Due to the appearance of the vast Lightning Cloud, Heavenly Doom Demon Lord led the Nine Demon Sect Disciples to launch an early invasion of the Qingxuan Sect.
What a joke! Such a massive Lightning Tribulation must mean the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation is incredibly powerful. If he successfully Undergoes Tribulation, how could they possibly conquer the Qingxuan Sect? Centuries of planning would be ruined in an instant.
Currently, the most crucial issue was to prevent the opponent from successfully Undergoing Tribulation.
Nine Demon Sect Disciples, riding mountains of corpses and seas of blood, charged towards the Qingxuan Sect's Tribulation Transcending Platform.
"Grandmaster, this is bad! The Nine Demon Sect has attacked us, and our people are suffering heavy losses."
"Grandmaster, the Thirty-Six Sword Peaks have fallen! The Nine Demon Sect is heading for the Seven Main Peaks!"
...
Wounded Qingxuan Sect Disciples anxiously reported to Venerable Qingfeng that the Nine Demon Sect's sudden invasion of the Qingxuan Sect's heartland had put the Sect in dire peril.
"Senior Brother, should we activate the Sect Protection Array now?" True Monarch Qingwen suggested to Venerable Qingfeng.
"No, this Lightning Tribulation is too powerful. If we activate the Sect Protection Array, I'm afraid the mountain protection array won't last long under the Lightning Tribulation. Moreover, it would disrupt the opponent's Undergoing Tribulation," Venerable Qingfeng rejected True Monarch Qingwen's suggestion without hesitation.
The reason the Tribulation Transcending Platform was set up on Tianxuan Peak, enveloped within the Sect Protection Array, was to protect the Undergoing Tribulation. Once the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation could no longer withstand the Lightning Tribulation, the Sect Protection Array could be activated to help resist the Lightning Tribulation, even protecting the Cultivator's life if the Tribulation failed.
However, the current situation was different. The Nine Demon Sect was about to invade the Sect's heartland, and only by activating the Sect Protection Array could they resist. Yet, doing so would also block the Lightning Tribulation, interrupting the opponent's Undergoing Tribulation.
But the Nine Demon Sect was about to attack! If they didn't activate the Sect Protection Array, it would truly be over!
For a moment, whether or not to activate the Sect Protection Array became a difficult dilemma.
Venerable Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then directly transmitted a message to the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation: "Your Excellency choosing our Sect for Undergoing Tribulation is a great honor. However, with the Nine Demon Sect army attacking, we are forced to activate the Sect Protection Array, which will interrupt your Lightning Tribulation. In my opinion, please fly out of the Tribulation Transcending Platform and Undergo Tribulation outside the Sect Protection Array. After successfully Undergoing Tribulation, you may return to the Qingxuan Sect, and our Sect will do its utmost to protect you during your vulnerable period after the Lightning Tribulation."
Li Mu, who was currently Undergoing Tribulation, received Venerable Qingfeng's message and immediately multi-tasked, extending his Divine Sense outwards.
Just as Venerable Qingfeng had said, a large number of Nine Demon Sect members were attacking the Qingxuan Sect Headquarters. The bodies of Qingxuan Sect Disciples were being swept into mountains of corpses, and blood flowed into a sea, surging towards the Qingxuan Sect's Seven Main Peaks. Their objective was self-evident.
The Nine Demon Sect's decision to attack the Qingxuan Sect at this time was probably also influenced by the massive Lightning Cloud!
Li Mu sighed, enduring bolts of lightning, floating up and flying away from the Tribulation Transcending Platform, out of the protective range of the Qingxuan Sect's Sect Protection Array.
"Quick, quickly activate the Sect Protection Array! Order all Disciples to retreat to the main peaks!" Seeing this, Venerable Qingfeng immediately breathed a sigh of relief and loudly instructed.
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Several Nascent Soul True Lords immediately returned to the Seven Main Peaks to take charge of the Sect Protection Array.
Countless Qingxuan Sect Disciples received the order, abandoning their resistance and fleeing back to the Seven Ancestral Peaks. Those who couldn't retreat in time could only perish at the hands of the Nine Demon Sect, their bodies becoming Undead and their Divine Souls extracted to be refined into Netherworld Ghosts.
"Clang, clang..." The Qingxuan Sect's Seven Main Peaks emitted majestic Spiritual Pressure, and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered, interconnecting with each other. They immediately converged, forming a gigantic Spiritual Qi barrier. Venerable Qingfeng flew into the array cave on Tianxuan Peak, remotely controlling the Qingxuan Sect's Sect Protection Array—the Seven Absolute Illusionary Killing Array's Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power-generated killing sword, holding it back.
A Heaven and Earth killing sword tens of thousands of feet long hovered in the air, aimed at the Nine Demon Sect's army of corpses and blood, barely halting their offensive.
"This is great! The Sect Protection Array is finally activated!"
"We're saved! I'm alive."
"Look, that Lightning Cloud is moving towards White Cloud Peak."
"Our Old Ancestor must have convinced him to leave Tianxuan Peak, otherwise, with such a massive Lightning Cloud, the Sect Protection Array really wouldn't hold up!"
"What a terrifying Lightning Tribulation! If he can successfully pass it, will we be saved?"
"The Nine Demon Sect attacked at this time because they were afraid our Old Ancestor would pass the Lightning Tribulation!"
"By the way, which Old Ancestor is undergoing such a Lightning Tribulation? I just saw Old Ancestor Feng, and it's not him!"
"It's not the True Lord Elders either; I just saw them."
"..."
As the Sect Protection Array—the Seven Absolute Illusionary Killing Array—was activated, the safety of the Qingxuan Sect's Seven Main Peaks greatly increased. Qingxuan Sect Disciples looked up at the vast, funnel-shaped Lightning Tribulation in the sky, continuously speculating about the identity of the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation. They all hoped that the 'Old Ancestor' could safely pass the Lightning Tribulation, and then drive back the invading Nine Demon Sect, turning the tide and saving the Qingxuan Sect from peril.
"Demonic Ancestor, the survivors outside the Qingxuan Sect have all been killed. Most of the Disciples are hiding inside the Sect Protection Array and cannot be moved for now," Blood Yuan Demon Lord, Sect Master of the Blood God Sect, reported to Heavenly Doom Demon Lord.
Heavenly Doom Demon Lord had unusually dark pupils, but his eyes were a captivating blood-red, with faint traces of green and blue mixed within. Far from appearing muddy, they possessed a mesmerizing and enchanting quality.
He stood tall and straight, dressed in a black tight-fitting suit and a blood-red cloak. He exuded an intimidating aura without needing to be angry, carrying an arrogant air that seemed to look down upon the world.
However, Heavenly Doom Demon Lord gazed at the Lightning Cloud in the sky, watching the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation endure the baptism of Heavenly Lightning again and again. His usually calm expression showed a hint of grimness.
"Has the identity of that Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation been found out?" Heavenly Doom Demon Lord asked coldly, as if he hadn't heard the report.
Compared to the Qingxuan Sect Disciples, Heavenly Doom Demon Lord was more concerned about the intelligence of the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation above.
"Demonic Ancestor, we have already performed soul searches on most of the Core Disciples. The origin and identity of that Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation still cannot be verified. He is suspected to be a Golden Core True Disciple, Wang Jianfeng, but based on our understanding of Qingxuan Sect's Wang Jianfeng, it is definitely not this person," Blood Yuan Demon Lord replied with a serious expression.
"Continue investigating. Also, set up the Absolute Yin Array at this person's Tribulation Transcending location. No matter the cost, he must not be allowed to escape the Absolute Yin Array after completing his Undergoing Tribulation," Heavenly Doom Demon Lord said with a cold and solemn expression.
"Understood. Should we continue attacking the Qingxuan Sect's main peaks, to eliminate the remnants of the Qingxuan Sect hiding within the Sect Protection Array?" Blood Yuan Demon Lord asked for orders.
"Don't bother with those cowards. For now, let's deal with that Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation first," Heavenly Doom Demon Lord rejected without hesitation, giving a cold command.
"Demonic Ancestor, should we send some people to their deaths to strengthen the power of the Lightning Tribulation?" Blood Origin Demon Lord nodded, indicating to Heavenly Doom Demon Lord.
"Forget it. Sending Golden Core Disciples is useless, and even several Demonic Lords attacking wouldn't significantly increase the Lightning Tribulation's power; it would only add to the casualties. Go set up the array!" Heavenly Doom Demon Lord thought seriously and rejected the idea.
"Yes!" Blood Yuan Demon Lord took the order and left, instructing his subordinates to fully set up the Absolute Yin Array.
In Heavenly Doom Demon Lord's view, the Qingxuan Sect remnants hiding within the Sect Protection Array were nothing but weaklings. Even the Qingxuan Sect's Soul Transformation Old Ancestor, Venerable Qingfeng, was not in Heavenly Doom Demon Lord's eyes.
However, this person undergoing the Nascent Soul Tribulation was different. Such a magnificent and powerful Lightning Tribulation made Heavenly Doom Demon Lord uncertain if he himself could safely pass it. Yet, looking at the person undergoing the Lightning Tribulation, he appeared relaxed and at ease, with extremely powerful bolts of lightning striking him as if they were merely tickles, causing little damage.
Once this person safely passes the Lightning Tribulation and his strength increases further, he will surely become a major threat.
It was a pity that this person was in the midst of Undergoing Tribulation. Anyone who attacked him would be included in the Lightning Tribulation's attack range. With such a powerful Lightning Tribulation, every bolt of Heavenly Lightning could potentially kill a Nascent Soul Demon Lord.
Therefore, Heavenly Doom Demon Lord rejected Blood Yuan Demon Lord's suggestion to send other Disciples to their deaths to provide power for increasing the Lightning Tribulation's intensity.
This was by no means Heavenly Doom Demon Lord's reluctance to sacrifice his subordinates' lives, but rather, such an action would bring no benefits and might even divert the Lightning Tribulation's damage away from the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation.
The power of this Heavenly Tribulation was too great. If they were to fill it with the lives of Nascent Soul Demon Lords, it would probably take dozens, even hundreds, to increase its power by only thirty to forty percent.
Looking at the ease with which that person Underwent Tribulation, even if the Lightning Tribulation's power increased by twenty or thirty percent, it would only be a minor inconvenience for him. If they helped him divert the Lightning Tribulation's power, it would be a losing proposition.
Where did such a Prodigy come from? His True Essence cultivation and Body Refining Foundation are both so profound.
Heavenly Doom Demon Lord stared intently at Li Mu, who was undergoing the Lightning Tribulation, a surge of irritation welling up inside him. Centuries of planning were on the verge of success, and now, to have such a Prodigy appear out of nowhere to block their path was truly frustrating.
Qingxuan Sect, Tianxuan Peak.
Venerable Qingfeng, along with all the Nascent Soul True Lords and Golden Core Disciples, were observing the Lightning Tribulation and the situation of the Nine Demon Sect outside.
"The Nine Demon Sect is setting up an array around the 'Old Ancestor'!"
"It's over! Should we go out and support the Old Ancestor?"
"Why isn't this Lightning Tribulation ending yet? We can't let the Nine Demon Sect set up their grand array!"
...
The Qingxuan Sect Disciples discussed animatedly, worried about the 'Old Ancestor' Undergoing Tribulation outside the array. They watched as he was surrounded by countless Nine Demon Sect Disciples, waving Demonic Banners and releasing Yin Spirits to set up the Absolute Yin Array.
"It seems the Nine Demon Sect is setting up the Absolute Yin Array, Senior Brother. Should we make a move?" True Monarch Qingwen frowned and asked Venerable Qingfeng for instructions.
"No rush. When the Lightning Tribulation ends, we will use the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Sword to break this array," Venerable Qingfeng waved his hand, his gaze fixed on the form of the Heavenly Tribulation.
So much time had passed, and only the Five Elements Lightning Tribulation had been completed. The vast Lightning Cloud had shrunk to only one percent of its original size. However, while the scale of the Tribulation Cloud had decreased, its power had increased hundreds, even thousands of times. Every bolt of lightning, if it struck a Nascent Soul True Lord, would be a death warrant.
However, when it struck the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation, he seemed to easily withstand it.
Under the bombardment of the lightning bolts, Li Mu's pitch-black skin peeled off in layers, revealing flawless, snow-white, jade-like skin. Under the baptism of the Lightning Tribulation, Li Mu's body underwent a complete transformation and cleansing.
After the baptism of the Five Elements Lightning Tribulation, Li Mu's Five Elements Dao Body had completely solidified.
At this moment, the Lightning Cloud shrunk once more, and a new Lightning Tribulation was brewing. Taking advantage of this interval, Li Mu took out a bottle of Medicinal Pills from his storage compartment, poured out a Bodhi Pill, and swallowed it.
The Bodhi Pill was one of the auxiliary spiritual items Li Mu had prepared for Undergoing Tribulation. Originally, there were other Spirit Pills for recovery, but since the Five Elements Lightning Tribulation had passed safely, they weren't needed.
However, Li Mu had no confidence in facing the next Lightning Tribulation. To be safe, he took a Bodhi Pill beforehand, just in case.
The Five Elements Lightning Tribulation consisted of five rounds of Lightning Tribulation—45 bolts of Lightning Tribulation—which he passed safely. What kind of Lightning Tribulation he would face next was unknown, but Li Mu dared to go all out against other Lightning Tribulations.
Only when facing the Heart Demon Tribulation did Li Mu not have much confidence in passing.
After taking the Bodhi Pill, Li Mu's mind remained clear and free of desires, with Buddhist intent protecting his heart, as he quietly awaited the lightning to strike.
With a thunderous roar, a black lightning bolt struck Li Mu. The black lightning did not cause much damage to his body. However, the magnetic field illusion generated by the black lightning drew Li Mu's Divine Soul into an illusion.
"The most difficult Heart Demon Tribulation among the Ninety-Nine Lightning Tribulations! I hope the Old Ancestor can pass it safely!"
"It's too terrifying. Is Undergoing Tribulation this difficult?"
"Ninety-Nine Lightning Tribulations, each bolt more terrifying than the last. Can the Old Ancestor really pass them successfully?"
"Black lightning! I've never seen this kind of black lightning before!"
"Don't make such a fuss. Black represents demonic nature. That's the Heart Demon Tribulation, also called the Heavenly Demon Tribulation, which tests the Cultivator's Heart-Nature."
...
Hidden within the Sect Protection Array, the Qingxuan Sect Disciples who were watching the Lightning Tribulation discussed animatedly, filled with admiration for the 'Old Ancestor' Undergoing Tribulation and awe for the vast Lightning Tribulation.
The Nine Demon Sect side was also the same. They had stopped their attack, and after setting up the Absolute Yin Array around them, they all focused on the Heavenly Tribulation, awestruck by the magnificent Lightning Tribulation.
Both factions paused their battle, as if the outcome of this Lightning Tribulation would determine the direction of the subsequent situation. Everyone was waiting for the Lightning Tribulation to end.
The Demonic Cultivators of the Nine Demon Sect all wished for the Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation to die under the Lightning Tribulation, so that the battle would end quickly.
At the same time, after witnessing this terrifying Lightning Tribulation, the Demonic Cultivators also felt anxious about their own future Tribulation outcomes.
"It's too terrifying. Such a powerful Lightning Tribulation, and there are still more than forty bolts."
"He probably won't be able to pass this Heavenly Demon Tribulation!"
"When we undergo this Nascent Soul Tribulation in the future, there's a high probability this Heavenly Demon Tribulation will appear too!"
"Damn it! Hurry up and strike him dead, hurry up and end this!"
"Shit, what kind of ghost Lightning Tribulation is this? It's been so long, and it still hasn't killed anyone."
Compared to ordinary Cultivators, Demonic Cultivators, in order to improve their cultivation, disregarded all means, causing a large number of massacres and accumulating a large amount of Karma. Therefore, once they Underwent Tribulation, they would one hundred percent face punitive Lightning Tribulations.
In addition, Demonic Cultivators' methods of improving cultivation were relatively fast, leading to an unstable Foundation. Therefore, the probability of successfully passing the Nascent Soul Tribulation was only one or two tenths that of ordinary Cultivators.
Now, personally witnessing the terror of this Lightning Tribulation inevitably evoked a sense of empathy among countless Demonic Sect Cultivators.
They screamed in hysterical rage, venting the fear in their hearts.