Chapter 284: Consolidating the Heavenly Tribulation, Personally Arriving, Unleashing All, a Cosmic Battle

The Thunder King spurted blood.

His mortal body exploded, his whole body drenched in fresh blood, and his head was sliced off and hurled away, looking especially gruesome.

But for the entire world, this seemed rather shocking.

He was one of the Nine Kings of the ancient human race, after all.

A powerhouse at the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens.

Just like that, after a face‑to‑face encounter, he was executed by Gu Jin Nian?

That's just too terrifying, isn't it? It's something no one could have foreseen.

"Isn't Gu Jin Nian only at the Eight Heavens cultivation level? How could he slay a powerhouse of the Nine Heavens?"

Someone exclaimed, truly unwilling to accept this outcome.

It's not that they refuse to acknowledge Gu Jin Nian's strength, but the gap in cultivation realms is simply too vast.

The Seven Realms of the Nine Heavens—each tier is a world apart; otherwise they wouldn't be called "Heavens".

The strongest of the Five Tribes boiled over completely; within the East Sea Dragon Palace, the Four Great Dragon Kings cast an incredulous gaze at Gu Jin Nian.

"He actually can slay the Thunder King?"

A suffocating voice rang out; the North Sea Dragon King was the most shocked. In his eyes, Gu Jin Nian, though blessed with the world's fortune, was ultimately no different; facing a human king, he had already anticipated Gu Jin Nian's hardships.

What no one expected was that Gu Jin Nian actually killed the Thunder King.

He knew it would be difficult for the Thunder King to wound Gu Jin Nian; after all, Gu Jin Nian dared to brag, so he must have confidence. Yet he didn't expect Gu Jin Nian could actually kill the Thunder King.

The world trembled in shock.

Who could have imagined Gu Jin Nian possessing such power? It surpassed everyone's expectations.

"That's impossible."

"What's going on?"

"Why has his strength suddenly surged?"

"How could this be possible?"

Many voices rose; the whole world was boiling, Gu Jin Nian's actions were utterly unforeseen.

"He has an ancient will within him that propelled him in an instant to the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens; his power, like that of the Thunder King, has manifested."

A king's voice sounded; it was King Ji.

He stared at Gu Jin Nian and voiced his speculation.

"Ancient will? What is it?"

"Forcefully elevating to a great realm? Does such a will even exist?"

Several human kings spoke up, their words filled with curiosity.

"It is related to the Divine Race."

An ancient king's voice rang out; he sensed something—though unclear what exact will, he could feel its connection to the Divine Race.

The kings were shocked, yet felt no resentment.

They simply hadn't expected Gu Jin Nian could wound the Thunder King, and that was all.

They didn't care about the Thunder King's downfall; it seemed they hadn't cared at all.

That was somewhat strange.

Beneath the heavens, Gu Jin Nian was also a bit puzzled; he watched these people's reactions—indeed shocked, but only to the point of shock, with no major response.

It was odd—a king was executed, yet they showed little reaction? That was unacceptable.

Boom—boom—boom! And at that very moment.

Above the heavens, bolts of lightning intertwined, and the Thunder Sea emerged.

A terrifying figure resurfaced amid the thunder, the silhouette of the Thunder King.

"What's happening? The Thunder King actually revived?"

"Revived?"

"From the thunder itself?"

"These are the ancient kings? They can actually revive?"

"I told you, a being so invincible cannot just die like that; there must be an invincible divine ability that can revive the dead, or perhaps rebirth."

"After all, they are ancient human kings; without such divine ability, it would seem implausible."

Some voices rose, many in the world discussing the Thunder King.

Regarding his revival, many felt hardly any surprise; they even thought it wasn't a big issue.

After all, he is a king.

A king of the human race, the strongest of the ancient era.

Boom—boom—boom.

Boom—boom—boom.

Lightning intertwined, bolts covering the entire world, a terrifying aura coalesced, and the Thunder King emerged from the Thunder Sea, his gaze icy cold.

He seemed reborn from fire, his aura stronger than before, surrounding thunder transforming into various auspicious beasts, fierce and overwhelming.

Yet his gaze was filled with cold indifference.

"Do you think you can kill me?"

"I come from the Thunder Sea, born with a thunder body; thunder never perishes, and I do not perish."

"Even if you kill me a hundred times, I can still revive from the thunder; unless heaven and earth's thunder vanish, you cannot kill me."

"And you no longer have a chance. I truly didn't expect you to have such depth, but the opportunity is only once; miss it and it's lost."

A resonant boom sounded, grandiose; the sky over Eastern Wilderness was already shrouded in Holy Punishment's Clouds, oppressive and terrifying. He gazed at Gu Jin Nian, brimming with confidence.

Under the firmament.

Gu Jin Nian looked at the Thunder King, his expression utterly calm.

You talk too much nonsense.

Gu Jin Nian spoke: he truly hadn't expected the Thunder King to revive—not because he doubted the Thunder King possessed such divine ability, but because the thunderous force just now was enough to utterly crush the Thunder King.

That he could revive is strange.

At this cultivation level, everyone has some life-saving divine abilities, but divine abilities remain divine abilities.

Cultivators at this level, to thoroughly slay someone, need only shatter their primordial spirit—and Gu Jin Nian's move just now did precisely that.

With thunderous power, he exterminated the opponent's primordial spirit.

Logically, once the primordial spirit is exterminated, one should perish—but I never expected the Thunder King to have such an ability, capable of reviving amidst the thunder.

This is indeed something Gu Jin Nian did not expect.

You have no chance.

The Thunder King spoke slowly, yet the other kings could sense his emotion: though he appeared calm and lofty, he was actually somewhat angry.

Being slain publicly by Gu Jin Nian, although he can revive, this is a great disgrace to him.

In the thunder sea.

The Thunder King raised his hand; in an instant, boundless thunder surged toward Gu Jin Nian, turning into countless weapons as an ancient thunder tower appeared, suppressing the great world and directly rending the void.

The divine light collided, becoming especially brilliant and dazzling, as layers of killing intent descended.

Mountains shook one after another, countless living beings suffering devastating blows.

A battle in the void.

If you can't let go of your hands and feet, what's the point?

Gu Jin Nian spoke, frowning; regardless of whether he could suppress the Thunder King, the misfortune would still befall the world's common folk.

You are not worthy to bargain with me.

These ants—let them die.

The Thunder King is extremely arrogant; he utterly doesn't care about the lives of these common folk—not even in ancient times, let alone now.

Crack—crack—crack.

Billions of thunderbolts fell, shattering the land; oases instantly turned to scorched earth, some spiritual veins exploded on the spot, countless living beings forced into this calamity.

Pfft—pfft—pfft—pfft.

Figures vanished one after another; even some sects were wiped out on the spot by the heavenly tribulation, leaving no chance of survival.

The Thunder King is a powerhouse of the Nine Heavens; without the various clans present, he alone could destroy this great world—of course, assuming heaven and earth do not intervene.

It seems like revenge; the Thunder King is clearly targeting the Eastern Wilderness with deliberate intent.

Seeing this, Gu Jin Nian said nothing more; he knew words were useless against him, so if that's the case, let them hurt each other.

Boom—rumble.

A terrifying heavenly tribulation appeared, hovering above the firmament; this tribulation is not weaker than the Thunder King's own, and is even fiercer than the thunder surrounding him.

Gu Jin Nian can provoke heavenly tribulation.

Such tribulation is horrifically extreme and unimaginable, for he possesses the fortune of the great world; the tribulation he draws down is sent down by the ancient heavenly Dao.

If he endures it, he will obtain the Heaven's Mandate mark.

But he knows he cannot get through it; it's not that the tribulation is too strong, but that this great tribulation of becoming a sage involves too much—fundamentally not a matter of realm.

It will target his state of mind and also his primordial spirit.

For now it is merely an ordinary tribulation, but this tribulation cannot harm the ancient supreme powerhouses, yet it can bring trouble to the younger geniuses of the various clans.

Boom.

In an instant, Gu Jin Nian appeared amid a mountain range; thunderbolts fell, flooding the region, turning the whole area into a thunder sea, spiritual veins shattered outright, and the formations here were violently destroyed.

It is astonishing.

It is also terrifying.

Mountain peaks were destroyed one after another; this is the habitat of the ancient human race, this region contains myriad divine patterns, underground are nothing but dragon veins, from antiquity to the present, their function is immense.

Now destroyed by the heavenly tribulation, it can be said that the entire ancient human race feels heartbroken—even the nine human kings find it hard to bear.

The most terrifying part is that this heavenly tribulation will descend directly, slaying these ancient cultivators—a single bolt is a merciless extermination.

Gu Jin Nian, are you crazy?

You dare to undergo tribulation here?

You are truly hateful.

Some terrifying wills sounded; they revealed killing intent and resentment, but there's nothing to be done—who let the Thunder King act unrighteously first?

This is a loss.

The Thunder King struck, and although many living beings were slain, most lacked cultivation; but Gu Jin Nian gathered the heavenly tribulation and descended upon the ancient human gathering place, changing the situation.

One ancient cultivator's death outweighs hundreds of thousands of ordinary folk; the two are incomparable.

Stop the nonsense; killing the common folk of this age is fine, but killing your people is not?

"Since you don't follow the rules, then die all of you." "In the past I was too wary of the world's common folk, always not wanting them hurt, bound by your constraints; now I, Gu, let go of hands and feet."

Let's fight to the death.

At worst we'll be buried together in this great world.

Gu Jin Nian spoke; he too has let go of hands and feet. Previously, because of the world's common folk, he needed to consider his actions, so he had many scruples.

But now it's different; he doesn't care what these people think, nor any constraints—he likes killing, right?

Then let's kill to the end.

As these words were spoken, the ancient powerhouses each changed color.

Especially the human race's powerhouses, they can indeed fight Gu Jin Nian, but they do not wish to be completely dragged down by Gu Jin Nian.

"Good, a battle in the void."

"Come on."

At this moment, the Thunder King's voice sounded; he knew that if Gu Jin Nian continued like this, the unfortunate ones would definitely be the human race, which was unnecessary, so he chose to compromise.

"Who will fight you in the void?"

"Now you speak of a void battle?"

"Isn't this a bit late?"

Gu Jin Nian said coldly.

The next moment, palace after palace forged of thunder crashed down, destroying mountain after mountain filled with spiritual energy; tens of thousands of ancient cultivators, under this thunder tribulation, instantly turned to ashes.

Since we have let go of our hands and feet, there are not so many scruples.

Boom boom boom! The entire mountain range trembled, the divine mountains collapsed, and the Nine Kings' expressions turned grim; if Gu Jin Nian is allowed to continue like this, it will definitely be a major trouble.

"Gu Saint."

"Let's have a void battle; this is meaningless, if you really want to act, you should know what the consequences are."

"No need to be hot-headed; let go of hands and feet, have a fair battle, what do you think?"

At this very moment, the voice of the Upper Residence Saint sounded; his figure appeared before Gu Jin Nian, the saint's aura turning into a piece of jade, blocking this heavenly tribulation.

"Now you demand a fair battle? Do you feel it's a bit late?"

Gu Jin Nian said lightly.

"The Thunder King is indeed wrong, but you also killed many of my clan's cultivators; now there are still eight kings who have not acted, if they truly all act together, plus me letting my clan's cultivators leave the divine mountain, the unfortunate ones will still be all living beings under heaven."

"If you really want to kill, how many can you kill?"

"Gu Saint, I am not threatening, but making a choice based on the situation, spelling out the future outcome."

"I do not know what Gu Saint intends."

The Upper Residence Saint is relatively mild, and his words carry no threat; according to the current situation, if Gu Jin Nian stays on this divine mountain, the various kings will definitely not remain indifferent.

They will inevitably join forces; without further ado, they will directly start to destroy the world, just see who cannot withstand it first.

This is not a threat, but an inevitable result.

Therefore, upon hearing these words, Gu Jin Nian fell somewhat silent.

"From now on, above the seventh level, a void battle."

"Those who violate it will be punished by heaven and earth."

Gu Jin Nian spoke; he wants all the supreme powerhouses to take an oath.

"The previous Great Dao oath, you also did not keep; now you set up another oath, Gu Saint, you are truly overbearing!"

The Fire King's voice sounded; he looked at Gu Jin Nian, his expression clearly filled with coldness.

"If you do not take the oath, we will die together."

Gu Jin Nian spoke, but at the end he added a sentence.

"No ancient clan think they can escape; I will personally come to their door."

This is his response.

If you do not submit, then start the great war now; there is nothing more to say, having provoked such a heavenly tribulation oneself, no one dares to fight with me.

This is also a terrifying trump card.

At least at critical moments, it can make many people hesitate to act for fear of harming others.

Indeed, once these words were spoken, the expressions of all clans changed; the major clans were still okay, but some minor clan powerhouses had grim looks, for if Gu Jin Nian truly came, they would have no ability to resist.

"Good."

"Take the oath."

Also at this moment, a voice sounded from within the human race's palace; it was the Xuanyuan King's voice.

His will is extremely terrifying.

He directly agreed.

In an instant, heaven and earth condensed the contract; a new Great Dao oath appeared.

With the appearance of this oath, Gu Jin Nian did not stay here; he directly vanished from the spot and rose into the sky.

The Thunder King also did not waste words, inwardly gathering all his divine light, shooting up into the sky, arriving in the void.

Beyond the realm.

The universe is icy cold and pitch black.

But the two figures illuminate the boundless expanse, purple lightning reflecting off countless ancient stars.

Behind Gu Jin Nian, there is also the Tree of All Beings, entwining the universe.

The two's aura, indeed in the universe, fully released; a shocking, earth-shaking aura, even a wisp makes the boundless people of the great world feel fear.

"Is this the power of the Nine Heavens? Truly astonishing; just a wisp can affect the entire great world, if fully released, perhaps a single thought could sink a continent?"

Someone sighed, unable to hold back an exclamation.

Compared to that, the former Seven Realms seemed unable to withstand a single blow, their power at most destroying mountain ranges, whereas the Nine Heavens can destroy this heaven and earth.

"No, our world has heavenly dao protection; if they forcibly destroy the world, they will incur heavenly punishment, which the Great Dao does not allow, but having left this ancient star, in the beyond they can fully release their true strength."

"That is why it feels utterly terrifying; however, the ancient star is also recovering, and someday they will be able to fully release their own power; otherwise, they would have already emerged."

A voice gave the answer; he knows some hidden secrets.

Upon hearing this, the people finally understood what the Nine Heavens truly meant, and also understood what the ancient five great clans truly feared, and why they have not emerged for so long.

Beyond the realm, the universe.

Two peerless powerhouses face off.

Countless gazes were cast.

Lei Wang was preparing his great killing move; around him appeared Thunder Dao runes one after another, and Gu Jin Nian was also preparing his killing move.

Having reached their level, they need not exchange many blows; gathering their essence, energy, and spirit, a single move can decide life and death.

Boom! A terrifying explosion sound rang out, shaking millions of stars; the entire universe seemed to become transparent. In the sea of thunder, a peerless divine sword appeared, an ancient thunder sword forged from Thunder Dao runes emerging.

It slashed toward Gu Jin Nian.

There were no fancy techniques, no exquisite moves; it was purely essence, energy, and spirit.

This peerless divine sword, stretching tens of thousands of miles, released billions of bolts of lightning that rained down upon numerous ancient stars, leaving terrifying sword marks.

Bang bang bang! Some tiny ancient stars burst apart at this moment, turning to dust; otherwise, so many fragments falling onto the Divine Continent would bring some disaster.

"Death."

Lei Wang had no nonsense; his eyes revealed killing intent.

He intended to kill Gu Jin Nian.

He was resolute.

Thousands of miles away.

Gu Jin Nian stood in the universe, sensing Lei Wang's great killing move, and felt no panic.

Instead, there was calm.

Boom

The God King's Seal and the Natal Seal merged into one; the forty-nine strands of Heaven's Mandate power within his body also turned into a single force, all poured into it.

Lei Wang can be resurrected endlessly in the Sea of Thunder; that is the biggest problem.

He had just gone to the Ancient Human Race Divine Mountain; it was not merely revenge, but also contemplating this problem.

As Lei Wang said, as long as there is thunder between heaven and earth, he can be resurrected; this is a near-divine method.

Wanting to kill him is extremely difficult.

But just now, he thought of a method.

He did not move.

He waited in place.

Yet his aura had reached its peak.

"This is unsolvable; Lei Wang is immortal, perfect for seeing what trump cards Gu Jin Nian has."

Ji Wang's voice rang out; he gazed upon the great battle and voiced his opinion.

Numerous human powerhouses nodded in agreement; they also accepted this statement.

Lei Wang is undying.

Actually, in a sense, this battle is not to kill Gu Jin Nian; the time has not yet come, better to let Lei Wang serve as a test.

See what trump cards Gu Jin Nian has.

This is also why they did not join forces together.

However, just then.

When that peerless divine sword came down to slash, Gu Jin Nian's flesh instantly turned into lightning, his very being seemingly evolving into a sea of thunder.

Boom

Like a hurricane, space collapsed, and all the thunder power surged into the space.

Gu Jin Nian did not attack; instead, he defended.

This was very strange, arousing the curiosity of the many powerhouses.

Even Lei Wang was somewhat puzzled, not understanding what Gu Jin Nian was doing.

But the next moment.

A voice rang out, filled with astonishment.

"Be careful!"

"He intends to absorb all the Thunder Dao power; Gu Jin Nian is some kind of mythic physique, capable of absorbing thunder."

It was the voice of the East Sea Dragon King.

He sensed something amiss at once.

(End of chapter)