Chapter 534 : Ascension Amidst the Heavenly Thunder

"It is done."

Eldrin Chen's expression sharpened as he sensed the boundless spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and the world] above the Heavenly Vault converging like a colossal whale drawing in water, all of it being sucked into the Seclusion Chamber.

Merely moments later, a dazzling surge of Primordial Solar [the Earth Immortal realm, a major stage of cultivation] power erupted from within the Seclusion Chamber, followed by a tall, slender figure stepping forth.

Clad in violet-gold Daoist robes and crowned with a gilded jade coronet, Dorian Ji possessed a bearing of peerless nobility, resembling a Primordial Solar Immortal Venerable who had descended into the Mortal Dust [the mundane, mortal world].

He gave a slight nod to Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, then turned his gaze to the Long River Path Lord above the Heavenly Vault and said, "My gratitude for your assistance, Senior."

"There is no need for such formalities."

With hair and beard white as snow, the Long River Path Lord stood between heaven and earth like an ancient immortal who had attained the Dao [the ultimate truth and principle of the universe]. He smiled faintly and said, "First, face your Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly lightning that cultivators must survive to advance to a higher realm]."

The Heavenly Thunder Tribulation above the Heavenly Vault had been brewing for some time. Boundless, majestic Tribulation Cloud [ominous clouds that gather before a heavenly tribulation, filled with destructive power] spread across the sky, each wisp containing power capable of rending the heavens and splitting the earth.

Dorian Ji nodded, clasped his hands in salute to the assembled crowd, then strode forward, ascending into the sky.

Watching Dorian Ji prepare to undergo the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, Eldrin Chen's expression grew solemn. The story continues at @udio-novel.com.

The might of the Primordial Spirit Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial faced by cultivators seeking to ascend to the Primordial Spirit Realm] is exceedingly rare in the world. It is said that many Primordial Solar Path Lord [cultivators who have attained the Path Lord realm through the Primordial Solar method] who have successfully summoned their Heaven Soul [the celestial aspect of a cultivator's soul, necessary for Primordial Spirit ascension] ultimately perish beneath the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly thunder trial] due to insufficient protective magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators].

In truth, this step is truly arduous. Without the protection of a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade magical treasure aligned with the Primordial Solar path], the hope for an ordinary cultivator with Dual Spiritual Root [a spiritual root affinity for two elements] to survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation is virtually zero.

For cultivators with Three Spiritual Roots [a spiritual root affinity for three elements] or four Spiritual Root [the innate elemental affinities that determine a cultivator's potential], even with the most thorough preparations and a Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a treasure approaching the power of a true Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure] in hand for defense, whether they ultimately succeed remains a toss of the coin.

Therefore, generally speaking, only those cultivators within a Path Lord Sacred Land [a holy land presided over by a Path Lord realm expert] who have the protection of a senior have a greater certainty of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm beyond the Infant Soul].

Once a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure is lent to a junior to face the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, even if the Primordial Spirit Great Tribulation [the great heavenly trial for the Primordial Spirit realm] is successfully passed, the Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure will inevitably suffer severe damage, requiring at least a millennium of recuperation to restore its peak power.

Within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland [the vast desolate lands of the Eastern Region], there are at least thirty-some cultivators at the Half-Step Primordial Solar Realm [the half-step realm before achieving full Primordial Solar Path Lord status]. Most of them lack sufficient foundational depth to attempt the breakthrough to Primordial Spirit for the time being.

However, there are also many who feel they lack the confidence to survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and thus dare not take that final, decisive step.

A cultivator like Billowing Waves [Canglang], who forged his Primordial Solar Immortal Sword [an immortal sword of the Primordial Solar grade] as early as the Infant Soul Realm [the realm of the nascent soul], is considered exceptionally rare even among those at the half-step Path Lord [the realm of a master of a cultivation path] level.

For to nurture and refine a single Innate Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a Primordial Solar treasure born from one's own innate cultivation] requires not only obtaining a Sixth Rank [a rank denoting supreme rarity and power] treasure coveted even by Primordial Spirit Path Lord [Path Lords of the Primordial Spirit realm], but also possessing the aptitude of a Superior Grade Path Body [a supreme-grade innate constitution suited for a specific cultivation path].

For cultivators in the Infant Soul Realm, a Path Body [an innate constitution aligned with a specific cultivation path] is not actually rare. However, to refine a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure from within oneself while still in the Infant Soul Realm requires nothing less than a Superior Grade Path Body.

Such Superior Grade Path Body are exceedingly rare. Only a select few, like the Primordial Solar Path Body or the Primal Shadow Path Body, can meet the conditions required to nurture a Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure of the highest solar order] 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 Path Body, he had inherited the Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining immortals] from the Ji Immortal Clan.

That Immortal Refining Furnace ranked fourth on the Purple Seal Supreme Treasure Ranking [a ranking of the most powerful treasures in the Purple Seal Realm]. It was a supreme Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure whose might shook the heavens.

It was said that among the Purple Seal Nine Treasures [the nine legendary treasures of the Purple Seal Immortal Lord] once wielded by the Purple Seal Immortal Lord, one Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of heaven and earth] was an Immortal Refining Furnace. The one held by the Ji Clan was considered the most powerful replica of that legendary artifact.

With this Immortal Refining Furnace in hand, Dorian Ji was brimming with confidence, possessing absolute certainty in his ability to transcend the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the divine trial of heavenly thunder].

"Boom—"

After a long period of gathering power, 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 beam of Ascendant Immortal Radiance [a radiant light of ascendant immortality] that shot towards the sky, cleanly severing the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and causing it to vanish into nothingness.

"Tribulation Transcending Immortal Light."

Whispers arose as someone recognized the origin of this Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals].

This Tribulation Transcending Immortal Light [a divine radiance capable of piercing through heavenly tribulations] is one of the Ji Clan's foundational, clan-protecting Divine Ability. It is said to have been created by a certain Immortal [a being who has ascended to a higher plane of existence] before their ascension. Not only is it specifically effective against defensive Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts] and protective auras, but it is also the Divine Ability most adept at countering the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic lightning trial faced during major breakthroughs].

The Ji Clan Patriarch had not only mastered this Primordial Solar Divine Ability [a divine ability of the purest yang/solar essence], but had also solidified it into an Innate Divine Ability [a power inherent to one's being, usable without conscious effort]. 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 Transcending Immortal Light to withstand the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, managing to block six consecutive bolts of Primordial Solar [the Primordial Spirit Realm] level Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

The onlookers felt a chill run down their spines. The power contained in any single one of the first six bolts of this Primordial Spirit Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation for advancing to the Primordial Spirit Realm] was sufficient to annihilate a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Infant Soul [the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm].

The final two bolts possessed force enough to obliterate even a top-tier existence at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [one who has touched the threshold of the Primordial Spirit Realm]. Not even a Primordial Solar Path Lord [a title for a Primordial Spirit Realm expert] would willingly take such a strike head-on. Yet, they seemed incapable of harming Dorian Ji in the slightest. Experience the full epic at audio‑novel.com.

At this moment, even the numerous True Lord [Nascent Soul Realm experts] present had subtle shifts in their expressions. The exceptionally talented Primordial Heaven True Lord sighed, "It is said the Ji Clan's lineage spans several hundred thousand years. Only today do I understand those words hold true."

"A Primordial Solar Divine Ability so perfectly tailored to counter the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation is likely something even many Path Lord Sacred Land [holy lands ruled by Path Lords] cannot produce. No wonder the Ji Clan has produced multiple Primordial Spirit Path Lord [Path Lords of the Primordial Spirit Realm] throughout its history."

Above in the Heavenly Vault [the firmament, the sky], the boundless Tribulation Cloud [the ominous clouds that gather for a tribulation] churned and boiled with increasing ferocity, the power of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation growing ever more violent and abnormal.

The Ji Clan Patriarch finally revealed a trace of solemn gravity. The power contained within these final three bolts of Heavenly Thunder Tribulation was utterly terrifying. Even a Primordial Spirit Path Lord who had broken through many years prior would not dare face them lightly, let alone him, who had just stepped into this realm.

Recalling the terrifying might of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly punishment of divine thunder], Ji Clan Patriarch could no longer afford to hold back. He hastily summoned forth the Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace 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 possessed an awe-inspiring, world-shaking divine might.

Hovering in the void, it withstood three consecutive strikes of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, each capable of annihilating a Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator]. Its radiance merely dimmed by thirty to forty percent, suffering no truly grievous damage.

"This Immortal Refining Furnace..."

High upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky], Long River Path Lord's eyes flickered slightly, a trace of solemnity appearing within them.

He glanced at the Long River Setting Sun Painting [a mystical painting depicting a river at dusk] and, after a long pause, remarked, "I had thought that after advancing to a High Grade Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a top-tier treasure imbued with the essence of the primordial sun], you would be no weaker than the Immortal Refining Furnace. It seems there remains a not-insignificant gap."

The Long River Setting Sun Painting hovered silently in the void for a moment before responding, "It has already approached the realm bordering on immortality. Within the current Purple Seal Realm [a specific realm or world], the number of treasures that can rival it, aside from those lost to the Long River [the River of Time, a metaphor for history], can be counted on one hand."

"..."

Above the Heavenly Vault, the Tribulation Cloud [the ominous cloud formation heralding a heavenly tribulation] dispersed, and rays of Seven-Colored Immortal Light [a radiant, seven-hued light of celestial origin] cascaded down.

Bathed in this luminous shower, Dorian Ji felt his physical body and spiritual soul sublimating, undergoing a transformation towards a state of flawless perfection.

In an instant, golden lotuses bloomed from the earth, celestial auroras cascaded from the heavens, and ethereal Immortal Crane danced in flight. A series of astonishing phenomena manifested above the Heavenly Vault, as if celebrating the birth of this Primordial Solar Path Lord.

The Primordial Solar Path Lord represents the absolute pinnacle of existence within the Purple Seal Realm. Such a being stands but one final realm away from Ethereal Ascension, truly the zenith of the Mortal Path.

A being of this caliber can traverse the outer starry void, soar to the very limits of the Purple Seal Realm's firmament to pluck Heavenly Path Energy, and even harvest Primal Ancient Stellar spanning one hundred thousand Li-lengths. Even amidst the myriad cultivation worlds of the Nine Heavens Above, they are counted among the Great Power Figure.

It is said that even after such a being falls, they receive special consideration deep within the Underworld Court, permitted to 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. Official source: audio-novel.com (official site). Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.