for a moment and said with a touch of grievance: "I’m sorry, Brother, I still made you delay your journey!"

"Enough, say no more!" Long Yun suddenly stated: "I will guide your true energy. You must release the suppression and undergo the tribulation immediately, otherwise your meridians will surely rupture, and your life will be at stake!"

Yan Qingqing gritted her teeth and nodded. Matters had reached this point, and there was no choice but to gamble.

The tribulation is arguably the greatest ordeal for an expert of the Innate Realm. The path of cultivation is, by nature, an act of defiance against the heavens. Upon reaching the Tribulation Transcending Realm, one can commune with the power of heaven and earth, alerting the Heavenly Dao to the existence of the defiant one. It will inevitably unleash punishment—what people call the heavenly tribulation. Once the tribulation is survived, the practitioner’s cultivation will undergo a qualitative leap, and their physical body will be cleansed and remolded by the ordeal.

However, as a heavenly tribulation, it means the practitioner must endure the supreme punishment of the Heavenly Dao. It is a path one must walk, yet it is a trial of nine deaths for every one life. While the benefits following a successful tribulation are immense, those who can survive it are rare; almost fewer than two out of ten succeed.

Because Yan Qingqing had been suppressing her energy, her physical body had suffered from the strain of the past few days. Attempting the tribulation in such a state would likely prove counterproductive. Yet, Long Yun had no other choice; if she continued to suppress it, the surging, torrential energy within her would likely cause her meridians to burst, resulting in death.

"Qingqing, gather your essence and unify your spirit. Focus all your efforts on controlling the energy to commune with the heavens. I will guard you!" Long Yun’s voice became solemn. His hands moved like fluttering flowers, striking her shoulders.

Yan Qingqing’s body shuddered violently. As she released the suppression, the vast true energy surged forth like a wild horse losing its reins. Her entire being was enveloped in a dazzling flame. Long Yun, standing nearest to her, was staggered backward by the sheer magnitude of the aura; only by quickly activating his protective true energy was he able to avoid serious injury.

Yan Qingqing sat cross-legged on the ground, her form completely encased in the Nine-Turn Heavenly Fire. The fire grew increasingly intense, eventually coalescing into a giant fire phoenix that hovered above her head.

"Chirp—" The fire phoenix let out a sharp, piercing cry toward the heavens. Immediately, a massive rift was visible to the naked eye as it tore open the sky above.

It was as if the boundless firmament had been ripped apart by the power of the Heavenly Dao. Terrifying energy poured forth from the rift, forming a dense, ominous cloud that obscured half the sky, casting a boundless, oppressive pressure downward.

Long Yun frowned. What a formidable tribulation!

From the churning dark clouds, waves of soul-shaking, peerless pressure descended continuously. Fortunately, Long Yun employed his sword intent to shield his consciousness, preventing himself from being overwhelmed by that power. Yan Qingqing, however, seemed entirely unaware of the clouds pressing down upon her. Her slender, graceful fingers continuously wove one seal after another, and her peerless features gradually revealed themselves amidst the flames.

"Whoosh—" The dark clouds began to rotate violently, forming a massive whirlpool in the sky. Bolts of lightning, thick as a human arm, flickered within the clouds.

The terrifying power instilled a sense of inevitable doom. Long Yun’s brows furrowed deeply, his heart filled with such overwhelming worry that he dared not even breathe. Under this tribulation, Yan Qingqing’s delicate figure appeared incredibly small. Long Yun clenched his teeth; no matter what happened, if she were in danger, he would cast all caution aside and intervene.

"Boom—" Amidst his thoughts, a bolt of lightning, thick as a water barrel, erupted from the clouds and struck viciously toward Yan Qingqing below!

The moment the bolt escaped the clouds, it grew even thicker. Its terrifying aura caused the very space to twist violently, and fissures in space appeared out of thin air.

"Break!" Yan Qingqing suddenly opened her beautiful eyes, a streak of cold, murderous intent flashing within them. She pushed her hands forward, and the fire phoenix above her head, imbued with an unstoppable momentum, flew head-on toward the massive bolt of lightning!

In that instant, Long Yun’s heart skipped a beat, for at this moment, whether in her aura or the expression on her face, Yan Qingqing was identical to Yan Ruoqing. He even had the illusion that it was Yan Ruoqing standing before him.

"Boom—" The fire phoenix flapped its wings and soared, gaining speed until it flew a hundred yards into the air, by which point it had transformed into a massive fireball.

It collided violently with the bolt of lightning!

Disordered currents of energy sprayed outward, and countless rays of light swept across the surroundings. Under the impact of the lightning, the fireball exploded with a thunderous roar.

At the same time, Long Yun’s expression changed abruptly, for he sensed five powerful auras rapidly approaching their location.