Chapter 2318: The Arrival of a Formidable Foe

With a “rip” sound, the void was torn apart by two massive claws, revealing a spatial rift over a thousand zhang long.

A shadow flickered, and a figure as large as a small mountain stepped out from the rift. Then, with a flash of light, two more streaks of radiance shot out closely behind.

As the light faded, a young Taoist priest and a gaunt man in a yellow robe emerged from the escaping light.

When the black mist around the massive figure dispersed, its true form was finally revealed—a dark-skinned giant with curved horns on its head and rows of short bone spikes on its back. Its face appeared no different from an ordinary man’s, even somewhat simple and honest, but the aura it exuded was suffocatingly terrifying.

“Fellow Daoist Bumie, your divine abilities are truly remarkable. To tear open the void with just your transformed body and allow us to enter this space so easily is no small feat,” the yellow-robed man said with a smile after surveying their surroundings.

“Haha, this is all thanks to Brother Huang’s Nine Illusions Ruyi Gate, which loosened nearly ninety percent of this space’s boundary force. Otherwise, how could I alone accomplish such a thing?” The giant laughed heartily before a layer of black flames swirled around him, shrinking his form rapidly into a two-zhang-tall colossus.

“Heh, while that may be true, without your great power to break through most of the boundary force, entering this place would still have been impossible,” the yellow-robed man chuckled.

“Enough. The two of you need not flatter each other any longer. I did not come here to listen to idle talk. Let us find that man and settle this matter quickly,” the young Taoist priest interjected coldly. His face bore dark green serpentine markings, and his pupils were vertical slits, resembling those of a snake.

“Fellow Daoist Sanquan, there’s no need to rush. Even if Qing Yuanzi has begun his heavenly tribulation, it will not conclude in just three or five days. We have ample time to reach the tribulation site,” the yellow-robed man replied calmly.

This yellow-robed man was naturally Huang Yuanzi, while the other two were the renowned Great Ascension powerhouses “Bumie Tianzun” and “Sanquan Daoren.”

“It seems you have indeed planned meticulously to deal with Qing Yuanzi, even mastering the timing and location of his tribulation,” the young Taoist remarked, casting a peculiar glance at Huang Yuanzi.

“Of course. Qing Yuanzi is not one of our Chang Yuan Clan. He is an alien soul that seized the body of my blood brother, allowing him to cultivate to his current level. That brother once showed me great kindness. I abandoned my original surname and took this name to never forget this grudge, hoping one day to reclaim my brother’s body,” Huang Yuanzi said, his voice turning icy.

“So, you and Qing Yuanzi truly bear such deep enmity. Rest assured, I will help you achieve your vengeance,” the giant declared, his eyes gleaming fiercely.

“I care not for your feud with Qing Yuanzi. My efforts will match the reward offered. Whether you can truly slay him depends on your own abilities,” Sanquan Daoren said indifferently.

“Worry not. I sought you out, Fellow Daoist Sanquan, precisely for your mastery of formations. With your expertise as a formation master and my Nine Illusions Ruyi Gate, the restrictions Qing Yuanzi has laid will be as nothing before us,” Huang Yuanzi replied confidently.

“I hope it proves so. I’ve heard Qing Yuanzi is also quite skilled in formations. The restrictions he’s set for his tribulation must be formidable,” Sanquan Daoren said, his expression softening slightly.

“Haha, I have full faith in you, Brother Sanquan. Now, let us depart. In this space, only one of us—Qing Yuanzi or I—will leave alive.” With a loud laugh, Huang Yuanzi flicked his sleeve and soared into the sky as a streak of radiance.

Bumie Tianzun and Sanquan Daoren exchanged glances before summoning their own escaping light and following.

—

Within the valley, atop a towering platform, Qing Yuanzi sat cross-legged, suspended a dozen zhang in the air. Dozens of azure flying swords circled around him as he remained expressionless, his eyes tightly shut.

Beneath him, hundreds of spirit banners shimmered with light, releasing layers of five-colored mist that condensed into countless dazzling runes floating above the platform.

The artifacts arranged on the platform’s tiers began to hum softly, emitting auspicious auras that vanished into the void.

Meanwhile, the thousands of statues surrounding the platform remained motionless, as if entirely detached from the events unfolding above.

Yuan Yao stood nervously beneath one of the banners, gazing upward.

The sky above was now filled with rolling crimson clouds, accompanied by howling black winds that made the very void tremble.

The clouds thickened, nearly blotting out the entire sky, yet a scorching heat pulsed within them.

Soon, flashes of crimson light appeared in the clouds, coalescing into countless blazing orbs that rained down like a storm.

At the same moment, Qing Yuanzi opened his eyes and raised a finger, slashing it through the air.

With a soft “puff,” a thousand-zhang-long azure sword aura materialized, weaving into a shimmering curtain that enveloped the entire platform.

The blazing orbs struck the azure curtain, exploding into showers of sparks that dissipated upon contact, unable to penetrate.

But this was merely the beginning of the tribulation.

Once tens of thousands of orbs had fallen, thunder roared in the sky, and purple-gold lightning bolts descended like arrows.

Simultaneously, the black winds condensed and pressed downward, releasing translucent blades of wind in relentless waves.

For a moment, the sky was filled with flickering white streaks.

“Come then!” Qing Yuanzi bellowed, his body erupting with blinding azure light as he pointed repeatedly at the sky.

The sword curtain above retracted its radiance, reforming into a massive azure flood dragon that danced through the air, its claws and fangs rending the lightning and wind blades apart.

From her corner of the platform, Yuan Yao watched in relief.

But then, the sky brightened crimson once more as the clouds thinned, revealing a river of molten lava. Waves of magma cascaded downward, igniting the heavens.

Yuan Yao’s smile froze.

Qing Yuanzi, however, remained composed. With a single hand seal, the runes from the banners shot upward, forming a five-colored array that released countless crystalline threads, piercing the falling magma and reducing it to smoke.

Then, with a long cry, Qing Yuanzi slapped the crown of his head. A small azure figure in robes emerged, its tiny hands rubbing together before unleashing a storm of sword auras, each as powerful as the first.

Qing Yuanzi knew well—the true horror of the tribulation had only just begun.

—

Ten days later, the sky for ten thousand li around the valley was choked with black clouds, their thunderous roars unceasing, interspersed with flickering five-colored lights.

The tribulation had reached its most ferocious stage.

On a hilltop ten thousand li away, three figures stood atop the branches of a massive tree, silently observing the distant valley.

They were Huang Yuanzi, Sanquan Daoren, and Bumie Tianzun, who had arrived two days prior, biding their time.

“I never imagined Qing Yuanzi’s great tribulation would be so fearsome. Had it been me, I doubt I could have lasted this long,” Bumie Tianzun admitted with a sigh.

“Indeed. Even I would likely fail against such a tribulation. Qing Yuanzi’s reputation is well-earned,” Sanquan Daoren agreed solemnly.

Huang Yuanzi, his face dark, suddenly sneered. “No matter how much stronger Qing Yuanzi is than the three of us, it matters little. Even if he survives this tribulation, weakened as he’ll be, how can he escape our combined might? His soul will scatter all the same.”

“True. No matter how vast his powers, Qing Yuanzi is doomed this time,” Bumie Tianzun nodded.

“But the tribulation seems likely to last another five or six days. Should we begin dismantling the outer restrictions? If we wait until it ends, Qing Yuanzi may flee immediately,” Sanquan Daoren said coldly.

“Indeed, the time is ripe. Heh, given Qing Yuanzi’s current state, even if he senses us breaking his barriers, he’ll be powerless to stop us. At most, he’ll activate some contingency measures,” Huang Yuanzi said darkly.

“Contingencies? Hah! I’d love to see what tricks Qing Yuanzi has prepared. The more he expends now, the easier it’ll be to finish him later,” Bumie Tianzun laughed wildly.