Chapter 567: Ascension Tribulation — Slow Down, I Can’t Keep Up with You
Mount Thundercloud is the highest peak in the Nine Provinces, located at the border of the Tianyuan Dynasty, close to the Baize Dynasty. It’s perpetually shrouded in dark clouds with flashing lightning and rumbling thunder, causing locals to pale at the mention of it and avoid discussing it altogether.
The higher one’s cultivation level, the more wary cultivators become of Mount Thundercloud.
Heavenly tribulations aren’t just for ascension to immortality; reaching the Unity Stage and Tribulation Transcendence Stage also requires facing lightning tribulations.
Ancient legends say that Mount Thundercloud contains great opportunities that the Immortal Realm cannot tolerate. Immortal Realm experts set up formations to shatter Mount Thundercloud with lightning, seeking to destroy the great opportunities contained within.
If cultivators undergo tribulation here, the power of their heavenly tribulation increases by fifty percent compared to normal times, though the rewards naturally increase accordingly.
These were the legends about Mount Thundercloud before Jiang Li appeared.
After Jiang Li underwent his third tribulation at Mount Thundercloud, it seemed he completely exhausted the thunderclouds of the mountain. Since then, Mount Thundercloud has had no more lightning flashes or thunder rumbles, becoming peaceful and sunny, as serene as if it were a completely different place from the legends.
Mount Thundercloud gradually transformed from legend into mere after-dinner conversation.
Still, Jiang Li prefers to undergo tribulations at Mount Thundercloud.
As Jiang Li prepared to revisit his old stomping ground, Mount Thundercloud gradually became lively. Ji Zhi brought Ji Kongkong to Mount Thundercloud early, securing the best viewing spot.
Yu Yin and Baixue Ling, being the closest, followed right after.
Holy Maiden Jingxin, Wuzhi, Li Er, Sword Sovereign, Tower Master of Tianji Tower, Sect Master of Beast-Taming Sect… all the great experts familiar to cultivators gathered here.
“That bastard Jiang Li has ill intentions, deliberately choosing this timing to undermine me!” Bai Hongtu cursed as he rushed over.
Immortal Elder Changcun left his Secluded Cave after a long absence to come watch.
Ancient scrolls never recorded what the sixteenth ascension tribulation looked like.
The Big Senior Brother of the Great Vehicle Observation Sect and Great Zhou’s Court Historian Si Nan tightly gripped his brush, writing on paper to record this monumental event.
“On a certain month and day of Yan Calendar year 4811, after eleven years, the ascension tribulation lightning has accumulated power, preparing to undergo the sixteenth Human Sovereign tribulation…”
The President of Flying Cloud Trading Company found new business opportunities at Mount Thundercloud.
“What do you think about our Flying Cloud Trading Company creating a lightning tribulation life insurance?”
“Get insurance before undergoing lightning tribulation. If you succeed, all’s well. If you fail, you can receive generous compensation.”
“Great idea. I suggest finding someone nearby to test the effectiveness first, like Human Sovereign Jiang.”
“The Human Sovereign wouldn’t waste money like that.”
“Your idea isn’t bad, but won’t you actually get beaten up when you go door-to-door selling insurance?”
“Don’t worry, we’ve taken out personal accident insurance for our disciples.”
“…”
While the great cultivators chatted aimlessly, a tall, straight figure flew swiftly to stand above Mount Thundercloud.
“Look, Human Sovereign Jiang is here.”
People exclaimed in surprise, except for one person.
“Dear viewers, please look. Human Sovereign Jiang has arrived at Mount Thundercloud. I believe everyone will soon witness Human Sovereign Jiang undergoing his sixteenth ascension tribulation.”
The Tower Master of Tianji Tower chattered incessantly to a glass sphere, speaking with animated expressions.
This was a civilian application product combining spiritual energy and technology – the Five Senses Reception Mirror.
By simply channeling a bit of spiritual energy into this magical artifact, one could project images from thousands of miles away onto the crystal screen of the Five Senses Reception Mirror.
Through Tianji Tower’s vigorous promotion, they finally developed the Five Senses Reception Mirror. The Tower Master of Tianji Tower personally refined dozens of planets into satellites to relay signals, allowing the entire Nine Provinces Continent to use Five Senses Reception Mirrors without the slightest delay.
Even the Four Seas on the opposite side were no exception.
Tianji Tower did this to seize the initiative and become synonymous with Five Senses Reception Mirrors.
Facts proved they were very successful.
Jiang Li spent three months in the Qixin World. Calculating according to the 1:5 time flow rate, one year and three months had passed in the Nine Provinces.
Over a year was enough time for Tianji Tower to promote the Five Senses Reception Mirror.
Commander Liu hadn’t had time to tell Jiang Li yet, but Jiang Li recognized at a glance what the Tower Master of Tianji Tower was doing and what this so-called Five Senses Reception Mirror was.
This was essentially a television, though more advanced than televisions, giving people a more immersive feeling.
He flew beside the Tower Master of Tianji Tower, facing the crystal sphere, and revealed a reassuring smile.
“Good afternoon, everyone. Today is a day worth celebrating.”
“I’ve created a technique that allows mortals to cultivate to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. It’s simple to learn, easy to understand, and this technique will be available to everyone soon.”
“I will offer my most sincere blessings to everyone by undergoing my sixteenth ascension tribulation.”
As these words came out, whether cultivators observing near Mount Thundercloud or mortals sitting before Five Senses Reception Mirrors, no one could believe their ears.
Human Sovereign Jiang actually created such a technique?
Jiang Li said nothing more, leaving everyone with a mysterious back view as he flew toward the summit of Mount Thundercloud.
He pointed one finger toward the sky, releasing his self-restraint. The clear, sunny Mount Thundercloud suddenly changed, as if a deity had become angry and wanted to punish mortals in the lower realm.
The thunderclouds transformed into an entire world, identical to the Nine Provinces, only inverted.
The Nine Provinces reflection was composed of lightning, displaying danger everywhere. Even a simple house contained hundreds of lightning bolts, let alone an entire continent.
Others who saw this felt chills running down their spines.
“This is much stronger than Old Buddha’s third ascension tribulation,” Li Er whispered, afraid the tribulation might notice them and descend upon his head.
He felt that if even one lightning bolt struck down, he would perish completely.
This had completely exceeded what mortals could withstand.
“Of course. Ascension tribulations after the second one urge those who’ve passed ascension tribulations to quickly go to the Immortal Realm. Not going to the Immortal Realm means death. The more times, the greater the power.”
“The sixteenth ascension tribulation’s power is already beyond estimation. Even with my Spirit Plant Formation enhancing me, I couldn’t withstand it.”
“But no matter how powerful it is, it’s useless against Jiang Li.”
Bai Hongtu’s words earned everyone’s approval.
Immortal Elder Changcun watched the tribulation and slowly said, “Before the Celestial Ascension Ladder broke, few people continuously underwent ascension tribulations. After the Celestial Ascension Ladder broke, I observed for nine thousand years and combined it with some ancient histories, barely managing to deduce information about ascension tribulations.”
“Please elaborate, Immortal Elder.”
“The interval between ascension tribulations ranges from one thousand to three thousand years, varying by individual, with three thousand years being the maximum.”
“This is the slim chance for survival that ascension tribulations leave, allowing Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators to continuously seek ways to become stronger between one thousand and three thousand years. The faster Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators grow stronger, the shorter the interval between ascension tribulations becomes.”
“However, most Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivators face ascension tribulations approximately every three thousand years, such as Xumi Buddha and Commander Liu.”
“This was the pattern of ascension tribulation occurrences before Jiang Li appeared.”
“After Jiang Li appeared, his speed of becoming stronger exceeded the ascension tribulation’s reaction speed. The fastest an ascension tribulation could come was every ten years.”
“And these ten years were enough for Jiang Li to become stronger than the next ascension tribulation.”
“This created a vicious cycle. Once the ascension tribulation couldn’t catch up with Jiang Li, it could never catch up with him, resulting in the ascension tribulation having no pressure on Jiang Li.”
“So that’s how it is. May I ask, Immortal Elder, can you recognize what kind of tribulation this ascension tribulation that Human Sovereign Jiang is undergoing is?”
Immortal Elder Changcun hesitated somewhat.
“It feels like the tribulation Dao Ancestor encountered when proving the Primordial Chaos and Limitlessness position.”
“What?”