The disturbance above Verdant Mist Peak quickly attracted the attention of the upper echelons of the Heavenly Profound Holy Land.
Streams of light streaked through the sky as numerous figures rushed toward Verdant Mist Peak.
Among them were Sheng Xuzi and Ye Lingluo, who had only recently departed, as well as Grand Elder Qing Xuan.
They hovered in the air, their gazes fixed upon Mo Yu.
At that moment, Mo Yu sat motionless with his eyes tightly closed.
Spiritual power surged around him like a raging storm, forming a gigantic vortex that madly devoured the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
"Hahaha! I've never witnessed anyone from Verdant Mist Peak undergoing tribulation before. Today, I can finally broaden my horizons."
Grand Elder Qing Xuan stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"Wasn't he only at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Stage earlier? And now he's already facing tribulation?"
Sheng Xuzi exclaimed in disbelief.
"Have you gone senile? Can't you tell what realm a junior is in? Isn't it obvious he's undergoing tribulation?"
An elder rolled his eyes.
"On this point, Sect Leader Xu is correct."
Qing Xuan nodded.
"I saw Little Yu earlier today. He was indeed only at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Stage."
The crowd instantly fell silent.
Their expressions froze.
A consecutive breakthrough?
How was that even possible?
Qing Xuan smiled faintly.
"There's no need to be so surprised."
"The disciple of Fairy Ye... how could he possibly be comparable to ordinary people like us?"
Everyone immediately revealed enlightened expressions and nodded in agreement.
"Indeed."
"That makes sense."
"As expected of Fairy Ye's disciple."
Meanwhile, Ye Lingluo's heart was in turmoil.
Are all of Ye Ximei's disciples monsters?
The Demonic Sect possessed very limited intelligence regarding Verdant Mist Peak.
They only knew that Ye Ximei was obsessed with drinking and addicted to gambling. Although she was a Tribulation Realm powerhouse, she wasn't considered a major threat.
Her eldest disciple, Luo Suxin, was acknowledged as the number one expert on the Tianyuan Continent. However, she was already on the verge of Ascension and therefore not a concern.
Her second disciple, Bai Shuangying, was recognized as the strongest cultivator below the Mahayana Realm. She spent all year fighting within the Demon-Suppressing Abyss and was likewise expected to ascend within two hundred years.
As for the remaining disciples, very little information existed.
The only thing they knew was that Mo Yu had mysteriously become a cripple ten years ago and had since disappeared from public view.
Who could have imagined that he would return so suddenly, displaying such terrifying talent?
The Heavenly Profound Holy Land must be hiding some enormous secret!
Ye Lingluo's heart tightened.
She had to report this matter immediately.
Any plans the Demonic Sect had against the Heavenly Profound Holy Land would need to be reconsidered.
Above them, the tribulation clouds continued to thicken.
Darkness spread across the heavens, creating a suffocating pressure that seemed capable of swallowing the entire world.
Suddenly, Sheng Xuzi broke the silence.
"Everyone, how about we open a betting pool?"
His eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Let's wager on how many strikes Little Yu's Heavenly Tribulation will have."
The moment those words fell, everyone's interest was instantly piqued.
"Excellent idea!"
Grand Elder Qing Xuan laughed loudly.
"I agree."
"Then let it be as the Sect Leader suggests."
"The old rules—ten thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones."
The other elders quickly joined in.
Sheng Xuzi turned toward Ye Lingluo and explained with a smile.
"The Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is the heavenly tribulation every cultivator must face when advancing into the Nascent Soul Stage."
"The more lightning strikes one endures, the greater their future potential."
"Generally speaking, thirty-six lightning strikes indicate a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius."
"Forty-five strikes and above signify a peerless prodigy blessed with extraordinary talent."
"As for fifty-four lightning strikes..."
His expression turned solemn.
"They are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns."
"Anyone capable of enduring all fifty-four strikes possesses the qualifications to become an Immortal."
Ye Lingluo nodded slightly.
Naturally, she knew all of this.
Her Heavenly Tribulation had also consisted of fifty-four lightning strikes, the same as the Sword Child of the Sword Sect.
That was precisely the source of her confidence in contending with him.
The elders soon began stating their guesses.
"Fifty."
"Fifty-three."
"Fifty-two."
Sheng Xuzi smiled faintly.
"I believe it will be fifty-four. Junior Martial Uncle Qingxuan, what do you think?"
"This old man also guesses fifty-four."
Above them, the tribulation clouds churned continuously as thunder rumbled across the heavens.
"Judging from the scale of these tribulation clouds, I fear it may exceed fifty strikes."
"Indeed. These clouds are far larger than those I faced when forming my Nascent Soul."
Based on my many years of experience, this is undoubtedly a fifty-four-strike Heavenly Tribulation," Sheng Xuzi declared confidently, his eyes shining brightly.
"Our Holy Land's Saint possesses the aptitude for Immortal Ascension!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding elders nodded in agreement.
Time passed second by second.
At last, the tribulation clouds stopped expanding.
They hung silently in the sky like a sleeping primordial beast, ready to awaken at any moment and unleash world-destroying power.
Everyone held their breath as they waited for the final outcome.
On the peak of Verdant Mist Peak, Xia Ningbing slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the heavens.
A strange glimmer flashed through her violet eyes.
"Six-Nine Tribulation fused into one..."
Her vermilion lips parted slightly.
"Not bad."
An unusual silence enveloped the mountain.
Under everyone's gaze, the tribulation clouds seemed to have frozen in place.
They neither continued expanding nor released any lightning.
They simply hovered there in eerie stillness.
"What is happening? Why have the tribulation clouds stopped moving?"
"Indeed. Logically speaking, once the clouds gather, the Heavenly Lightning should descend immediately. Why is there no reaction?"
The elders began discussing the strange phenomenon among themselves.
Elder Qingxuan stared intently at the tribulation clouds, his expression becoming increasingly grave.
Suddenly, his body trembled.
"Heavenly Tribulation Fusion!"
His voice rose sharply.
"It is actually Heavenly Tribulation Fusion! This... how is this possible?"
"Junior Martial Uncle Qingxuan, what is Heavenly Tribulation Fusion?" Sheng Xuzi hurriedly asked.
Elder Qingxuan took a deep breath.
"Heavenly Tribulation Fusion occurs when all the tribulation lightning condenses into a single strike."
"Its power is more than a hundred times greater than that of an ordinary Heavenly Tribulation."
"Only those blessed with immense Luck and destined for Immortal Ascension can trigger such a phenomenon."
"Although it presents an unimaginably difficult trial, the rewards are equally extraordinary. Once tempered by such a Heavenly Tribulation, a cultivator's foundation will become vastly stronger."
His voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Destined for Immortal Ascension?"