Pei Gang had not thought much of Ye Qiu at first. But when he saw Ye Qiu break through to the mid stage of Cave Heaven in one go, and still push further, his face changed.
As a genius himself, he knew well how great the talent needed to leap from the peak of Golden Core to the peak of Cave Heaven in one step.
“Whether he reaches the peak of Cave Heaven or not, he cannot live.”
“This lad shows talent too frightening. Given time, he will become a great foe.”
“Only kill him outright to end all threats.”
With this in mind, Pei Gang gripped his copper hammer tight. He planned to strike as soon as Ye Qiu finished crossing the tribulation.
On the other side.
Wei Wuji and the rest changed face too.
“This lad is no simpleton!” Wei Wuji said darkly.
Tuoba Xiong gave a cold hum. “No wonder Yun Xi fancies him. The lad has some skill.”
Cao Mao’s face burned with fight intent. He rubbed his fists. “Such geniuses are rare. I almost want to clash with him.”
An Ruoxi of Mending Heaven Sect stayed calm. He scoffed. “Just two minor realms in a row. Nothing special. Back then, I broke through two minor realms in one breath too.”
Cao Mao added, “This lad looks a bit familiar. Specially his back. Like the one who took Yun Xi away before.”
“It is him!” Wei Wuji said. “That lad changed face earlier. This should be his true look. Those eyes fool no one. And the one who took Yun Xi was at the peak of Golden Core too.”
“Do not forget, this lad came with Yun Xi.”
When Wei Wuji said this, he turned to glance at Yun Xi. Evil light flashed in his eyes. Then he added, “This Ye Changsheng cannot stay.”
“Brother Wei, do you fear with this lad around, you cannot get Yun Xi?” Cao Mao saw Wei Wuji’s mind at once. He laughed. “Rest easy. If Pei Gang fails to kill him, I will slaughter him for you.”
Pei Gang gave a cold hum. “No need for you. Killing him is easy as turning palm for me.”
Cao Mao chuckled. “Do not forget, the lad still crosses tribulation. What if he truly reaches the peak of Cave Heaven?”
Pei Gang said, “He crosses still, but I doubt success. I took thirty years to reach the peak of Cave Heaven. Even with rare talent, he cannot cross a whole major realm from Golden Core peak to Cave Heaven peak in such short time.”
Cao Mao smiled. “What if he does?”
“Success brings no escape. Death all the same.” Pei Gang said. “I will not let him live!”
In the distance.
Real Person Chang Mei saw Ye Qiu reach mid Cave Heaven. Shock filled his face. “What fortune did the little brat find in the secret realm? How did he grow so fierce?”
Lin Da Niao chuckled. “Once big brother ends tribulation, those geniuses are done for.”
Mo Tianji fixed eyes on Ye Qiu. Excitement filled them. He thought to himself, “A golden scale is no pond thing. Meet wind and cloud, turns dragon. From today, big brother’s name rings through the whole cultivation world!”
Boom…
Just then, huge thunder roared through heaven and earth. It nearly shattered souls.
The myriad-zhang heavenly tribulation looked like true dragons. It carried surging electric light. It linked heaven and earth. Vast beyond measure.
“Boom!”
The vast tribulation seemed the nine heavens’ galaxy burst banks. It poured a thousand li. Or like ten thousand stars smashed down. Utterly terrifying.
Even void nearly exploded.
Blinding thunder light filled every inch of space.
Those afar saw this. They held breath one by one. Chills ran through bones.
Even those geniuses grew grave. For they found Ye Qiu’s tribulation more fearsome than theirs at the time.
“This lad is a freak. Drew such mighty tribulation.” Cao Mao said in awe.
Wei Wuji added, “Truth be told, if not for his tie to Yun Xi, I would spare him. A man like this, if he served me, would become my pioneer general to open borders.”
Pei Gang sneered. “Looks like no need for me. The lad dies to tribulation.”
But to all’s surprise, faced with such mighty tribulation, Ye Qiu not only held ground. He raised head to sky. He charged at the tribulation head-on.
“Damn, does this lad seek death?”
Cao Mao’s words just fell. Ye Qiu flew back from thunder strike. Then blazing electric light swallowed him below.
Tribulation hemmed Ye Qiu. He seemed frail as a leaf in wind. Body battered sore. Blood soaked his white robes.
Even so, Ye Qiu stood in thunder sea. Unyielding, untamed. He fought tribulation stubborn.
This sight held for over ten minutes.
Thunder blasted Ye Qiu away time after time. Then Ye Qiu rose again and again. Though battered to ruin by tribulation, he never bowed.
Once more, again…
All present moved deep.
Specially Azure Cloud Sword Sect disciples. Each felt nothing but awe.
“No wonder saintess fancies him. Fought tribulation so long. Truly skilled.”
“Yes, the lad has skill.”
“Hmph, to win saintess’s heart, how not?”
“…”
From Ye Qiu’s tribulation start, Yun Xi’s eyes never left him. When thunder blasted him away, Yun Xi’s heart leaped to throat.
“Keep at it. You must succeed!”
Yun Xi prayed in heart.
Truth, Ye Qiu need not cross here. With God-Beating Whip in hand, even at Golden Core peak, he could fell Pei Gang and rest.
And if cross, he could wait till after clash with Pei Gang. Find chance then. Surprise them with tribulation blast on Pei Gang.
Not just that. He could drag Wei Wuji, Cao Mao, and others into tribulation.
Even if they lived through, heavy wounds sure.
Key point, Ye Qiu used tribulation pit-kill foes more than once. Trick proved true time after time.
Even Real Person Chang Mei reminded him. Urged him to pit-kill them with tribulation.
Yet in end, Ye Qiu dropped it.
He saw clear. Use God-Beating Whip or tribulation pit-kill, both outer force at root.
Too much outer force dulled growth. Bred dependence instead.
Thus he chose to cross here.
Not just cross. But after success, fight those geniuses fair and square.
He would show with strength. At same realm, he stood invincible!
Twenty minutes later.
At last, thunder faded. Heaven and earth calmed.
“He succeeded!”
All pupils shrank sharp.
No one thought Ye Qiu truly reached the peak of Cave Heaven.
