This was eye-opening.

Bixiao and Qiongxiao, who had come merely to watch the spectacle, now deeply agreed—

This truly was eye-opening!

Directly enduring tribulation was a basic operation for cultivators;

Using divine abilities and magical power to counter tribulation was also quite common.

Li Changshou’s various divine abilities and techniques had been dazzling before, at most worthy of being called ‘brilliant’…

But now, what appeared before Qiongxiao and Bixiao’s eyes…

They had never seen anything like it!

Was this crossing tribulation, or waging war against it?

The tower-shaped tribulation clouds above slowly rotated, while beneath them thousands of figures clashed, battle cries shaking heaven and earth, figures constantly exploding into nothingness.

Regardless of strength, the spectacle itself was quite impressive.

In their eyes, Li Changshou below countering the tribulation, though looking somewhat disheveled with his tattered clothing, still moved with grace and ease, continuously releasing paper figures from his torn sleeves.

These paper figures nimbly flew higher into the sky, transformed into human shapes, and scattered handful after handful of beans above, constantly replenishing the depleted bean soldiers…

Could these be the Paper Human Creation and Bean Soldier Scattering techniques from the Dao School’s [Thirty-Six Celestial Methods]?

Could these two divine abilities be used like this?

Wasn’t that [Thirty-Six Celestial Methods] just cobbled together from ordinary divine abilities by some unknown Daoist during his free time?

Wasn’t Paper Human Creation just cutting paper into human shapes and then blowing on them…

The expressions of sisters Qiongxiao and Bixiao were remarkably similar at this moment, showing slight admiration, slight surprise, slight novelty, and a bit of impulse.

The impulse to make sarcastic comments.

Bixiao praised: “Interesting, these divine abilities are truly interesting.”

Qiongxiao asked: “Senior Brother Xuandu, did you modify these divine abilities?”

The Grand Master shook his head with a light laugh, saying: “Changshou always has some strange ideas, and more remarkably, he always finds ways to realize these ideas. Perhaps this is one reason why Master values him so highly.”

“Oh~”

Qiongxiao and Bixiao simultaneously showed expressions of sudden understanding, their bright eyes sparkling as they watched Li Changshou’s form in the distance.

The tribulation spirit soldiers rushing out from the high tower all had mid-stage Celestial Immortal strength.

Originally, hundreds of spirit soldiers attacking together, carrying tribulation force and coordinating with the Five Elements tribulation, would indeed have caused Li Changshou extreme trouble.

But now, the bean soldiers continuously scattered by Li Changshou’s paper dao-men had completely blocked these spirit soldiers!

This gave Li Changshou more buffer room.

This batch of bean soldiers was the strongest Li Changshou had cultivated, able to display power equivalent to the True Immortal realm for a short time.

However, controlling thousands of bean soldiers was beyond what Li Changshou’s spirit could currently bear.

So the beans he threw out now were either tough-skinned shield beans or “pea maiden” shooters that would dissipate after two bursts—one spit and deadly.

Li Changshou gave these bean soldiers simple orders—block the spirit soldiers above—and no longer managed them, focusing on countering the tribulation.

Whether it was Heaven’s Lord deliberately going easy or not;

These tribulation spirit soldiers focused on fighting beans for thirty years, not even looking at the tribulation-crossing Li Changshou…

One could say Heaven’s Dao acknowledged Li Changshou’s somewhat clever tribulation-crossing method.

Little Qiong Peak’s old and new trees had performed another remarkable service;

Although before Li Changshou came to cross tribulation, another batch of them had been squeezed to death…

When Li Changshou endured the seventh lightning tribulation and freed his hands, he swiftly threw his Judge’s Brush from afar, destroying these spirit soldiers one by one.

Taking advantage of the eighth tribulation not yet descending, Li Changshou summoned five “power bank paper dao-men” to replenish his immortal power, raised his hand to swallow a Five Revolutions spirit pill;

Meanwhile, he also tidied his tattered immortal clothes and counted his remaining paper dao-men and bean reserves…

Though he couldn’t tell how much the tribulation clouds above had shrunk, Li Changshou had achieved clarity in his heart.

This tribulation should still be nine strikes;

This vast tribulation force would completely erupt in the ninth strike!

And after the tribulation, conservatively estimated, there would be one or two divine punishment thunderbolts…

Therefore, facing the eighth tribulation strike, even using all his methods, Li Changshou couldn’t allow himself to be injured—he must meet the ninth tribulation strike in his strongest state!

A Nine Turns Golden Pill was already standing by.

Li Changshou turned his head to look in the direction of the Grand Master and the Three Xiao Immortals, his heart settling somewhat.

Above, lightning marks flashed, and one hundred and eight purple lightning marks constantly flickered.

The barren mountain beneath Li Changshou’s feet had long vanished, transforming into a huge lake of magma for dozens of li, vast stretches of earth shattered by the tribulation’s aftershocks…

This was his tribulation…

Suddenly, thunderous drum sounds appeared above. Li Changshou looked up to see two distinctly different armies flying out from the slowly rotating vortex of clouds.

One army was of strange and varied forms, of different races, many showing characteristics of various flying and walking beasts, mostly unique and distinctive.

The other army had forms similar to humans, but their bodies emanated thick blood energy…

Demons and Shamans?

If the eighth tribulation strike manifested tribulation spirit soldiers as the Two Races of Demons and Shamans, wouldn’t the ninth tribulation strike be Dragons, Phoenixes, and Qilins?

Most likely.

Li Changshou sensed these spirit soldiers’ strength, and his mouth couldn’t help but twitch several times.

No wonder these spirit soldiers appeared before the Five Elements tribulation manifested—each one had late-stage Celestial Immortal strength, and there were three hundred and sixty-five of each type!

The eighth tribulation strike wanted Li Changshou to face these seven hundred and twenty late-stage Celestial Immortal spirit soldiers’ interception while countering the regular tribulation—lightning, ice, wind, fire, and heart striking five times in succession!

The Dao Fruit of Long Life was before his eyes—endure and achieve the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, fail and the Three Flowers would wither!

Li Changshou took a light breath, paper dao-men flying out one after another, transforming into various forms, throwing out wave after wave of beans.

Gradually, except for around Li Changshou himself, the sky was filled with bean soldiers!

Beneath the treasure tower, a pool of purple-black heavenly lightning poured down, and cyan heavenly winds swept in from all around…

A hundred li away, Yunxiao and Grand Master had long raised their treasures and prepared their divine abilities, waiting for the best moment to act.

Even Qiongxiao and Bixiao, who weren’t very familiar with Li Changshou, were anxious for him…

In just a blink, lightning, wind, and fire swallowed Li Changshou’s form;

His surrounding immortal power barriers quickly collapsed, but his Dao body, now emanating a faint golden light, firmly endured the tempering of the tribulation force!

One breath, several breaths…

After the time it took to burn an incense stick passed, the tribulation force continued outputting, lightning illuminating the sky purple for thousands of li around.

Many cultivators had already discovered someone crossing tribulation here.

But firstly fearing being caught in it, and secondly, due to the Grand Master spreading some Dao resonance, none dared approach.

The various East Continent immortals who caught sight of this scene, regardless of cultivation level, all had their Dao hearts trembling…

‘Who is it, who exactly is crossing tribulation?’

In some forest, that black panther was somewhat agitated, jumping back and forth on treetops.

Already at the eighth strike, how was the person crossing tribulation still holding on? Was he going to have to eat tree bark?

Could it be another powerful being reincarnated?

‘Uh, why is there a word “another”…’

The panther was suddenly confused again.

Looking back at the tribulation site.

The eighth tribulation strike was successfully endured!

As the tribulation force gradually dispersed, the lightning, ice, wind, and fire began to recede, and that batch of “Demon and Shaman” spirit soldiers in the sky had almost broken through the bean soldiers’ encirclement.

At this moment, Li Changshou’s form burst out from the lightning curtain and sea of fire, lowered his head to spit out a mouthful of blood, and then swallowed four or five spirit pills glowing with spiritual light…

Just in spirit pill consumption alone, he had already used over a hundred.

He casually wiped his mouth corner, raised his brush and sword, and charged straight into the sky.

He had to end this quickly!

Only by resolving these spirit soldiers would he have more time to adjust his state and welcome the final ninth…

BOOM!

What was happening?

Li Changshou, about to charge into the mass of spirit soldiers, suddenly looked up to see golden light flashing all over the treasure tower, three hundred and sixty-five purple-golden lightning marks shining, completing the full cycle of Heaven!

Not even giving time to rest?

Li Changshou took a light breath. This wasn’t the time for frugal living—he directly wrapped a Nine Turns Golden Pill in immortal power and put it in his mouth.

Though he didn’t need it yet, preparing like this meant if he couldn’t hold on, he could just bite down.

Suddenly dragon roars and phoenix cries were heard above, dozens of flowing lights burst out from various parts of the tribulation clouds, and the entire tribulation cloud scattered and collapsed!

The vast tribulation force split into two parts, half condensing into the Five Elements tribulation, half transforming into dozens of divine dragons and phoenixes!

Dragons and phoenixes soared, and the world returned to darkness as if reenacting the world-shattering tribulation of ancient times!

“Changshou, don’t force yourself—this level of tribulation is beyond what you can forcibly endure.”

Grand Master Xuandu’s voice entered Li Changshou’s ears, “If you can’t hold on, call out immediately, and Cloud Immortal Sister and I will step in to save you.”

Li Changshou, with the Nine Turns Golden Pill in his mouth, immediately nodded heavily.

He who had been charging forward immediately retreated.

The bean soldiers released by the paper dao-men were almost instantly shattered by the suddenly emerging dragons and phoenixes!

Along with them, those Demon and Shaman spirit soldiers were also shattered by these forty-nine dragon and phoenix shadows…

Detail captured!

Seeing this scene, Li Changshou raised his eyebrows slightly, followed by his heart and liver trembling.

Each dragon and phoenix shadow had the strength of a half-step Golden Immortal!

With tribulation force enhancement…

A single shadow could probably fight to mutual destruction with the Sect Leader Ji Wuyou, who was counted as having Golden Immortal combat strength!

This was the greatest challenge of his Golden Immortal tribulation!

Not only that, those three hundred and sixty-five lightning marks transformed into formless fierce winds, condensed into heavenly fire seas, mysterious ice surrounding all directions…

Only the heart demons that arose in his heart were trampled to death by that group of robust elderly women.

Those elderly women even struck poses only seen in bodybuilding competitions, forming characters:

Shou’s Dao heart is protected by them.

This situation…

This state…

Was achieving a long life truly so difficult?

Though half his trump cards remained, they weren’t of much use now.

No matter how Li Changshou calculated in his heart, his probability of surviving this final wave was only a pitiful…

Seventy percent.

Seven lives, three deaths—rounding up, wasn’t this practically nine deaths, one life?

Finally, was he forced to use his ‘ultimate move’…

Call for help?

Naturally not, calling for help was the ultimate move.

Li Changshou closed his eyes, his expression still very calm, throwing out batch after batch of paper dao-men, the paper dao-men continuing to scatter beans into soldiers…

Though this seemed futile, bean soldiers rushing out only to be instantly shattered into remnants by dragons and phoenixes, it could buy Li Changshou a tiny bit of time.

The bean soldiers drew apart the forty-nine azure dragons and divine phoenixes, Li Changshou’s form gradually becoming surrounded.

“This is beyond what he can resist,” the previously silent Yunxiao suddenly spoke, urging, “Senior Brother Xuandu, when should we act?”

“Wait longer,” Xuandu frowned slightly, “He hasn’t called for help yet.”

“Aiya!” Bixiao anxiously said beside them, “If we wait for him to call for help it will be too late!

This disciple, is the Orthodox Unity School still not satisfied?

Those six, seven, eight tribulation strikes—even a Golden Immortal would be reduced to remnants!”

But Qiongxiao said: “Don’t rush. Tribulation is also an opportunity, the tribulation force also carries the Great Dao force. The longer he can endure, the more benefits.”

Bixiao couldn’t help rolling her eyes, “Could he possibly want to ascend directly to Great Luo Heaven in one step?”

The Grand Master laughed lightly, “Who can say for sure about such things?”

Just as these words fell, those forty-nine dragon and phoenix shadows almost simultaneously extinguished the bean soldiers they were chasing. They turned around, each howling and roaring, charging together toward Li Changshou standing in the sky!

Li Changshou, who had been muttering some count, suddenly opened his eyes, finished saying “forty-nine” in his mouth, and then let out a light shout:

“Fall!”

Purple lightning bloomed across the sky like a waterfall, crashing down toward Li Changshou below.

At this moment, dragon and phoenix shadows, heavenly lightning and fire, mysterious ice, and fierce winds, from all directions—front, back, up, down—struck simultaneously, wanting to crush Li Changshou’s bones to dust!

Li Changshou’s whole body erupted with immortal power, yet he used no defensive divine abilities!

His left hand supported his right, right hand forming sword fingers, his mouth rapidly chanting spells, so fast only “hum hum” sounds emerged!

Greenwood draws yang lightning, mysterious heaven blooms Dao flowers!

Steady Dao has true meaning, its name is Escape Method!

Blue-green lightning bloomed around Li Changshou, this lightning surging upward from below, meeting the sky full of lightning head-on, while Li Changshou vanished with a “whoosh,” directly merging into the lightning!

Five Elements Escape Method’s Wood Escape advanced version—Nine Heavens Lightning Escape Formula!

His most skilled technique, strongest method, wasn’t various divine abilities, wasn’t formations and poison pills, wasn’t scattering beans into soldiers, and wasn’t even cutting paper into humans!

But rather…

Twenty-three Escape Methods that had cost him countless efforts to cultivate!

In just a blink, Li Changshou had already rushed up through the sky along his released lightning, leaving those dragon and phoenix shadows behind, shaking off those wind, fire, and ice attacks!

He knew he only had this one chance!

The tribulation would quickly generate awareness, then pin him in place and frantically grind him—his chance to use an Escape Method would only come once!

At this moment, even Grand Master and Cloud Immortal couldn’t understand what Li Changshou was trying to do.

Li Changshou rode the lightning striking upward, this lightning having no power, dispersing directly upon contact with that purple divine lightning…

But Li Changshou’s form still rushed upward, his shadow flashing before the sea of lightning, actually once again…

Vanished!

The several people observing the tribulation simultaneously frowned in concentration.

Qiongxiao suddenly shouted: “He’s above, he went into the tribulation’s lightning!”

Bixiao also cried out in shock: “He escaped into the tribulation?”

He escaped into the tribulation!

Within the purple lightning, Li Changshou transformed into a point of light, freely roaming within the lightning tribulation, enduring the surging tribulation force!

The dragon and phoenix shadows that had locked onto him below now gathered together, one after another rapidly crashing into the purple sea of lightning!

The tribulation force that had split into two parts earlier now collided head-on, and those dragon and phoenix shadows were directly destroyed by the tribulation lightning!

Angry roars of azure dragons, grieving cries of divine phoenixes!

In the end, they all transformed into a rain of light, torn apart by the crashing lightning tribulation!

Just as these dragon and phoenix shadows had done when they appeared, tearing apart the Demon and Shaman spirit soldiers!

Li Changshou wasn’t faring well either.

Two overwhelmingly powerful tribulation forces surged in, crisscrossing front and back, striking the escaping Li Changshou!

A heavenly might descended, pressing down on Li Changshou, and forcing him out of the heavenly lightning…

Li Changshou revealed his true form, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his entire body’s immortal power already operating at full capacity, his Primordial Spirit resisting the pressure of Heaven and Earth!

He opened his spirit, welcoming the force of lightning, fire, wind, and ice, gritting his teeth to endure the tribulation!

He could only endure!

At this moment, the greatest threat—those dragon and phoenix shadows—had already been scattered by the lightning tribulation.

The probability of making it to the end without using the Nine Turns Golden Pill approached ninety-five percent!

And the Nine Turns Golden Pill was in his mouth, ready to be bitten if he couldn’t hold on!

But Li Changshou still dared not say he was stable, his spirit not relaxing in the slightest.

Even for heart demons that couldn’t withstand one strike from the elderly women, Li Changshou gave sufficient respect.

Could tribulation lightning not be escaped?

It could!

It’s just that the requirements for the Escape Method were extremely strict, and the timing of using it needed precise calculation, the opportunity flashing past in an instant, existing only in that fleeting moment.

According to Li Changshou’s summary and analysis, he discovered that tribulation lightning was merely the manifestation of tribulation force.

Tribulation force was both a trial and opportunity for cultivators;

But the lightning transformed from tribulation force only gave cultivators destruction.

Considering this angle, if one used an Escape Method to enter the tribulation lightning when it fell, wouldn’t one only have to endure pure tribulation force?

Li Changshou calculated hundreds of times, constantly verifying, and finally concluded…

This should be a ‘loophole’ in the tribulation system;

If exploited, Heaven’s Dao would likely quickly discover it and strike one out of the lightning.

In such circumstances during his tribulation today, Li Changshou had thought of using this method to avoid a wave of tribulation spirit soldiers during the sixth tribulation strike, but to be safe, had saved it until the end.

Well, helping Heaven’s Dao perfect its tribulation system—he, Li Changshou, as an excellent Dao School disciple, couldn’t shirk this duty!

Another moment later, Li Changshou’s body was already surging with golden light, his Dao resonance and aura rapidly climbing as the tribulation force gradually receded.

This Golden Immortal tribulation…

Probably, stable…

Ahem, mustn’t raise flags carelessly, wait until the final moment to say it.