In the first Heart Demon, Li Mu returned to his original world, living with his parents, marrying and having children, and enjoying a harmonious family… However, this illusion was quickly seen through by Li Mu. In his original world, he was a miserable, older programmer, not good at socializing, burdened by heavy mortgage payments, and after marrying a virtuous wife and having children, family life would become even more difficult… The so-called happiness was simply out of the question; it was too far removed from reality.
In the second Heart Demon, Li Mu found himself back when he first Transmigrated, farming for the Sect. He failed to kill Xu Lijin and was instead reported to the Qingxuan Sect, leading to pursuit by enforcement Disciples… This Heart Demon did not last long before Li Mu saw through it. He absolutely could not fall to such a fate.
In the third Heart Demon, he was discovered by Shanhe Sect's Fire Tian Venerable, who began to pursue him… Li Mu ‘escaped’ for a while, then regained his composure and engaged in a fierce battle with ‘Fire Tian Venerable’, defeating him by fighting above his cultivation level.
After defeating the Transformation God cultivator, ‘Fire Tian Venerable’, Li Mu’s Aura greatly increased, and his beliefs became firm.
Next, Li Mu pushed forward in one go, continuously breaking through the remaining Heart Demons: battling Demonic Cultivators, slaughtering a large number of innocent lives and falling into self-reproach… fleeing the Qingxuan Sect, causing the entire Qingxuan Sect to perish, and being pursued by the souls of hundreds of thousands of Qingxuan Sect Disciples… and so on. All sorts of Heart Demons constantly appeared in Li Mu’s mind, but were quickly overcome by him.
After Undergoing the nine Heart Demons, Li Mu’s mind was instantly sublimated. He opened his eyes, and his dark, deep eyes emitted an Aura of calm, as if everything was under his control.
Through the trials of the nine Heart Demons, Li Mu successfully overcame his inner flaws, becoming more confident, composed, and gaining a deeper understanding of himself.
He glanced at the large formation set up around him and the thousands of lurking Demonic Cultivator Disciples. A cold light flashed in Li Mu’s eyes, but he didn't dwell on it. Right now, the most important thing was to Undergo the next wave of Lightning Tribulation.
After the Heart Demon was Undergone, the scale of the thunderclouds in the sky shrank again, but the brewing Lightning Tribulation became even more terrifying. Countless blue electric snakes flashed within the thunderclouds, emitting a destructive Aura of Lightning.
If there were no surprises, the next Lightning Tribulation should be the Destruction Tribulation.
Li Mu dared not use his body to withstand this; he could only use a Spiritual Artifact to block it.
“Boom!”
A pale blue lightning Dragon suddenly shot out from the thunderclouds, directly attacking Li Mu.
Li Mu had no time to think. He pinched a Sword art in his hand, and seven fourth-grade gold-element Spiritual Swords appeared out of thin air, flying directly towards the blue lightning Dragon. In an instant, they condensed into a Sword net, blocking the lightning Dragon’s descent.
“Zzzzt!”
The lightning Dragon exploded on the Sword net, erupting in a dazzling lightning glow and thunderous roars, as if expressing the lightning Dragon’s unwillingness.
However, the seven fourth-grade gold-element Spiritual Swords, forming a unified and inseparable Sword net, cut the lightning Dragon into several pieces. The weakened Lightning that reached Li Mu’s body had no further power and dissipated.
On Tianxuan Peak, the high-ranking members of the Qingxuan Sect were immediately overjoyed at this sight.
“It’s a Sword Formation, it must be a Sword Formation! What a powerful Sword Formation, it can even be used to defend against the Heaven Destroying Divine Lightning.”
“The power of this Sword Qi is truly terrifying! It extinguished the Heaven Destroying Divine Lightning with just one strike!”
“Yes! The speed of his Sword Control is too fast, I didn't even see how he attacked before he had already formed a Sword Formation with his Sword Control, incredible!”
“This person is most likely Jian Chen; his Sword Formation technique is unmatched!”
“It should be Jian Chen! He has always been a Disciple of this Sect; otherwise, why would he be willing to sacrifice himself to save us in such a situation?!”
“If it’s Jian Chen, why would he hide his identity? This Sect has always been fair in rewarding and punishing its Disciples, why would he do this?”
“There isn’t a Disciple named Jian Chen in this Sect, is there? Perhaps the name Jian Chen is fake!”
“Yes! This Jian Chen is not only extraordinarily powerful, but his Spiritual Artifacts, even if we combined all of ours, would be hard to match. Who exactly is he?”
...
The surviving high-ranking Elders of the Qingxuan Sect discussed animatedly, admiring the sharp technique of the person Undergoing Tribulation who used a Sword Formation to break the Lightning. At the same time, they speculated endlessly about his identity, all very curious as to why Jian Chen would hide his identity in the Qingxuan Sect and who his true identity was.
As everyone spoke, the Heaven Destroying Divine Lightning in the sky struck down one after another, each more powerful than the last.
However, the Sword skills of the person Undergoing Tribulation and the number of Spiritual Swords he possessed exceeded their imagination.
Each Heaven Destroying Divine Lightning would destroy the Spiritual Sword blocking it, destroying the Spiritual Sword's spirituality and Artifact Formation. However, the person Undergoing Tribulation used seven, ten, eighteen… fourth-grade Spiritual Swords at once, repeatedly blocking the Heaven Destroying Divine Lightning.
It was as if he possessed an endless supply of fourth-grade Spiritual Swords.
After nine Heaven Destroying Divine Lightning strikes, no less than two fourth-grade Spiritual Swords had been destroyed by the Lightning Tribulation.
“This, this is too extravagant! Fourth-grade Spiritual Swords! I’d feel heartbroken if even one was destroyed, yet he can take out so many!”
“It must be Jian Chen, no doubt. I’ve seen him control over three hundred fourth-grade Spiritual Swords simultaneously.”
“Where did he get so many Spiritual Swords? Unless he’s also an outstanding Artifact Refiner.”
“I probably know who this Jian Chen is!”
“Who is it? Jinchenzi, don’t keep us in suspense, tell us quickly.”
“Do you know our Sect’s Artifact Crafting Elder, Elder Li? His reputation for Artifact Refining is excellent, but he is extremely low-key. I’ve never met him in person, but I was fortunate enough to commission him to refine three fourth-grade Spiritual Artifacts, which are very useful!”
“Elder Li, I know, I know. I specifically commissioned him to refine a fourth-grade Cloud-Piercing Sword for me, and it’s indeed good!”
“I also commissioned Elder Li to refine an Artifact!”
“Me too!”
“It seems everyone has commissioned Elder Li for Artifact Refining!”
...
The True Disciples and high-ranking Elders of the Qingxuan Sect discussed animatedly. Prompted by a certain Disciple, everyone finally discovered a person who was extremely ‘fitting’ for the identity.
“Xianwen, you must know a lot about this Artifact Refiner Elder Li, right? Is this person him?” Venerable Qingfeng asked Yin Xianwen, the person in charge of Hundred Refinements Peak, with concern.
Yin Xianwen looked at the person Undergoing Tribulation in the sky, who was currently facing the next wave of Lightning Tribulation, and said with a bitter smile, “Replying to Grand Elder, to be honest, I’ve dealt with this Elder Li for nearly sixty years, but he is too low-key and too reclusive. We haven’t been able to build a deep friendship. However, Elder Li is a down-to-earth person. He perfectly completes his Artifact Refining tasks every year, diligently and without any mishaps.”
“So, he has refined many Spiritual Artifacts for the Sect! With a higher success rate, he has been able to accumulate many Spiritual Artifacts over the years. It seems this is indeed Elder Li, no mistake.” Venerable Qingfeng nodded, looking up at the person forcefully Undergoing the Silent Annihilation Lightning Tribulation, and confirmed.
“It should be him. Elder Li is like an ascetic Cultivator. Besides Artifact Refining, he often secludes himself in Yue Qiong Peak for closed-door Cultivation. I never expected him to be such a capable person,” Yin Xianwen said with a complex expression and admiration.
“How can a golden carp remain in a shallow pond? Once it encounters wind and clouds, it transforms into a Dragon. The Qingxuan Sect is too shallow a pond, I’m afraid it cannot contain him!” Venerable Qingfeng gazed at the person Undergoing Tribulation, saying with a complex expression.
Upon hearing this, the Golden Core True Disciples and Nascent Soul Elders of the Qingxuan Sect all showed complex expressions, looking at the Prodigy Genius Undergoing Tribulation in the sky with envy.
This was someone even Venerable Qingfeng felt inferior to!
The Five Elements Lightning Tribulation, the Heart Demon, the Heaven Destroying Lightning Tribulation, the Silent Annihilation Lightning Tribulation—Li Mu broke through eight waves of Lightning Tribulation in one go. Next, only the last wave, the Purple Firmament Lightning Tribulation, remained.
The scale of the thunderclouds in the sky shrunk to about ten miles, becoming extremely dense. The lightning flashing within the thunderclouds was deep purple, emitting a terrifying Aura of destruction that made people tremble with fear.
The Demonic Cultivators who had set up the Absolute Yin Grand Formation around the Lightning Tribulation’s direct vicinity, upon seeing this color of Lightning, looked as if they had seen their natural enemy. Each one showed panic, and even the Nascent Soul Demon Lords turned pale upon hearing the thunder.
“The Purple Firmament Divine Lightning! Truly formidable!” A hint of apprehension flashed in Tianjue Demonic Lord’s eyes. He wanted to eliminate the person Undergoing Tribulation as quickly as possible. He absolutely could not allow him to grow, otherwise, within a hundred years, he probably wouldn't be his opponent.
The Purple Firmament Divine Lightning acts on the Divine Soul and has an extreme restraining effect on all evil and yin things in the world. Any Demonic Cultivator who encounters the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning while Undergoing Lightning Tribulation will basically perish and have their Dao dissipate.
This was already an extremely powerful Lightning Tribulation, targeting the most fragile Divine Soul. He shouldn't be able to pass it, right! Even if he did, it would at least take half his life.
Thinking this, Tianjue Demonic Lord's expression calmed slightly, and he continued to gaze at the other party Undergoing Tribulation.
On Tianxuan Peak, the expressions of the Qingxuan Sect members also became tense.
“What kind of Lightning Tribulation is this? It’s so terrifying! Just looking at it makes my Divine Soul tremble.”
“It’s over, it’s the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning. Elder Li definitely won’t be able to pass this Lightning Tribulation!”
“What is the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning? Is it very powerful?”
“The Purple Firmament Divine Lightning specializes in destroying the Divine Soul. No Divine Soul can stand firm before the Purple Firmament Lightning Tribulation, unless one can Breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit Realm, Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, and possess the power of Soul Transformation to barely resist!”
“What! The power of Soul Transformation? Is that something only a Venerable Deity Transformation can possess?”
“How can this be? Isn’t Elder Li Undergoing Nascent Soul Tribulation? It’s almost over, why would such a terrifying Lightning Tribulation appear?”
“Yes! It’s not giving him any way to live! This damned old heaven!”
...
The Qingxuan Sect Disciples, trapped in the seven main peaks, eagerly awaited their ‘Old Ancestor’ to successfully Undergo Tribulation and lead them in a counterattack against the Nine Demon Sect.
Who knew that the last wave of Lightning Tribulation would be so frightening, destroying the confidence they had painstakingly built up? The Inner Sect Disciples of the Qingxuan Sect were furious and began to curse the heavens.
The high-ranking Elders of the Qingxuan Sect also became flustered.
“Why is it the Purple Firmament Lightning Tribulation? Isn’t this the Lightning Tribulation that appears when a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator undergoes Soul Transformation? Senior Brother Qingfeng, what’s going on?”
“Yes! Senior Brother, the Purple Firmament Lightning Tribulation is one of the great Soul Transformation Tribulations, right? How can it appear in the Lightning Tribulation for Golden Core advancing to Nascent Soul Realm?”
“Lightning Tribulation is punishment for Cultivators like us who perform Heaven-Defying acts, but Heaven always leaves a glimmer of hope, a chance of survival from nine deaths. How can such a death-certain Lightning Tribulation appear?”
...
The Elders all looked at the solemn Venerable Qingfeng, questioning him in confusion.
Venerable Qingfeng frowned and explained, “Heaven and Earth Lightning Tribulations are diverse and do not manifest in a fixed form. Instead, they brew the Lightning Tribulation according to the strength of the person Undergoing Tribulation. ‘Elder Li’ Cultivates an ancient Cultivation Technique, and used an ancient Foundation Establishment method to establish his Foundation, which is incredibly solid. Therefore, his Heavenly Tribulation is so immense.”
“Now, the appearance of the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning means that this person’s Divine Soul is also powerful to an unimaginable degree, likely comparable to a Transformation God cultivator. That’s why the Purple Firmament Lightning Tribulation has appeared,” Venerable Qingfeng looked at everyone and judged.
Upon hearing this, everyone was startled, their faces filled with disbelief. They couldn’t believe that ‘Elder Li’s’ Soul Power had reached the level of a Transformation God cultivator.
“How is this possible? Elder Li’s bone age is not even a hundred! Did he start Cultivating from his mother’s womb?” Yin Xianwen was shocked, unable to believe such a thing.
“Yes! Divine Soul Cultivation Techniques have always been scarce, and they are also the most difficult to Cultivate, with the slowest progress. How did he Cultivate it?!”
“Could Elder Li be the Reincarnation of some Great Emperor?!”
“Oh! Elder Chen, your theory has a great possibility! This ‘Great Emperor’s’ Reincarnation must have secretly hidden and Cultivated, and also mastered profound Artifact Refining techniques, which perfectly matches Elder Li’s behavior!”
“Indeed, otherwise, with such outstanding talent, there would be no need for him to hide his identity!”
“It should be so. No wonder he could Cultivate to this level in such a short time. He must be the Reincarnation of some Great Emperor!”
“If that’s the case, then ‘Elder Li’ should be able to safely Undergo this Purple Firmament Divine Tribulation, right?!”
...
Following Venerable Qingfeng’s response, the Elders of the Qingxuan Sect once again speculated about ‘Elder Li’s’ true identity. Combining Elder Li’s behavior in the Qingxuan Sect, his Prodigy-like talent, and his powerful Cultivation, everyone unanimously confirmed one thing: he was the Reincarnation of some Great Emperor.
Listening to the Elders’ discussion, Venerable Qingfeng’s heart stirred, and he looked at the ‘Elder Li’ Undergoing Tribulation with fervent eyes.
The probability of Elder Li being the Reincarnation of some Great Emperor is extremely high. It must be so, no doubt!
“By the way, Senior Brother, last time Shanhe Sect’s Fire Tian Venerable abruptly came here, it was to find ‘Elder Li’, wasn’t it? The pursuit of a thief was fake; perhaps they discovered Elder Li was a Great Emperor Reincarnation, and that was the real reason!” True Monarch Qingwen thought for a moment, then looked at Venerable Qingfeng and said.
“It should be so. What a cunning Fire Tian Venerable, he must have come for ‘Elder Li’.”
“Thankfully, ‘Elder Li’ was well hidden at that time, and no one discovered him.”
As soon as True Monarch Qingwen spoke, several Elders suddenly realized and began to curse.
“This matter is still inconclusive, do not make baseless conjectures. Once the Lightning Tribulation passes, the truth will reveal itself. If he cannot successfully Undergo this Lightning Tribulation, we will then engage in a life-and-death battle. All of you, rest well and prepare for battle!” Venerable Qingfeng waved his hand, his expression grim as he gazed at the Lightning Tribulation outside the grand formation, the surrounding Absolute Yin Grand Formation, and the Nine Demon Sect Cultivators hiding in the sea of blood within the Yin Formation.
Venerable Qingfeng and Tianjue Demonic Lord exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with an indelible Killing Intent.
Once the Lightning Tribulation ends, a life-and-death battle will commence.