"Jiang... Jiang Che, run! Get out of here now!"
"You have to go! It must be because you interfered with the heavenly tribulation and altered its course... There’s still time if you leave now!"
Chen Ningshuang shoved Jiang Che away, though she herself was trembling with fear.
This lightning tribulation was far more terrifying than the previous Thousand Calamities Unyielding Tribulation. Just a single glance at the gathering storm of lightning was enough to make her soul quiver uncontrollably.
"Don’t be afraid. I’m here... And this is the perfect chance to refine an immortal physique for you!"
Jiang Che raised his head and calmly observed the heavenly punishment. Though he couldn’t identify the exact nature of this tribulation, he knew it was far more fearsome than the Heavenly Dao Immortality Tribulation Jiang Ruoxu had endured.
Once they weathered this storm, Chen Ningshuang would undoubtedly forge a Postnatal Immortal Physique.
"Jiang Che..." Chen Ningshuang stared at him in a daze.
His words—"Don’t be afraid, I’m here"—instantly soothed her panicked heart.
Jiang Che bulk-purchased 100 Lightning Evasion Talismans from the system. Buying in bulk came with a discount—10% off for a hundred!
He also stocked up on all kinds of life-saving treasures. After all, he was swimming in system points now.
The old ancestors of the Nine Heavens’ Jiang Clan had "contributed" over a billion points in the past week alone. He couldn’t spend it all even if he tried!
...
At this moment, the guests lingering in the Dragon Palace were all stunned by the terrifying tribulation. Most of them had descended from the Nine Heavens.
In the mortal realm, Jiang Che was practically untouchable—surrounded by dozens of Martial God-level guardians, and even the little princess of the Jialan Clan had been "recruited" as his wife.
Faced with such a ruthless figure, their initial instinct had been to steer clear.
But recently, rumors spread that the Jiang Clan was willing to go all-out to protect Jiang Che, even if it meant war with the entire Jialan Clan. Apparently, his talent was so monstrous that he could reshape the future of the Nine Heavens.
The most absurd part? Hearing of Jiang Che’s... appreciation for beautiful women, the elders of various clans had begun preparing to send more of their fair maidens down as "gifts."
To curry favor, they had all taken up residence on the outskirts of the Dragon Palace.
But Jiang Che, that scoundrel, was too busy indulging in pleasures to grant them an audience.
"Is someone undergoing tribulation? What kind of lightning calamity is this...? Even my clan’s Crown Prince’s Divine Ascension Tribulation was nothing compared to this!"
"An Immortal Physique! Could it be Jiang Che?"
"No, he’s already undergone his Divine Ascension Tribulation... He can’t face another, right?"
"Does the Jiang Clan have another Immortal Physique in the making?"
"Wait... I remember now! Ancient texts mention the Ten Thousand Calamities Unyielding Tribulation—a trial where one survives annihilation amidst endless lightning. Those who endure it forge the Ten Thousand Calamities Unyielding Physique, the second strongest among Postnatal Immortal Physiques!"
"No way... Ten Thousand Calamities Unyielding?!"
...
With Jiang Che leading the charge, Qin Qiaoqiao and the other girls weren’t too worried.
The terrifying tribulation had already transformed the surrounding ten thousand miles into a mirrored dimension. The heavenly thunder carried a terrifying Dao resonance, over ten times more oppressive than Jiang Ruoxu’s tribulation.
But it didn’t matter—he had the system.
"Don’t be scared, Shuang’er." Jiang Che pulled Chen Ningshuang into his arms, shielding her from the worst of the lightning while letting the tribulation’s essence flow into her body, reshaping her physique.
"Jiang... Jiang Che! Let go of me! You’ll die!"
Chen Ningshuang struggled in his embrace, but his arms were like iron vices—impossible to break free from.
"You... you idiot!"
"I’m fine. A little lightning won’t kill me," Jiang Che said calmly, even as his back was charred black by the strikes.
The terrifying resilience of his dual Immortal Physiques kicked in—his wounds healed instantly, only to be seared anew.
The young master had his methods. By now, Chen Ningshuang was crying uncontrollably.
"Cough... We’re practically an old married couple. Why the tears? Your husband’s just securing your future."
Jiang Che wasn’t entirely bluffing. This tribulation was absurdly brutal. Even with the Lightning Evasion Talismans reducing 90% of the damage, the remaining 10% was still excruciating.
But what was a little bloodshed for his woman? It’d make her feel more at ease. As he held Chen Ningshuang, his mind wandered to how he could use this "suffering hero" act to tease Yu Wan’er and the other brats later.
Stubborn? A well-timed "sacrifice" would have them sobbing in no time—Heh heh heh!
Not only would this grant his women Immortal Physiques and boost their cultivation potential, but it’d also deepen their bond. Plus, he’d harvest Tribulation Essence—three birds with one stone!
"Wuwuwu... Jiang Che, let me go! You’re bleeding!"
"It’s nothing. I’ve got plenty of blood. They say one drop of essence equals ten drops of blood—this is nothing compared to my usual—AHH! Damn it, Heaven’s really pushing its luck today!"
Jiang Che’s lips twitched from the pain.
Each bolt was stronger than the last. The hardest labor he’d ever endured was carrying a girl to bed, and the worst pain he’d felt was a vaccination—nothing compared to this lightning’s fury.
But for the sake of his harem’s harmony, he’d endure. The relentless strikes even eased his guilt over his... expansive romantic pursuits. Pah! He just wanted to give every beautiful girl a loving home!
Chen Ningshuang, nestled in his arms, watched his pained expression and suddenly let out a tearful laugh. She stopped struggling and gently hugged him back.
[How wonderful... If only we could die together in this lightning...]
"???"
Hold up—that’s a dangerous thought, girl! I’m suffering to refine your physique, and you’re thinking of dragging me to the grave?
We’re way past the "yandere" phase, alright?
...
The tribulation raged for three days and nights.
Chen Ningshuang emerged with the Ten Thousand Calamities Unyielding Physique, while Jiang Che sprawled across her lap—exhausted from bearing the brunt of the ordeal.
"Jiang Che... I’ve condensed an Immortal Mark!" Chen Ningshuang’s gaze was tender, her heart utterly conquered.
Jiang Che weakly waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah... Take me back to my room. I need a nap."
Three days of heavenly punishment would tire anyone out.
In his hand, he clutched a small vial filled with crimson-gold liquid. Dong’er had already collected the rest of the Tribulation Essence—mission accomplished. Time to rest.
"Okay." Chen Ningshuang lifted him gently and walked out.
With her new physique, her beauty had ascended to ethereal heights, her aura colder yet more transcendent. Each step left lotus blossoms in her wake.
"Sister Shuang! You succeeded?" Yu Wan’er and the others came scampering over.
"Mhm." Chen Ningshuang nodded softly.
Yu Wan'er glanced at Jiang Che, who was already snoring loudly, and pouted her small mouth. "Tch, I knew this jerk wouldn't die. The wicked live a thousand years!"
A trace of displeasure flashed in Chen Ningshuang's beautiful eyes. If it weren't for Yu Wan'er... she would have intervened!
"Wan'er, don't say such things. It was Jiang Che... who bore the lightning tribulation for me. Without him... I would have surely perished in that thunderstorm."
"Huh? Oh... oh! Stupid Jiang Che... I guess you have at least some sense of responsibility," Yu Wan'er muttered under her breath, her little hand secretly poking Jiang Che's backside.
But her words carried a strong, unmistakable note of sourness.