Time flows without seasons in cultivation; years pass unnoticed.
The Dixu Realm, a world as unremarkable as a grain of sand, floated silently in the desolate void. Countless similar small worlds drifted around it. All was calm, utterly devoid of ripples.
Yet at this moment, within the seemingly tranquil heavenly Dao space of the Dixu Realm, a pair of colossal eyes materialized on the firmament, gazing towards a specific point.
There, Li Qi sat cross-legged, an unmoving statue.
This was the twentieth year of Li Qi's seclusion, a period dedicated to seeking the opportune moment for a breakthrough into the Tribulation Transcension stage.
But even now, there was no sign of impending breakthrough in Li Qi's aura. In fact, after such prolonged seclusion, the aura of his current peak Dao Harmony realm had become faint and unfathomable.
And unbeknownst to Li Qi, during his time in seclusion, his primary spirit puppet, Number One, stationed in the Void Black Market, had sent him countless messages.
Gradually, the eyes of the Dixu Realm's heavenly Dao, condensed from the heavens, began to fade and dissipate. This had been a habit of the Dixu Realm's heavenly Dao since Li Qi first entered seclusion, to periodically check on his condition.
Sadly, Li Qi had offered no response.
Just then, as the eyes formed by the Dixu Realm's heavenly Dao were about to vanish completely, it seemed to sense something. The fading eyes of the Dixu heavenly Dao suddenly fixed their gaze again, piercing directly towards the spot where Li Qi sat in meditation.
At this moment, Li Qi, who had remained still for over twenty years, suddenly erupted with a terrifying aura that surged outwards in all directions.
"It's done!"
Li Qi's eyes fluttered open, a hint of quiet joy in their serene depths. For just moments ago, in the ethereal depths, he had finally grasped the breakthrough opportunity he had sought for decades.
"Time to break through," Li Qi murmured to himself.
In the next instant, a sound, as if something was shattering, echoed in Li Qi's ears. Instantly, his aura erupted like a volcano, climbing at a terrifying speed towards higher realms. A fearsome pressure radiated from Li Qi, nearly filling the entire heavenly Dao space.
Slightly lifting his gaze, Li Qi's profound eyes shot beyond the heavenly Dao space. Tribulation clouds, characteristic of the Tribulation Transcension stage, slowly began to condense. Within the clouds, thunder rumbled, and an aura of destruction emanated. The terrifying commotion of the thunderclouds radiated outwards towards countless neighboring small worlds.
Watching the increasingly fearsome thunderclouds, Li Qi’s gaze remained utterly placid, not a trace of panic appearing.
"Let the disturbance of the breakthrough be a little smaller," Li Qi said calmly.
As his words fell, around the Dixu Realm, numerous isolating formations suddenly materialized. These were formations painstakingly crafted by Li Qi in the past, designed to dampen the excessive commotion caused by the Dixu Realm's heavenly Dao breaking through to the Tribulation Transcension stage. Now, Li Qi employed these formations for his own breakthrough.
Even though outside the Dixu Realm, the terrifying thunderclouds had fully coalesced, with azure and violet lightning arcs eager to strike, rumbling ominously, beyond the formations, all was calm. Many small worlds in close proximity to the Dixu Realm sensed nothing at all.
Simultaneously, Li Qi, within the Dixu Realm's heavenly Dao space, flashed and appeared beneath the Tribulation Transcension thunderclouds. Gazing up at the clouds, Li Qi showed no fear, his tone remarkably tranquil.
"Hurry and finish it. I've been waiting a long time to break through to the Tribulation Transcension stage!"
In an instant, perhaps Li Qi's words had angered the Tribulation Transcension lightning above him. With a deafening roar, azure and violet lightning surged, its destructive aura intensifying. With a crack, a bolt of azure and violet lightning struck down, leaving a scorched scent in the surrounding space. For a moment, the very fabric of space distorted and collapsed where the lightning passed.
In the next moment, the terrifying bolt of lightning completely enveloped Li Qi.
Not long after, the lightning dissipated. Li Qi stood unharmed, even letting out a yawn. Each tribulation was as boring as the last. The seemingly fearsome lightning tribulation was all show and no substance, never even damaging the hem of Li Qi's clothes.
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
Destructive lightning bolts rained down one after another. The subsequent process was exceedingly tedious.
After more than half a month, the Tribulation Transcension lightning in the sky was nearing its limit, its emanated aura growing progressively weaker. With the fall of the final lightning bolt, which annihilated an insignificant cell on Li Qi's body, the Tribulation Transcension lightning was finally satisfied and completely dispersed.
At this moment, Li Qi's aura of the Tribulation Transcension stage surged outwards. However, the isolating formations Li Qi had previously set up were effective, completely shielding the pressure from spreading to the surrounding small worlds.
"Hoo!"
Li Qi exhaled deeply, feeling an immense sense of clarity. After the tribulation, abundant power surged within him, continuously regenerating. With a casual wave of his hand, a terrifying pressure radiated outwards. His current strength was immeasurably greater than when he was merely at the peak of Dao Harmony.
"I wonder what realm of expert my current strength can contend with?" Li Qi mused, trying to deduce. He, at the peak of Dao Harmony, was already not inferior to a cultivator at the third heaven of Tribulation Transcension. Now that he had crossed this major threshold, the surge in his power was beyond ordinary imagination.
The fifth heaven of Tribulation Transcension? The sixth heaven?
"Never mind," Li Qi shook his head slightly. He couldn't figure it out; his situation was too unique. However, one thing Li Qi did know was that if he used all his trump cards, the power he could unleash would certainly not be weaker than that of a cultivator at the peak of Tribulation Transcension!
A faint smile appeared on Li Qi's face. Suddenly, as if sensing something, the smile quickly vanished. At this moment, Li Qi finally noticed the numerous messages sent to him by his primary spirit puppet, Number One, during his long seclusion.
Skimming through these messages, he saw that other Penguin Medicine Pavilions had made more profits. These were trivial matters. But the most frequent type of message was...
Silver River is in danger!