Chapter 100: Tribulation Transcender

Purple Imperial Palace, inside the Sect Leader's hall.

Huang Jingxuan sat with an indifferent expression.

Just now, she again expended lifespan to operate the Heavenly Harmony Instrument, learning something she could never have imagined.

"The variable actually came to the Purple Imperial Palace on its own?"

"Judging by the Heavenly Dao's inclination, it seems its arrival at the Purple Imperial Palace would actually benefit the orthodox faction."

"Could the variable be leaning toward the orthodox faction?"

Huang Jingxuan kept pondering, her indifferent expression never changing.

"Someone come."

As her words fell, a moment later an elder in robes walked in.

"Sect Leader, what are your orders?"

"These days, closely monitor everything happening inside the sect."

"If you spot any unfamiliar cultivators coming or going, record it immediately and inform me."

"Yes!"

Star Cliff, Mu Han Yu Elder Peak.

"Once decided, let's set out."

Lu Chen had everything arranged.

He let Su Qian and the others temporarily return to Spirit Stream Town to rest, while he went to the Purple Imperial Palace together with Mu Han Yu.

"Yes."

"Good."

As his words fell, the Empress suddenly flew out.

"Again, this aura of the Great Dao."

"Great Dao aura?" Lu Chen heard the words and froze for a moment.

"Someone is deducing your whereabouts and actions; this isn't the first time."

The Empress was surrounded by a faint light as she continued speaking:

"Last time here, this aura appeared once."

"When you went to the exchange fair, this aura also appeared."

"Using the Great Dao to divine the future, such a costly act—someone actually used it three times in a row."

"However, your cultivation is still low, the karmic ties involved aren't too great, so the consumption from the divination is indeed somewhat smaller."

The Empress said, then suddenly glanced at Lu Chen.

She recalled the incident from before at Spirit Impurity Valley.

A thought moved her, and she extended her hand to Lu Chen's forehead.

The next moment, a soul force slowly circulated, and a technique continually condensed in the void.

Taking a closer look, it was actually the Heart-Soul Guiding Technique Lu Chen had learned before.

"Empress sister, what are you doing?"

"This technique is not bad, but its ceiling is too low; I can help you optimize it."

Qi Luo Empress sat cross-legged in midair, one hand propping the air, the other lightly waving; the guiding technique manual before her flipped pages on its own.

"Optimize? You mean make it effective for higher-realm cultivators?"

"Yeah, roughly."

Hearing that, Lu Chen felt a surge of joy.

Indeed, among the techniques the Empress had previously taught him, there were many bearing the word 'modified'.

So it's not surprising that she could optimize and modify the guiding technique.

"It will take some time; don't disturb me during that."

The Empress glanced at Lu Chen, then vanished together with the guiding technique in the same spot.

"Alright."

Seeing the Empress off, Lu Chen turned his attention back to his surroundings.

During his absence, Chu Lian refined many pills.

The waste pills, too, were all kept at his insistence.

Having stored those waste pills in his storage bag, he left Elder Peak with Mu Han Yu.

Several people split up leaving the sect, so as not to draw Mo Tiancheng's attention.

Not long after following Mu Han Yu out of the sect, he received a voice transmission from Su Qian.

"Master, I've made it out safely."

Afterward, each time they progressed a distance toward the Purple Imperial Palace, they received voice transmissions from the few of them.

"I've come out as well."

Until the night grew deep, Su Qian and the others finally met up smoothly in Spirit Stream Town.

Lu Chen received the news, no longer worried about them, and focused all his gaze on the upcoming Purple Imperial Palace.

"Master, I want to ask you something."

On the flying boat, Mu Han Yu suddenly looked at Lu Chen.

"Ask."

"Just where are you from? Orthodox faction or demonic cultivator?"

If it were before, Mu Han Yu would unhesitatingly have considered Lu Chen an orthodox cultivator.

But now, he is uncertain.

Because even after learning of the plan to infiltrate the Purple Imperial Palace, he had no intention of telling other orthodox cultivators.

It seems he is wholeheartedly striving for the victory of the demonic path.

"Is it important?"

Lu Chen didn't care about those.

"Isn't it important?" Mu Hanyu didn't understand.

Lu Chen did not continue to answer.

The two continually advanced toward the Purple Imperial Palace; at that moment, they suddenly noticed an anomaly appearing in the distant sky.

"Heavenly tribulation? Is someone undergoing tribulation?!"

Lu Chen and Mu Hanyu's expressions instantly turned solemn.

In their understanding, undergoing tribulation is an anomaly that only appears when a Cave Heaven cultivator breaks through while comprehending the Dao.

"Could it be that someone is breaking through the Dao Comprehension Realm here?"

Upon careful thought, this possibility is not great.

Although the realm is extremely high, one is exceedingly weak during a breakthrough; no one would expose themselves so openly in the wilderness.

Lu Chen instinctively drove the flying boat away.

But the next moment, he suddenly noticed a familiar figure within the anomaly.

"Lin Qingxi?! How is she in there?"

"Could it be that she is undergoing tribulation?! But..."

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Mu Hanyu was somewhat surprised.

She hurriedly asked, "Master, do you know that cultivator?"

"More than just knowing."

Because of the heavenly tribulation's presence, the two could not use divine sense to probe the situation inside.

But the naked eye could.

Lu Chen watched the scene and saw Lin Qingxi's expression pained; it seemed she could no longer endure the pain of the heavenly tribulation.

"Hiss..."

He was somewhat confused for a moment.

At least they had had deep communication.

Moreover, the Empress seemed to have said that she possessed a special constitution.

"Right! Could it be because of her constitution?"

Lu Chen quickly firmed this idea.

"Wait here for me; I'll go and come back quickly."

Having said that, he immediately leapt from the flying boat and flew toward where the heavenly tribulation was.

Seeing his action, Mu Hanyu panicked.

"Master! That's a heavenly tribulation! Not to mention a Congealed Spirit cultivator—even a Cave Heaven cultivator might not escape unscathed!"

At the same time, she hid a hint of joy in her heart.

If Lu Chen died, she might be able to regain her freedom.

"But if that really happened, would I be happy?"

She asked herself, knowing she had been influenced.

But she had already begun to somewhat enjoy this feeling.

"Don't worry."

Lu Chen's expression was calm; he seemed not to worry about being affected by the heavenly thunder.

The reason is simple.

He took out a discarded Heavenly Tribulation Dao Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it immediately.

At the same time, he clenched a complete Heavenly Tribulation Dao Pill in his hand.

Within the anomaly, Lin Qingxi's expression was pained.

In a daze, she seemed to see Lu Chen's figure.

"Lu Chen? What are you doing here again?!"

"Back then, you didn't want me!"

"I don't need your rescue! I don't need it!"

Saying this, a tear slid from the corner of Lin Qingxi's eye.

"It's faded; indeed I must be dreaming......"

"Forget it; being able to see him once more before death leaves me with no regrets."

She closed her eyes, preparing to face death calmly.

The next moment, a pair of large hands suddenly lifted her up.