Everyone knew the Four Heavenly Kings had reached the peak of the Mahayana stage.
All they needed was to pass the heavenly tribulation to ascend to immortality.
Therefore, many people were excited at this moment.
To be fortunate enough to witness the four ascend to immortality would be an immense honor.
Simultaneously, many also harbored anxieties.
Chen Nan had challenged the Four Heavenly Kings to a sparring match at Mount Tai today.
He probably hadn't expected them to undergo their tribulation today, had he?
It was truly unknown what the outcome of this battle would be.
Of course, most of them hoped for the Four Heavenly Kings to emerge victorious.
After all, they had rendered meritorious service to the country.
Had it not been for their intervention, the world would have descended into chaos long ago.
Although many events had transpired since the establishment of the Cultivator Association that the common folk did not wish to see, their merits outweighed their demerits. They deserved a favorable outcome.
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Eight in the evening.
Chen Nan appeared above Mount Tai.
He saw the four Heavenly Kings, standing ready, prepared to face their tribulation.
Frankly, Chen Nan was surprised they chose to undergo their tribulation simultaneously.
Undergoing tribulation carried immense risks. Describing it as a slim chance of survival would not be an exaggeration.
This was already the case for one person; how much more so for four simultaneously?
However, if the four acted in concert, passing the heavenly tribulation and ascending to the immortal realm would not be difficult.
At the same time, he seemed to understand why the Four Heavenly Kings had chosen to undergo their tribulation today.
They knew they were no match for him. Thus, their only path to survival was to ascend to the immortal realm. Today's tribulation was a direct provocation to him. Because once they passed the heavenly tribulation, they would be protected by the heavenly laws of the immortal realm.
Yes, this was an unspoken rule. Under normal circumstances, even with extraordinary strength, one could not kill someone protected by the heavenly laws of the immortal realm.
But the problem was that encountering him rendered normal circumstances abnormal. As the Lord of the Immortal Realm, he had merged with its heavenly laws. If he willed it, they could not ascend to the immortal realm.
Chen Nan floated serenely in mid-air, making no move to strike them down.
They had agreed to a decisive battle. If he were to act now, he might draw criticism.
Lightning flashed and thunder boomed in the sky. Heavenly lightning appeared in the night sky. A terrifying heavenly might swept outwards.
The common folk were filled with excitement. After all, such a spectacle was not something one could witness easily.
Though they were far away, they could still see the four figures being struck by lightning in the sky. The thunder roared, deafening and resonant, making everyone feel a surge of bloodlust.
Bolts of lightning, carrying the might of world destruction, struck the four, leaving them disfigured and in utter disarray.
Yet, as they endured more heavenly lightning, their strength also improved significantly. Their true qi transformed into immortal qi as they were struck by the lightning.
After enduring nine bolts of heavenly lightning, the dark clouds in the sky quickly dissipated.
The world fell silent. Only the full moon in the night sky shone with an even brighter luminescence.
Mo Yuan, Su Zhibai, Feng Ye, and Dai Kong each donned clean robes. Their eyes shone like stars, emanating power and excitement. They had now become immortals of the Earth Immortal stage. Though only just beginning, their strength had increased manifold. It felt as if they could uproot Mount Tai beneath them with their minds alone!
The next moment!
A spatial vortex appeared in the depths of the nine heavens. wisps of immortal qi descended, enveloping all four of them. They felt the summons from the heavenly laws of the immortal realm. Their bodies began to ascend slowly into the depths of the nine heavens.
Simultaneously, Mo Yuan let out a gloating laugh: "Chen Nan, Chen Nan, what good is your terrifying strength? We are now protected by the laws of the immortal realm; even you cannot kill us."
Su Zhibai roared with laughter: "If you don't believe us, try it!"
The laughter of the four echoed through the heavens and earth, leaving many onlookers perplexed.
They had agreed to a battle today. Why were they rushing to ascend instead of confronting Chen Nan?
Chen Nan lit a cigarette and asked calmly, "You murdered over a hundred thousand cultivators under me who were resisting the alien demons, usurped their merit in saving the nation, and took over the Four Demonic Realms. I am not lying about this, am I?"
Chen Nan's voice was not loud, but it seemed to possess a magical quality, reaching everyone's ears clearly.
At this moment, everyone below the mountain felt their scalps tingle. When the alien demons invaded, Chen Nan's subordinates were the first group of cultivators? It made sense! It all made sense! Those people were prisoners who escaped from the eighteenth minor world! And then they joined Chen Nan! However, they still found it hard to believe that the Four Heavenly Kings would do something so despicable!
Feng Ye's voice rang out: "So what if we did it?"
"They were just prisoners confined in the eighteenth minor world."
"So what if they resisted the invasion of demons?"
"What right do they have to enjoy the merit of saving the nation?"
Boom!
Feng Ye's words were like a bolt from the blue, making countless people's scalps tingle and their bodies shudder. Although they had just witnessed the Four Heavenly Kings successfully pass the ninety-nine heavenly tribulations, these words had a far more profound impact than the tribulations themselves.
The common folk never dreamed that the true heroes were not the Four Heavenly Kings! Even less did they imagine that they would be so despicable, murdering cultivators who had contributed to the nation and its people! And then claiming their merits as their own! This was in stark contrast to the noble image they had cultivated over the past two years! It brought immense disappointment and anger to countless people! Yes, the more respect and admiration they had felt for the Four Heavenly Kings before, the stronger their anger and disappointment were now!
Chen Nan: "Heaven sees all deeds. Are you not afraid of retribution for your heinous acts?"
Su Zhibai sneered: "Retribution? Heh, if retribution truly existed, how could there be so many wicked people in the world? If retribution existed, why would there be law enforcement officers?"
Dai Kong mocked: "Chen Nan, aren't you very powerful? If so, why don't you kill us and avenge your followers!"
"He lacks the power!" Mo Yuan declared his contempt for Chen Nan without reservation. Because they had already ascended to the nine heavens, and even glimpsed the immortal realm behind the spatial vortex.
Chen Nan watched them calmly: "Do you really think you can ascend to the immortal realm?"
"Do you think that even if you ascend to the immortal realm, you can escape the evil deeds you committed in the mortal world?"
Mo Yuan spat viciously: "Stop us if you can!"
Chen Nan: "Without my permission, you will not be able to ascend to the immortal realm."
"Idiot, do you think you are the master of the immortal realm? Stop us from ascending then!"
The four laughed maniacally as they entered the immortal realm. At this instant, they felt a different kind of heavenly pressure. After all, the mortal world and the immortal realm belonged to different planes! But this was within their expectations! The four were overjoyed. They had finally ascended to the immortal realm! They had finally escaped that bane, Chen Nan!
But at this very moment, Mo Yuan was the first to regain his senses, a look of fear appearing in his eyes: "Why do I feel Chen Nan's presence in the immortal realm?"
"Why does it feel like Chen Nan is everywhere?"
The other three shivered. Indeed! They all felt Chen Nan's presence. His aura was truly everywhere. This instilled a deep sense of fear and unease in them. Suddenly! A powerful heavenly pressure swept across the nine heavens of the immortal realm! It struck them down, back to the mortal world! The four felt their scalps tingle! What the hell! We've already ascended, why are we being forced back to the mortal world???