Chapter 423: Tribulation Fire Burning the Spirit, True Demon Qi

Just as Qin Ming achieved the Nascent Soul and sat upright in his Purple Mansion spirit field.

Boom—!

Above Moon-Gazing Island, ominous tribulation clouds began to churn and gather, with faint thunder dragons roaring within, emitting a terrifying pressure and aura of destruction.

The cultivators watching from afar, at a mere glance, all felt a sense of palpitations as if facing death at close range.

Beneath his natal spirit plant, the Yin-Yang Profound Vine Tree, Qin Ming cleared his thoughts, his mental state limpid and clear, having already quickly adapted to his Nascent Soul magic power.

Generally speaking.

The essence of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator lies entirely in this Nascent Soul; the physical body is, conversely, secondary.

As long as the Nascent Soul is not destroyed, one can possess a body to be reborn and quickly recover one's strength.

But Qin Ming had cultivated the Demon Race's Sacred Canon, and his physical cultivation was not the least bit inferior to his Nascent Soul; it was even stronger.

In this tribulation crossing, Qin Ming's physical body, comparable to a Great Demon of Transformation, was also one of his reliances.

But at this very moment, Qin Ming's Nascent Soul could feel that he had been firmly locked onto by the tribulation of the netherworld, with no possibility of evasion.

The tribulation clouds also covered a thousand miles; all living beings within this range felt as if the apocalypse had descended.

Boom! Crack! The first tribulation lightning descended, tearing through the sky, carrying endless, brilliant heavenly might.

In an instant, lightning flashed! It arrived with a boom!

The world, originally dark and sunless under the shroud of the tribulation clouds, was suddenly transformed into broad daylight.

Qin Ming remained composed, mobilizing his Nascent Soul magic power, his five fingers grasping into the void; a hundred-foot cyan giant sword instantly condensed in mid-air, meeting the tribulation lightning.

Rumble! The two world-destroying forces collided, and an exaggerated shockwave swept through everything, spreading toward the surroundings.

……

In the distance, aboard the thousand-foot cross-border spirit ship of the Li Huo Palace.

"He actually really succeeded in condensing the Nascent Soul?"

"Where did he get a Nascent Soul Pill? Even I don't have one yet."

Jing Qing, the Nascent Soul seed of Li Huo Palace, looked at the celestial phenomenon above the spirit island and said sourly, his face full of resentment.

Yet the next moment.

When he saw the gray tribulation clouds covering a thousand miles.

His expression actually revealed a hint of schadenfreude.

"Hahaha! It's actually the Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation! Even if this kid luckily succeeds in condensing the Nascent Soul, he is dead for sure!"

The lean cultivator beside him didn't understand and stepped forward to ask:

"Senior Brother Jing, what is the Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation?"

Jing Qing explained: "The so-called Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation corresponds to the number of Earthly Fiend transformations; it will descend with a full seventy-two tribulation strikes of different variations, each one terrifyingly powerful."

"The further back the tribulation, the more terrifying it becomes. Ordinary magic treasures simply cannot withstand such a quantity of tribulation strikes."

"Without extremely high-level divine abilities or powerful treasures to resist the heavenly tribulation, ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators only face the end of death and the dissipation of their spirits."

"Even in the ancient era when spiritual energy was prosperous, those who could survive the Eight-Nine Heavenly Tribulation were few and far between."

"If that's the case, isn't this Moon-Gazing True Person dead for sure?" the lean cultivator hesitated.

"That is natural, but I find it a bit strange... how could this kid trigger such a terrifying heavenly tribulation?" Jing Qing said quite strangely.

……

Outside the spirit island.

The Heaven-Devouring Rat and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee were lying on the massive head of the Profound Water Crocodile.

The moment the heavenly tribulation descended, the three beasts' incredibly nervous hearts all jumped into their throats.

Looking at the terrifying tribulation clouds, the Heaven-Devouring Rat sighed: "It's over, it's over, why would such tribulation lightning descend?"

"This is even more terrifying than the Transformation Heavenly Tribulation of Senior Silver Moon Heavenly Fox that day."

"Master, you must hold on!"

And such scenes were constantly happening among the people watching from afar.

……

And on the spirit island, thunder rumbled incessantly, and electric arcs flickered.

Qin Ming had already used his own magic power and divine abilities to withstand the first ten-plus heavenly tribulation strikes.

Boom! The world-destroying heavenly tribulation continued to descend.

At this moment.

Qin Ming flipped his hand, and a blood-colored inkstone appeared in his palm; it was precisely the Tier 4 magic treasure—Blood Pagoda.

Old Demon Qing Yang knew that Qin Ming was crossing the Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation, and he too had to take action.

But the next scene left the Old Demon completely stunned.

From within the magic treasure, he looked at the terrifying tribulation clouds outside and let out a strange cry of exclamation:

"Earthly Fiend Heavenly Tribulation, what are you doing, kid??"

Old Demon Qing Yang didn't understand; it was just a Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation, why would it attract such a Heaven-Jealousy Tribulation? After scanning the surroundings, his gaze finally fell upon that pitch-black ancient vine that reached the heavens.

"It must be it, it must be that this vine is too heaven-defying, inviting Heaven's wrath."

"Sigh! This old man has truly had the worst luck for eight lifetimes; just out of the wolf's den and into the tiger's lair!"

Helpless, he had already offered his spirit to Qin Ming; now that the wood was already carved into a boat, the arrow had to be fired.

If Qin Ming told him to go east, he would absolutely not dare to go west.

Right now, even if there was a pit of fire ahead, he could only close his eyes and jump in... The Blood Pagoda magic treasure was unleashed, and blood light immediately surged in the sky.

Old Demon Qing Yang let out a loud shout, then manipulated the Blood-Refining Demon Light within the sea of blood, colliding fiercely with the tribulation lightning in the sky.

It must be said that after this Demon Sect supreme treasure was upgraded to a Tier 4 magic treasure, its power was incredibly sharp, helping Qin Ming withstand more than half of the heavenly tribulation.

After dozens of tribulation strikes, the voice of Old Demon Qing Yang, in a wretched state, came from the Blood Pagoda magic treasure: "Qin... Little Friend Qin, this old man... cannot hold on anymore!"

Qin Ming, beneath the Yin-Yang Profound Vine Tree, also began to look grave; under the baptism of so many heavenly tribulation strikes, he also gradually felt the threat.

The Blood Pagoda magic treasure had helped him block most of the heavenly tribulation, and at this moment, its spirituality was greatly damaged; it was estimated that it would need to be nurtured for a very long time to recover.

And the heavenly tribulation in the firmament was still continuing.

Being able to hold on until now was the limit of this treasure, so Qin Ming immediately put away the Blood Pagoda magic treasure.

But the next moment.

The Nascent Soul in Qin Ming's Purple Mansion spirit platform looked up, and a feeling of impending disaster inexplicably welled up in his heart.

Even his Nascent Soul spirit felt terrified.

Boom! He saw the gray tribulation clouds hovering above being dyed pitch-black, as if they were ink.

"Burning Spirit Tribulation Fire!!"

"Little Friend Qin, whatever means you have, hurry up and use them, otherwise I fear there will be no chance left..." Old Demon Qing Yang looked at the changes in the tribulation clouds in the sky and said in an extremely weak voice.

"If things go wrong, this old man will have to go on the road with you."

Qin Ming's face also revealed unprecedented gravity.

He took out the Magatama Golden Light Mirror and, following the experience previously taught by Old Demon Qing Yang, directly activated this treasure.

To open the second divine ability of this mirror, one had to absorb this heavenly tribulation fire.

According to Old Demon Qing Yang, the Burning Spirit Tribulation Fire was the most poisonous tribulation fire in this world, directly targeting the cultivator's spirit and Nascent Soul, with no possibility of escape.

As long as one was touched by a little bit, one would be refined by the tribulation fire in an instant, turning into nothingness, without even a chance for reincarnation.

Boom! The terrifying black flames in the sky turned into a sky-covering rain of fire and descended.

The Magatama Golden Light Mirror in Qin Ming's hand erupted with a burst of golden brilliance, instantly shrouding the sky, and then absorbed it all into the mirror.

Having absorbed this terrifying tribulation fire, it was clear that although the Magatama Golden Light Mirror seemed relaxed, it had also reached its limit, spinning and falling back to Qin Ming's side.

Boom! But before he could catch his breath, the terrifying tribulation lightning tore through the sky again, descending from the nine heavens with a boom. Qin Ming immediately took out the magic treasures he had collected from various places and smashed them out as if they were worthless.

A full half-day passed, and the heavenly tribulation in the firmament still showed no signs of stopping.

This made the onlookers all gasp.

Wei Wei Wuya in the distance asked Ancestor Qing Xuan Yu:

"Is the Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation really this terrifying? I, Wei, calculated it; this is already the sixty-second tribulation strike."

"Even if I, this seat, could condense a Nascent Soul one day, I would have no confidence in taking any one of these strikes."

Ancestor Qing Xuan Yu looked into the distance, deep in thought, and said gravely: "This is likely not the heavenly tribulation crossed by an ordinary Nascent Soul. If this old man is not mistaken, this should be the legendary Earthly Fiend Great Tribulation, which requires crossing seventy-two tribulation strikes."

"The remaining ten heavenly tribulation strikes should be the most terrifying; whether Fellow Daoist Qin can pass this hurdle depends on this."

Pei Qing and the others were all astonished and sighed upon hearing this.

And Jing Qing and the others aboard the Li Huo Palace spirit ship had even more spectacular expressions.

They could never have imagined that a wild-path Golden Core cultivator from a loose cultivator background could actually withstand sixty-two of the seventy-two Earthly Fiend tribulation strikes.

"This... this is impossible."

"Even the Burning Spirit Tribulation Fire could be resisted; he must have a heavy treasure protecting him."

Jing Qing's expression was complex, and he finally began to lose his composure.

He had seriously miscalculated; he didn't expect Qin Ming's divine abilities and strength to be so powerful.

If Qin Ming passed these last ten tribulation strikes, I fear the Nascent Soul he achieves will not be an ordinary one either.

Once he crosses the heavenly tribulation.

Even their ancestor, Li Huo Shangren, might not be his match.

Because in the ancient Immortal Cultivation World, Nascent Soul Great Experts who could cross the Eight-Nine Earthly Fiend Tribulation were almost invincible among their peers... The various unfathomable divine abilities possessed by such people were simply not comparable to ordinary Nascent Souls.

……

On Moon-Gazing Island, the heavenly tribulation descended incessantly.

Qin Ming used all his means, transforming into an Eight-Armed Demon Ape, using his physical body to withstand the heavenly tribulation, and took another seven tribulation strikes.

Boom! The tribulation lightning descended, and Qin Ming was blasted into the ground. Even with a physical body comparable to a Great Demon of Transformation, he was charred on the outside and tender on the inside, covered in blood.

The terror of the Earthly Fiend Heavenly Tribulation was truly not just for show.

The Blood Qi True Gang on Qin Ming's body was also exhausted and automatically retracted into his body.

Boom Crack!

The third-to-last tribulation strike descended, and Qin Ming's gaze narrowed; just as he was about to fight with his life.

He saw his natal spirit plant, the Yin-Yang Profound Vine, weave into a giant black net, guarding him beneath it.

The heavenly tribulation lightning in the sky was about to descend, but it seemed to have lost its target and was forcibly held back. Qin Ming was also stunned; he immediately understood that this tribulation could not be escaped and he would ultimately have to face it personally.

But for some reason, the Yin-Yang Profound Vine wove together, even shielding and blocking the Heavenly Secrets.

So much so that even the tribulation lightning above lost its target.

At this very moment.

Old Demon Qing Yang, inside the Blood Pagoda magic treasure, his aura withered and on the verge of death, advised:

"Little Friend Qin! We have reached this step."

"There are only the last three heavenly tribulation strikes left, but the terror of these three strikes is far greater than the sum of all the heavenly tribulation strikes you have withstood before."

"In your current state, it is absolutely impossible for you to take them."

"Fortunately, this strange spirit plant of yours has temporarily shielded the Heavenly Secrets for you, so there is one last path to take."

"Why don't you refine that strand of Source Demon Qi and let your physical body advance again? Perhaps you might have a sliver of a chance... This old man has said all he can."

After speaking, Old Demon Qing Yang's weak voice gradually returned to deathly silence.

Qin Ming's gaze flickered incessantly after hearing this; Old Demon Qing Yang's words were rough but not unreasonable. At this critical moment, he could no longer care about that much.

He also didn't expect the variables of the heavenly tribulation to be so great, far exceeding his expectations.

"Damn it! Fight!"

He gritted his teeth, and the cultivation methods "Heavenly Demon Refining Form Strategy" and "Yuan Sha Planting Demon True Scripture" simultaneously appeared in his mind.

Immediately, Qin Ming waved his hand, and the natal essence blood of the Great Black Heavenly Demon Saint, as well as a strand of Source Demon Qi, floated before him.

Following that.

He consumed the 【Source Demon Qi】 entry in his sea of consciousness.

Hum! Another strand of Source Demon Qi appeared before him, but this strand of Demon Qi born from the entry was ten times larger than the wisp in the Source Demon Pearl! It was simply a case of a small witch meeting a big witch.

"How do you still have Source Demon Qi on you, kid? And it's so exaggerated..."

Old Demon Qing Yang's originally dying spirit body experienced a flash of recovery, his eyes widened, and his spirit was shaken.

Qin Ming didn't know the Source Demon Qi in the entry would be so thick, but the next moment, the two strands of Source Demon Qi in mid-air seemed to be attracted to each other in the netherworld.

Under Qin Ming's gaze, they instantly merged into one.

In an instant, a strand of Demon Qi with an even more terrifying aura, emitting pitch-black demon light, was conceived and born.

Old Demon Qing Yang, inside the Blood Pagoda, looked at this terrifying Demon Qi and exclaimed: "True Demon Qi!!"

Qin Ming first opened his mouth and inhaled the essence blood of the Tier 4 Great Demon into his abdomen.

His physical body True Dan was already at the state of perfection, just one step away from breaking through.

Boom! The essence blood of the Tier 4 Great Demon contained a massive aura, which erupted fiercely within Qin Ming's body.

He immediately operated the "Heavenly Demon Refining Form Strategy" to impact a higher realm, and the blood-colored Demon Ape phantom behind him, which had originally vanished due to the exhaustion of Blood Qi True Gang, appeared again!

At this moment, Qin Ming was wrapped like a blood-colored giant cocoon, as if conceiving an even more powerful life.

The essence within the Tier 4 essence blood was all absorbed by the physical body True Dan.

But this Great Black Heavenly Demon Saint was also at the bottom of the Tier 4 Great Demons, and it seemed insufficient to cause the physical body True Dan to undergo a further transformation.

Qin Ming did not hesitate and directly swallowed that strand of True Demon Qi as well.

Following that, his hand seals changed immediately, switching to the cultivation method within the "Yuan Sha Planting Demon True Scripture".

In an instant, he refined the True Demon Qi and sent it directly into the physical body True Dan.

The next moment.

Crack crack crack! Dense cracks appeared on the physical body True Dan, and from between the cracks, pitch-black demon light suddenly burst forth.

On Qin Ming's body, blood-colored aura and black Demon Qi were simultaneously entwined, looking extremely strange.

When the physical body True Dan finished shattering, with a crack, a pitch-black Demon Infant leaped out from the fragments of the True Dan, following suit, and also absorbed all the source power of the physical body True Dan into its abdomen.

Immediately, the True Demon Qi rose from the dantian, and at the very center of Qin Ming's chest, it transformed into a black lotus flower, which bloomed.

That Demon Infant smiled strangely, then flew up and sat cross-legged on the black lotus.

In an instant, a massive power began to reshape Qin Ming's physical body.

Countless purple-gold patterns emerged from the surface of Qin Ming's body, like tattoos.

Even more terrifying was that the blood-colored eight-armed Demon Ape phantom behind him had each arm perform different hand seals, manifesting into a three-hundred-foot eight-armed Demon Image.

It was precisely the "Yuan Sha True Demon Body" from the "Yuan Sha Planting Demon True Scripture".

At the same time.

The black vines formed by the Yin-Yang Profound Vine stretched out and gradually retreated.

Boom Crack!

The heavenly tribulation that had been brewing in the firmament for a long time seemed to have found its target again; extremely angry, it roared and descended fiercely toward Qin Ming's location.

……

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 424 =====