Back in the Kidron Sect, the revelation by the High Elder took everyone by surprise.

  "High Elder, what is the Universe Tribulation?" Tang Ai asked, her curiosity visibly evident.

  "It’s a trial that only exists in legends," High Elder began. "A calamity that is said to have only existed when the Ancient Laws were born. It was the Universe Tribulation that melded the seven laws together, forming the Seven Colored Radiance. And is from this radiance that worlds were born."

  "Universe Tribulation signifies the birth of a new world and is accompanied by ten devastating strikes. I don't know if the young prince is going to make it," High Elder murmured to himself. "This his tribulation is already abnormal…I wonder?"

  High Elder seemed lost in thought, “why is it appearing now?”

  As if to respond to his question, farther up the mountain, Tian’s body hovered just above the stone floor, space rippling outward, a manifestation of his terrifying power. The radius of the distorted space had expanded—now stretching an astounding 250 meters in all directions. Those within its range could feel it—the unmistakable presence of death. It clung to their skin and seeped into their bones.

  A faint aura of black mist swirled around Tian’s form, his breathing steady, but his power growing more and more unstable. His domain was no longer just a space of control, but one of annihilation. Anything within it would feel the edge of his scythe — invisible, unstoppable.

  If he passes the tribulation, his Domain Creation allows him to fully evolve. Within his domain, Tian has complete control over the life force of anything that steps into it. Domain Creation is the peak mastery of spatial manipulation, where a cultivator imposes their will upon the world, creating a personal reality governed by their own rules. Inside a domain, the cultivator is akin to a god, and all-natural laws are twisted, bent, or outright rewritten to favor them. Domains are an advanced technique, usually accessible only to the most powerful or enlightened cultivators, often at or beyond the Void-Break Realm.

  Outside, the temperature plummeted further, frost forming on the grass, the stone walls, and even the disciples' robes. Some backed away, unable to bear the cold, their teeth chattering as they spoke in hushed whispers.

  “L.. L.. l…look at his domain… it’s even stronger than before. The Sword Emperor stood no chance now. No one does.”

  “The radius is now over 250 meters… no, it's still growing! How is that possible?”

  “It's not just expanding… it’s like it’s evolving.”

  Suddenly, from the heart of the seven-colored clouds above, a bolt of silver lightning crackled ominously, zigzagging across the sky. It was as bright as the very first dawn of the cosmos.

  Rumble!

  It descended down on Tian like a death sentence… but then, it struck down on the very edge of his domain, as if testing the boundaries of his power. The moment it touched the ground, the entire Kidron sect trembled violently. The golden protective barrier that had been standing for ages shattered instantly as if it never existed.

  In the silence that followed, the world seemed to hang on the edge of oblivion, waiting for the inevitable storm.

  “My oh My…” High Elder murmured from afar, gazing at the unfolding scene with a mix of respect and trepidation. “I hope he’s not planning what I’m thinking… The heavens may not let him pass easily. But if he succeeds… we may be witnessing the rise of the next God-King.”

  The air thickened as more lightning crackled in the sky. The clouds swirled violently, forming a vortex directly above Tian. The storm was coming, and with it, the trial of his life. The disciples stepped back further, the weight of Tian’s aura pressing down on them, making it hard to breathe. His power was undeniable, overwhelming, a force of nature that demanded reverence. As the wind howled, and the storm gathered its strength, one thing was clear: Tian was no longer the young prodigy who had battled the Sword Emperor four years ago. He was something else. Something more, and the heavens would soon decide whether or not he was worthy to ascend.

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  His eyes, which had always held a quiet, indifferent coldness, now burned with an unfathomable crimson hue. His aura, which was already unstable, surged wildly, threatening to evolve even further beyond mortal comprehension.

  High above the peak, Tian endures the 42nd and 43rd strikes descending together.

  A crimson bolt, carrying the essence of Fire, and a violet arc, infused with the Law of Chaos itself, merged in mid-air, forming a spiraling dragon of destruction. When it struck, the very laws of reality twisted—the ground ignited into a sea of everlasting flames, while space itself distorted, creating endless fractures into the void. His body was unidentifiable, covered in blood.

  "I can't stop now," Tian murmured, gritting his teeth.

  He then operated the sixth level of the Empyrean Compendium, the Ninefall Heaven. His meridians enlarged and began absorbing the tribulation thunder into his Sea of Qi. The thunder tempered and ravaged his externals as it sought to escape, but Tian operated his bloodline, enhancing his resilience.

  45th strike...

  At this point, it was as if the Heavens were actually trying to kill him and not just aid him in his breakthrough. The sky turned even more chaotic and the thunder began to merge together creating massive lightning bolts. It was scary, something that had never happened before. Tian was just a mere mortal of the Saint Realm, why would the Heavens be jealous of him? It made no sense.

  A deep blue bolt, as vast as the sea of stars, howled as it carried the power of Time itself. Everything it touched aged and decayed, turning centuries into moments. The surrounding mountain peaks, ancient and unmoving for millennia, crumbled into nothingness as the weight of infinity crushed them into dust.

  Boom!

  Rumble!

  The entire space became dark as if it were night, the only light coming from those terrible lightning bolts in the sky. Tian finally realized that this was not just a trial, but the Heavens were really trying to erase him from existence. He was infuriated. Why would the Heavens try to kill him? Was it his fault that he was born strong? There was so much evil in the world and the Heavens never interfered, yet they wanted to kill him.

  “Fine!” Tian roared. “If the Heavens want to kill me, then I will slaughter the Heavens!” His voice echoed like thunder throughout the entire sect.

  “What is the Young Master planning?” Even the High Elder was surprised by the sudden turn of things.

  Bang!

  46th and 47th strike came together—a piercing emerald radiance, filled with the power of Creation, and an abyssal black strike, so dark it swallowed even light itself—the Law of Darkness in its purest form.

  The very sky itself cracked under the force.

  By now, the Kidron Flame Sect was barely standing. The protective formations that had shielded it for thousands of years were gone, and the very heavens above Kunlun seemed to be watching. The gods of old—the ones who had vanished when the Bodhisattva Tree withered 100,000 years ago—would have recognized this as the return of a forgotten force.

  Tian clenched his fists, summoning every ounce of his strength. His Domain responded, the familiar energy of his inner world rising to meet the challenge. Flames erupted around him, a defensive wall of fire swirling in a protective arc. But the tribulation was relentless. More lightning, more fire, rained down, testing every facet of his power.

  The roar of the tribulation drowned out his thoughts. Tian’s muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed forward, channeling his Spirit Qi in a desperate attempt to stabilize his Domain. This was the key to the breakthrough. If his Domain collapsed under the weight of the tribulation, so too would his body.

  "Is that… his Domain? Look at the way it's shifting… Fire and ice… I've never seen anything like it. How is he controlling it?" Tang Ai was super curious.

  Yingsha replied, his voice full of wonder, "That black flame… it’s the Black Phoenix! Only legends speak of such a flame. I thought no one could master it."

  Elder Wang raised his concern, "He’s facing the Ultimate Tribulation… If his Domain collapses now… the backlash could kill him instantly. Does he not realize the danger?"

  Rumble!

  The colossal eye blinked, and with it came a beam of pure energy, faster than lightning, brighter than the sun. It tore through Tian’s defenses, striking him square in the chest. Agony rippled through his body, but he stood firm, refusing to be brought down. His clothes burned, his skin scorched, but his will remained unbroken.

  Through the blinding pain, Tian reached deeper into himself, beyond the surface of his Domain, beyond the fear and the agony. He had to break through. He had to survive. A flicker of determination ignited within him, pushing him beyond the limits of his mortal body.

  The air around him trembled as the tribulation reached its peak. The storm above churned with unprecedented fury, a maelstrom of destruction bearing down upon him. But Tian stood tall, his eyes burning with resolve. His Domain stabilized, growing stronger with each passing moment, feeding off his indomitable will.

  And then, with a deafening crack, the final strike came.

  A bolt of pure, unadulterated power descended from the heavens, aimed directly at Tian’s heart. Time seemed to slow as the energy raced toward him. He could feel the weight of it, the immense pressure bearing down on his soul.

  But Tian did not flinch.

  "By the heavens! Did you see that? His barrier... it's gone! There's no way he can survive this!"