Chapter Sixty-Two: The Annihilating Lightning Tribulation

Chen Mu was continuously nourished by the third-tier Blood Qi Elixirs, and his flesh and skin had reached the pinnacle of the first realm. Within him, it felt as if a shackle was about to be broken open; once it did, his body-refining cultivation would ascend to the next realm—the Body Forging Stage.

That Chen Mu could advance to the second great realm in just two days was entirely due to his consumption of third-tier Blood Qi Elixirs as if they were mere food. The power of blood and energy was gradually shattering the bottleneck, and his flesh began to undergo a transformation.

A faint crimson aura flickered across his skin, making him appear like a small scarlet figure. At that moment, his body radiated a brilliant red light, and he finally sensed the opportunity for a breakthrough. Seizing the moment, he absorbed the immense medicinal power of the Blood Qi Elixirs in one surge, breaking through the shackles.

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered above his residence. Arcs of lightning howled within the clouds—a sign that Chen Mu had shattered the barrier, triggering the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation recorded within the black bead.

Now, he no longer feared any spells or magical implements from the Foundation Establishment Realm; even low-grade Core Formation magical tools could only inflict a scratch. Yet, under the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation, he felt a grave sense of peril.

Exiting his chamber, Chen Mu evacuated the steward and maids still in the residence. He stood ready to activate the defensive array that Rou’er had modified, which could withstand attacks even from the Nascent Soul Realm.

Yet, he was uncertain whether the array would hold, so he planned to endure the tribulation himself first, only activating the array at the moment of utmost danger to block the most critical strike.

Lightning locked onto Chen Mu standing in the courtyard. A crimson bolt struck down, severely wounding him in a single blow. Blood spurted from his mouth; his flesh was charred and mangled. The very first strike was already so deadly—this Annihilation Thunder Tribulation was indeed terrifying. If not for his practice of the “Desolate Nine Tribulations Sutra,” which tempered his body, he would have been reduced to ashes by the first bolt.

Mobilizing the life force within the black bead, Chen Mu rapidly repaired his body, bracing himself for a second strike.

While circulating the “Desolate Nine Tribulations Sutra” to absorb ambient spiritual energy and accelerate his recovery, he discovered that the destructive force of the Thunder Tribulation also tempered his body, and with surprising effectiveness.

When he had recovered eighty percent, the second bolt of tribulation thunder crashed down, nearly killing him outright. His body was paralyzed, devastated once more—this strike was already close to the full power of a mid-stage Core Formation attack.

Chen Mu felt the urge to curse aloud; this was merely the transition from the first to the second realm, so why was he suffering thunder tribulation attacks meant for the Core Formation level? And this was only the beginning?

He stubbornly absorbed the power of the lightning, the Blood Qi, and the life force to temper and repair his body, preparing to withstand the following waves of annihilating thunder.

Under the crimson radiance, layers of dead and damaged flesh peeled away from Chen Mu’s body, revealing renewed vitality. But before he could fully recover, another bolt descended.

This time the thunder was even more powerful—a strike clearly beyond the mid-stage Core Formation level. With no other choice, Chen Mu drew the Profound Gold Sword from his storage ring and unleashed the fourth, fifth, and sixth stances of the Falling Sun Sword Technique in succession, forcibly resisting the thunderbolt, though he was gravely wounded in the process.

After the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation was dispersed, Chen Mu, guided by the “Desolate Nine Tribulations Sutra,” absorbed it into his body to further temper himself. He sensed his physical strength increasing steadily. The second great realm, the Body Forging Stage, was no longer simply a tempering of skin and flesh, but the simultaneous forging of muscles.

Chen Mu’s frame became slightly leaner, but his muscles were more solid and powerful; his tensile strength, resilience, explosiveness, and endurance were all greatly enhanced.

He had no time to rejoice in his newfound strength before the fourth bolt of lightning struck. This time, his body had only recovered seventy percent, while the tribulation thunder’s power was already approaching the force of a late-stage Core Formation attack.

Though it was still some distance from a true late-stage attack, it was not to be underestimated. One more blow like this would cripple him, and while he could regenerate, he would not survive another strike in such a state.

Many within the Sacred Land of the Nine Netherworlds were drawn by the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation above Chen Mu’s residence, though only a few knew the identity of the one living there.

Gongsun Lin was shocked by the thunder tribulation above Chen Mu’s house. What had Chen Mu done to draw such a powerful tribulation? It was said that tribulations only manifested for those ascending to the Nascent Soul Realm—a phenomenon rarely seen. How had Chen Mu triggered it?

Cultivators faced two great tribulations: the Forty-Nine Heavens Tribulation upon reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, and the Eighty-Nine Heavens Tribulation upon ascending to the Celestial Ascension Realm. Surviving these not only increased one’s strength but also doubled one’s lifespan.

What people did not know was the existence of the Ninety-Nine Heavens Tribulation, which descended upon breaking through the Celestial Ascension Realm, though no one on the continent had ever witnessed it, nor was it recorded.

The Forty-Nine and Eighty-Nine Heavens Tribulations, however, had been seen in ancient times and recorded in texts, which was how knowledge of them had spread.

Now, no one on Yuanyao Continent had ever seen a tribulation, for none had reached the Nascent Soul Realm. If any existed, they clung to life with rare treasures, mere shadows of their former selves—stronger than those of the Nascent Soul Realm, perhaps, but unwilling to squander their dwindling lifespan in battle.

Gongsun Lin immediately sealed off Chen Mu’s residence, dispatching the War Demon Hall to clear away all bystanders for ten miles around, warning that any who approached would be killed without mercy.

She did not want anyone to discover Chen Mu’s secret; thus, she dispersed the crowd and issued a gag order—no one was to speak of these events on pain of death.

As expected, the fourth bolt of Annihilation Thunder crashed down, nearly crippling Chen Mu. He immediately activated the defensive array, hiding beneath its protection to heal.

He had no choice—if he tried to endure any longer, he would die beneath the tribulation thunder. He summoned all his life force to regenerate flesh and bone.

The fifth, sixth... all the way to the ninth bolt descended, the final ones approaching the full might of a perfected Core Formation cultivator.

Chen Mu shivered at the monstrous crimson lightning, but with the array’s protection, he finally weathered the ordeal.

After the Annihilation Tribulation, beams of sacred spiritual light poured down from the sky, flooding Chen Mu with a torrent of vital energy.

Stunned, Chen Mu exclaimed, “This… this is a Baptism of Spiritual Energy? So this is the reward for surviving the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation?”

His body grew ever more robust, constantly expelling pitch-black filth. Now, even without a weapon, he could challenge the magical implements of early Core Formation cultivators head-on.

Only now could his body be described as pure and flawless, utterly free of impurities.

Stretching his limbs, Chen Mu felt an inexhaustible strength within himself—his bare physical power already several times that of an ordinary man, his defense so great that he no longer feared attacks even from the early Core Formation stage.

The stench from his body became unbearable, so he quickly fetched water to cleanse himself.

With the tribulation clouds dispersed, Gongsun Lin finally lifted the cordon. She prepared to enter Chen Mu’s residence but was halted by a barrier.

Helpless, she could only wait outside for Chen Mu to emerge or for the barrier to vanish.

After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Chen Mu, having washed away the grime, dressed and lifted the restriction on his residence.

The moment Gongsun Lin touched the barrier, Chen Mu knew someone had arrived, but as he was still cleaning himself, he had not yet removed the restriction.

When the barrier disappeared, Gongsun Lin hurried inside. Seeing the courtyard in utter disarray—scorched earth and fresh craters—she was stunned. What had happened here? Was this the work of the crimson tribulation lightning?

Chen Mu emerged from the bath, and Gongsun Lin immediately asked with concern, “What happened? Why did a thunder tribulation appear above your house? Isn’t that something that only occurs for those advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm? The lightning was different from what’s described in the books, but it was a tribulation, wasn’t it?”

Bombarded by her questions, Chen Mu hardly knew where to begin. He quickly said, “Sister Lin, please calm down. Let me explain.”

After soothing her, Chen Mu began, “The tribulation descended because I practice a special cultivation method. With each advance to a higher realm, a tribulation will fall. But as long as I survive it, my strength will greatly increase.”

Gongsun Lin blanched. “What kind of technique is this? Every great realm brings a tribulation? Isn’t that too dangerous?”

“Fortune favors the bold. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. Don’t worry, Sister Lin—this is the path I chose, and I must walk it myself.”

Seeing Chen Mu’s resolute expression, Gongsun Lin felt both heartache and curiosity about the mysterious technique he cultivated. She had never heard of anything that summoned such crimson tribulation lightning.

Chen Mu, claiming he needed to consolidate his cultivation, persuaded her to leave, then returned to his chambers to meditate.

The benefits from surviving the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation were immense. Having just entered the Body Forging Stage, the tribulation had tempered him and solidified his foundation, greatly shortening the time needed to advance further. It would not be long before he broke through to the mid-stage, he believed.

In this way, although the thunder tribulation had caused quite a stir, almost no one knew the truth, for Gongsun Lin had suppressed all news.

Meanwhile, Gongsun Qingyang was already on his way to the imperial capital of the Bright Moon Empire, determined to seek justice for his daughter. Another great conflict was about to unfold.