Chapter 495: Breakthrough to Heaven Immortal

As Lie Rufeng had said, all they needed to do was keep a close watch on the Fan Family.

So, after the three of them arrived in Black Obsidian City, they found an inn close to the Fan Family and checked in.

Indeed, many Demon Cultivators had been coming and going from the Fan Family residence over the past few days, all of them at the Heavenly Demon Level.

But after several days of observing in secret from the inn, they still hadn’t seen the Demon Cultivator named Ye Wucheng.

“Could he have arrived already? There are only a few days left before the Secret Realm opens. Ye Wucheng shouldn’t be arriving this late.”

Mu Lin grew restless. “Why don’t we find someone who’s been inside the Fan Family’s residence and ask them?”

Lie Rufeng hesitated. “But… I’m afraid we’ll alert our target.”

It would be great if we found someone tight-lipped, but what if we don’t? If they secretly tell Ye Wucheng about this, the loss will far outweigh the gain.

We’re all at the same level. If we launch a surprise attack, detaining him shouldn’t be too difficult.

But if he’s prepared, escaping without a trace would be all too easy for him.

An opportunity this good was rare, so naturally, Lie Rufeng was being extra cautious, afraid of letting it slip by.

Lu Sangjiu had been silent until now. “What if… I go to the Fan Family residence and see for myself?”

“You?” The two men turned to look at Lu Sangjiu in unison.

Mu Lin, ever the blunt one, blurted out, “But you’re just an Earth Immortal. You can’t even get into the Secret Realm, so the Fan Family probably won’t let you in.”

Lu Sangjiu stroked her chin and gave a light cough. “To be honest… I think I’m about to have a breakthrough.”

Mu Lin was taken aback. “But even with a breakthrough, you’d just go from Mid-stage to Late-stage Earth Immortal, right? You’re not going to jump straight to Heavenly Immortal, are you?”

Lu Sangjiu said, “…Er, I think I might actually be about to jump straight to Heavenly Immortal.”

This time, surprised expressions appeared on both Mu Lin and Lie Rufeng’s faces. “Are you sure?”

Of course, Lu Sangjiu was sure.

Ever since she stepped into the domain of the Demon God Palace, she had noticed her cultivation increasing rapidly.

‘But she was never sure if it was the residual Divinity from the Divine Artifact she had absorbed in the Secret Realm finally taking effect, or if her cultivation was growing because of the dense Demonic Qi here.’

‘If it was the latter, she would have to reconsider her training methods.’

‘After discovering that the energies within her had fused, she realized she could increase her cultivation by absorbing any kind of energy directly. She no longer had to cultivate Demonic Qi and Spiritual Energy simultaneously as she did before.’

‘Her experience in the Secret Realm had even shown her that she could directly absorb Evil Qi and Divine Power—a complete fusion.’

‘That was why, once her Demon Essence Stones were nearly depleted, she hadn’t made a point of absorbing more Demonic Qi, instead cultivating purely by absorbing Immortal Spirit Qi.’

‘But if absorbing them in a balanced manner as she had before would accelerate her cultivation speed, then she would have to visit the Demon God Palace from time to time.’

‘In any case, that was a problem for later. For now, she felt she could break through, and since there was a need for it, she decided to find a place to advance to the Heavenly Immortal Stage first.’

After confirming to Mu Lin and Lie Rufeng that she was indeed about to have a breakthrough, the three decided that Lie Rufeng would continue the stakeout.

Meanwhile, Mu Lin would accompany Lu Sangjiu out of the city to find a place for her to break through, after which they would return.

Accidents were always possible during a Cultivator’s breakthrough, so having someone stand guard was for the best. Lu Sangjiu didn’t refuse and left Black Obsidian City with Mu Lin.

After leaving the city, they found a valley. Once she had set up a Barrier, Lu Sangjiu sat down in meditation and began her breakthrough.

Just as she expected, after her cultivation broke through to Late-stage Earth Immortal, it didn’t stop. It continued to climb until tribulation clouds began to gather in the sky.

Fortunately, both Demon Cultivators and Immortal Cultivators had to undergo a Heavenly Tribulation, so even in Demon Cultivator territory, it wouldn’t draw too much attention.

Mu Lin stood guard over Lu Sangjiu from a distance. But when he saw the first bolt of tribulation lightning descend, his eyes widened in shock.

‘This Heavenly Tribulation… How can it be so powerful?’

‘If he hadn’t just ascended from Earth Immortal to Heavenly Immortal himself, he might not have been able to tell.’

‘But comparing it to his own, Lu Sangjiu’s Heavenly Tribulation was absurdly powerful.’

‘And what followed wasn’t just the first bolt. The second, the third… each one was stronger than the last. From the look of it, he almost thought she was trying to break through directly to the Golden Immortal realm.’

‘But since he knew Lu Sangjiu’s actual cultivation, his surprise gave way to deep worry.’

‘This Heavenly Tribulation is so powerful, can she get through it safely? I hope she doesn’t get struck dead…’

Though he was worried, no one could interfere with a Heavenly Tribulation. All he could do was wait anxiously for it to end.

Meanwhile, Lu Sangjiu, in the midst of the Heavenly Tribulation, was also rather astonished.

‘I don’t know for sure, but I have a feeling my Heavenly Tribulation is a bit too powerful.’

At first, she was a little worried. But as the lightning struck, she suddenly realized something. As powerful as the Heavenly Tribulation was, it didn’t seem to be causing her any harm.

‘Instead, it seems to be entering my body and reacting with some kind of power within me, tempering the energy inside.’

‘It’s gradually becoming denser, more stable, and more powerful than before.’

When the final bolt of lightning struck, Lu Sangjiu wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt… as if her power now faintly carried a trace of so-called Divinity.

She had absorbed this substance from a Divine Artifact before, so she could roughly identify it. Back then, after the Divinity entered her body, it seemed to become inert, and she couldn’t feel it at all.

But now, she could feel that her own power seemed to contain Divinity!

She had this feeling, but it was too shocking to believe. ‘Isn’t this something only a True God should possess?’

‘Could someone who just advanced to the Heavenly Immortal Stage really have it? No way, right?’

Despite her confusion, she had passed the Heavenly Tribulation safely.

The moment the tribulation clouds dispersed, Mu Lin rushed over anxiously. “Lin Dao You, are you all right?”

Lu Sangjiu came to her senses and opened her eyes. “I’m fine. I’ve safely advanced to the Heavenly Immortal Stage. Don’t worry.”

As she spoke, she stood up. She paused, then, unable to contain her curiosity, she carefully asked Mu Lin, “Do you… notice anything different about me?”

Mu Lin stared, looking her over carefully before saying uncertainly, “Your cultivation… is different?”

Lu Sangjiu: “…”

She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly channeled her energy and struck a nearby rock with her palm. Then, she looked at Mu Lin expectantly. “How about now?”

Mu Lin looked completely baffled. “No, what’s wrong with you? You don’t seem any different. Why do you keep asking?”