Strive with all your might, and there may yet be a path to survival.

The Zi Wei Heavenly Dao is like a doting mother—no matter how mischievous her children are, as long as they don’t cross the line, she’ll usually choose to tolerate them.

But Chen Yi is different. If the kids don’t listen, he’ll whip out the belt!

Don’t let his youth fool you—he might not even be as old as the grandsons of these old-timers stuck at the Body Unity stage. But in this world, strength is the only measure of status!

Since they refuse to see reason, then fists it is!

“Since none of you seem willing, I won’t force the matter. But I’ll ask you to fight with everything you’ve got—maybe then you’ll find a way out!”

The moment the words left his lips—

His halberd swept out!

In an instant, a terrifying force distorted the void, sending the group of Body Unity elders staggering.

“Wait… wait a second!”

Their eyes instantly cleared. Faced with the choice between being struck dead by heavenly tribulation or being brutally beaten to death, the answer was obvious.

After all, attempting the monstrous Immortal Ascension Tribulation was a slim chance at survival—at worst, they could still abandon their physical forms and re-cultivate as loose immortals.

But facing this monster? That was a death sentence with zero hope. They’d truly be beaten to a pulp!

Zhang Kuang, the sect master of the Extreme Dao Artifact Sect, was the first to speak up: “I think Elder Xuanxuzi is right. Rather than fading into obscurity, why not burn our remaining years in a blaze of glory? Aiding the Heavenly Dao is our duty!”

Tch. As expected of a major sect leader—his face-switching skills were top-notch, and his sweet talk flowed effortlessly.

The other Body Unity elders didn’t dare delay either, quickly voicing their agreement.

“Exactly! All men must die—better to go out with a bang than a whimper!”

“Better to be the fool who challenges the tribulation than the coward who cowers in fear!”

“Only by helping the Heavenly Dao reopen the path to immortality can we survive. Otherwise, we’ll just be bones in a century!”

“What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger!”

“......”

All twenty-seven peak Body Unity elders stood firm, declaring their noble intentions to aid the Heavenly Dao in reopening the path to immortality.

“Good.”

Chen Yi nodded in satisfaction, slowly retracting his halberd.

These cowards were just asking for it—polite words went in one ear and out the other. Only with a blade at their throats would they comply!

What, did they think playing ostrich would make their Heavenly Dao mommy step in to beg for mercy?

Dream on. She wouldn’t wake up anytime soon!

“Tsk tsk tsk. Was all that really necessary?”

Xuanxuzi, the first to surrender, shook his head, leisurely sipping tea from his seat.

Unlike those fools who couldn’t read the room, there was a reason he could talk to Chen Yi like this.

For example, when Chen Yi first approached him, he hadn’t hesitated for even a second before yielding.

Sure, he liked to tease the kid in casual moments, but when things got serious, he knew better than to mess around!

Chen Yi was like a rampaging primordial beast—anything blocking his path would be mercilessly crushed.

Getting blasted by the Immortal Ascension Tribulation or by him? Same difference. If they didn’t obey while he was still in a good mood and earn some favor, what hope did they have?

If by some miracle they survived the tribulation’s onslaught, wouldn’t that mean they could cozy up to the Tribulation Tamer himself?

But no—these idiots had to link arms and dither in his way like a bunch of damsels in distress. Did they really think he’d indulge them like the Heavenly Dao would?

No wonder they couldn’t get along with Chen Yi.

With these clowns as contrast, his own tactfulness must carry more weight in Chen Yi’s eyes, right?

Thinking this, Xuanxuzi set down his teacup and spoke naturally: “Young Master Yi, since everyone’s agreed to contribute to reopening the immortal path, why don’t you retreat to the Illusory Star Pocket Realm for now? The tribulation recognizes individuals, and your presence would… complicate things.”

“Mm. I know my limits. Just head to the cosmic void near the Abyssal Progeny’s lair for your breakthroughs. The emptiness there will mask your auras, and breaking through together will split the tribulation’s focus. As for how many of you survive… leave that to fate.”

Chen Yi gave a slight nod, calmly laying out the plan.

Technically, the Tribulation Transcendence stage wasn’t a true realm—it was a quasi-immortal state achieved when a mortal being broke past their limits.

In this state, their power exceeded what ordinary worlds could contain, triggering the Immortal Ascension Tribulation from the upper realm. Pass, and you ascended. Fail, and you perished.

There was no hiding from it. A quasi-immortal’s aura burned like a blazing fireball in the darkness to the Heavenly Dao’s perception.

The only reason Chen Yi could evade it was because during his first brutal encounter with the tribulation, he’d sensed the ‘gaze’ of the Heavenly Dao’s eye spanning the myriad realms!

Once he realized the targeting relied on this unique ‘gaze,’ he developed a method to absorb it.

Without the ‘gaze’ feedback, the upper realm’s Heavenly Dao lost track of him—hence why he could always flee when a challenge turned dire.

But this technique couldn’t be taught. Not everyone could perceive that ‘gaze,’ and after failing to kill him eighty-one times, the Heavenly Dao had grown increasingly cunning. Even Chen Yi could slip up if careless—let alone those blind to the ‘gaze.’

So it was all on them. Chen Yi’s role was to herd them forward and point them toward a spot with fewer ‘eyes.’

These misfits stood no real chance against the tribulation, but with luck, some might survive.

Yet Xuanxuzi, rather than appreciating this kindness, was secretly thrilled about something else entirely.

Heh, he didn’t object to me calling him that…

Does this mean if I survive, I can get closer to him? Maybe even visit his Illusory Star Pocket Realm? Might even make a small request or two…

With that thought, his fear of the tribulation vanished. Flourishing his sleeves, he declared:

“Excellent! Many thanks for the guidance, Young Master Yi. Off I go!”

In a flash, he streaked toward the cosmic void.

Truth was, he’d been ready to break through for ages—only his terror of the tribulation had kept him suppressing his cultivation for millennia.

But now, with Chen Yi’s backing? Why hesitate? With everyone breaking through together, the tribulation couldn’t possibly kill them all!

Once Xuanxuzi took the lead, Chen Yi turned to the remaining hesitant elders.

“What about you? Need an invitation?”

All twenty-seven peak Body Unity elders shuddered in unison.

“No, no! We’re going!”

“Fine, let’s do this!”

“......”

They’d considered hiding until the storm passed, but if they did, they’d face Chen Yi’s wrath. Could their gentle Heavenly Dao protect them then?

Sigh…

Better just go.

Since everyone is breaking through together, the Immortal Ascension Tribulation might not be able to kill them all!

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—

Twenty-seven streaks of light streaked across the sky, vanishing into the boundless depths of space.

Chen Yi stood silently in place for a long while before finally letting out a faint sigh. "Zi Wei, since you couldn’t bring yourself to do it, I wielded the blade in your stead. Don’t blame me. Once you’ve chosen optimization, there’s no turning back..."