Each layer of these Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulations is more formidable than the last. The higher one ascends, the richer the pure spiritual immortal qi descending from the Immortal Realm becomes. However, all of this qi originates from the primordial spiritual veins, and it's even inferior to what's found within the Eye of the Abyssal Sea until one reaches the uppermost layers.
The fourth layer marks the boundary between the Deification stage and the Void Refinement stage, and it is called the Void Tribulation. Those who have not reached Void Refinement can at most enter this layer.
However, for all ascending cultivators, the most challenging trial should be the Inner Demon Tribulation. Some who believe their Dao heart to be firm are, in reality, incredibly fragile. Yet, there are also beings who, within this layer, break through all illusions and achieve complete enlightenment...
Chen Mobai, with Qing Nü by his side, introduced each layer of the Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulations to her.
At this moment, the Wutu True Locust, relentlessly pursued by the Purple Lightning Sword and the Primordial Chaos Bell, dared not linger for a moment. Enduring the sky full of blade-like frost, it rushed towards the Void Tribulation.
However, under the frost and cold current, the Wutu True Locust's six wings slowed slightly, their Dao patterns subtly covered by frost. The Purple Lightning Sword seized this opportunity to sever one pair of its wings.
“Youngster! Do you truly intend to exterminate me?”
The Wutu True Locust roared, spewing murky yellow poisonous mist from its mouth. It barely resisted the Primordial Chaos Bell's five-colored ripples for a moment before speaking to Chen Mobai.
“When you devoured my sect's cultivators, did you ever consider showing mercy?”
Chen Mobai said this expressionlessly. The Primordial Chaos Bell, apparently sensing his murderous intent, instantly resonated nine more times.
Clang, clang, clang...
Each sound louder than the last!
Each chime stirred terrifying Dao power. The five-colored ripples surged like raging waves or a giant palm overturning the heavens, striking the Wutu True Locust wave after wave.
The first wave swept over, and the poisonous mist, resembling a spreading yellow cloud, instantly dispersed.
With the second chime, the earth-elemental Dao patterns on the Wutu True Locust's body cracked. The third wave swept through, and they completely shattered into specks of light, dissipating within the Heavenly Tribulation.
The fourth and fifth waves of ripples invaded the Wutu True Locust's body, and instantly, cracking sounds exploded like thunder. Its undying True Spirit body became like tattered cloth, spewing yellowish-green blood, which transformed into an even denser poisonous mist.
But under the subsequent five-colored ripples, even these were purified.
“No!”
The Wutu True Locust never expected that, facing the Primordial Chaos Bell at full power, it would be so utterly vulnerable.
However, this was mainly because it had slept for too long, its vital essence was depleted, and its strongest Earth Elemental Grand Dao was occupied by its mortal enemy, resulting in a severe loss of power.
Otherwise, if it had operated its Grand Dao at the peak of the Void Refinement stage, even if it couldn't defeat the Primordial Chaos Bell, it wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat.
At this moment, the Wutu True Locust remembered the descendant who had awakened it.
Its crimson compound eyes flickered, and it opened its mouth to Chen Mobai, saying, “The seal on my coffin was personally laid by the Yellow Dragon, the former ruler of East Continent. Someone broke it, awakening me. Soon after, people from your sect came looking, and then you arrived. Someone wants to use me to force your ascension...”
The Wutu True Locust hoped to use this information to buy a little more time, perhaps using the ascending spiritual light to escape this deadly tribulation.
“You've misunderstood something,” Chen Mobai said coldly. “You alone cannot force my ascension.”
He possessed a Dharma Realm and could completely avoid the ascending spiritual light by hiding within it, just as he had done before it enveloped him.
However, he chose to ascend because he wanted to meet True King Taixu, and also to use this opportunity to draw out the powerful enemy secretly harboring ill intentions towards the Five Elements Sect and East Continent.
“Husband, it's escaping.”
At this moment, Qing Nü spoke up to remind him.
Under the continuous chimes of the Primordial Chaos Bell, the Wutu True Locust's metallic body had completely disintegrated. A dark yellow Dao spiritual light, enveloping a mass of vital blood, transformed into a stream of light and shot towards the higher “Heavenly Tribulation.”
The greatest characteristic of a sixth-rank True Spirit is the ability to regenerate from a single drop of blood.
As the name implies, as long as a single drop of vital blood remains, it can reconstruct its physical body using the power of the Grand Dao, becoming undying and imperishable.
Therefore, after its body was blasted apart by the Primordial Chaos Bell, the Wutu True Locust simply abandoned its physical body, which had become a burden, intending to travel light and, carrying its vital blood, escape into the Immortal Realm along the ascending spiritual light.
It was confident that with its realm, the mere Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulations could not harm it.
Chen Mobai's eyelids lifted. Just as he was about to make a move, he found that the Purple Lightning Sword had already slashed out instantly, transforming into a dazzling electric beam that ripped through the heavens and earth. It arrived later but caught up quickly, intercepting the Wutu True Locust's spiritual light and vital blood mid-path, just as it was about to rush into the Inner Demon Tribulation.
“Get lost!”
Compared to the peak sixth-rank Primordial Chaos Bell, the Purple Lightning Sword was not truly regarded by the Wutu True Locust. With a fierce roar, its Earth Elemental Grand Dao was activated, transforming into enormous yellow wings, which it flapped, attempting to swat away the Purple Lightning Sword.
But at the moment of their contact, the Purple Lightning Sword erupted with the most dazzling and brilliant sword light, condensing into a sharp white light that shattered the void amidst a roar.
The enormous yellow wings were sliced open by the Purple Lightning Sword as easily as tofu. The Wutu True Locust's spiritual light and vital blood it was protecting were also not spared, annihilated into nothingness under the destructive white light.
This single sword strike even sliced open two layers of the Heavenly Tribulation, both above and below.
True Immortal Taixu and other top Deification cultivators from the Heavenly River Realm who had caught up happened to witness the scene through the rift in the tribulation clouds carved by the Purple Lightning Sword: the Wutu True Locust's body shattered by the Primordial Chaos Bell and its True Spirit annihilated by the Purple Lightning Sword.
Among those in Void Refinement, the Azure Emperor of the Eastern Desolation is likely also a master.
True Immortal Taixu and the others were utterly shocked.
Given their influence, the moment they saw the Wutu True Locust, they recognized its origin. After all, it was a joint effort by numerous True Spirits from the Five Continents and Four Seas that had suppressed and eliminated the nest of Wutu True Locusts that had nearly devoured the entire East Continent.
Since this one was not destroyed back then, but merely sealed, it must have been the strongest among that nest.
Even if it had awakened now with greatly reduced power, for Chen Mobai, who had just entered the Void Refinement stage, to easily suppress and kill it, shows just how powerful he truly is.
Although some, like Yuwen Yin, were unconvinced, believing Chen Mobai mainly relied on the Primordial Chaos Bell and Purple Lightning Sword.
But True Immortal Taixu and the others remembered well that these two magical artifacts relied entirely on Chen Mobai's artifact forging skills to reach their current rank.
Moreover, magical artifacts themselves are part of a cultivator's strength.
Otherwise, why are the Everlasting Brush and Ink Forest and the Taixu Ethereal Palace eternal holy lands in the Central Continent, forever enduring?
Is it not precisely because both possess seventh-rank Dharma Treasures!
After Chen Mobai saw the Purple Lightning Sword annihilate the Wutu True Locust's Dao spiritual light, he pointed to the remaining, constantly distorting vital blood and said, “What a pity, these vital blood essences, rich with Dao power, contain the will of that beast. Otherwise, if used for alchemy, a single drop could serve as the main ingredient for a Longevity Grand Dao Pill.”
The Purple Lightning Sword understood its master's character; he was very frugal. This sixth-rank vital blood, if brought to the Immortal Sect, would be the most precious heavenly material and earthly treasure, which is why it held back at the end.
However, Chen Mobai possessed a cautious nature. Since he had suppressed and killed the Wutu True Locust, he certainly wouldn't leave behind vital blood containing its will for the sake of these few resources.
After the Primordial Chaos Bell received Chen Mobai's approval, it unceremoniously swallowed this mass of purest vital blood.
The remaining remnants, shattered and refined by the five-colored ripples, had already been purified by the Grand Dao of Primordial Chaos. Qing Nü could take them back to refine medicine, and even Chen Mobai could use them to forge magical artifacts.
“No——!”
Accompanied by a final, mournful shriek, the true locust's vital blood, swallowed by the Primordial Chaos Bell, was completely ground into the fundamental power of the Earth Elemental Grand Dao and integrated into the white jade bell wall.
Its consciousness, naturally, also dispersed.
After Chen Mobai had dealt with his opponent, he said to Qing Nü with a gentle expression, “Wife, this is as far as I'll see you.”
“Husband, I wish you success in attaining the Dao and becoming a True Immortal!”
Qing Nü released Chen Mobai's hand and blessed him.
“Thank you, wife. I'll send you back.”
As Chen Mobai spoke, he activated the Grand Dao of Void and directly sent Qing Nü, who was before him, out of the Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulations.
After performing the Void technique, the ascending spiritual light enveloping him became even denser.
Even the spiritual light that had originally enveloped the Wutu True Locust converged towards Chen Mobai due to its disappearance. This was because the Primordial Chaos Bell had not yet finished refining, and the Wutu True Locust's aura still lingered around its body.
In light of this, Chen Mobai did not recall the Primordial Chaos Bell.
Because the Primordial Chaos Bell had failed during a Heavenly Tribulation while accompanying True Monarch Yiyuan in the past, it had always held a grudge about this. Now that it had finally reached the peak of the sixth rank, it intended to face the Heavenly Tribulation head-on to prove itself.
In a way, this could be considered an inner demon.
Thinking of this, Chen Mobai finally cupped his hands towards True Immortal Taixu, Feng Qingshu, and others who had arrived at the Void Tribulation, then turned and ascended to the next layer, following the ascending spiritual light.
The Void Tribulation and the Golden Wind Tribulation were both traversed as if walking on flat ground.
It wasn't until the Inner Demon Tribulation that Chen Mobai paused slightly.
The reason he had to eliminate the Wutu True Locust so quickly was a slight concern that it might achieve complete enlightenment after entering the Inner Demon Tribulation and advance to a higher level.
Although this possibility was exceedingly small, Chen Mobai was cautious throughout his life and would not take such a risk.
However, this Inner Demon Tribulation, for him, the Lord of Holy Virtue, was certainly of no effect.
Thinking of this, Chen Mobai gracefully stepped into it.
Immediately, he saw a white jade staircase appear before him. The steps were endless, but their end led directly to a magnificent immortal palace deep within the clouds.
“This is... an illusion?”
Chen Mobai was slightly surprised, feeling that this Inner Demon Tribulation was a bit of a jest.
However, it might also be that it sensed his unwavering Dao heart and thus used an illusion just to go through the motions, considering the trial passed.
Thinking of this, Chen Mobai shook his head and smiled, ignoring the white jade staircase before him that led directly to the Immortal Realm, and headed towards the higher-level Primordial Magnetic Tribulation.
The Primordial Chaos Bell trembled slightly. It was in the Primordial Magnetic layer that True Monarch Yiyuan had originally cast it down.
However, its actual failure had occurred within the Inner Demon Tribulation.
But because Chen Mobai, the Lord of Holy Virtue, was by its side, even the Primordial Chaos Bell did not suffer from inner demons.
Just as Chen Mobai was about to bypass the white jade staircase and fly towards the Primordial Magnetic Tribulation, an immortal, holding a jade scroll, suddenly stepped out from the palace at the end of the clouds and instantly teleported into the Inner Demon Tribulation.
This immortal wore a pure white Daoist robe, a golden crown on his head, with a serene countenance and an ethereal bearing.
He raised his hands, bowed slightly to Chen Mobai, and spoke with a voice like a clear stream, “By the decree of the Heavenly Emperor, I am here to receive Chen Guixian, the Ancestor of the Five Elements Sect of East Continent, into the Immortal Realm!”
As his words fell, the immortal held the jade scroll with both hands and presented it to Chen Mobai.
“This inner demon illusion of yours is quite realistic.”
Upon seeing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but exclaim in wonder, because even with his realm, he couldn't discern any flaws in the immortal before him. From every perspective, he appeared real.
“Young friend, you jest. Please accept the decree.”
Upon hearing Chen Mobai's words, the immortal's expression stiffened slightly, but then he seemed to recall something. Maintaining the smile on his face, he raised his hands again, gesturing for Chen Mobai to accept.
“It's a pity I'm in a hurry to ascend and meet True King Taixu,” Chen Mobai replied. “Otherwise, I could take the time to see how far this inner demon illusion of yours can ultimately evolve.”
Chen Mobai had also cultivated Void Illusions. Although his Grand Dao was pure before Void Refinement, when he later comprehended the Taixu Heavenly Tome after Void Refinement, he gained even more insight. Especially when teaching Qianxing, he even tutored himself beforehand, and believed that, apart from the highest realm of turning falsehood into reality, his Void Illusion divine ability had reached the pinnacle.
Yet, even so, he still couldn't discern any flaws in the immortal before him.
He considered that these Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulations were also part of the Grand Dao rules, and it might be that a True Immortal who had comprehended the Grand Dao of Illusion in the Immortal Realm had participated in setting up this Inner Demon Tribulation.
If Chen Mobai had the time, he would genuinely want to use this Inner Demon Tribulation to further comprehend the seventh-rank Grand Dao of Illusion, so that he could teach Qianxing after the latter reached Void Refinement in the future.
“You brat!” the immortal exclaimed. “If it weren't for the fact that you've been taking good care of my lineage in East Continent, this Immortal would beat you to death with a whisk right now!”
At this moment, the immortal standing behind the white jade staircase, seeing Chen Mobai's impoliteness, finally couldn't contain his rage. He tossed the jade scroll in his hand towards Chen Mobai, pulled a snow-white whisk from the void, and swung it fiercely at the surrounding Nine-Layer Heavenly Tribulations.
Boom!
With this swing, it was as if a rift had split heaven and earth apart, causing all Grand Daos to fall into disarray. Even the immortal palace deep within the clouds above began to gently tremble.
Witnessing this scene, Chen Mobai's eyes widened in utter shock.
He could clearly sense that when the immortal on the white jade staircase swung his whisk, all Grand Daos retreated, and even his own Grand Dao of Holy Virtue felt an urge to bow.
There was only one possible explanation for this.
The immortal before him was a seventh-rank True Immortal.
Perhaps even a Primal Dao Lord!
This Inner Demon Illusion could actually conjure such a powerful being?
Chen Mobai's expression became solemn, realizing he had underestimated the mighty figures of the Immortal Realm.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but clench his hands, for within them lay the power of the Taixu Measuring Heaven Ruler and the Purple Heaven Palace.
After truly feeling this, Chen Mobai dared not delay further, and immediately followed the ascending spiritual light towards the higher Primordial Magnetic Tribulation.
“Hey, you brat, get back here!”
Seeing Chen Mobai leave without looking back and ascend directly, the immortal on the white jade staircase immediately stomped his foot and began to curse.
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