Tempering the Body with Heavenly Tribulation, Advancing Beyond the Peak!

"One year..." Lu Changsheng had one year to prepare. Yet, what should he prepare? Lu Changsheng had long since consulted various records and possessed some understanding of heavenly tribulations. Heavenly tribulations were never fixed. Sometimes, they depended entirely on luck. If luck was on one's side, the first three tiers of tribulation would not be too formidable. But if one was unlucky, trouble loomed. Lightning tribulations, wind tribulations, fire tribulations, and more could all appear. Even so, Lu Changsheng was not overly worried. He had the underwater manor. That underwater manor was an immortal treasure. Even if he could not withstand the first three tiers of tribulation, he could immediately flee into the underwater manor for shelter. Once inside, the heavenly tribulation would be powerless against him. Although doing so might affect Ancestor Qingtian's tribulation, Lu Changsheng did not dare stake his life purely on luck in a matter of life and death. It was precisely because the underwater manor guaranteed his survival that Lu Changsheng had agreed so readily. "Most heavenly tribulations consist of lightning, wind, water, and fire. "If I can find powers of lightning, fire, or wind tribulation and analyze them in advance, it will not only advance my Mortal Immortal Dao progress, but also break down the nature of heavenly tribulations so that I can face them far more calmly a year from now. "The question is, where can I find the power of heavenly tribulation?" Lu Changsheng considered analyzing tribulation power. One year was neither long nor short. If he truly obtained tribulation power, he likely could analyze a portion of it. That would undoubtedly benefit his chances of withstanding the first three tiers. Seeking out the Spirit Trapper Chamber of Commerce would probably be useless for such a matter. But the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce encompassed all phenomena and might truly hold clues regarding tribulation power. With that in mind, Lu Changsheng immediately rose and headed to the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce. Before long, Lu Changsheng arrived within the chamber and met Ancestor Myriad Phenomena. "Fellow Daoist Myriad Phenomena, I need your help with something. "Can the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce inquire about treasures possessing the power of heavenly tribulation, or where such tribulation power can be found? I need to study the power of heavenly tribulation. "If there are treasures or leads regarding tribulation power, I will naturally spare no immortal crystals!" Lu Changsheng said bluntly. Ancestor Myriad Phenomena's brows furrowed slightly. "Study the power of heavenly tribulation?" Pausing, Ancestor Myriad Phenomena gave Lu Changsheng a deep look and then smiled. "Could it be that the City Lord sought out Fellow Daoist Dengtian?" "Oh? Fellow Daoist Myriad Phenomena knows of this?" Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised. Logically, while not an absolute secret, this was certainly a highly confidential matter. Ordinary people would never know of it. No matter how well-informed the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce was, they should not have learned of it so quickly. After all, Lu Changsheng had only just met Ancestor Qingtian. Could the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce have planted informants within the City Lord's Estate? Yet on second thought, that seemed impossible. If the chamber had planted spies in the City Lord's Estate, would Ancestor Qingtian let it slide? How could the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce dare offend Ancestor Qingtian? Ancestor Myriad Phenomena smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, in truth, you are not the first top-tier Ancestor invited by the City Lord. Prior to this, the City Lord also invited other top-tier Ancestors, but all of them declined. Do you know why?" Lu Changsheng came to a sudden realization. So Ancestor Qingtian had already invited others before him. Viewed in that light, a leak of information was completely normal. Ancestor Myriad Phenomena could easily have deduced it himself, without any spies involved. "Why decline? When Ancestor Qingtian personally extends an invitation, he surely offers handsome compensation." Lu Changsheng was certain that for other top-tier Ancestors, Ancestor Qingtian would tailor the rewards accordingly. Such compensation was difficult for any top-tier Ancestor to refuse. For instance, Lu Changsheng needed immortal spirit items, and Ancestor Qingtian offered precisely that. How could Lu Changsheng refuse? He could not. Seeing Lu Changsheng's expression, Ancestor Myriad Phenomena naturally understood. He chuckled and said, "Indeed, virtually no top-tier Ancestor could refuse the rewards offered by Ancestor Qingtian. "However, while a top-tier Ancestor can theoretically endure the first three tiers of tribulation, what of reality? Even an invincible existence among top-tier Ancestors faces a degree of risk. "Those good things are not so easily claimed. Once one agrees to Ancestor Qingtian's request, one might perish under the heavenly tribulation. "The top-tier Ancestors naturally weigh the scales; life comes first." Lu Changsheng understood. When life was at stake, no matter how great the treasure, one had to consider carefully whether one would live to enjoy it. Enduring a heavenly tribulation was, for most top-tier Ancestors, gambling with their lives! Hence, they naturally refused. Yet Lu Changsheng was different. He possessed the underwater manor, which guaranteed his safety. Otherwise, he most likely would have refused as well; he would never wager his life either! Ancestor Myriad Phenomena looked at Lu Changsheng, then slowly spoke, "It seems Fellow Daoist Dengtian has already made up his mind, so I will say no more. "As for treasures or clues regarding tribulation power, it is not as though we have none. It is just..." Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. "Just what?" "Just... exceedingly expensive! Not ordinary expensive, but exorbitant! "Our Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce indeed possesses a very peculiar treasure. Once, a supreme Ancestor attempted to refine it using the power of heavenly tribulation. Regrettably, the refinement failed. "Although the refinement failed, it was genuinely baptized by tribulation power, and traces of that power remain within it. If Fellow Daoist Dengtian wishes to study such power, this treasure could not be more suitable. "However, this treasure is placed with us on consignment and requires one hundred immortal crystals!" Ancestor Myriad Phenomena explained. "One hundred immortal crystals?" Lu Changsheng frowned. That price was indeed exorbitant! What kind of treasure was worth one hundred immortal crystals? Moreover, if it were truly exceptional, it would have been sold long ago, leaving no bargain for Lu Changsheng. The item had most likely proved unsellable. "Fellow Daoist Myriad Phenomena, may I ask what kind of treasure it is?" Lu Changsheng asked. "In truth, it is a flawed remnant. I shall have someone bring it so that Fellow Daoist Dengtian may examine it thoroughly." At Ancestor Myriad Phenomena's instruction, a treasure was soon delivered before Lu Changsheng. "Hmm? This is... a mountain?" Lu Changsheng was somewhat astonished. What had he just seen? A mountain peak! This treasure was actually a mountain peak? This was utterly... insane! "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, this treasure is named Tribulation Mountain. "As the name implies, it was meant to be tempered by heavenly tribulation. While it appears to be a single mountain, it is actually composed of many mountains. "Its materials are extraordinarily rare—a precious soil from the Boundary Sea, each clod of which is exceedingly heavy. "Originally, the refiner intended to rely on tribulation power to blend Tribulation Mountain thoroughly into one, endowing it with inherent tribulation power. Once completed, it might even have become an immortal treasure! "Regrettably, the attempt failed. Under the heavenly tribulation, Tribulation Mountain was damaged and proved impossible to fuse. Re-refining it would demand untold effort. In fact, these raw materials alone are worth more than a hundred immortal crystals, but alas..." Ancestor Myriad Phenomena shook his head. When he first saw the item, he could not stop shaking his head. A spendthrift! An absolute spendthrift! Those precious materials were worth several hundred immortal crystals. That the refinement had failed was a grievous waste. And now, even listed for merely one hundred immortal crystals, it still found no buyers. A failed Tribulation Mountain could not be used in battle, nor could it serve as a supporting artifact. One could only break it down for raw materials, which might hold some use in refining other treasures, but salvaging them would not fetch one hundred immortal crystals either. Thus, the treasure had sat on consignment in the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce, unable to sell. Yet Lu Changsheng's eyes brightened. He could sense the tribulation power within Tribulation Mountain. This proved that it genuinely contained tribulation power, and quite a substantial amount at that. Others had no way to comprehend it, but he had forged a Mortal Immortal foundation; he could analyze the power of heavenly tribulation. Still, one hundred immortal crystals was no small sum. Yet Lu Changsheng did not need to worry. "Fellow Daoist Myriad Phenomena, I shall take Tribulation Mountain. "I will have someone deliver the hundred immortal crystals shortly." With that, Lu Changsheng reached out and grabbed Tribulation Mountain. It was astonishingly heavy; even with his strength, he felt its immense weight. Ancestor Myriad Phenomena nodded, unconcerned that Lu Changsheng had not produced the immortal crystals on the spot. Given Lu Changsheng's current status and prestige, he certainly would not resort to outright theft. He still possessed that much credibility. However, Lu Changsheng had no intention of paying those hundred immortal crystals out of his own pocket. Someone else would provide them! Leaving the Myriad Phenomena Chamber of Commerce, Lu Changsheng headed straight for the City Lord's Estate. He met personally with Ancestor Qingtian and informed him of Tribulation Mountain. Ancestor Qingtian proved quite reasonable, smiling as he said, "No matter, a mere hundred immortal crystals is of little consequence. As long as it aids Fellow Daoist in withstanding the first three tiers of tribulation, that Tribulation Mountain is yours." Lu Changsheng nodded. "Then I shall trouble the City Lord." With that, Lu Changsheng turned and departed. Indeed, Lu Changsheng needed Tribulation Mountain, but rather than buying it himself, he had Ancestor Qingtian purchase it. Naturally, Ancestor Qingtian agreed. To Qingtian, successfully passing the heavenly tribulation was of paramount importance; everything else could be set aside as inconsequential. Returning to his cave dwelling, Lu Changsheng brought out Tribulation Mountain. The person who refined this Tribulation Mountain had possessed a brilliant concept: attempting to forge an immortal treasure using tribulation power. Even if it did not become a true immortal treasure, its might likely would not have fallen far short of one. Immortal treasures were generally refined only by mighty figures of the Immortal Realm; attempting to create an artifact rivaling an immortal treasure without reaching the Immortal Realm was naturally no easy feat. Still, it was fortunate that the attempt had failed, for otherwise, how could Lu Changsheng have claimed such a bargain? Tribulation Mountain was immensely heavy. Had it truly been refined to completion, its might would have been terrifying. Imbued with tribulation power, it would have been a formidable treasure indeed. But since Lu Changsheng did not know artifact refinement, he naturally had no intention of re-refining or repairing it. With a slight expansion of his perception, Lu Changsheng detected the lingering tribulation power within the mountain. Even that mere trace caused an instinctive tremor of apprehension to stir in his heart. "Tribulation power..." Lu Changsheng examined it more closely. "This should be lightning tribulation power. "There is also wind tribulation power, fire tribulation power... "Nearly every variety of tribulation power is present." Lu Changsheng's eyes gleamed. He drew forth a single wisp of tribulation power. It was lightning tribulation! Boom! Though no lightning struck outwardly, a dull crash of thunder reverberated through Lu Changsheng's mind. The rolling thunder rocked his spirit, threatening to shatter his consciousness. "This is... heavenly lightning?" Lu Changsheng's heart jolted. Although the rolling thunder took him aback, he was, after all, a top-tier Ancestor who had forged the Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation. He quickly composed himself, immediately severing his connection to Tribulation Mountain, and the muffled thunder vanished. "Phew..." Lu Changsheng let out a long breath. "So this is the power of heavenly lightning? Formidable indeed, worthy of a heavenly tribulation. "A single wisp of lightning tribulation power dazed my spirit. While caught off guard, it proves the extraordinary nature of this heavenly lightning..." Lu Changsheng was genuinely startled. This was his first direct contact with tribulation power. Having experienced it firsthand, he realized he had indeed underestimated heavenly tribulations before. He had to take them seriously. Fortunately, Tribulation Mountain allowed him to experience tribulation power in advance. Otherwise, enduring the first three tiers a year from now might have caused him considerable suffering or even placed him in danger. Moreover, this was merely lightning tribulation. Tribulation Mountain also held wind, fire, water, and other tribulation powers, which he could experience one by one. Merely experiencing them was not enough—he needed to analyze them thoroughly! If he could decipher tribulation power completely, not only would enduring the first three tiers pose no problem, but his Mortal Immortal Dao progress would also advance significantly. With that in mind, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer. He began analyzing the various tribulation powers within Tribulation Mountain. "Although various tribulation powers exist, records indicate lightning tribulation occurs most frequently, followed by wind, fire, water, and the rest. "I have only one year, and I do not know if I can analyze them all. If time falls short, I must make choices. "Better to analyze lightning tribulation first." Considering that the first three tiers had a high probability of featuring lightning, Lu Changsheng chose to analyze it first to ensure nothing went awry. Thus, Lu Changsheng formally commenced his analysis of the lightning tribulation power within Tribulation Mountain. Presently, his Mortal Immortal Dao progress sat at 18%—not particularly high, merely a step beyond entering the Dao. Yet it had genuinely enhanced his analytical capability. Consequently, though analyzing lightning tribulation power was difficult, Lu Changsheng was no longer at a total loss as he once had been. Finding a direction for analysis, he delved deeply along that path. Days slipped by. One month, two months, three months... Analyzing tribulation power proved even harder than he had envisioned. Analyzing lightning tribulation alone plunged him into a protracted process that demanded massive amounts of focus and energy. However, unlike the corpse of the Kui Cow, Lu Changsheng already possessed a clear direction for this lightning tribulation power and was certain to decipher it; he merely needed time. In the blink of an eye, half a year passed. Crackle! A wisp of lightning appeared in Lu Changsheng's hand. In truth, this was lightning tribulation power he had drawn forth—he had now analyzed it completely. "This wisp of lightning tribulation power can actually dissolve my physical body? "Moreover, as it continuously dissolves my body, it simultaneously tempers my physical frame, pushing it a step further. Even having reached the peak, it can still take a step beyond the top of a hundred-foot pole... truly incredible..." Lu Changsheng marveled. Originally, his physical body had reached the peak of the Sovereign Realm, leaving virtually no room for further advancement. To advance, he could only break through to the Ancestor Realm. Yet wanting to establish a Physical Immortal Dao foundation, he could not break through just yet. He had to wait until he finished analyzing the Kui Cow's corpse and refined its flesh and blood to forge that foundation before breaking through to the Ancestor Realm. His physical body had previously been unable to advance. Now, things were different. Having finished analyzing lightning tribulation power, Lu Changsheng tested it on himself and discovered it could dissolve his flesh. It was a complete dissolution, thoroughly obliterated by tribulation power. Yet once his flesh regrew, it reassembled and advanced further. This was an advancement at the very peak of the Sovereign Realm! Even the slightest improvement under such circumstances was exceedingly difficult. "This is only lightning tribulation power. If I add wind tribulation, fire tribulation, and other tribulation powers, could my physical body not be elevated to an unimaginable degree?" Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up. What was a foundation? This was a foundation! Continuously elevating the body and shattering constraints without breaking through the realm was, in essence, solidifying one's foundation. Such opportunities were extraordinarily rare; many powerhouses lacked any chance to consolidate their foundations even if they wished to. Yet now, an opportunity to reinforce his physical foundation lay right before him, well within reach. The deeper his foundation, the sturdier his Physical Immortal Dao foundation would be once forged, vastly increasing his chances of becoming a mighty figure of the Immortal Realm in the future. This was an unexpected windfall. Lu Changsheng's original intent had merely been to analyze tribulation power to prepare for withstanding the first three tiers, with advancing his Mortal Immortal Dao progress as a byproduct. He had not anticipated such a massive additional harvest. Only half a year had passed. Half a year still remained before his appointment with Ancestor Qingtian. Therefore, Lu Changsheng continued analyzing the powers of fire tribulation, wind tribulation, and others. Having already analyzed lightning tribulation, the rest shared commonalities, all being manifestations of tribulation power. Consequently, his efficiency improved considerably as he resumed his analysis. Finally, the one-year mark arrived. Lu Changsheng brought up his attribute panel to inspect his status. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 80,080,000 (Peerless Through the Ages) Mortal Immortal Dao: 28% (Enter the Dao) Myriad Spirits Immortal Body Foundation: 40% (Not Yet Complete) Annihilation Divine Eye: Top-tier Ancestor Realm level Slaughter Dao: Four-Revolution Flesh Martial Dao: Nonary Growth (Sovereign Realm) Comprehension Deduction: Can consume large amounts of comprehension to deduce On the attribute panel, Lu Changsheng's comprehension had broken past the eighty-million threshold, drawing ever closer to one hundred million points. His Mortal Immortal Dao had also improved substantially, climbing from 18% to 28%—a full 10% increase. Such progress was astounding, representing virtually the largest singular gain Lu Changsheng had ever achieved from analyzing a single power or treasure, which demonstrated how truly extraordinary tribulation power was. Even so, Lu Changsheng had not completely analyzed all the tribulation powers present. He sensed there was still vast potential to dig deeper. This was merely what showed on the attribute panel. What the panel did not display was his physical strength. Although his physical body remained classified at the Sovereign Realm peak, over the course of this past year, Lu Changsheng had used tribulation power to temper his body continuously as he analyzed it. This had spurred tremendous leaps in his physical toughness, repeatedly shattering constraints without breaking through, remaining firmly within the Sovereign Realm. Yet the longer this continued, the deeper his physical foundation grew. By now, his body was so formidable that he felt it could rival that of an ordinary Ancestor Realm powerhouse. Naturally, that was merely his impression. In truth, it might still fall slightly short of an Ancestor Realm body, but the difference was likely negligible. With such a profound physical foundation, once he refined the flesh and blood of the Kui Cow's corpse, stepping onto the Physical Immortal Dao would be a matter of course—he might even soar straight to the heavens! "One year has passed. Today is the appointed day; it is time to go to the City Lord's Estate." Lu Changsheng rose and left his cave dwelling. He had not forgotten the significance of this day. Having given his word to Ancestor Qingtian, he naturally would not renege. Lu Changsheng checked the underwater manor once more. Everything was in order. In fact, having analyzed the tribulation power within Tribulation Mountain, Lu Changsheng felt even more confident. Even without the underwater manor, he harbored no fear and was essentially certain of enduring the first three tiers. Still, to guarantee complete safety, taking the underwater manor along was best. Soon, Lu Changsheng left his dwelling and headed straight for the City Lord's Estate. Arriving in the estate's main hall, Lu Changsheng found Ancestor Qingtian already waiting. "Greetings, City Lord." Entering the hall, Lu Changsheng looked toward Ancestor Qingtian. Swish! Two other gazes fell upon Lu Changsheng simultaneously. "Hmm?" Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly. These were two Ancestor Realm cultivators. They did not exude the overwhelming pressure of Ancestor Qingtian, making them most likely top-tier Ancestors. Yet why had Ancestor Qingtian summoned two top-tier Ancestors today? "Could it be..." Lu Changsheng seemed to realize something, his gaze instantly shifting toward Ancestor Qingtian. Ancestor Qingtian smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, allow me to introduce these two fellow daoists. "These two are Fellow Daoist Baishan and Fellow Daoist Qianxing, both top-tier Ancestors. Like you, Fellow Daoist Dengtian, they have come to lend me a hand in withstanding the first three tiers of tribulation. "Fellow daoists, this is Fellow Daoist Dengtian of the Immortal Martial Palace." Ancestor Qingtian introduced both sides to each other. However, Lu Changsheng's heart sank slightly. Since Qingtian had already secured him, why recruit additional top-tier Ancestors? Crucially, if three top-tier Ancestors stepped forward together, the tribulation's power would escalate accordingly—a detail Ancestor Qingtian had never mentioned beforehand. Lu Changsheng had no desire to silently endure this. A matter of life and death could not be handled with muddled indifference. Thus, Lu Changsheng spoke bluntly, "City Lord, you never mentioned previously that these two fellow daoists would join us. "When enduring a heavenly tribulation, every additional person causes the tribulation's power to surge dramatically, vastly increasing the danger for any top-tier Ancestor. "If the City Lord insists that the three of us face it together, please pardon me, for I will not take part." Lu Changsheng stated his stance unequivocally. If three people had to face the tribulation together, he would no longer abide by their agreement. After all, it was Ancestor Qingtian who had breached the understanding first by acting unilaterally without consulting him. Lu Changsheng certainly would not charge forward like a fool knowing the heightened peril. That was out of the question! As for offending Ancestor Qingtian—even offending him to his face—what of it? Even if Ancestor Qingtian was a supreme Ancestor, Lu Changsheng felt no fear. He possessed the underwater manor; even if he could not defeat him, could he not flee? But asking him to court death? Apologies, but that was impossible! For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy. The other two top-tier Ancestors remained silent. Clearly, they had known all along that three top-tier Ancestors would be sharing the burden of the first three tiers. But Lu Changsheng was unwilling! Ancestor Qingtian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Since Fellow Daoist Dengtian is unwilling, then let us drop the matter." Ancestor Qingtian showed no anger, gazing placidly at Lu Changsheng. He had chosen three top-tier Ancestors simply to ensure absolute certainty. As for the heightened danger? To Ancestor Qingtian, three top-tier Ancestors acting together would indeed increase the tribulation's power, but if it guaranteed safe passage through the first three tiers, that slight increase in danger was well worth it. All three were top-tier Ancestors; even if the tribulation grew stronger, it would not escalate excessively. And if someone died, it would not be Ancestor Qingtian. Moreover, he had paid a substantial price. Even without Lu Changsheng, two other top-tier Ancestors remained. Lu Changsheng had initially intended to walk away. But thinking of that immortal spirit item, as well as the hundred immortal crystals spent on Tribulation Mountain—having already swallowed the meat, spitting it out now felt thoroughly distasteful. Lu Changsheng's gaze swept over the two top-tier Ancestors. He understood Ancestor Qingtian's misgivings; the man merely sought greater safety and absolute certainty. Yet would adding two more people truly guarantee certainty? Not necessarily. Adding two people might simply mean adding two burdens! Lu Changsheng spoke slowly, enunciating each word, "City Lord, for the first three tiers of tribulation, there is no need to look for others. I alone am enough! "If the City Lord does not believe me, we can put it to the test." Ancestor Qingtian's eyes narrowed slightly. "How shall we test it?" "Very simple. I shall spar with these two fellow daoists. "Within three breaths, I will defeat them both. "If I fail to defeat them within three breaths, I will accede to the City Lord's arrangement and face the first three tiers of lightning tribulation alongside them. How about it?" As Lu Changsheng's words fell, the eyes of Ancestor Baishan and Ancestor Qianxing turned frosty. They were not fools. What was Lu Changsheng implying? He was calling them burdens, asserting there was no need for them to endure the three tiers of tribulation and that they were utterly superfluous. What was this? Arrogance? No, mere arrogance could not describe it. This was overflowing conceitedness and blatant disregard, treating them as though they were nothing. One had to realize that to be summoned by Ancestor Qingtian, both were surely standout figures among top-tier Ancestors. How could they endure being belittled so by Lu Changsheng? "Fellow Daoist Dengtian, are you certain you wish to spar and defeat both of these fellow daoists within three breaths?" Ancestor Qingtian fixed his gaze on Lu Changsheng. "Certain!" Lu Changsheng replied resolutely. "Very well. Then I must trouble the two of you to spar with Fellow Daoist Dengtian." Before the two top-tier Ancestors could speak, Ancestor Qingtian agreed outright. The pair parted their lips, hesitating, but ultimately said nothing. They were not Lu Changsheng; the conditions Ancestor Qingtian offered were impossible for them to refuse, so they naturally obeyed his arrangements in all things. "Three breaths? Hmph, Ancestor Qianxing, I never thought the day would come when we would be looked down upon like this." "Then let us accompany Fellow Daoist Dengtian in a proper spar." "We have traveled from afar; we cannot allow Fellow Daoist Dengtian to leave disappointed!" A strange glint flashed in Ancestor Baishan's eyes. He was genuinely enraged. Anyone subjected to such contempt would surely be infuriated. Refraining from saying more was already giving Ancestor Qingtian ample face. But when they moved against Lu Changsheng in a moment, neither would hold back in the slightest!