Chapter 302: Heavenly Tribulation

The taciturn Daoist was scorched all over; he had just barely escaped becoming ashes! Purple lightning bolts, each as thick as a water vat, stirred the nine heavens, falling from the sky. The thunderous light was terrifying, scorching the earth and rocks.

The taciturn Daoist's expression changed dramatically. This was the Purple Firmament lightning, specifically designed to counter him. It could destroy his Nine Tribulations physique; if his celestial cultivation was not complete, he would certainly be unable to withstand it.

The terrifying lightning made him like a tender branch in a storm, liable to break at any moment. His Daoist robe had turned to ashes, and his body was covered in dreadful burn marks.

"It's you again, you wretched dog! Your nose is truly sharp. I haven't settled the score with you from last time!" the taciturn Daoist shouted. He and Duan De were one and the same; there was no difference.

"Ox-nosed Daoist, I regret not taking you as my pet last time. Today, I've come specifically to make you my human pet!" the big black dog roared. It controlled the lightning, shaking heaven and earth, the thunderous light terrifying.

A large dog declared it would take him as a human pet, a declaration that left Daoist Duan, who never suffered a loss, utterly humiliated. His fingers trembled with rage. He wanted to go over, skin it alive, immediately stew a pot of black dog meat, and swallow it all, soup and meat included.

"You dog demon, this humble Daoist will surely suppress you!"

"Human pet, do not disrespect this Emperor, or I'll train you thoroughly later." The big black dog was as arrogant as a cunning wolf.

"Boundless... Heavenly Venerate!" Duan De chanted his Daoist title in a low voice, and his body emitted bursts of precious light.

"It's useless. I know you cultivate the Heavenly Tribulation Transcendence Art. All of this has been arranged for you."

The big black dog was extremely cunning.

The mountain peak was covered in Daoist patterns, completely sealed off. It controlled the Purple Firmament lightning, sending down thunderbolts one after another, transforming the place into a sea of lightning.

Although Duan De's cultivation was profound, he could not break out of this restricted area. He was trapped on the mountain, with Purple Firmament lightning bolts and muffled thunderclaps striking him one after another, making him tremble all over, severely scorched, and his form on the verge of collapsing.

From afar, many cultivators could not clearly see what was happening; they could only see lightning shaking the nine heavens.

The Daoist patterns inscribed by the Black Emperor were very mysterious. They isolated the mountain peak from the outside world; only the lightning descending from the sky could be seen.

"Dog demon, we have no old grievances or recent grudges. Why are you doing this? What exactly do you want?"

The taciturn Daoist demanded.

"Hand over all your sources, and I'll take you as my human pet," the big black dog replied, holding its bald tail high.

"Damn it!" The taciturn Daoist Duan De was furious. He said, "Boundless Heavenly Venerate! You dog are too malicious! Today, this humble Daoist will risk damaging his own cultivation to subdue you, you vile creature!"

Beside them, Ye Fan chuckled. A light flashed in his hand. He had already prepared the Profound Jade Platform; this operation was about to reach a successful conclusion.

Tu Fei cheered him on from the side, saying, "That dog, if you can truly take him as a human pet, I'll genuinely admire you!"

"Woof!" *Boom!* A purple lightning bolt struck, nearly hitting Tu Fei's head. He quickly shut his mouth, not daring to say anything more. This restricted area was the big black dog's domain.

"Nine Heavens and Nine Earths... forge the immortal body!" the taciturn Daoist Duan De softly chanted.

However, his voice was quickly interrupted. The big black dog roared directly, "Heavenly Tribulation!"

Ten thousand zhang of lightning descended from the sky. All the purple light converged. Purple mist blurred the view, and the light was dazzling. This was a world of lightning; everywhere was Purple Firmament lightning, everywhere was a thunderstorm. Every inch of space was filled with terrifying radiance, capable of destroying everything.

"Among the Nine Tribulations Daoist patterns—the Heavenly Tribulation?" the taciturn Daoist exclaimed in shock.

"Boom!"

This was no longer just a single lightning bolt; it could be called a sea of lightning. Endless purple light gathered, pressing down, striking the unscrupulous Daoist, causing his body to crack and on the verge of shattering.

Although he was formed by divine power and not a flesh-and-blood body, he still felt a piercing, bone-chilling pain. He cried out, "You actually possess such ancient techniques?"

"This Emperor knows many more things! Quickly, become my human pet!" the big black dog shouted.

"Damn it, Boundless Heavenly Venerate!" Duan De's nose was almost twisted crooked with anger, but the situation was overpowering; he truly had no recourse.

"Boom!"

Endless lightning struck down, making Duan De's body indistinct. His divine power dissipated considerably, and he nearly vanished.

"Human pet, surrender! I shall grant you supreme glory!" The big black dog was extremely excited, just like Duan De who, not long ago, his purple robe fluttering, cursed all the Holy Lands.

"Boundless motherf***ing Heavenly Venerate! You wretched dog, don't get so cocky!" Duan De gritted his teeth and held on, trying to find a way to break free.

"Boom!"

The sea of lightning pressed down. Duan De was forced into the soil, his mouth full of sand.

"Human pet, tremble! Your master is enraged, and his wrath will stir the nine heavens!" The big black dog was incredibly solemn and sacred, surpassing Duan De's earlier display.

Tu Fei was dumbfounded. He said, "Damn it! Has this wretched dog also gotten into character? Does it also want to appear superior and dominate the world, not just Duan De?"

"Boom!"

A thousand lightning bolts intertwined and descended. It was a blinding sight, striking Duan De until his eyes rolled back.

"Human pet, repent! Kneel before me, and this Emperor shall forgive your sins!" The big black dog's voice grew louder and more arrogant. Its massive head was held high, as if it were an inviolable deity.

Ye Fan was also speechless. This wretched dog was truly immersed in its role. It thought of itself as a god, being even more "Duan De-like" than Duan De himself had been just moments ago.

"Human pet, turn from your misguided path! This Emperor will spare no effort, walk with you, and guide you back to my side!" The big black dog was majestic, completely adopting a condescending posture, looking solemn and sacred.

"Boom!"

Ten thousand layers of lightning shattered Duan De's arms. Although divine power could reassemble them, it still made him curse repeatedly in pain.

"Damn it!" The taciturn Daoist Duan De's face turned completely green with rage. He had never suffered such a great loss: to be looked down upon by a dog with its head held high, clamoring to take him as a human pet. This made him feel as if he was about to vomit blood.

"Wretched dog, what do you want to finally stop?" Duan De was starting to lose his endurance. The divine being born within his Dao Palace must not suffer any mishap, as he still needed this avatar to save his true body.

"Black Emperor, make him hand over the sources first!" Ye Fan shouted. This wretched dog was just enjoying itself and almost forgot about the main business.

"Human pet, prostrate yourself in worship! This Emperor will pardon your sins. Prostrate yourself at my feet, and I shall guide your path forward!" The big black dog was getting more and more engrossed. *Boom!* Lightning descended, striking Duan De who dodged and jumped. "Damn it, will this ever end?!" Duan De trembled with rage.

"Quickly hand over all the sources, and I'll make it stop," Ye Fan transmitted his voice through the lightning.

"You're all so inhumane! This is what this humble Daoist obtained by risking life and limb! How can you do this?" Duan De cried out unwillingly.

"Daoist, haven't you always acted this way yourself?" Ye Fan taunted.

"This humble Daoist always leaves a margin for error, but you..." The taciturn Daoist Duan De was disheveled and in a sorry state.

"Human pet, bow your head! This Emperor forgives your ignorance!" The Black Emperor, acting like a charlatan, sent down Purple Firmament lightning, interrupting his words.

"Human pet, pray! This Emperor... Human pet, kowtow! This Emperor..."

The big black dog was indeed addicted. Its majestic voice continued incessantly, and the lightning also struck relentlessly, infuriating Duan De to the point of wanting to vomit blood.

"Wretched dog, collect the sources quickly!" Ye Fan really couldn't bear to watch anymore. This fellow was too tormenting.

"Human pet, from now on, submit to this Emperor! I shall be with you, glory shall be with you, and I shall guide you towards the path of immortal longevity! My human pet, prostrate yourself!" The big black dog finally finished its last lengthy speech.

It was truly tormenting; even Ye Fan and Tu Fei couldn't stand it, let alone the unlucky Duan De.

Duan De, struck by lightning, was smoking all over. He was barely breathing, with only half of his body remaining, lying motionless like a dead dog, but he was still muttering curses.

"Wretched dog—! Damn it—! Black dog meat—! I'll stew you alive—!"

"Human pet, do you submit or not?" The Black Emperor demanded, holding its head high.

"Here are your sources, quickly open this restriction!" The taciturn Daoist shook his hand, and a large pile of multicolored sources appeared on the ground.

Ye Fan did not step forward. He said, "This is only ten thousand jin of sources, far from enough."

"One shouldn't be too greedy," Duan De said in a deep voice.

"Then there's nothing to discuss. Black Emperor, continue with the lightning," Ye Fan sneered.

"Do you really think you can kill me?" The taciturn Daoist's body suddenly became indistinct. He actually disintegrated on the spot, turning into nothingness.

"The Heavenly Tribulation Transcendence Art makes the divine being immortal and omnipresent, making it very difficult to destroy." The big black dog's eyes gleamed. It said, "But running into this Emperor, he's unlucky. Does he really think disintegrating will allow him to escape this tribulation?"

"Boom!"

Lightning intertwined, filling every inch of space. Electric light was like a sea, engulfing the mountain peak.

"These are the Nine Tribulations Daoist patterns. No matter what you transform into, as long as you're alive, you'll have to undergo the tribulation!"

"You..." Duan De screamed, his voice coming from the void.

"Hand over the sources. We don't want to waste any more words. If you don't produce sixty thousand jin of sources, today you'll just turn into ashes," Tu Fei shouted.

"My human pet, if you continue to be so unappreciative, don't blame this Emperor for being merciless," the big black dog threatened.

"Alright, you are ruthless. I'll give you all the sources I have on me." Duan De was anxious; he feared his true body outside would be destroyed.

Shimmering crystals filled the sky. Many source stones rained down, falling to the ground. The mountaintop became dazzling, a riot of colors, making one dizzy.

So many sources piled together, spiritual energy permeated the air, making one feel lost. Such glittering things were truly enchanting to the mind.

"Black Emperor, surround him! I'll collect the sources." Ye Fan did not want to be ambushed by Duan De.

Everything went smoothly. Ye Fan waved his large sleeve, collecting all the sources on the ground. There were over fifty thousand jin, a massive fortune.

If he added the twenty-five thousand jin he already had, and that particle of divine source, he could almost break through to the Fourth Heaven of the Dao Palace.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, heaven and earth shook. The mountaintop crumbled, and all the Daoist patterns cracked. Ten thousand zhang of lightning vanished.

"What's going on?" Tu Fei was greatly astonished.

"Damn it, a ruthless person has destroyed everything with absolute power!" The big black dog was terrified.

Without a word, Ye Fan summoned the Profound Jade Platform and threw it onto the ground. He and Tu Fei jumped onto it. Then he put the Black Emperor into his sleeve to avoid exposure.

"Boom!"

At the same time, a second violent tremor came. All the Daoist patterns shattered, and heaven and earth returned to clarity. Everything was revealed.

What appeared was Duan De's true body in a miserable state, covered in blood and disheveled. He had fled here, attracting many cultivators to act together, collectively blasting open the mountain.

"Thud!"

In the sky, the taciturn Daoist, scorched all over by the final surge of Purple Firmament lightning, fell to the ground.

Duan De and the taciturn Daoist felt a connection in their hearts. They immediately understood everything, and he was so furious he almost coughed up his heart.

"Damn it, you all..." He pointed at the two standing on the Profound Jade Platform. His whole body was convulsing. He had worked hard for nothing, nearly killed, only for all his sources to be plundered by others.

Many cultivators did not understand what had happened. Just now, when the purple-robed youth "Ye Fan" was being chased and spitting blood, he wasn't this agitated. What was happening now?

"Something's wrong," From a distance, Ji Haoyue's expression changed. He was a born Divine King Physique and had a strange connection with the Saint Body, sensing something.

Ye Fan turned his back to the crowd and waved his hand. It was a gesture that could rival Duan De's earlier flamboyant display, but the outcome was worlds apart.

At the last moment, Duan De fell from heaven to hell, while Ye Fan successfully began to traverse the void.

At this moment, Duan De's intestines convulsed with rage. His stomach, liver, lungs, teeth... his entire body ached.

A flash of light, and array patterns gleamed. Ye Fan and Tu Fei's figures instantly vanished into the open void.

"Stop him! Don't let them traverse the void!" Ji Haoyue shouted loudly.

For some reason, Xia Jiuyou had already sprung into action before Ji Haoyue's shout. Nine streams of dragon Qi under his feet transformed into colorful silken ribbons, streaking across the sky and flying forward.