Fang Yuan's hearty laughter echoed across Tiger King Ridge, resounding like rolling thunder and sweeping out in all directions.

At this moment, Fang Yuan, having refined all of the Primordial Demonic Qi, successfully broke through to the Tier Nine Imperial Realm.

This breakthrough cost Fang Yuan a full two years and two months, an unexpectedly lengthy period, which was also why Jiang Che was no longer willing to stay in Demon Valley as his Guardian.

The process of advancing from late Tier Eight to the peak of Tier Eight, and then rising to Tier Nine, was simply too time-consuming.

If not for Fang Yuan possessing a supreme cultivation treasure—enough Primordial Demonic Qi as support—it would have been impossible to ascend such a high step and break through to the Imperial Realm within two years.

Peach Grove Valley.

Upon hearing the laughter, Jiang Che awoke instantly from his slumber and exchanged a glance with Nangong Luo, who had also been roused from cultivation. In both of their eyes, joy glittered.

Fang Yuan's successful breakthrough to the Imperial Realm is an excellent turn of fortune for Tiger King Ridge.

Tiger King Ridge might have seemed invincible with Jiang Che's presence, but one must not forget: the spatial channel connecting to the Ancestral Demon Realm is still within Tiger King Ridge.

Although, up to now, no more powerful demon clan members have teleported over from the Ancestral Demon Realm—as if they have given up—Jiang Che and the others were not so naïve as to rest easy.

After all, the demons' covetous gaze upon the Profound Yellow Realm was all too obvious. The current calm from the Ancestral Demon Realm was more likely their time for amassing power.

Once the invasion begins, Demon Emperor-level powerhouses may well take part. With another Imperial Realm expert on Tiger King Ridge, facing the demon clan would be far easier—at least the entire burden would not fall solely on Jiang Che's shoulders.

Jiang Che slowly rose to his feet; however, both he and Nangong Luo refrained from approaching Fang Yuan's cavern-dwelling.

After all, breaking through to Tier Nine still entailed facing the trial of the Thunder Tribulation. Get too close, and they risked being drawn into the ordeal's aftermath.

Rumble—

Moments later, the sky above was thrown into chaos as winds howled and dark clouds gathered. In the midst of dense peals of thunder, the pitch-black clouds coalesced into a sky-covering canopy above Tiger King Ridge, plunging the once brilliant landscape into instant gloom.

Bolts of lightning, curling like azure dragons, wove and danced within the clouds. Brilliant purple streaks flickered without pause, the thunderous roar like ten thousand beasts bellowing in unison, shaking the world and causing Tiger King Ridge itself to tremble violently.

"Hahahaha! Heavenly Dao, I know you never favored me, this Demon Monarch, but today, let me test the power of this Ninth Realm Thunder Tribulation!"

As the thunder became ever more frenzied, the thick black canopy billowed like a roiling ocean, almost ready to burst. From Fang Yuan's cave came his wild, unrestrained laughter.

The very next instant, a bloody streak of spiritual light pierced the heavens, terrifying Demonic Qi surging forth like a raging river, sweeping in all directions.

A fearsome aura of the Ninth Tier pressed down upon all things, making every living being within Tiger King Ridge feel the coming of heavenly might, rattling their souls.

Fang Yuan, now suspended in the sky, summoned the Yama World-Destroying Wheel. Roiling Demonic Qi swept outward, and the blood-colored Treasure Light flooded heaven and earth.

"Hmph! This Demon Monarch has already conquered the Thunder Tribulation of Tier Nine before. So what if it's the Heaven's Thunder? What can it do to me?"

Riding the Yama World-Destroying Wheel, Fang Yuan stared indifferently at the thunder tribulation brewing above, a cold snort escaping him, his expression calm and unhurried.

Today, he would certainly ascend to the Ninth Tier of the Imperial Realm. Not even the Heavenly Dao could stand in his way!

Boom!

In an instant, from the black canopy, a massive pillar of lightning crashed down, illuminating the heavens with dazzling brilliance—a radiance blinding to the eye.

The sky-shattering thunder exploded by Fang Yuan's ears as his gaze sharpened. All his strength surged into the Yama World-Destroying Wheel.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

At once, the Yama World-Destroying Wheel began to tremble. Waves of ever-intensifying blood light emanated outward, and the wheel itself visibly grew in size before all eyes.

In but a blink, the Yama World-Destroying Wheel—originally no larger than a human face—swelled to become a colossal artifact over a hundred zhang across, shielding its master, Fang Yuan, behind it.

Boom!

Now, the pillar of thunder struck the expanding Yama World-Destroying Wheel. Deafening explosions echoed unceasingly in the sky, while arcs of violet lightning scattered in every direction. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Under the might of the thunder pillar, even a supreme treasure like the Yama World-Destroying Wheel began to tremble slightly, its bloody radiance flickering uncertainly.

Yet, as a treasure of legend, the Yama World-Destroying Wheel was unharmed by the Celestial Thunder—it suffered no great damage at all.

Boom, boom, boom—

The pillars of thunder fell in swift succession, their dreadful power overwhelming, engulfing Fang Yuan below in a sea of endless lightning.

Fortunately, with the protection of the Yama World-Destroying Wheel, Fang Yuan, though enduring immense pressure, remained unscathed in any substantial way.

As time trickled by, the raging Thunder Tribulation gradually drew to its close.

With the final lightning pillar's descent, the vast black canopy overhead began to rapidly disperse. Gales faded to stillness. The endless crashing thunder retreated into the clouds, vanishing without a trace.

"Hahahaha—"

At that moment, Fang Yuan, having triumphed over the Thunder Tribulation, threw his head back and laughed with abandon, Imperial might of the Ninth Tier sweeping out, awe-inspiring over all the world.

Yet, perhaps disfavored by the Heavenly Dao, the phenomena upon Fang Yuan's breakthrough were far less grand than those seen with Jiang Che.

Waves of bloody Spiritual Light surged like the tide, rolling bleaks and drenching all of heaven, dyeing the entire sky and giving rise to the sense of an impending apocalypse.

"Jie jie jie! This Demon Monarch is finally ascended to the Imperial Realm, and at last, stands on equal footing with Big Brother…"

Elated in heart, Fang Yuan tarried no longer. Retrieving the Yama World-Destroying Wheel hovering above, he concealed his Imperial Realm aura and descended toward Peach Grove Valley below.

Meanwhile, within Peach Grove Valley, the system notification Jiang Che awaited at last arrived.

"Ding! Bound target Fang Yuan's cultivation has broken through. Congratulations, host, on receiving a tenfold reward!"

In the next instant, a torrent of Spiritual Power surged into Jiang Che's body. At the same time, immense insights regarding the Law of Thunder imprinted themselves into his mind.

Jiang Che immediately closed his eyes and focused inward, guiding the foreign Spiritual Power within, refining it rapidly to raise his cultivation, while he simultaneously absorbed the new thunder insights in his mind.

In that moment, purple lightning danced across Jiang Che's body without cease. The Law of Thunder glimmered indistinctly all around him, and the mighty aura radiating from his body began rising swiftly.

Boom!

As a muffled roar rang out from within, Jiang Che's oppressive aura surged upward. At once, the entire Peach Grove Valley seemed to tremble beneath its weight.

In the very next heartbeat, Jiang Che slowly opened his eyes.

Late Stage Tier Nine! It is accomplished!