Chapter 838

Chapter 838: Crossing the Tribulation

In Chang’an City, at the Taiji Palace.

The Taiji Palace, located in the heart of the city, was built only four years ago. Its foundation and reputation are incomparable to the Qinyun Palace on Qinyun Peak.

However, this Dao Palace emerged from nothing, showcasing a vitality that Qinyun Palace cannot match.

The latter resembles an aging elder; although it possesses deep accumulation and power, its limbs are stiff, and its mind is dulled. It has many strict rules that resemble a quagmire; once one gets trapped inside, it is hard to escape.

Conversely, the Taiji Palace has a very open atmosphere. Aside from the basic rules, there are no restrictive regulations, attracting a large number of cultivators who come to exchange ideas and learn.

Many cultivators found their places in this Dao Palace and developed a sense of belonging to Chang’an City.

What truly binds people’s hearts, though, is the leader of Chang’an, Holy Master Wang Chen!

Wang Chen not only possesses unfathomable strength but also enjoys imparting his knowledge. Anyone who seeks his guidance receives satisfactory answers.

When the Taiji Palace was established, Wang Chen frequently taught publicly in the Dao Hall. The number of cultivators attending his lectures grew from two or three at the beginning to hundreds later.

Some cultivators practicing on Taiwu Mountain even disguised themselves to sneak over and listen to his teachings!

Over the years, Holy Master Wang Chen’s reputation among cultivators has grown day by day. Even the Qinyun Palace, which has had significant conflicts with him, could do nothing to hinder his rise.

Unfortunately, in the past two years, Wang Chen has appeared publicly less and less, typically giving lectures only once a month.

Yet this has not affected his standing at all.

Many speculate that Wang Chen’s cultivation level has likely reached the apex of entry into the path, and he is currently striving to break through to the realm of the Supreme.

Of course, whether this speculation is correct remains to be verified.

However, as the Qinyun Palace hides like a turtle, who would dare to stand out as a bird in the open?

The more mysterious Wang Chen becomes, the more people fear him.

His reputation has even spread to cities tens of thousands of miles away, keeping pace with traveling merchants!

Crack!

That day, dark clouds suddenly gathered over Chang’an City. A flash of lightning accompanied by rumbling thunder pierced through the clouds, illuminating the nine-story high tower below.

At the Taiji Palace, Lingyan Pavilion, Wang Chen, who sat cross-legged on the dual realms of heaven and earth, suddenly opened his eyes.

Countless tiny electric lights sparkled in his dark pupils.

Then, he returned to silence.

Wang Chen stood up and walked out of the room, heading to the stargazing platform outside.

He looked up at the heavens, his expression exceptionally grave.

At that moment, thunder and lightning roared, accompanied by oppressive dark clouds, as if seeking to crush the city!

Wang Chen felt the revealed fangs of this world toward him!

Three years ago, Wang Chen’s cultivation level had already reached the peak of entry into the path, beginning to attempt a breakthrough to the realm of the Supreme.

However, this path was unprecedented; even Elder Yao, who had lived twelve lifetimes, could not find a way, leaving Wang Chen to rely solely on his exploration and insights.

Yet through continuously absorbing human benevolence and refining human spiritual light, Wang Chen gradually clarified the direction forward.

At that moment, he sensed the hostility of the world around him.

Initially, the world’s natural hostility was so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

But as the human spiritual light within Wang Chen continued to condense, the world’s hostility increased in tandem.

Now, within Wang Chen’s energy field, he had refined a cluster of spiritual light he named "Yuan Tai," and this hostility had reached a certain threshold.

At this moment, Wang Chen felt that the world could barely tolerate his existence.

The lightning and thunder were warnings from the heavens and the earth!

"You must break through."

Elder Yao’s voice echoed in his mind: "If you don’t advance, you’ll retreat, and retreat means certain death!"

Although this Nascent Soul true immortal could not help Wang Chen break through to the realm of the Supreme, his vast experience provided invaluable assistance.

Otherwise, Wang Chen would not have reached the peak of entry into the path so swiftly.

"Elder Yao!"

Wang Chen exclaimed with surprise.

Over the years, the frequency of Elder Yao’s communications with him had dwindled, and their conversations had grown shorter.

Three years ago, after this Nascent Soul true immortal fell silent, he hadn’t spoken again—until today!

"I’m fine."

Elder Yao did not give Wang Chen a chance to reminisce and continued, "The ultimate path comes with great calamity—heavenly tribulation and human tribulation. Hurry and prepare for the tribulation; if you fail, you will face certain doom!"

With that, the Nascent Soul true immortal fell silent once more.

Wang Chen stood speechless.

It was time!

He looked up at the sky once more and softly called, "Jiao Jiao."

Moments later, a graceful figure silently appeared behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Wang Chen turned around and embraced the beautiful girl.

After seven years, Hu Jiao Jiao had completely transformed, not only restoring her figure and beauty but also being able to maintain her human form for extended periods while cultivating in the Taiji Palace.

By following Wang Chen, she had shared a significant amount of human benevolence, and her cultivation level was now nearly on par with Wang Chen’s.

Approaching ninth-level!

Ninth-level fierce beasts, much like Higher Stewards, only exist in legends.

Thanks to Hu Jiao Jiao’s presence, Chang’an City had never suffered a beast tide since its establishment. The process of expanding its territory went smoothly, turning those fierce beasts, once enemies of human cultivators, into resources for the disciples of Bai Lu and cultivators of the Taiji Palace!

After enjoying a moment of tenderness, Wang Chen asked, "Are you ready?"

Hu Jiao Jiao nodded vigorously.

For seven years, she had been preparing for this day!

"Good!"

Wang Chen reached out to draw the dual realms of heaven and earth from the room, storing it in the Xumi Ring.

This treasure for cultivation was obtained from Elder Yao’s secret vault. Sitting on it significantly accelerated training speed and helped focus one’s mind to resist inner demons.

He tightened his embrace around Hu Jiao Jiao’s slender waist and suddenly leaped high into the air.

In mid-air, a pair of light blue wings instantly unfolded behind Wang Chen, lifting the two of them toward the distant mountains.

The Wind Thunder Wings, another treasure from Elder Yao’s secret vault!

Rumbling sounds!

The thunder in the sky grew dense and loud, and several bolts of lightning suddenly struck down.

One of them zipped past Wang Chen’s side, almost hitting him.

Hu Jiao Jiao instinctively buried her head in Wang Chen’s embrace—demons have an innate fear and reverence for thunder.

But Wang Chen stood firm and fearless, constantly infusing his vital energy into the Wind Thunder Wings, accelerating toward the towering peak ahead.

After a moment, Wang Chen broke through the barriers of thunder and lightning, descending onto a steep summit.

This peak was fifty miles from Chang’an City and originally had no name, but later, Wang Chen named it "Tribulation Peak," the place he chose to break through his limits.