Immortal Refiner

The cataclysmic heavenly tribulation had reached its peak intensity. The thunderclouds raged violently, unleashing a dense barrage of Violet Void Divine Lightning that shattered the void itself.

Boom!

Li Qing, who was desperately absorbing the Heavenly Thunder, felt utterly shaken. He had already collected an immense quantity of Violet Void Divine Lightning—enough to refine over a hundred Thunderfire Cores.

Yet the tribulation’s power remained terrifying, relentlessly battering True Monarch Chen Yuan into a near-death state.

The old man with the goatee was now utterly ravaged. Every bone in his body was broken, his fleshly body was nearly charred to a crisp, and his once-fine daoist robe hung in tattered shreds.

Fortunately, the tribulation was finally nearing its end. The dense thunderclouds gradually thinned, and the blinding lightning slowly receded.

”That damned heavens nearly claimed this old man’s life,” True Monarch Chen Yuan rasped, clinging to his last breath. Had the tribulation lasted even a moment longer, he would have perished on the spot, reduced to a pile of calamity ash.

At last, the oppressive thunderclouds completely dispersed, and the suffocating Heavenly Might that had weighed down the world vanished without a trace.

True Monarch Chen Yuan, still gasping for breath, let out a weak but triumphant laugh:

”Hahahaha! Hahahaha!”

As his laughter echoed across the land, a surge of dense heaven and earth spiritual energy erupted from the mysterious grotto-heaven beneath the earth.

This was the spiritual energy True Monarch Chen Yuan had failed to absorb during his breakthrough attempt. Now, having successfully overcome the Divine Transformation Tribulation, he drew it all forth.

The concentrated spiritual energy flooded into his body. In moments, the near-death True Monarch Chen Yuan’s aura stabilized once more.

Then, an overwhelming pressure radiated from him, causing even Li Qing to feel a faint tremor of fear.

He had succeeded!

True Monarch Chen Yuan had truly overcome the tribulation. In this world where the Dao was obscured and cultivation conditions were harsh, he had achieved the divine transformation stage, becoming one of the most legendary figures in the history of the Human Realm!

Li Qing, having witnessed the entire process firsthand, remained deeply shaken.

It was nothing short of a miracle. Even with its power significantly diminished, the heavenly tribulation he had witnessed seemed insurmountable for ordinary cultivators.

He couldn’t help but wonder: if he were to face such a terrifying heavenly tribulation, could he survive?

Li Qing couldn’t draw a definitive conclusion. He had personally witnessed the terrifying Heavenly Might of the Violet Void Divine Lightning, which seemed like an insurmountable Heavenly Chasm, blocking any cultivator who dared to cross it.

Taking a deep breath, Li Qing suppressed the shock in his heart and respectfully clasped his hands in a bow.

”Congratulations, Senior Chen Yuan, on reaching the divine transformation stage! Your daoist arts have reached perfection, and from this day forward, you are free from all earthly constraints!”

He couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. Reaching the divine transformation stage meant gaining the ability to manipulate the Primordial Energy of Heaven and Earth, granting boundless mana and eliminating concerns about depleting true essence.

Such beings stood at the pinnacle of the Human Realm. Throughout its ancient history, their names would be etched in bold strokes across the annals.

Moreover, reaching the divine transformation stage was akin to obtaining a ticket for ascension to the Upper Realm.

While successful ascension remained uncertain, at least they had earned the initial qualification.

Without reaching the divine transformation stage, one couldn’t even breach the barrier of the void, let alone contemplate ascension.

Hearing Li Qing’s heartfelt congratulations, True Monarch Chen Yuan’s laughter grew even more triumphant and unrestrained.

For a moment, he lost himself in the moment, chuckling and scolding with unrestrained glee:

”Hahahaha! Didn’t I break through in the end?!”

”Damn this blind, thieving Heaven! To unleash such a terrifying, boundless thunder tribulation! Good thing this old man has prepared plenty of tricks over the years!”

”Bring on more Heavenly Thunder if you dare! When have I ever given a damn about your so-called heavenly tribulation?”

At that moment, True Monarch Chen Yuan completely abandoned any pretense of dignity befitting a Divine Transformation stage cultivator. Or perhaps this was his true nature all along—a wild, unrestrained spirit.

Just as he finished his furious tirade, the primordial energy of heaven and earth suddenly surged with violent unrest.

Buzz!

Sensing this disturbance, True Monarch Chen Yuan’s curses abruptly ceased. He shrank his neck and glanced nervously at the sky, his heart pounding with lingering fear.

Only after confirming that no thunderclouds were gathering did he cautiously attempt to sense the primordial energy of heaven and earth, trying to discern the cause of the disturbance.

”In the distant eastern sea, someone is recklessly manipulating the primordial energy of heaven and earth! Which Divine Transformation fellow daoist is unleashing such power?” True Monarch Chen Yuan exclaimed in shock.

Li Qing’s eyebrows twitched at this news. This was highly unusual.

In the Human Realm, the primordial energy of heaven and earth was scarce. For a Divine Transformation Great Power to manipulate it on such a scale would inevitably drain their vital essence and shorten their lifespan.

Logically speaking, cultivators at this level rarely unleash their full power, as doing so would inevitably cost them a portion of their lifespan.

While cultivators in the divine transformation stage possess exceptionally long lifespans, these are not infinite and cannot be squandered recklessly.

Therefore, the divine transformation great powers of the Human Realm have always exercised restraint, rarely revealing themselves to the world and avoiding large-scale conflicts unless absolutely necessary.

The only exception would be situations like the one they encountered on Heaven’s End Island in the Eastern Sea!

Li Qing’s expression suddenly turned grave. He considered many possibilities, a faint sense of unease creeping into his heart.

”Young man, shall we go investigate together?” True Monarch Chen Yuan asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. Having recently completed his divine transformation, he still felt a lingering unease and wanted Li Qing to accompany him.

Hearing this, Li Qing’s lips twitched slightly. ”I’m just a humble Nascent Soul cultivator,” he replied. ”Battles of this magnitude are best left to those more qualified.”

True Monarch Chen Yuan hesitated. He desperately wanted to witness whatever cataclysmic event was unfolding in the Eastern Sea, yet he also felt compelled to consolidate his newly acquired foundation.

As he wavered between watching the spectacle and consolidating his dao foundation, a earth-shattering dragon roar suddenly erupted from the direction of the East Sea.

”ROAR!”

The entire sea territory trembled under the force of the deafening roar, and a terrifying pressure swept across the waters.

”That old coot, the Azure Flood Dragon King!”

”Ah, this old man once borrowed a top-grade spirit stone from his Underwater Dragon Palace Treasury. I suppose I should go check on him, just in case he needs assistance.”

As he spoke, the turbulent primordial energy of heaven and earth instantly calmed.

The commotion in the distant sea also subsided, as if the battle had ended.

With that, True Monarch Chen Yuan’s figure shot across the horizon, transforming into a streak of azure-green escape light that vanished in an instant.

Li Qing stared blankly at the scene, finally sighing softly. He had no intention of following.

”Still too weak, after all.”

With these words, Li Qing turned and flew toward the sect.

(End of the Chapter)