Chapter 97: The Power of the Heavenly Tribulation

“Hahaha, this feeling of unrestrained power is truly exhilarating! For years, in pursuit of the ultimate Dao of cultivation, I dared not reveal my Nascent Soul. But now that I have cast off this mask, I, Zhao Tianxun, am finally going to defy heaven!”

How wild and unrestrained was this mad laughter?

Zhao Tianxun shedding his disguise meant he would transcend all worldly attachments and use his demonic Nascent Soul cultivation to assault the limits of the Cavern Heaven realm!

Boom!

Another violent explosion of energy erupted. The demonic essence within Zhao Tianxun's Nascent Soul fully awakened and began to forcibly merge with his main body.

Yin and Yang crisscrossed through his meridians, forming a terrifying vortex of consumption that frantically consolidated the spiritual power he had accumulated over many years.

“Could it be that he truly intends to abandon his years of cultivation foundation and condense a primordial spirit using a demonic source as his base?”

“If he really does that, it means Zhao Tianxun will be completely demonized. While gaining a transcendent realm, he will also become an enemy of the entire Tianwu Prefecture, and even the entire Imperial Dynasty!”

It was important to know that the Emperor of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty was only at the peak of the Cavern Heaven realm. Once Zhao Tianxun successfully broke through to the Primordial Spirit realm, he would become a great demon lord, surpassing the Imperial Dynasty!

Undoubtedly, this time Zhao Tianxun had staked everything, putting all his chips on the line.

Success or failure, all hinged on this battle!

Xu Yang watched him with a calm expression, seemingly understanding his choice and not attempting to stop him.

It should be known that condensing a primordial spirit with the power of an evil demonic source would trigger a demonic heavenly tribulation. Surviving this tribulation was far more perilous than breaking through other Cavern Heaven realm tribulations.

Xu Yang didn't believe Zhao Tianxun could successfully break through. Even if he did overcome the tribulation and condense his primordial spirit, he wouldn't be qualified to act presumptuously in front of Xu Yang.

After all, on this continent, there were few left who could pose a threat to Xu Yang, an ancient ancestor of the Qi Refinement realm.

Crack!

In the sky, a dazzling blue-black lightning flame exploded. Terrifying lightning power rippled in all directions. Enormous ink-colored thunderclouds rolled, and hideous Yin spirits and demonic souls materialized in the air.

The wails of vengeful spirits swept across every corner of this heavenly domain. Cultivators from various factions, including the three imperial princes and other members of the Imperial Dynasty, all showed extremely grave expressions.

“The demonic tribulation of the Cavern Heaven realm truly cannot be underestimated!”

“I truly wonder what the future holds for the Tianwu Sect after today…”

Soon, the first wave of demonic tribulation power struck Zhao Tianxun's body. The lightning flame was like an engulfing entity that purifies the light of the world, gradually eroding Zhao Tianxun's humanity and infusing his limbs and bones with demonic conviction.

Horrifying apparitions of vengeful spirits intertwined and swirled, shrouding everything within several hundred meters around Zhao Tianxun in an aura of death.

Xu Yang calmly observed every detail, as if searching for the most fundamental Dao in the heavens and earth within these peculiar demonic tribulation fluctuations.

In fact, for the ten thousand years Xu Yang had been in seclusion, he had consistently pondered one question.

What was the most fundamental Dao of heaven and earth?

If there truly was a peak to the path of cultivation in this world, then what did “heaven” represent?

Born under this heaven, cultivating all paths of heaven and man, wasn't the so-called end simply the vast sky above?

If that were the case, what difference did an inch higher or an inch lower make?

In many moments, Xu Yang couldn't help but ask himself these questions. He even felt that with his nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine layers of Qi Refinement, he already possessed the capacity to hold the energy of heaven and earth, having reached the very extreme of the Heavenly Path. The next step would be to shatter heaven!

Currently, Xu Yang was only troubled by not finding the gate to shatter heaven, or rather, his power alone was not yet enough to shake the rules of heaven and earth. This was precisely the fundamental reason he could not achieve perfect cultivation.

The power of the demonic tribulation was something Xu Yang had never experienced. It was more like a mirror, bringing him insights on other levels and deeper understandings.

The vast demonic power fluctuations continued to spread!

Until the first streak of lightning, filled with demonic aura, struck down…

“No! The power of this demonic tribulation seems to be losing control. Flee!”

In the open battlefield, waves of demonic tribulation power descended randomly without warning. Cultivators began to die continuously. Such intense power meant that anyone without Cavern Heaven realm strength would surely die upon contact with the lightning flame.

“Flee!”

Boom!

The rampant demonic source aura devoured the small creatures, but all it brought was Zhao Tianxun's unrestrained laughter.

This couldn't help but make people suspect that the supposed loss of control of the demonic tribulation lightning flame was a cruel drama orchestrated by him personally.

From the shattered bodies, the vibrant life essence surged through the black aura outside Zhao Tianxun's body and into his own, healing the new physique that was beginning to recover after the lightning flame's assault.

“Hmph, I knew this kid wasn't any good! Killing fellow cultivators to aid his breakthrough, this method is truly identical to that of the Heart Butcher Cult Master. No wonder they're both great demon lords!”

Huang Tian kept chattering endlessly, but he was one of the few top experts on the field capable of blocking the lightning tribulation.

Of course, the most domineering was Xu Yang himself, who didn't even glance at the demonic flames. He strode directly skyward, approaching Zhao Tianxun's form.

“Where is Ling Qingshu? Release her, and I can wait for you to complete your breakthrough before suppressing you. Consider it a chance for you to achieve your wish.”

Xu Yang's so-called concession was naturally not because he feared this person. In other words, if Xu Yang wished, even if Zhao Tianxun resisted, he would have a hundred ways to find Ling Qingshu. He merely wanted to give this individual who had fallen into the demonic path a chance at self-redemption.

Unfortunately, Zhao Tianxun interpreted this as the cowardice of a Qi Refinement realm cultivator.

“Hahaha! Xu Yang, are you afraid? I can even sense the tremor in your heart! You're afraid of losing Ling Qingshu, afraid that I'll achieve demonic cultivation and annihilate your Tianlan Sect!!”

Xu Yang looked at Zhao Tianxun's arrogant demeanor and responded only with a helpless, wry smile.

“A true powerhouse cannot be insecure. In your eyes, I read genuine cowardice. You are so eager for quick success that you would even abandon the cultivation methods of the Tianwu Sect and fall into the demonic path, all to forcibly break through to the Primordial Spirit realm and defend your pathetic self-esteem by defeating me! Unfortunately, in my eyes, no matter how hard a mad dog tries, it will only jump over a wall; it will never amount to anything significant.”

Xu Yang's words deeply stung Zhao Tianxun, making him even more furious!

“You arrogant fool, I'll make you understand how ridiculous your logic is!!”

Just then, the formation power fluctuation in Zhao Tianxun's palm reappeared. The dazzling pure Yang energy contrasted sharply with the demonic manifestation of blood-red light surging around his body.

“I will make the disciple you care for the final stepping stone for me to break through to the Primordial Spirit realm!”