Chapter 552: The Tribulation of the Primordial Spirit

Peng Huang was rushing through the vast river of time and space, eager to return to his home, the Three-Bay River System.

"Almost at the Three-Bay River System," Peng Huang thought. Having become a Three-Tribulation Realm expert and having cultivated for over a century in the depths of a chaotic hole, Peng Huang's strength had increased. His return journey from the Wugu River Domain was much faster, and he was nearing the Three-Bay River System within a year.

"All this back and forth was pointless," Peng Huang lamented, feeling quite resentful. Years of careful planning and painstaking effort had all come to nothing.

"Meng Chuan, indeed."

"He is cunning. I thought he was at most a newly ascended Imperial Lord, but who would have thought he had remained at the Venerable level all this time?" Peng Huang mused internally. The moment Meng Chuan's attack could pass through the 'Demon Saint Passage' to the Demon Realm, Peng Huang realized that Meng Chuan had never broken through past the Venerable level. "Yet, he could unleash Tribulation Realm level power, clearly indicating an extremely high mastery of techniques, probably even higher than mine."

"As soon as the war was won, he stopped hiding."

"A little over a month after the victory, my karmic sensing of him became very blurry; I could only vaguely perceive his direction. He must have become a Tribulation Realm expert," Peng Huang speculated. He understood that a month and a bit, under the chaotic hole's dozens of times acceleration, amounted to several years. With abundant extraterrestrial primal crystals, one could indeed advance all the way to the Tribulation Realm. "Half a year after the war was won, I couldn't even sense his karmic direction anymore. I could only confirm he was alive; everything else was imperceptible."

"Even if he possesses a treasure that blurs karma, his life level should be no less than mine. Has he become a Three-Tribulation Realm expert?" Peng Huang conjectured.

The more he thought about it, the more monstrous it seemed.

The higher one's life level, the harder it is to perceive their karma. For instance, a Three-Tribulation Realm mighty figure cannot clearly sense the karma of a Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure. And a Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure, when facing a legendary Seven-Tribulation Realm mighty figure, cannot sense them at all. Of course, certain 'exotic treasures' offer some assistance, but their effect diminishes as the realm of the practitioner increases.

Peng Huang didn't know that a little over a month after the victory, Meng Chuan became an eighth-level Primordial Spirit, which was why Peng Huang's karmic sensing of him became very blurry. Half a year after the victory, Meng Chuan became a Primordial Imperial Lord! This status is equivalent to that of an 'adult' pure-blooded dragon or phoenix, possessing a lifespan of 100,000 years, and a life level comparable to that of a 'Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure.' This was why Peng Huang could no longer sense him at all.

"Primordial Spirit breakthroughs cannot be suppressed."

"Those who can break through quickly in a short time must be from the Physical Body Tribulation Realm lineage."

"Given his realm, and with some time, he might even become a Four-Tribulation Realm mighty figure of the physical body lineage." Peng Huang felt immense pressure. They were all Tribulation Realm mighty figures of the Three-Bay River System. A single river system only had dozens of Tribulation Realm mighty figures! They would certainly interact in the future. Given their enmity, Meng Chuan would surely not let him off.

"How did he improve so quickly?" Peng Huang muttered to himself. "Did he create a formidable ultimate technique?"

Creating powerful ultimate techniques can lead to rapid advancement. Peng Huang had relied on his bloodline to quickly ascend to the Three-Tribulation Realm in a short period. Meng Chuan's self-created 'Cloud Mist Dragon-Snake Movement Technique,' once perfected to the Heaven and Earth Realm, offered a mastery level comparable to the Three-Tribulation Realm. As long as his physical body was complete, he could quickly reach the Three-Tribulation Realm using this ultimate technique.

A typical Imperial Lord's ultimate technique usually allows one to ascend directly to the Three-Tribulation Realm. And beyond that are Imperial Lord-level ultimate techniques, which allow for a direct ascent to the Five-Tribulation Realm. Those who create such techniques are legendary beings. Such unparalleled prodigies are far rarer than even the Six-Tribulation Realm mighty figures in the River of Time and Space.

"The Three-Bay River System, I've arrived," Peng Huang thought with anticipation. "Time to meet the Palace Lord."

The Three-Bay River System was also a well-established river system, currently home to a Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure: the Snow Jade Palace Lord. The Snow Jade Palace Lord was quite aloof, so ordinary cultivators dared not disturb her place of cultivation.

*Whoosh.* Peng Huang, however, flew directly to this location.

It was a majestic snow mountain suspended in the extraterrestrial void, over a hundred thousand *li* high. Beside it, a lunar star cast a cold light. This 'snow mountain' was in fact a Six-Tribulation Realm secret treasure. Even another Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure would be unwilling to enter this snow mountain and battle the Snow Jade Palace Lord. At the peak of the snow mountain lay a continuous complex of palaces seemingly cast from jade, which was the 'sacred land' of the entire Three-Bay River System—the Snow Jade Palace.

*Whoosh.* Peng Huang landed on the plaza in front of the Snow Jade Palace. On the plaza, a green toad sat coiled like a statue. At that moment, the green toad opened its eyes, looked at Peng Huang, and asked with some surprise, "Golden Roc, you've become a Tribulation Realm expert?"

"Yes," Peng Huang nodded.

"Which Tribulation Realm?" the green toad inquired.

"Three-Tribulation Realm," Peng Huang replied without concealment.

"Indeed, with your bloodline, you can quickly reach the Three-Tribulation Realm," the green toad chuckled. "The Palace Lord will be leaving the Three-Bay River System in a few days to handle a major matter. Since you've reached the Three-Tribulation Realm... you can go with her."

"A major matter?" Peng Huang was surprised.

"Golden Roc, enter." A cold, clear voice came from deep within the palace complex.

"Yes," Peng Huang replied with utmost respect. When he reached the Imperial Lord Consummation stage, his bloodline had allowed him to become a disciple of the Snow Jade Palace. Weaker Tribulation Realm experts, especially in the beginning, are more suited to following powerful ones. Some even lack the qualifications to follow.

After Peng Huang reached Imperial Lord Consummation, he was destined to become a Three-Tribulation Realm mighty figure, and even among Three-Tribulation Realm experts, he was considered exceptionally strong due to his bloodline... enough for a Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure to take him as a follower. This was because a Four-Tribulation Realm expert could roam freely and independently, no longer needing a Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure for protection. Peng Huang followed willingly. He was well aware that after quickly reaching the Three-Tribulation Realm, further advancement would become incredibly difficult. He needed the Snow Jade Palace Lord as his guide.

In Cangyuan Realm, at Dongtian Pavilion.

Meng Chuan was reading a book, then slightly looked up and gazed into the distance.

"Peng Huang has returned to the Three-Bay River System, and judging by my karmic sensing, his location... should be in the vicinity of 'Snow Jade Palace'," Meng Chuan murmured, slightly frowning. Within the same river system, his sensing became clearer. Peng Huang couldn't clearly sense his karma, but Meng Chuan, however, could clearly sense Peng Huang's.

Back on Black Dragon Star, Meng Chuan had purchased detailed intelligence on the 'Three-Bay River System' through the Eternal Tower, which included information on every Tribulation Realm expert and Imperial Lord. It noted that 'Peng Huang' was a follower of the Snow Jade Palace Lord.

"The Snow Jade Palace Lord, the only Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figure in the entire Three-Bay River System?"

"When I eventually kill Peng Huang, the Snow Jade Palace Lord, unless she's foolish, won't fight me over a mere follower," Meng Chuan thought to himself. Both being Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figures, they would also have true bodies in their respective home worlds. Without special reasons, there was no need for Five-Tribulation Realm mighty figures to fight to the death. Even if one destroyed an opponent's true body, the opponent would simply return.

"The premise is that my strength approaches that of the Snow Jade Palace Lord. Currently, I haven't reached the Five-Tribulation Realm," Meng Chuan noted, yet he remained patient. He was in a period of rapid strength growth. Turning the pages of the book in his hand, Meng Chuan felt quite at ease.

Suddenly—

Meng Chuan's hand, holding the book, trembled slightly. He remained seated, staring at the page for about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea.

"The first Primordial Spirit Tribulation has passed."

Meng Chuan breathed a sigh of relief before turning to the next page. The Primordial Spirit Tribulation appears and disappears without a trace, directly descending upon the 'Primordial Spirit.' Outwardly, there is little commotion. But if one endures it, the Primordial Spirit undergoes a transformation, and its power becomes purer. If one cannot endure it, even the most powerful Primordial Spirit can only barely arrange its affairs before utterly disintegrating and perishing.

Meng Chuan, however, was quite confident. His cultivation of the mind, judging by the purity of his 'Primordial Spirit power,' should be extremely high. In terms of his Primordial Spirit world, both 'Endless Blade' and 'Blade of Annihilation' had integrated into it, transforming it. 'Endless Blade,' in particular, represented a perfect ultimate technique, so the first Primordial Spirit Tribulation was naturally easy.