As the endless lightning tribulation covered the sky, an overwhelming pressure weighed down on everyone's heart.
"Is this the Deity Transformation Tribulation?"
People looked up at the lightning, feeling that even a sliver of that majesty could destroy them. This was the most terrifying and massive tribulation anyone had seen in their life!
In that moment, it wasn't just the Qingtian Domain—every neighboring domain focused their attention here. Whether they were Nascent Soul or Golden Core cultivators, all were shocked. Someone was breaking through to Deity Transformation!
Before those endless clouds and the massive serpents of lightning, a cultivator was as small as an ant.
But the most striking thing was not the standard tribulation, but a purple-black, super-giant beast of lightning!
"That is... Heavenly Punishment!"
In the cultivation world, those who harmed the Dao or carried immense karma would suffer the power of Heavenly Punishment during their breakthrough. Additionally, certain special existences or great demons would attract it.
The lethality of Heavenly Punishment was far greater than ordinary lightning tribulation, containing a terrifying power of destruction. It was the very existence of Heavenly Punishment that forced many cultivators to be self-disciplined and follow the laws of the Dao.
Because it was so terrifying, in the past, no one except those specializing in such a path would ever touch that line. But as the cultivation world declined, more and more people began to break this bottom line. One reason was that at the bottom, without breaking the rules, one had no chance to even see the limit of a realm, so they didn't care about the tribulation. The other was more frightening: certain existences seemed to have mastered the power to evade or resist the world's judgement.
When the Heavenly Punishment appeared, the cultivators were stunned. How much karma was Ling Qianjue carrying to attract such a thing? Normally, a cultivator's karma would only attract purple-black clouds. To call forth a giant beast of punishment, one had to be a terrifying demon or someone with profound sins.
Ling Qianjue, now a pure demon, looked at the sky with a grim expression. Why had he wanted to cultivate the Dao-Demon Holy Infant instead of a pure demonic one? It was specifically to reduce the Heavenly Punishment during his breakthrough. Furthermore, the holy power within the Dao-Demon Holy Body had a stronger resistance to lightning and punishment and could suppress the flaws of the demonic power.
But just now, his body had been destroyed by Qi Ping, and the two King-Grade bees had continuously ground down his soul and body. If he hadn't decisively self-detonated his Dao-Infant, he would have died under the bees and that bizarre underground sword.
Fortunately, his demonic infant was stronger and possessed the ability to split into ten thousand pieces. After the Dao-Infant exploded, the power of the demonic infant was fully released, and its abilities became even more unpredictable. That was how he had escaped the bees!
But while he was now more powerful and his methods more bizarre—and his strength had even increased after devouring those Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators along with Lin Wuji's special constitution—he was forced to start the tribulation early and face this horrifying Heavenly Punishment!
"Bee Daoist! When I achieve Deity Transformation, I shall slaughter everything related to you!"
The demonic Ling Qianjue used his bizarre methods to dodge Qi Ping's attacks. His gaze was filled with undisguised killing intent and rage! He had to save his strength for the upcoming tribulation. Once it truly began, Qi Ping would be forced to leave; otherwise, he would be targeted by the lightning as well!
Stepping into someone else's breakthrough tribulation would result in attacks even more terrifying than those the person breaking through faced. It was a suicidal act. Even attacking from the side would drag one into the calamity!
Though his chance of success had dropped after losing his Dao-Infant, it wasn't zero. If he could survive the tribulation and punishment with his pure demonic infant, he would become an even more terrifying demon god! There would be a place for him in the future of the cultivation world!
With that, Ling Qianjue suppressed his other thoughts and focused entirely on how to survive. If he could reach a deeper state of comprehension and use the punishment to fully release the power of his demonic infant, he might have a chance. It was a dangerous move, but his future achievements could be even higher!
Most importantly, he had no other choice. To live and to ascend, this was his only chance. He adjusted himself to his peak state almost instantly.
Qi Ping, draped in the power of the land, was like an incarnation of the world. He mobilized every ounce of that power to launch the most ferocious attacks at Ling Qianjue! No matter what, Ling Qianjue had to die today!
At the same time, Qi Ping used the Illumination Mirror Image to analyze Ling Qianjue's state and the essence of his power. Though the demonic energy was bizarre and hard to deal with, its secrets were slowly being exposed to Qi Ping.
As for Ling's goal of avoiding direct confrontation to wait for the tribulation to force Qi Ping away, Qi Ping saw right through it.
'In your dreams!'
With his resurrection insurance, he would kill this man even if it meant facing the risk of stronger lightning! And did the man think his Heaven-Earth Favor was just for show? As a person favored by the world, the punishment would be adjusted to his needs. This was recorded in the classics, and he had noticed it during his Golden Core tribulation; the intensity was perfectly calculated to temper his body and energy without making him fail!
So, Ling Qianjue's hope of using the tribulation to force him away was a fantasy!
Qi Ping didn't reveal this, of course. He pretended to be slightly anxious while fighting, while in reality, he used the Eyes of Transcendence to analyze the weaknesses of the demonic infant.
Wang He had wanted to help, but Qi Ping stopped him via transmission, telling him to save the power of the Universal Justice Sword. That nuclear option had to be kept for the security of the domain.
His only regret was that the Heart of the Wild had ended, leaving the bees in a weakened state. Otherwise, he might have finished Ling before the tribulation even started.
The battle continued. In the sky, the black-clad Qi Ping and the blood-demon Ling Qianjue fought without pause, and the earth was further destroyed by their clashes.
As time passed, a majestic aura of tribulation swept across the land. A thunderous roar echoed in everyone's heart!
The Deity Transformation Tribulation had begun!
"Bee Daoist, farewell for now!" A manic, triumphant grin appeared on Ling Qianjue's face as he retreated into the very center of the tribulation!
In this moment, anyone who hindered the tribulation would bear an even more terrifying burden!
"What a pity!"
"He failed to kill Ling before the tribulation!"
"Yes, who would have thought he was the true evil in our domain..."
"An old man who refuses to die is a thief. I always knew there was something wrong with that undying monster!"
"It's no use talking now. We can only pray he dies under the lightning and punishment, otherwise the Qingtian Domain will become a living hell!"
"It's all Lin Wuji's fault. If he hadn't interfered, the Bee Daoist might have succeeded!"
"Yes, Lin Wuji was a meddler. Now he's dead with no body left, and he became fuel for Ling. What an idiot!"
The surviving cultivators watched the figure beneath the lightning with dread. If Ling Qianjue truly survived and became a Deity Transformation master, where could they go? Some were already preparing to run.
But just as Ling was gloating and the cultivators were in despair, something incredible happened!
The figure of the Bee Daoist—known to everyone—held the Mountain-River Seal and stepped into the range of the tribulation, descending right in front of Ling Qianjue.
"You seem quite pleased with yourself?" Qi Ping asked with a smile, looking at the stunned Ling Qianjue.
The moment he appeared and spoke, everyone was dumbfounded!
"The Bee Daoist went in?!"
"What is he doing? Doesn't he know he'll face lightning even more terrifying than Ling's?"
"Is he being too reckless? Ling might not have survived that punishment anyway, right?"
"And if he bears the Deity Transformation lightning, what can he even do?"
Voices of confusion rang out, but there were also voices of support.
"We low-rank cultivators shouldn't try to second-guess Senior Bee Daoist. He must have a reason!"
"Exactly. Since he appeared, has he done anything that wasn't beneficial for us? He seems reckless, but hasn't he survived every time?"
"I'm betting on the Bee Daoist this time too!"
"We'll just have to wait and see!"
These voices prompted many who were about to run to stay. If they missed the conclusion of this legendary battle, it would be a lifelong regret. And they were right—maybe the Bee Daoist could win?
Elsewhere, Meng Yan watched under the protection of his master. 'Brother Qi, is that really you?' he thought, filled with worry.
At that moment, Qi Ping felt his Power of Living Beings surge once more. But he had no time to focus on that; he only wanted to kill Ling Qianjue!
"Did you think I wouldn't dare to come in?"
As he spoke, he used the Mountain-River Seal and his subtle spell-control to smash into Ling Qianjue! He wouldn't stop until this man was dead!
"Bee Daoist, you madman!" Ling Qianjue screamed, losing his composure for the first time as he was forced to fight again. This was something he hadn't expected; what sane cultivator would do this?
"Mad or not, you're dying!" Qi Ping entered a state of frantic attack!
"Since you dared to come in, you will face lightning even stronger than mine! How can you kill me? You're dreaming!" Ling retorted.
But despite his words, Qi Ping's harassment was constantly siphoning his chances of survival!
At that moment, the tribulation power above them spiked! It happened with incredible speed, as the lightning grew stronger in response to Qi Ping's intrusion!
Seeing this, a look of schadenfreude appeared on Ling Qianjue's face. 'How satisfying! When the Bee Daoist dies, I can devour his body and Dao-fruit. Maybe my success rate will even increase!' He began to look forward to the Child of Fortune's flesh; eating him would surely be a massive boost!
Soon, two terrifying bolts of lightning fell.
But the moment he saw them, Ling Qianjue was dazed!
'What?!'
Why was the bolt hitting him so thick and fierce? Why was the bolt hitting the Bee Daoist so thin?
"Why is this different from the records?!"
Ling Qianjue began to break down as he was hit by lightning, punishment, and Qi Ping's attacks simultaneously. Within moments, his demonic infant was heavily damaged. The punishment and lightning were too much; he couldn't survive them while fighting Qi Ping!
In that moment, his mind collapsed. He had thought of ten thousand possibilities, yet the result was the same: death!
"Why?! Why is it targeting me?!" he screamed at Qi Ping.
Ten thousand years of cultivation and thousands of years of plotting had been destroyed by this youth who relied on world-protection! His life's work was shattered! He didn't even have that sliver of hope left! He was unwilling!
"Is it because you're a Child of Fortune? But I am the greatest genius of theages!"
Accompanied by the rolling thunder, his voice of despair and resentment echoed through the world. The sadness of ten thousand years of cultivation turning to dust infected many cultivators.
But facing his despair, Qi Ping merely snorted.
"What a joke. Why target you? For the harm you've done to the Qingtian Domain, death ten thousand times over wouldn't be enough!"
"The world isn't targeting anyone; it's just trying to stop its own destruction. It's because of cultivators like you, who plunder everything without restraint for your own gain, that the cultivation world has become like this. We are just suffering the consequences of our predecessors' evil!"
Ling Qianjue remained unyielding, shouting in rage:
"Did I have a choice?! Without this, I never would have had a chance at Deity Transformation! At least I reached this step. If not for you, I might have become a god! It's all because of you!"
"Whether you had a choice, I don't know. All I know is that because of people like you, the cultivation world has declined to this state! Countless beings died because of you!"
"So, you must die!"
With that, Qi Ping targeted the weaknesses found by the Illumination Mirror Image and launched a frantic assault. The majesty of the mountains and rivers swept out, and under the combined force of Qi Ping and the Heavenly Punishment, Ling Qianjue's figure finally vanished into the world with one last scream of despair...