A tiger’s roar shattered the sea of lightning and split the sky. An enormous divine tiger appeared — covered from head to tail in dense markings, its body a fusion of stone scales and flesh, its appearance ferocious and brutal.

A quasi-emperor had arrived. This was a supremely powerful quasi-emperor of unknown origin, its two eyes like red lanterns — blood-red and terrifying.

It fixed its gaze upon Ye Fan. The Dao laws radiating from its body spread outward, and dark mist swirled and billowed around it, ready to surge forward at any moment.

This was a stone spirit — one whose cultivation had reached such a terrifying level as to be incomprehensible. Its arrival came as no surprise. Ye Fan had a blood feud with the stone spirit lineage, having slain far too many of them. Having passed through this region, it naturally chose to strike.

“A familiar energy signature!”

Ye Fan’s heart jolted. He suddenly remembered — years ago, a stone spirit had placed a curse upon him, one that shrouded him in a dark blood divine ring for a long stretch of time before he had finally, with great difficulty, extinguished it.

At that time he had never laid eyes on this stone tiger — he had been cursed through an isolated star system. Today was the first time they faced each other directly.

It was clear that, during that time, the stone tiger, though it had held dominion as a patriarch among stone spirits and been exceptionally powerful, had not been a true quasi-emperor — short by a single threshold. It had only made the breakthrough within the last three centuries or so.

Even as Ye Fan remained within the lightning sea, his heart was rocked by the revelation. This stone tiger was formidable beyond measure.

Stone spirits, due to various reasons outside their control, emerged from the world prematurely — making it difficult for them to reach full consummation. Unless gifted with a truly extraordinary opportunity, any significant breakthrough was practically impossible.

This was a stone tiger that had cultivated from scratch and charged its way into the quasi-emperor realm — something that defied all reason and shook the world.

“I understand now. The Stone Decree of years past ended up in your hands!” Though still within the sea of lightning, Ye Fan sensed a wave of danger washing over him. This tiger was terrifying — particularly the ocean-like energy surge pulsing from deep within its body.

Long ago, when the seal of the Demon Well at Dayue Slope shattered and the ancient road crumbled entirely, that place had been a “divine vault” left behind by the Dao Honored One — containing the bodies of supreme stone spirits from the Age of Myth.

Beyond that, a Stone Decree had been stored within it — inscribed with the highest secret techniques of the stone spirit lineage, capable of allowing them to continue breaking through even with incomplete physical forms. On the day of that great battle, the Radiance Clan, the Feather Clan, the Human Clan, and others had fought without cease — each departing with something gained. But the Stone Decree had vanished, its whereabouts unknown.

Now, on this day, the truth finally surfaced. It had been this divine tiger all along. Back then it had been much like the Old Vine Snake — practically a quasi-emperor already. Upon obtaining the Heaven-Mending Technique inscribed within the Stone Decree, it had naturally broken through with great speed.

Dark mist churned around the divine tiger. Its two eyes were each as wide as a basin, blood-red and intimidating. Its fangs were sharper than longswords — white and gleaming, bone-chilling. Having come face to face like this, how could it hold back?

Roar!

One tiger’s howl — and the cosmos trembled. This was a world-shaking power of immense magnitude. A tiger’s roar — sound waves that shattered the world, pulverizing all matter, creating a perfect vacuum — like a black tide surging forward to engulf everything.

Even the sea of lightning was blown apart, a void carved out of it by the roar. This great divine ability of the tiger’s howl, unleashed by a quasi-emperor, was absolutely peerless — without equal.

To say nothing of anything else — had any Great Saint been present at that moment, they would have dropped like dumplings thrown into boiling water, one after another. Every last one would have been roared to death. The killing power of this secret technique was simply too overwhelming.

Ye Fan, seeing this, though utterly exhausted, still let out a single Dao cry. His voice was clear and sharp — like a dragon singing through nine heavens, resonating across the entire cosmic expanse.

This was a secret technique derived from the supreme Buddhist divine art, the syllable “Om” — of tremendous power. The sound wave of the tiger’s roar was stopped cold. The two collided with ferocious intensity. The tiger’s wave of force could not advance — it had failed to land any damage.

“You slaughtered my clanspeople. If I allow you to become a quasi-emperor today, how could I face my descendants? Fate has brought us together here — this is heaven’s will.”

The divine tiger’s voice came like a muffled thunderclap. Its eyes shot out a soul-shaking crimson radiance. Above its head appeared a stone implement — none other than the Stone Decree of that year!

In that instant, an energy of supreme power erupted — hinting vaguely at the majesty of an imperial-grade divine weapon. Though flawed and incomplete, it was still devastatingly powerful.

Aoooo…!

A tiger’s howl split the sky. Great showers of light appeared around it — like immortals soaring through the air.

And then, descending from above, came a terrifying white tiger — radiating the energy of the Immortal Domain, sending tremors through every soul who witnessed it.

Those watching from distant space could not help but tremble, falling back rapidly. That white tiger was not a real entity — it was woven from the great Dao laws of heaven and earth itself — the most fearsome stone spirit Dao law in existence, connected to heaven and moving divine forces, resonating with the white tiger of the Immortal Domain.

This was like borrowing a technique, and like a response from an immortal being — the Dao and law left behind in the mortal world by the white tiger resonating with the stone tiger, traced and captured by it, and now drawn forth to merge with its own body.

Every onlooker went pale. This white tiger was outrageously powerful. And yet it had mastered such a secret technique — and combined that with a stone implement of such caliber. Everyone who faced it would feel a chill of dread.

Boom!

The tribulation exploded with renewed fury. Ye Fan’s catastrophe had not yet ended — and at this moment, a new development emerged. Countless chains of chaotic divine order descended from the sea of lightning, wrapping around him.

Disaster. His heart sank. Why now of all moments? The quasi-emperor tribulation was like this — there would come a period where heaven itself bound you, and you had to break free before the tribulation could be considered complete.

Now, at this moment — was it not simply making him a target?

This divine tiger was terrifyingly powerful and not easy to deal with. Now he was anchored within the sea of lightning. But a person capable of becoming a quasi-emperor was never someone simple — it would certainly find a way to pass through the lightning sea and reach him.

Those who could become quasi-emperors were all extraordinary — transcendent figures who had risen above the masses of all living beings. Now, hoping the tribulation lightning would slay the enemy was no longer realistic.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

Within the thunder, chains of divine order interlaced, binding Ye Fan completely — layer upon layer of laws wound around him until he looked like a dumpling wrapped tight in leaves.

“Fight to the death!”

Ye Fan gritted his teeth. At this point, he had no choice but to take whatever came. The one thing that gave him comfort was that the remnant traces of the Stone Emperor, the Lord of the Immortal Realm, and the others had not yet been fully broken. They still functioned like a prison around his physical body. If he were attacked now, he could borrow that force to continue shattering the laws — to break the seal.

Boom!

Yet heaven showed him no such mercy. From within the tribulation descended a vast primordial world — true dragons coiling within it, immortal phoenixes soaring, vermillion birds trailing floods of fire across the heavens —

This looked exactly like a realm of the Immortal Domain, pressing down upon him, crushing toward Ye Fan. Truly both internal and external calamity at once — heavy enough to make Ye Fan’s own heart grow dark with doubt about whether he could survive.

“Heh. Even heaven loathes you. This is a divine decree coming down — to use my hand to destroy you!” The divine tiger let out a cold laugh.

With its opponent bound like a dumpling and waiting to be slain, this outcome was so unexpected that even the tiger could not help but want to laugh aloud.

From the far reaches, everyone was stunned.

“This is bad!” The Black Emperor cried out anxiously.

“Is he going to die? Looks like there’s no need for us to move.” Some watched coldly from the shadows, eyes utterly without compassion.

Boom!

“You dare use my brother’s moment of tribulation to bully him — you do not know what death means!” At this critical juncture, a great shout rang out. A monkey with a thunder-splitting beak, fiery golden eyes, and gleaming golden fur all over appeared — tearing open the void, charging straight toward the divine tiger.

The Holy Prince had come. He had received word not long before that the Heavenly Court was in danger and had rushed back from the battlefield — and had arrived just in time to encounter Ye Fan undergoing tribulation.

“Monkey, mind your own business!” The divine tiger was ferocious beyond measure, and though it said so, it had already acted directly. The white tiger merged with its body, making it even more terrifying. The Stone Decree above its head emitted immortal radiance, striking toward the Holy Prince.

“Watch out!”

Ye Fan bellowed. He knew all too well how terrifying that Stone Decree was — in years past, it had been a divine implement capable of withstanding the Divine Refinement Vessel’s assault. If it truly struck the Holy Prince, the situation would be critical.

Bang!

The Holy Prince let out a great shout. From the crown of his head burst a cascade of auspicious light — immortal radiance in full bloom. A broken black iron staff appeared, striking forward.

This was the weapon of the Battling Saint Emperor — shattered amid the chaos of dark turmoil, severely damaged to the extreme, yet in the end half of it had remained and returned to the Holy Prince’s side.

In ordinary times, the Holy Prince tended to it carefully, seeking out immortal materials, hoping that one day it could be restored.

Since the enemy had brought out a great killing implement, he naturally would not stand idle — he raised his staff and swung. Though its imperial Dao might was incomparable to what it had once been, it was still absolutely capable of overwhelming the opponent.

The battle ignited!

Within the sea of lightning, Ye Fan rose and sank, bound in the divine order chains, his whole body trembling. He did not rush to break the law-chains — instead, he was gathering all the power of his flesh and his divine consciousness to strike inward, seeking to destroy the last remnant traces the ancient sovereigns had left within his body.

Boom!

Outside, the Immortal Domain replica bore down — nearly swallowing him within it. True dragons, immortal phoenixes, vermillion birds, white tigers all came rushing at him to strike him down. Ye Fan let out a thunderous roar, drawing all power inward to assault those remnant traces.

“Truly fearsome. I am genuinely startled. Such flesh, such a divine vessel — is this not precisely the cauldron I require?” Shen Ming appeared, standing in the void. His face was written with cruelty and indifference, his eyes cold enough to reach into one’s bones.

“I had originally intended to face you in a fair battle. But I fear there may be no such opportunity — others might destroy you ahead of me. And if so, would I not lose this divine vessel?” Shen Ming spoke with bone-chilling coldness, his full head of hair dancing wildly. He was like a peerless sovereign — looking down upon everything — advancing step by step toward the sea of lightning.

“To obtain the divine vessel — forgive me. I must act now. I will slay your Primordial Spirit and take your body, using it to build the foundation of my Dao!” Shen Ming’s words were merciless.

To reach the quasi-emperor realm was to be exceptional beyond compare — a genius of cultivation who had transcended the masses. Moreover, he hailed from the Immortal Mausoleum and carried a secret treasure upon him, capable of blocking the lightning radiance and ensuring he did not become caught in the tribulation.

“Master!” Huahua cried out, wanting to rush forward. Li Tian and the others were equally frantic — yet they had not yet become quasi-emperors, and there was nothing they could do.

“Don’t be hasty.” The Black Emperor managed to remain composed. Though the situation was desperate, it had grown even calmer, saying: “Thousands of Great Emperor remnant arrays are ready. Stand by to bury them all with sheer numbers!”

These remnant arrays had one weakness — they were suited for defense and counterattack. With the enemy currently entangled in battle with Ye Fan, using them now would mean collateral damage.

“Ye Fan, my friend — what a pity we meet like this.” Shen Ming’s dark gold war garb glimmered with crystalline light, his hair drifting gently, a faint and indifferent smile on his face. “I have always wished for a battle between us. What a shame. But do not worry — I will make good use of your flesh. It will become a supreme cauldron and help me attain the Dao.”

“You talk too much.” Ye Fan said coldly.

“Is that so? I only hoped to let you rest in peace — saying a few extra words before the end, so your body does not, through instinct and resentment, transform into a vicious ghost. That would not be the cauldron I need.” Shen Ming replied with ease, a faint cold smile at the corners of his mouth.

Boom!

Ye Fan struck. Though trapped, and at the most arduous moment of his trial — still striving to break through the last sovereign imprints within his body — he launched into battle nonetheless.

Every inch of his flesh and blood erupted in limitless radiance. Now that his Dao laws could be partially accessed, he unleashed them without restraint.

Rumble!

Shen Ming bore down with absolute, heaven-dominating force.

Crack!

Ye Fan shattered many of the divine order chains, shifted his position, and simultaneously shook the cauldron — mother qi of all things poured down to strike toward Shen Ming.

“What a fine cauldron. Once this great tribulation passes, this cauldron will achieve divine status — there are few weapons in all the world, save imperial-grade divine weapons, that can rival it. Ye Fan, my friend, I will take good care of it on your behalf. Please go in peace.”

At those final words, Shen Ming’s smile faded. No more nonchalance. His expression turned utterly cold and ruthless, carrying a great and fearsome dignity — like an ancient sovereign gazing down upon the world.

He struck — ten thousand Daos singing in harmony, a treasure pagoda crashing down — seeking to slay Ye Fan’s Primordial Spirit and take his flesh.