176: Tribulation experience! Yue Xiyan's choice!

“Phew…”

His spirit returned to his body, and Li Shengyuan let out a long breath, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Looking at the burly Divine Demon Embodiment beside him, Li Shengyuan patted it and chuckled, “Not bad, the power of the Heavenly Tribulation is indeed the best heavenly material and earthly treasure for condensing an Embodiment!”

“In just one month, the Embodiment’s condensation level is already enough to crush the Six Demon Lords’s Six-Armed Great Demon Dharma Body!”

Li Shengyuan estimated that even without using divine abilities, relying only on ordinary punches and kicks, the current Divine Demon Embodiment, even if not superior, was not much worse than the Divine Demon Sky-Annihilating Imprint he used when he was at the third rank!

Ordinary attacks could now rival his previous ultimate moves!

This improvement was terrifying!

Most importantly, his control over space and the power of heaven and earth had reached a terrifying level!

If the previous Six Demon Lords could only control the power of heaven and earth within a radius of ten li, then Li Shengyuan felt that he could control the power of heaven and earth within a radius of at least a hundred li!

It was a complete crush!

“I finally understand how big the strength gap is between second-rank cultivators who have passed different levels of Heavenly Tribulations!” Li Shengyuan exclaimed.

Only by reaching this realm would one know how vast the difference between them truly was!

“If I were still at the third rank, although I could use divine abilities to kill the Six Demon Lords, if I encountered a second-rank cultivator who had passed the Nine Heavenly Tribulations… no, even the Eight Heavenly Tribulations, they could instantly crush and kill me!” Li Shengyuan shook his head and sighed.

His previous strength was probably at most equivalent to a second-rank cultivator who had passed the Seven Heavenly Tribulations, and even after using one divine ability, it would be difficult for him to cause much more damage.

However, to be able to break through to the second rank was to be a dragon among men. Those who had passed the Eight or Nine Heavenly Tribulations were few and far between throughout history; the vast majority still passed the Six and Seven Heavenly Tribulations!

Soon, Li Shengyuan revealed a smile of disdain for the world.

“Times have changed; having passed the Ten Heavenly Tribulations, how many people are still my match now?!”

For a moment, Li Shengyuan was filled with heroic spirit!

“It’s time to leave here.”

After gaining a rough understanding of his strength, Li Shengyuan withdrew the two Divine Demon Embodiments into his body.

Feeling the still dense power of the Heavenly Tribulation around him, Li Shengyuan smiled in surprise, “I didn’t expect that a single tribulation would actually create such a treasure land!”

“With the existence of this Heavenly Tribulation Dojo, the strength of the Northern Realm’s powerhouses should rapidly increase for a period of time!”

Not to mention second-rank cultivators, at least fourth-rank and even third-rank powerhouses would definitely emerge in abundance for a period of time!

If a third-rank cultivator could reach this central area before the Heavenly Tribulation’s power significantly weakened, the probability of breaking through to the second-rank was still very high!

Because this Heavenly Tribulation Dojo was currently a simplified version of the Heavenly Tribulation!

The closer one walked towards the center, the greater the influence of the Ten Heavenly Tribulations’ might on the incoming person!

The power of the Heart Demon Tribulation, which could draw out desires, greed, and fear from the depths of one’s heart, was very dense in this area!

One might even be led to a heart demon just by walking, and might even die here…

Opportunity lay within danger, and fortune and misfortune were intertwined. What would happen depended on the fate of the person who came.

Li Shengyuan did not linger further. He took a step, and in an instant, he left this central area of the Heavenly Tribulation that was enough to make even third-rank cultivators tremble with fear.

When he reappeared, he was already on the city wall of Shanhai Pass.

Although everyone said there was no need to worry about his safety, for the past month, whenever they had nothing to do, most of the people who knew him had been waiting here for him to emerge from seclusion.

“He’s here!”

Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin, who had been sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, opened his eyes the moment Li Shengyuan appeared, speaking with excitement.

Everyone came out to greet him. Seeing Li Shengyuan, tall and straight in the void, with a faint yet heavy pressure emanating from him, everyone was Excited and speechless.

Even Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin, a second-rank cultivator, could feel a faint sense of oppression coming from Li Shengyuan, which filled his heart with shock!

As expected of the Ten Heavenly Tribulations; even as a fellow second-rank cultivator, facing him felt like facing a towering mountain!

Li Shengyuan looked at the crowd below, who cast admiring gazes at him, and smiled faintly. The next instant, he appeared before his father, Li Mu.

“Father, Mother, I’ve made you worry…”

“Hahaha…” Li Mu laughed heartily, then a hint of tears welled up in his eyes as he patted Li Shengyuan’s shoulder and sighed, “It’s good that you’re fine…”

Wenren Qingxuan remained silent, but tears also appeared in her eyes.

Witnessing her own son undergo a near-death Heavenly Tribulation, even knowing he would be fine, she was still extremely worried, fearing any accidents. This past month or so had been an ordeal for her!

Only now, seeing Li Shengyuan appear before her unharmed, did she truly breathe a sigh of relief…

Princess Pingyang and Shen Xinrong, who were clinging to her arms on either side, felt much the same.

Fan You, however, chuckled and interrupted the emotional family.

“Shengyuan is doing great, why are you getting so emotional?!”

Then, he looked at Li Shengyuan with a grin and said, “Shengyuan, how do you feel after this breakthrough? Tell us your insights so we can learn!”

Everyone’s expressions changed upon hearing this, and they stared intently at Li Shengyuan.

It could be said that among those who had passed the second-rank Heavenly Tribulation in the world today, Li Shengyuan was undoubtedly the most experienced and authoritative!

After all, the Ten Heavenly Tribulations were unprecedented in recorded history!

As for the future, no one could say for sure, but to match this record, the number of people who could break through to the second rank was one in ten thousand…

Li Shengyuan pondered for a moment, having no intention of keeping anything to himself, and slowly said, “The Heavenly Tribulation is not as terrifying as everyone imagines. Its existence is not to destroy the one undergoing the tribulation, but rather a great opportunity from heaven. There is a glimmer of life even in death, and if seized, one can achieve a transformation!”

“The main thing is to erase that bit of fear in your heart!”

The third-rank cultivators nodded slightly, showing a hint of understanding, and then fell into contemplation.

Sect Leader Fang Xiaolin also nodded in deep agreement, saying, “Lord Li is right. The most basic aspect of the Heavenly Tribulation is to experience four of the five elements, as well as the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation and the Heart Demon Tribulation—these six Heavenly Tribulations!”

“If one harbors fear towards the Heavenly Tribulation during the process, then the Heart Demon Tribulation will be fatal, because it will infinitely magnify the fear and greed in everyone’s heart. If one cannot uphold their original intention, then death is certain!”

“In short, it is to defeat oneself!”

Everyone’s hearts trembled upon hearing this, not expecting the Heart Demon Tribulation to be so terrifying!

No wonder Li Shengyuan had a smooth journey after passing the Heart Demon Tribulation, even treating the Nine Heavenly Tribulations as heavenly materials and earthly treasures for condensing his Embodiment!

A moment later, Fan You’s expression relaxed, and he looked at Li Shengyuan with a smile, “Shengyuan, what is the situation in the central area now that your tribulation is over?”

Everyone looked over again upon hearing this; Fan You had just asked what was on their minds.

“Very dangerous!”

Li Shengyuan’s understated three words made everyone’s expressions gradually turn solemn.

“It is filled with the chaotic power of the Ten Heavenly Tribulations from when I underwent my tribulation. Even second-rank cultivators need to be extremely careful when entering it, and as for third-rank cultivators, one misstep could lead to death inside!”

Everyone frowned upon hearing this, knowing it was dangerous, but not expecting it to be *that* dangerous!

Li Shengyuan then continued with a smile, “However, it is still extremely helpful for third-rank cultivators. The longer you stay in the central area, the greater your chance of passing the Heavenly Tribulation, as it allows you to experience what the Heavenly Tribulation feels like beforehand!”

Everyone’s eyes gradually brightened upon hearing this; this could also serve as a standard for measurement, so they wouldn’t have to force themselves to undergo the tribulation when the time came.

Just as everyone was discussing animatedly, Yue Xiyan walked up to Li Shengyuan and softly said, “Shengyuan, I don’t plan to return to Yuehua Palace to break through anymore!”

Meeting Li Shengyuan’s somewhat surprised gaze, Yue Xiyan looked out at the Heavenly Tribulation Dojo, her voice cold but filled with determination, “I want to break through to the second rank in the dojo where you broke through!”