âWorld-avoiding Heavenly Garment?â Elder Qian looked shocked, a surprised look passing through his eyes when he looked at Hua Youyue, mixed with a hint of confusion.
A faint smile appeared on Hua Youyueâs face as she said to the Thousand-Spirit Saintess, âThis is not the World-avoiding Heavenly Garment, itâs just a decoy.â
The Thousand-Spirit Saintess was taken aback. Seeing that Hua Youyue did not wish to explain further, she exchanged a look with Elder Qian.
âWhat is the World-avoiding Heavenly Garment?â a sect leader from a Great Sect at the side of the Sha Clan Elder asked.
The Sha Clan Elder glanced at the sect leader and explained, âThe World-avoiding Heavenly Garment is a technique from an era long ago that can temporarily hide a practitionerâs aura. Even the order of the universe cannot detect it. Itâs a divine power derived from a forbidden skill.â
The sect leader gasped, looking horrified. âDid you just say it was derived from a forbidden skill? Does that meanâ¦if one uses the World-avoiding Heavenly Garment during their tribulation phase, even the heavenly tribulation would not be able to find them?â
âItâs not that simple. The effect of the World-avoiding Heavenly Garment is extremely brief. Unless there are no other options, nobody would choose to use this forbidden skillâ¦Even if it was a divine power derived from a forbidden skill, the consequences for the practitioner could be dire. They could be hit back if they were careless.â
âAnd this young ladyâ¦â
âShe should be telling the truth. This is not the World-avoiding Heavenly Garment, but something similar!â The Sha Clan Elder eyed Hua Youyue intensely, a glint of uncertainty in his eyes.
He had never heard of another technique besides the World-avoiding Heavenly Garment that could hide a practitionerâs aura temporarily.
Everyone looked at Hua Youyue dubiously, then turned their gazes towards Han Yanâer.
No matter whether it was Hua Youyue or Han Yanâer, they had both taken everyone by surprise.
At that moment, Han Yanâer drew a deep breath, and her aura gradually calmed. It was clear she had managed to suppress her realm, delaying the arrival of the heavenly tribulation.
As Han Yanâer suppressed her realm, Hua Youyue looked up into the air, casually dismissing the heavenly garment on Han Yanâer.
Buzzââ!
Among the swirling tribulation clouds in mid-air, they slowly dissipated once they lost their target, and the sky returned to its usual clarity.
âThank you, sister!â Han Yanâer turned to Hua Youyue with a thankful smile.
Hua Youyue nodded, looking towards where Yang Zhen was situated, and said, âHeâs going to start soon!â
Startled, Han Yanâer quickly turned her gaze back towards Yang Zhen.
All around Yang Zhenâs cave, Peak Master Mo had cleared the area and everyone else had retreated a safe distance away, all casting doubtful looks at Yang Zhenâs cave.
Bangââ!
A thunderous roar sounded, the sky above the cave immediately darkened, and the tribulation cloud thickened. Fearsome, luminous lightning dragons darted about in the sky, their roars echoing.
âDanger!â Elder Qianâs face turned serious as he shouted, âEveryone, get away from here, now!â
Hearing Elder Qianâs words, no one dared to hesitate. Both Peak Master Mo and the Palace Master glanced at each other, their faces reflecting horror as they led everyone to quickly retreat.
The Thousand-Spirit Saintess burst into an inky flow of energy, her body floated backward as if she was being gentle yet containing power. Her bright eyes, however, were locked on the tribulation cloud above the cave. There was a look of doubt in her eyes, âSpecial Heavenly Tribulation!â
âWhat? Yang Zhen is going through a Special Heavenly Tribulation again?â
âWhat do you mean by âgoing through a Special Heavenly Tribulation againâ? Did Yang Zhen experience a Special Heavenly Tribulation the first time?â
âI heard it from someone else, Yang Zhenâs first tribulation was a terrifying Heavenly Ghost Tribulation!â
âHeavenly Ghost?â Hearing this, the crowd gasped. Their voices trembled, reflecting their shock.
A strange look flashed on Elder Qianâs face as he turned to the Thousand-Spirit Saintess and said, âIf Yang Zhen experienced the Heavenly Ghost Tribulation his first time, then his talent might even surpass yours!â
The Thousand-Spirit Saintessâs eyes grew intense, her lips slightly parted in shock as she looked at the dark entrance of the cave.
Rumbleâ!
Overwhelming auras burst out from the cave, illuminating the upheaval in the half-empty sky above.
âWhat exactly is Yang Zhen trying to do? In such a situation, faced with a special tribulation, he should be preparing himself. Why is he releasing such terrifying True Essence? Is he seeking death?â
âA special tribulationâ¦I have never experienced such a thing in my lifetime. Yang Zhen dares to squander his True Essence at a time like this. Truly, he lives up to his name as the despicable Yang , always acting in such a low manner.â
Each and every one in the crowd wore expressions of surprise, especially Saint Lin and the Sha Clan Elder, who were still recovering from their shock.
âSha Clan Elder, is this aura⦠really not from the Shangyan Ancient Scripture?â
âIt should⦠not be!â
The Sha Clan Elder seemed more mystified than Saint Lin. How could he have seen an Xu-level Shangyan Ancient Scripture before?
Saint Lin suddenly shook his head and said, âThe phenomena caused by the Shangyan Ancient Scripture are related to the mysteries of Heaven and Earth. When the Great Elder transcended tribulation, the runes filled the sky. They were profound and complex. If Yang Zhen truly comprehended the Shangyan Ancient Scripture, there should be runes filling the sky!â
The Sha Clan Elder nodded and said solemnly, âSo, Yang Zhen should be practicing some unknown Xu-level Cultivation Method, not the Shangyan Ancient Scriptureâ¦â
Humâ!
With a sound like the heavens and earth resounding, before the Sha Clan Elder could finish his sentence, the auras in the sky again transformed. With a boom, Yang Zhenâs body shot out of the cave and into the space above, slowly floating in mid-air, standing tall.
At Yang Zhenâs arrival, under the turbulent Tribulation Cloud, brilliant, golden rays began to shine. Countless engravings formed in the sky, among which the shining Genjin True Patterns, left everyone present metaphorically blinded by their radiance!
âGenjin True Patterns, these are Genjin True Patterns!â The Sha Clan Elder, who had been taken aback, let out a gasp, followed by a scream. He stared at the radiant Genjin True Patterns hanging in the sky, his face a mask of astonishment.
âWho would have thought that Yang Zhen would possess the Genjin True Patterns? Although itâs the simplest of the Nine Heavenly Patterns, itâs far superior to regular runes in complexity and strength.â
âHas Yang Zhen achieved enlightenment?â
âNo, he has not. Itâs the effect of his cultivation method and Genjin True Patterns that have led to this manifestation of the thunder tribulation.â
âWhat kind of tribulation is Yang Zhen about to face?â
The crowd was murmuring to each other, each with a confused look on their faces. The strange circumstances in the sky left them unsure of what sort of fate awaited Yang Zhen.
This was the first time they had witnessed such a special tribulation.
âThe nineteen tribulations!â Elder Qian suddenly declared, âUnless Iâm mistaken, Yang Zhen is about to face the legendary nineteen tribulations!â
Upon hearing Elder Qianâs words, the Ancient Tribe shuddered in unison. However, the leaders of the Great Sect were visibly befuddled.
What sort of tribulation were they mentioning? Werenât all tribulations fundamentally the same? Why differentiate so much?
The Ghostly Tribulation had already shocked all those from the Great Sects. Now, they were hearing about the Nineteen Tribulations.
âNine is a heavenly number. These nineteen tribulations⦠could they contain the legendary number of ninety-nine?â A sect master asked Elder Qian, looking uncertain.
Elder Qian nodded with a complex expression and said, âCorrect, nine is a heavenly number, but just how many stages there are in the Ninety-Nine Tribulations, I do not know!â
Having said that, Elder Qian drew a deep breath before continuing, âHoweverâ¦should Yang Zhen be able to transcend this tribulation, his physical body will achieve an extremely rare state!â
Physical body!
Upon hearing this word, everyone present involuntarily gasped in sync with Elder Qian.
Practitioners transcending tribulation aimed to strengthen their physical bodies. Only with a sufficiently strong body could higher realms of cultivation be pursued. The fact that Yang Zhen had managed to temper his body twice during a tribulation was trulyâ¦worth envying!
In the crowd, the Thousand-Spirit Saintess was looking at Yang Zhen with mixed emotions. Suddenly, she said, âThis time, Yang Zhen might not last until the end!â