Clammed Up

Boom!

Heaven and earth trembled violently as a vast expanse of purple tribulation lightning, like a breached river of stars, cascaded down upon the mortal realm, shattering the void and illuminating all under heaven.

The intense light was nearly blinding, yet Gu Ruochen stared unblinkingly at the descending tribulation lightning, his heart heavy with utmost gravity.

Only at the moment the tribulation lightning fell did he truly comprehend how terrifying the Immortal King Tribulation was, and why, across the vast world, there were only a handful of Immortal Kings.

This dreadful heavenly tribulation was simply unimaginably powerful.

Before undergoing the tribulation, he had thought he had already overestimated its potency to an extreme degree, yet facing it now, he realized he had still underestimated it.

He had believed that with his multiple layers of preparations, he could at least withstand the first six bolts of tribulation lightning. But now, it seemed the first bolt alone was enough to destroy all his arrangements, the second enough to inflict severe injuries upon him, and the third... would likely leave him either dead or utterly drained, his lamp of life burning to the dregs.

Many thoughts flashed through Gu Ruochen's mind, but in the end, they all coalesced into a steely resolve. After all, he was a Quasi-Immortal King. Matters had come to this, and even if hope was slim, there was no choice but to stake everything on one final struggle. The rest, he could only gamble on Gu Qingfeng.

He glanced at Gu Qingfeng and saw that even facing the Immortal King Tribulation, the other's expression remained unchanged. Feeling somewhat infected by this composure, a surge of heroic spirit welled up in his own heart.

"Young friend Gu, we have not known each other long, yet now you accompany this Emperor in facing this life-and-death tribulation. Whatever your reasons, this heroic spirit and courage of yours are truly admirable. Very well! Today, let us join forces and together show this thieving Heavens what it means that 'my fate is my own, not determined by Heaven'!!"

By the end, Gu Ruochen was nearly roaring, his words stirring his own Dao Heart, his aura condensing to its peak.

Whether Gu Qingfeng drank this bowl of motivational soup or not, he didn't know, but he himself certainly did.

At that moment, the tribulation lightning, like a waterfall of stars, descended. The entire world was instantly enveloped by an aura of despair and terror.

Gu Ruochen's gaze sharpened, the tension in his heart stretched to the breaking point, yet he let out a bold, hearty laugh: "Hahaha... Come on, you..."

The word "bitch" was only half-spoken before his voice abruptly cut off, as if someone had seized his throat.

It was because Gu Qingfeng, who had been silent all along, suddenly shot into the sky at the moment the tribulation lightning fell, soaring high above the nine heavens to position himself directly above Gu Ruochen.

"Young friend Gu, hurry and..."

His unfinished words were drowned out by the thunder.

BOOM——!

The terrifying lightning descended!

Under Gu Ruochen's astonished gaze, that calm and composed figure nonchalantly extended a pale, fair right hand.

The next moment...

The world fell silent.

The terrifying radiance of the lightning vanished as if it were an illusion.

To be precise, it disappeared the instant it was about to make contact with Gu Qingfeng's palm. It was so abrupt, as if it had never existed at all.

Gu Ruochen!!!

His pupils contracted to pinpoints as he stared in utter shock at that serene figure. Even though he knew Gu Qingfeng could help Great Luo Golden Immortals overcome their tribulations, this was different! This was the Immortal King Tribulation!!

The intense shock left him momentarily dazed, as if transported back to the day he first met Gu Qingfeng. The other's calm words seemed to echo in his ears once more.

'A mere Immortal King Tribulation, this Emperor can shatter it with a single hand... shatter it with a single hand...'

Just then, Gu Qingfeng, having just devoured a bolt of the Immortal King Tribulation, turned around. He looked calmly at the stunned, dumbfounded Gu Ruochen and said lightly, "What were you about to say?"

"N-nothing..."

Seeing the other's utterly composed demeanor, Gu Ruochen was utterly floored. He suddenly felt his earlier heroic declarations were a bit awkward.

"This Emperor said you only need to watch quietly from the side."

As soon as the words fell.

BOOM——!

The second heavenly tribulation arrived.

This second tribulation was no longer a river of light, but a ten-thousand-zhang thunder dragon!

The thunder dragon was incredibly lifelike. Manifested by the Great Dao, each of its scales was vivid and distinct, as if a true dragon had descended upon the world.

Facing this even more terrifying second heavenly tribulation, Gu Qingfeng's expression remained unchanged, his posture the same. It was still that pale, fair hand, as insignificant as an ant's antenna, meeting the colossal thunder dragon head-on.

Gu Ruochen widened his eyes, scrutinizing Gu Qingfeng's palm. Observing closely, he sensed a spatial fluctuation, and then the terrifying thunder dragon vanished without a trace.

Is this... an Inner World!?

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

How could that be possible! How could any Inner World in this world contain the Immortal King Tribulation?

A tribulation of this terrifying magnitude could instantly annihilate a world even if it fell upon a Major Thousand World.

Could it be that the strength of his Inner World far surpasses that of a Major Thousand World?

Could it be that his Inner World is equivalent to another Eternal True Realm?

Just as Gu Ruochen was reeling in shock, a flash of wild joy appeared in Gu Qingfeng's eyes.

Within the World in His Palm, the Prison Demon Sword was cheering and leaping for joy. Having devoured two bolts of the Immortal King Tribulation in succession, many of the seals within it had dissipated. Even intermittent fragments of consciousness were now being transmitted.

"More... need more..."

Feeling the message from his family, Gu Qingfeng was so moved he nearly shed tears. He quickly sent a mental transmission to comfort it: "Don't worry, family. This Emperor will rescue you now! I won't let you suffer any longer!"

"These... not enough... enter... tribulation..."

Enter the tribulation?!

Gu Qingfeng sharply raised his head. His gaze traversed billions of miles, crossing layer upon layer of barriers, and landed deep within the tribulation clouds. There existed a terrifying thunder pool, filled with tribulation lightning as dense as liquid mercury.

Is his family this formidable?

No need to say more. A request from family must be fulfilled.

Thus, Gu Qingfeng soared into the air, his figure rising infinitely as he flew swiftly towards the tribulation clouds in the heavens above.

Gu Ruochen was greatly alarmed: "Young friend Gu! What are you doing? Come back quickly!"

He was truly frightened. Gu Qingfeng had just given him a pleasant surprise, making him think becoming an Immortal King was assured. Who would have thought it would turn into a fright in the blink of an eye?

Enter the tribulation clouds?

This was something he dared not even imagine. The terror within the tribulation clouds was a hundred times greater than the tribulation lightning itself. Within them existed the very source of the heavenly tribulation. Even an Immortal King would perish upon entering.

From the sky, Gu Qingfeng's calm voice echoed from afar: "Just keep watching."

Then, his figure disappeared into the tribulation clouds.

The moment he entered the clouds, terrifying tribulation light coalesced into several thunder qilins, thunder dragons, and thunder phoenixes, roaring as they blasted towards Gu Qingfeng.

He paid them no mind. With the tribulation clouds blocking the view, he wasn't afraid of Gu Ruochen discovering the Prison Demon Sword. He directly took the sword out from his World in His Palm.

Immediately, the Prison Demon Sword began to tremble violently as if uncontrollable—a tremor of excitement.

"Go."

Gu Qingfeng suddenly released his grip. The Prison Demon Sword instantly transformed into a streak of light, charging towards the thunder qilins and dragons. Wherever it passed, all tribulation lightning vanished without a trace.

Seeing the Prison Demon Sword so ferocious, he quickly followed, flying deeper into the heart of the tribulation clouds.