Pain?
This sensation seemed beyond mere pain.
Yun Ze felt himself in an extremely profound state.
Skin? Flesh? Bones? Qi Sea? Even the Golden Core within the Qi Sea, all of it seemed to have vanished.
He was like an observer, looking down upon everything happening to this physical body, feeling nothing, even a hint of indifference.
So, when pain reaches its extreme, this is what it feels like?
Yet, even so, Yun Ze could still see the near-ultimate agony within the constantly vibrating Qi Sea, the bones fracturing inch by inch, the flesh torn to shreds, and the skin cracking like a spiderweb.
If his soul had not been eternally solidified, it would surely have been unable to escape at this moment.
"Tsk."
Yun Ze heard a sigh by his ear.
"What incredible luck."
Shi You's voice slowly echoed, "Fortunately, fortunately. If not for the Voice of the Great Dao solidifying your soul, you wouldn't even be able to hear these words now."
"But kid, the tribulation ahead is even more troublesome. You... hang in there."
Troublesome? Could there be anything more troublesome than these three lightning tribulations?
*Boom!*
As soon as the words fell, Yun Ze heard a muffled explosion in the sky.
He had been immersed in that state and hadn't noticed the changes in the sky. Now, a green lightning tribulation had descended!
No pain, no itch, but for some reason, he... didn't want to live anymore.
Yun Ze frowned.
He knew his current state was abnormal and that this was likely the terrifying aspect of this lightning tribulation.
Yet, a voice kept echoing in his mind.
Why do I live?
The world? I'm not that great!
All beings? What does that have to do with me?
To become stronger? Even if I become stronger, what then?
To cleave the heavens and earth with a single sword? But what after that?
Or to save my parents and enjoy family bliss? Now that the Voice of the Great Dao has descended, they are within my Qiankun Bag, so they are alive. But... why should I live for them?
Haven't I already fulfilled my responsibility?
Or... for immortality?
To live for immortality, isn't that laughable?
Yun Ze looked up at the heavenly tribulation in the sky, a slight smile curving his lips.
Looking at it this way, it seemed he truly had no reason to continue living, much like... I can never find a reason for my own cultivation.
The light in Yun Ze's eyes gradually faded, and his eyelids slowly closed.
At the same time, Shi You, a thousand miles away, watched this scene with a furrowed brow and clenched fists.
He could help Yun Ze ascend to the heavens in one step, help him build a foundation unseen before or since, and even prepare him perfectly for tribulations.
But this one tribulation... he couldn't help!
The Tribulation of the Heart's Inquiry!
All heroes in the world should have their obsessions!
When they face this tribulation, it is like a gift from the heavens, not only increasing their soul power but also giving them ample rest time to prepare for subsequent tribulations.
But for Yun Ze, this tribulation was a truly fatal blow!
Simply put, Yun Ze's obsession was not strong enough!
He had no desires in his heart, and in the beginning, he was even repulsed by the path of cultivation.
Unless he could find something he truly craved, this tribulation was enough to cause his demise! The plans of the Four Clans for nearly a million years would be ruined!
Shi You frowned, watching it all, but could only watch.
*Clang~*
Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out.
Was that... zither music?
Yun Ze's ears twitched slightly, and his slightly closed eyelids trembled.
This sound seemed to be from... Ying Qing Pavilion?
Yes! It was from that night at Ying Qing Pavilion!
A scene suddenly appeared in Yun Ze's mind.
He was only in the Qi Refining stage then, tricked by that fellow Yu Xian, and had fled into Ying Qing Pavilion. It was then that he saw that graceful figure...
Mu Si Yue.
To this day, that graceful figure remained in his mind.
If he were to die, perhaps she would be unhappy?
Yun Ze frowned.
Yes, Senior Sister would definitely be unhappy!
Now that he had the ability to purify the Demonic Liquid Pool, he could completely help Senior Sister break through to the Golden Core stage and achieve Nascent Soul. But if he were to die like this, and Senior Sister learned the truth, she would probably beat him even in the deepest depths of hell!
Even someone as aloof as her, deep down, would still care about his life or death, wouldn't she?
Yun Ze's eyelids trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes.
I cannot die!
At least, not now!
His pupils were once again filled with light, and a verdant green that had been lingering on his soul instantly dissipated, transforming into specks of starlight that merged into his soul.
The originally solidified soul, though without fluctuation, now gained an added layer of radiance!
"Come! Continue!"
Yun Ze looked up at the sky, gazing at the gradually turning green thunderclouds, and seemed to be looking forward to it.
After crossing this tribulation, he should be in the late stage of Golden Core, right?
Even if he couldn't defeat Senior Sister, he should be able to make her take him seriously, rather than treating him like a child.
He gradually began to look forward to Senior Sister's gaze when she saw him again.
As if understanding Yun Ze's words, the tribulation clouds instantly descended a small green snake.
"Hmm? Is that all?"
This didn't feel like the power of the previous lightning tribulations.
No matter, let's hide in the formation first!
Having experienced these four lightning tribulations, Yun Ze now dared not be careless. If he could be cowardly, he would be!
Face?
Is face worth more than his life?
Just as Yun Ze was about to dive into the formation, the small snake's form instantly vanished!
No, to be precise, it didn't vanish, but transformed!
From one, to two, from two, to four!
In just a few breaths, a single green snake transformed into a vast swarm, and then easily drilled into the formation, entering Yun Ze's Qi Sea.
Before Yun Ze could react, he sensed the swarm of green snakes beginning to devour the spiritual energy in his Qi Sea.
Moreover, with every passing breath, the population of these green snakes would double!
"This tribulation is to consume your spiritual energy. The remaining four lightning tribulations must be accelerated!"
Shi You's voice sounded in his ear.
Yun Ze, however, was unconcerned.
Consume spiritual energy?
Considering the current number of green snakes, their growth rate, and their spiritual energy consumption speed, it would take them at least a few years to drain him dry!
Joking!
He had a Zhou Tian Qi Sea, Heavenly Dao Foundation, and five Golden Cores!
With this, they wanted to drain him dry? Even two more days wouldn't be enough for the spiritual energy generated by the rotation of his Golden Cores.
Come! Next!
Yun Ze looked up at the sky. The green tribulation clouds had already turned a deep blue...
Just looking at this made one's hair stand on end!
Following that, a deep blue thunderball descended from the sky!
Unlike all previous lightning tribulations, this tribulation was incredibly slow, like an old donkey carrying hundreds of pounds of grain on a mountain road.
Although one could see it moving, just watching it made one feel anxious.
Yun Ze frowned and couldn't help but ask Shi You, "Senior Shi, this is..."
"The first four lightning tribulations are to temper the Qi Sea, the physical body, the Golden Core, and the state of mind. The fifth, sixth, and seventh lightning tribulations are to consume spiritual energy, the physical body, and the Golden Core, respectively."
"If you can withstand them all, an immaculate Qi Sea, a Heavenly Spirit Body, and a Glazed Golden Core will naturally be achieved!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Ze's spirits immediately lifted!
So, there were only two more to go, right!
Consuming spiritual energy had already been passed. It was just the matter of consuming the physical body and... what?
Just as Yun Ze hesitated, the deep blue thunderball finally reached him.
But it simply hung outside the formation, not advancing a single step further, still a hair's breadth away from the formation.
As if it were waiting for Yun Ze.
You want to undergo tribulation?
Come here!
We're not in a hurry anyway. At worst, let the green snakes eat a little more.
Yun Ze rolled his eyes helplessly. He had never seen such a shameless lightning tribulation.
However... if you want me to come, I will!
Yun Ze did not delay. He got up and flew out of the formation, throwing himself into the deep blue thunderball!
In an instant!
Yun Ze understood what it meant to consume the physical body!
Unlike the repeated destruction of previous tribulations, the deep blue thunderball was about direct consumption!
Yun Ze's skin instantly vanished, followed by his flesh and blood, and then his internal organs!
In just an instant, he was left with only a skeleton and the five Golden Cores rotating within him!
However, in the very next moment, fine flesh began to grow on the skeleton.
But before the flesh could form muscle fibers, the lightning tribulation consumed and depleted it again!
At this point, the deep blue thunderball had only consumed one percent!
As for Yun Ze...
He still felt nothing.
His soul hovered above the skeleton, constantly using his soul power to urge Miao Jue to repair himself.
To pass this tribulation was merely a matter of time for him.
Perfect.
Since his physical body didn't need tempering, he could spend more time tempering his Qi Sea, just to consolidate his foundation!
About half an hour passed.
Everyone except Yun Ze had finished their tribulations and gathered at Shi You's location to observe the deep blue thunderball.
There was no worry in anyone's eyes, only anticipation!
Immaculate Qi Sea, Heavenly Spirit Body, Glazed Golden Core!
Even one of these would be enough to create an unparalleled cultivation genius!
No, more than that!
Yun Ze also had an eternally solidified soul!
In the face of these things, even a heavenly-grade spiritual root seemed insignificant, and indeed, it was.
Everyone was looking forward.
Looking forward to what kind of monster would emerge after this heavenly tribulation was overcome!
"Look! The sixth tribulation is over!"
Dan Chenyu's voice rang out from the crowd.
In fact, they didn't need her to speak; everyone's eyes had been focused.
The moment the deep blue thunderball disappeared, everyone only saw a skeleton!
A skeleton... that was completely transparent, as if made of glazed glass!
As the thunderball had just disappeared and Yun Ze's flesh and blood had not yet regenerated, Yun Xiao and Dan Chenyu exchanged a tacit glance and took out their recording stones to document it!
This was the most precious footage!
But the skeleton seemed to sense something. Before its flesh and blood could regenerate, it quickly took out a set of clothes from its Sumeru Ring and put them on first!
In just a few breaths, Yun Ze's physical body reappeared.
He looked at the distance and rolled his eyes helplessly, as if he could see the disappointed expressions on Yun Xiao and Dan Chenyu's faces.
At a time like this, they were still thinking about taking secret photos!
Couldn't you do something more serious!
Yun Ze grumbled inwardly, his mind quickly focusing on his new physical body...
Perfect, immaculate, everything seemed just right.
Any more, any less, would be a flaw.
Yun Ze simply took a deep breath and could feel everything around him absorbing spiritual energy for him!
Within the spiritual energy mixed with the five elements, there seemed to be something else.
It was... earth-attribute spiritual energy!
His spiritual root seemed to have increased again!
A flicker of joy flashed in Yun Ze's eyes, but he had no opportunity to take out his spiritual root testing ball to see how his spiritual root was.
At this moment, the purple tribulation clouds in the sky had been waiting for a long time!
A purple flying bird streaked across the sky, heading directly towards Yun Ze outside the formation.
Yun Ze did not dodge or evade. He simply stood in place, looking up, waiting!
As the thunderbird descended, it, like the green snake, entered Yun Ze's Qi Sea and then landed on his Golden Core.
Looking up, a peck!
*Crack~*
With a crisp sound, Yun Ze felt nothing.
That's it? That's it?
This was nothing like the previous lightning tribulations. Even the green snake caused more damage than you!
The thunderbird looked up again, found the spot it had just pecked, and looked up again...
Second peck!
"Pfft!"
Yun Ze's pupils trembled. His recently recovered body suddenly shuddered, and he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood!
He could feel that his Golden Core... had shattered!
This was not good!
Yun Ze sent his consciousness into his Qi Sea and saw countless spiderwebs covering his Golden Core!
His heart trembled. He wanted to stop it, but it was already too late.
The thunderbird raised its head again, and then a third peck!
*Crack!*
Golden Core, shattered... was it?
Yun Ze felt countless fragments falling from his Golden Core, but when he came to his senses, he realized that the shattered fragments of the Golden Core were only the outer shell!
As the outer shell of the Golden Core fell into the Qi Sea, it instantly transformed into pure spiritual liquid, while the Golden Core itself exuded a misty radiance, like glazed glass, suspended above the Qi Sea!
That was... the Glazed Golden Core!
Yun Ze's heart rejoiced, while the thunderbird tilted its head?
What is this thing?
It looked up again and pecked again!
But this peck did not shake the Golden Core. Instead, the entire bird trembled.
Hard, too hard!
The thunderbird frowned, spread its wings, and landed on another Golden Core in the Qi Sea.
One peck, two pecks, three pecks!
Thanks to it, another brand new Glazed Golden Core was born!
It couldn't peck anymore, and then came the third, fourth, and even the fifth!
When all the Golden Cores had become Glazed Golden Cores, the thunderbird still didn't give up, constantly trying to inflict even the slightest damage on them.
As for Yun Ze... his mouth was about to split with laughter.
The Heavenly Spirit Body was achieved, and the Glazed Golden Core was also achieved!
There were still two lightning tribulations left! The last two!
Yun Ze looked up at the sky. The tribulation clouds were now pitch black, and he felt a wave of pressure descend!
*Boom!*
Before the lightning tribulation could fall, he was already kneeling on one knee!
This feeling was... Nascent Soul? No, that's not right! Not just Nascent Soul, the aura was still climbing!
Was this Out-of-Body?
No, it was still climbing! What is this thing!
"Tribulation of World Destruction! Quickly enter the formation!"
Shi You's voice sounded again, "This lightning tribulation is pure lightning. No matter what method you use, as long as you dodge it, it's fine!"
This was easy!
Before the lightning tribulation fell, Yun Ze quickly drilled into the formation and used all the means Shi You had prepared.
What about sixth-tier spirit armor, sixth-tier spirit armor, he put on everything he could!
It could be said that he was armed to the teeth!
However, the aura of the lightning tribulation had already surpassed Out-of-Body and was climbing to the Spirit Severing stage!
Yun Ze frowned.
It still hasn't fallen?
Could it be waiting to reach the Integration stage?
*Boom!*
Just as Yun Ze was filled with doubt, the sound of thunder finally exploded!
In the next moment, a black lightning bolt descended from the sky and landed on the formation!
Three breaths!
The formation only lasted for three breaths. After three breaths, the formation shattered, and the black lightning bolt landed on the spirit armor Yun Ze had layered on unknown number of times!
One, two, three... until all the spirit armor shattered!
The lightning tribulation finally landed on the Immortal Fragment in Yun Ze's hand!
Sword slash! Lightning shatter!
This time, the lightning tribulation did not drill into Yun Ze's body but dissipated.
"Hoo..."
Yun Ze breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked up at the sky. The dark clouds had dispersed, and the sky had returned to its usual pure white.
Was this... it?
Didn't they say it was called the Nine Heavens Reincarnation Tribulation? But there were only eight here? Was something missing?
Just as Yun Ze was wondering, a pure white cloud suddenly descended from the sky, and a figure hovered above the cloud.
"Be careful!"
Shi You's voice sounded again, "The last tribulation of the Nine Heavens Tribulation. If you pass, you will attain the Great Dao to the heavens. If you fail, you will enter reincarnation, and he... will be you!"
"Yun Ze, do not disappoint us!"
"He? What does that mean?"
Yun Ze was stunned for a moment, not understanding what Shi You was referring to.
But when he saw the figure on the cloud, he was instantly stunned.
That was...
Himself?
When Yun Ze looked at the other person, the other person was also looking at him.
As their gazes met, the other person spoke first, with a hint of judgment in his eyes.
"Mortal, you have violated the boundary!"
"Bow down and accept your execution!"