Chapter 428: Early Stage Celestial Sovereign – First Encounter with a Foreign Demon Emperor
"Xiao Tiance, even in death, I won't let you go!"
Feng Mingtian's voice echoed in anguish as the mark of the True Phoenix on Qinghou's forehead finally disappeared.
A Shocking Revelation
Inside North Nether Continent's Zhuxian City, Xiao Tiance observed the dissipating remnants of Feng Mingtian's soul with lingering unease.
Had it not been for the powerful heavenly lightning, he might never have discovered that Feng Mingtian had hidden a fragment of his soul within Qinghou. The mark, long suspected of posing a threat, had lain dormant, evading detection. Xiao Tiance had even been pleased with Qinghou's rapid strength gains.
Now, however, it was clear Feng Mingtian was entirely eradicated.
A Growing Storm
Despite his brief moment of relief, Xiao Tiance had little time to reflect. His Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Physique surged as he soared into the sky to confront the dark clouds gathering overhead.
The moment Feng Mingtian's mark vanished, the heavenly lightning redirected its attention, bearing down mercilessly on Xiao Tiance instead.
"Perfect timing!"
Xiao Tiance laughed boldly as he prepared to face the lightning head on.
"Crack! Boom!"
A thunderbolt descended with terrifying might, enveloping his body. Lightning coursed through his flesh and bones like a molten blade, tearing through his muscles and nerves with unbearable agony.
Yet Xiao Tiance endured, his teeth clenched tightly. He welcomed the pain, knowing it was the price of forging the Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Physique a top tier primordial sovereign body. Only by bathing in lightning could it grow stronger.
His path had been set long ago when his first trial lightning raised his potential but also heightened future challenges.
Now, as heavenly lightning ripped through his flesh, Xiao Tiance activated his Spirit Array Body Refining Technique, using the tribulation to temper his physical body while simultaneously refining his internal strength.
An Unexpected Development
The cycle of destruction and regeneration played out repeatedly: his skin cracked, muscles shredded, and bones fractured, only to heal moments later. This process continued six times before Xiao Tiance sensed something amiss.
The heavenly tribulation should have concluded by now, yet even more black clouds gathered, stretching for thousands of meters across the sky. The oppressive pressure made the air feel suffocating, as if the heavens themselves were bearing down on Zhuxian City.
At this moment, Fatty Baby emerged from the Heavenly Dao Pagoda, urgently warning him.
**"Young Master, your spiritual energy compression has gone too far! The concentration of energy within your body is already comparable to a late stage Celestial Sovereign, possibly even nearing half step Saint Sovereign levels.
"Your consistent suppression has triggered this celestial tribulation it's not just any tribulation, it's your Celestial Sovereign breakthrough lightning."**
A Hidden Threat
Realizing the situation, Xiao Tiance frowned deeply. He had been so focused on enduring the lightning and tempering his body that he hadn't noticed the signs of a breakthrough.
Sweeping his soul energy across Zhuxian City, his unease grew.
"Something feels off. I can't locate anyone suspicious, but I sense we're being watched. Whoever it is hasn't stopped observing us."
Ling'er chimed in from within him. "Young Master, this might be the work of a foreign demon emperor."
Before she could elaborate, Fatty Baby interjected.
"Young Master, there's a bigger problem. Look up! The golden tribulation clouds are forming. If you undergo the breakthrough here, Zhuxian City will be devastated!"
The power of the tribulation wasn't just immense it exceeded the limits of the protective spiritual array Xiao Tiance had set up for the city.
Ling'er confirmed this grim possibility. "The spiritual array can withstand attacks from a Saint Sovereign at the early stage, but this tribulation will likely surpass that threshold. If it does, the entire array will collapse."
A Critical Decision
Xiao Tiance's face hardened. "Zhuxian City must not fall. If the city is destroyed, our forces will lose a key stronghold against the foreign demon race. The protective array is our first line of defense. If it's compromised, White Jade Pavilion's warriors will have nowhere to regroup."
Without hesitation, Xiao Tiance summoned Qinghou into his storage ring and shot toward the northern outskirts of Zhuxian City.
The tribulation clouds followed him like a predator locked onto its prey.
Worries of the City's Protector
Meanwhile, Moyang, the city lord of Zhuxian City, was overseeing preparations for the impending war. Supplies and defenses were being moved into position when a streak of golden light flashed overhead.
Looking up, Moyang's expression darkened as he noticed the massive stormclouds trailing Xiao Tiance.
"A Celestial Sovereign tribulation? Here?!"
His heart sank. The scale of the lightning storm was enough to obliterate half the city if it struck within the walls.
The Tribulation Escalates
Far beyond the city, Xiao Tiance landed in a desolate expanse and unleashed his full Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Physique. A towering, radiant figure more than 2,600 meters tall appeared behind him, radiating unmatched majesty.
The golden tribulation clouds churned violently, gathering unprecedented power. Bolts of lightning twisted together, forming a colossal thunder dragon, its scales shimmering with electricity as it roared to life.
A Sudden Encounter
Before the dragon could strike, Xiao Tiance's sharp senses caught movement on the horizon. Hidden within the void, a faint presence watched the unfolding tribulation.
"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice like thunder.
From within the void, a chilling laugh echoed.
"Such power... Is this the strength of the famed Xiao Tiance of White Jade Pavilion?"
Emerging from the shadows was a towering figure shrouded in dark flames the foreign demon emperor Mokor, one of the four demon emperors preparing for the invasion.
"So, you've come," Xiao Tiance muttered, his expression icy.
A Clash of Titans Awaits
As the tribulation raged above and the demon emperor stood defiantly before him, Xiao Tiance's resolve solidified.
"Whether it's the heavens or invaders, none shall stop me."
The stage was set for a clash that would shake not only Zhuxian City but the entire North Nether Continent.
"What? Didn't the Celestial Lord just break through to the late stage Spirit Sovereign Realm at the True Phoenix Clan's ancestral grounds? How has his strength begun rising again in just a few months?"
Moyang's heart trembled with shock and confusion.
In the Great Thousand World, geniuses and fast cultivators weren't uncommon, but once someone reached the Earth Sovereign level, cultivation slowed dramatically. This was an accepted truth across the realm.
Breaking through to each minor realm after reaching the Heavenly Sovereign stage was considered a monumental task. This wasn't merely due to talent constraints but the vast spiritual energy required to fuel each advancement.
Now, seeing Xiao Tiance's strength advancing to another major tier so quickly, Moyang felt a mix of astonishment, disbelief, and most of all excitement. As the master of White Jade Pavilion, Xiao Tiance's growth meant that their chances in the upcoming war with the Foreign Demon Race would greatly increase.
Preparing for the Tribulation
"City Lord Moyang, guard Zhuxian City well. I'll return once the tribulation is over."
Xiao Tiance's voice echoed in Moyang's ears. Bowing respectfully, Moyang responded via a transmission:
"Celestial Lord, rest assured, I'll safeguard Zhuxian City."
The Tribulation Strikes
Outside Zhuxian City, Xiao Tiance came to an abrupt halt. Before he could make any preparations, a bolt of tribulation lightning struck mercilessly, as if punishing him for relocating the site of his tribulation.
Xiao Tiance's expression grew solemn. While the lightning's pressure was less than that of the Crimson Lightning Tribulation he had faced at the True Phoenix Clan's ancestral grounds, that was only because Feng Mingtian had acted as a secondary target.
Without someone like Feng Mingtian to absorb the tribulation's force, Xiao Tiance knew he was on his own this time.
Enduring the Tribulation
"Crack!"
Lightning surged relentlessly, tearing through the sky with a ferocity that sought to obliterate Xiao Tiance. He relied on his vast arsenal of techniques to weather each strike, enduring every agonizing blow with unyielding determination.
Three days passed before the final bolt descended, and when it did, his aura erupted like a tidal wave.
A Breakthrough
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Tiance advanced from the late stage Spirit Sovereign Realm to the early stage Celestial Sovereign Realm.
Hovering mid air, he exhaled deeply, expelling impurities from his body. His aura surged, his spirit energy roared, and his physique radiated brilliance. With a slight shock of energy, the soot and grime from the tribulation disintegrated, leaving his body refreshed. He quickly donned a fresh set of robes from his storage ring, his deep gaze alight with satisfaction.
**"Three days of tribulation, but the rewards are immense. My strength has reached the early Celestial Sovereign level, and my Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulations Physique has grown to 4,900 meters, well into the fourth stage.
"Fifth stage? It won't be long before I get there."**
The pain endured during the three day trial was indescribable, but the results made it worthwhile.
Ambushed
Suddenly, Ling'er's voice echoed in his mind.
"Young Master, be careful!"
A massive spiritual array instantly surrounded Xiao Tiance, shielding him from a powerful black and red slash that streaked toward him at blinding speed.
"Clang!"
The collision of the spiritual array's barrier and the strike sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering frozen landscapes within thousands of meters.
Inside the array, Xiao Tiance gazed calmly in the direction of the attack. Transmitting his thoughts to Ling'er, he said:
"Ling'er, don't worry."
The Demon Revealed
From the void emerged a figure bathed in blood red light. His skin was crimson, his eyes were as large as bronze bells, and his sharp ears framed violet hair. Standing roughly 1.8 meters tall, the being exuded a malevolent aura a newly ascended Demon Emperor of the Foreign Demon Race.
"Hehehe... So the master of White Jade Pavilion lives up to his reputation. Fresh from a tribulation, and your strength is already this overwhelming."
The demon's sinister laughter echoed, but there was a glint of caution in his eyes. His earlier sneak attack had failed to breach Xiao Tiance's spiritual array, leaving him wary.
A Calm Exchange
"A Foreign Demon, at the Demon Emperor level, no less." Xiao Tiance chuckled, his tone light. "So, you've been the one watching us all this time. Care to share your name?"
**"Night Xu of the **Divine Flame Clan," the demon replied coolly, observing Xiao Tiance.
"Divine Flame Clan? Hmm... never heard of it. Must be my ignorance," Xiao Tiance said with a polite smile.
His words seemed cordial, but his tone carried a veiled barb.
"You must be bold to stand before me alone," he added. "Your strength barely qualifies as a newly ascended Demon Emperor. Or perhaps you have some hidden trump card?"
Night Xu's face darkened slightly, but he quickly composed himself.
Praising a Foe
"Xiao Tiance," Night Xu began, his tone steady. **"Master of White Jade Pavilion, early stage Celestial Sovereign, Celestial grade Spiritual Array Grandmaster, and a battle array master capable of wielding tens of millions of lines in combat.
"Few in the Great Thousand World possess such exceptional talent. Not only have you reached the Celestial Sovereign Realm, but you also excel in both spiritual arrays and battle arrays.
"And from my observations... you're also an alchemy grandmaster, are you not?"**
Cutting the Conversation Short
Before Night Xu could continue, Xiao Tiance waved a hand dismissively.
**"Flattery won't save you. You've already shown your hostility by attacking me the moment we met.
"If you don't demonstrate your 'hidden trump card,' then I'm afraid this will be your final encounter."**
A chilling grin spread across Xiao Tiance's face as he added, "Oh, and by the way, I've been meaning to test this 'Exterminate Demon Token' at my waist. Care to help me inaugurate it?"
The moment he finished speaking, Xiao Tiance transmitted a command to Ling'er. The spiritual array dissolved in an instant, and his figure vanished.
A Swift Counterattack
"So fast!"
Night Xu barely reacted as Xiao Tiance reappeared behind him, a fist hurtling toward his back.
"Bang!"
The chapter ends with Xiao Tiance landing a devastating blow, setting the stage for an intense battle between the master of White Jade Pavilion and the Demon Emperor of the Divine Flame Clan.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1