This Human Immortal Is Too Serious

"My Lord! The Divine Punishment Pool has anomalies; nearly forty percent of its Divine Power has been drawn away by the transcendence catastrophe that appeared in the Human Domain!"

"Forty percent? Who is the expert undergoing tribulation? How could they directly draw away forty percent? Hurry, go report to the Head Manager! This cultivator must not be allowed to remain!"

"REPORT!"

In the depths of the Heaven Palace, several figures hurriedly darted, escalating the message through the ranks.

The Divine Officers responsible for monitoring the Divine Punishment Pool stood at its edge, gazing at the nearly half-drained pool surface with astonishment and wonder.

The face of the person undergoing tribulation quickly appeared above the Divine Punishment Pool.

These Divine Officers, who had not left the Heaven Palace for a long time, did not recognize the tribulation sufferer at first, muttering amongst themselves:

"I find this person to be of ordinary appearance with a somewhat scattered Dao resonance. According to the Divine Punishment Pool's findings, this individual has recklessly cultivated several Great Daos. Inconsistent and lacking perseverance, how many such cultivators can break through the Heavenly Tribulations we set?"

"Indeed, indeed! This person will likely meet a dusty end; there is nothing worth observing!"

"Eh? This person has a square face, with clear brows and handsome eyes... he seems somewhat familiar..."

"Feng Chun, the God of Spring! It is the God of Spring! What nonsense are you others spouting!"

"I say, this Human Cultivator is so impressive and valiant. Just standing there silently, he already exudes an air of nobility! Even if the Divine Pool has consumed forty percent of its Divine Power, it is probably not enough to trouble this eminent figure!"

"Is this Wu Wangzi, the Human Domain cultivator favored by His Majesty?"

"Silence, silence, such matters must not be mentioned! Don't go spreading rumors that Wu Wangzi is the illegitimate child of His Majesty and the Star God!"

The Divine Officers murmured among themselves in low voices, with varying expressions and attitudes. Those who were quick-witted immediately headed towards the depths of the Heaven Palace.

Accordingly, the changes in the entire Heavenly Punishment tribulation cloud were also deliberately slowed down by these Divine Officers.

The legend of the God of Spring had long been circulating within the Heaven Palace. Not to mention other things, just the fact that he was favored by the Heavenly Emperor and personally invited by Queen Xihe positioned him as a figure not to be trifled with, even by ordinary Innate Gods. These Divine Officers were only in the Heaven Palace to earn some Lifespan; how could they dare to bestow such a severe Heavenly Punishment on such a personage?

What? Wu Wangzi is a Human Cultivator, working against the Heaven Palace for the Human Domain every day? Despite this, His Majesty still appointed him as the fourth auxiliary God, nominally only second to the Head Manager, Earth God, and Young Master in the Heaven Palace! This only goes to show that His Majesty 'especially values' Wu Wangzi. It could well be that he is an illegitimate child...

SWISH!

Streams of light cut across the top of the palaces at great speed, transforming into more than a dozen figures, bowing their heads to observe the situation of the tribulation sufferer in the projection of the Thunder Pool.

The Head Manager's expression changed.

"Transcendent?"

The Young Master, fond of black dresses, murmured softly, "He indeed has a deep connection with the Star God. Such cultivation seems to be effortless." This served as a direct explanation for Wu Wang's rapid progress.

The Earth God spoke gravely, "This is probably the fastest promotion of a Human Domain cultivator on record, not to be taken lightly."

"Hmph! How can we let such an opportunity pass by?"

The Head Manager said coldly, "If he falls, as I've said, even the Star God herself cannot save him!"

With these words, the Head Manager's hands surged with streams of Divine Light, immediately pressing toward the Divine Pool.

The Young Master wanted to speak but hesitated. After a brief moment of thought, she didn't voice her concerns.

Just then, a voice commanded, "Head Manager, do not interfere with the natural order of Heaven and Earth."

"Understood."

The Divine Light in the Head Manager's hands dissipated instantly, and he turned to salute the depths of the Heaven Palace. The speaker was none other than the master of the Heaven Palace himself.

The Earth God said, "Since His Majesty has given the command, let's return to our duties... Alas, this Gold God has stirred up quite a commotion and is now solely absorbing Divine Power in her own Temple, truly hard on us!"

The Young Master said, "I am not busy; I will stay here and watch for a while." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The Head Manager was silent, turning his back and looking at the projection above the Thunder Pool, his gaze quite complex for a moment.

Your Majesty, why must you always be like this.

「In the Human Domain」

Within a thousand miles of the Annihilation Sect, hundreds of top masters had gathered. More than a dozen Transcendent Realm masters, who seldom walked within the Human Domain, had now made their appearance.

The many cultivators who came to watch were initially somewhat puzzled. The timing of transcending the transcendence catastrophe actually required great consideration. It was currently the period of verbal conflict following the cessation of the great war; the Human Domain's crusade against the Heaven Palace had concluded just seven years prior. Both sides were at a point where they could hardly bear the sight of each other, so the transcendence catastrophe should have been postponed if possible. Choosing to undergo tribulation at such a time, how could the Heaven Palace not resort to some tricks? Calling this tribulation transcender a 'headstrong Daoist' couldn't be more fitting.

'Eh? The one crossing the tribulation seems to be the Wuwang Palace Lord?'

'HISS—'

'HA!'

'How, how long has it been? How long has Wuwang Palace Lord cultivated? How could he!'

The masters of the Human Domain were dumbstruck. They aimed their Cloud Mirrors at Wu Wang's face to stare intently, then looked at each other in dismay. Many silver-haired old Heavenly Immortals lamented their lives spent in Cultivation, culminating in nothing but emptiness and solitude. Quite a few mature yet still graceful Daoist priestesses raised their hands to their hair at this moment, their skin seemingly regaining a moist and supple texture.

This news, carried by flying Jade Talismans, quickly spread. More and more cultivators arrived to spectate, while the tribulation clouds above continued to change.

The clouds were over a hundred miles thick, the tribulation twelve layers high!

Wu Wang closed his eyes and concentrated, standing resolutely under the tribulation clouds, yet his mind was pondering how to conceal his unique qualities.

The matter of his mother and himself secretly controlling the Star God could naturally not be made public. Otherwise, compelled by a sense of crisis, the divine beings would pressure Emperor Shun to besiege the Ice God, and he and his mother would fall into a predicament. The Heavenly Dao was still in its early stages, with only three and a half members. That half, Wu Wang counted as the hissing serpent. However, the Eastern Emperor's Bell had hinted at a shortcut—undermine from within. Wu Wang thought carefully and felt that this 'undermining from within' likely meant wooing away Emperor Shun's subordinates, just as Emperor Shun had done to the Candle Dragon long ago. He dared not think too much about Xihe and Chang Xi, those two 'older sisters'! Focus on the tribulation, focus on the tribulation.

He weighed all considerations back and forth. Although the Eastern Emperor's Bell implied that every step he took came with a high margin for error, Wu Wang still dared not harbor any complacency. He did not want to experience something like the Gold God incident a second time. But at the same time, Wu Wang felt he could afford to be a little less restrained, not needing to be overly cautious.

His Immortal Consciousness swept through the surroundings. Seeing that Yun Zhongjun was currently fast asleep in the Sleep God Hall, completely indifferent to his tribulation, he felt utterly at ease. Yun Zhongjun, who knew Wu Wang's current strength, naturally did not take the transcendence catastrophe seriously.

Beneath the Annihilation Sect Formation, Little Jingwei stood at the highest point, full of worry, nervously watching Wu Wang's figure. Ling Xiaolan stood by the window of the cliff pavilion, holding a Jade Flute, her head bowed as she softly played.

Lin Suqing, for her part, was quite impressive. Leading four Maidens, she was busily embroidering banners in a frantic flurry, with slogans like 'The Young Master is both strong and sturdy' and 'Congratulations to the Young Master for transcending' written on them. The 'strong and sturdy' banner was embroidered by a girl from the Northern Wilderness Bear Hug Tribe. (In the Northern Wilderness, 'sturdy' typically referred to the back of the head; here, its meaning extended to being popular with many women and still lively even after they'd playfully tapped the back of his head.)

The Annihilation Sect's Grand Elders, stewards, and protectors were all more nervous than Wu Wang, the one actually undergoing the tribulation. Especially Yang Wudi, whose bald, egg-shaped head was nearly raw from him patting it in agitation; he could only look on anxiously, unable to help.

In front of Wu Wang's cave dwelling, on the arch bridge above, Immortal Mu's eyes were filled with frustration as she watched Wu Wang's figure undergoing tribulation, her hands on her hips.

Suddenly, Yang Wudi muttered, "Why does the Sect Master's tribulation... have to take so long?"

CRACK!

Suddenly, the sky lit up with a curtain of thunder, and bolts of lightning shot towards Wu Wang. Several sturdy men from the Annihilation Sect rushed forward, pinned Yang Wudi down, and pummeled him relentlessly, causing the Heavenly Immortal Realm body cultivator to repeatedly beg for mercy.

Stars shone around Wu Wang. Following the thunderstorm, he was still standing with his hands behind his back, not a single hair out of place.

"Mother... Mom?"

Holding the necklace, Wu Wang called out twice, and Cang Xue's voice immediately echoed in the depths of his heart.

"What is it?"

"Mom, could I trouble you with something? When I shout 'Star God's protection,' please have the Star God reveal a divine miracle to help me pass the Heavenly Tribulation."

"I'll use the projection of the Star God's Dao right away..." Cang Xue sounded somewhat surprised and worried. "What's wrong? Are you not confident in facing this Heavenly Tribulation?"

"Of course, I am confident, but my public identity needs an extra layer of reinforcement now," Wu Wang said with a smile. "I might have to deal with the Heaven Palace frequently in the future. I need to openly draw upon the Star God as support."

"That sounds good. You decide," Cang Xue responded softly and then fell silent.

But Wu Wang could clearly feel that his mother had summoned the Star God's Dao, as the rich power of the Stars began to gather above the tribulation clouds.

Another burst of thunder erupted, followed immediately by heavenly fire. Annihilating cyan winds swept back and forth, and wisps of dark Qi assailed Wu Wang.

The onlooking Human Domain cultivators' eyelids twitched.

"The second layer of the Heavenly Tribulation is here—the Heavenly Fire, Heavenly Wind, and Heart Demon Tribulation!"

"This tribulation cloud is at least three times thicker than a normal Transcendent Tribulation! The power of this second layer is comparable to someone else's fourth!"

"Can Wuwang Palace Lord hold on?"

"Don't jinx it! Wuwang Palace Lord is invincible, okay?!"

RUMBLE!

The tribulation clouds churned incessantly. A rain of lightning descended, endless heavenly fire rolled in, and the vast black wind solidified into limitless illusions that fiercely assaulted Wu Wang.

Wu Wang's Dao heart was tranquil. This transcendence catastrophe was triggered by the surge in his Dao Realm after he absorbed the Star Dao. However, Wu Wang's strongest asset at this moment was still his physical body. Especially over the past few years of seclusion, he had completely depleted the Divine Power stored in the treasures he carried, using it all to forge his divine body. The strength of his divine body far surpassed that of ordinary lesser gods. Standing still and enduring the Transcendent Heavenly Tribulation would not be an issue for him.

He could do so, but there was no need. One had to consider the cultivation experience of the watching cultivators.

A Dao weapon appeared in his hand. He then moved like a dragon, soaring through Heaven and Earth and scattering a myriad of starlight. It was as if a powerful god resided within the tribulation cloud, striking Wu Wang with boundless Divine Skills. Wu Wang met each attack, appearing to be in danger, yet he managed to turn peril into safety every time.

Layer by layer, the Heavenly Tribulation fell, and soon more than half of the twelve layers had passed. Yet Wu Wang was still unharmed, wielding his sword and tumbling through the air, appearing remarkably carefree and unrestrained.

The tribulation cloud shook thrice, and new surges of Divine Power began to churn within.

The Heavenly Tribulation intensified!

Wu Wang secretly raised his eyebrows. He looked up at the tribulation clouds for a moment, and then his figure suddenly shot upwards. Taking advantage of the tribulation cloud's inattention, Wu Wang had already charged into it, prematurely triggering the ninth layer of the Heavenly Tribulation!

In an instant, lightning flashed non-stop, heavenly fire blazed through Heaven and Earth, and the heart demon illusions took on the appearances of those close to Wu Wang, attempting to distract him. Within it, Wu Wang battled the tribulation clouds for a full quarter of an hour!

After the eleventh bolt of the Heavenly Tribulation passed, Wu Wang was still... unscathed.

「By the Thunder Pool in the Heaven Palace」

The many Innate Gods and Divine Officers who had gathered to watch were now silent.

Was Wu Wangzi this strong? Did he possess strength comparable to the Main Gods? Could it be that he had been playing the fool all along, deliberately duping them?

Just then, as Wu Wang stood under the tribulation cloud that was gathering the final tribulation, he suddenly started patting his body a few times, and his robes instantly became tattered. He then punched himself in the chest, turned his head to spit out a mouthful of blood, and his body began to fall towards the ground below as he yelled out loudly, "The power of the transcendence catastrophe is terrifying indeed!"

The foreheads of all the Heaven Palace gods, who had witnessed Wu Wang's 'faked injury' from start to finish, seemed to collectively darken with exasperation.

The Young Master's shoulders were shaking. She raised her hand to cover her lips, unable to suppress a few light laughs.

The Head Manager's shoulders were also shaking... No, his entire body was trembling lightly, his eyes filled with an incandescent rage as he pointed towards the center of the Thunder Pool and cursed loudly:

"This God of Spring has no regard for the Heaven Palace! He dares to insult us like this! He dares to defy the majesty of Heaven like this!"

As he spoke, the Head Manager raised his left hand high. Rolling dark clouds enveloped the Heaven Palace, and dozens of Divine Power pathways appeared around the Heavenly Punishment Divine Pool! Waves of Divine Power surged, instantly filling the Heavenly Punishment Thunder Pool, and a large amount of Divine Power rushed into Wu Wang's tribulation clouds.

「Human Domain.」

Almost the moment Wu Wang fell from the tribulation clouds, the clouds above his head let out a series of roars, and several Thunder Dragons, like living creatures, pounced ferociously towards him!

"Wu Wang!"

Jingwei cried out in shock. If the Grand Elder beside her hadn't intervened in time, his hand shooting out like a barrier to block her path, she would have already rushed towards the figure in the sky...

The tens of thousands of spectating cultivators all paled. The Demonic Cultivators from the Annihilation Sect, who were just about to beat drums and sound gongs, widened their eyes to watch the falling figure.

Whether the banquet will feature more vegetables or meat all depends on whether the Sect Master can hold on!

Wu Wang's face showed urgency as he shouted out, "Star God's protection!"

HUMMM—

A silver-white column of light descended from the sky, enveloping Wu Wang. Wu Wang, who had been falling, immediately stabilized and lay motionless in the air. One by one, Thunder Dragons dove towards him, but as soon as they touched the column of light, they exploded and vanished without a trace.

Wu Wang intentionally showed a relieved expression.

High above, the projection of the Star God slowly emerged. The tribulation clouds, which had already released all their Divine Power, were dispersed by this divine might. The peerless, snake-tailed Goddess stood quietly, her left hand held flat and her right hand raised, as the space between Heaven and Earth echoed with a vague chant.

Perfect. Mother's timing was near perfect.

This tribulation was coming to a close, but suddenly, in an instant, Wu Wang felt wisps of elusive auras. It was the breath of the Divine Spirits from the Heaven Palace. He suddenly looked up, staring at the still dissipating tribulation clouds, and then he found a pitch-black void within them—a Heavenly Tribulation Divine Power pathway!

Wu Wang's eyes narrowed, a divine light flashing within them. He suddenly clenched his right fist and, with a loud shout, blasted a punch towards that distant Divine Power pathway.

"All stars!"

The stars shone brightly. Hundreds of large stars lit up above Wu Wang's head, pouring their power into the projection of his fist. The projection of his fist first resembled a celestial steed galloping, then a streaking comet. It was like the direct thrust of a heavenly sword, enveloped in the profound Dao resonance of Yin and Yang Eight Trigrams, smashing unstoppably into the Divine Power pathway!

Inside the Heaven Palace, the sound of muffled thunder echoed continuously, and suddenly a wall collapsed in a remote hall.

「Above the Annihilation Sect.」

Wu Wang was panting heavily, his right arm hanging limply at his side, dislocated from the exertion. His forehead dripped with sweat, and his breath was ragged. The Divine Power pathway was closing faster; he had no strength left to throw a second punch.

「Heaven Palace」

In the very center of the hall with the shattered wall, the Gold God's face was filled with icy coldness. Sitting alone in the Divine Pool absorbing Divine Power, she suddenly turned pale, looked down, and spat out a mouthful of blood, her injuries worsening. She reached out, grasping at the air, and the image of Wu Wangzi throwing his punch appeared before her. Just as she was about to disperse these images, she saw Wu Wang raise his left hand. He first clenched it into a fist and raised it high to the sky, then slowly lowered it, making a throat-slitting gesture.

The Gold God's expression immediately turned extremely cold, her face even paler. Clearly, she was infuriated.