Chapter Twenty-Six: Tempered by the Tribulation Lightning

Thunder carries the power of destruction, the ultimate force of death. Yet, at times, it can also transform into the pinnacle of life, much like existence emerging from nothingness, and nothingness giving birth to existence.

At this moment, Li Ruoyu was withstanding the destructive force of the tribulation lightning. Though his skin was torn and his flesh battered, his body grew stronger. He transformed the destruction within the tribulation into creation. When the second bolt of lightning struck, Li Ruoyu again resisted its power with his body. He lifted the Supreme Bell, formed from the Chain of Order, in his right hand and swung it against the thunder. The unimaginable force shattered the bell instantly and continued to strike his right hand, tearing the flesh anew. Yet, the transformative energy from the tribulation flowed along his arm, fortifying his body further, making him all the more extraordinary.

After the second bolt, the third descended swiftly. Li Ruoyu gathered the power of the Wild in his left hand, summoned the Supreme Bell, and charged upward against the tribulation lightning, employing the power of the Demon Fist to withstand the blow with his flesh. The lightning scorched his skin black, as if wood struck by thunder.

Bolt after bolt rained down, unceasing. Li Ruoyu continually resisted with his body, never once deploying the Grand Soul Banner. He knew that every future advancement in cultivation would likely bring tribulation lightning anew. Though the lightning held the power of destruction, it also contained creation. If harnessed well, he would become ever more powerful.

A man of decisive action, Li Ruoyu chose not to hesitate. He stowed away the Grand Soul Banner, resolved to cross this heavenly tribulation relying solely on his physical strength.

"If I rely on the Grand Soul Banner every time, what will I do when I reach the level to forge it myself? How then shall I face the tribulation lightning?" Li Ruoyu had gained this insight.

As the tribulation lightning continued to strike, Li Ruoyu's body grew ever stronger, his understanding of the Way of Time deepened, and even the Chain of Order seemed to be refined, its power becoming increasingly formidable. Though the lightning grew more intense, Li Ruoyu matched it, becoming ever more powerful.

Gradually, Li Ruoyu adapted to the barrage, growing calm and fearless. He even began to lessen the power of the Way of Time and the Chain of Order, deliberately allowing more lightning to strike him, using it to temper his body, thus expanding the creative energy gained, and making himself stronger still.

Finally, when the last violet bolt struck, Li Ruoyu was instantly charred, reduced to blackened flesh with only faint breath proving he still clung to life. Though scorched to the bone, the creation gained from this final lightning was equal to the sum of that gained from the previous ten bolts.

The heavenly tribulation ended; Li Ruoyu had endured forty-nine bolts in total. The scattered lightning left the land a scorched wasteland, its destructive power transforming what once teemed with life into barren soil—a testament to its terror.

Just as Li Ruoyu began to recover, over a dozen streaks of light appeared in the distant sky, speeding toward him. Shi Sansheng, the Holy Son of the Three Lives Sect, and others from his sect.

Shi Sansheng and his companions had been searching for fortune nearby when they noticed the strange gathering of thunder overhead, and immediately suspected a heavenly tribulation. As soon as Li Ruoyu overcame the tribulation, Shi Sansheng raced toward the center, clearly intending to strike while Li Ruoyu was vulnerable.

"Hand over the Extreme Cold Ice Marrow!" Shi Sansheng had evidently recognized Li Ruoyu. As he spoke, a great sun appeared, radiating boundless divine light, nearly solidifying before Li Ruoyu—a manifestation of Shi Sansheng's Dao Image: True Sun Shining Across Nine Heavens. The name Shi Sansheng, rearranged, forms Three Lives Stone, a legendary weapon wielded by the sect's ancestor, a powerhouse of the Immortal Realm. The Three Lives Stone is famed for its immense power, and Shi Sansheng's name reveals the high expectations placed upon him by his sect.

Shi Sansheng's gaze was cold, full of confidence and caution, unwilling to give Li Ruoyu any chance to resist. As the great sun struck toward Li Ruoyu, Shi Sansheng himself unleashed the force of True Yang upon him. Meanwhile, more than ten peak Daoists from the Three Lives Sect also launched attacks, clearly accustomed to following Shi Sansheng's lead.

Li Ruoyu saw the nearly solidified sun and knew Shi Sansheng had reached the mid-stage of the Dao Body realm—a terrifying achievement, since they had only entered the Demonfall Valley less than two years ago. Li Ruoyu gathered the power of the Wild and swept it toward his foes, the silvery energy seemingly harmless as it washed over the Three Lives Sect disciples. The infinite divine light of the great sun began to fade.

Those struck by the Wild energy were not so lucky. Their hair and beards turned white in an instant, and they rapidly withered, dying of old age and turning to piles of bones, their flesh vanishing as if they had endured countless years in a moment, shattering at a touch. This silvery Wild energy startled Shi Sansheng.

"Remnant Wild Body!"

Shi Sansheng exclaimed, recognizing Li Ruoyu's rare constitution. Without hesitation, he fled at full speed. He recalled the saying, "Those who witness the Remnant Wild must bow," for none can rival the power of time—one misstep and the Dao is lost.

Li Ruoyu, though in dire straits, had to pursue Shi Sansheng. He knew he could not show weakness; a single sign of frailty would bring Shi Sansheng back to finish him off. In truth, Shi Sansheng was shocked by the power of the Wild energy and the legend of the Remnant Wild Body, but he also saw Li Ruoyu's charred form. Thus, as Li Ruoyu rose and gave chase, Shi Sansheng accelerated. After a short pursuit, Li Ruoyu abandoned the chase, giving Shi Sansheng the impression that Li Ruoyu's slower speed was simply due to being a realm lower, not because he could not defeat Shi Sansheng, thus preventing suspicion about Li Ruoyu's condition.

Watching Shi Sansheng flee, Li Ruoyu headed northward in Demonfall Valley. This retreat brought great rewards: he had reached the Dao realm, and, most importantly, tempered his body with tribulation lightning, laying a solid foundation for the Dao Body realm.

After two days healing and consolidating his cultivation, Li Ruoyu continued north. He followed the same path Wang Bo and Jing Hong had taken when they left Ice Valley. To his surprise, only half a month later, Li Ruoyu encountered Wang Bo and Jing Hong again.

"Why are you still here?" Li Ruoyu asked Wang Bo.

"Little Radish, you said you'd come find me, so what's three years of waiting? Besides, your word is worth trusting," Jing Hong replied with a bold air. Had Li Ruoyu not caught the faint furrow of her brow, he might almost have believed her.

Li Ruoyu suspected Wang Bo had kept her waiting. Though he had spent two months with Jing Hong, he wasn’t convinced she would go to such lengths.

"I believe you," Li Ruoyu said with a smile, a hint of jest in his eyes.

Jing Hong tried to tease Li Ruoyu as she had before, but he dodged quickly.

"Little brother, you’ve improved in the last few months—now you can avoid my embrace. I’m so heartbroken," Jing Hong, clad in red, feigned tears with a coquettish charm.

Li Ruoyu’s mouth twitched, thinking, "This little demon is still the same as ever."

Wang Bo, too, seemed weary, likely suffering Jing Hong’s teasing these past months.

Li Ruoyu walked up to Wang Bo. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine. How about you? Did you manage to lure the Celestial Maiden again?" Wang Bo teased.

"You’ve been influenced by that little demon. Looks like you’ve had enough these past months," Li Ruoyu replied with a mischievous smile.

"Little Radish, who are you calling demon?" Jing Hong flicked Li Ruoyu’s forehead.

Li Ruoyu quickly stopped her further teasing, handing Wang Bo a Sumeru Ring—the one belonging to the Demon Daozi. Inside was half the Heavenly Severance Divine Gold and two great medicinal herbs. This divine gold, ranked among the nine supreme metals, is a rare and precious material. Li Ruoyu wasn’t sure if Jing Hong would covet it, so he gave it to Wang Bo discreetly.

"Sumeru Ring? Little Radish, what treasures are you hiding from me?" Jing Hong’s eyes flickered with disappointment.

"Two great medicines for Wang Bo. They might save his life in a pinch," Li Ruoyu explained.

"And why not offer a couple to your elder sister?" Jing Hong stared at him.

Considering their journey and his growing familiarity with Jing Hong, Li Ruoyu decided she was half a friend, someone worth trusting. He took out two more great medicines from the Sumeru Ring of the Evil Sovereign. There were plenty of herbs left, including some little kings over ten thousand years old.

Jing Hong’s eyes lit up. "You’re more generous than I thought, little Radish! Giving freely—I guess these months of waiting weren’t wasted."

After resting for a day, Li Ruoyu, Wang Bo, and Jing Hong continued north as planned.

The northern region of Demonfall Valley was a vast range of mountains: the Skyward Sword Peaks, the Dragon Ridge veins, and countless ancient battlefields hidden within. Here, fortunes, ancient artifacts, divine fruits, and heavenly skills surpassed those found elsewhere in the valley—but the dangers were greater still. Since Demonfall Valley opened two hundred years ago, few cultivators have ventured north and returned; the risks are extreme.

Now, Li Ruoyu, Wang Bo, and Jing Hong stood at the edge of this northern boundary. Li Ruoyu had considered his entry carefully: with the Grand Soul Banner as a powerful weapon, he had some assurance. Moreover, his initial grasp of the Way of Time granted him a sliver of its power. With Wang Bo at mid Dao Body realm and Jing Hong at early Dao Body, Li Ruoyu felt confident about venturing into the north.