“After all, you’ve ruined the demon race’s plans, so they might target you. This is also for your protection. You should be extra cautious when you’re out and about,” the Fire Cloud Emperor said.
“I understand, Master,” Lin Yun replied.
“Your path is ultimately yours to forge. Even as my disciple, I can only provide you with some guidance and resources. Cultivation depends on the individual,” the Fire Cloud Emperor said slowly.
He continued, “When you’re out in the world, I won’t shield you from any threats from humans. You must rely on yourself. This is your training. A cultivator who stays in their comfort zone, always depending on others, will struggle to achieve anything.”
The Fire Cloud Emperor had always taught his disciples this way. He wouldn’t overly shelter them. A seedling protected from wind and rain—how could it grow?
“I understand, Master,” Lin Yun responded.
Lin Yun hadn’t become his disciple to be coddled by the Fire Cloud Emperor, but to gain access to better techniques and resources.
“By the way, how’s your progress toward breaking through to the Tribulation Realm?” the Fire Cloud Emperor asked.
After all, he had provided Lin Yun with all the resources needed to break through to the Tribulation Realm, so it shouldn’t have been too difficult.
“Reporting to Master, I’ve fully mastered the mysteries. Now, I just need the effects of the Heaven-Returning Divine Stone to wear off, and I’ll break through to the Tribulation Realm,” Lin Yun said.
“So soon?” A flicker of astonishment flashed in the Fire Cloud Emperor’s eyes.
Though he had given Lin Yun three resources to help him grasp the rudimentary forms of the mysteries and avoid their mutual suppression, he had only assisted with the initial stage. Progressing from a rudimentary form to full mastery was up to Lin Yun himself—a massive undertaking that typically took a great deal of time.
For Lin Yun to have fully mastered them so quickly was beyond his expectations!
Of course, he didn’t know about Lin Yun’s ‘Coffin of Mysteries,’ which had smoothly guided him from rudimentary to complete mastery.
Moreover, Lin Yun had been cultivating in the ‘One Thought Clarity Tower,’ where time passed differently, making it seem like he’d mastered them exceptionally fast in the outside world!
“Well done. Go now, and come see me again once you’ve broken through to the Tribulation Realm,” the Fire Cloud Emperor said, waving his hand with a hint of satisfaction and approval in his eyes.
He naturally understood the effects of the Heaven-Returning Divine Stone.
“Your disciple takes his leave!” Lin Yun bowed and exited the hall.
After leaving the palace, Lin Yun returned directly to the Fire Cloud Camp and resumed practicing the fifth form of the Shadow Sword Technique.
After a month and a half of continuous cultivation in the One Thought Clarity Tower, the effects of the Heaven-Returning Divine Stone finally wore off!
As the stone’s effects faded, Lin Yun immediately felt a sudden stirring in his core sea. Golden mist began to form within it, and at the same time, a newly generated energy started expanding relentlessly. His entire core sea was growing wildly and undergoing a qualitative transformation!
“I’m breaking through to the Tribulation Realm! This is my breakthrough to the Tribulation Realm!”
Sensing this sudden change, Lin Yun was overwhelmed with ecstatic joy!
Though breaking through to the Tribulation Realm had always been a matter of time, when the moment actually arrived, Lin Yun couldn’t suppress the wild excitement and thrill in his heart!
The transformation continued to spread.
The qualitative change in his core sea was just the beginning. Once that transformation was complete, Lin Yun noticed that the inner energy stored within it was vastly different from before—a qualitative leap, like water turning to ice.
After the core sea’s transformation finished, the changes extended to Lin Yun’s body.
First, his tendons, bones, skin, and flesh were reinforced and reshaped at an astonishing speed!
This process lasted a full five hours, followed by the strengthening of his organs and viscera!
These organs included his eyes, ears, and more, enhancing his vision and hearing once again.
Even his brain transformed, sharpening his thoughts. This was why higher-realm cultivators found it relatively easier to cultivate divine sense.
Another five hours passed before all the changes in his body finally subsided!
Lin Yun opened his eyes and released his realm aura.
*Boom!*
The aura of the First Transition Tribulation Realm swept across the area in an instant!
Lin Yun could clearly feel that the potency of his Tribulation Realm inner energy was leaps and bounds beyond what it had been at the Third-Order Mahayana Realm!
No wonder, under normal circumstances, a Third-Order Mahayana Realm cultivator couldn’t hope to fight a Tribulation Realm opponent. The gap brought by the realm difference was indeed vast.
Only by personally stepping into the Tribulation Realm could Lin Yun truly appreciate its power and mysteries.
“Haha, I’ve finally reached the Tribulation Realm!” Lin Yun couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Having attained the Tribulation Realm, Lin Yun could now be considered a true powerhouse.
Even the governors of the Fire Cloud Empire’s 18 prefectures were at the Tribulation Realm, most of them at the Eighth or Ninth Transition.
As for Eternal Beings? They wouldn’t bother with mundane tasks like governing prefectures—it held no meaning for them. Eternal Beings enjoyed relative freedom.
The Fire Cloud Empire naturally had other Eternal Beings under its command. They typically received resources without needing to exert much effort or deal with worldly affairs. They only appeared when the empire truly needed them.
Thus, in the secular world, ordinary cultivators rarely encountered Eternal Beings. Though Eternal Beings and those below them lived on the same cultivation continent, they seemed to exist in entirely different worlds.
At least for now, Lin Yun hadn’t met any of the Fire Cloud Empire’s other Eternal Beings.
So, under normal circumstances, Tribulation Realm cultivators were already incredibly formidable figures in the secular world!
“Chirp chirp!” Little White hopped out, circling Lin Yun and chirping happily, as if congratulating him.
Lin Yun gently stroked Little White’s fur, sighing, “It really feels like a dream. I never thought I’d become a Tribulation Realm powerhouse.”
Lin Yun’s breakthrough to the Tribulation Realm had indeed come quite quickly.
For ordinary people, mastering seven complete mysteries was an immensely difficult task, often requiring countless years to achieve.
For Lin Yun to accomplish this at such a young age was largely thanks to the Fire Cloud Emperor’s support. Without it, the final two, most challenging mysteries might have stalled him for who knows how long before he could enter the Tribulation Realm.
Of course, the crystal coffin—the ‘Coffin of Mysteries’—deserved immense credit!
Without it, Lin Yun’s breakthrough to the Tribulation Realm would have taken far, far longer!
With that, Lin Yun looked up thoughtfully, “With my current strength, if I returned to the Nebula Empire now, I’d have some confidence in dealing with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance!”
However, Lin Yun didn’t plan to go back immediately. Having just broken through to the Tribulation Realm, there were still many areas he could improve.
Once he’d refined his abilities and grown stronger, he would return. Then, he’d make the entire Heaven-Slaying Alliance tremble and shock the whole Nebula Empire!
