Concubines Lead to Strength: The Path to Immortality Begins with Taking a Spouse

While undergoing the tribulation, his own strength continued to increase, and he was even on the verge of breaking through to the mid-stage of the Ninth Grade Void Refinement Realm.

Soon, the seventh tribulation lightning arrived.

Or rather, it was the phantom of the seventh ancient fierce beast!

"Taotie!"

"Even among the records of ancient fierce beasts, it ranks as one of the topmost existences!"

Wang Yue had not recognized three of the earlier phantoms, but when this seventh one emerged, her pupils dramatically contracted as she gasped in shock.

"One of the four great ancient beasts..."

This time, Liu Qingqing didn't need to be told; she immediately recognized the identity of the fierce beast.

Thankfully, the phantoms of the fierce beasts formed by the previous six tribulation lightnings had not posed any threat to her husband.

At this moment, Liu Qingqing's heart had settled slightly.

However, the appearance of the Taotie, one of the four great ancient beasts, inevitably made her nervous again, involuntarily clenching her hands.

"My goodness..."

"This heavenly tribulation is different from what's written in the records!"

"If heavenly tribulations are like this, how could we possibly break through the Ninth Grade limit? The Sage Realm would simply be unattainable!"

"Which Ninth Grade could endure such a horrific heavenly tribulation like Saint Gu?"

"Just the first strike alone is enough to turn an ordinary Ninth Grade into dust, right?"

"And now, even one of the four great ancient beasts, the Taotie, has appeared. Is this leaving no way out for people?"

Seeing this scene, the many Eighth-grade Heavenly Gate Realm Great Powers of the Northern Domain also inhaled sharply in unison.

Having reached the Eighth Grade, they had all read many records about heavenly tribulations, who wouldn't have a dream of breaking beyond the Ninth Grade?

But witnessing the heavenly tribulation today overturned their understanding.

However...

Normal heavenly tribulations were not like this, after all, even the three Sages of the Wang Family within the Imperial Mausoleum, including the Gu Family Ancestor Gu Haitang, were dumbfounded.

"Is this damn thing a heavenly tribulation?"

"Then what did I undergo before?"

Gu Haitang cursed outright.

Even when he had broken through to the True Monarch Realm, the heavenly tribulation he faced was merely more terrifying, but no such transformation phenomenon with the tribulation lightning had occurred!

Quickly, the phantom of the fierce beast formed by the seventh tribulation lightning, accompanied by a thundering roar that shook the heavens and the earth, lunged at Gu Changge!

Seeing this, Gu Changge also revealed a serious demeanor for the first time.

He formed a barrier with spiritual energy in front of him while also coating the barrier with the power of tribulation lightning, to reduce the impact's ferocity.

'Boom—'

Following a massive explosion, the barrier shattered to pieces, and Gu Changge responded by meeting the assault with a full-power punch head-on!

In an instant, the phantom burst open, and the world illuminated by the tribulation lightning became transparent.

Everyone hastily shielded their eyes, momentarily losing their sight.

As peace returned to heaven and earth, Wang Yue and Liu Qingqing were the first to anxiously search for their husband's figure.

Seeing him still standing there, merely moving his arm slightly without injury, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon, everyone pointed at the tribulation cloud and exclaimed, "This time it's not just a single one?"

Looking up, they saw four phantoms simultaneously forming within the tribulation cloud.

Apart from the earlier seventh phantom, the Taotie, three other ancient four great fierce beast phantoms had also unmistakably appeared!

Chaos, Taowu, Qiongqi!

Each with different shapes, yet they all looked vividly lifelike.

Although composed of tribulation lightning power, they appeared as living creatures at a glance, even seemingly breathing!

Seeing this, Gu Changge also slightly frowned.

The Taotie phantom from before hadn't injured him.

He was confident that he could shatter all four phantoms of the ancient fierce beasts this time too.

But...

The problem was, this was only the eighth tribulation lightning, and already the four great fierce beast phantoms had appeared together!

What about the ninth one?

What kind of monster would it be?

That could be a bit tricky...

Fortunately, by now, he had also refined a good amount of the Heavenly Tribulation Origin Power, possessing resistance to the tribulation lightning beyond any other being in the world, even transforming it for his own use whenever he was struck by it.

Even if the ninth strike was stronger, ensuring his survival shouldn't be a problem!

Four different roars echoed between heaven and earth as the four figures simultaneously descended upon Gu Changge.

Some extended claws flickering with lightning, while others opened their vast mouths as if to swallow him whole.

This time, in addition to setting up barriers, Gu Changge directly took out his Immortal Grade Flying Sword!

He was giving his proper respect to this eighth tribulation lightning.

At the moment the barrier shattered, he unleashed a full-force strike with his giant sword!

The Sword Domain emerged, a sword strike of towering might, clearly slicing through the phantom images of the four beasts, ripping them apart.

The Sword Qi continued its trajectory, leaving behind a spatial rupture, revealing a void in the sky!

Even that single strike cut through the Tribulation Clouds, splitting them in two!

'Boom——'

The explosion of the four phantom images struck by that sword occurred simultaneously, their terrifying residual force even causing many Great Powers a hundred miles away to constrict their pupils and hurriedly retreat another hundred miles!

The Great Powers from the Imperial City of the Northern Domain also retreated a hundred miles with their palace.

Liu Qingqing and another witnessed the dispersing light and immediately looked towards the center of the explosion to find her husband's figure.

Fortunately, although the explosion of the Tribulation Lightning was terrifyingly powerful, Gu Changge casually created a Sword Flower and absorbed the remaining Tribulation Lightning Power into his body with a raise of his hand!

But from his slightly trembling arm, it wasn't hard to see that the feat hadn't been so easy for him!

As the Sword Qi dissipated, the ruptured space also healed.

The rolling Tribulation Clouds also merged back together.

Everyone was too shocked to contemplate, their eyes fixed on the Tribulation Clouds, wanting to see just how terrifying the final bout of Tribulation Lightning would be!

Inside the Imperial Mausoleum.

The three True Monarchs of the Wang Family shuddered at that sword strike just now.

"Even if the three of us joined forces, that strike would probably mean our doom."

The Perfect True Monarch of the Wang Family opened his mouth to say directly.

The other two were silent, knowing this was the truth.

"..."

Gu Haitang opened his mouth, wanting to mock them.

But no words came out.

For that strike just now, even he, a True Monarch, couldn't confidently say he could have withstood it.

If he really tried to withstand it, he might not die, but severe injury was certain!

This kid... has he become this terrifying?

Just now, that strike meant he was qualified to grapple with True Monarchs!

And he's only at Ninth Grade Annihilation Realm!

If he breaks through to Sage Realm, won't he be slicing True Monarchs like vegetables, even holding his own against several moves from a Land Immortal?

Stunned, he glanced at the three Sages of the Wang Family, then took a step forward, appearing directly outside the Imperial City.

No one knew how terrifying this last bout of Tribulation Lightning would be, or if the kid could fully withstand it.

If he ends up gravely injured after the last Lightning, he would be there to protect him right away.

To prevent others from harboring any sinister intentions.

He dared not interfere with the Heavenly Tribulation, but if Gu Changge overcame the Tribulation, and something unforeseen happened right under his watch, Gu Haitang could never forgive himself in this lifetime!

"This is..."

"What in the world is that?"

Gu Changge looked up at the Tribulation Clouds, and for the first time, felt an immense sense of crisis.

And everyone present was equally stunned.

Because what condensed from the Tribulation Clouds this time was not any kind of beast phantom.

Instead...

It was the shape of a person!?

And the color of the Tribulation Lightning changed, no longer purple.

As the Tribulation Clouds churned, the purple Tribulation Lightning vanished, only for trails of black power to start coalescing.

Black Thunder Power gathered in the hands of that human-shaped phantom.

Slowly forming what seemed like a black Thunder ball.

That human-shaped phantom appeared to be wearing a Daoist Robe, but its face had no features, only an outline.

"This..."

"Why does even a glance from the old Ancestor provoke fear!?"

The Gu Family Ancestor's heart raced as he looked at that black silhouette, feeling deeply unsettled.

For Gu Changge, who was under the Heavenly Tribulation, this feeling was even more intense!

"This damn thing isn't Heavenly Tribulation anymore..."

"This is Heavenly Punishment!"

Grinding his teeth as he stared at that black-clothed figure, Gu Changge felt that his conjecture might be bold, but it was what he thought most likely.

That was...

The Transformation of the will of Heaven and Earth!

And the black Thunder in his hand, he could also feel that it was far more terrifying than the Tribulation Lightning he had refined... If he wasn't mistaken, it was the Power of Heavenly Punishment!