Just You Wait and See

The next day.

Gu Ling'er indeed came knocking.

However, this time, she wasn’t alone—she was accompanied by a middle-aged general.

Gu Ling'er’s expression was far from friendly, clearly still holding a grudge over yesterday’s beating. But for the sake of her father, the emperor, she had no choice but to endure the humiliation for now.

"This is the immortal you wanted, the one about to undergo a tribulation," she said.

Gu Qingfeng glanced at the middle-aged general, who was evidently a high-ranking officer of the Seven Stars Ancient Nation.

"An Earth Immortal? A bit weak, but it’ll do," Gu Qingfeng remarked.

The general’s face darkened at the comment, but he held his tongue. After all, this was the man who had beaten Yuwen Xiong into submission—someone far beyond his own capabilities.

"Let’s go," Gu Qingfeng said, leading Gu Ling'er and the general out.

But as they walked, the two grew increasingly uneasy.

"Gu Qingfeng," Gu Ling'er asked, "aren’t we supposed to be heading to a secluded place for the tribulation? Why are we going toward the city center instead?"

Gu Qingfeng frowned without turning back. "Stop asking pointless questions. Just follow."

Gu Ling'er clenched her fists in frustration. No one had ever dared to speak to her like this. But for her father’s sake, she swallowed her anger.

Soon, the trio arrived at the busiest street in the city center, bustling with countless pedestrians and lined with shops, a scene of lively chaos.

Gu Qingfeng turned to the general. "Begin your tribulation."

The general froze in disbelief. "Here?!"

Gu Ling'er immediately protested, "Are you insane? There are so many people around! What if the tribulation harms them?"

Unfazed by their objections, Gu Qingfeng replied calmly, "First, these people aren’t fools. They all have cultivation and will flee the moment they sense the tribulation. Second, with me here, the tribulation won’t harm a soul. Believe it or not, it’s up to you. If you disagree, feel free to leave."

Gu Qingfeng had no intention of changing locations. His goal was to attract as many onlookers as possible—to build his reputation.

First, he could earn wealth by helping others overcome tribulations, using it to rescue his family.

Second, it would maximize his chances of drawing the attention of the Seven Stars Nation’s ruler, Gu Ruochen.

Seeing his unwavering stance, Gu Ling'er and the general exchanged silent words through spiritual transmission.

"Your Highness, this man is eccentric and untrustworthy. His methods are too reckless," the general warned.

"For Father’s sake, we must try," Gu Ling'er insisted. "Uncle Li, even without his help, your strength should be enough to survive this tribulation. If he’s just a fraud, you won’t fail. As for the bystanders, I’ll set up a barrier to minimize collateral damage."

"Then... as you command, Your Highness."

With that, the general ceased suppressing his cultivation. A radiant immortal light erupted from his body, unleashing the unmistakable aura of an Earth Immortal.

The sudden surge of power instantly drew the attention of the entire street.

In the Seven Stars Immortal City, flight and combat were strictly forbidden in public. Few dared to openly release their aura like this.

The crowd turned their heads, expecting some spectacle—only to find the general standing alone, his energy flaring.

"What’s going on? First Yuwen Xiong violated the no-flight law, and now someone’s breaking the no-combat rule?"

"Isn’t that General Li?"

"What? Is General Li breaking the law knowingly? Or is he trying to arrest someone?"

BOOM!

As the murmurs spread, a deafening thunderclap tore through the sky.

In an instant, dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and the air grew heavy, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.

The crowd looked up in horror.

"Is... is that a tribulation?!"

"General Li is undergoing a tribulation?!"

"And he chose to do it in the middle of the city?!"

"Quick, get back! Don’t get struck by lightning!"

Lower-level immortals scrambled away, terrified of being caught in the tribulation’s range. Those with higher cultivation watched from a distance, puzzled by General Li’s actions.

Meanwhile, Gu Ling'er swiftly set up a formation to contain the tribulation’s destructive force and protect the surroundings.

The sudden tribulation also alerted the city guards, who rushed over in streaks of light.

"Who dares to undergo a tribulation here—General Li?! And... Your Highness?!"

Gu Ling'er stepped forward, stopping the approaching soldiers.

"Master Gu, it’s time," General Li called out, his voice tense.

Gu Qingfeng nodded indifferently. "Begin."

Seeing that Gu Qingfeng made no move to assist, General Li’s heart sank. He steeled himself to face the tribulation alone—fortunately, he had trained in a body-refining technique, giving him some confidence even in this rushed situation.

CRACK—!

The sky turned blindingly white as a monstrous bolt of lightning, thick as a python, coiled within the thunderclouds.

General Li tensed, golden light erupting from his body, encasing him in a radiant glow.

Just then, a massive hand materialized above him.

The sudden appearance startled General Li. He turned to see Gu Qingfeng, his expression serene as he reached toward the tribulation as if it were nothing more than a breeze.

"Master Gu, what are you doing?!" General Li cried in alarm. "Are you here to help me or kill me? Interfering directly will double the tribulation’s power!"

"I am helping you," Gu Qingfeng replied coolly.

General Li felt his soul nearly leave his body. He never imagined Gu Qingfeng’s "help" would involve such madness.

Normally, assisting someone in a tribulation involved formations, elixirs, or other indirect methods—never direct interference. Doing so violated the laws of the Great Dao, amplifying the tribulation’s lethality.

Now, General Li was truly panicked. His body-refining technique might have been enough for the original tribulation, but with its power doubled, survival seemed unlikely.

The onlookers erupted into chaos.

"Isn’t that the man who beat Yuwen Xiong senseless last time?"

"What’s he doing? Is he really daring to mess with a heavenly tribulation?!"

"Does he have a grudge against General Li?"

"A grudge? If he wanted revenge, why not just fight him? Why provoke the heavens?"

Gu Ling'er, her face pale with worry, shouted, "Gu Qingfeng, what are you thinking? This will only make the tribulation worse! How is this helping?!"

Gu Qingfeng turned slightly, meeting her frantic gaze with unshaken calm.

"Just watch," he said.