Heavenly Court Secret Realm

In a forbidden land.

"Pfft—"

A figure tumbled out, his entire body charred black from head to toe, barely recognizable as human.

No one knew how much time had passed before the blackened lump finally twitched.

"Creeeak—"

Just flexing a finger joint caused the entire digit to snap off.

"Cough! Cough!!!"

After hacking violently, the layers of charred skin crumbled away.

Beneath the ruined exterior, one could faintly make out the so-called Chosen of Destiny—Chu Yuan!

"That tribulation... nearly took my life! If not for the Immortal Dao secret technique, Nirvana Art, which I stumbled upon earlier, I would’ve been done for!"

Chu Yuan shuddered at the thought.

Yet, he also felt immense relief—at least he had survived by sheer luck.

Closing his eyes, he assessed his cultivation level—Fifth Stage Divine Passage Realm!

Having just survived the Divine Passage Tribulation, he had leapt five stages in one go, clearly reaping tremendous benefits from the ordeal.

"I can sense it... I’ve tempered some kind of Immortal Body Origin within the lightning tribulation! This acquired-grade Immortal Body seems no weaker than my Chaos Body!"

Chu Yuan grew increasingly excited. The suffering hadn’t been in vain!

"Still, I owe it all to the resources provided by Mr. Jiang!"

Glancing down at his shattered storage pouch, Chu Yuan felt a mix of emotions.

During the heavenly tribulation, he had exhausted every last trump card just to survive!

That cataclysmic tribulation could obliterate a Martial God with a single strike—let alone a half-step Divine Passage cultivator like him. His storage ring had contained dozens of defensive saint artifacts, even a few quasi-Emperor-grade treasures, yet all were reduced to ashes.

Every defensive formation was spent, and he had frantically gulped down elixirs—all the life-saving pills accumulated from dozens of secret realm raids, even the 100 million-plus points stored in his "Ironhead System" were completely drained.

At the brink of despair, he discovered a batch of pills Mr. Jiang had distributed to academy students in his storage pouch. Devouring them all allowed him to endure the final wave of tribulation—otherwise, he wouldn’t even have had the chance for Nirvana rebirth.

"Mr. Jiang... truly a man of peerless virtue! This debt... I, Chu Yuan, will remember it."

Classic Chu Yuan—sold out yet still counting the money for his betrayer.

But given his limited understanding, he’d likely never uncover the truth about the reclusive mastermind, Jiang Che.

"Hmm? Where... where is this place?" Only now did Chu Yuan realize he had been teleported to an unknown location.

At that moment, a token at his waist began to glow.

The Heavenly Court Token!

"Wait... have I entered the Ancient Heavenly Court’s trial grounds again?"

Chu Yuan’s breathing quickened.

Recognized by the Ancient Heavenly Court, he was transported to its ruins for trials after each major breakthrough. Clearing stages rewarded him with treasures until, ultimately, he could claim the Heavenly Court’s entire legacy!

As for what the Ancient Heavenly Court truly was, he had no clue initially—only learning fragments from the Nine Heavens Network.

Two months ago, after breaking through to the Shattering Heaven Stage, he attempted a trial but received lackluster rewards. That so-called "Heavenly Origin Immortal Pill," hyped beyond belief, felt no different from a Foundation Establishment Pill, dampening his enthusiasm for the Heavenly Court’s treasures.

Pfft—Ancient Heavenly Court? More like Ancient Cheapskates!

Struggling to his feet, Chu Yuan activated the Nirvana Art, rapidly healing his injuries.

"What trial awaits this time? Bring it on! With my dual Immortal Bodies, I’m ready!"

Clenching his fists, he brimmed with fighting spirit.

[Divine Passage Trial, Stage One: Defeat ten half-step Martial God puppets. Reward: One Nine Revolutions Golden Core.]

"Nine Revolutions Golden Core???"

The ironheaded youth stiffened. He had heard legends of this pill—forged by the Supreme Lao Jun himself! While similar pills existed in the Nine Heavens, this was the Ancient Heavenly Court’s trial! This core might genuinely be Lao Jun’s handiwork!

"Ten half-step Martial God puppets? I can take them!" Chu Yuan swelled with confidence.

[Ding! Host, as an ironheaded fool, ten is too few! Shout boldly: "I’ll fight a hundred!" Reward: 5 million Ironhead Points.]

Chu Yuan: "......"

Damn this cursed system, always screwing him over!

During the tribulation, its "ironhead" advice enraged the heavens, nearly getting him fried. And now... again?

But... Chu Yuan had long been molded by the system. Initially, he acted recklessly for points—yet gradually, he began craving the adrenaline rush!

"Ten puppets? Pathetic! I’ll fight a HUNDRED!!!"

The trial mechanism stuttered... then granted his wish.

A crushing tide of a hundred half-step Martial God puppets surged forth!

[Ding! Host successfully scammed the Chosen of Destiny, "Chu Yuan." Reward: 30 million points.]

Indeed, after evolving dual Immortal Bodies through the tribulation, Chu Yuan’s "drop rate" had soared, now rivaling even quasi-Emperors!

And he was only at the Divine Passage Realm! Imagine when he reached Martial God, Nirvana, Creation, or even Emperor?

Tens of billions per harvest!

Faced with such a premium cash crop, even if Chu Yuan slacked off, Jiang Che would find ways to "encourage" his growth.

Two hours later.

Chu Yuan lay sprawled like a dead dog, surrounded by puppet wreckage.

[Clear!]

A mechanical voice announced as a golden pill drifted toward him. Instantly, Chu Yuan’s eyes blazed with fervor!

The Nine Revolutions Golden Core!!!

A mere whiff of its medicinal fragrance sent him into euphoria. This was a true immortal pill—consuming it would skyrocket his power!

Trembling, he reached for the pill, intending to store it in his system space.

Yet, a sudden wariness struck him.

His instincts screamed: Don’t stash this treasure!

Last time, he suspected his "Heavenly Origin Immortal Pill" had been swapped—that was when he first doubted his system. After all, it had unusually insisted on "recycling" the pill.

Not that he enjoyed assuming the worst, but this system was undeniably shady.

"I’ll eat it now! Straight down the hatch—safest way!"

With that, he popped the Nine Revolutions Golden Core into his mouth.

The moment it touched his tongue, radiant colors erupted, accompanied by ethereal dancing fairies. Chu Yuan squinted, bracing for the pill’s divine effects.

Minutes later, his body burned with feverish intensity, meridians scorching as if about to combust.

"Now this is an immortal pill! The potency is unreal!"

Yet when the special effects faded, only the burning excitement remained. No actual power boost.