Chapter 1191: Undergoing the Tribulation

Half a month later, the stone door of the secret chamber opened on its own, and Han Li emerged with an unchanged expression.

A flash of silver light appeared outside the door, and a humanoid puppet, identical in appearance to Han Li, eerily materialized before him.

Han Li glanced at the puppet and smiled faintly. He touched his head, and the black-green Spirit Infant instantly appeared above him.

The Spirit Infant’s face was expressionless, but with a flicker of its figure, it transformed into a streak of dark light and shot into the puppet’s body, vanishing without a trace.

Moments later, the puppet’s lifeless eyes suddenly blinked several times, brimming with vitality as if it had truly become a living being.

“Excellent. Just as I anticipated, by using the secret technique recorded in the Great Divination Treasure Scripture to attach the second Spirit Infant to this puppet, the second Spirit Infant can directly control it. There’s no longer any concern about the puppet being too distant to command. It seems that in the future, as long as the duration isn’t too long, I can leave both the second Spirit Infant and the puppet in the cave.” Han Li chuckled lightly, clapping his hands at the sight.

“Fellow Daoist Han, this is indeed a clever idea. But aren’t you afraid of another mishap, where the second Spirit Infant regains its autonomy? With the assistance of this late-stage humanoid puppet, reclaiming the second Spirit Infant would be a thousand times more difficult than last time,” came the voice of the child from Han Li’s sleeve, sounding somewhat dismissive.

“I’m well aware of that, Fellow Daoist. But this time, I’ll employ several newly comprehended restriction techniques, typically used by late-stage cultivators, to preemptively seal the second Spirit Infant’s consciousness. I’ll also make adjustments to the puppet itself. Unless the second Spirit Infant’s consciousness truly surpasses my main Spirit Infant, I can render the puppet incapacitated at any time,” Han Li replied confidently.

“Heh, it seems Fellow Daoist Han has already considered this matter thoroughly. It appears I worried unnecessarily,” the child chuckled.

“Han Li appreciates Fellow Daoist Tianlan’s concern. Now, would you prefer to undergo your tribulation here at the Mother-Child Peak, or should I find another secluded place to assist you?” Han Li abruptly shifted the topic to the tribulation.

“The Mother-Child Peak might not be the most suitable. After all, the Heavenly Tribulation for transformation cannot be concealed by restrictions. While I trust in your abilities, Fellow Daoist, it would be safer to find a rarely visited location,” the child hesitated before suggesting tactfully.

“Very well. After I meet with Wan’er, I’ll take you elsewhere,” Han Li agreed without hesitation.

He then left the cave and headed to the Falling Cloud Sect to check on Nangong Wan’s cultivation progress.

A day later, Han Li silently departed the Falling Cloud Sect once more, his escape light streaking westward.

Five days later, he arrived in an utterly desolate expanse of yellow-earth wasteland.

The land was barren, devoid of any vegetation. As far as the eye could see, aside from the yellow earth, there were only gray-white stones of varying sizes.

Han Li first conducted a thorough search of the surrounding tens of thousands of miles.

Not a single ordinary cultivator could be found, let alone any mortals from the secular world.

“How about this? This is a dead zone at the border between the Xi Kingdom and the Huayu Kingdom. Within a radius of two to three hundred thousand miles, there’s not a trace of human presence. Undergoing your Heavenly Tribulation here should be much safer,” Han Li said calmly from mid-air, then flicked his sleeve, sending out a small cauldron enveloped in azure light.

“This is indeed an excellent place for the tribulation. Fellow Daoist Han, please release my true form first. After three days of meditation, I’ll be ready to face the tribulation,” the child’s delighted voice emerged from the cauldron.

“No problem!” Han Li agreed readily. He flicked a finger toward the cauldron.

With a soft “pop,” the lid of the cauldron opened on its own, and the vessel flipped over, releasing a stream of azure mist that revealed a half-foot-long beast with an ox’s head and a Flood Dragon’s body.

As soon as the beast emerged from the mist, it rolled once, its body instantly swelling to a height of ten feet, its scales shimmering with azure light.

“Now, I’ll trouble you to stand guard for me, Fellow Daoist,” the beast spoke in the child’s voice before coiling its serpentine body and descending to the ground, settling onto a large white stone and becoming motionless.

Han Li observed the Heavenly Tribulation Beast’s actions without comment. He then moved to another nearby rock, where he also sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

The two—one beast, one human—remained seated for three days and nights.

On the fourth day, as the sun rose, both opened their eyes simultaneously.

“I’ve adjusted my body and mana to their optimal state. I now have at least a sixty to seventy percent chance of surviving the tribulation. There’s no need for you to intervene immediately, Fellow Daoist. If I truly falter, it will likely be during the final phase. As long as you can block the last three waves of lightning, I’ll be eternally grateful,” the Heavenly Tribulation Beast said gravely.

“Understood. Before you begin, you might want to consume a drop of this,” Han Li replied calmly, suddenly flipping his palm to reveal a small vial of black ice exuding a chilling aura, which he tossed to the beast.

“What is this?” the beast asked curiously, hesitantly accepting the vial and scanning its contents with divine sense.

“Frost Essence? You actually have this?” the Heavenly Tribulation Beast exclaimed in shock and delight.

“I obtained a small amount during my time in the Great Jin Dynasty. Considering your earlier teachings on the Silver Ant Script, I offer you a drop as a token of gratitude. I hope you don’t find it too meager,” Han Li said leisurely, stroking his chin.

“Haha, not at all! Frost Essence is unlike anything else. Even in the Spirit Realm, it’s exceedingly rare. Whenever some appears, it’s quickly divided among us beasts. It’s truly a treasure one stumbles upon by chance, not by seeking,” the Heavenly Tribulation Beast said excitedly.

After a pause, it turned its beastly head toward Han Li, its eyes gleaming. “Even a single drop is more than enough for me. I won’t forget your kindness, Fellow Daoist. I’ll repay you handsomely in the future.”

The sincerity in its final words was palpable.

Han Li smiled but didn’t respond. Instead, he patted his storage pouch, producing a set of formation flags and plates.

He began setting up a complex restriction formation within a radius of several hundred feet.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Han Li returned to his original spot. Layers of milky-white mist had risen around them, sealing off the area like a dense fog.

“This formation will prevent any unforeseen incidents. I’ll stand guard outside while you face the tribulation. The initial lightning strikes will be up to you,” Han Li said slowly, looking at the beast.

“Naturally. The lightning of the Heavenly Tribulation is genuine celestial thunder. How could ordinary mortal-world restrictions withstand it? By the way, during the tribulation, I can offer you a small favor in return,” the beast said suddenly, its eyes flashing with an odd light.

“A favor?” Han Li asked, surprised.

“Indeed. This is common knowledge in the Spirit Realm, but few in the lower realm are aware of it,” the Heavenly Tribulation Beast chuckled, then transmitted its message via voice transmission.

Han Li listened with growing astonishment, his expression shifting from surprise to excitement.

“If this is true, it’s indeed a rare opportunity. I happen to have the appropriate tools with me, so I can give it a try,” Han Li nodded.

“Haha, it’s absolutely true. But you must seize the right moment. Any misstep could backfire,” the beast cautioned solemnly.

“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. I know my limits,” Han Li replied with a smile.

“I never doubted that. Now, I’ll summon the heavenly lightning and begin my tribulation. Sigh, if not for my mastery of concealment techniques, the tribulation would have struck the moment I left the cauldron,” the Heavenly Tribulation Beast sighed before floating upward without wind, ascending slowly into the sky.

Han Li’s heart tightened. Without another word, he transformed into a streak of azure light and flashed outside the formation.

His eyes glowed blue as he peered intently through the thick mist at the beast’s movements below.

The beast rose about thirty feet above the ground before stopping. It gazed upward at the sky, snorted through its nose, and suddenly its body flickered wildly with azure light. A gray demonic wind sprang up around it, engulfing its form.

Han Li’s expression shifted slightly.

Then, an earth-shaking roar erupted from the wind as a powerful demonic aura surged skyward. Within the wind, the Heavenly Tribulation Beast seemed to have activated some secret technique, causing its body to double in size.

It had fully unleashed the aura of an eighth-grade demonic beast.

In the span of a single breath, a thunderclap echoed across the previously cloudless sky. Within moments, fierce winds howled across a radius of ten thousand miles. Dark clouds materialized out of nowhere, turning the sky pitch-black as torrential rain began to fall amid the thunder.

Han Li couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

To his knowledge, this desolate land, known as the Dead Zone, was typically bone-dry, often going decades without a drop of rain. Yet the moment the Heavenly Tribulation Beast released its aura, it triggered such a dramatic celestial phenomenon. It seemed this beast’s Heavenly Tribulation was truly extraordinary.

As Han Li pondered this, the dark clouds above began churning violently. Thick arcs of lightning, each as wide as an arm, flickered within the clouds, accompanied by deafening thunderclaps. Vast electric webs took shape faintly within the storm.

Han Li pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.

At the same time, the beast within the formation below let out a mighty roar.

With an equally astonishing howl, the gray demonic wind intensified several times over, transforming into a towering gray-white tornado that spiraled upward as if intent on tearing through the clouds and scattering the lightning and mist.