The Ancient Saint Emperor of the Heaven-shading

Chapter 184 The Thunder Emperor's Fourth Transformation, Becoming a Quasi-Emperor

The ancient cave leads to the heavens, brimming with vital energy. It contains the essence of chaos, the primordial energy of all things, and the rising immortal energy. This place is truly extraordinary.

For Wang Hongwu, this was a wonderful land where ancient methods of cultivation were extremely effective, and where all sorts of incredible divine abilities existed.

Most importantly, once he makes a breakthrough here, no one can stop him from doing so; no one can interfere with him.

Otherwise, once they sense that he is undergoing the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation, the Undying Mountain and the Underworld will definitely do everything in their power to stop him. At that time, it will not be just one or two Quasi-Emperors descending, and they may even have to bring out all those who have attained enlightenment to suppress him.

Buzz! The Six Paths Reincarnation Disc trembled, producing strange phenomena, as if it had formed some kind of connection with this heavenly land. It flickered continuously, and many inexplicable Daoist phenomena appeared.

Unfortunately, it is not perfect; it is missing a piece, so it cannot truly blend in with this place, but only shows signs.

When the true Wheel of Reincarnation appears here, perhaps reincarnation will be realized.

"Old Wang, take it easy. Don't actually reincarnate. This place is incredibly evil. I only brought it here because I thought it would be helpful for your cultivation." Duan De shrank his neck, then quickly pulled him back as if he had remembered something.

The next moment, the rough stone wall shone, and the engraved image appeared, like a thick historical scroll unfolding.

They can see the records of that era, with words and engravings, engraved with vicissitudes, the sediment of time!

This is what our predecessors left behind, not what we are experiencing now.

"Oh? Why is there a dog inside? And a corpse?" Duan De asked softly, feeling inexplicably that the dog looked familiar, as if he had seen it many years ago. He even couldn't help but grind his teeth, wanting to curse for no reason.

"Is this the scene when the Heavenly Land opened the cycle of reincarnation last time?" Wang Hongwu was surprised. He actually saw the scene from the Chaotic Ancient Era. At that time, hundreds of Thunder Spirits carried the corpse of the Thunder Emperor to this place to pay tribute and seek reincarnation. They guarded the straw mat, which was marked with the traces of time and bloodstains.

Back then, they brought the Thunder Emperor's corpse here, hoping to use this place that connects heaven, spirits, and the past to help him pass away and be resurrected. The final result is unknown, but they were sacrificed here.

That dog, carrying the last drop of blood of the Immortal King of No End and fragments of the bell, reincarnated here; in the end, it can be said to have succeeded, becoming the future Black Emperor and the Great Emperor of No Beginning.

"Unless this corpse is buried here, and its spirit is nurtured here, perhaps an unparalleled powerhouse will emerge after countless years."

In the end, the image disappeared, leaving only the last sentence on the stone carving.

This place connects heaven and earth, past and present; it is a place of creation, with wonders that are difficult for outsiders to understand, and it is truly a place of reincarnation.

The corpse outside the stone chamber was the one left behind by Lei Ling back then, with a drop of blood still on the straw mat; as for Lei Di's corpse, it was nowhere to be found.

"The Thunder Emperor has lost all his essence and blood, and there are no fragments of his soul. It's really hard to say where this drop of blood came from. It's possible that it was extracted by the Thunder Spirits, or perhaps the corpse really did reincarnate and become spiritual, leaving behind essence and blood to settle karma?"

Duan De pondered deeply and felt that it was very likely, but the benefits would definitely be significant.

However, in his view, the drop of blood did not have any oppressive aura; it was very peaceful, and its level did not seem to be as high as he had imagined.

"In this way, my fourth Nirvana of the Eight-Nine Heavens Technique can be established, and I will transform into the Thunder Emperor! This is exactly what my Great Heavenly Tribulation Technique is all about." Wang Hongwu pondered. This was his good fortune. The Thunder Spirit Clan and the Thunder Emperor had a great karmic connection and might even be from the same clan. This place seemed to contain the essence and blood of both of them, so he should just undergo Nirvana without any delay.

In an instant, he channeled his energy and arrived between the two. His body blurred instantly, and with a loud boom, boundless thunder roared, transforming into dazzling tribulation light that surrounded him as he underwent nirvana.

Gradually, the power left behind by Lei Ling and that drop of blood transformed into a red mist that enveloped him, and he disappeared without a trace.

Several years have passed in the blink of an eye. Various thunder, lightning, living beings, waterfalls and other thunder-related phenomena have appeared continuously, even transforming into a world, growing from small to large, incredibly rich.

Finally, all the strange phenomena in that area dissipated, and only a figure clad in purple-black armor emerged. On the surface of the armor were patterns of the myriad phenomena of thunder, and were wrapped in rings of tribulation light, emanating the majestic and awe-inspiring voice of the heavens.

That was a completely new feature: the Thunder Emperor Armor, capable of controlling countless tribulations, manipulating lightning, and punishing on behalf of Heaven. It also elevated his Great Heavenly Tribulation Technique to a new level. The Thunder Sound Treasure Tree shone brightly, and the illusory Thunder Pool within it became even more terrifying, as if it had undergone some unknown transformation.

Moreover, and more importantly, his divine restriction limit was also broken. He absorbed the Thunder Emperor's Law, overturned the ceiling, and reached the fourteenth level of restriction.

"This rebirth has truly propelled my dual techniques to a breakthrough, and it's time for me to step into the realms of Quasi-Emperor and Supreme."

Wang Hongwu took a deep breath. The benefits he had gained this time were enormous. Not only had his combat power increased dramatically, but his cultivation level had also skyrocketed!
Now, the day has come for me to be crowned the Supreme Emperor!
"You're going to undergo the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation here? Wait a minute, wait a minute, let me take out some Tribulation Transcending Immortal Arrays first!" Duan De was startled and hurriedly took out a row of arrays, then shrank into them and didn't show his face.

As Wang Hongwu released the suppression and shattered the barrier, a mysterious and profound fluctuation immediately spread out.

In an instant, millions of flames appeared, gathering from all directions of heaven and earth, transforming into dazzling divine light that illuminated the clear void.

The raging fire was the manifestation of the Dao, causing mountains and rivers to lose their color and the sun and moon to lose their light. Countless kinds of Dao fire flew in, surrounding and protecting Wang Hongwu, making him look like an emperor, with a solemn and dignified appearance that inspired awe.

Within his body, one divine lamp after another lit up, piercing the darkness and resonating with these Dao flames. There have always been people in the world who speak of the Three Thousand Great Daos, some who speak of the return of all Daos to the source, and others who say that the Dao is naturally endless and cannot be counted.

Now, all sorts of paths are flying around, and although some are very weak, they represent a direction, a path leading to the other shore, to the end of life, and they have all manifested.

There, the supreme Dao rules swirled, surrounding Wang Hongwu at the center. He was like a phoenix rising from the ashes, his entire body crystal clear and radiant, as if an ancient deity had been born, brushed away from the dust, about to reveal his true nature.

Soon, however, what followed the calm was violence and danger. The area where he stood suddenly shattered, filled with spatial and temporal turbulence, turning into a primitive zone, churning and swirling like clouds and mist, or like a furnace of molten metal being refined.

In an instant, he transformed into a human-shaped torch, burning there and emitting a terrifying light that caused the chaos to surge violently. This was boundless karmic fire, not fire in the ordinary sense; it carried will, judgment, and cruel suppression.

All the sins of the heavens, the karma of this world, descend together, transforming into karmic fire to burn their bodies.

Wang Hongwu remained silent, letting the karmic fire burn him. Instead, he activated the Sun Mother Sutra, trying to control the flames in reverse. It wasn't the karmic fire that was scorching him, but rather he was torturing the karmic fire!

Gradually, the karmic fire that was originally a great calamity became docile, enslaved by him, and turned into a tonic, which he absorbed entirely into his body.

boom!
In an instant, the heavens were enraged. This act was an absolute provocation, and a terrifying calamity that would destroy the world was suddenly unleashed.

Even beyond the Heavenly Realm, terrifying phenomena arose as a result.

A miniature universe composed of lightning appeared, enveloping the chaotic edge of the wilderness, and the heavens and earth of all the stars and myriad realms were dimmed for a moment.

The saints were stunned; though it was only for a moment, they sensed this anomaly.

Then, the earth began to tremble again, and large areas of star fields in the distance dimmed, making the oppressive atmosphere even more intense.

"Someone is undergoing a tribulation; it's a quasi-emperor's tribulation!"

"Who is it that's trying to break through to the Quasi-Emperor realm in the desolate wilderness of the universe?"

The group of Great Sages were horrified. Was another colossus about to emerge in the world?
This distance is astronomical, yet we can still sense it and feel the fluctuations, which shows how terrifying the lightning tribulation is.

"Is that kid undergoing the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation?" A voice echoed from within the Yama Palace in the Netherworld.

The deputy master of the Prison Suppression Hall made a divination, but unexpectedly said, "Strange, I can't calculate where it is located, and I can't contain it?"

"What a pity, we missed the best opportunity." A regretful voice rang out in the Underworld Emperor's Palace. They had originally planned to ambush the Holy Venerable and launch a big attack when he was undergoing the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation.

In the end, they were tricked and accomplished nothing.

"What a joke! Even if his tribulation cannot be affected, how can we let him have an easy time? Where is the main force? Kill them all! A grand wedding? Hmph! We'll wipe them all out!" The Yama Palace had no intention of letting them go; instead, they still wanted to take action and massacre the Ziwei Sect.

Inside the Prison Suppression Hall, others echoed, "That's right, what's wrong with letting him undergo tribulation? Just wipe out the Ziwei Sect, they'll regret it! They can run away, but will they lose their foundation? Weren't the Eight Divine Generals visiting just now? Let them go too. The two Human Emperors are both recuperating and unable to take action. I don't believe they can turn the world upside down!"

Clearly, the Underworld was also well aware of the situation, knowing that the deity was in a state of rest and slumber and unable to act for the time being. Therefore, they planned to launch a bloody revenge against the Holy Venerable who was undergoing the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation. Meanwhile, within the Tongtian Land...

The Quasi-Emperor's Tribulation had reached a fierce juncture. Wang Hongwu moved swiftly, with streaks of purple light swooping down from behind him. The light was powerful and majestic, and he kept colliding with it. After the surface glow was shattered, the light revealed its true form.

That was a projection of the Great Dao, a hazy expanse where various patterns evolved, such as plants, fish, insects, and all living beings.

boom!
In an instant, it transformed into the World Tree. As its leaves swayed, countless rules and an order like a rainbow formed iron chains that fell densely and bound Wang Hongwu's body.

Suddenly, he was bound by countless chains, imprisoned there, and struck by lightning.

Any one of them could destroy a powerful being, but so many have appeared all at once, which is hard to imagine. They are enough to seriously injure a being that has just entered the quasi-emperor realm.

But Wang Hongwu remained energetic and vigorous, even concentrating on sensing the special creations binding him—those were enormous chains of Dao woven from the calamities of the void.

To attain enlightenment, one must carry the Way!
This is the tangible manifestation of the Great Dao, constantly descending, oppressing people to the point of exploding. The interrogation of the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation is to evolve one's own Dao, break through the obstacles, sever the divine chains, and prove that one's own path can be forged, rather than relying on the scriptures of others to achieve success.

In an instant, the Dao Seeds formed from Wang Hongwu's Sea of ​​Wheels, Dao Palace, and the three great secret realms of the Four Extremes flew out, with Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the nascent universe appearing simultaneously, shattering all shackles and obstacles. This powerful force was the ultimate manifestation of his Dao cultivation, and it instantly made him soar with divine might, like a true dragon breaking free of its chains, shattering the divine chains that bound him and causing them to break.

quack!

All the chains of the path shattered, unable to confine him, nor to hinder his path.

"You passed?" Duan De poked his head out from the array patterns, somewhat surprised. This was the easiest Quasi-Emperor Tribulation he had ever seen pass, not even the Great Dao Chains could hold for long.

However, this demeanor doesn't seem like someone who has survived a calamity.

It's more like, just the beginning?
Wang Hongwu didn't say much, but his expression gradually became solemn. He heard endless weeping sounds, as if thousands of people were wailing, echoing through the sky. The world was in turmoil.

This was just the beginning. The crying grew louder and louder until it seemed as if all living beings were weeping, which seemed unbelievable and hard to understand.

Then, all sorts of strange sounds rang out, like the beating of divine drums and the mournful tolling of funeral bells, shaking the heavens and the earth.

The heavenly drum, the funeral bell, and the mournful sounds of all living beings—all these intertwine, creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere that sends chills down one's spine.

Finally, these strange phenomena came together and formed a portal.

Behind the door seemed to lead to the legendary immortal realm, where dragons and phoenixes danced and roc soared. There, all the blood of the immortals gathered and the spirits of the immortals appeared. The door opened suddenly!
Boom!
A figure stepped out from within.

The first man was dashing and imposing, with horns on his forehead and sharp eyes, like a reincarnated dragon, exuding an aura that could shatter the nine heavens and was omnipotent, with a huge dragon tail behind him.

Then, golden magma surged, and a second disheveled young man appeared, with an eerie gaze. He wore a five-colored phoenix feather holy robe, like a peerless demon immortal descending to earth. Auspicious energy formed a sea around him, and melodious songs filled the air. A pair of phoenix wings spread out on his back.

The third person stepped forward with his hands behind his back. He had a Qilin pattern on his forehead, a tall and imposing figure, and an imposing presence. He stood on a Dao diagram and looked down at the nine heavens. He had the air of a king and a feeling that the world was in his grasp.

Under Wang Hongwu's watchful gaze, seven more figures descended. The fourth figure wielded the power of the sun and moon, surrounded by chaos, riding a giant fish, his body jet black, with a golden roc atop his head; the fifth figure was composed entirely of electric arcs, controlling the Thunder Pool, and in charge of killing; the sixth figure had a single horn on his head, a body of brilliant gold, and the power to shatter heaven and earth, capable of overturning the nine heavens; the seventh figure was dressed in flowing white robes, holding a blade of grass with leaves like swords, bearing nine leaves in total.

The eighth figure was ethereal, possessing mastery of the order of time and the laws of space, spreading out ripples; the ninth figure was ancient and solemn, resembling a holy spirit, holding a mysterious stone in his palm, as if ready to throw it at any moment.

The last figure was ferocious, wearing a wolf helmet, with a pair of gray ox horns and a vertical eye between his eyebrows. His body was covered with black scales that shimmered like black gold, with long red hair growing from the gaps between the scales. He also had nine tails on his back, each with a dragon head at the end. He was ferocious and terrifying, as if the Lord of the Nine Netherworlds had descended to earth.

"True Dragon, Divine Phoenix, Qilin, Kunpeng, Thunder Emperor, Heavenly Horned Ant, Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, Cricket, God-Slaying Stone, Nine Netherworld Hound, these are the Ten Ferocious Tribulations."

Wang Hongwu understood, and his expression gradually became serious.

All beasts gather, and the Ten Fiends descend!
Clearly, this quasi-emperor calamity was born from his perfect battle body and the many bloodline laws and characteristics he absorbed.

"If the Quasi-Emperor Tribulation is like this, what will the Dao Attainment Tribulation be like?" This thought suddenly popped into his head. That time, perhaps, would be the real test.

boom!
The next moment, ten figures moved in unison. Although their faces were identical to his, their fighting styles were completely different.

With the Eight-Nine Heavenly Technique in operation, Wang Hongwu charged forward, directly attacking the True Dragon, creating a vast world filled with mountains, rivers, and lifelike birds and beasts. Mythical creatures such as the Kunpeng, White Tiger, Teng Snake, and Vermilion Bird roamed the land.

Behind him, the Nine Secrets Combined into One Heavenly Venerable Great Unity Transformation was unleashed, and nine Heavenly Venerables also emerged, each manifesting different phenomena and divine forms, to confront the remaining nine fierce beasts.

Of course, this is because the upper limit of the lightning tribulation will not exceed the premise of the tribulation cultivator. Otherwise, even the nine Heavenly Venerables would not have any chance to compete with the Ten Fiends and would be crushed. However, this is a special interpretation. It is not the real Ten Fiends, but a manifestation based on the deduction of Wang Hongwu's Dao. It cannot be generalized.

The next moment, a fierce battle erupted between dragons and tigers.

The Holy Venerable Zhe wielded the Six Paths Reincarnation Fist, fiercely battling the Heavenly Ant Thunder Body. The two shone with golden light, their power shaking the primordial chaos. The Overlord of Dou unleashed his Overlord Fist, directly confronting the Nine Nether Thunder Body, displaying ferocity and madness. The Divine Venerable Jie met the Thunder Emperor's challenge, defying the heavens with his divine power, shaking the Pure Land through countless calamities. The Immortal Venerable Dao floated upwards, blocking the Divine Phoenix, his radiant light endless and his divine flames boundless.

The Demon Lord of the Lin character suppressed all things, punched the Qilin, and fought fiercely with it, the Holy Demon soaring to the heavens; the Brahma Lord of the Bing character was majestic, his crimson and orange immortal light shining in all directions, illuminating the thirty-three heavens, suppressing the God-Slaying Stone; the Dao Lord of the Zu character used heaven and earth as an array and all things as patterns, commanding all the Dao as array flags, to fight against the Gu who controlled the power of time and space; the Yuan Lord of the Qian character foresaw the future, severing people's souls, and dodging the slashes of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass; the Feather Lord of the Xing character traveled through time, ascended to immortality, and fought against the Kunpeng Thunder Body.

Wang Hongwu roared and activated the Extreme Character Secret, unleashing a Heavenly Will Blade that clashed fiercely with the Heavenly Dragon Fist unleashed by the True Dragon Thunder Body. Neither side would back down, making it a life-or-death battle, extremely bloody, with both fighting to the point of madness!
A tremendous collision, a dazzling light that dimmed even the light of the Heavenly Tribulation, as the Ten Heavenly Venerables battled the Ten Fiends!

This is like the beginning of a new era, illuminating the past, present, and future, connecting the ancient and the modern.

Twenty figures fought fiercely to an unimaginable degree. With a wave of their hands, a galaxy shattered; with a roar, countless celestial bodies turned to dust; with a stomp of their feet, the endless starry sky of the universe dimmed.

Their power was overwhelming, invincible in heaven and earth, their oppressive force causing the starry sea to crumble and the chaotic energy to boil, almost solidifying into a tangible form. Pieces of chaotic essence fell down, treasures that even great sages would fight over.

Roar!
As the battle reached its climax, the Heavenly Horned Ant went berserk, repelling the Holy Venerable Zhe. Upon seeing this, Wang Hongwu charged forward, his limbs glowing with cosmic starlight. He transformed into a nascent cosmic being and pressed down. The two collided, as if the heavens and earth were being created, bursting forth with boundless light, followed by a surge of darkness.

A moment later, Tianjiao Yi Lei rose into the sky, his hair disheveled, his body covered in blood, and blood flowing from the corner of his mouth; Wang Hongwu, who had transformed into the nascent form of the universe, reverted to his human form and clashed with the remaining nine fierce beasts one after another!

He merged with the Yin-Yang Dao Seed, transforming into the Two Elements Wheel Sea, swallowing and exhaling chaos, and then clashed with the Kunpeng, fiercely vying for supremacy; then he transformed into the Five Elements Dao Seed, leading the Five Emperors and Great Demons to fight against the Divine Phoenix with a vast army, the two sides soaring to the sky and pressing down on the earth, fighting from the Azure Netherworld to the Nine Netherworlds, tearing through chaos, breaking through the void, as if they had transformed into two vast cosmic Great Walls.

In the end, Wang Hongwu unleashed his ultimate battle power, merging the nine Heavenly Venerables into one and transforming into the pinnacle of the 'Ten Secrets in One' form. He possessed the True Dragon Horn, Qiongqi Arm, Qilin Feet, Taotie Claw, Kunpeng Wings, Transformation Serpent Tail, Taotie Scales, Thunder Emperor Armor, Vermilion Bird Feather, Zhulong Heavenly Eye, and the Yin-Yang Fusion Chaos Dao Diagram suspended in the heavens. His battle power broke through the limits and surged once again.

The Thunder God Stone was struck so hard that he coughed up blood and was broken in two; the Thunder Qilin was also torn in two by a single charge; Duan De gasped in shock at the sight, the killing was too ruthless, the battle was incredibly fierce.

This terrible battle lasted for years beyond imagination, the fighting was so fierce that even the heavenly tribulation dimmed, it was incredibly tragic.

When everything was over, only a patch of indistinguishable remains remained in the arena. After a long time, ancient Taoist chants rang out, and strands of blood flowed backward, flesh and blood were reshaped, and Wang Hongwu's broken body was reconstructed and reappeared there.

This time, however, it was completely different from before, displaying boundless and magnificent celestial radiance.

"Two hundred years old, a near-emperor supreme, just right."

Then, Wang Hongwu opened his eyes, which were as deep as the sea, filled with chaotic energy, a scene from the beginning of the world. As they opened and closed, light shot out and pierced the universe. He was incredibly mysterious, as if shrouded in the mist of the Great Dao.

In fact, there is no fog; it's just that his cultivation is so profound that outsiders cannot see through him. All divine senses that try to peer into his mind will be obliterated by the laws of the Dao.

This is the cultivation of a Supreme Quasi-Emperor. He has achieved his goal, attaining enlightenment by stepping on the forbidden line of two hundred years old. He is both a new Quasi-Emperor and an old Supreme.

Then, he revealed a wisp of pressure, which was released normally. In just a moment, the world changed. The entire world trembled, the mountains and rivers shook, and the starry sea blurred as if it were about to fall.

Reaching this level signifies an evolution and transformation at the level of life itself; a misstep could cause the direct annihilation of countless living beings.

(End of this chapter)