CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 358 DESTINY DEMON REALM TRIBULATION_2

The atmosphere gradually became oppressive.

STEP, STEP...

Hong Yuan continued to step forward steadily.

A waterfall of Immortal Qi, reminiscent of the Flying Immortal Pool, cascaded fiercely down the mountain, resolutely blocking Hong Yuan’s path.

Closer, ever closer.

Stepping onto the damp stairs and feeling the fresh air, Hong Yuan’s expression was serene.

Finally, he stepped upon the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-ninth starlight step.

At that very moment, Han Jiuming, perched atop the mountain peak, felt his eyelids twitch. He slowly opened his eyes, an intimidating electric light flashing within them.

BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE RUMBLE!

A startling change erupted atop the colossal mountain as divine light and immortal radiance filled the area.

After an earth-shattering transformation, this treasure-inheritance site suddenly became a sea of clouds.

The phantom of Han Jiuming before him adjusted its aura and cultivation base until they were identical to Hong Yuan’s.

"Inheritor, come and defeat me."

Above the sea of clouds, starlight mist swirled abundantly, and moonlight bathed everything.

Amidst the starlit expanse, Han Jiuming’s phantom stood proudly, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at Hong Yuan with a placid tone.

Yet, the majestic Tao Marks of Great Moon swirling around him clearly demonstrated just how dangerous and terrifying he was at this moment.

Even at the Sixth Rank of the Saint realm, Han Jiuming’s phantom could contend with a Seventh Rank Saint, achieving the feat of challenging and defeating those of a higher rank!

Cultivation at the same rank as mine? Heh, Hong Yuan suddenly chuckled. Back then, I could have easily killed the Cloud Rock Martial Saint. Now, it goes without saying. The power contained within this Demonic Body of mine is enough to make even an Eighth Rank Saint wary. And yet, a mere phantom of Han Jiuming dares to be so arrogant as to let me attack it at will. Tsk, tsk...

No, it’s not that Han Jiuming isn’t strong enough. Rather, it’s this body of mine that is excessively formidable, Hong Yuan suddenly realized. Grandmaster-level attainments in the Food Tao school, over three hundred thousand Food Tao Tao Marks, nearly limitless Immortal Nuance, the unfathomable Divine Power of the Myriad Silence Realm, the profoundly mysterious Purple-Gold Furnace Holy Artifact... Any single one of these, taken out, would be enough to rival the most outstanding Great Emperors of the same rank. After all, my standards for my Demonic Body have always been at the Great Emperor Level, even surpassing ordinary Great Emperors. It’s benchmarked against the Great Dream Emperor, who is regarded in legends as the strongest in the world. In this era, my Demonic Body is destined to confront the Great Dream Emperor. He, bearing the Human Race Destiny, and I are fated rivals. And the Great Dream Emperor is the most powerful Great Emperor in all of history, proficient in every school!!! Thus, even when compared to other Great Emperors of the same realm, my Demonic Body would rank among the very best. Yet now, I face merely a phantom of Han Jiuming, one without even a Holy Artifact. To underestimate me, Hong Yuan, like this is truly laughable.

It seems I was overthinking. Indeed, your era has long since passed, Hong Yuan muttered, his gaze lowered.

The blue Immortal Cave behind him erupted into action, instantly transforming into a black hole with infinite suction, greedily attempting to devour Han Jiuming’s phantom.

Mine, mine, all mine! I’ll eat, I’ll eat, I’ll eat, eat, eat!

"HEIYAH—"

Han Jiuming’s phantom let out a long cry.

It summoned a Star God, activated the Cold Ice Seal Divine Power, and attempted to flee at extreme speed...

It employed all sorts of unimaginable techniques, any one of which would prove exceedingly troublesome for a Seventh Rank Saint.

But against the blue Immortal Cave, they were all useless!

BURP...

A loud belch escaped Hong Yuan’s lips, sounding somewhat unseemly.

The blue Immortal Cave devoured Han Jiuming’s phantom, absorbing its entire Dao Repository and significantly bolstering Hong Yuan’s foundation once more.

Instantly, the Purple-Gold Furnace within Hong Yuan’s body, which had been delaying his Heavenly Calamity and Earthly Tribulation, experienced a sharp increase in pressure. It was like a boiling kettle, continuously emitting white steam.

And Hong Yuan did not deliberately suppress it.

After thoroughly scouring the Secret Realm to ensure no treasures remained, he strode out and departed.

Under the watchful eyes of the Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon, the Sky-connecting Tower’s spirit, and the Great Moon Spirit, he returned to the Tower of Supreme Splendor within the Great Moon Holy Temple. There, he promptly initiated his first Heavenly Calamity and Earthly Tribulation!

"What’s going on?" the Sky-connecting Tower’s spirit asked in astonishment.

The Great Moon Spirit shook its head. "I don’t know."

After a long silence, the Nine-tailed Crocodile Dragon sighed. "I can no longer see clearly either."

Inside the Tower of Supreme Splendor, the night sky was vast and deep, densely packed with stars.

Before Hong Yuan lay a region of the Starlight Divine Domain.

Amidst the boundless starlight were numerous mysterious substances capable of strengthening a Cultivator’s physique.

A fierce wind howled, swirling in from all directions, compelling Hong Yuan to squint.

To be honest, this place isn’t ideal for undergoing the tribulation. The environment is quite harsh, but the advantage is that the vital Qi of Heaven and Earth here is extremely dense! Besides, my Destiny Demon Realm is inherently special, so I don’t particularly need the absolute best conditions.

With such a growth rate, even among the many Great Emperors, I should be considered near the apex, he mused, a profound look in his crimson draconic eyes as he slowly exhaled a breath of impure air.

His body trembled slightly, and the Destiny Demon Realm within him instantly underwent a mystical transformation.

"Destiny Demon Realm, descend!"

Hong Yuan’s expression was calm as he withdrew the Purple-Gold Furnace’s suppression.

A tremendous roar erupted from the Tower of Supreme Splendor, shaking the Great Moon Holy Temple and even causing a stir across the vast expanse of the Dragon God Sacred Land.

Several keenly perceptive Great Saints of the Demon Clan raised their heads, gazing towards the Great Moon Holy Temple, which had been sealed off as a forbidden zone.

"Master, what’s wrong?" Li Jianqiu asked her mentor, the Flame Sparrow Great Saint, in confusion.

Since the last Heavenly Talents Discussion Meeting, Li Jianqiu had garnered Hong Yuan’s favor. Consequently, she had successfully caught the attention of the Flame Sparrow Great Saint. Therefore, the Flame Sparrow Great Saint proactively took Li Jianqiu as a disciple, hoping to foster a positive connection with Hong Yuan and deepen their relationship.