**Boom!**
A thunderous roar shook the Immortal Ancient, piercing through a minor realm and sending tremors through all clans.
What had happened? Was the outside world attacking the Immortal Ancient, trying to break in?
Hearts tightened—it was impossible not to feel nervous.
Then, like a waterfall, lightning cascaded from the heavens, illuminating the minor realm in a blinding radiance before igniting it in dazzling brilliance.
The thunder was deafening.
This was no external assault, nor the beating of divine war drums—it was true heavenly thunder.
In that moment, everyone understood—someone was undergoing a tribulation, summoning the wrath of the Nine Heavens, with lightning descending like an unending river.
Had another prodigy stepped into the True God realm to face their tribulation?
After Shi Hao, the Banished Immortal, and the Ten Crown King set the precedent, many had followed, seeking to elevate their strength and rise as kings among mortals.
Yet, too many had perished in the attempt. Not every first-generation genius could succeed, nor could every clan’s strongest youth endure the ordeal.
Not long ago, many had fallen—renowned talents from the three thousand provinces, figures of great fame—yet none had triumphed.
Even the ancient freaks had suffered heavy losses, with only a handful surviving beyond those who had succeeded.
For a long time, no one dared challenge the heavens again, all quietly cultivating to True God perfection, unwilling to face the thunder.
But today—what had happened? Why had someone taken this step again? Had a peerless monster just emerged from seclusion, or did some heaven-defying genius believe they could rival Ning Chuan and the others?
**”No—this thunder is too terrifying! Even a Heavenly God might be struck dead!”** someone suddenly cried, face pale.
This was only the beginning, yet the lightning was already this intense. What would come later? It was certain to claim lives—this tribulation was unnaturally ferocious.
**Was a Heavenly God undergoing tribulation?**
At the thought, expressions froze. How confident must one be to dare such a thing? Did they not value their life?
Cultivation was like climbing the heavens—the higher one went, the more perilous the path. Each tribulation brought greater danger, compounding endlessly.
Even in the Immortal Ancient era, mortality rates soared with each ascending realm.
**A Heavenly God tribulation was absolutely terrifying!**
**”No—which native would dare this? Even if they broke through to Heavenly God, they wouldn’t gamble with their life, would they?”**
After all, no outsider had recently ascended to Heavenly God.
**”It’s Shi Hao!”**
In an instant, the crowd thought of him. Though not a Heavenly God, his combat power rivaled one!
They hadn’t even seen him yet, but the masses knew—it had to be him.
**”It must be him! Not long ago, he was slaughtering his way through, and now he’s already facing tribulation again!”**
Many trembled, especially those who bore him enmity, their faces ashen. This guy was too monstrous—his feats were beyond comparison.
Of course, some speculated it could be the Ten Crown King or the Banished Immortal—those two were equally unpredictable.
**Boom!**
The Immortal Ancient erupted in chaos as news spread. Crowds rushed toward the minor realm to witness the tribulation.
**”This… this is a Divine King tribulation! A Saint tribulation!”** someone sighed.
The Saint Sacrifice was a peculiar realm—one could skip it entirely.
But those who stepped into it faced an erratic path, their power fluctuating wildly. The ultimate transcendents were hailed as Divine Kings, while those who failed and fell back to the Divine Flame realm suffered bitterly.
The Saint Sacrifice was already bizarre—undergoing tribulation within it only amplified the variables, making it even more terrifying.
The Divine King tribulation was brutal. Some had deduced—it was not to be taken lightly, nor should it be attempted.
**”He’s really trying the Divine King tribulation?”**
In an instant, word spread. Experts from all clans converged to witness this spectacle.
They arrived, seeing a lone figure standing amidst a sea of lightning, towering beneath ten thousand bolts.
**It was indeed him—Shi Hao!**
The geniuses of the three thousand provinces felt complex emotions. That youth, so young and unassuming, had already achieved such heights.
His accomplishments were despair-inducing. How could they ever catch up? Sharing an era with him was almost tragic.
Especially the proud young talents—their eyes dimmed as they realized they could never compare.
**”His enemies are no longer among us. His gaze pierces the void, fixed upon those ancient freaks who have lived through the ages.”**
Someone sighed, bitterness in their voice.
Soon, many lifted their heads again. There was no need to chase such a figure, no point in comparison. After all, he was Shi Hao—one of a kind.
Only the Banished Immortal and the Ten Crown King could stand beside him. That was their concern, not the masses’. There was no need for despair or envy.
**Boom!**
The heavens split, the earth quaked, and rivers flowed backward—the spectacle left everyone dumbfounded.
**”What’s happening? What’s going on?”** Many gaped in shock.
In the sky, a mighty river surged upward, transforming into an ocean that washed over the firmament.
That was no ordinary water—it was pure thunder, rising from the earth to strike the heavens.
**”The Divine King tribulation is truly bizarre—it defies all logic!”**
Soon, they realized—the Divine King tribulation was unique, manifesting in strange phenomena. Even thunder rising from the ground was no surprise.
**Clang!**
A deafening gong strike nearly shattered eardrums.
In the void, a pair of massive bronze gongs appeared, crashing together to trap Shi Hao within. Lightning intertwined as the gongs, large as mountains, loomed ominously.
The thunder had taken form—the gongs sought to crush him alive.
Next, the heavenly lightning morphed into a swamp, ensnaring Shi Hao. From its depths, a Crocodile Ancestor emerged, swallowing him whole.
The crowd was stunned. From the very start, the thunder had taken shape—weapons, creatures—this would be nearly impossible to survive.
**Boom!**
Shi Hao erupted with power, his combat prowess at its peak. His runes shattered the lightning, freeing him from the Crocodile Ancestor’s maw and obliterating the void.
As the lightning dispersed, avian cries echoed from the sky. A flock of “suns” descended, blindingly radiant.
Golden suns, each harboring a divine bird with golden plumage, burst forth, wings spread as they dove downward.
A swarm of Golden Crows, carrying the essence of heavenly fire and endless thunder, flooded the sky, drowning all in golden light.
Faces paled—this tribulation was too horrifying.
**For those Golden Crows exuded Heavenly God auras!**
How could anyone survive this? A flock of Golden Crows, wreathed in lightning and destruction, charging at Shi Hao—this was a death sentence.
Even Heavenly Gods present turned grim.
**”This isn’t meant for ordinary people. This tribulation was designed for those who’ve cultivated three strands of immortal energy!”** an elder murmured.
This tribulation could annihilate anyone else—it was an inescapable death trap.
Sure enough, Shi Hao roared, his fists blazing as three strands of immortal energy surged forth. He unleashed supreme treasure arts, battling the Golden Crows and thunder.
This was a life-and-death trial!
Even Shi Hao wore a grave expression. He plunged into the flock of Golden Crows, golden feathers and blood raining down.
The blood belonged to both the crows and Shi Hao himself. He fought the thunderborn creatures and dense lightning, sustaining injuries.
**This was a grand decisive battle!**
The sky became a chaotic storm of flashing figures and shrieking Golden Crows—a terrifying sight.
By the end, Shi Hao resembled a young Heavenly Emperor, hair disheveled and bloodied, fighting with unmatched ferocity.
**Boom!**
Standing in the void, he punched through golden sun after golden sun, annihilating the Golden Crows in a shower of gore.
The crowd was speechless—**this was Shi Hao’s true power!**
His body bore cracks, his flesh wounded—this battle was brutal, the thunder too overwhelming.
Yet once the golden suns vanished and the divine birds’ cries faded, Shi Hao had cleared this trial. He soared upward, piercing the lightning to ascend to the second heaven.
For others, this might have marked the end.
But the strongest tribulation was beyond imagination—**this was only the beginning.**
Unless something went wrong, he would need to climb nine heavens, battling through each layer to achieve completion.
Many expected him to struggle, to suffer heavier wounds on the second heaven—but reality defied expectations.
Shi Hao roared, unleashing the Willow God’s technique before the crowd. His blood energy surged as he wielded other treasure arts, blasting his way upward.
He cleared multiple layers in rapid succession, already reaching the fifth heaven—unstoppable!
Though he bled, his battle robes tattered, his body riddled with wounds and even broken bones, the thunder could not halt his advance.
**Boom!**
On the sixth heaven, he encountered foes—figures seated atop celestial steeds, wielding black halberds that split the sky.
**Clang!**
Sparks flew as Shi Hao clashed with them.
Moments later, nine more such figures appeared, weapons shifting as they swarmed him.
**”Kill!”**
Shi Hao fought fiercely—these were no ordinary opponents. Each was terrifyingly strong, capable of matching him blow for blow.
This was a grueling battle. Shi Hao shed blood, channeled his power, and fought with his life on the line—all to transcend, to forge his supreme Divine King body.
This was the Divine King tribulation—he needed the thunder to temper his flesh and refine his spirit, to grow stronger!
The brutal combat painted the void red with blood.
In the distance, Yun Xi arrived, clad in violet, her ethereal beauty transcendent.
She sighed softly. That youth from back then had grown to such heights—far beyond her expectations, unimaginably powerful.
In the Immortal Ancient, she had often heard of Shi Hao’s exploits—his name was everywhere, yet she had never seen him.
The past weighed on her heart with regret.
This was their first meeting in years within the Immortal Ancient. She witnessed his invincible brilliance—and perhaps saw the remorse and helplessness of her clan.
Elsewhere, Yue Chan watched silently, her gaze inscrutable.
Beside her, her uncle chattered endlessly. Despite being thrashed by Shi Hao, he praised the youth’s strength unabashedly, even dragging Yue Chan into his ramblings.
The Holy Maiden of the Sky-Replenishing Sect was both annoyed and unsettled.
**”Strongest? He might just fall here, struck dead by the thunder,”** Yue Chan retorted to her own uncle.
The next moment, Shi Hao annihilated his foes, ascending to the seventh heaven. He even seized a thunder steed, attempting to ride it—to the crowd’s astonishment.
Of course, he paid a price. The steed neighed before exploding into lightning.
Fortunately, he was prepared, leaping into the seventh heaven’s thunder sea.
**”No! On the seventh heaven, Shi Hao’s body was severed by the thunder!”** someone screamed.
This was a vicious battle—not just creatures, but mountains and rivers formed of lightning exploded around him, even releasing so-called Immortal Ascension Light.
**He was bisected!**
Yet he forcibly reunited his body, enduring the agony to press onward.
Under disbelieving gazes, he stormed the eighth heaven.
**Too fast!** This speed was shocking.
**”Is he setting a record? Charging through with minimal time!”**
**”On the ninth heaven, he’ll face the true calamity. Whether he survives remains to be seen!”** someone else muttered.
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