Chapter 99

Boom! In the cloud layer, lightning flashed violently, silver-white divine radiance like a blazing sun, shining brightly, pouring its light over Niepan Jie Ling's surroundings. In an instant, countless Dao essences surged like a raging tide, intertwining and merging.

Niepan Jie Ling seemed like a transcendent deity, high above controlling the tribulation. In the blink of an eye, a brand-new Venerable Tribulation rapidly formed outside the mountain gate of the Profound Yang Sect.

To outsiders, the two Venerable Tribulations now seemed almost fused into one. Know that the power generated by simultaneous tribulation is far from a simple one-plus-one; its stacked terror exceeds imagination. Clearly, this is the malicious interference of the Flourishing Light Sect's sect master, Lin Nan, in the tribulation of Sect Master Yang Hao and Elder Wu.

The Hai Elder and others stationed at the Profound Yang Sect, seeing this, all raised their heads to the sky, their expressions instantly turning grave as iron, unable to refrain from cursing aloud.

"This Lin Nan is utterly shameless; rumors have long said he already had the strength to break through the Venerable Tribulation three thousand years ago, but to overcome his inner demon he has lain in wait, hoping to press down on the Sect Master when he undergoes his tribulation!"

"This old thing is disgusting enough; you know Elder Wu and the Sect Master are undergoing tribulation together, the tribulation's power is already terrifying enough, yet he actually comes to stick his foot in—this is over……"

On the face of an elder, despair already showed. After all, the power contained in this tribulation—let alone us Heavenly Origin masters, even a nascent Venerable cultivator would find it hard to withstand such terrifying force. The Dao essence surging above the tribulation, merely a glance, makes one's heart palpitate, even giving a strong feeling that one's Dao heart is about to shatter; it is utterly terrifying.

In Profound Yang Peak, Qin Yu's expression was calm as water; he knew clearly that no matter how many came, there was only a dead end. Even if the Flourishing Light Sect's sect master, Lin Nan, personally arrived, what could he do? The one in charge of the tribulation is our own—Niepan Jie Ling.

Meanwhile, Yang Tian Old Ancestor's expression grew slightly solemn, his aura subtly shifting as if a gentle breeze brushed past, his silver hair fluttering in the wind. It wasn't that he distrusted Niepan Jie Ling, but rather because of what Niepan Jie Ling had said earlier, he worried the other wouldn't give his all.

"The sect's path of transformation is indeed full of twists, heh." Yang Tian Old Ancestor silently pondered while seeking an opportunity. If possible, he intended to strike directly and slay Lin Nan. However, this must be a decisive blow; otherwise, should he fail, his hidden presence within the Profound Yang Sect would be completely exposed.

Within the thunderclouds, Yang Hao's expression also instantly turned grave, for the tribulation's power had obviously changed. Originally, with Niepan Jie Ling's help, their tribulation had been shielded from the curse, remaining within normal bounds. But now, due to Lin Nan's interference, the tribulation partly merged, faintly forming a situation where the three undergo tribulation together. This situation is undoubtedly an open provocation of heavenly rules.

"Nowadays, the only way is to strike and slay him; otherwise, we will not only fail to break through to Venerable, but will also be buried here!" In Elder Wu's murky eyes, a chilling killing intent now radiated. He deeply understood that Lin Nan intended to place them in a dead end.

According to the situation in Qingshi Jun, as long as Yang Tian Old Ancestor does not reveal himself, the enemy will surely deploy heavy troops. The Profound Yang Sect side has also made preparations; Yang Tian Old Ancestor lies hidden in the dark, and should any ordinary Venerable dare to come for a sneak attack, he will directly strike and slay them to serve as a deterrent. As for cultivators below the Venerable realm, who would dare come to throw away their lives?

Originally, it was just Yang Hao and Elder Wu undergoing tribulation, with Niepan Jie Ling lending covert support, leaving them unafraid of outside interference. But this Lin Nan's foundation is deep beyond imagination; even in the Heavenly Origin realm he had already grasped some Venerable-level Dao arts, his tribulation's extraordinary nature matching Yang Hao's exactly. Moreover, for this tribulation he prepared for three thousand years, producing nothing but heavenly-tier treasures. Even the spirit-gathering and defensive formations used as support have reached heavenly-tier level. This is the profound accumulation of Lin Nan as sect master of the Flourishing Light Sect over three thousand years, and all he has done is merely to repay the grudge of being suppressed by Yang Hao back then.

Yang Hao now felt he was about to be driven mad.

"Strike, slay him! One moment…… we have only one moment!" Yang Hao gazed at the ceaselessly rolling thunderclouds above, the intermittent thunderbolts falling down now possessing terrifying power, his fleshly body barely able to endure. Even the life thunder Dao power covertly bolstered by Niepan Jie Ling now seemed like a drop in the bucket, unable to ease the ever-growing tribulation pressure. His clothes were already torn to shreds, gradually stained with blood.

"Hahaha! Over these three thousand years, I have countless times rehearsed this scene in my mind; now…… you have finally undergone tribulation. I have waited bitterly! Today, I will drag you both to death within this tribulation!" Lin Nan stood with hands behind his back, a carefree smile on his face, laughing loudly. Pale azure divine radiance spilled from his body, making him appear hazy, as if a mysterious armor faintly appeared and disappeared.

"Buzz buzz buzz!" The profound array patterns began to spin rapidly, forming thick barriers filled with terrifying energy. Lin Nan looked at Yang Hao and Elder Wu rushing to attack him, a scornful smile spreading across his face; he felt fully prepared, even if Yang Tian Old Ancestor struck, he had already devised countermeasures, so he felt no fear. He thought he only needed to hold on a moment, waiting for Yang Hao and Elder Wu's tribulation to reach its critical point—the fifth wave of tribulation, when power peaks—then he could reap the benefits.

"Boom!" Two deep, muffled roars sounded as Elder Wu and Yang Hao struck simultaneously, mighty force shaking the void. Yet the defensive array set up by Lin Nan projected the phantom of a ferocious beast; facing their attacks, it merely hesitated slightly.

The expressions of Yang Hao and Elder Wu instantly turned grim to the extreme.

"Myriad Beast Array—just what cost did he incur……" Elder Wu couldn't help exclaiming. This is a mid-tier heavenly formation; even if Yang Tian Old Ancestor personally descended, he could not achieve a one-hit kill. Moreover, forming this array requires venturing into ancient great temples, consuming countless precious treasures to refine; it is normally used by mid-Venerable cultivators as a powerful battle-defense formation. Yet Lin Nan is merely a Heavenly Origin master, yet he has prepared such terrifying means.

"Screech—" A sharp whistling suddenly rang from the firmament; a bolt of lightning-like radiance sliced across the sky, instantly turning into a winding, thick lightning dragon that surged forth with world-destroying momentum. Lin Nan's first wave of tribulation had already descended.

But Lin Nan paid it no heed at all, not even giving it a glance.

"Let me see how long you can endure. My formation can easily withstand the first eight waves of tribulation……"

However, before his words finished, that terrifying lightning dragon directly shattered the floating phantom of the ferocious beast in the air. Immediately after, the heavy energy barrier was easily shattered and pierced through. Countless profound array patterns originally floating in the air instantly collapsed and dissipated.

In Lin Nan's heart, a sudden intense sense of life-and-death crisis welled up; his hairs stood on end. He hastily turned his head—there, the lightning dragon loomed before him, containing boundless destructive power. Deep fear flashed in his eyes.

"How is this possible…… Even a mid-Venerable cultivator would need time to break the Myriad Beast Array. I merely interfered with the tribulation, undergoing it together—why provoke such a terrifying attack?"

Lin Nan's divine sense swiftly probed behind Yang Hao and Elder Wu, only to find the lightning there sparse and thin, as if the tribulation had suddenly "given up". Damn it, they are actually in the fifth wave of tribulation right now!

At this moment, if Lin Nan hasn't reacted yet, he is a complete fool.

"Boom!" Lightning violently slammed into his spirit armor, a terrifying roar reverberating, shaking the void to tremble.

"Screech—" The spirit armor, originally possessing astonishing defensive power, instantly appeared with countless cracks, like a shattered piece of pottery.

Lin Nan spat out a mouthful of blood, his aura wilting, his face instantly turning as pale as paper. His pupils shrank sharply, his countenance becoming extremely ferocious: "Yang Hao! Could it be that you saw through my plan long ago, waiting for me to walk into the trap!?"

He finally realized this tribulation was definitely strange; the Profound Yang Sect side was surely digging a huge pit for him.

Immediately afterward, Lin Nan's heart inexplicably felt relieved.

"No wonder you are the lifelong rival I have recognized. Though we have not interacted for thousands of years, at the moment of breakthrough you still factored me in. Heh, Yang Hao…… compared to you, Lin Wu Ren ultimately falls short. You alone are worthy of being the champion of our era."

Lin Nan felt he had been utterly defeated, yet for some reason his heart felt a sense of release. He believed Yang Hao could anticipate his move and had prepared in advance, giving him a feeling of being valued. At the very least, in Yang Hao's heart he too was regarded as a significant enemy, and Yang Hao would not dare slight him in the slightest.

Profound Yang Sect Sect Master Yang Hao: "???"

Yang Hao wore a bewildered expression, unable to help muttering: "What the hell is he spouting? Is he crazy?"