Why would he ever deliberately provoke the Heavenly Dao?
Perhaps…
Maybe…
Could the Heavenly Dao operate in different “modes”…?
Standby, Power-Saving, Full Operation, High Performance?
Cough—just a joke.
The Heavenly Dao oversees the functioning of all things in the world but does not focus excessively on every living being, especially those who have yet to become immortals and pose no real threat.
The eight tribulation lightning strikes that Li Changshou had endured earlier were merely preordained processes determined by the Heavenly Dao based on his innate talent—like some kind of preset program.
Only when something abnormal occurred after the tribulation did he draw the attention of the Heavenly Dao…
Normally, for tribulation-crossers like Li Changshou, whose accumulation far exceeded their predicted potential, the Heavenly Dao would naturally adjust the intensity of the heavenly tribulation, providing an appropriate trial. If they couldn’t endure it, they would simply perish.
But who could have guessed that Li Changshou had all these strange “anti-divination” items on him? The Heavenly Dao, operating in “power-saving mode,” had completely overlooked it…
Yet, once the Heavenly Dao took a serious look, a mere “half-immortal” like him had no secrets left to hide.
That oppressive pressure from earlier wasn’t a probe—it was a warning.
A real “Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Warning.”
“Good thing I was polite earlier—it might have helped.”
Li Changshou steadied his breathing, quickly putting his robes back on while considering what words of gratitude he should offer to the esteemed Heavenly Dao.
Just then, a muffled clap of thunder boomed across the sky, and the winds and clouds shifted for a thousand miles!
Li Changshou immediately cupped his hands and made a deep bow.
Then, he spoke loudly and respectfully:
“Disciple of the Dao Sect, humbly beseeching the Heavens!
The variables in this tribulation were not of my design but merely my way of evading mortal calamities and disasters!
The foundation I have achieved today is solely the result of my devotion to the Dao, my adherence to the teachings of the Dao Ancestors, and my tireless cultivation!
I beseech the Heavens to grant me another tribulation strike!
And I also ask for permission to change the location of my tribulation to avoid an untimely demise!”
The moment he finished speaking, the dark cloud above him began to expand. Gusts of wind surged in from all directions, and within hundreds of miles, gray clouds sprouted over the sea, swiftly converging over Li Changshou’s head!
Seeing this, he immediately understood what was happening and dashed toward the ocean.
Previously, to prevent interference before his tribulation, he had specifically scouted multiple suitable locations for the ordeal, even setting up formations in the seabed to accelerate his escape through water.
Who would have thought—he wasn’t relocating because of an external disturbance…
But because he had to undergo a second heavenly tribulation!
Going through the Immortal Ascension Tribulation twice?!
I’ve never heard of such a thing…
Looks like my excessive preparations weren’t excessive at all!
This time, the tribulation clouds covered a hundred-mile radius of the ocean, and their thickness was ten times that of before…
Li Changshou streaked through the water at high speed, with the massive tribulation clouds above keeping pace, floating eastward.
Peering at the clouds, he saw a towering celestial palace taking shape—an illusory yet imposing structure, with countless shadowy figures gathered before and behind it.
At the center of this palace sat a solemn emperor.
All these figures were formed from tribulation clouds, their faces indistinct.
Beneath the palace, two colossal statues of a dragon and a phoenix stood poised in fierce opposition as if about to come to life and clash in battle.
Beneath them, swarms of ferocious beasts and towering figures played out a grand war between ancient demons and divine shamans!
At the very bottom, silver-white lightning speckled with violet crackled and gathered within the clouds, forming a square thunder pool ten feet wide.
Bolts of tribulation lightning pooled into the reservoir, filling it up like a liquid.
Li Changshou’s second tribulation site was still three hundred miles away. Along the way, he passed through several formations he had previously arranged, each one boosting his speed.
By the time he reached the second small island, the sky had already begun to rumble ominously.
There was no time to think—he grabbed a treasure pouch and flung it outward, scattering six folded spirit bird cages across the area without even having time to open them.
Before the pouch had even hit the ground, he was already gripping a carving knife in his left hand and a wooden sword in his right, with dozens of talismans flying out from his sleeves!
Sensing something amiss, he glanced upward—and immediately staggered in shock.
What the hell is that?!
The thunder pool above slowly tilted—then a thunderfall came crashing down on him like an avalanche!
A blinding wave of lightning illuminated the darkened world.
Li Changshou’s carving knife danced in his hand, etching ancient glyphs into the air as fast as he could. His entire being surged with power, his upper body once again radiating multicolored immortal light, while celestial energy surged to form a protective barrier above him!
BOOM!
The thunderfall swallowed him whole.
The ancient glyphs he had carved shattered in an instant.
His lean figure was smashed into the molten ground beneath him…
Moments later, as the lightning dissipated, Li Changshou leaped out of a perfectly square crater, his robe reduced to tattered scraps. His aura was unstable, his breath labored—and blood spilled from his lips.
“So this is what a real heavenly tribulation feels like?”
“Good. This is strong enough.”
Without hesitation, he wielded his carving knife once more, inscribing glyphs into the earth. These glyphs, when connected, formed an excerpt from “Plowing and Cultivation,” an ancient text by the human sage Shennong.
The glyphs arranged themselves in a structured formation, rising into the air above him.
At the same time, a blaze of Samadhi True Fire erupted around him, engulfing his entire body.
Nine-petaled lotus flowers, each the size of a basin, bloomed in the air around him.
—A manifestation of his full power!
“Come on, heavenly tribulation!”
Li Changshou tilted his head back, his long hair and tattered robes billowing. Above, the thunder pool tipped once more, unleashing another cascading thunderfall!
This time, he bent his knees slightly, then launched himself skyward—his eyes gleaming with divine light, directly meeting the descending lightning head-on!
The Ninefold Thunder Tribulation!
“I’ve been waiting far too long for this.”
Meanwhile, high above the South Sea, a white cloud came to a halt.
A young girl clutched the sleeve of an elderly Daoist, whispering, “Master, why did we stop again?”
The old Daoist gazed toward the distant tribulation site, sucking in a sharp breath.
“This… what kind of heavenly tribulation is this?”
“A celestial palace above, dragons and phoenixes in the middle, and gods and demons below—could it be the second-ranked Ninefold Divine Demon Tribulation?!”
He then sighed and shook his head.
“What’s going on in the South Sea today? Did all the cultivation prodigies decide to cross tribulations at the same time?”
“What a pity… another young one about to perish under the heavens.”
He turned to leave. “Come, there’s no point watching someone meet their end.”
The young girl hesitated. “Master… is there no way to survive such a tribulation?”
The old Daoist asked, “Did you notice any spiritual energy gathering around the previous eight-stage lightning tribulation?”
The girl shook her head.
“Exactly. If eight-stage lightning is already near impossible, then what hope is there against the thirty-twofold catastrophe?”
“A prodigy like this would only invite the wrath of the heavens. There are already too many powerful beings in the world—without the heavenly tribulation suppressing them, another great calamity would be upon us before long.”
He sighed. “Come, don’t watch another soul fade away.”
With that, the white cloud drifted southward.
But before leaving, the young girl curiously glanced back.
In the distance, the vast tribulation cloud was nearly touching the surface of the sea.
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 98.2