Chapter 534 : Ascension Amidst Heavenly Thunder

"It is done."

Eldrin Chen's expression sharpened as he perceived the boundless spiritual energy in the Firmament converging, drawn in like a great whale drinking water, all of it being absorbed into the Seclusion Chamber.

After only a few moments, a brilliant surge of Pure Yang Power [the supreme, radiant energy of the sun and ultimate yang principle] emanated from the Seclusion Chamber, followed by a tall, slender figure stepping forth.

Clad in a Purple-Gold Daoist Robe and crowned with a Gilded Jade Crown, Dorian Ji possessed a bearing of unparalleled nobility, like a Pure Yang Immortal Lord [a supreme immortal lord embodying the purest yang energy] who had descended to the mortal dust.

He gave a slight nod to Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang, then turned his gaze to Riverlord Chang standing upon the Firmament. "My gratitude for your assistance, Senior," he said.

"There is no need for such formalities."

Riverlord Chang, his hair and beard white as snow, stood between heaven and earth like an ancient immortal who had attained the Dao. He smiled serenely. "First, face the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the trial of heavenly lightning that tests a cultivator's foundation and will]."

The Heavenly Thunder Tribulation above the Firmament had been gathering for some time. Boundless, majestic Tribulation Clouds [ominous clouds that herald and contain the power of a heavenly tribulation] spread across the sky, each wisp containing power enough to rend the heavens and split the earth.

Dorian Ji nodded. After cupping his hands in a final salute to the gathered crowd, he took a step and ascended into the heavens.

Watching Dorian Ji prepare to undergo the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, Eldrin Chen's expression grew solemn. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel*com.

The might of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the final, devastating heavenly trial faced by cultivators seeking to ascend to the Nascent Soul realm] is a rarity under heaven. It is said that many a Pure Yang Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator who has attained the Pure Yang realm] successfully summons their Heavenly Soul [the celestial component of a cultivator's tripartite soul], only to fall beneath the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation in the end, their protective Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts of immense power] insufficient to withstand the onslaught.

In truth, this step is profoundly arduous. Without the protection of a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure imbued with the supreme power of Pure Yang], the hope for an ordinary cultivator with Two Spiritual Roots [a dual-element spiritual affinity] to survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation is virtually nil.

Even for those with Three Spiritual Roots [tri-element affinity] or Four Spiritual Roots [quad-element affinity], who make the most exhaustive preparations and possess a Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a treasure approaching the power of a true Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure] for defense, their final success remains a matter of chance, hanging in a delicate balance.

Thus, generally speaking, only those cultivators within a Dao Lord Sacred Land [a sanctuary or sect founded and protected by a Dao Lord] who have the patronage and protection of senior predecessors possess a significantly greater chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Once a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure is lent to a junior to weather the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, even if the Nascent Soul Grand Tribulation [the collective term for the tribulations faced during Nascent Soul ascension] is successfully passed, the Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure will inevitably suffer grievous wounds. It would require nurturing for at least a Millennium [a period of one thousand years] to recover its former peak potency.

Within the Eastern Wastelands [a vast and perilous wilderness region], there are at least thirty-some cultivators at the Half-Step Pure Yang Realm [the pinnacle stage just below the Pure Yang realm]. Most of them remain at this stage because their Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and unshakable foundation of one's cultivation, built over a lifetime] is still insufficient to attempt the breakthrough to Nascent Soul.

Yet, there are also many who, feeling they lack the confidence to survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, dare not take that final, decisive step.

A cultivator like Caelum the Wavestrider, who forged his Pure Yang Immortal Sword [an immortal-grade sword of Pure Yang essence] as early as the Nascent Soul realm, stands out even among those at the Half-Step Dao Lord [the transitional stage approaching the Dao Lord realm].

For to nurture and refine a lifebound Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure requires not only obtaining a Sixth Rank Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the sixth rank, coveted even by Nascent Soul Dao Lords] that would stir the envy of Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has attained both the Nascent Soul and Dao Lord realms], but also possessing the innate talent of a Superior Grade Dao Body [a supreme-grade innate physique aligned with the Dao].

For cultivators within the Nascent Soul realm, possessing a Dao Body [an innate physique exceptionally attuned to cultivation and the Dao] is not in itself exceedingly rare. However, to successfully nurture a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure while still within the Nascent Soul realm specifically demands the caliber of a Superior Grade Dao Body.

Such Superior Grade Dao Body are exceedingly rare. Only a select few, like the Pure Yang Dao Body or the Profound Yin Chalk Dao Body, can meet the conditions to nurture a Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang ahead of time.

Returning to the matter at hand, Dorian Ji was remarkably calm at this moment.

Although he did not possess a Superior Grade Dao Body, he had inherited the Immortal-Refining Furnace of the Ji Immortal Clan.

That Immortal-Refining Furnace ranked fourth on the Purple Supreme Treasure Registry, a supreme Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang whose might shook the heavens.

It was said that among the Purple Nine Treasures of the ancient Purple Immortal Lord, one Innate Spiritual Treasure was an Immortal-Refining Furnace. The one held by the Ji Clan was considered the most powerful replica.

With this Immortal-Refining Furnace in hand, Dorian Ji was brimming with confidence, utterly assured of his ability to transcend the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

"BOOM—"

After a long period of gathering, the first bolt of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation finally descended.

Dorian Ji's expression remained serene. With a casual flick of his wrist, he unleashed a radiant light—the Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Radiance [a divine radiance capable of neutralizing heavenly tribulation]—that shot skyward, effortlessly dissipating the tribulation lightning into nothingness.

"Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Radiance."

Whispers arose as someone recognized the origin of this Divine Ability.

This Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Radiance [a supreme radiance capable of transcending heavenly tribulations] is one of the Clan-Suppressing Divine Ability [a supreme technique used to protect and uphold a clan's legacy] of the Ji Clan, said to have been created by an Immortal [a being who has ascended to the immortal realm] before their ascension. It not only specializes in countering protective Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of immense power] and aegis energies but is also the Divine Ability most effective against Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic lightning trials imposed by heaven upon cultivators seeking to advance].

The Ji Clan Patriarch had not only mastered this Pure Yang Divine Ability [a supreme technique of ultimate yang purity] but had also solidified it into a Lifebound Divine Ability [a supreme technique intrinsically bound to one's life essence]. Using it now to face the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation was truly making the most of its purpose.

Witnesses saw the Ji Clan Patriarch employ the Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Radiance to withstand the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, successfully blocking six consecutive bolts of the Pure Yang Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the ultimate yang-purifying lightning tribulation for the Nascent Soul realm].

Onlookers felt a chill creep down their spines. The power contained within any single one of the first six bolts of this Nascent Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation was sufficient to annihilate a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm].

The final two bolts possessed force enough to obliterate even a supreme existence at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a transitional state approaching the Primordial Spirit realm]—a power that even a Pure Yang Dao Lord [a lord who has mastered the Dao of Pure Yang] would hesitate to confront head-on. Yet, they seemed incapable of harming Dorian Ji in the slightest. Original publication: audio . novel . com - The source of this chapter.

At this moment, even the many True Lord [titles for high-ranking Nascent Soul cultivators] present showed subtle shifts in their expressions. The brilliantly talented Xuantian the True Lord sighed, "It is said the Ji Clan has inherited its legacy for several hundred thousand years. Only today do I understand the truth of those words."

"A Pure Yang Divine Ability of this caliber, so perfectly tailored to counter the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, is likely beyond the reach of many Dao Lord Sacred Land [sanctified lands ruled by Dao Lords]. It is no wonder the Ji Clan has produced multiple Nascent Soul Dao Lord [Nascent Soul realm cultivators who have comprehended a profound Dao] throughout its history."

Above in the Firmament [the vault of heaven], the boundless Tribulation Clouds [heaven-sent clouds that gather to unleash tribulation lightning] churned and seethed violently. The power of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation grew increasingly savage and erratic.

A look of grave solemnity finally settled upon the features of the Ji Clan Patriarch. The might contained within these final three bolts of Heavenly Thunder Tribulation was utterly terrifying—a force that even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord who had broken through many years prior would not dare face lightly, let alone one who had just stepped into this realm.

Recalling the terrifying might of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly lightning faced by cultivators during major breakthroughs], Ji Clan Patriarch could no longer afford to hold back. He hastily summoned forth the Immortal-Refining Furnace [a legendary artifact of immense power, said to be capable of refining even immortals].

Driven by Ji Clan Patriarch, the Immortal-Refining Furnace could only unleash roughly half its potential power. Yet, even at this diminished capacity, it radiated an aura of overwhelming, world-shaking majesty.

It hovered in the void, a steadfast bulwark against the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation strikes—blows potent enough to annihilate a Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator]. The furnace's radiance dimmed by perhaps three or four tenths, but it emerged from the onslaught without suffering catastrophic damage.

"That Immortal-Refining Furnace..."

High upon the Firmament [the highest heavens], Riverlord Chang's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression turning grave.

He cast a glance at the Long River Setting Sun Scroll [a grand treasure depicting a river at sunset], and after a long moment, spoke. "I had believed that after ascending to the rank of a Superior Grade Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure of pure yang essence], you were no weaker than the Immortal-Refining Furnace. It seems there remains a not-insignificant gap between you."

The Long River Setting Sun Scroll floated silently in the void before replying. "It has already touched the Quasi-Immortal Domain [a state bordering on true immortality]. Within the Purple Realm [a name for their world], the treasures that can stand alongside it now—discounting those lost to the long river of history—number fewer than the fingers on one hand."

Above the Firmament, the Tribulation Clouds [the ominous clouds that gather during a heavenly tribulation] dispersed. Beams of Seven-Colored Immortal Radiance [a celestial, seven-hued light signifying divine blessing] cascaded down.

Bathed in this luminous shower, Dorian Ji underwent a profound sublimation. His physical form and spiritual soul were refined, transforming towards a state of flawless perfection.

In that instant, miraculous phenomena manifested across the Firmament: Earth-Surging Golden Lotus [golden lotuses blooming from the earth], Heaven-Descending Aurora [auroral lights descending from the sky], and Ethereal Immortal Crane [spiritual cranes of immortal grace] dancing in flight. The heavens themselves seemed to celebrate the birth of this new Pure Yang Dao Lord [a supreme title for a master of the pure yang path].

Pure Yang Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator who has mastered the Pure Yang path] is the most exalted being within the Purple Realm. Such an existence stands but a single realm away from Ascend to Immortal Eternity [the ultimate goal of achieving immortality], and can truly be called the pinnacle of mortal attainment.

Beings of this caliber can traverse the Extraterrestrial Starry Sky, soar to the very limits of the Purple Realm's firmament to pluck strands of Heavenly Dao Qi [the primordial energy of the Heavenly Dao], and even harvest Primordial Ancient Star [stars of immense size and age from the Primordial Ancient era] spanning a hundred thousand Li-lengths. Even amidst the countless cultivation worlds of the Nine Heavens Above [the higher celestial realms], they are considered figures of immense power and capability.

It is said that even after such beings fall, upon entering the Depths of the Underworld [the profound and mysterious realm of the dead], they receive special consideration. They may carry a portion of their past life's accumulated fortune into their next incarnation. Should they achieve immortality in that future life, they may reclaim the memories of their former self. Join our community of readers at http://www . audio-novel.com.