Chapter 554 - 332: Challenging the Throne, the Martial Saint’s First Battle, the First Throne Bai Ze

He thought the Celestial Tribulation had already dispersed, but unexpectedly, it still had a trick up its sleeve.

This was enough to make Lu Mingyuan lose his composure.

He cursed loudly in his heart.

’What kind of bullshit Celestial Dao is this?’

’How dare it target me!’

But it seemed the Celestial Dao could hear his innermost thoughts.

The moment he finished cursing, a gray cloud reappeared in the sky, pressing down toward Lu Mingyuan and hovering at a height of ten thousand feet.

A hundred li away, the Lady of Fortune and Blessing asked the Sun Wheel Celestial Monarch beside her, "Celestial Monarch, what’s happening? Is it over?"

"Hmm... well."

The Sun Wheel Celestial Monarch hummed thoughtfully before saying, "The Celestial Secret cannot be revealed."

"But overall, this can be considered a good thing."

The strange phenomena between heaven and earth continued. Even though Lu Mingyuan had just broken through to become a Martial Saint, he was still on edge, mulling over what sort of flattery he should offer.

On the side of the Great Yan Camp, Yun Qinghe and the others had been about to step forward to congratulate Lu Mingyuan, but when they saw the gray cloud appear, they all halted in their tracks.

"There’s more to the Celestial Tribulation?" Taiwei True Monarch asked with a frown. "Is the Celestial Dao really this difficult on those who cultivate to the Upper Three Grades?"

Saintess Ziwei chided him, "Say no more. This is all part of His Majesty’s Opportunity."

A man in white with a sword on his back, who had arrived with the Dao Alliance, appeared nearby. He held a Taiji Diagram in his palm and performed a divination with his fingers, soon smiling. "It’s nothing to worry about. This is a celestial punishment brought down because His Majesty’s Cultivation has advanced too quickly, which goes against the common principles of the Celestial Dao."

Yun Qinghe frowned upon seeing this figure who had appeared out of nowhere. "Xu Changqing? What are you doing here? When did you arrive?"

As far as she knew, Xu Changqing had returned to the Celestial Master’s Mansion a long time ago.

His main duty was to handle the punishment affairs of the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

After returning to the sect from his training, Xu Changqing had taken over the position of Punishment Grand Elder.

He had become an important figure of authority in the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

She never expected him to show up here at the Ascension Relics.

Yun Qinghe suspected that people from the Taoist Sect had already arrived.

"The Taoist Sect is far away, but no matter how far, it’s about time they arrived. How many experts did the Taoist Sect send this time?"

Yun Qinghe had no intention of making small talk and asked directly.

"Rest assured, when the Taoist Sect makes a move, victory is certain," Xu Changqing said reassuringly.

"This celestial punishment is clearly not as severe as the previous one. The Celestial Dao is doing this to give him more experience; it will not threaten His Majesty’s life."

Facing such a Celestial Tribulation, Lu Mingyuan’s body flickered with Golden Light. All one hundred thousand of his Acupoints activated in unison, forming a giant, golden cocoon of light...

He directly used the Martial Saint power he had just refined!

"Yuqing Ancestor Master, I want to try this myself!"

Lu Mingyuan didn’t use a voice transmission; he spoke aloud.

He believed that the Yuqing Ancestor Master should be able to hear him.

Sure enough, a moment later...

An ethereal response came from the void.

"Permitted."

A single word was enough to prove that the Yuqing Ancestor Master was indeed nearby, protecting his Dao.

BOOM!

The Celestial Tribulation descended. The Divine Thunder fell, not only piercing through the sky-spanning phenomena of his apotheosis into a Saint but also ignoring Lu Mingyuan’s Holy Power defenses. It struck him directly in the chest, tearing his flesh and leaving a terrifying gash!

However, an injury like this wasn’t considered severe. Lu Mingyuan’s Primordial Spirit was safe and sound.

It was merely a flesh wound.

An ordinary Martial Artist’s Primordial Spirit would never be as powerful as Lu Mingyuan’s; they wouldn’t be able to withstand more than a few strikes from a Celestial Tribulation.

He had cultivated the Primordial Spirit Chapter of the Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture, which was why he had been able to strengthen his Primordial Spirit to a level comparable to that of a Qi Cultivator.

"Thank you, Celestial Dao, for bestowing this punishment!"

Even though he was injured, Lu Mingyuan still had to offer a few words of praise to the Celestial Dao.

Elsewhere, a hundred li away, the Lady of Fortune and Blessing said with a surprised expression, "The Celestial Tribulation still hasn’t dispersed? How strange."

"The Celestial Dao must be punishing him for using some clever tricks during his tribulation instead of facing it head-on. So now he needs to make up for it."

Immortal Zuo Ren speculated.

The Sun Wheel Celestial Monarch nodded in agreement. "What Left Sword Immortal says is reasonable. Under the Celestial Dao, all are equal. It wouldn’t forgo a trial for anyone. Different people face different trials, but ultimately, everyone must endure tempering. Otherwise, it would be a violation of heavenly principles."

The words had barely left his lips when another bolt of Divine Thunder descended, striking Lu Mingyuan so hard he coughed up blood and collapsed to his knees, unable to get up.

It was becoming a struggle, but he could still endure.

The suffering he endured during today’s tribulation was all so that he could dominate the battlefield in the future.

’It was worth it!’

At this moment, Lu Mingyuan discovered that his newly condensed Martial Saint Body had been infused with a coating of Thunder.

His miniature Primordial Spirit had absorbed the Thunder Divine Power transformed from the Celestial Thunder and become even more solid.

The source of the Qi Sea Thunder Profound Techniques was already beginning to show signs of appearing.

Lu Mingyuan was overjoyed at this.

’The Mysteries of the Great Dao are truly a wonderful thing.’

They allow a Cultivator to unleash immense power with just a tiny bit of energy. The fundamental principle is the fusion with the Heaven and Earth Rules.

Cultivation, in essence, is a process of merging with the Celestial Dao, of seizing fortune from the heavens.

The Mysteries of the Great Dao are, without a doubt, the right to use that power.

The more Mysteries of the Great Dao one grasps, the greater their right to use that power, and the more of the Heaven and Earth Rules they can mobilize.

If he could master the Thunder Profound Techniques, his strength would double!

BOOM!

The third bolt of punishing Divine Thunder arrived in response.

It crashed down on Lu Mingyuan with a flash that lit up the entire sky.

His consciousness grew hazy, and his vision blurred as if he were an old man.

The power was truly immense.

"How many more can you take?"

The voice of the Yuqing Ancestor Master, tinged with a faint smile, came from the void.

"This is about my limit."

Lu Mingyuan took a deep breath and slowly circulated the Qingyun Holy Qi within his body.

[Cyan Cloud Saint King Technique - Sacred Wood Great Dao Chapter (6351/50000)]

At last, it was time to put it to use.