Chapter 341: Imperial Prince Undergoes Tribulation

After the secret realm ended, the royal family searched it again and, confirming no one remained inside, sealed it shut.

Originally, after the secret realm closed, all large ships from various commanderies would take off and return home.

But after news spread that He Pingsheng and several imperial princes would undergo tribulation here, everyone slowed down.

They all delayed their departures by several days, waiting to witness He Pingsheng's tribulation.

Naturally, the Qi Kingdom's imperial elder Long Yuan Dao Ren also learned of the news.

This time, he did not display his former arrogance; instead, he disguised himself and hid in the shadows, silently waiting to observe.

He Pingsheng, the Ninth Imperial Prince, and Princess Wei Chuan stepped out of the large ship one by one.

They approached the royal elder of Gouliang.

The royal ancestor looked at He Pingsheng and asked: "You have the Chaoyuan Elixir, correct?"

He Pingsheng bowed slightly: "Thank you for your inquiry, Elder—I've prepared it long ago!"

"Go then!"

He waved his hand.

On the thousand-zhang square where the secret realm's entrance had been, a vast open space had been cleared.

In the center stood a tall platform.

The platform was not especially high—only ten zhang tall.

Outside the open space, a dense crowd of onlookers had gathered.

Some were disciples who had participated in the secret realm; others were here merely to gain experience, such as those from Nanlong Commandery, whose qualification tokens allowed two people to enter.

There were also the Nascent Soul leaders from each major commandery.

He Pingsheng spotted Jing Xin.

But with so many eyes on him, he could not directly use the Wuxiang Beidou Nail to surprise her.

"Hmph…"

Seeing He Pingsheng from afar, Jing Xin sneered.

She had never imagined this brat could be labeled a Great Destiny-Bearer.

They were enemies.

Thus, Jing Xin felt anxious and fearful, desperately hoping He Pingsheng was not a Great Destiny-Bearer.

Otherwise, her future would be unbearable.

"Everyone is here!" Elder Futo smiled kindly at He Pingsheng, the Ninth Imperial Prince, and the Thirteenth Imperial Prince. "Follow the order, please!"

"Old Nine, are you ready?"

The Ninth Imperial Prince replied: "Don't worry, Elder—even the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, I can endure!"

"Hehehe…" Elder Futo chuckled. "Don't speak foolishly—the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is a death sentence; how could you endure it?"

"Only those who defy heaven or commit heinous crimes receive such a tribulation!"

"Go!"

"Yes!" The Ninth Imperial Prince straightened his robes, then stepped forward and ascended the massive platform.

He sat cross-legged atop it.

Beside He Pingsheng, the Thirteenth Imperial Prince said nothing, but his eyes held a faint, almost imperceptible sneer.

Indeed, in his eyes, Old Nine had always been lowly—someone who might at best receive a third- or fourth-grade tribulation.

He glanced at the Ninth Imperial Prince, then turned to He Pingsheng—but He Pingsheng's cultivation was beyond his perception.

Because he did not understand him.

At that moment, the Ninth Imperial Prince on the platform pulled out a Chaoyuan Elixir and swallowed it whole.

Yet, after waiting a long while, no dark clouds gathered in the sky.

"What's going on?" He Pingsheng looked bewildered.

Elder Futo shook his head: "No tribulation summoned—apparently, he hasn't formed his Golden Core."

"Tch…" The Thirteenth Imperial Prince sneered coldly: "If he can't even summon a tribulation, is Old Nine perhaps Juehui?"

Juehui!

That meant his Immortal Path had been severed—Heaven's Dao had cut off all his cultivation fortune.

"Unlikely," Futo said. "Ninth Prince's talent is decent, but he's a Five-Element Spirit Root—one Chaoyuan Elixir isn't enough to break through."

"Another one should do it."

But then…

The Ninth Imperial Prince on the platform swallowed a second, high-grade Chaoyuan Elixir.

He swallowed it—but still did not break through.

He grew anxious.

He knew both elixirs were high-grade, each with an 80% chance of triggering a breakthrough; together, the probability was 96%.

And still no breakthrough?

Elder Futo frowned deeply, shaking his head harder.

If he failed to break through today, the royal family would lose face utterly.

Yet the Thirteenth Imperial Prince beside He Pingsheng wore an increasingly smug expression.

At that moment, He Pingsheng suddenly pulled out an S-grade Chaoyuan Elixir and said: "Ninth Prince—catch!"

Whoosh…

The elixir shot through the air like a streak of light and landed before the Ninth Imperial Prince.

After this period of interaction, He Pingsheng had found the Ninth Prince to be a decent man.

Helping him at a critical moment was enough.

He still had plenty of Chaoyuan Elixirs left.

The Ninth Imperial Prince seized the S-grade Chaoyuan Elixir and beamed with joy. He glanced gratefully at He Pingsheng: "Thank you, Brother He…"

He swallowed it whole.

An S-grade Chaoyuan Elixir guaranteed a tribulation—100%.

Of course!

Not absolutely 100%.

For those who are Juehui, it won't work.

But if you're not Juehui, it's guaranteed.

"Boom…!"

The moment the Ninth Imperial Prince swallowed the elixir, a dark cloud coalesced above him.

Seeing the cloud, everyone exhaled in relief.

Except the Thirteenth Imperial Prince.

Beneath the cloud, the Ninth Imperial Prince laughed heartily.

The royal ancestor's face darkened: "No laughing! Be serious!"

"Yes!"

The Ninth Imperial Prince took a deep breath.

Within the cloud, lightning crackled—wave after wave of electric light writhed like countless spirit serpents.

Then the lightning coalesced into nine silver bolts, each as thick as a finger, crashing down from the heavens.

The first wave of tribulation was weak.

Ordinary cultivators could withstand it with nothing but their own cultivation, no defense needed.

Of course, the Ninth Imperial Prince was no exception.

He easily absorbed the first nine lightning strikes.

Next came the second and third waves.

The first three waves were not strong.

The Ninth Imperial Prince absorbed them all effortlessly.

In theory, a cultivator's tribulation could range from One-Nine to Nine-Nine.

But in reality, One-Nine, Two-Nine, and Nine-Nine tribulations have never appeared in the cultivation world.

Even the most mediocre cultivator receives at least a Three-Nine tribulation.

Over ninety percent of cultivators end up with only a Three-Nine tribulation.

Just as everyone assumed the Ninth Imperial Prince would stop at Three-Nine, the scene changed abruptly.

Above, the dark cloud continued to gather more tribulation energy.

"Four-Nine tribulation?"

Elder Futo was slightly startled, then beamed with delight: "Hahahaha! Impressive! Truly impressive… hehehe…"

A Four-Nine tribulation meant superior destiny.

Within the entire royal family, he stood out as exceptional.

Yet the Thirteenth Imperial Prince's face darkened.

He had expected to receive a Four-Nine tribulation himself, while the Ninth Prince got Three-Nine—making the difference in their fates obvious.

But now, this fool had drawn a Four-Nine tribulation?

Damn it!