Chapter 1207: Within the Heavenly Tribulation

Chapter 1208: Within the Heavenly Tribulation

The female cultivator cursed inwardly, her heavy punch sending the Mixed Yuan Bell flying.

However, even with her current Void Refinement power, she couldn't inflict any damage on this high-grade sixth-tier magic artifact.

The One Yuan Incarnation, on the other hand, suffered considerably and was on the verge of collapsing. But Chen Mobai, seeing the Ascension Aura already enveloping his opponent, immediately dispelled his incarnation, transforming it back into a Dao Fruit and retreating into the Mixed Yuan Bell.

"Ah!" The female cultivator let out a sharp cry, and a terrifying freezing power erupted in all directions, encasing everything visible in ice.

However, Chen Mobai's true body had already hidden within the Dharma Realm, which was a self-contained world unaffected by external forces. He observed the female cultivator's situation through the divine sense he had left on the Mixed Yuan Dao Fruit.

After being enveloped by the Ascension Aura, there was still some time to make final arrangements, but ascension was already inevitable. The female cultivator clearly had no descendants or unfinished business to attend to; her only obsession now was to freeze Chen Mobai into dust.

Meanwhile, the Ascension Aura descending from the higher realm attracted the attention of top Deity Transformation cultivators across the Five Continents and Four Seas of the Tianhe Realm. When everyone realized it was Eastern Continent again, their expressions turned to surprise.

After Yuan Qingque, was Wuchen also ascending? That shouldn't be; he clearly hadn't reached the perfected Deity Transformation stage. Could it be the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Desolation?

But soon, the Deity Transformation cultivators shook their heads. Even with his astonishing combat power, already being the top Deity Transformation cultivator in the Eastern Continent, his cultivation time and realm were evident; it was absolutely impossible for him to advance from Deity Transformation to Void Refinement in just a few decades. So who could it be?

With intense curiosity, the Deity Transformation cultivators sent their Nascent Souls out of their bodies, vanishing into the Ninth Heaven, ready to observe the true face of this mysterious ascending cultivator amidst the Heavenly Tribulation.

On the Eastern Continent, cultivators like Wuchen were already filled with shock. Outsiders might not know, but how could they, the locals, not? No Deity Transformation cultivator was close to Void Refinement.

Wuchen and Dakong were both in the Eastern Tomb Domain. When the latter teleported to Eastern Tomb Immortal City, he saw the former holding the Heavenly and Earthly Xuanji Instrument, looking towards the northwest of the Eastern Continent.

"It's where True Monarch Suiyu, from the land of ice and snow, is buried..." Upon hearing True Monarch Wuchen's words, True Monarch Dakong's face showed deep shock.

"She should have passed away from old age long ago. How could she have several millennia of lifespan?"

"Perhaps she consumed some rare heavenly material, spiritual elixir, or immortal medicine capable of extending life by ten thousand years, or perhaps she had already cultivated to the Void Refinement realm, achieving ten thousand years of longevity, but was forcibly held back in the Tianhe Realm due to special reasons."

True Monarch Wuchen offered a few conjectures he could think of. True Monarch Dakong, upon hearing the words "held back," seemed to recall something, and his brows furrowed.

"I recall young friend Chen went over there. Could it be that he triggered this?" True Monarch Dakong spoke, as Chen Mobai had communicated with him about this very matter not long ago.

"Indeed, he told me as well. Regardless of whether it's related to him or not, let's first go to the Ninth Heaven and wait."

True Monarch Wuchen was seasoned and cautious; he didn't intend to go directly to the northwestern part of the Eastern Continent enveloped by the Ascension Aura. After all, it was uncertain whether the ascender was a friend or foe. Conversely, within the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, it would certainly be safe, as the ascending cultivator would need to preserve all their strength for the tribulation.

"Hmm, should we wait for others?" True Monarch Dakong nodded. Ascension was a rarity, occurring only once every few millennia, yet within the past century, it had happened twice on the Eastern Continent, making him feel very fortunate. Such an event was something no Deity Transformation cultivator would miss.

"Ni Yuan needs to protect Ye Qing's Deity Transformation, and I've instructed Shen Xi to guard the sect gate to prevent any demons or scoundrels from causing trouble at this time." Wuchen, however, shook his head, saying it would only be the two of them.

Hearing this, True Monarch Dakong immediately activated the ring on his wrist, teleporting them to the Heavenly Gang. The Heavenly Tribulation was too dangerous, so to be safe, he did not use void-traveling secret arts to enter.

Meanwhile, at the scene of the incident.

After venting for a while, the female cultivator finally calmed down. Her gaze, cold as ice, fixed on the jade bell suspended in mid-air nearby, and her fists clenched.

However, despite the earlier barrage, the Mixed Yuan Bell remained completely undamaged.

She stopped wasting her energy. Once enveloped by the Ascension Aura, she was already within the sight of the Spirit Sky Immortal Realm; even if she hid in the frozen tomb, the Three Yin Extinction Array could no longer conceal her.

Realizing that her momentary impulse had led to facing the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, the female cultivator felt regret.

If she had known this would happen, she would have pretended ignorance and just stayed asleep in her ice coffin.

But at this point, regret was too late. Since evasion was impossible, she would face the Heavenly Tribulation directly. Having cultivated to the Void Refinement realm, the female cultivator was also a person of strong will; in an instant, she had adjusted her mindset.

However, taking advantage of the little time remaining, she still returned to the frozen tomb. Chen Mobai, hidden inside the Mixed Yuan Bell, was surprised by her action, but he certainly didn't dare follow her in, so he could only wait.

The female cultivator soon stepped out, cast a cold glance at the Mixed Yuan Bell, and then followed the Ascension Aura upwards towards the Ninth Heaven.

Chen Mobai didn't hesitate, immediately controlling the Mixed Yuan Bell to follow.

However, just as he flew up, the female cultivator, who had suddenly stopped midway, punched him, sending him flying.

Chen Mobai, sent flying a considerable distance, cursed inwardly and made a mental note of this offense. He didn't dare follow too closely again. Only after the female cultivator broke through the Heavenly Gang and entered the Heavenly Tribulation did he crash into the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation from another direction.

"Young friend, you've come too!" Coincidentally, just as Chen Mobai controlled the Mixed Yuan Bell to enter, True Monarch Wuchen's voice reached his ears. The latter was standing with True Monarch Dakong and waved at him.

"Seniors, I won't come over. I just had a fierce fight with that old hag Suiyu and finally managed to send her to the heavens. But she's quite petty and holds grudges. If she sees me with you, she might even give up her ascension to deal with us..." Chen Mobai briefly explained the situation. Wuchen and Dakong, their faces showing shock, acted very quickly, immediately controlling their Nascent Souls to move far away from Chen Mobai.

"Young friend, take care then!" After saying this, True Monarch Dakong pulled True Monarch Wuchen and crashed into the second layer of Heavenly Tribulation.

"Aren't the two seniors a bit too timid?" Although Chen Mobai had suggested it himself, seeing how fast they ran, he couldn't help but inwardly grumble.

Because he had been sent flying midway by True Monarch Suiyu, he arrived late. The latter had already easily passed the first layer of lightning tribulation.

A layer of biting cold still lingered there.

After obtaining the Mixed Yuan Bell, Chen Mobai had entered the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation several times. Besides condensing the Nine Heavens Pure Qi, it could also help temper the Mixed Yuan Bell. With his own realm, he could at most linger within this first layer of Heavenly Tribulation. However, relying on the Mixed Yuan Bell, he could easily travel back and forth within the first three layers of Heavenly Tribulation.

Finding a weak spot, he crashed into the second layer of Heavenly Tribulation, where raging flames surged towards him.

Chen Mobai saw True Monarch Suiyu, clad in ice-jade armor, with a blue moon rising from her glabella. With absolute icy power, she stepped through the final fire tribulation step by step.

When the Mixed Yuan Bell entered, True Monarch Suiyu naturally noticed it. However, within the Heavenly Tribulation, she dared not waste even a sliver of her power, so she merely glared fiercely before rushing into the third layer of Heavenly Tribulation.

Here, Chen Mobai saw many Nascent Soul Dharma Idols, clearly belonging to the top Deity Transformation cultivators from the Five Continents and Four Seas.

And when the crowd saw him, their faces were filled with curiosity. The iconic Mixed Yuan Bell let them all know that this was the top Deity Transformation cultivator of the Eastern Continent, the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Desolation.

However, this was not the time for exchange or conversation; watching the ascension was paramount.

After exchanging glances in greeting, one Nascent Soul Dharma Idol after another rushed into the third layer of Heavenly Tribulation.

But upon entering, they found True Monarch Suiyu composed and at ease.

This was because this tribulation was the Ice Tribulation.

Not only did it fail to impede True Monarch Suiyu, but it even allowed her to recover the energy expended in the previous two layers of Heavenly Tribulation and deepen her understanding of the Grand Dao of Ice.

As Chen Mobai had just entered, controlling the Mixed Yuan Bell, True Monarch Suiyu's cold gaze swept over him.

Chen Mobai understood well. He immediately retreated half the bell back into the second layer of Heavenly Tribulation, ready to instantly retreat into the fire tribulation if a punch came his way. He didn't believe True Monarch Suiyu would dare risk a failed ascension to chase him.

This action made True Monarch Suiyu, who had just been about to strike, let out a cold snort.

Just as Chen Mobai predicted, in the eyes of all cultivators in the Tianhe Realm, ascension was paramount.

"You are a Deity Transformation cultivator from the Five Elements Sect of the Eastern Desolation. I've noted down your sect's patriarch's Daoist name, 'One Yuan'. When I reach the Spirit Sky Immortal Realm, your ancestor will bear the consequences for this junior's actions."

Upon hearing True Monarch Suiyu's words, Chen Mobai, instead, felt a surge of joy internally. Besides True Monarch One Yuan, he immediately declared the name of the Heavenly Venerate as well. Even if True Monarch Suiyu could successfully pass the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation and ascend, he didn't believe she would be a match for True Monarch One Yuan. However, since True Monarch Suiyu was older than True Monarch One Yuan, and with Grand Ancestor Jiyin also in the Spirit Sky Immortal Realm, Chen Mobai, fearing that True Monarch One Yuan might be outnumbered, immediately sought an even greater backing.

Upon hearing the Heavenly Venerate's name, True Monarch Suiyu indeed fell silent.

Although she was very confident in herself, she was still incomparable to such ancient mighty cultivators.

"You'd better not ascend!" After leaving this final remark, True Monarch Suiyu, enveloped by the Ascension Aura, crashed into the fourth layer of Heavenly Tribulation.

This layer was no longer accessible to Deity Transformation cultivators.

But Chen Mobai still saw three Nascent Soul Dharma Idols following and crashing in.