The Third Waterway, White Tiger Pass.

This is the final barrier of the third waterway. The majestic pass, constructed with Ancient Immortal Realm White Jade, resembles an ancient white tiger that has lain in slumber for millions of years, resting peacefully on the water’s surface.

Above and below the pass, countless powerhouses from a different race are assembling armies, seemingly preparing for a massive offensive.

On the city walls, nine beasts with Immortal Emperor cultivations, along with over a hundred beasts with Immortal Venerable and Immortal King cultivations, are plotting something. During their discussions, words like "War King," "True Immortal Tribulation," and "ambush" occasionally come up.

"...Is the intelligence accurate? That troublesome War King Luo Hou, is he truly going to undergo the critical Nine-Five Tribulation above the Eastern Boundary River? These cunning vermin from the East Heaven, could they be setting a trap? Might they be trying to lure our main forces away from White Tiger Pass and then take the opportunity to ambush it... Over the decades, they have used many strategies to seize this pass." A Great Emperor from a different race asked hesitantly.

"Absolutely true! That War King Luo Hou, ten years ago, succumbed to my Heavenly Tribulation Divine Egg. Not only did successive tribulations appear, leaving him exhausted, but even the Nine-Five Tribulation he had painstakingly suppressed has been gradually provoked by me. This time, he surely cannot contain the Nine-Five Tribulation anymore. Ha! To dare undergo such a tribulation above the boundary river is asking for death! A heaven-sent opportunity, not to be missed!" Another Great Emperor from a different race sneered.

"We have just taken advantage of the moment when Blood God went out to forage, scheming against that old Laijun. If this time we can also eliminate Luo Hou, it will surely be a great achievement, and the Grand Divine Minister will definitely reward us!"

"No need for further discussion!"

"Strike while the iron is hot, annihilate the vermin of the Third Route East Heaven entirely, now’s the time!"

With an order from the highest cultivation among them, a Half-Step Quasi-Saint, the tidal army of the different race surged out of White Tiger Pass, marching toward Tianqing Pass.

The Third Waterway, Tianqing Pass.

This is the second-to-last majestic pass along the third waterway. It got its name because the formation of this pass can absorb the water energy from heaven and earth, making the sky above the pass year-round filled with Tianqing-colored cumulus clouds. The rainy season is the most common climate for Tianqing Pass.

Yet, recently, the cumulus clouds above Tianqing Pass suddenly dissipated completely, replaced by a thick cluster of hundreds and thousands of layers of tribulation clouds; moreover, golden flying dragon phantoms often appear, soaring and dancing amidst the clouds.

At this moment, the entire Tianqing Pass is filled with tension, even the head steward of Tianqing Pass, Eight Scenery Emperor, has a distressed look on his face.

Among the twelve water routes of the Eastern Boundary River, only routes three, six, and nine remain unrecaptured. Of these, the sixth route has the strongest forces from the different race, followed by the ninth route, with the third route being slightly more manageable.

But only slightly so.

After a series of upheavals in the Eastern Boundary River, the situation here can no longer be regarded optimistically.

The third route originally had both Eight Scenery and Tieli, two Eight Tribulations Immortal Emperors jointly guarding it, but because a traitor such as Immortal Elder Dongling emerged from the third route, Emperor Tielie fell into an ambush set by several different-race Immortal Emperors, perishing completely.

From then on, the third route was solely supported by Eight Scenery Emperor, one Eight Tribulations Immortal Emperor. Fortunately, Eight Scenery Emperor had capable aides like Emperor Laijun, War King Luo Hou, and the Three Sons of Jianyue, allowing the third route’s situation to not deteriorate beyond salvation.

Yet, who would have thought, just half a month ago, Emperor Laijun mysteriously disappeared during his routine patrol, and his whereabouts remain unknown!

Later, War King Luo Hou encountered misfortune as well, becoming ensnared by the different race who incited the Nine-Five Tribulation upon him...

As one piece of devastating news after another emerged, despite Eight Scenery Emperor’s typically stable mindset, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

In a stone chamber within Tianqing Pass, War King Luo Hou, gaunt and frail, with declining breath and pained expression, was struggling to suppress the arrival of the Nine-Five Tribulation.

The Nine-Five Tribulation, the tribulation of becoming an emperor. Back then, War King Luo Hou was injured by Senluo and fell into slumber for tens of millions of years, only recently being awakened by Ning Fan.

After awakening, War King’s cultivations soared, making him already qualified for emperor-level advancement.

However, due to the high failure rate of becoming an emperor, Luo Hou had never fully prepared, hence he continually deferred triggering the Nine-Five Tribulation, only temporarily suppressing it, hoping to truly breakthrough once preparations were complete.

The tribulation of becoming an emperor, unimaginably perilous. Success leads to ascension, failure leads to demise, leaving no third possibility. Because it was a life-and-death crisis, anyone breaking through to Immortal Emperor status would be extremely cautious, and Luo Hou is no exception.

According to his estimation, he needed at least hundreds of thousands of years to confidently undergo the tribulation successfully.

But the different race Immortal Emperors are too despicable, exploiting this weakness to use something named the Heavenly Tribulation Divine Egg against him, directly drawing out the Nine-Five Tribulation he had struggled to suppress!

For Luo Hou, whose preparations were not yet thorough, this was an absolute thunderbolt from a clear sky!

The hundreds of layers of tribulation clouds over Tianqing Pass currently are proof of his impending Nine-Five Tribulation!

Reflecting on the different race’s vicious scheme against Luo Hou, Eight Scenery Emperor and the other Immortal Emperors of the third route were infuriated beyond measure. Yet, they refrained from expressing it in front of Luo Hou, fearing it would affect his confidence in undergoing the tribulation. So, the Immortal Emperors had no choice but to suppress their anger, forcing a smile to comfort Luo Hou,

"Daoist Friend Luo, just focus on undergoing your tribulation, don’t worry about anything else, we will handle everything outside, ensuring a perfect environment for your tribulation with no one disturbing you."

Luo Hou was very grateful for the comfort provided by Eight Scenery Emperor and the others, but he still managed a bitter smile, sighing,

"Daoist Friend Eight Scenery, Daoist Friends of the Three Sword Lords, you need not hide it from me, this time with the Nine-Five Tribulation, how could no one come to disturb? Those from the different race finally drew out my Nine-Five Tribulation, and they bear the intention to kill me, how would they allow me to undergo the tribulation peacefully? If I am not mistaken, when my Nine-Five Tribulation truly descends, that will be the moment the different race mounts a full-scale attack on Tianqing Pass. They will surely come to interfere..."

"With me here, I will not let that group of wretches interfere with your tribulation! I will do everything possible to stop it!" Eight Scenery Emperor stated solemnly.

"In the past fierce battles, my three brothers owe you a life, this time even at the cost of our lives, we will definitely drive away those from the different race and protect you!" The Three Sons of Jianyue declared resolutely.

Luo Hou sighed, yet before he could say more, Eight Scenery Emperor and others transformed into a glow, flying out of the stone chamber, departing.

As time elapsed, the red clouds of tribulation over Tianqing Pass grew increasingly dense, and black winds began to howl, causing the void to tremble as they passed.

The scorching aura emanated from the red clouds, due to the golden dragon phantoms within them beginning to ignite and the temperature they released.

The number of those burning dragon phantoms was unknown, yet they exuded supreme imperial might. This wasn’t an ordinary pressure masters could withstand, countless Eastern Heaven cultivators within Tianqing Pass struggled to breathe under such supreme imperial pressure.

This is a rare opportunity to observe the Great Emperor’s tribulation, which should be a stroke of luck for every master who is not an Immortal Emperor.

But none of the Eastern Heaven warriors feel happy about this. Everyone is on high alert, knowing that a different race might launch a large-scale invasion at any time.

"Will the War King really perish in the Nine-Five Tribulation...?"

"With our strength, can we act as protectors for the War King...?"

"If the War King were to fall, our highest combat power in the Third Waterway would be diminished once again..."

Countless Eastern Celestial Cultivators wore worrisome expressions and engaged in discussions.

The Immortal Emperor Bajing, along with the Three Sons of Jianyue and other Immortal Emperors, also looked worried as they stood on the city wall, gazing at the sky filled with tribulation clouds.

Boom!

A flaming phantom flying dragon suddenly transformed into a golden thunder as thick as an adult’s arm, crashing down from the sky!

At the moment when this golden print of a palm descended, hundreds and thousands of golden thunders were born, fiercely striking down toward Tianqing Pass.

"The Nine-Five Tribulation requires enduring forty-five days of tribulation lightning. Each day’s lightning grows stronger. If all are overcome, one can slay the mountain of Dao, gather Emperor aura, and truly become an Emperor... The formations at each major pass of the Eastern Boundary River are very unique, specialized in defending against a different race, but offer low defense against other threats, and are almost defenseless against the lightning tribulation..."

The Immortal Emperor Bajing and others sighed repeatedly.

Were it not for the unique nature of the formation at Tianqing Pass, perhaps they could have used it to help Luo Hou resist the lightning tribulation.

Indeed, the countless golden thunders penetrated directly through the layers of formation light at Tianqing Pass, targeting and crashing into the stone chamber where Luo Hou was located.

Luo Hou dared not be negligent. With a wave of his hand, the battle intent in heaven and earth transformed into countless flames of war words, colliding with the golden thunders.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The golden thunders fiercely clashed with the flames of war words, but as it was just the first day’s tribulation lightning, its power was still shallow, so not a single tribulation lightning could breach Luo Hou’s defense.

The aura of the Immortal Emperor Bajing and others, once too close to the center of Luo Hou’s tribulation, would cause the power of the heavenly tribulation to increase exponentially... They had no choice but to stand far away, unable to assist Luo Hou in his tribulation...

The tribulation lightning continued to crash down relentlessly, giving Luo Hou no time to breathe.

On the second day, the power of the golden lightning suddenly surged, nearly doubling the power of the first day’s tribulation lightning.

On the third day, the power of the tribulation lightning increased to three times the initial level.

On the fourth day, fourfold.

On the fifth day...

On the eleventh day...

On the nineteenth day...

On the twenty-second day!

War King Luo Hou, truly an extraordinary talent of the era, while an average Immortal King becoming an Emperor might find the tribulation lightning overwhelming by the fifth day, Luo Hou managed to endure until the twenty-second day before feeling pressured.

This was still due to the havoc wrought by the Heavenly Tribulation Divine Egg within him; if not for the wounds created by this Divine Egg, Luo Hou might have felt the tribulation taxing after a few more days.

The flames of war words he used to protect himself were shattered one after another by the tribulation lightning. Unavoidably, the War King sacrificed an Innate Treasure, using it in conjunction with the flames of war words to fend off the tribulation lightning.

This wasn’t his personal Innate Treasure; it was a life-bound magical treasure of the Immortal Emperor Bajing, yet lent to him... The selfish Eastern Heaven warriors would never lend their life-bound magical treasure for someone else’s tribulation, yet perhaps driven by camaraderie on the battlefield, Immortal Emperor Bajing couldn’t bear to see Luo Hou fall and, gritting his teeth, lent him the life-bound magical treasure.

This action could damage his treasure.

But he couldn’t care too much about that.

On the twenty-third day.

On the twenty-sixth day.

On the twenty-eighth day.

The tribulation lightning grew stronger each day, and even with the use of the Innate Treasure as a shield, War King Luo Hou again felt the burden and had no choice but to employ a second Innate Treasure.

This was a sword, the life-bound treasure sword of the Shushanx Sword Monarch among the Three Sons of Jianyue—the Shunan Divine Sword!

The Three Sons of Jianyue were all sword cultivators, with lives bound to their swords, perishing if their swords were lost. A life-bound treasure sword was never meant to be lent out, but... they lent it to their comrade...

With two Innate Treasures as his shield, Luo Hou continued to hold on.

On the twenty-ninth day.

On the thirty-second day.

On the thirty-fifth day.

The once again struggling Luo Hou used his third innate magical treasure—the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword of the Mount Huang Sword Monarch!

Manipulating three innate treasures simultaneously was the limit for Luo Hou, so he did not use the Mount Hua Divine Sword of the Mount Hua Sword Monarch. At this moment, this was his utmost capacity to control magical treasures.

The lightning tribulation was already extremely formidable to cross.

On the thirty-ninth day, Luo Hou made a mistake, failed to block a golden tribulation lightning, and was struck on the stone chamber, causing a massive explosion.

Amid the smoke and dust, Luo Hou, covered in blood, emerged from the scattering stones, forcibly swallowing the sweet blood in his throat, continuing to control his magical treasures, resisting the tribulation.

It was merely one bolt of tribulation lightning that he failed to block, yet it injured his physical defense, which was more robust than many Immortal Emperors. This tribulation lightning is terrifying...

He began to tire.

His mana was depleting.

More and more tribulation lightning began to bypass his defenses, striking his body.

He roared loudly, transforming into the true form of the Witch God, matching his true form with his magical treasures, forcefully resisting the endless tribulation lightning!

The fortieth day.

The forty-first day.

The forty-second day.

Luo Hou’s Witch God true form started to show injuries, with his flesh being split open by the golden tribulation lightning, and his vitality rapidly fading under the attacks of the tribulation.

No one dared to intervene in Luo Hou’s tribulation to assist him, as that would only make the tribulation’s might even more terrifying, making it impossible to cross.

The Eastern Celestial Cultivators could only silently watch Luo Hou crossing the tribulation, silently praying that he could succeed.

The forty-third day.

The forty-fourth day.

Luo Hou’s Nine-Five Tribulation was nearing its end.

The might of the tribulation suddenly became extremely violent, a hundred times more than at the start!

Luo Hou, under the attack of the tribulation, was severely injured, hovering on the brink of death, his breath faint. He had too little preparation for this Nine-Five Tribulation, making survival until the forty-fifth day unlikely...

This is the consequence of attempting the Nine-Five Tribulation without preparation!

The chance of Luo Hou successfully crossing the tribulation was already very slim. Yet those different race members had no intention of letting him go!

Over the years, the powerhouses of different races suffered many losses at the hands of War King Luo Hou. Today was the perfect opportunity for them to ’repay’ Luo Hou!

"You seem to be struggling with the tribulation. Should we lend a hand?"

Amidst the thunderous tribulation clouds, a mocking voice suddenly tore through the heavens, reaching every Eastern Celestial Cultivator’s ears.

All Eastern Celestial Cultivators’ faces changed, and in their anxious gaze, countless giant beasts appeared in the distance beyond Tianqing Pass, continuously getting closer.

"...Augmenting Lightning Skill..." In the distance, an unknown powerhouse of a different race activated a Divine Skill.

The might of the tribulation clouds above Tianqing Pass suddenly increased significantly due to human intervention!

"Damn it! Those different races want to strengthen the tribulation’s might, to kill Daoist Luo on the forty-fourth day! We must stop them!"

Emperor Bajing and others’ faces changed drastically as they tried to stop the augmenting lightning skill’s operation, but it only resulted in a more potent tribulation power!

Damn it, damn it, damn it, even if they wanted to help Luo Hou, they couldn’t intervene!

The Immortal Emperors of different races were getting closer to Tianqing Pass, and suddenly, an unknown different race powerhouse directed a Divine Skill at the tribulation cloud in the sky.

"Nurturing Tribulation Technique..."

The might of the tribulation lightning increased even further!

"Ocean Empty Thunder Nurturing Technique!"

The tribulation power continued to increase!

The Great Freedom Devil Slaying Divine Lightning!

The tribulation power was artificially enhanced to an uncontestable level!

A series of muffled groans escaped Luo Hou’s mouth, with an unimaginable fury in his eyes.

Even if no one interfered, he wasn’t very confident about enduring the full forty-five days of tribulation lightning. Now with different races causing trouble, he might genuinely perish on the forty-fourth day!

Unwilling, unwilling, unwilling!

If these different races killed him on the front battlefield, he’d accept it silently, no complaints; but they were using such despicable means to harm him, he was not willing to accept!

"Daoist Luo, be cautious! It’s the Destroying Path Thunder Infant! Those bastards have brought that out!"

All of a sudden, Emperor Bajing and others’ expressions drastically changed because a golden Thunder Infant suddenly gestated in the deepest part of the tribulation clouds!

It was a gigantic infant with dragon horns, dragon tail, and dragon scales, eyes devoid of whites, with a sinister and terrifying smile.

It was the purest power of the Nine-Five Tribulation lightning, birthing the Thunder Infant!

It was a tribulation lightning anomaly that occurs only when a Master, rejected by the heavens and earth, attempts to become an Emperor!

War King Luo Hou was not Ning Fan, he was not rejected by the heavens and earth, and such vicious phenomena should not have appeared in his Nine-Five Tribulation.

However, those different races inherited mysterious methods from the Purple Rose Immortal Domain, capable of significantly elevating an enemy’s tribulation power.

War King Luo Hou’s Nine-Five Tribulation was artificially escalated; it was elevated to such a degree that even the legendary Destroying Path Thunder Infant emerged.

Not only were Emperor Bajing and others greatly shocked, but even the different race Immortal Emperors who orchestrated this were somewhat surprised.

This was their first time witnessing a Destroying Path Thunder Infant!

Unexpectedly, after launching dozens of disaster-inducing secret techniques, they managed to conjure such a terrifying entity.

This was perfect!

They need not continue interfering with Luo Hou’s tribulation anymore!

Legend has it that a single Destroying Path Thunder Infant possesses the power to instantly destroy ten Immortal Emperors!

Coming next, this Destroying Path Thunder Infant only required one strike to thoroughly eliminate Luo Hou; if its aftermath spread, it might even engulf the entire Tianqing Pass, causing innumerable casualties among Eastern Celestial Cultivators.

"Hahaha! It’s actually the Destroying Path Thunder Infant, something even an old man like me, a Half-Step Quasi-Saint, dares not confront directly! That Luo Hou mongrel is undoubtedly doomed!"

"Looks like we are about to perform meritorious deeds once again!"

"The third route will lose another Eastern Heaven Immortal Emperor!"

"The Grand Divine Minister will surely reward us!"

Boom!

The Destroying Path Thunder Infant, seated beneath the tribulation cloud, stretched out its chubby little hand, and the golden sea of lightning instantly submerged the entire Tianqing Pass.

The countless Eastern Celestial Cultivators, led by Emperor Bajing and others, exhausted all their means to block the descending lightning sea, but alas, they could not hold it...

As Tianqing Pass was about to face a cataclysm, Ning Fan, who had been secretly protecting Luo Hou, tore open the void, revealing his form, raising a small sapling to the sky, declaring:

"Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree! With the power granted by me, sweep away all the thunder here!"

Swish, swish, swish! 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The Thunder Sea, which neither Emperor Bajing nor the Three Sons of Jianyue, Luo Hou, nor the countless Eastern Celestial Cultivators could withstand, astonishingly shattered after hundreds of swipes from the Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree with a bang!

The shattered lightning power dispersed everywhere, vanishing into the air.

Ning Fan, clad in a white robe, exuding unmatched elegance, appeared in everyone’s vision, standing void above, looking down upon the different race powerhouses as if they were ants.

His gaze was not disdainful, yet all the different race powerhouses, meeting Ning Fan’s eyes, felt a profound sense of insignificance.

That insignificance was not merely due to a mere gap in cultivation.

It was...a gap between species!

Not a gap between a God and men!

Rather...a gap reminiscent of a Father God, noble even more than ordinary deities, looking down upon all living beings!

Turning his gaze to Luo Hou, he smiled as he did in the past, "Brother Luo, fear not, with me here, no one can disrupt your tribulation!"

Not good! It’s the White-Clad Yama!

In an instant of recognizing Ning Fan’s features, innumerable different race powerhouses were struck with terror, turning pale, their imposing auras crumbling!

This demon hath come! And unexpectedly, he effortlessly withstood a blow that not even a Half-Step Quasi-Saint could!"

How is this possible! Even a Half-Step Quasi-Saint couldn’t achieve this! Were they dreaming!

Wait a moment!

When did the White-Clad Yama advance to an Immortal King!!!

It has been... how many years, and this young man’s cultivation has undergone such earth-shaking changes!!!