Chapter 361: Transcending Tribulation and Ascending

Face the tribulation! Face the tribulation!

As for waiting for Lin Chuyue, that didn’t count.

If Lin Chuyue followed him, she’d be dead the second she ascended.

Right now, the two weren’t even cultivation partners—why force the whole "together forever" thing? Who cared if she waited?

At this moment, Lu Ye’s aura exploded!

The sky roared with thunder.

"Ding—showtime!"

Unlike the last tribulation, this time there was a direct voice reminder from Providence—now that’s service!

"Hit me!"

Tribulation clouds swirled and spread like wildfire.

Lu Ye’s aura continued to rise, drawing down an even fiercer lightning storm.

The main reason was that his Nine Tribulations Indestructible Physique hadn’t improved in a long time, and Lu Ye wanted to strengthen it properly. Balance was his whole thing.

Advancing in all aspects, developing in multiple directions, creating a harmonious and prosperous era—or whatever pompous slogan he was telling himself.

"Boom!"

A pure purple Tribulation Lightning descended from the heavens—starting as thick as a bucket, piercing through the void, connecting sky and earth.

The sheer scale was mind-blowing.

Lu Ye neither dodged nor evaded, tanking it with his bare flesh.

One strike turned his body into a charred husk.

But with a slight tremor, the burnt shell cracked right off.

Such immense tribulation energy immediately drew widespread attention. This tribulation wasn’t just intense—it was nightmare fuel.

Who?

Who the hell was strong enough for this?

Instantly, figures began rushing toward the tribulation site.

They were all curious—such powerful Tribulation Lightning, such overwhelming energy. If they were the ones facing this tribulation, they’d be vaporized on the spot.

This wasn’t a test—it was a death sentence!

But upon closer inspection, the one undergoing the tribulation was… Lu Ye!

Oh, it’s just Lu Ye? Never mind!

The tribulation’s power was still too weak. Some even wondered if Providence was pulling its punches—strike him harder, give him everything you’ve got!

Lu Ye glanced at the crowd of onlookers.

Immediately, their faces broke into the most benevolent smiles.

"I don't like being watched while facing tribulation," Lu Ye said.

"Then we'll leave right away!"

There were two reasons why Lu Ye disliked being observed during tribulation. First, the last time he was watched during a tribulation, it ended badly.

The second reason was that, looking at those figures, he had the urge to drag them into the tribulation with him—doing so would amplify the tribulation's power.

The second tribulation lightning descended.

Lu Ye calmly kept taking it head-on with his body.

Purple!

Each streak of purple tribulation lightning resembled translucent jadeite—majestic and supreme.

The Nine Tribulations Indestructible Physique began to grow stronger by absorbing the power of the tribulation lightning.

By the third tribulation lightning, the thunder had transformed into a roaring purple river, surging toward Lu Ye.

This time, Lu Ye could no longer simply endure it with his body.

So, he swung his arms, and the river was pulled apart by immense force, like a meek young bride, tugged back and forth until it lost all its power.

Lu Ye opened his mouth and swallowed the tribulation lightning whole!

*Ding! Host, you’re incredible!*

*Ding! No sucking up!*

*Ding! But you’re awesome!*

*Ding! That’s my Host!*

*Ding! Sis...*

Lu Ye... Huh… So this is the perk of having Providence around?

Before Providence arrived, if Lu Ye had faced tribulation lightning like this, so disrespectfully, the tribulation clouds would have been furious.

But now, aside from dutifully unleashing the strongest bolts of tribulation lightning, the clouds stayed eerily calm, like nothing was wrong.

He absorbed the fourth heavenly tribulation the same way.

Then came the fifth bolt of tribulation lightning.

The purple hue began to darken slightly. Though it was no thicker than a chopstick, Lu Ye’s face turned serious.

Normally, ascending from the fourth to the fifth heaven at this stage shouldn’t cause the color of the tribulation lightning to change.

Because dark purple tribulation lightning was already a seriously terrifying force.

When the system first encountered the Dark Origin, the lightning it summoned was dark purple. Of course, the energy contained within that dark purple lightning was way stronger than ordinary tribulation lightning, but it was clear that dark purple lightning was of an insanely high level.

If a cultivator used purple lightning, it would be called Violet Heavenly Divine Thunder.

But dark purple lightning was on another level than Violet Heavenly Divine Thunder.

However, since it hadn’t fully evolved into dark purple yet, Lu Ye still had a fighting chance.

A stone sword materialized in his grasp, now taking on a pale reddish glow—partly from absorbing sacred ore and partly from countless battles.

However, after five years without killing, at least the blade was finally blood-free.

A sword beam shot skyward at this moment.

It slashed fiercely onto the chopstick-thin bolt of Tribulation Lightning.

The Tribulation Lightning was split in two.

Lu Ye's frame trembled, his flesh radiating terrifying energy.

The Nine Tribulations Indestructible Physique had officially reached the seventh tribulation.

Mission accomplished, Lu Ye felt much more at ease—just needing some final refinement, and everything would be settled.

Lightning strike after lightning strike descended, only to be shattered one after another.

Even when the final Tribulation Lightning struck, Lu Ye still hadn't deployed the Celestial Lord Fist.

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Compared to before, his strength now was far more profound—whether from his underworld trials or reaching the Heaven-Earth Realm, which was his wheelhouse.

Even with higher realms and the growing power disparity between them, Lu Ye estimated he could still fight two major realms above his own. The only question was whether battles would be easier or harder than before, though he would likely find out soon enough.

Heavenly Tribulation conquered!

The smell of barbecue clung to Lu Ye's body.

"Ding! Host smells delicious!"

The system couldn't resist commenting.

Lu Ye didn't know whether to laugh or cry—did this system actually want a taste of his flesh?

A tidal wave of life force erupted from within him, rapidly restoring his charred body to normal. Yet, an intimidating presence now lingered around him.

This was the natural result of his flesh becoming too terrifying.

Like a yapping chihuahua standing before a burly man, an instinctive fear arose.

Of course, this applied to men.

Some women, even when facing such a brute, would still dare to curse or even slap them first.

This was the badass attitude of certain women—truly capable of moving mountains.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on overcoming the tribulation! The Daoist path stretches far, and you have taken another step forward—a cause for celebration!"

Someone couldn't help but offer their congratulations.

Soon, more voices joined in.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist! Rejoice for you, fellow Daoist!"

Lu Ye saw no reason to rebuff well-wishers and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Time for my ascension!"

"Congratulations on your ascension, fellow Daoist!"

A chorus of voices erupted in unison—whether visible or hidden, all couldn't help but speak up at this moment.

Their voices carried unmistakable joy.

Like they were the ones ascending.

No, even happier than their own ascension.

Ever since Lu Ye arrived in the Fourth Heaven, the guy was nothing but trouble! It was kill, kill, kill! Then shake them down for spirit stones, shake them down for spirit stones!

When Lu Ye finally gave them some peace, there came the never-ending hordes of Devourbeasts. Now, at last, Lu Ye was ascending.

They were nearly weeping with joy.

Lu Ye was at a loss for words.

Those who knew understood it as congratulations—those who didn’t might think this was some kind of hostile takeover!

Whatever - time to rise up!

This time, upon reaching the Fifth Heaven, he must play nice with everyone and build up a nice-guy reputation.

If the image couldn’t be benevolent, then he’d just cut them down until the complaints stop.

Fifth Heaven - ready or not, here I come!