Chapter 576 8: I Have Stepped into the Tribulation Realm

The sky was a clear, boundless azure, with the sun blazing brightly.

A Cloud Tower drifted in from the distant sky at an incredible speed. It streaked across the firmament like a phantom, vanishing in an instant.

The base of this Cloud Tower was a massive Profound Turtle Shell. Atop it sat one hundred and eight levels of resplendent pavilions, wreathed in auspicious clouds, seeming both real and illusory.

This was the Taixu Cloud Tower, a Tier Five Flying Magical Artifact. The Nine Heavens Spiritual Palace City lineage had gathered the power of eight great sects and thirty-three great families, taking three hundred years to forge it for their City Lord.

The Profound Turtle Shell that formed the Cloud Tower's base came from a Tier Five Great Demon that the eight great sects had joined forces to hunt in the abyssal sea of the Profound Nether Domain. It could inhale and exhale clouds and traverse the void, its speed rivaling that of great powers who had overcome three or four tribulations.

The one hundred and eight levels of the Cloud Tower were towering and majestic, yet they could change form according to their master's will. It could serve as a training ground, a Celestial Palace, or even transform into a prison to suppress powerful foes.

Now, this treasure had become Fang Cheng's personal vessel.

The Golden Radiance Tower Ship was merely a Fourth-rank Magical Artifact, a far cry from the Taixu Cloud Tower.

After plundering the Spiritual Palace City Lord's Treasure Vault, Fang Cheng had Mo Liushang seize all the other treasure vaults in the city, one by one.

Among the spoils was this Tier Five Flying Magical Artifact.

At this moment, the Taixu Cloud Tower had already crossed the natural chasm between domains, left the Profound Nether Domain, and entered the Wilderness Domain.

Fang Cheng sat cross-legged on the highest floor of the Immortal Tower, gazing at the Da Xue Mountain in the distance. The continuous range of mountains stood silently on the horizon of his path home, and he couldn't help but feel a touch of homesickness.

Behind him, a Fiery Red Gourd floated in the air. A golden flame flickered within it, and inside that flame, the faint shadow of a Gu Insect could be seen.

On the journey home, Fang Cheng took the opportunity to refine the Fire God Gu, having it devour the Great Sun True Fire within the gourd to raise the Gu's rank.

He also took the time to familiarize himself with the other treasures he had obtained from the strange stone that day.

The defensive capabilities of the Tier Five Star Robe were decent; it could block an attack from a Second Tribulation Cultivator, which was considered a fairly good Protective Magical Artifact.

That Ancient Bronze Cauldron, the Tribulation Crossing Cauldron, could help one resist celestial tribulations, but it was of little use to Fang Cheng.

The three Tier Five Divine Power Relics contained the Heavenly Talisman Bloodline Divine Powers of three Profound Nether Domain Great Demons. Fang Cheng wasn't particularly impressed with them, so he simply gifted them to Mo Liushang.

As for the Thunder Roc Bone Wings, Fang Cheng refined them into the body of the Feather Divine Soldier, "Celestial Venerable of Universal Transformation." The two happened to be compatible in attributes, which further enhanced the Feather Divine Soldier's power and quality.

...

The Taixu Cloud Tower sped along its path, and within a few days, it had returned to the vicinity of the Primordial Qi Celestial Island where the Fang Family resided.

A startling phenomenon appeared in the sky far ahead.

Although it was daytime, with clear skies and the sun blazing high above, a sphere of pitch-black "night sky" filled with stars hung in the firmament.

This "night sky" was like an immense sphere. Within its pitch-black depths, innumerable stars twinkled and shifted, forming mysterious patterns.

The boundless aura emanating from this night sky was vast and astonishing; it was, in fact, formed by the Tier Five Array, the All Heaven Stars Formation.

The Primordial Qi Celestial Island was hidden within this array.

At this moment, surrounding the All Heaven Stars Formation, seven auras as brilliant as the sun hung high in the sky, brazenly attacking the Grand Array.

It was actually seven Dharma Realm cultivators with extraordinary bearing, joining forces to besiege the Fang Family.

Among these seven people were men and women, their auras all different, clearly indicating they came from different factions.

Evidently, the seven of them had been attacking for quite some time. Despite the Fang Family's deep foundations, the All Heaven Stars Formation had begun to falter.

It seemed that it was only a matter of time before the Grand Array was breached.

Seeing this, Fang Cheng's heart seethed with rage.

After he had finished refining the Tier Five Feather Divine Soldier, he had left the Primordial Qi Celestial Island to attend the Red Profound Conference at the Heaven Crossing Hall. Afterward, on the orders of the Dragon Elephant Wanderer, he went to the Extreme Jade Heaven to search for the Demon-Suppressing Immortal Cicada.

After that, he went to Qianyu Heaven.

Over a hundred years had passed in the blink of an eye. He never expected to return home to a scene like this.

'Something terrible has happened to the Fang Family!'

"Hmph!"

Aboard the Taixu Cloud Tower, Fang Cheng snorted coldly. Without wasting any words, he flicked out a strand of sword light, which circled the outside of the All Heaven Stars Formation in an instant.

The seven Dharma Masters didn't even have time to understand what was happening before they were, almost simultaneously, sliced into fourteen pieces by the incomparably sharp sword light.

The sword light contained a boundless killing intent, directly extinguishing the life force and souls of the seven.

The Cloud Tower arrived outside the array. Fang Cheng's voice was grave as he called out, "Are Jingyuan and Jingxuan here?"

A moment later, the starlight within the array shifted, and a figure emerged. He asked in surprise, "Is that you, Father?"

"It is I," Fang Cheng sighed softly.

A middle-aged man in magnificent robes with a dignified air flew out of the All Heaven Stars Formation. He looked at Fang Cheng, his face full of surprise and delight, unable to hide his excitement.

"Father..."

This man was none other than Fang Cheng's eldest son, Fang Jingyuan.

They had not seen each other for many years. Not only had he stepped into the Dharma Realm, but he had also become much more composed, his face weathered and world-weary.

Fang Cheng stepped out of the Cloud Tower and came before Fang Jingyuan. He looked his son up and down for a moment before asking slowly, "Has the family been well all these years?"

Fang Jingyuan glanced impassively at the remains of the seven Dharma Realm cultivators Fang Cheng had slain with a single sword strike, then replied in a low voice, "The Fang Family has grown stronger over the years, and our fortune has prospered. However, three years ago, we offended a Tribulation Realm Cultivator and have suffered some calamities."

Over the years, following Fang Cheng's wish to "take many wives and concubines for more children and greater fortune," he had led the Fang Family's continuous growth. The family's bloodline now exceeded a thousand descendants, many of whom were exceptionally talented.

With a wave of his wide sleeve, Fang Cheng caused the All Heaven Stars Formation to disperse and collapse on its own.

The Primordial Qi Celestial Island, brimming with an immortal aura, appeared before Fang Cheng.

The two women, Feng Yan and Mo Liushang, also walked out of the Taixu Cloud Tower and stood behind Fang Cheng.

Seeing this, a look of joyful surprise flashed in Fang Jingyuan's eyes. He said softly, "Father, your cultivation..."

"I have entered the Tribulation Realm," Fang Cheng said with a faint smile.

Fang Jingyuan let out a long sigh of relief.

He had followed Fang Cheng on his travels through the Wilderness Domain since childhood, receiving his father's personal guidance in cultivation. Now, after cultivating for over two hundred years, he had reached the Dharma Realm and could be considered worldly and experienced, having faced many hardships.

He knew full well how rare and exceptional Tribulation Realm Cultivators were!

Now that the Fang Family had a Tribulation Realm Great Power, they had instantly become one of the top families in the Red Profound Realm.

Fang Cheng's Divine Sense enveloped the Primordial Qi Celestial Island. Everything on the island was as clear to him as the lines on his palm.

Ye Yan and Feng Ling had both also advanced to the Dharma Realm.

'Jingxuan isn't on the island… The Tier Five Sealed Demon Insect I left to guard the island is heavily injured and sleeping in a secret chamber. There are many more Cave Mansions, and many of the second and third generation have reached the Life Soul Realm, their auras quite profound. Even so, it still wasn't enough to fend off the siege of seven Dharma Realm cultivators outside.'

"Where is Jingxuan?" Fang Cheng asked.

Fang Jingyuan replied, "Second Brother began traveling the world thirty years ago and has not yet returned. He has occasionally contacted the family over the years using the Ten Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Incense. I did not inform him of the family's current calamity."

Fang Cheng nodded, then gracefully descended in his Escape Light, returning to Yongchang Hall in the center of the Primordial Qi Celestial Island.

He had not returned for many years, but all the furnishings in the hall were just as he remembered.

Seeing him return, Ye Yan, Feng Ling, and the other women all came to Yongchang Hall, their faces filled with the joy of reunion.

Fang Cheng's other children and grandchildren also came to pay their respects to the family's old ancestor. When they learned that he had already entered the Tribulation Realm, they were overcome with joy and astonishment.

Fang Cheng took out numerous treasures to gift to his children and grandchildren. The Fang family now spanned seven generations. None from the fourth generation or younger dared to enter the hall, save for a few whose cultivation had surpassed the Life Soul Realm.

As for Feng Yan and Mo Liushang, they were tactful enough not to appear in the hall.

Fang Cheng had someone prepare fine wine and Spiritual Cuisine. He drank and chatted with Ye Yan and the other women, laughing and talking merrily as they shared stories and interesting events from the years they were apart.

The gloomy clouds that had been hanging over the Fang Family instantly vanished without a trace.

During their conversation, Fang Cheng finally learned the origin of the cultivators who had been besieging the Fang Family.

It turned out that three years ago, the Hidden Demon Sect had entered the Wilderness Domain and begun to expand aggressively, running rampant across the land.

One of the Four Great Guardians of the Hidden Demon Sect, Ascendant Celestial Evil, who had already passed the First Celestial Tribulation, had set his sights on the Primordial Qi Celestial Island. He sent his people to seize it by force, which led to a conflict with the Fang Family.

At that time, the Sealed Demon Insect, Fang Wu Xie, had easily suppressed the Hidden Demon Sect cultivators, but in doing so, had also exposed the Fang Family's true strength.

Ascendant Celestial Evil came personally but was repelled by the combined efforts of Fang Wu Xie and Fang Jingyuan, who were aided by the All Heaven Stars Formation.

Fang Wu Xie was heavily injured in that battle and had no choice but to enter a deep sleep to cultivate and recover.

Ascendant Celestial Evil also had a part of his Dharma Aspect sealed by Fang Wu Xie, causing his strength to plummet. He retreated to his lair to break the seal.

Only after that did the situation arise where Ascendant Celestial Evil's seven in-name disciples joined forces to besiege the Primordial Qi Celestial Island.

...