Transformation Diagram: Starting as a Skinny Dog

With a single palm blast, golden lotus patterns unfolded across the vast sky.

Seeing that the jade box, three feet in length and width, was about to be grasped into his palm, unexpectedly, the next moment, endless immortal light burst from behind the jade box.

Soon after, a space emerged.

"What's that?"

Chen Ku's eyes narrowed.

He saw one layer after another of heavenly palaces appearing behind the jade box, all of which were made of jade. Vaguely, there seemed to be humanoid creatures within.

In the next instant,

Chen Ku's left eye felt an incredibly intimate connection with that heavenly palace.

"Is that... the thirty-six layers of heaven?"

At this moment, there was no doubt what the virtual shadow space opened up behind the jade box was. The jade box actually fled towards that space.

"Where do you think you're going!"

How could Chen Ku just watch the Void Sky Treasure Box leave?

However, when his large hand touched that space, it seemed to pass through an illusory mist light, grasping at nothing.

After entering that bizarre and colorful space, Shangguan Yun's soul unexpectedly condensed atop the jade box. He looked at Chen Ku's large hand unable to enter this world and said coldly:

"Chen Ku, foolish child, wait patiently. Don't think that because you obtained the body of a Heavenly Person, you can completely control this Cave Mansion Realm. The Hero King Cave Mansion Realm contains three palatial dwellings; this is merely one of them, housing his resurrection body. The other two contain his 'strength and cultivation' and his 'martial arts will.' You have stolen what does not belong to you. When I return as the Hero King, I will take it all back!"

With those words, that space suddenly dissipated within the secret realm of the Big Snow Mountain.

Chen Ku solemnly withdrew his hand:

"Is that... the power to break through dimensional space?"

With his current cultivation and insight, it was clear to him that the Void Sky Treasure Box was, as the legends said, capable of connecting different spatial realms.

Though the layers of heavenly palaces seemed separated by an unknown number of void distances, its ability to traverse the void made it easy for the Void Sky Treasure Box to escape the Hero King Realm.

"Shangguan Yun is actually not dead! He has fled into the Void Sky Treasure Box!" By this time, Shan Lingguan and Qin Yuxian also approached, their expressions grim: "This person knows far more secrets of the Hero King Realm than we do!"

Chen Ku took a deep breath to calm his emotions and said, "I guess he knew long ago that the Void Sky Treasure Box existed within the Stone Man's Sea of Consciousness. Over these one or two years, he found a way to communicate with it, not only gaining control of the Stone Man's body but also acquiring the imprint left by Hero King Pei Dongliu within his own body. That's why he could control the Void Sky Treasure Box and now seeks to reclaim the remaining two inheritances of Pei Dongliu."

"Strength and Will?" Shan Lingguan and Qin Yuxian exchanged glances, seeing the worry in each other's eyes.

Hero King Pei Dongliu!

He was a peak master of the Fifteenth Realm, nearly becoming the Lord of the World in his day.

If both his strength and will were to return, then...

Chen Ku turned and looked at his two mentors, seeing the emotions in their eyes, he calmly reassured them: "Master, Senior Brother, there's no need for excessive worry. If reviving Hero King Pei Dongliu were so easy, there wouldn't have been so many precautions in place. Even if he truly does revive, it doesn't mean he will be a match for this disciple."

Upon hearing the confident tone in Chen Ku's calm voice,

Shan Lingguan and Qin Yuxian were surprised as they looked at this fearsome disciple who seemed like the protagonist of the era.

"Junior Brother, you... have confidence in defeating even a Fifteenth Realm Hero King?" Qin Yuxian asked hesitantly.

"I just suppressed that Stone Man body, gaining a vast amount of primordial energy from it. Now, with the help of this energy, the lotus seed condensed from my Huntian Skill has already transformed into a bud."

Chen Ku introspected his body and said to his two mentors:

"I believe, once this bud fully blooms into a domineering golden lotus, my Huntian Overlord Body will be successfully cultivated."

"Already... reached such a realm?"

Shan Lingguan exclaimed in surprise:

"Then..."

Suddenly, he grew serious:

"Then you must be preparing for a Heavenly Tribulation next."

"Heavenly Tribulation?"

Chen Ku raised his eyebrows slightly, puzzled:

"Does cultivating the Tyrant Body require facing a Heavenly Tribulation?"

The concept of the Heavenly Tribulation has always existed within the systems of Divine Soul Cultivators and Qi Cultivators. When they reached the Twelfth Realm and Tenth Realm, respectively, they each had to undergo their own tribulation and the Thunder Tribulation.

After a Qi Cultivator passes their own tribulation, they can transform into an Immortal Body, stepping into the Thirteenth Realm 'Mahayana Realm'. In the Yuan Country, such a capable Qi Cultivator at this realm would be called an Earth Immortal.

The Divine Soul Cultivator's Thunder Tribulation, on the other hand, is to absorb the masculine nature from the yangthunder to temper the yin aspect of their Yin God, aiming to make their divine soul purely yang.

After the Tenth Realm Thunder Tribulation, a Divine Soul Cultivator can transform into a 'Loose Immortal'.

The process of tribulation crossing for both is essentially a transformation of one's essence.

Unexpectedly, even the Huntian Tyrant Body has to undergo tribulation crossing.

"The Huntian Tyrant Body, in fact, is a path that encompasses the systems of martial arts and immortality. As for tribulation crossing... this aspect, in the legends of the Imperial Enlightenment Sect, due to no one having ever succeeded in cultivating the Huntian Skill as you have, there are not many records," Shan Lingguan said gravely:

"But there are some scraps of information passed down, suggesting that the Second Generation Dominator Body did indeed undergo a tribulation."

"Oh? Master, can you elaborate on what form the tribulation of the Tyrant Body takes?" Chen Ku immediately asked.

Since it is a tribulation, it means it is a matter of life and death.

"It is said to be a 'Heavenly Dao Tribulation,' because the Tyrant Body goes against the heavens, attempting to wield the power of the heavens and the universe with human strength, thus the Heavenly Dao will bring down a calamity upon the Tyrant Body." Shan Lingguan paused, saying, "However, exactly what form this calamity takes is unclear."

"Then... did the First Generation Dominator Body also undergo a tribulation?" Chen Ku asked.

"This is not clear, the First Generation Dominator Body is far removed from our time, and because he was the first Innate Tyrant Body, many things cannot be deduced with common sense..." Shan Lingguan replied.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ku fell into deep thought.

In his heart, he was already planning to visit the 'Innate Furnace' within the Transformation Diagram.

Now hearing that tribulation crossing is still required.

So, could it be possible to directly cultivate within the Innate Furnace, and if one can achieve the Innate Tyrant Body within the Innate Furnace, would it be possible to avoid the Heavenly Dao Tribulation...

The premise being that the Innate Tyrant Body would not have a Heavenly Dao Tribulation.

This remains an unverified matter.

"I did not expect that after only over two years under my tutelage, you could achieve such accomplishments." Shan Lingguan, feeling the formidable Qi mechanism emanating from Chen Ku, who, although not yet having achieved the Tyrant Body, was immeasurably powerful and beyond comparison, sighed, "To have encountered you is a great fortune for me and the Imperial Enlightenment Sect throughout the ages."

"Master need not speak so, without your guidance onto the path of the Tyrant Body, I couldn't have reached this point, and as for the Imperial Enlightenment Sect, I will certainly bring it back into the world," Chen Ku responded.

Chen Ku informed the two of the ongoing major examination outside. Once the examination concludes, he would be conferred with a military rank by the Imperial Court, and from then on, he will be a commanding general with influence and name, in a position to easily rebuild a power in times of chaos.

"In that case, why aren't you going out for the major examination?" Shan Lingguan asked.

Chen Ku nodded, saying:

"Then I'll trouble the two of you to continue staying in the Hero King Realm for a few more days. After I complete the major examination, I will send you out."

Despite saying this, the Transformation Avatar he left outside retained all his wisdom and thinking, passing the Ten-Hall assessment posed no difficulty.

What remained would only be the martial duels among disciples that required his true body to participate in.

"You should attend to your tasks. Now, my senior brother and I have regained freedom, far better than being trapped motionless in the stone before," Shan Lingguan said with a cheerful smile.

Without further delay, Chen Ku's body vanished from the spot.

...

Chen Ku appeared in the mind of his External Body, only to find the avatar already standing before the great hall.

"Hmm? Has the major examination already ended?"

Just as Chen Ku was about to retrieve the memories of his avatar, he heard the voice of the Eighth Prince Yang Hao from the top of the hall:

"The graduation examination of the Divine Martial Academy's current batch of students has reached its perfect conclusion today. Student Chen Ku, with extraordinary talent and unparalleled strength, stands unmatched among peers, assuming the absolute leading position, and is duly awarded the title of top student. We are all gratified, and His Majesty personally descended the imperial decree to reward. Chen Ku, receive the decree!"

What? No one challenged him?

Did Xue Bailiu not challenge him either?

The avatar promptly stepped forward.

Yang Hao held a scroll of bright yellow imperial edict:

"By the edict of Emperor Wu Chengyun:

I have heard that Chen Ku from Qiu Dragon, originally a Grandmaster of the Martial Temple, has been steadfast in loyalty to the nation, toiling day and night.

You entered the Divine Martial Academy, delved deeply into studies, achieving excellence with repeated outstanding achievements.

In the past, you earned second-class merit, showcasing your bravery;

On the day of the major examination, you established new merit, turning the tide when it was about to collapse, saving the Academy from imminent downfall, with remarkable merits, comforting my heart greatly.

Now that your studies have reached perfection, excelling in every subject, I commend you highly.

I hereby confer you the position of Third Rank Dragon Abyss Major General, with the role of Right Army Vanguard, to serve under the command of Governor Li Shentong of Yuan Yue.

I hope you will not disappoint my expectations, continue to contribute loyally to the nation, build accomplishments, and bring glory to your family.

By this decree!"