Chapter 839 - 834: Immortal Monarch of Tribulation
The Profound Spirit Realm.
In a side hall of the Celestial Court, Daoist light shot into the sky as the Four Symbols manifested. Amidst the shimmering radiance sat a man in a Profound Robe, his hands forming a Finger Technique against his chest.
At his fingertips, an Elixir Pill slowly rotated.
Around the Elixir Pill, lightning crackled and golden bolts danced wildly, forming a web of glowing fissures that seeped into the surrounding Void, tightly connecting with the Profound Spirit Realm.
Although he had decided to head to the Star Palace, Lü Yang did not act immediately. Instead, he planned to first linger and bond with the Profound Spirit Realm, which he had just become intimately familiar with.
In short, he decided to experience the Profound Spirit Realm’s enhancement on his Fruit. After all, he had never seen such an Outer Realm enhancement in any other Outer Dao Realm Heaven. The effect was highly akin to the sublimation of the Fruit Position Profound Mysterious, and it could even allow an Outer Dao True Monarch to contend with an Orthodox True Monarch to a certain extent.
Facts proved that the Profound Spirit Realm was truly wonderful.
Lü Yang wondered, "This Outer Realm is definitely extraordinary! What exactly is its origin?"
Initially, he thought the Profound Spirit Realm’s enhancement merely strengthened the Fruit Position Imagery of the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder]. While powerful, it didn’t seem particularly special.
However, he now realized he was wrong.
He thought, "Rather than strengthening the Fruit Position Imagery, it’s more like it bestowed a Fruit Position Profound Mysterious out of thin air, perfectly integrating it with the Fruit itself!
"More importantly, it is subtly changing my Fruit. It’s safe to say that after being integrated for a long time, the Outer Dao Fruit Position will gradually birth Profound Mysteries under the influence of the Profound Spirit Realm, eventually advancing to Orthodox! This is definitely no ordinary Outer Dao Realm Heaven; it must have a significant background!"
Thinking of this, Lü Yang could not help but marvel inwardly.
As for this spontaneously bestowed Fruit Position Profound Mysterious, Lü Yang called it [Celestial Will]. In simple terms, it meant becoming the Heaven and Earth consciousness of the Profound Spirit Realm itself.
He pondered, "No wonder it has the local restriction of the Profound Spirit Realm.
"After all, the conceptual scope of this Profound Mystery is too vast. It can only be utilized within the Profound Spirit Realm. If switched to a super Outer Realm, it would probably instantly devolve into a trash-tier Profound Mystery."
This shared the same principle as the [Void Purification and Calm Business Jade Book].
Although he could easily make the Profound Spirit Realm utterly intoxicated with just a few casual moves, if he used the same methods in the Immortal Pivot, they wouldn’t even stir up a single ripple.
He thought, "Celestial Will, execute Tribulations..."
Lü Yang wholeheartedly immersed himself in the changes of the Fruit Position Imagery of the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder]. For a time, he only felt Time flying by, losing all track of the passing years in his Cultivation.
After a long time, he finally opened his eyes again.
RUMBLE!
In an instant, a bolt of lightning seemed to flash between Heaven and Earth. Following that, the entire Profound Spirit Realm, and even all the Cultivators in the Little Realm Heavens under its jurisdiction, sensed it.
At this moment, Lü Yang’s lips parted slightly. He didn’t use any Divine Power, yet with the active cooperation of the Profound Spirit Realm, his voice echoed throughout the Great and Small Boundary Heaven. Everyone heard his voice, from Celestial Immortals comparable to Foundation Establishment Perfection to Qi Refiners who had just set foot on the path of Cultivation.
"I am the Master of Tribulation. Today, I Refine the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder] to establish rules for the world.
"From this day forward, lightning Tribulations shall appear between Heaven and Earth.
"When mortals undergo Qi Refining, they shall face the [Three-Nine Celestial Tribulation]. To advance from Foundation Establishment to Immortal, one must endure the [Six-Nine Celestial Tribulation]. And for Immortals to be titled Monarchs, they too shall face the hardship of the [Nine-Nine Celestial Tribulation]."
The rumbling Daoist voice spread across the Profound Spirit Realm. Trillions of Cultivators felt the resonance wherever it passed. In this moment, whether they were shocked, bewildered, envious, or jealous, all their myriad emotions ultimately turned into deep reverence. Bowing in unison, they spoke as one:
"Congratulations to the Immortal Monarch on attaining the Dao, establishing the heart of Heaven and Earth, and securing the destiny of all living beings.
"Congratulations, [Immortal Monarch of Tribulation]!"
Meanwhile, at the main seat of the Celestial Court.
The Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable naturally heard Lü Yang’s voice as well. A deeply complicated expression appeared on his face as he murmured, "To think he figured out the Profound Spirit Realm so quickly..."
How long did it take him to reach this step back in the day?
A full century!
He continued murmuring, "[Immortal Monarch of Tribulation]... With this Honorary Title, from now on, he can truly sit as an equal with me, the [True Master Xuan Immortal Monarch].
"This is outrageous!"
At this thought, the Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable couldn’t help but grit his teeth. The feeling of being forced to share the Profound Spirit Realm with someone else left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He consoled himself, "Forget it. Endure it for a moment, and the storm will pass."
Thinking of this, the Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable restrained his Qi traces.
He sneered inwardly, "Anyway, he will be heading to the Star Palace soon. When he goes there and comes back heavily injured, that will be my chance to regain dominance."
Then, he didn’t forget to send a message to the Profound Spirit Realm, "Rest assured, before I destroy someone, I must first let their ego inflate! I have already arranged for people to deal with him. Just bear with it a little longer... But fortunately, at least he doesn’t dare to openly do anything to you inside the Celestial Court right now..."
RUMBLE!
Before the Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable could finish speaking, he felt his connection with the Profound Spirit Realm suddenly sever, while dazzling Daoist light surged from Lü Yang’s direction.
Seeing this, the Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable stood frozen in place.
Lü Yang looked at the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder] in his hand with satisfaction, feeling that the previously aloof and arrogant Profound Spirit Realm was now actively gathering Profound Mysteries toward him.
He mused, "Not bad. It seems the Profound Spirit Realm can no longer do without me.
"Right now, even if I don’t factor in my Position at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, just relying on the inherent Position of the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder], I am in no way inferior to ordinary Perfected Lords!
"According to the True Monarch Fifth Grade standard I set, I would probably rank at the Fourth Grade level. I could even fight [True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde] head-on... But more importantly, with this experience in the Profound Spirit Realm, I now have a direction for the future Ascension Ceremony of the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder]."
In short, it was to establish Tribulations for Heaven and Earth!
He planned, "If I can insert the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder] into the Cultivation path of every Immortal Core Cultivator, and then use the Immortal Pivot to indirectly affect the entire Void Sea of Light...
"When that time comes, I will definitely be able to complete the sublimation of the Fruit Position Profound Mysterious.
"Of course, the prerequisite is that the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder] must first reach Perfection. Also, this will inevitably encroach on the interests of all the Perfected Lords in the world. It is undeniably a massive undertaking..."
But as long as he succeeded, the benefits would be unimaginable!
At this thought, Lü Yang’s heart surged with excitement. Perhaps the opportunity for the [Fruit of Divine-Empyrean Thunder] to advance to the Emperor Fruit in the future lay right here!
Soon, the day to head to the Star Palace arrived.
The Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable walked over with a long, sullen face and said coldly, "Daoist, the Star Palace has sent a reply welcoming you to a meeting. Here are the corresponding coordinates in the Sea of Light. You may depart at any time."
"Thank you, Daoist."
Lü Yang smiled faintly. Sensing his impending departure, the surrounding Spiritual Qi immediately clustered around him, almost turning into Spirit Water to shower over his body.
This was the Profound Spirit Realm’s reluctance to part with him.
"Don’t worry, I’ll be right back," Lü Yang comforted in a low voice. In passing, he activated the [Swallow] Skill, devouring all the Spirit Water clean.
Instantly, the phenomena and Daoist light grew even fiercer.
On the other side, the Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable could only watch in agony as the Profound Spirit Realm completely ignored his presence nearby, instead actively behaving intimately with Lü Yang.
It hurt! It hurt too much!
For a moment, his expression contorted. He resolved that after Lü Yang left, he would go all out to satisfy the Profound Spirit Realm and win back the favor of Heaven and Earth.
Lü Yang could actually guess what the Profound Spirit Realm Supreme Venerable was thinking, but he didn’t care. After all, compared to the other party’s brief, utterly skill-less attempts at appeasement, he—holding the [Void Purification and Calm Business Jade Book]—was far superior in both strength and technique. He could satisfy the Profound Spirit Realm much better.
Soon, the world spun around him.
Lü Yang entered the Void Land, anchored the Star Palace’s coordinates, and in the blink of an eye, the scenery before him shifted into an endless, dazzling starry sky.
Strictly speaking, this was his first time coming to the Star Palace.
Then, he froze in sheer surprise.
What met his eyes was not the familiar aesthetic of the Cultivation Realm, but rather a dense array of steel creations, exuding the unique beauty of machinery.
Lü Yang’s gaze landed on the leading steel construct.
It was a gold and white disk, engraved with densely packed Daoist Talismans. As it circulated, it emitted Mana fluctuations as boundless as the Vast Ocean.
He thought, "A... UFO?"
In the next second, a mental fluctuation transmitted from the gold and white disk. Its Position was incredibly high—evidently a Star Monarch. The tone was brimming with absolute condescension:
"Welcome to the Star Palace, Outer Dao Earth native."