The lightning tribulation surged, heavenly will churned.
No one could see through that blazing whiteness — how many bolts of tribulation lightning had already struck, or what state Bai Xuanling was in now.
This very place had been locked in fierce combat not long ago, yet now all they could do was wait until the tribulation passed before making their next move.
Xu Linglong was waiting — waiting for Bai Xuanling to fail the tribulation.
After all, the heavenly path was severed. Ascension was utterly impossible.
Without Bai Xuanling disrupting things, their plan could proceed all the more smoothly.
Her cultivation and combat power were far too formidable — an extremely unstable factor.
Though time was being delayed, it was worth it.
Moreover, Bai Xuanling had taken the central position for her tribulation. Her divine sense and spiritual energy were thoroughly disrupted. Any attempt to force action would only leave them at a disadvantage.
After all, without communication, the Celestial Demons would truly be easy pickings to target one by one.
Chu Xingchen was also waiting, but unlike everyone else.
Though he too couldn't see the situation inside, within that blazing whiteness, the system's attributes were quite conspicuous.
Bai Xuanling's current attributes hadn't changed.
At least, no serious injury or wounded attributes had appeared.
Her cultivation was still [Tribulation Transcendence Great Perfection]. Presumably only after fully passing the tribulation would the attribute advance.
"Young man, you should know the ascension path is severed."
Huang Miao had stopped pressing his attack on the inferior Tribulation Transcendence cultivator and returned to guard beside Chu Xingchen, his expression solemn as he spoke.
"Is this Bai Xuanling's choice?"
Chu Xingchen didn't answer, but instead asked, "If she passes the lightning tribulation, does that mean ascension succeeds?"
"In principle, yes." Huang Miao pressed his lips together. "Xuanqing Heavenly Sect has clear records. The ascension path is severed — the tribulation won't dissipate like before. It will persist until the one facing the tribulation can endure no more."
"The former Supreme Elder of Xuanqing Heavenly Sect received his answer from the Heavenly Dao within the lightning tribulation."
"Since then, cultivators from other sects have also undergone the tribulation. Without exception, all were the same. That's why every sect now harbors quite a few Tribulation Transcendence cultivators."
"Legends have also increased considerably compared to before. After all, in past eras the earlier Legends had already ascended. But it's certainly livelier now. In years past, the human race truly might not have been able to gather this many Tribulation Transcendence Great Perfection great cultivators."
Chu Xingchen's eyes narrowed:
"And after ascension? Do they just leave immediately?"
Huang Miao continued, "Generally speaking, yes. Though it seems they can linger for a short while. Not much time, though — just enough to make simple arrangements."
"But that's only speculation. After all, I've never ascended, so I don't know the specifics."
Chu Xingchen nodded.
Ascending was fine. Better than dying here.
Matters here could be left to him.
If he truly couldn't handle it, his disciples would take care of it properly.
Seeing Chu Xingchen's silence, Huang Miao didn't press further and instead guarded the surroundings.
What had happened had happened. Pressing for answers served no purpose.
Huang Miao truly didn't like Bai Xuanling. Otherwise he wouldn't have targeted her direct disciple with such poor sportsmanship.
But neither did he want to see such a rival simply die in the heavenly tribulation.
Perhaps it was a kindred spirit's sympathy, or some other reason.
At the very least, in this moment, his sincerity was genuine.
Everyone was calculating the time in their hearts, silently counting.
After all, beyond the heavenly tribulation, there was still a life-and-death battle yet to be settled.
Chu Xingchen wasn't counting. He just felt time moving so, so slowly.
The intensity of the blinding white light abruptly dropped.
Chu Xingchen could finally see what lay within the blazing radiance.
The tribulation cloud of dao essence and colored light swirled and parted, as if performing one final tribulation, while the tribulation behind it slowly dissipated, transforming into scattered motes of dao light drifting downward.
Bai Xuanling's form gradually became visible. There were no wounds on her body, though her white dress-armor bore some blackened damage. Wanban coiled at Bai Xuanling's side, many of the pale lightning bolts intercepted and blocked by Wanban.
The intensity of the blazing white light faded with extreme speed.
Wanban circled once more around Bai Xuanling, then transformed into a point of white rainbow light, shooting straight back to Chu Xingchen's side.
Huang Miao's eyes widened, his heart equally shaken.
The tribulation clouds had nearly dispersed. This was clearly a sign of successful tribulation completion.
Bai Xuanling's dao essence had already leapt to an entirely different level. One glance told Huang Miao that the gap between himself and Bai Xuanling had become a chasm.
Perhaps only one more bolt of tribulation lightning remained.
And this much-anticipated daylight ascension would succeed.
Wanban circled Chu Xingchen as if seeking credit.
Xu Linglong also stared in dumbfounded disbelief at the scene before her. Her mind was filled with incredulity, but instinct made her draw her bow to full draw in the next instant, origin power gathering as she loosed a shot straight at Bai Xuanling.
Bai Xuanling glanced back. She didn't even touch Qingming, simply raising one finger and flicking it out.
The incoming bolts of origin power were utterly destroyed.
That utterly different power, belonging to nearly another level entirely, was also clearly perceived by Xu Linglong.
Xu Linglong gripped her bowstring tight, her heart full of bitter unwillingness.
If she really ascended by daylight…
Sure enough, this Heavenly Dao only knows how to cheat!
Xu Linglong drew her bow again, aiming at Bai Xuanling, even though major sect Tribulation Transcendence cultivators had already begun shielding Bai Xuanling from afar, making it very likely her shot would miss.
Even if it hit, it would be as easily blocked as before.
But what else could she do at this moment?
[Retreat]
Boluo's voice echoed in her mind.
Xu Linglong gritted her teeth and transmitted back:
[The heavenly tribulation hasn't ended! If we leave now, everything we've built up over a thousand years will be lost here!]
Boluo's reply came swift:
[Heaven and we have always been like water and fire. Did you expect it to grant your wishes? Nothing changes but starting over.]
Xu Linglong responded quickly:
[Chu Xingchen isn't dead. How do we start over?! When he faces his tribulation, where will our hope be?]
Several seconds passed before Boluo slowly answered:
[Hope lies in the final resort.]
Hearing this, Xu Linglong fell silent. Her gaze turned toward Runan of the Buddhist Sect's direction, but she said nothing more.
Boluo spoke again: [I will mask everyone's tracks.]
Xu Linglong's expression could not hide her dejection. The drawn bow slowly lowered.
The other Celestial Demons said nothing more and began preparing to withdraw according to the earlier retreat plan.
The heavenly tribulation fully solidified. A bolt of light flashed down.
Only it was not the blazing white from before, but a crimson radiance.
Bai Xuanling gripped Qingming and faced it with vigorous resolve.
Only…
This final bolt of tribulation carried no force.
The instant Bai Xuanling received it, she understood the meaning of this tribulation.
Her gaze swept to Xu Linglong. A mocking smile appeared on her face. She tightened her grip on Qingming and slashed one sword strike at her.
An immortal exile in the mortal world, a green sword parts the gates of heaven.
Xu Linglong didn't even have a thought of resistance before spinning and fleeing.
The remaining Celestial Demons all did the same, leaving only the other demon races on the field.
Seeing this, the mocking smile on Bai Xuanling's face slowly faded. Her gaze turned back, looking toward Chu Xingchen, and she softly transmitted:
"That Lu Xuan kid — his fortune-telling about me was quite accurate after all."
Chu Xingchen looked down at her beneath the tribulation clouds.
Bai Xuanling's eyes gradually tinged red, the smile on her face revealing nothing but helplessness.
Within the attributes.
Bai Xuanling was still [Tribulation Transcendence Great Perfection].
Chu Xingchen's form shot upward as he simultaneously pressed Wanban — what was this final bolt of tribulation lightning?
The answer was:
The heavenly tribulation strikes directly at a cultivator's most vulnerable point.
Tribulation numbers were, in their very nature, hardship itself.
[
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