Chapter One: The Passage of Time

Verdant mountains towered majestically, crystal streams murmured below. This place, hidden deep within the Sacred Land, was so rarely visited by men that its scenery could only be described as a living poem, a painting come to life. Yet amidst this breathtaking beauty, low growls and roars of beasts occasionally shattered the harmony—sometimes fierce, sometimes deep and resonant. Each sound shook the soul, stirring the heart and blood with a force difficult to master. These were no ordinary wild creatures; each one was of considerable rank—true spirit beasts of the highest order.

Atop one secluded peak stood a lone figure. His white robes fluttered in the wind, hair and beard as snow—an unheralded, reclusive cultivator of immense power, known only as Yang Xiao. Though his name was little heard, his cultivation was profound; he had lived more than six thousand years and reached the ninth and final stage of the Golden Core. In all of the Sacred Land, throughout the entire continent of the Saint King, he stood among the very pinnacle of cultivators.

Yang Xiao gazed into the distance, lips moving as he muttered to himself, “Now, as my allotted years draw near, if I cannot break through from the ninth stage of the Golden Core to the realm of Divine Transformation and ascend to the Spirit World, then these six thousand years of cultivation will be for naught. But to break through this final stage is no simple matter. Without the most thorough preparation, merely enduring the might of the Heavenly Tribulation would be all but impossible.”

He shook his head in silent resignation. In truth, he had lingered at his current level for over a thousand years, his cultivation already reaching the peak of the ninth Golden Core, more than enough to attempt the breakthrough. Yet he hesitated, daunted by the ordeal of the final Heavenly Tribulation. The calamity brought on by the last breakthrough far surpassed all that had come before; countless mighty cultivators throughout history had been utterly annihilated, body and soul, for failing to survive this trial. This was the sternest test for any at the Golden Core stage.

Should one withstand this ordeal, their power would surge and they would ascend smoothly to the Spirit World. But failure meant utter annihilation, nothing left behind. At this moment, even Yang Xiao could not help but waver. Though he had prepared in every way possible, he could not be certain of success. If passing this tribulation were so simple, then through the ages more than half would have survived it.

Yet his years were nearly spent. Without a breakthrough, he would not have many left at all. In the face of death, he could only stake everything on this one desperate attempt.

Having resolved himself, Yang Xiao set about arranging the mountain peak, layering it with numerous protective formations. Only then did he flip his palm, producing a jet-black parasol and a shield that gleamed with dazzling golden light.

He tossed both treasures into the air. As he chanted incantations, the parasol grew larger, spinning rapidly and sending out layer upon layer of black radiance, enveloping Yang Xiao in a protective dome. This shield of light resonated with the mountain’s own protective array, forming an impregnable defense. The golden shield, too, swelled in size, hovering nearby to shelter him from harm.

Preparations complete, Yang Xiao paused for a moment before releasing the full might of his ninth-stage Golden Core. He began to chant, activating a profound art, preparing to attempt the breakthrough.

In the matter of breaking through cultivation realms, Yang Xiao was supremely confident. As his inner power circulated, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged towards him, entering his body and further bolstering his strength.

The time it takes for a stick of incense to burn passed, and his power reached a terrifying peak—several times what it had been. At that very moment, the heavens quaked in response.

Where the sky had been clear, black clouds now gathered and drifted to hover directly above him. As they thickened, the world darkened, a dreadful gloom settling over all.

Yang Xiao looked up, awed by the immense pressure. Quickly, his resolve hardened once more; he closed his eyes and sat in meditation, focusing wholly on absorbing spiritual energy and advancing his cultivation.

Suddenly, the black clouds boiled and twisted. Massive bolts of lightning crashed down, each as thick as a barrel, plunging towards him like enraged demons.

No matter how fierce these bolts, they were all blocked by the light shield cast by the parasol above him. The first wave caused little harm to his defenses.

Yet as the first barrage faded, a second wave followed—this time, the lightning transformed into blades, spears, swords, halberds, and all manner of weapons, their force many times greater. This was the legendary Five Elements Thunder, each bolt imbued with elemental force, each as potent as a magical treasure.

When these struck, the protective shield shuddered violently. Under their onslaught, the outermost layers of the shield were shattered one after another. Soon, the lightning crashed directly onto the parasol itself. Though the treasure shook and nearly collapsed, it managed to withstand the assault.

As the second wave subsided, the third arrived in a raging torrent.

This time, the lightning transformed into packs of demonic beasts and tiny human figures, hurling themselves downwards—a rare and dreadful form of Tribulation known as the Thunder of Annihilation.

“How can this tribulation be so fearsome? The Thunder of Annihilation, and on such a scale?” Yang Xiao was astonished, but had no time to dwell on it. He sent out a series of incantations, stabilizing the parasol to brace for what was to come.

But as the Thunder of Annihilation struck, the unexpected occurred: the parasol withstood only a moment before its core was utterly destroyed. The devastating thunder crashed downwards, shattering the golden shield as well.

With a single cry, Yang Xiao summoned a suit of azure armor that enveloped him, forming yet another barrier.

Still, the Thunder of Annihilation battered this armor relentlessly. Within moments, even this final defense was obliterated under the relentless onslaught.

One after another, his treasures were destroyed, and still the tribulation did not abate. The thunder rolled and boiled, intent on engulfing Yang Xiao entirely.

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