I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 692 - 506: Heaven and Mortal Three Tribulations, Confidence 2

A breakthrough that would have been successful before Tier Six was now facing the formidable challenge of the Tier Seven Celestial Human Three Tribulations, which had only just commenced.

"Boom!"

The instant the bottleneck crumbled entirely, the heavens above the Ice Valley abruptly plunged into darkness. The sky, previously clear, was instantly consumed by dense, black thunderclouds, within which dark purple lightning writhed like dragons, emitting a deafening roar.

Qin Tian gazed upward at the dark lightning, which seemed like a 'penalty thunder' coalesced by the laws of the world. Its power far surpassed ordinary lightning, even rivaling the Celestial Punishment Divine Thunder he had wielded previously.

Taishi Feng looked up at the roiling thunderclouds, retrieved a deep purple Elixir from his storage ring, and consumed it – it was the Thundercloud Pill.

Upon entering his stomach, the Elixir dissolved, releasing a cool medicinal energy that permeated his entire body through his meridians. Raising his hand towards the sky, his voice boomed like a bell, "Come!"

As if provoked by this defiance, the thunderclouds churned violently. A dark purple celestial thunder, as thick as a bowl, split the sky with destructive force, striking downwards with immense momentum.

Golden light erupted around Taishi Feng as he crossed his hands protectively above his head, his spiritual energy of the gold element coalescing into a robust spiritual shield.

"Boom!"

The celestial thunder slammed into the spiritual shield, shattering it instantly like brittle porcelain. The residual force continued unabated, slamming into him.

"Pfft!"

Taishi Feng grunted heavily, his body shuddering uncontrollably. His bronze skin was instantly scorched black, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his hair stood on end, emitting faint wisps of black smoke, leaving him in a wretched state.

Yet, he gritted his teeth fiercely. While the Celestial Thunder Tribulation was considered relatively mild among the three, countless prodigies had met their end here. The sheer power of this first strike had already exceeded his expectations.

Without granting him a moment to recover, the second and third celestial thunders descended in swift succession, each one increasing in thickness. The dark purple electrical arcs detonated on his body’s surface, shredding his clothes and revealing the raw flesh and ghastly bones beneath.

Huo Yuansheng watched with a strained expression, instinctively feeling the urge to intervene and assist. However, he suppressed the impulse, understanding that this was Taishi Feng's personal tribulation, and any external interference would only augment the tribulation's might.

Just as Taishi Feng was on the verge of collapse, the Thundercloud Pill within him finally unleashed its full effect.

Pale golden lightning patterns materialized on his skin, entwining the descending celestial thunder like sentient beings. Astonishingly, they began to actively absorb the energy from the tribulation.

A gleam ignited in Taishi Feng's eyes. He immediately activated his cultivation technique, channeling this transformed lightning energy to temper his physique – the once-fierce penalty thunder had unexpectedly become a potent elixir for strengthening his body.

Time crawled by. The thunderclouds overhead gradually dissipated, their energy diminishing until the final celestial thunder struck, managing only to create a faint ripple on Taishi Feng's skin.

As the thunderclouds finally cleared, the sky above the Ice Valley was restored to its former clarity. The scorched skin on Taishi Feng's body began to flake away, revealing newly formed skin beneath – now a deeper bronze, with more refined and solid muscle contours, each part exuding palpable power.

"Boom!" A formidable aura, characteristic of a Tier Seven Spiritualist, surged from his body, causing fine cracks to spiderweb across the ice layer below.

Taishi Feng slowly opened his eyes, a fleeting glint of golden light vanishing from his pupils. He stood, stretching his limbs with audible cracking sounds, and a smile graced his lips:

"First round, passed!"

Did he pass that easily?

Qin Tian observed Taishi Feng's condition, murmuring to himself. If he were at this level...

As the words left his lips, the air surrounding Taishi Feng abruptly distorted.

Without any preamble, a mass of blood-red flames erupted from his pores, latching onto his limbs and torso like ravenous leeches.

The flames were eerily silent, devoid of the searing heat of conventional fire. The ice beneath remained untouched, showing no signs of melting. Nevertheless, Taishi Feng let out a strangled groan, his hair instantly turning to ash in the baleful glow, his scalp gleaming bald and scorched.

"This is the Body Burning Tribulation!" Qin Tian’s eyes narrowed, recognizing these flames not as mere fire, but as a 'tribulation flame' targeting both body and soul.

Sizzle~

The bronze skin blistered, as though splashed with potent acid. Flesh and blood dissolved at a rate easily discernible by the eye, dark red fluid cascading through his fingers and solidifying into spectral blood beads upon the frigid surface beneath.

Even more agonizing was a torment that pierced the very core of his soul, akin to countless searing steel needles probing the depths of his consciousness. Despite Taishi Feng's seasoned resilience as a battle-hardened soldier who had navigated seas of bloodshed, he couldn't suppress a violent tremor. Veins bulged on his forehead, his teeth clenched until they ached, and icy sweat mingled with his melting blood, tracing paths down his cheeks.

Qin Tian observed Taishi Feng's writhing agony, grasping that the true peril of the Body Burning Tribulation resided in this dual assault.

Should his physical form falter, it would be reduced to ash by the tribulation flames. If his soul couldn't endure, the best outcome would be utter madness, a descent into idiocy, with complete annihilation being the worst fate.

At this critical juncture, Taishi Feng's resolve flared.

With a quiver, he ingested the Ice Purity Pill he had prepared well in advance.

The elixir dissolved swiftly upon entering his stomach, releasing a cool, water-like energy that coursed through his meridians, significantly mitigating the searing agony of the Blood Fire. More power surged towards his crown, descending like a gentle shower to soothe his soul, which was being scorched by the Tribulation Fire, forming a faint azure bulwark at the periphery of his sea of consciousness.

Nevertheless, the Ice Purity Pill served only as an auxiliary aid.

The Tribulation Fire continued its rampant consumption. Taishi Feng gritted his teeth, activating a soul-refining technique passed down through his lineage. Although primarily a Spirit Martial Artist, he had never neglected the cultivation of his soul. The abundant soul-nourishing elixirs and precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures bestowed by the Golden Clan had empowered his soul strength immensely, far exceeding that of martial artists at the same cultivation level. While not as formidable as dedicated Spirit Mages, it was sufficient for him to withstand the Tribulation Fire.

Time ebbed away amidst the torment.

The blood-red Tribulation Fire, initially fierce, gradually waned, its intensity diminishing. Where Taishi Feng's flesh had been obliterated, new skin rapidly regenerated, gleaming with a pearlescent luster and possessing enhanced resilience. His gaze shifted from fierce pain to a state of clarity and unwavering determination, his soul growing more robust from the tempering of the Tribulation Fire.

As the final ember of Blood Fire dissipated into the atmosphere, an exuberant vitality, far surpassing its previous state, radiated from Taishi Feng's being.

His formerly solid musculature now appeared more supple, each fiber blending 'strength with aesthetic perfection.' The Spiritual Energy that enveloped him grew denser and more profound. The Body Burning Tribulation, a mortal test, also presented a celestial opportunity; its successful navigation led to a qualitative leap in both body and soul.

Taishi Feng slowly expelled a breath of stale air. He touched his shaven head, a wide grin splitting his face, revealing two rows of white teeth: "The second trial, conquered!"

"Do not let your guard down. Consume the Ice Heart Lotus Seed immediately,"

Zhuge Yu's voice boomed.

"Understood."

Taishi Feng swiftly retrieved the Ice Heart Lotus Seed and ingested it in one gulp.

Moments later, Taishi Feng’s body became rigid, and his eyes glazed over, losing their focus.

Witnessing this phenomenon, Qin Tian knew that the third stage, the Heart Demon Tribulation, had commenced.

Unlike the preceding two trials, the Heart Demon Tribulation remained outwardly quiescent. The Spiritualist would descend into an illusory realm crafted by the tribulation, confronting their deepest fears.

Success meant ascending to become an official Tier Seven Spiritualist. Failure, however, led to a single outcome: the eternal damnation of the soul in darkness.

Fortunately, Taishi Feng had the Ice Heart Lotus Seed as an aid, ensuring his passage through the Heart Demon Tribulation was not in question.

Before long, Taishi Feng's eyes fluttered open, and a majestic aura violently burst forth.

"Brothers, I have succeeded!"

Taishi Feng beamed, his smile radiant.

Qin Tian and the others hastened to his side, sensing the formidable Tier Seven presence emanating from him. With heartfelt sincerity, they offered:

"Congratulations!"

"Haha, it went far more smoothly than I had anticipated."

Taishi Feng's laughter resonated with heartiness. For any Spiritualist aspiring to reach Tier Seven, the Celestial Human Three Tribulations represented a daunting specter, a lingering dread that intimidated all, even those of Holy Blood Descendant lineage.

This time, while he endured immense agony and pressure, the breakthrough process was considerably smoother than he had foreseen. The final stage, in particular, the terrifying Heart Demon Tribulation, felt almost effortless.

When his consciousness plunged into the Heart Demon's realm, his mind suddenly cleared, recognizing the illusion for what it was, allowing him to break free with ease.

"Allow me to share my recent experiences with all of you."

Taishi Feng seized the moment, describing the detailed sensations he just experienced, and the three listened intently.

After Taishi Feng’s recounting, Huo Yuansheng felt a slight increase in his confidence.

"Old Huo, it's your turn now."

Taishi Feng laughed, adding, "I believe you can do it."

Huo Yuansheng nodded and said: "Then please watch over me, brothers."

"Sure thing."

Qin Tian and the others retreated to the edge of the ice valley.

Qin Tian observed Huo Yuansheng as he cast aside all distractions and focused his mind, adjusting his breathing, and slightly raised his brow while murmuring internally.

"If the Celestial Human Three Tribulations are already this intense… it seems I won't need to prepare too much."