Meanwhile, Huang Wu continued to fly through the winding pass ahead. The light around him flickered as he soared deeper into the unknown.
After a few minutes, the narrow passage suddenly opened up.
He slowed down, hovering at the very edge.
Before him was a vast hollow space—and it didn't take long to realize what it was. The air was thick with spiritual energy, and the walls weren't stone or earth… they were bark.
Huang Wu narrowed his eyes, then slowly descended, landing lightly near the edge.
He glanced around with a frown.
"This isn't a cave…" he murmured to himself. "It's the inside of a tree?"
He stepped forward, cautious but calm. The ground beneath him was sturdy, yet clearly part of something living. The texture, the faint pulse—it was wood. Ancient, powerful, and saturated with life force.
Then he walked to the edge and looked down.
Far, far below, countless trees filled the jungle floor—but from this height, they looked like grass. The sheer scale of this tree was absurd.
"…This whole cave is just the hollow core of a giant tree," he muttered, astonished. "And it's still alive."
He stood there silently for a while, letting the wind pass by his robes. His eyes moved in all directions, alert for danger.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
Thunder cracked in the distance.
His gaze shot toward the horizon. Thick clouds had gathered over a faraway part of the forest, flashing with chaotic lightning. A storm of tribulation.
Even though it was at least forty miles away, Huang Wu—standing so high up and close to the cloud layer—could see the bolts clearly.
And more importantly… he could feel them.
The air hummed with the violent energy of heavenly punishment. His skin tingled. His spiritual sea shivered faintly.
"…That's a tribulation," he said softly.
But then his brow furrowed. "No… it can't be a breakthrough tribulation. Not here."
He looked down again at the jungle below. "Most people in this trial world shouldn't even be close to the God Transformation Stage. Below that realm, there's no way to summon a tribulation…"
He went quiet for a moment, his thoughts sharpening.
"This place… is supposed to be a sealed realm. A world crafted by an Immortal Emperor. But still… this kind of response—this lightning—it feels like his world is still connected to heaven."
A faint glint passed through his eyes.
"And if that's true…"
He looked down at his own hands.
"…Then this could be an opportunity."
His voice was calm, but his heart was beginning to stir.
"If I use that tribulation… if I can guide some of its power into my body, while merging it with the immortal essence I inherited—then…"
He clenched his fist. The golden robe around his body fluttered quietly in the wind.
"…This newly formed body of mine might undergo a fundamental transformation. But it is very weak because it has not experienced any challenge."
A smile tugged at the edge of his lips.
"And if that happens… even Su Chen might be surprised."
Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt forward—swish—and shot through the air in the direction of the ongoing tribulation.
Boom!
The thunder grew louder, more chaotic, like the sky itself was enraged.
Suddenly—
Roar... ROAR!
A monstrous cry echoed through the heavens. Huang Wu's expression changed slightly. It wasn't human. That sound—primal and thunderous—didn't belong to any beast he had ever heard or read about. There was no match for it in his memory.
He narrowed his eyes and accelerated, pushing his speed to the limit. As he neared the heart of the tribulation, he released his spiritual consciousness to scan the area.
Within the storm of lightning and clouds, he sensed a figure locked in combat—a being half-human, half-dragon. Though humanoid in shape, the figure had horns, a tail, and dark crimson scales. Its eyes glowed like molten gold—purely draconic.
"Hmm… Jiang Chen," Huang Wu muttered, recognition flashing in his eyes. "I remember him… A son of luck whose Flood Dragon Physique was dug out by some prince. Su Chen never met him directly, but I've seen his profile before. So, he's here too—part of the Immortal Palace trial, trying to transcend the tribulation."
Whenever a bloodline with a high concentration of ancient beast essence appeared, the heavens would respond with divine tribulation—to test its legitimacy, its worthiness.
And then—without hesitation—Huang Wu dove straight into the sea of lightning.
He didn't fear death. Unlike Su Chen, he knew he was just a clone, not the original body. Even if he perished here, Su Chen could always recreate him. So why would he care?
Boom!
A thunderous bolt crashed down from the heavens, slamming into Huang Wu with overwhelming force. The ground trembled beneath the impact, but he stood firm, unmoved—his body like an immovable mountain. Not even an inch did he shift.
Still, he didn't remain airborne. He knew the tribulation was only beginning… and it would become far more violent soon. So he calmly descended, landing amidst the barren earth, allowing the thunder to continue striking him.
Crackles of lightning coiled around his body as he bathed in the storm. His upper robes were soon reduced to smoldering scraps, burnt away by the sheer intensity of the heavenly punishment.
Elsewhere within the same storm, Jiang Chen—who was enduring the tribulation to temper his Dragon Physique—suddenly heard a voice in his mind.
"Jiang Chen, someone else has entered the tribulation field."
It was the calm, ancient voice of his master, speaking through divine telepathy.
Jiang Chen, surrounded by arcs of lightning, let out a low roar before replying mentally, "Master… should I crush him now… or let him court death on his own?" He could also sense the presence now—a figure stepping into his storm, as if challenging heaven alongside him.
His master's voice responded again, composed yet firm,
"Ignore him. He's not stealing anything from you. And remember—those who've made it this far in the trial are no ordinary people. He may have powerful treasures or life-saving trump cards. Provoking him could be unwise."
Jiang Chen silently nodded and focused once more on his tribulation.
Boom… Boom… ROAR!
Thunder roared louder than ever, and the sky—once black and white from flickering lightning—suddenly turned deep purple, as if stained by divine rage.
Huang Wu looked up.
His eyes reflected the crackling bolts that danced across the clouds.
"Purple lightning, huh…" he murmured, a faint, intrigued smile tugging at his lips.