C2669 Escape
C2669 Escape
Initially, Jiang Fann planned to attempt destroying the heavenly tribulation, but he had to pause. Since he had already bonded with the stone, any benefits it gained would eventually be returned to him. Such a unique opportunity was not one Jiang Fann would easily pass up.
As the core power of the fiery tribulation was absorbed, the tribulation could no longer exert its force to suppress Jiang Fann. With the pressure easing, Jiang Fann could continue using his chaotic power to absorb spiritual strength, allowing the other tribulations to temper his body. His condition gradually improved, and his energy stabilized.
However, once Jiang Fann entered the tribulation cloud, his figure disappeared, causing those observing from outside to grow anxious. They were eager to know how Jiang Fann was faring. The Venerable Person attempted to use the Divine Eye to peer through the tribulation cloud, but it was in vain.
Hong Chao, standing nearby, clearly saw through his intentions and said, "Don't waste your energy. The formation of a heavenly tribulation is incredibly mysterious, even surpassing the laws of nature. It's a unique rule of the world that can't be seen through by the Divine Eye. There aren't many who dare to boldly enter a tribulation, but from the current situation, it seems Jiang Fann has found a way to handle it. I can finally put my mind at ease."
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared beside the two of them. As soon as he showed up, he was immediately restrained by Hong Chao's spiritual strength. The newcomer was startled, clearly not expecting to be trapped so quickly.
"Master, help me!"
The person was round and stout, none other than Jiang Shuai, who had just completed his breakthrough. He sensed his master's location, which is why he appeared here. However, he didn't anticipate that his own level of cultivation would be insignificant in front of this elder, leaving him powerless to resist.
The Venerable Person didn't intervene but instead watched his apprentice with a smile and said, "Don't shout. Let me introduce you. This is Dean Hong Chao from the Sanctum Academy. You'll be going with him to continue your training at the academy. You've been exceptionally accepted as a disciple there, so make sure you seize this opportunity and don't waste my efforts."
Jiang Shuai was a bit surprised to hear this, clearly not expecting the elder before him to be the renowned master. Having trained outside and being part of the Void lineage, he certainly knew who Hong Chao was.
He quickly bowed to Hong Chao, quite cheerfully, "Junior Jiang Shuai, greetings to Senior Hong."
Hong Chao chuckled, "Not bad, not bad. Much more polite than your master. Once you're at Sanctum Academy, you'll need to work hard. Compared to your peers, you're already a bit behind, but you have the chance to catch up."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuai quickly nodded. "I promise to work hard and be ready to leave with you at any time."
Hong Chao seemed satisfied with Jiang Shuai's potential and withdrew the spiritual strength that had been restraining him. He then asked, "Judging by your age, you should be around the same as Jiang Fann. You both share the same last name. Do you know each other?"
Jiang Shuai was a bit surprised to hear Jiang Fann's name. "Of course, I know him. We're from the same family and have known each other since we were kids. We get along well. I also participated in the last trial at the academy. You must have noticed him then, right? But he's always restless, often going out to train. Is he here in the Nine Desolations too?"
Hong Chao recalled some events from the trial, remembering an unexpected ally who had helped Jiang Fann a few times. At the time, he hadn't paid much attention, but now he realized it was this young man in front of him. However, he didn't dwell on it and instead pointed to the distant heavenly tribulation.
"He broke through a few days ago and is currently undergoing his tribulation."
Hearing that Jiang Fann was facing a tribulation, Jiang Shuai quickly looked in that direction. Seeing the unusual heavenly tribulation, his eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, feeling the immense pressure.
"As expected, only that guy could attract such a tribulation. It's a life-or-death situation! And it's not his first time!"
From Jiang Shuai's words, it was clear he knew something about Jiang Fann's past, but Hong Chao and his companion didn't press for details. They watched the direction of the heavenly tribulation, waiting for Jiang Fann to successfully overcome it and stabilize his realm.
Three hours later, they were surprised to see the red tribulation cloud rapidly shrinking, losing its power first. Just as Jiang Fann appeared, he turned and dove into the nearby green tribulation cloud, the one associated with the Wood Element Tribulation, and his figure vanished in an instant.
The Venerable Person looked puzzled. "What on earth is that guy doing? Why did the Fire Element Tribulation suddenly disappear? This timing is all wrong."
Jiang Shuai replied, "Master, you can't measure Jiang Fann by ordinary standards. He once used someone else's Thunder Tribulation to temper his body and could shatter it with a single punch. He might be absorbing the tribulation's power now, deliberately keeping it mysterious to avoid being discovered..."
The Venerable Person was left speechless by his words.
Hong Chao chuckled, "He's really something else..."
Meanwhile, Jiang Fann was trying to let the stubborn stone absorb the core power of the Wood Element Tribulation. It was a piece of wood formed by spiritual strength, with vines growing all over it, brimming with power. The stone didn't disappoint him, quickly absorbing the energy as before, making his tribulation process much easier.
The area around the thunder pool was eerily quiet, almost as if it was intentional. It hadn't fully absorbed the power of the thunder tribulation yet, but Jiang Fann wasn't in a hurry. Time was on his side, and he had no reason to worry. Successfully overcoming the tribulation was just a matter of time, even though his current state hadn't completely stabilized.
Every few hours, one of the tribulation clouds in the sky would disappear, and the overall power of the heavenly tribulation was rapidly diminishing. However, even with this reduction, the power remained astonishing.
A day later, the clouds representing the Strength of Five Elements had all vanished. Jiang Fann charged toward the black tribulation cloud again. Despite the cloud still producing spirit-like entities, they couldn't get close to him, thanks to the divine protection he had. This allowed Jiang Fann to focus on other matters.
As expected, the stubborn stone continued to absorb the power of the tribulation cloud, almost as if it was devouring it. What lay within that stone remained a mystery.
The chaotic heavenly tribulation was still the central force, active as ever, but it was no longer a threat to Jiang Fann. Instead, it had become a source of nourishment for him.
After absorbing the black tribulation, Jiang Fann flew towards the thunder tribulation. The thunder pool had drained the last bit of power from it, which Jiang Fann then reabsorbed into himself. The tribulation clouds began to dissipate slowly.
At this point, only two types of tribulation clouds remained. The silver clouds seemed to lose their effect once Jiang Fann regained consciousness. No matter how they enveloped him, they no longer had any impact, so Jiang Fann didn't bother with them.
The chaotic tribulation provided Jiang Fann with pure spiritual strength, which he used to further refine his body and energy reservoir, aiming to advance his level even more. Seeing Jiang Fann in the sky, having withdrawn his divine blood, Hong Chao felt relieved. He realized that even without using divine blood, Jiang Fann could continue overcoming the tribulation, and the outcome was now certain.
Gu Xie and his companions were equally excited. Although they could sense the changes in Jiang Fann's aura through their bond, they could finally breathe easy now. With Jiang Fann stepping into the Mortal Separating Stage, his combat power would surely skyrocket, significantly closing the gap between them.
Xiao Mo glanced at the old dragon beside her and chuckled, "Looks like you might not be a match for the master anymore. You should probably take some time to train, or you might not be of much help."
The old dragon was unfazed, dismissing Xiao Mo's words. "If he can subdue me, surpassing me is no surprise. Not just me, eventually, he'll surpass all of you. Without that ability, how could he be your master?"
Xiao Mo was a bit surprised, "You seem pretty open-minded about it."
The old dragon replied, "It's just the truth. With that tribulation just now, if it were us up there, we probably wouldn't have survived past the ninth strike..."
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Fann's aura surged once more, reaching the second level of the Mortal Separating Stage. The power of the heavenly tribulation was beginning to wane, and it would only grow weaker from here. Some cultivators were already preparing to congratulate Jiang Fann on successfully overcoming the tribulation.
They were thrilled to see Jiang Fann's strength continue to grow, especially since the world had recently been dealing with spatial rifts. They couldn't be sure if foreign invaders might return, and Jiang Fann had been their pillar of strength during the last invasion. They hoped he would continue to stand against any future threats.
The Venerable Person sensed the aura Jiang Fann was emitting from afar and glanced at Jiang Shuai. "Ah... the road ahead for you is long, and this guy will be your rival. I'll help you find suitable treasures. For now, stick with Old Hong and give it your all..."
Jiang Shuai patted his belly, saying, "Don't worry, Master. Just look at me—I'm clearly talented and smart. I won't embarrass the school..."
The Venerable Person was pleased with Jiang Shuai's response and praised him, "Good, keep that confidence. At the Sacred Hall Academy, you need to follow the rules and not cause trouble. I won't stick around to watch the excitement. My identity is unique, and I prefer not to get too involved in these matters..."
Seeing the master about to leave, Jiang Shuai quickly said, "Master, aren't you going to wait for Jiang Fann to finish his tribulation? I was planning to introduce him to you."
The Venerable Person smiled and replied, "He's still a young one who hasn't made his mark yet. It's not time for us to meet. If he reaches the Reincarnation Stage in the future, you can bring him to see me."
With that, he vanished without waiting for Jiang Shuai to say more. Like a dragon that appears and disappears at will, this lineage of cultivators has always been elusive...