“I, Li Changshou, disciple of the Dao School, now address Heaven!”

Beneath the endless black clouds, amidst the surging spiritual energy, Li Changshou stood atop a great rock. His long hair and robes remained still as he gazed up at the dark clouds above.

His voice rang out, drowning the urgent winds and muffled thunder.

A hundred li away, four Dao School masters couldn’t help but listen intently, each finding it strange that Li Changshou would speak before facing his tribulation, wondering what he needed to declare to the Heavenly Dao.

Yet as Li Changshou’s words echoed in the clouds, Grand Master and Yunxiao faintly sensed a strand of profound and mysterious Dao resonance lingering among the clouds.

The Heavenly Dao—or rather, the Ancestor of the Dao School—was truly listening!

This…

Just as the Grand Master wanted to send a voice transmission warning Li Changshou not to speak rashly, Li Changshou had already performed a Daoist bow and proclaimed:

“Since joining the Dao School, this disciple has been grateful for the Master’s grace, remembered the sacred teachings, endured hardships, and finally reached the Dao Realm!

Today I present my Dao here, beseeching Heaven’s trial!

If the Heavenly Tribulation descends and this Dao scatters, it would be because this disciple was too hasty and imperfect in cultivation, and I shall harbor no grievance!

Heaven is vast and Earth dark, my Dao remains serene!

I thank the Heavenly Dao for its care in granting the Immortal Realm of Changshou!”

After shouting these words, Li Changshou performed another deep Daoist bow, and then his form slowly floated upward, hovering several hundred zhang above the mountain peak.

At this moment, the watching Grand Master’s expression became… complex.

Grand Master wanted to laugh, yet found this matter wonderful. After careful consideration, he could only think to tell Li Changshou “as expected of you.”

This junior disciple always managed to provide various surprises.

Beside him, Yunxiao also wore a smile. Her previous concerns had largely subsided.

Qiongxiao and Bixiao had already burst out laughing…

Bixiao said, “If all who face tribulation were to shout like this and the tribulation’s power would weaken somewhat, perhaps since ancient times there would have been many more Golden Immortal cultivators.”

However, as soon as Bixiao’s words fell, thunder rolled above Li Changshou’s head!

Within the tribulation, Li Changshou only heard thunder, but the four disciples of the Sage at the side heard something that had transformed into Heaven’s might—

‘Good!’

Bixiao unconsciously covered her mouth, shock in her eyes.

It worked?!

Yunxiao beside her glanced at her younger sister and said, “Speak no more, the Heavenly Dao has responded.”

The four’s expressions instantly became even more varied.

The Dao Ancestor showed his presence, Heaven’s might be locked in;

A cry before tribulation, and received a response.

Yunxiao secretly glanced at Grand Master Xuandu, her beautiful eyes showing slight shame;

Previously she had thought this was another of Senior Brother Xuandu’s calculations, trying to increase her friendship with the Sea God.

Now it seemed that protecting the Dao friend Sea God and lending crucial aid at the critical moment truly couldn’t be done alone…

Crack—

BOOM!

Electric serpents danced wildly in the sky, and the tribulation clouds surged and began rapidly contracting, gathering boundless spiritual energy from ten thousand li away, combining with the mighty heavenly authority to reveal the tribulation’s true form!

The tribulation clouds contracted directly to three hundred li and frantically thickened, continuously rotating above Li Changshou’s head!

Li Changshou’s immortal consciousness was suppressed by Heaven’s might, and he could barely perceive the tribulation clouds’ unusual state, not knowing how these clouds would transform.

The previously dark and gloomy world suddenly gained streams of golden light;

The tribulation clouds above rotated like a “wardrobe,” slowly turning the clouds above and below golden;

Golden light burst forth, illuminating the world for ten thousand li!

When the golden light faded and the tribulation clouds contracted again, this time they took their final form—

A ten-thousand-zhang-tall tower wrapped in clouds and mist!

The tower had thirty-three levels, with high and pointed eaves, each window revealing different divine beings, fierce beasts and monsters, divine birds, and spiritual creatures—all beings of Heaven and Earth could find their counterpart within!

Almost simultaneously, Qiongxiao and a black panther a thousand li away spoke out.

“His Golden Immortal tribulation is the second-ranked Ten Thousand Spirits Tribulation!”

“Aooo!”

—In panther speech:

‘It truly is the legendary top three Golden Immortal tribulation, and the second-ranked Ten Thousand Spirits Tribulation at that!’

The black panther finally felt relieved and smiled smugly.

Surely there would be no tree bark to eat!

This Ten Thousand Spirits Tribulation had rarely appeared since ancient times, and no living being was ever heard to have survived it!

“Meow!”

—In panther speech:

‘Heaven’s punishment truly is Heaven’s punishment. Such a heaven-defying cultivator, there haven’t been many since ancient times.’

The black panther lay down comfortably, quietly waiting for the great tribulation to dissipate while preparing its next hunting plan.

Meanwhile at Li Changshou’s tribulation site.

Yunxiao looked at her third sister and asked, “Since when did tribulations have rankings?”

Qiongxiao smiled and said, “Sister, you’re always in seclusion, so naturally you wouldn’t know.

These tribulation rankings were compiled by our Severing Sect ( Severing Sect) immortals when they had nothing better to do.

At the time, hundreds gathered to divine together, imprinting information about different tribulations in the heavenly mechanisms, giving some reference for our sect’s disciples who needed to face tribulation.

We had no choice, our sect has too many members.”

Grand Master Xuandu asked with a smile, “Then what is the number one Golden Immortal tribulation?”

“Senior Brother Xuandu, for both Celestial Immortal and Golden Immortal tribulations, the Purple Void Tribulation ranks first.”

Bixiao said softly: “Tribulations are born from and endured by spirits. The Ten Thousand Spirits Tribulation is already the strongest tribulation the Heavenly Dao will descend upon living beings.

That’s what was revealed in the heavenly mechanisms we divined at the time.”

Grand Master slowly nodded, letting out a light sigh, and said: “Changshou has indeed reached his limit as a Celestial Immortal.”

Qiongxiao asked: “Senior Brother Xuandu is also of human origin, what was your Golden Immortal tribulation like?”

Yunxiao frowned and scolded her: “Don’t ask Senior Brother Xuandu about such private matters!”

Qiongxiao quickly lowered her head and pouted, looking pitiful.

Xuandu smiled and said: “This isn’t private.

At the time, Master took me into the Primordial Tower, and taught me the Great Dao, and I don’t know how long passed before I comprehended all the Dao teachings Master passed down, reaching above the Golden Immortal realm.

When I left the treasure tower I didn’t experience a tribulation, presumably, the Primordial Tower bore it for me…

The three Junior Sisters probably haven’t experienced tribulation, right?”

“Senior Brother is correct,” Bixiao giggled, “When we took form at the end of ancient times, we were already beings of longevity.”

Grand Master Xuandu heard this and smiled lightly, seeming to sense something, and said softly:

“It’s beginning.”

The Three Xiao sisters all looked toward Li Changshou’s location.

The tower in the sky began spinning faster, the heavenly tribulation was about to descend!

Li Changshou looked up and saw only an inward-collapsing vortex, lightning marks constantly flashing within, as if about to swallow him directly.

Here it comes.

Li Changshou slowly flew up a hundred zhang, gripping an immortal iron brush in his hand. Immortal power surged throughout his body as he struck out like a phantom, swiftly placing several black paper talismans on his wrist and chest.

For the first tribulation strike, he would rely on his strength to test how powerful his tribulation was, to better choose which plan to implement.

Come on!

Bzzt—

Inside the treasure tower, within the vortex, thirty-six lightning marks suddenly went dark, yet no lightning pillars or rain fell…

The world fell silent, and Li Changshou held his breath, fully focused on responding.

Why did the lightning marks suddenly disappear?

He felt the tribulation clouds above seemed to be brewing something, gathering something, but it was invisible to the naked eye and undetectable by immortal consciousness.

Suddenly, a thin black lightning bolt appeared in the center of the vortex, no thicker than a thumb, crossing through layers of space-time to lazily fall toward Li Changshou’s head!

Crack!

Three flowers appeared at Li Changshou’s crown, chest, and lower abdomen. All three flowers shook, his form trembled violently, his face flushed red, and he spat out a spray of blood as his entire being’s energy fluctuated unstably!

He was already lightly wounded!

What kind of tribulation was this?

Li Changshou was inwardly shocked and brought forth his highest-intensity tribulation-crossing plan. He wiped the blood from his mouth while watching the forty-nine lightning marks that began flashing above.

After swallowing a spirit pill, Li Changshou focused on sensing everything.

Looking down at this moment, he saw that half of the barren mountain below had vanished without a trace!

His tribulation truly wouldn’t be easy to overcome!

Li Changshou slowly took a breath and raised his hand to write the character “道” [Dao]. Various spiritual lights flashed across his body as talisman after talisman activated.

According to Forgotten Emotions Senior’s tribulation judgment, he should have some time to prepare…

Uh?

Li Changshou looked down at his feet again. At some point, clusters of flame lotuses had emerged from the half-vanished barren mountain, orange flames constantly dancing as they surrounded him.

Heavenly Fire?

The second tribulation strike was coming already?!

Above in the vortex came whimpering wind sounds, while the forty-nine-lit lightning marks once again vanished in a flash!

Another black tribulation lightning fell!

This time it was as thick as a baby’s arm, still crossing through layers of space-time in a twisted path as it struck toward Li Changshou’s forehead…

Li Changshou: …

Fortunately, he had considered this possibility beforehand.

“Rise!”

With a light shout, the “道” [Dao] character floating before Li Changshou’s chest soared skyward, barely blocking the lightning tribulation.

Then Li Changshou’s iron brush moved swiftly, writing seven grand characters in succession: “起” [Rise], “天” [Heaven], “地” [Earth], “法” [Law], “源” [Source], “自” [Self], “然” [Nature]!

These grand characters, formed at the tip of his Judge’s Brush, flew upward one after another, resonating with the Dao character, forming eight barriers blocking the small black lightning!

Not only that, immortal power surged around Li Changshou, the [Immortal Gathering Talisman] on his chest burst into flames, and twelve petals formed from immortal power appeared beneath his feet, closing around him layer by layer.

These preparations were completed in an instant!

The lightning tribulation struck from above, the eight characters flashed brilliantly, each holding for a moment before breaking in succession!

Below, the fire lotuses surged up, licking out countless flames, and enveloping Li Changshou’s entire body.

As the lightning tribulation struck down, Li Changshou’s left fist clenched and struck upward directly, the blood patterns carved on his fist flashing with light, clashing head-on with the lightning tribulation!

The second black heavenly lightning flickered several times before transforming into a strand of black smoke falling from the sky, dissipating directly.

Li Changshou’s left fist was a bloody mess, and he spat out another mouthful of blood…

However, this time his energy only trembled slightly. Having prepared in advance, his previous injuries hadn’t worsened, and his Primordial Spirit had stabilized itself.

Though the lightning tribulation dispersed, the surrounding heavenly fire continued to temper Li Changshou’s immortal power, while countless green sword shadows slashed down from above!

Li Changshou responded with his brush, his form swaying back and forth through the air trailing heavenly fire, writing character after character!

As his long hair danced, he appeared like a fire god descended to the mortal realm, with a touch of ethereal grace…

The second tribulation’s assault continued for roughly one-third of an incense stick’s time.

Comparing it to Forgotten Emotions Senior’s tribulation, this was about equivalent to the power of his sixth tribulation strike…

After blocking the second tribulation, Li Changshou gained confidence, fully calculating the power of his third tribulation strike, and brought out new trump cards.

As the heavenly fire receded, Li Changshou swallowed another pill, holding the Judge’s Brush in his right hand and a carving knife in his left. Taking advantage of the tribulation’s pause, he wrote the hundred-character Divine Farmer Scripture in mid-air.

In ancient times, Divine Farmer obtained Heaven’s seeds to plant the five grains, tasted a hundred herbs to author medical classics, saved countless mortals, and became a sage of the human race, ranking among the Three Sovereigns.

This Divine Farmer Scripture was a chapter praising Divine Farmer’s virtuous conduct;

The hundred-odd golden glowing characters had barely formed when they rushed toward Li Changshou himself, transforming into complex talismans, as if draping him in a precious garment formed of talismans.

The third tribulation didn’t give him much time to prepare, quickly activating again.

This time, Li Changshou’s heart filled with strange visions—the work of heart demons…

Only the third strike, and already all forms of regular Golden Immortal tribulation had appeared!

It’s just that, these heart demons…

Were somewhat…

Underwhelming.

Li Changshou watched the scenes appearing in his heart: first, his master appeared before his younger self, suddenly drawing a sword to kill him.

Then, his alluring junior sister, his poisonous junior sister wearing battle robes but undressing before him, and his little junior uncle jumping and laughing…

Uh, why was Junior Sister Youqin always present?

Could it be that in his subconscious, he was craving… cough, how could that be possible? Even as heart demons, junior sister looked the cutest, while junior uncle had the most impact.

Shaking his head slightly, Li Changshou began recalling the new version of the [Hundred Robust Beauties’ Elder Years Chart]!

With a “ding,” his dao heart became completely clear, and he couldn’t help but dry heave twice at the tribulation.

The lightning tribulation immediately struck more fiercely…

…

When the first black lightning tribulation appeared, even Grand Master Xuandu couldn’t help but worry for Li Changshou, preparing to step in and save him.

This was no ordinary Golden Immortal tribulation.

Fortunately, Li Changshou endured;

Not only did he endure the first tribulation, but the second, third, and fourth lightning tribulations were also handled appropriately, repeatedly repelling and destroying the tribulation, fully bearing it himself!

Li Changshou’s Supreme Perfect Dao foundation showed its power unmistakably—heavenly fire couldn’t burn it down, heavenly wind couldn’t cut it!

As the tribulation grew exponentially stronger with each strike, Li Changshou revealed more and more mystic arts and techniques. Even the well-versed Grand Master found it hard to keep up…

This fellow had hidden so much when he slew that Golden Immortal in the East Sea!

By the fifth tribulation, the Grand Master had witnessed twelve different combat mystic arts on Li Changshou.

Besides the scripture-writing technique, True Samadhi Flame, and those black paper talismans, all others were techniques Li Changshou had never revealed before.

What particularly caught Grand Master Xuandu’s eye was the lightning technique Li Changshou had just displayed.

Five thunders condensed in his palm, pure yang drawing the wood spirit!

Li Changshou used lightning to guide lightning, borrowing lightning techniques to influence heavenly lightning, indirectly weakening the lightning tribulation’s power—truly an innovative approach.

However…

“Senior Brother Xuandu,” Yunxiao asked, “Did you give him enough spirit pills before? His immortal power consumption is too rapid, I worry he won’t last through the later stages.”

“Well,” Grand Master Xuandu pondered, “I only gave him two Nine Turns Golden Pills, no other spirit pills.

He’s skilled in the Dao of Pills, and previously received pill-making methods from the Lord of Primordial Beginning, so there’s no need to worry about that.”

Hearing this, Bixiao and Qiongxiao exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling.

Yunxiao relaxed slightly and continued watching Li Changshou intently, her delicate hand gripping a small golden bucket…

Under the raging heavenly winds and tempering heavenly fire, Li Changshou had now revealed his true appearance, all disguises stripped away by the lightning tribulation. His robes barely covered his body, relying on immortal power to conceal the essential areas.

In the fifth tribulation, Li Changshou resisted with all his might, his injuries slightly worsening, and his immortal power depleted by more than half.

The spirit pills’ power continued dispersing within his body, the pill power enhancing lightning resistance completely consumed once again.

Li Changshou swallowed two more spirit pills and looked up, observing the changes in the tribulation cloud vortex…

At this moment, three figures flew out from the distant forest, each hurriedly writing a ‘move’ character with their brushes. Their forms crashed into the characters and vanished with a whoosh!

When these three figures reappeared, they were already within a hundred zhang of Li Changshou, rushing quickly toward him.

Qiongxiao almost instinctively moved to intercept, already grasping the Golden Dragon Scissors, but Yunxiao’s slender hand reached out to stop her movement.

“Those are his avatar bodies.”

The three avatars swiftly flew to Li Changshou’s side, each extending their palms to press against him.

As immortal power flowed back, Li Changshou took a deep breath. The three paper dao-men quickly deflated, transforming into three paper figures which he held in his hand and stored in the treasure pouch at his waist.

Immortal power, fully restored!

Divine light surged in Li Changshou’s eyes as the tribulation clouds above trembled slightly. Eighty-one lightning marks flashed, and black lightning tinged with purple, as thick as a water bucket, fell fiercely from the sky.

Heavenly lightning linked with earthly fire, while fierce winds aided the mysterious ice!

Fire surged up from below once more, wind-blades slashed down beside the lightning tribulation, and countless spears formed of mysterious ice struck toward every part of Li Changshou’s body from all directions!

Li Changshou let out a light shout, immortal light surging around him as he employed all his techniques once again, his form moving faster than illusions to counter the tribulation’s assault.

But the sixth strike seemed to have something new…

While Li Changshou couldn’t see the phenomenon above, Grand Master Xuandu and the others could observe:

From the lower three levels’ windows of that ten-thousand-zhang-tall tower, hundreds of figures leaped down, plummeting rapidly.

“Kill—”

Battle cries suddenly appeared amid the thunder!

Li Changshou, who was already dealing with the five tribulations of wind, fire, lightning, ice, and heart, quickly looked up to see hundreds of humanoid figures in the sky, like heavenly soldiers, carrying rolling waves of killing intent as they charged down rapidly.

Holy crap, had the tribulation gained sentience?

Ahem, this should be the tribulation force taking form, essentially the same as lightning tribulation and such.

Li Changshou dared not be careless. To be safe, before these figures could charge down, he quickly threw out ten paper dao-men. These paper figures circled past the raging tribulation, rushed high into the sky, and sacrificed all their immortal power to each throwout dozens of…

Jade immortal beans!

Continuous popping sounds rang out as hundreds of bean soldiers appeared in the sky, charging toward the figures plunging from above.

The advantages of the [Paper Dao-man—Bean Soldier] system are shown clearly at this moment.

Li Changshou didn’t need to waste extra immortal power, as the paper dao-men’s power had all been prepared beforehand.

Of course, these bean soldiers were just testing the waters. If they could delay things a bit, that would be perfect, preventing Li Changshou from becoming too busy to respond.

Tsk, today’s tribulation truly hadn’t disappointed him, all being ‘new’ techniques that Forgotten Emotions Senior hadn’t experienced…