Stellar Transformation-Chapter 58 - 12: Outbreak (Part 2)

Qin De swept a glance over everyone and then said, "Gathering you all here so urgently is because there is something extremely important to address. However, whether this matter is good or bad, even I find it hard to say clearly." A trace of a bitter smile appeared on Qin De’s face, and the same was true for Feng Yuzi who stood beside him.

"Father, what exactly is the matter that has you so troubled?" Qin Zheng immediately asked, as Qin Yu, Qin Feng, and the others all watched Qin De attentively.

Qin De shook his head helplessly and said, "I’ve only reached Innate Great Perfection a little more than a year ago, but during my recent retreat, I suddenly had a premonition... that my Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation will come in half a year."

Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation!

The first Heavenly Tribulation for one wishing to become a Cultivator, commonly known as the ’Small Heavenly Tribulation,’ the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation!

Everyone was dumbstruck. Those who have reached Innate Great Perfection, some fear the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation, while others wish to attempt to pass it and become a Cultivator. However, encountering the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation is not something that happens easily.

Some people have waited for decades or even centuries after reaching Innate Great Perfection for the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation to occur. Some have sensed the timing of their Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation as soon as they achieved Innate Great Perfection. It all relies on one’s comprehension of the Heavenly Dao. Who would have expected that Qin De, who practiced Martial Arts for decades and was even more formidable than Lian Yan, would sense the arrival of the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation?

But is this really a stroke of luck?

Surviving the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation, especially in the Hidden Dragon Continent with such a method of cultivation without the help of a Cultivation Sect, has a mere one in ten chance. With the impending military campaign, if Qin De were to fail the Tribulation Crossing and die on the spot, things would be dire.

However, if the Tribulation Crossing is successful, the Qin Family would gain a Cultivator, which would greatly increase their power. Unfortunately, the probability of successfully crossing the tribulation is too low.

"How could this be? Senior Lian hasn’t encountered the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation even after all these years, and Your Highness you..." Xu Yuan’s heart was in turmoil. He had followed Qin De for many years, and their relationship was that of both lord and subject as well as brothers.

Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation, ah! The odds of success are too small. The three great Heavenly Tribulations for Cultivators are each more perverse than the last.

"Father!" Qin Yu, Qin Feng, and Qin Zheng, the three brothers, all looked at Qin De with urgency in their eyes. Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation, ah! This meant their father was likely to die in half a year. Although they loved their father, they had to acknowledge that the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation was extremely arduous.

"Yu’er, and Feng, Zheng, you two as elders need to act like adults, not like this. A true man, when facing the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation, cannot run away but must confront it. If he succeeds, it will be a cause for celebration; if he fails, it means nothing," Qin De said with a resolute and carefree appearance.

"But Father, this Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation..." Qin Yu felt a pain in his heart. Grandpa Lian died while attempting the very same tribulation not long ago. If his father were to die in the Heavenly Tribulation, then... the thought alone sent shivers down Qin Yu’s spine.

"Yu’er, I know the danger of the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulation. Your grandfather also died during his crossing. However, Heavenly Tribulation is inescapable. A man must be brave enough to face it. Even if it means death, one has to make the effort," Qin De’s voice became firm.

Seeing the look in Qin De’s eyes, Qin Yu could only nod.

"Today, I have convened everyone to make arrangements for the future. From now on, all matters of the Qin Family will be handled by Zheng’er. That is to say, starting from today, I will only offer guidance from behind, and Zheng’er will make his own decisions and issue orders," Qin De commanded outright.

"Yes, Father!" Qin Zheng’s voice lacked any excitement.

In the past few years, Qin Zheng had already been dealing with the general matters and decisions. Now, Qin De’s words meant that he was handing over all power to Qin Zheng.

Among Qin De’s three sons, the eldest, Qin Feng, excelled at leading troops into battle; the second, Qin Zheng, was adept at governance; and the youngest, Qin Yu, was quite free, at least Qin De did not constrain him much, allowing Qin Yu to do as he pleased.

"Feng, you must work hard, your standing in the Qin Family’s army is entirely determined by your military achievements," Qin De said, fixing his gaze on Qin Feng.

Qin Feng nodded in assent. He was an Innate Expert with exceptional talent in leading troops and commanding an army of a hundred thousand soldiers. His status at such a young age, though aided by his identity as the Prince Heir, was also very much due to his own strengths.

"Yu’er..." Qin De looked at Qin Yu.

Truth be told, Qin De felt he owed the most to his third son. However, he did not want to dwell on sentimental thoughts at this moment. Pausing for a long while, he slowly said, "Yu’er, you may do as you wish. I, as your father, won’t constrain you. But I want to leave you with these words—’Remember, if you think it’s right, then do it. We, the men of the Qin Family, must not be indecisive or fear death!’"

Upon hearing these words, a surge of passion boiled within Qin Yu.

"Yes, Father!" Qin Yu said resolutely.

Qin De smiled. By his side, Feng Yuzi spoke up, "I have already discussed with His Highness, and when the time comes in half a year, everything in the Qin Family will operate normally. His Highness and I will take some Innate Experts to a secret location to face the Heavenly Tribulation. The three Princely Heirs are not permitted to follow us."

"Yes, I have already decided who will accompany me. At that time, Manager Ge and some other Innate Experts, along with other masters will go with me. You three, Zheng’er, are not allowed to come," Qin De’s words were final, brooking no opposition.

As Qin De goes to face the Heavenly Tribulation, who knows whether Xiang Guang might catch wind of it. If he does, Xiang Guang is certain to send experts to interfere. Each Innate Expert who follows Qin De will be in danger, and Qin De cannot risk his sons’ lives.

Qin Zheng is the future Prince Zhen Dong, responsible for governance, and naturally he must not come to any harm.

Qin Feng, as the commander in the military, couldn’t be used as an ordinary guard expert. Once an accident occurred, it would be a great deal.

As for Qin Yu...

"Father, I will go with you!" Qin Yu declared loudly, "I know following you will be dangerous. Big Brother and Second Brother have heavy responsibilities and cannot afford mishaps. But I’m not very useful when it comes to raising troops. I can’t handle political matters, I can’t handle military affairs..."

"No!" Qin De abruptly said, cutting off Qin Yu’s words.

"Why?" Qin Yu immediately stood up and asked, "Why not, Father? Do you remember what you said just now? ’Do what you think is right.’ Qin Family men should not be timid or fear death! Now I want to go with you, Father. I believe this is the right thing to do. Death I do not fear. I just want to go with you!"

Qin Yu stared at Qin De, giving no ground whatsoever.

"Yu’er, do you know how dangerous this is? How many Innate Experts Xiang Guang has, I do not know, and I’m not worried about that. But... they have two Upper Immortals, two of them! Your Uncle Feng can only stop one. If both Upper Immortals come, the danger will be extremely great. Do you understand?" Qin De continued.

"Danger, should we fear danger?" Qin Yu said with a faint smile, allowing no room for Qin De to refuse.

Qin De shook his head and said, "Yu’er, everyone going this time is an expert, all Innate Experts. You who practice Outer Strength, what use would there be if you went? You would be of no use and instead might burden us in moments of danger. So, best give up that idea!"

"Innate?" Qin Yu laughed.

After becoming an Innate Expert, Qin Yu had wanted to tell his father this news. However, because of Lian Yan’s death, Qin Yu was so grieved that he forgot. Then Qin Yu began to cultivate the techniques from the Tongtian Map, and with Qin De in closed-door cultivation, he naturally never got the chance to tell his father.

"Take this!" Qin Yu suddenly roared, his figure turning into a bolt of lightning shooting straight at the blue-clad old man.

The blue-clad and grey-clad old men were Qin De’s top experts, on the same level as Lian Yan, usually overseeing the affairs of the Heavenly Net. The blue-clad old man, as an Innate Great Perfection Expert, was terrifyingly strong. Seeing Qin Yu’s attack...

"Third Prince!" The blue-clad old man said with a smile as he reached out his hand.

"Hmph!" Qin Yu snorted coldly, making the air itself tremble. His right fist turned into thunder, having achieved Great Success in the first block of the Heavenly Ascension Mysterious Technique and advancing to the second block. Qin Yu’s true strength was being revealed for the first time after a long period of physical transformation. What realm had his strength reached?

The faces of those present changed.

The blue-clad old man realized something was wrong and immediately stimulated his Innate True Qi within his body, his right palm turning golden.

Fist against palm!

"Boom!"

A violent trembling sound. The blue-clad old man only felt an incredibly powerful force. Pure physical strength, without a trace of True Qi, that terrifying force transmitted through his palm, pure and fierce.

The blue-clad old man involuntarily stepped back, then with a "crack" sound, the railing shattered, and finally, he hit the Restriction set up by Feng Yuzi, which stopped him.

All eyes were on Qin Yu, filled with nothing but shock.

With no expression on his face, Qin Yu looked straight at Qin De. "Father, do you say I am qualified to go with you? An Innate Expert, the first ever Innate External Power Expert on the Hidden Dragon Continent, counts as an Innate Expert too, doesn’t he?" Qin Yu’s voice stunned everyone present.

Innate External Power Expert!

From ancient times, when people talked about Outer Strength, they thought of ’difficulty, pain, unrewarding, no future, at most only reaching Postnatal Limit,’ but from today on, those present knew that Outer Strength too could reach the Innate Realm!

"So strong. If the Third Prince were to use a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, whether I would be his match is even uncertain!" The blue-clad old man still felt pain in his right arm. Qin Yu’s strength had far surpassed the realm he was in during the battle with Zhen Xu.

Having cultivated the Heavenly Ascension Mysterious Technique and transformed by the mystery of Silver Light and Golden Light, Qin Yu had undergone earth-shattering changes compared to himself during the battle with Zhen Xu.

Qin De looked at Qin Yu. No one knew the extent of the shock in his heart. This third son of his, whom he had never placed much hope on, who practiced the most arduous and seemingly hopeless Outer Strength, had, at the age of eighteen and unbeknownst to him as a father, reached such a terrifying realm of strength, and had also become an unprecedented Innate External Power Expert.

"Father," Qin Yu called out again, waiting for Qin De’s response.

Qin De was silent for a long while, then slowly shook his head and said, "No!"