374: Brother Wang, you'd better pray for your own good fortune.

"Enlightenment after defeat, emerging from a cocoon like a butterfly—this child's Heart-Nature is truly terrifying!"

An older generation Cultivator murmured in a low voice, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

They understood better than the youth how difficult the step from King Realm to Saint Realm was; it required not only unparalleled talent, but also great perseverance, great Opportunity, and a clear, flawless Dao Heart!

Wang Zhan had done it, and in such a shocking manner right before everyone's eyes!

Ji Xuanye, the prince of the Great Zhou, suddenly clenched his fists. The Imperial Dragon Qi surrounding him became unstable, and his gaze grew as sharp as a blade.

In the hands of Xing Lan from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the compass stopped spinning, and his expression became incredibly solemn.

The Jiang Family Divine King Body, the Yaochi Saintess, and others were also deeply shaken, feeling an unprecedented pressure.

Ling Xi stood quietly, her cool gaze sweeping over the gradually receding Holy Light, a flash of understanding crossing her eyes.

While Wang Zhan taking this step first was somewhat unexpected, it was also within reason.

After all, the foundation of the Heavenly Azure Sacred Body was already terrifyingly deep. Having now been enlightened by the Battle Intent of Great Emperor Qing Cang, his Dao Heart was clear, and his Breakthrough was a natural progression.

On the edge of the crowd, in an inconspicuous corner.

A man was dressed in a simple set of Black martial attire. His face was ordinary—the kind that would be forgotten the moment he was lost in a crowd.

However, at this moment, deep within those seemingly unremarkable eyes, it felt as if hundreds of millions of lightning bolts were flickering in and out of existence, reflecting the sky-piercing azure sacred radiance of Wang Zhan in the distance.

The corners of his mouth curled slightly, and in a voice only he could hear, he whispered with a hint of interest:

"Heavenly Azure Sacred Body, Wang Zhan? Interesting."

If Wang Xiaopang had been paying attention and observed this person closely, he would have discovered with horror that this was the mysterious young man who had been bathing in heavenly lightning for Body Tempering back in Wind and Thunder Valley!

At the very moment Wang Zhan's Saintly Might stabilized and he attained the status of a Saint.

“Rumble!!!”

A terrifying pressure that made the Soul tremble descended without warning!

This pressure did not come from the stone wall, nor from any Cultivator, but from above!

It came from the vast sky outside the Emperors Tomb!

Despite the layers of Restrictions isolating the Emperors Tomb, the power of that Heavenly Tribulation still penetrated some of the barriers, looming over the heart of every newly ascended Saint like a dark cloud!

"It's a Heavenly Tribulation! A Saint Ascension Tribulation!"

A knowledgeable elder Cultivator turned pale with fright and cried out in alarm.

"The tribulation clouds are gathering outside the Emperors Tomb! What terrifying power!"

Just as this heavenly might reached its peak and was about to strike—even threatening to forcibly tear through the Emperors Tomb's Restrictions to lock onto the person Undergoing Tribulation—at that critical moment.

Gu Changge looked up at the sky: "The Emperor's mausoleum, a place of slumber, shall not be disturbed. Disperse!"

The moment those words fell, the terrifying tribulation might looming over everyone's Divine Soul was wiped away as if by an invisible hand, vanishing instantly without a trace!

Though the tribulation clouds dispersed, a faint mark of the laws of heaven and earth, like a brand, penetrated the Void Realm and quietly settled upon the newly ascended Saint, Wang Zhan.

This mark meant that the Heavenly Tribulation had not disappeared; it was merely delayed.

When he left the Emperors Tomb and saw the light of day again, that Heavenly Tribulation—having accumulated for even longer and potentially possessing even more terrifying power—would surely arrive as scheduled, perhaps even more violently!

In front of the stone wall, there was a dead silence.

Everyone was stunned by this inconceivable scene.

"How did the Heavenly Tribulation disappear?"

"Could it be that it was blocked by the Great Emperor's tomb?"

"It must be. The Emperor Might is vast and impervious to all laws! It can even block out a Heavenly Tribulation!"

For a time, the crowd was abuzz with discussion, filled with awe and admiration for the Great Emperor's methods.

They all believed it was the divine nature of the Emperors Tomb itself that had protected Wang Zhan and delayed the Heavenly Tribulation.

Wang Zhan naturally also felt the descent of the Heavenly Tribulation, the obstruction by the Emperor Might, and finally the heavenly mark branded upon him.

He slowly opened his eyes, divine light contained within them as Saintly Might naturally flowed.

He had successfully broken through, becoming the first peak figure among the younger generation to step into the Saint Realm!

He! Wang Zhan!

Had lived up to the potential of a great emperor!!!

His gaze calmly swept over the faces around him—faces filled with shock, envy, wariness, and even Battle Intent—before finally landing on Battle Asura and Sword White Robe.

The Saint-level power within him, far exceeding what he had before and vast as the sea, surged and flowed, bringing with it an absolute confidence of being in control of everything.

At this moment, the previous urgent desire to fight Battle Asura had settled and sublimated.

Challenging a King Realm from the Saint Realm was a bit like bullying.

"Battle Asura, after you become a Saint, you and I shall..."

Before he could finish, his gaze inadvertently swept past Xiao Ruobai to the person standing behind her—Wang Xiaopang, who had a simple, honest smile but eyes that were sneakily darting all over him.

With just that seemingly casual glance, Wang Zhan's voice came to an abrupt halt.

The words "fair fight" and the like that were to follow were instantly stuck in his throat.

The bad memories from before were like cold water poured over his head, which had been a bit feverish from his Saintly ascension!

Never underestimate anyone, especially when the opponent is such a Prodigy.

Fortunately, fortunately, he had almost been unable to stop himself.

Wang Zhan's expression stiffened and shifted for a nearly imperceptible moment.

He forcefully changed his tune: "No, why wait until you become a Saint! Once the business of the Emperors Tomb is concluded, you and I shall fight again!"

However, the moment his voice fell.

A clear and pleasant voice spoke calmly: "There is no need for Senior Brother to act."

Ling Xi, who had been standing quietly to the side as if isolated from the surrounding noise, took a light half-step forward.

Her gaze was indifferent as it landed on Wang Zhan.

"After the Emperors Tomb, I shall be the one to experience the true brilliance of the Archaic Royal Family's Heavenly Azure Sacred Body."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to Ling Xi, followed by a sense of extreme shock and absurdity.

Wang Zhan, a newly ascended Saint, issuing a challenge to Battle Asura who had once defeated him, was unexpected but still within reason.

But this person had actually stepped forward on her own initiative to accept a Saint's challenge on behalf of her eldest Senior Brother.

Some recognized her as the Azure Rakshasa who had acted before; her combat strength was indeed not weak.

But she was only in the King Realm! No matter how strong she was, could she defeat a Saint?

And her opponent was Wang Zhan, who had just broken through, was at the height of his power, and had a Major Achievement Sacred Body!

Wang Zhan's pupils also shrank slightly.

He gave Ling Xi a deep look, sensing the majestic energy contained within her calm, delicate frame.

"Fine!"

Wang Zhan uttered only one word, but it was as heavy as a thousand jun.

"Outside the Emperors Tomb, I shall wait for you."

Standing behind Xiao Ruobai, Wang Xiaopang and Mo Yu looked at each other with strange expressions after hearing Ling Xi accept the fight.

They simultaneously recalled Ling Xi's world-shaking, terrifying method where she had nearly killed a Saint King with a single finger.

When they looked at the majestic Wang Zhan again, their eyes held no worry, but instead revealed a sliver of extremely subtle sympathy.

In their hearts, they thought: "Brother Wang, oh Brother Wang, you'd better pray for yourself..."

Just as the commotion caused by Wang Zhan began to subside and everyone's attention returned to comprehending the stone wall and competing for the Emperor's Sutra.

No one noticed that at the edge of the core area of the Emperors Tomb, in the shadow of a dimly lit broken pillar, the space rippled almost imperceptibly.

A figure of an old monk clad in a dark gold cassock, with a withered frame and an Aura as obscure as an ancient well, quietly emerged like a ghost. He was the old monk from the Western Regions Buddhist Sect who had come to investigate the death of Fakong.