At this moment, the entire Azure Cloud Immortal Sect was shaken by the vast might of the stars.
It was not only Heavenly Summit Peak that had erupted into chaos.
Deep within the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect, inside countless cave dwellings, supreme experts and ancient monsters who had been in seclusion suddenly opened their eyes.
Terrifying streams of divine sense pierced through the void, descending directly above Heavenly Summit Peak and circling without cease.
In the deepest part of the Immortal Sect, within the depths of the void where he had been in seclusion, a middle-aged man opened his eyes. Shock filled them, along with boundless wariness.
“Chu Feng has broken through to the Nascent Soul Transformation realm, and he even mastered the Heavenly Summit Star King Art, forming the Extreme Star Divine Infant that their successive Peak Masters had only theorized.”
“That old man Liu Wudao must be grinning from ear to ear now.”
“It seems the struggle for this generation’s Holy Son has no suspense left.”
“A Nascent Soul Transformation realm cultivator in his early twenties… even in ancient records, such a thing was only a legend. Perhaps only in the primordial era did such monsters exist. And now it has become reality.”
“As expected of the legendary Golden Age. Geniuses and monsters emerge in droves.”
“In this lifetime… could the legendary Immortal Emperor truly be born?”
…
Countless ancient monsters were stunned, voices of astonishment echoing one after another.
At the foot of Dharma Peak.
Ye Tongyao’s face was pale as she staggered along the path. She felt as though her entire world had changed. The way everyone looked at her seemed different, making her deeply uncomfortable.
She could not understand why Chu Feng had changed so suddenly.
Had love turned into hatred?
That must be it.
Yet she did not believe she had done anything wrong. Su Fan was so outstanding, so gentle. He should not have died here unjustly because of her.
But how would she explain everything to her family now?
Lost in thought, Ye Tongyao was suddenly drawn by the commotion in the sky.
When she looked up, she saw that tall figure in a snow-white robe embroidered with plum blossoms. A trace of resentment flashed instinctively through her eyes, but it was immediately replaced by shock.
Chu Feng had actually broken through to the Nascent Soul Transformation realm.
Because of his indulgent affection for her, Chu Feng had told her nearly everything. She knew very well how difficult it was to cultivate the Heavenly Summit Star King Art.
She remembered Chu Feng telling her that the technique’s power was extremely terrifying. It allowed his combat strength to exceed those of the same realm by tenfold, even a hundredfold. Yet the difficulty of breaking through with it increased geometrically.
To reach the Nascent Soul Transformation realm, he had estimated he would need at least another five to ten years.
But now, he had suddenly broken through.
“A Nascent Soul Transformation realm in his early twenties…” Ye Tongyao’s pale face stiffened with shock.
Even ancient records had never documented such a terrifying monster.
Heaven-defying.
Other than that, she could find no words to describe her feelings.
Subconsciously, she began comparing Su Fan and Chu Feng in her heart.
Originally, Su Fan had just broken through to the early Divine Core realm. Yet his combat power was extraordinary, his trump cards endless, and he had risen entirely by his own efforts without any background. In Ye Tongyao’s mind, although he was temporarily inferior to Chu Feng, he was ultimately superior in potential and would surpass him sooner or later.
But at this moment, she was stunned.
Was Su Fan truly stronger than Chu Feng?
A Nascent Soul Transformation realm at such a young age. And Chu Feng had cultivated the Heavenly Summit Star King Art, a technique passed down since the primordial era that no one had ever successfully mastered.
“It’s only because he has the entire sect’s resources and fortune supporting him,” Ye Tongyao murmured, trying to comfort herself. If Su Fan had the same resources, he would certainly be far stronger than Chu Feng.
Moreover, Su Fan’s unyielding will, his defiance against heaven itself, was far beyond Chu Feng, who had been born with a golden spoon, raised in comfort, and supplied with limitless resources.
That had to be the truth.
But was it really?
Across the vast Ancient Immortal Continent, with living beings as numerous as the sands of the Ganges and history spanning countless billions of years, Chu Feng was the first to reach the Nascent Soul Transformation realm at such a young age. Could that truly be achieved by resources alone?
For the first time, Ye Tongyao could not fully convince herself.
At that moment, someone suddenly cried out, “Look at the sky!”
Instantly, countless gazes converged above Chu Feng.
In the violet-illuminated heavens, endless dark clouds surged forth. Thick serpentine bolts of lightning rolled and roared within them. A vast aura of destruction spread outward.
“This is… the Heavenly Jealousy Tribulation.”
“I once read in a primordial-era text that excessively heaven-defying monsters would incur the jealousy of heaven and be struck down by tribulation lightning.”
“I thought it was only a legend. It’s actually real.”
Liu Wudao’s expression darkened as he abruptly rose to his feet.
“Master, doesn’t only the Great Ascension realm face lightning tribulation when breaking into immortality?” the woman in green asked anxiously.
Lightning tribulation was the most feared calamity among cultivators. It was a disaster sent down by heaven itself. Among those who attempted to ascend, fewer than one in a hundred succeeded.
Thus, cultivators paled at the mention of lightning. Many Great Ascension cultivators dared not attempt breakthrough without exhaustive preparation.
And Chu Feng had just broken through to the Nascent Soul Transformation realm. He had not even had time to stabilize his cultivation.
“Rumble, rumble…”
The terrifying aura of destruction descended, covering a radius of 100 kilometers around Chu Feng. The supreme experts guarding nearby changed expression drastically and hurriedly retreated.
Tribulation lightning adjusted according to the strength of the one crossing it. If it sensed a stronger aura nearby, it would escalate correspondingly, without limit.
“Master, think of something!” the woman in green pleaded urgently.
Liu Wudao’s face was grim. “It is said that even an immortal Golden Immortal interfering with tribulation lightning would be annihilated in body and soul. Only a Great Luo Golden Immortal who has transcended the Three Realms might be able to influence it slightly.”
“Then what do we do? Are we to watch Senior Brother be struck down by the tribulation…” the woman’s voice trembled.
“For now, we can only see what choice Feng’er makes. The tribulation descended because he broke through too early, provoking heaven’s jealousy. It has not fully formed yet. If he chooses to disperse his Nascent Soul voluntarily, the tribulation will also dissipate,” Liu Wudao said, his face growing darker by the moment.
To break through only to forcefully drop one’s realm would not only severely damage the Dao foundation but might also leave behind an inner demon of fear toward future breakthroughs.
Many Great Ascension cultivators, overwhelmed by terror before heavenly tribulation, had aborted their breakthroughs and were forever stuck at that realm until death.
Soon, the tribulation clouds completely covered the sky above Chu Feng, like a bottomless abyss that threatened to swallow everything.
Within the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect, countless supreme experts and ancient monsters narrowed their eyes, watching as though enjoying a spectacle.
If Chu Feng were to die beneath the tribulation lightning, what kind of expression would Liu Wudao wear?
“Heavenly Jealousy Tribulation!”
“Chu Feng is finished!” A faint flicker of excitement appeared in Ye Tongyao’s eyes.
This was heavenly tribulation.
How could Chu Feng, who had lived in comfort, possibly withstand it?
If he possessed Su Fan’s indomitable will and refusal to bow to heaven, perhaps he might have a chance.
If Chu Feng died in the tribulation, Dharma Peak might no longer target her father. The Ye Family would be safe. Su Fan would no longer be hunted.
A perfect outcome for all.
At this moment, she had already cast aside all the kindness Chu Feng had once shown her.
Those had only been his own choices.
Meanwhile, Chu Feng’s consciousness had fully awakened. He raised his head and looked at the tribulation clouds in the void. The thick lightning serpents rolling within were clearly reflected in his eyes.
Three options appeared before him once more.
[Option 1: Voluntarily disperse the Nascent Soul and return to the Divine Core realm. Vital energy severely damaged but avoids the Heavenly Jealousy Tribulation. Reward: Spirit-Grade Treasure Void Sword.]
[Option 2: Cower in defense, set up protective formations, and wait for the tribulation to descend. Reward: 1,000-year Medicine King Dragon Blood Grass.]
[Option 3: Defy heaven and advance boldly, shatter the tribulation lightning. Reward: Immortal Artifact Void Cauldron.]
Chu Feng’s brows furrowed slightly. Even a fool would know how to choose among such idiotic options.
The tribulation lightning carried boundless destructive power.
Yet standing beneath it, Chu Feng did not feel that overwhelming sense of inevitability, nor the extreme helplessness and despair others spoke of when facing heavenly tribulation.
The power of the Heavenly Summit Star King Art combined with a body full of Immortal Bones was beyond ordinary comprehension.
“The destructive force within this tribulation is indeed powerful. Even peak Nascent Soul Transformation experts who have undergone nine transformations, or even Spirit Transformation realm cultivators, would perish within it. But in my eyes… it is nothing more than this,” Chu Feng said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
What he did not know was how astonished the countless eyes watching him were at this moment.
Within the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect, there were cultivators crossing tribulation almost every year.
Before doing so, they would arrange their final affairs. During tribulation, even with full preparation, when they faced the destructive force sent by heaven itself, their faces would always be filled with helplessness, despair, and fear.
But on Chu Feng’s face, they saw calm composure.
He even seemed… to be smiling.
“Perhaps he is too young, too high-spirited, unaware of how terrifying tribulation lightning truly is,” one supreme expert muttered.
“And the tribulation has not fully formed yet.”
Many supreme experts and ancient monsters stared at Chu Feng in confusion.
But it still made no sense.
Many among them had experienced tribulation themselves. They knew too well the crushing aura of destruction that descended from heaven, capable of shattering one’s spirit instantly.
Yet they could not see such fear on Chu Feng’s face.
“Let’s see what Chu Feng chooses. To disperse his Nascent Soul voluntarily, or be struck into ashes by the tribulation.”
No one believed he could succeed.
This was Heavenly Jealousy Tribulation, far beyond what a Nascent Soul Transformation cultivator could endure.
Moreover, Chu Feng had made no preparations at all.
“Feng’er, disperse the Extreme Star Divine Infant. Your master will spare no cost to help you stabilize your realm and break through again,” Liu Wudao’s voice resounded across the heavens.
After saying this, Liu Wudao closed his eyes in pain.
Everyone understood that no matter what heavenly treasures were used, nothing would ever equal a natural, perfect first breakthrough.
A Nascent Soul Transformation realm in his early twenties. This was a miracle. It was not only Chu Feng’s glory, but also the glory of his master and of Heavenly Summit Peak.
But he could not cling to glory while watching Chu Feng be reduced to ashes by lightning.