Eternal God Emperor: Only I Am Emperor One

Chapter 179 Establishing Prestige
From Xu Sanjin's perspective, beneath the vast expanse of tribulation clouds, a pitch-black sphere with a diameter of ten miles appeared.

Then, golden lightning, like an angry dragon, crashed down from the thunderclouds in the sky.

After receiving news of Di Yi and Xu Sanjin's arrival, all the saints and semi-saints on Mount Qingjing rushed from the mountain and happened to see the sky filled with tribulation clouds.

Qinghu Dragon Lord and Fu Jiuluo stood side by side, gazing at the tribulation clouds.

"Wasn't it said that this Emperor Yi Hall Master has already become a saint? Why is he still undergoing the tribulation of life and death?" Qinghu Dragon Lord asked in confusion. He subconsciously regarded the tribulation clouds in front of him as the tribulation of life and death, and he couldn't imagine that such a powerful heavenly tribulation was only the second tribulation of a quasi-saint.

If the second tribulation is so terrifying, what kind of power will the third tribulation be? Is there really anyone in the world who can successfully overcome it?

“His spiritual power has reached sainthood, condensing into a very powerful spiritual power saint image. His spiritual power cultivation is very high, possibly reaching the fifty-second level.” Fu Liuyun stood diagonally behind the two of them and saw that the black sphere with a diameter of ten miles was a strange phenomenon caused by an extremely powerful spiritual power saint image.

His spiritual power has reached the peak of the 53rd level. He is skilled in array formations and celestial secrets, and his combat strength is comparable to that of a saint in the Tongtian Realm.

Not far away, Ling Xiao, the last remaining Holy Elder of the First-Class Hall in the Central Region Black Market, had white hair and beard, sword-like eyebrows and eagle eyes, a ruddy complexion, and a restrained aura around him, giving him an unfathomable appearance.

"As expected of someone valued by the Evil Emperor and the Grand Steward, he possesses profound knowledge and the life-and-death tribulation he has triggered is so astonishing."

Behind Ling Xiao, a guardian elder of the First-Class Hall said indignantly, "No matter how strong Di Yi's tribulation is, even if he condenses the Saint Source Saint Image and becomes a true martial arts saint after passing the tribulation, he will only be a beginner in the Saint Realm. What virtue or ability does he have to sit in the position of hall master?"

"Elder Sheng has devoted himself to Yipin Hall for hundreds of years, possessing both strength and prestige. Now that Hall Master Yun has passed away, Elder Sheng should become the Hall Master, leading us to regroup and overcome the current difficult times together."

"Hmph, with a thousand miles of tribulation clouds, it's still unknown whether he can successfully overcome the tribulation. If he dies under the heavenly tribulation, it will be a laughing stock." Another guardian elder sneered, not believing that Di Yi could overcome such a terrifying heavenly tribulation.

Ling Xiao ignored the conversation behind him and focused his gaze on the fat figure at the edge of the tribulation clouds.

Whether Di Yi becomes a saint or not is not important to him. After all, he is just a junior. Even if the Grand Steward's orders cannot be openly disobeyed, it is not difficult to use a little trick to sideline him as the hall master.

The only person he was wary of was Xu Sanjin, the former head of the Dingxuan Prefecture black market, a figure who could rank among the top ten evil cultivators in the Central Region. Even though his cultivation had improved, he was still not very confident that he could defeat him.

Moreover, Xu Sanjin is a smooth operator with a meticulous mind. He is good at reading people's expressions and expressions. Back in Dingxuan Prefecture, despite the double suppression from Dingxuan Royal Palace and Langhuan Heaven, he was still able to run the black market in Dingxuan Prefecture with great success, which shows that he is quite capable.

When such a person came to Qingjing Mountain, Ling Xiao felt extremely threatened, worried that Di Yi's appointment as the hall master was a sham, and that Huanyu Tianzhen's true choice for the hall master was Xu Sanjin.

"I have spent a century building this up and many years planning to achieve what I have today. The position of Hall Master is rightfully mine, and anyone who tries to stop me will have to pay a bloody price," Ling Xiao thought to himself, his eyes gleaming with the sharpness of a hawk.

The vast expanse of tribulation clouds gathered into streaks of golden tribulation lightning, striking the black sphere with a destructive force.

Strangely, the powerful thunder disappeared after entering it, without any ripples.

This is clearly illogical; the tribulation lightning, powerful enough to kill a Saint of the Upper Realm and threaten a Saint of the Profound Yellow Realm, did not emit any aftershocks.

Xu Sanjin stood at the edge of the tribulation clouds, watching intently. Even the arrival of the saints from the First-Class Hall from afar did not distract him in the slightest.

His furrowed brows gradually relaxed. Thirty-seven bolts of tribulation lightning had already descended. From the beginning until now, apart from releasing this dark sphere, Di Yi had not used any other means. His strength was much greater than he had imagined.

"Young man, you're amazing."

One after another, bolts of tribulation lightning fell, but were eventually swallowed up completely by the Eternal Night Burial Realm.

Within the Burial Realm, Emperor Yi was bathed in lightning. The essence of the Seven Star Divine Poria Divine Medicine in his Qi Sea was rapidly refined, and his physical body and spiritual power were improving at an extremely fast pace.

What is a tribulation to others is an opportunity for him to break through his limitations, allowing him to rapidly improve his physical and mental cultivation and gain the combat power to rival that of the older generation of saints.

The tribulation lightning lasted for nearly two hours. As the last bolt of pure gold lightning struck into the Burial Realm, the thousand-mile-long tribulation clouds vanished, leaving only the ten-mile-long Burial Realm suspended in the void.

Fu Jiuluo, who was watching from a distance, carefully recalled the number of lightning bolts that had fallen, and his expression changed drastically.

"Only seventy-two bolts of lightning struck. He was not going through a life-or-death tribulation, but rather the eighth or ninth tribulation."

The Azure Lake Dragon King was speechless for a long time before finally uttering, "The greatest talent since the Middle Ages, truly remarkable."

If even two Saints at the Tongtian Realm were so shocked, the impact on the rest of the Yipin Hall members was unimaginable.

The younger generation of cultivators, especially those drawn by the tribulation clouds, are mostly at the Fish-Dragon Realm, including some like Shang Jia who are half-saints. They are on the path of pursuing sainthood and often hear legends related to Di Yi. Many of them have long regarded him as an idol.

The light gradually returned to Shang Jia's previously bewildered eyes, and he rediscovered his direction.

Another half hour passed, and the black sphere in the void began to gradually shrink, eventually disappearing into Di Yi's body, leaving only a figure in black robes standing in the void, with long hair flying in the wind.

Having been tempered by the tribulation lightning, his spiritual power, which had broken through to a new level, swept across the heavens and earth, displaying an aura of dominance over the world.

Even Fu Liuyun couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Such powerful mental strength!"

Withdrawing his spiritual energy back to his Sacred Heart, Emperor Yi used his movement technique to reunite with Xu Sanjin, and then headed towards the Saints of the First-Class Hall in the distance.

At the foot of Qingjing Mountain, countless gazes fell upon the two of them.

Before the tribulation, far more people paid attention to Xu Sanjin than to Di Yi, but now the situation has reversed.

After all, it wasn't the first time the Supreme Saint and the others had seen him, but they had never even heard of the legendary figure whose eight or nine tribulations covered a thousand miles, let alone seen him.

Di Yi sized up the people in front of him, distinguishing their identities by their robes.

One Saint Elder, two Star Palace Masters, eleven Saint Realm Guardian Elders, plus the Azure Lake Dragon Lord of the Heaven-Reaching Realm. These fifteen Saints constitute the entire Saint Realm combat force of the First-Class Hall in the Central Region Black Market.

This force is not weak; it surpasses many of the saintly clans of the Kunlun Realm and can be compared with many ancient families. However, let alone compared with the First-Class Hall of the Eastern Region Black Market, which is full of powerful figures, it is less than 30% of its former glory.

It should be understood that the Central Region of Nine Provinces is the core of the human race in the Kunlun Realm, and the strength of a single province is comparable to that of an entire region.

The Central Region Black Market, Yipintang, once encompassed the entire Central Region and Nine Provinces, but now only a dozen or so Saints remain, a truly pitiful state, and it has completely fallen to become a second-rate force in the Central Region.

Xu Sanjin smiled and said to Ling Xiao, "Elder Ling Xiao, it's been decades since we last met. You look younger and younger."

Ling Xiao chuckled upon hearing this, "I can't compare to Manager Xu's skill in preserving youth."

Xu Sanjin smiled, not continuing his reminiscing, and stepped aside to let Di Yi out, introducing him: "Everyone, this is the new head of the First-Class Hall of the Central Region Black Market, personally appointed by the Grand Steward, to succeed Head Yun."

After he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent, which seemed very eerie.

Ling Xiao was nearly two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a wide body. His arms reached down to his knees. He wore the silver holy robe unique to the Holy Elder. Although he had white beard and white hair, his body was filled with a strong holy aura and blood energy, showing no signs of old age.

As he looked at Di Yi, the aura emanating from Ling Xiao's body grew stronger and stronger.

In the Emperor's eyes, the opposite side was like the endless waves of the East China Sea, surging towards him. Within the waves, there were rules like dragons, which materialized.

"The rules of the Holy Path are extremely true and supreme. Everyone outside said that Elder Lingxiao was only at the True Saint level, but now it seems that he has broken through to the Supreme Saint level. This is truly a cause for celebration." Emperor Yi said calmly with a smile.

The Supreme Saint is the pinnacle of the Saint realm. Many leaders and sect masters of ancient sects are only at this level, such as Chen Yin, the King of the Eastern Region, and Ning Xuandao, the sect master of the Two Elements Sect, who are both at the peak of the Supreme Saint realm.

Ling Xiao looked surprised, not expecting that a junior who had only recently become a saint could see through his cultivation level.

Emperor Yi's words stirred up quite a ripple in the hearts of the saints of Yipintang.

Especially Fu Jiuluo, Fu Liuyun, and Qinghu Longjun.

They were on the opposite side of Ling Xiao. When Ling Xiao was still a True Saint, they were suppressed. Now that he has broken through to the Supreme Saint level, the balance of power has been completely tilted.

But then countless questions arose in his mind. Just a few months ago, he was only at the mid-stage of True Saint, and his lifespan was also running out. How could he have reached the Supreme Saint level from the mid-stage of True Saint in just a few months?

Having his cultivation level exposed, Ling Xiao decided to stop concealing it and released his Saintly cultivation aura.

After his breakthrough in cultivation, he rediscovered the martial spirit he had in his youth, and felt as if he had become three hundred years younger.

The Emperor remained unmoved by the Holy Majesty, his expression unchanged. A divine fire of purification ignited between his brows, and a phoenix's cry resounded throughout heaven and earth, instantly tearing apart the surging Holy Majesty.

His tone turned icy: "Elder Lingxiao, as a Supreme Saint who has cultivated for hundreds of years, can't you even control your own aura? Or do you think this Hall Master is weak and easily bullied?"

Before coming, Di Yi learned from Xu Sanjin that the biggest obstacle to taking over the Central Region Black Market's First-Class Hall was Elder Ling Xiao, and he was already prepared for this.

But to his surprise, the other party made no attempt to conceal their hostility, and immediately tried to intimidate him upon meeting him.

Therefore, the previous plan must be changed. We must first demonstrate sufficient strength to keep the people below in check.

"How dare you speak to Elder Lingxiao like that! Before you received the Heavenly Seal, you were not even a hall master."

An elder in a purple robe stepped out from behind Ling Xiao and reprimanded Di Yi.

This person, named Xing Li, has reached the Xuanhuang Realm in cultivation. He is one of the most powerful guardian elders under the Six Star Palace Master, a loyal supporter of Ling Xiao, and currently the number one expert under him.

The Heavenly Seal is the token of the head of the First-Class Hall in the Central Region Black Market. Only the one who holds the Seal can be the head of the hall; this is a rule passed down through generations.

Emperor Yi looked at Xing Li and said, "Who are you, daring to speak to this hall master like that?"

"I am Xing Li, the Protector Elder of the First-Rank Hall. The one who wields the Heavenly Firmament Holy Seal is the Hall Master. This is an ironclad rule of the First-Rank Hall in the Central Region Black Market for 100,000 years, and even the Evil Emperor cannot change it. I only recognize the Holy Seal, not the person, and I do not recognize you as the Hall Master." Xing Li's words were extremely impolite. Even after witnessing the scene of Emperor Yi's tribulation, he still regarded him as a junior.

Xu Sanjin's expression was unfriendly, and he wanted to teach this tactless guy a lesson, but Di Yi stopped him and walked towards Xing Li.

"Your cultivation level is at the Profound Yellow Realm?"

Di Yi was able to see through Ling Xiao's background. Xing Li was not surprised that his cultivation level had been exposed, but he was still not afraid: "That's right, I am indeed at the Xuanhuang Realm."

"Zheng!"

Di Yi used his finger as a sword, his fingertip covered with golden divine characters. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around his body, which was three zhang in circumference, instantly solidified, and even the circulation of holy energy within Xing Li's body became extremely slow.

Having undergone the tempering of divine blood, divine medicine, and lightning tribulation, all the power of his physical body converged between his two fingers. With his swordsmanship at the ninth level of Sword Seven combined with the White Emperor Heavenly Pivot Sword Technique, he directly thrust towards Xing Li.

Xing Li had not expected that Di Yi would suddenly attack him.

The combination of the two ancient methods of Truth and Origin, along with the swordsmanship that approached that of a Sword Saint, was so powerful that even a Saint of the Profound Yellow Realm would not have time to defend against it.

puff!
The sword energy pierced his chest, creating a hole that went straight through his purple holy robe.

The terrifying sword intent pressed down on him, combining with the spiritual power of the fifty-second level to form an irresistible force that crushed his arrogance and forced him to his knees.

(End of this chapter)