Chapter 860: Already Honest, Begging for Mercy

Jiang Fan didn't dare to hesitate.He swallowed a Rejuvenation Pill and immediately followed the two Human Nascent Soul cultivators from a distance.They weren't moving quickly.It seemed they were also wary of the heavenly tribulation that sporadically descended from the sky.

After a full three hundred miles, a curtain of lightning came into view. At the edge of his sight, streaks of pale blue-white heavenly lightning, like a torrential downpour, densely poured onto an island reef in the sea. The pale lightning illuminated the dim, cloud-shrouded sky, flickering erratically. Deafening thunderous roars, like the rumbling of heaven and earth collapsing, intertwined chaotically.

Dozens of miles away, Jiang Fan's blood and qi surged within him, and his body trembled uncontrollably. A silent fear welled up in his heart.

Bang—Suddenly, a bolt of heavenly lightning ricocheted and struck a few miles from Jiang Fan. The colossal waves it unleashed, infused with destructive lightning energy, instantly knocked Jiang Fan into the sea.

Cough, cough!He scrambled up, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Looking at the curtain of lightning in the distance, a deep fear was etched on his face."This... this is the heavenly tribulation?"He had always heard that the Nascent Soul tribulation was a near-certain death. He never had a concrete understanding of it. Now, he finally comprehended the true might of heaven and earth, and what it meant to face almost certain death! Could a Core Formation Realm martial artist truly endure this? It was too perilous!

He fixed his gaze on the island reef. He saw a figure struggling amidst the flashes of lightning as countless terrifying bolts poured down. Their clothes were completely scorched. Their body was a bloody mess. Not an inch of skin remained intact; bones were exposed through the torn flesh.

Finally, they couldn't hold on any longer. Under the assault of a heavenly lightning bolt thicker than their waist, they finally collapsed. But the lightning didn't stop. Like ravenous tigers choosing their prey, the bolts struck down in unison. Powerless to resist, they were instantly reduced to a charred humanoid figure, limbs broken, like a burnt, tattered rag doll. The heavenly lightning continued relentlessly, roaring as it pressed on, intent on pulverizing them until no trace remained.

At that moment, a sorrowful roar echoed from a distance. It was a middle-aged man exuding the aura of a Demon Emperor. Tearfully, he rushed forward, using his own body to shield the charred figure. He himself was struck by the heavenly lightning, his skin torn and scorched black all over.

Undoubtedly, that was the North Sea Demon Emperor. The one undergoing the tribulation must have been a prince who had cultivated to the peak of the Tribulation Crossing Realm and fortunately received an opportunity to break through. Although he confirmed it wasn't Sea Enchantress or Concubine Yunxia, Jiang Fan didn't feel relieved. This heavenly tribulation... it was too terrifying. Could they truly overcome it? The prince before him, had it not been for the North Sea Demon Emperor's intervention, would have been shattered to dust by the heavenly lightning. The brutality of facing near-certain death was now personified.

"Jiang Fan?"A familiar, surprised voice came from not far away. Jiang Fan snapped back to reality, scanning the surroundings, but saw no one."Here!"Hearing the voice just below his feet, Jiang Fan finally looked down.

It was a woman, approximately thirty years old with a rather pretty face, who quickly swam up from the seabed. Looking closely, he saw numerous dark figures lurking in the deep sea. It turned out many people nearby were watching the tribulation! However, they were all Sea Demon Clan members, observing from underwater. Only Jiang Fan, a human, stood out conspicuously in mid-air.

"Jiang Fan! How can it be you?""Did Sky Demon Emperor spare you?"The female sea demon swam closer, a hint of surprise on her face. It was none other than Mu Ziyu.

Jiang Fan scoffed, "What can the Sky Demon Emperor do to me?"Mu Ziyu was glad to see Jiang Fan unharmed, but hearing his boast, she couldn't help but roll her eyes."The Sky Demon Emperor just left. Do you dare to chase after him and say hello?"

The Sky Demon Emperor had been here? That fellow must have detected someone undergoing tribulation. He came to check if it was one of his mainland demon clan members, didn't he? He was truly vigilant about his own people breaking through to the Demon Emperor realm. Even if someone in the North Sea was undergoing tribulation, he'd come to confirm. Jiang Fan grew even more worried about Concubine Yunxia and Sea Enchantress's tribulations. Even with opportunities and Bodhi Pills, they might not succeed.

"Look how scared you are; you can't even respond."Mu Ziyu emerged from the water, chuckled lightly, and asked curiously, "How did you end up here?"

Jiang Fan gave a wry smile: "I was walking along, nearly struck dead by lightning. How could I not come and see what was happening?"Pfft—Mu Ziyu burst out laughing: "No way? We're so close and we're fine. You were tens of thousands of miles away, and you got struck instead. Did you make too many vows, and Heaven couldn't stand it anymore?"

Jiang Fan touched his nose. Come to think of it, it was quite uncanny. A stray bolt of heavenly lightning, without veering off course, almost hit Jiang Fan hundreds of miles away? Surely, this lightning didn't have eyes, did it? Even more coincidentally, he had just surfaced from the sea, remarking how much better it was outside, and then the heavenly lightning struck! He had a feeling he was being deliberately targeted. Recalling how he had spoken up for the Great Sun Demon Emperor just recently, his heart skipped a beat: "Good heavens. It can't be that effective, can it?" He quickly clasped his hands together: "Ancient Sage, I was wrong. The Great Sun Demon Emperor's title is excellent, absolutely excellent! I've been honest, please let me off."

He now understood what "unfathomable heavenly might" meant. This was truly terrifying. Mu Ziyu watched Jiang Fan's praying gestures with a strange look, muttering: "How peculiar. Well, as long as you're safe, that's good. I have to go now; I'm heading back to the Imperial Palace. The Crown Prince failed in his attempt to reach the Demon Emperor realm, and his fate is uncertain. It's likely to cause great turmoil. Take care, and leave the North Sea soon. Lately, there have been unidentified Nascent Soul cultivators everywhere. It's not advisable to stay out alone for too long."

She was about to dive back into the sea when Jiang Fan stopped her."Wait.""Coincidentally, I also have something to do here in the North Sea."He pointed to his brow, where a blue flame mark flickered faintly.

Mu Ziyu suddenly understood. "You're planning to enter the Divine Transformation ruins? No wonder you came all the way to the North Sea. However, you'll have to wait a bit. We still don't know the Crown Prince's condition. If he's already perished, it wouldn't be appropriate to mention the Divine Transformation ruins while the old Demon Emperor is consumed by grief."

Jiang Fan thought for a moment and said, "Take me with you. I have some excellent human healing elixirs. Perhaps they could be of help."

Mu Ziyu considered it and said, "Alright, come with me." In truth, the North Sea had already prepared many healing elixirs in advance for a failed breakthrough. They didn't lack Jiang Fan's. But she couldn't very well refuse his good intentions. Moreover, the Demon Emperor might feel some comfort seeing a human offer assistance.

Jiang Fan pondered, "Do you have any diving bubbles? Using a water-repelling pearl in the North Sea might implicate you if someone inquisitive asks about it."Mu Ziyu felt a warmth in her heart. This guy actually thought about her. She immediately took out a bubble crystal and tossed it to him, saying: "Coming to the North Sea, and I still have to provide the bubble. I must owe you from a past life."

Jiang Fan smiled, crushed the bubble, and jumped into the sea. He followed her towards the Imperial Palace.

"Sister Mu, isn't your North Sea currently being harassed by unknown creatures and struggling to cope?""Why would a tribulation be happening at a time like this?"Jiang Fan asked, feeling somewhat puzzled. Because of attacks from creatures that escaped the Divine Transformation ruins, the North Sea Demon Emperor was too preoccupied to deal with the Hellish Desolate Beasts. Yet, at this moment, they had the leisure to let a clan member attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm? Moreover, it was evident that the Crown Prince's preparations were insufficient. It seemed very rushed.