Chapter 344 – Nascent Soul Cultivator, Azure Cloud Shangqing Dao Lord

Normally, whether it be the Golden Core Tribulation or the Nascent Soul Tribulation, the highest level they would reach is nine layers. The nine-layer heavenly tribulation is already the highest standard of heavenly punishment that can appear within these two realms.

But just as there is often a fifth among the Four Heavenly Kings, beyond the ordinary nine-layer heavenly tribulation lies a special ten-layer heavenly tribulation. There is only one circumstance that can trigger the ten-layer heavenly tribulation: when the cultivation base of the tribulation-taker is something even the heavens… have misjudged.

To the extent that the original power of the Heavenly Dao is insufficient to complete the tribulation baptism for the tribulation-taker. This can be seen from Lu Chen’s currently incomplete Law of Heaven and Earth manifestation.

On the Azure Cloud Main Peak, Lu Chen’s current Law of Heaven and Earth manifestation is the Supreme Purity Dharma Body he cultivated during the Golden Core Stage. However, unlike an ordinary Dharma Body, the Supreme Purity Multitreasure Celestial revealed through the Law of Heaven and Earth is not only vastly larger but also contains a terrifying level of Divine Might.

With Lu Chen merely revealing half of the Supreme Purity Multitreasure Celestial’s Law of Heaven and Earth, every cultivator within ten thousand miles of the Azure Cloud Sect was affected. This influence was primarily manifested in their magic treasures…

“Hmm?”

The attention of the Transformation Soul Stage Patriarch Qing Yi had originally been focused on Lu Chen and the final accumulating heavenly tribulation above. But the unusual movement transmitted through his Primordial Spirit immediately put him on alert. He looked down and discovered that the Dao Artifact in his hand—the Myriad Miles Rivers and Mountains Brush—was moving on its own.

One must know that this was his Natal Weapon, a treasure he had spent over a thousand years refining. It was connected to his heart and mind. Yet now, this Myriad Miles Rivers and Mountains Brush seemed to be influenced by some external force, becoming uncontrollable.

The same situation was occurring with the other Transformation Soul Stage Patriarchs. Fourth Realm Dao Artifacts directly broke free from their original cultivators’ control and flew toward Lu Chen. Some even actively emerged from ‘Storage Bags’ and ‘Divine Souls’.

If even Transformation Soul Stage Patriarchs were affected like this, needless to say those with cultivation bases below the Transformation Soul Stage. In an instant, countless magic treasures transformed into streams of light, all flying toward Lu Chen.

These treasures varied in size and strength. Their glowing lights, in all colors of the rainbow, directly occupied the entire sky above the Azure Cloud Main Peak.

“Old Yi…”

Ten Thousand Talisman Peak’s Transformation Soul Stage Patriarch Yan Faxing arrived beside Qing Yi, his expression grave as if wanting to say something. Seeing this, Qing Yi shook his head. Then, the Myriad Miles Rivers and Mountains Brush that Qing Yi had been suppressing finally broke free of its restraints and flew toward Lu Chen.

Witnessing this, Yan Faxing ultimately gave up restraining his own Natal Weapon as well. Since this was a junior from their own sect, lending him their treasures for a while… wasn’t really a big deal.

As thousands of magic treasures gathered around Lu Chen, a powerful aura immediately enveloped him. Logically, there should be certain exclusivity among these different magic treasures. Moreover, since they weren’t his own treasures, Lu Chen shouldn’t be able to control them well.

But the Supreme Purity Multitreasure Celestial Dharma Body seemed to contain some special power. Even though Lu Chen was using these magic treasures and artifacts for the first time, he felt no resistance at all. It was as if he had been using these magic treasures and artifacts for hundreds of years, able to command them as effortlessly as moving his own arms.And this was merely in terms of Magic Treasures.

One must know that Lu Chen himself had also mastered two Great Divine Powers.

Boom!

In the sky, the Heavenly Tribulation that had been gathering for a long time finally stirred once more.

This time, golden lightning had completely filled the sky.

A single glance was enough to evoke an inexplicable sense of dread.

Yet Lu Chen showed no fear, remaining utterly calm.

Within the Dharma Idol, Lu Chen slowly raised his hand.

Countless Magic Treasures seemed to receive some command, automatically spreading out in all directions.

The next moment, four towering Immortal Swords appeared around Lu Chen.

Unlike the previous Fiend-Slaying Sword Formation, which had been mere illusions of Immortal Swords, this time the Immortal Swords erected in the Fiend-Slaying Sword Formation were physical entities.

Each Immortal Sword stood a full hundred meters tall.

Moreover, all four Immortal Swords were inverted, suspended within a celestial gate.

Lu Chen stood precisely at the center of these four celestial gates.

Almost as soon as Lu Chen deployed these Immortal Swords, the tenfold Heavenly Tribulation above… descended.

Boom!

The terrifying tenfold Heavenly Tribulation, like a falling celestial river, nearly covered the entire Azure Cloud Main Peak.

Never mind Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, even Transformation Soul Stage Cultivators would struggle to remain composed in the face of such a dreadful Heavenly Tribulation.

Yet Lu Chen seemed unsurprised by this scene.

The four Immortal Swords surrounding him immediately emitted a clear, resonant sword hum.

Subsequently, the sword lights of these four Immortal Swords merged, quickly forming an enormous and unique Immortal Sword.

Within this Immortal Sword, countless Magic Treasures and Magical Artifacts had been integrated.

“Rise.”

Lu Chen raised his sword-finger.

The horizontal Immortal Sword slowly lifted, its tip aimed at the terrifying heavenly lightning pouring down from above.

Then, the Immortal Sword ascended, advancing toward the overwhelming heavenly lightning.

Boom!

The collision between the heavenly lightning and the Immortal Sword cleared the heavens and earth.

Then, to the astonishment of all, the Immortal Sword shattered the tenfold heavenly lightning, cleaving through the Lightning Tribulation above and piercing the thunder.

In the distance, many Disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, who had been pinned to the ground and gasping for breath under the pressure of the Heavenly Tribulation, suddenly felt the weight on them vanish.

They stood up with lingering fear, instinctively looking toward the Azure Cloud Main Peak.

When they saw what had appeared over the Azure Cloud Main Peak, they were struck with awe.

In the sky above the Azure Cloud Main Peak, the once-thick thunderclouds had been completely split open by something, revealing the originally clear sky.

Beneath this sky, an unprecedented Nascent Soul Dharma Idol had emerged.

Bathed in a golden downpour, the Dharma Idol not only grew more defined but also began to visibly increase in size.

Before long, a colossal entity, rivaling the entire Azure Cloud Main Peak, appeared before everyone.

Gazing at this unique Dharma Idol clad in a Trigram Celestial Robe and backed by an immortal wheel, they felt an inexplicable urge to kneel in reverence.

However, after a brief moment, the Dharma Idol vanished completely, snapping the Disciples around the Azure Cloud Main Peak back to reality.

Though they did not know exactly what had happened on the Main Peak.

“Hahaha, Heaven blesses Azure Clouds! This must be a great expert from our Sect who has successfully achieved a Breakthrough!”

One Azure Cloud Sect Disciple suddenly laughed heartily, his words and expression brimming with unmistakable pride.

Hearing this, the other Disciples belatedly erupted into cheers.But after the initial excitement, a few disciples suddenly thought of something and hesitantly asked, “Um… can we get our magic treasures back?”

These words poured cold water on the surrounding disciples like a sudden splash.

After all, their magic treasures had all flown toward the main peak during that unknown cataclysm just now, and their whereabouts were unknown.

Although the disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect were all well-equipped with numerous magic treasures and artifacts,

a long-refined magical artifact and a newly acquired ordinary one

could hardly be compared on the same level.

Thinking of this, one Azure Cloud Sect disciple said uncertainly, “Probably, right? After all, we’ve contributed to the sect. If we hadn’t offered so many magic treasures, that terrifying Heavenly Tribulation just now… our sect’s great expert probably wouldn’t have overcome it so easily… right?”

Even the disciple himself wasn’t entirely sure of his own words.

But out of trust in the sect, he believed the sect would surely not let them down.

Meanwhile, on the Azure Cloud Sect’s main peak,

while ordinary disciples were lamenting the loss of their magic treasures, the great cultivators of the Azure Cloud Sect were pondering something else entirely.

Gu Liqing approached Lu Chen, looking at him with astonishment.

“Little Lu, how did you reach the Perfection of the Nascent Soul Stage right after transcending the tribulation?”

Sensing Lu Chen’s current cultivation level, Gu Liqing could only describe his feelings as utterly awe-struck.

Because Lu Chen’s current cultivation had genuinely reached the Perfection of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Such a level of cultivation was simply beyond his comprehension.

Even if the Heavenly Dao’s blessing from the tenfold Heavenly Tribulation was astonishing,

it shouldn’t have allowed someone who had just achieved a breakthrough to leap over hundreds or even thousands of years of cultivation, directly reaching the peak, right?

Not only was Gu Liqing unable to understand it, but even Qing Yi and the others beside him were equally baffled.

After all, they, as Deity Transformation Stage great cultivators, had all progressed step by step from the Nascent Soul Stage.

They knew all too well how arduous cultivation at the Nascent Soul Stage was.

Every single advancement required immense time and opportunities.

It wasn’t something one could achieve just by wanting to.

Yet, when it came to Lu Chen, none of these rules seemed to apply.

Because Lu Chen gave them the impression of having no instability in his realm whatsoever.

On the contrary, his foundation was exceptionally solid.

It defied reason—it was utterly unreasonable.

Faced with such a situation, the entire Ascension Platform fell into deep silence, as if the very air had frozen solid.

As for this phenomenon, Lu Chen had anticipated it.

After all, he had just spent billions of experience points

to elevate his cultivation directly to the Perfection of the Nascent Soul Stage in one go.

Under normal circumstances, Lu Chen might not have done this,

as it was far too conspicuous.

But all of that caution was based on the premise of insufficient personal strength.

With the Perfection of the Nascent Soul Stage, combined with the complete Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation,

the Law of Heaven and Earth of the Supreme Purity Multitreasure Celestial, and the Reincarnation Time—a second innate divine ability comparable to immortal techniques—

although Lu Chen had never faced a Deity Transformation Stage expert in combat, he believed that even if he couldn’t defeat one,

he could at least protect himself without any issue.

Moreover, who would win or lose was still up for debate.

And in the Central Province, the Deity Transformation Stage was already the undisputed pinnacle of power.

Now that Lu Chen possessed strength comparable to that of a Deity Transformation expert, there was no need for him to remain as cautious as before.

After all, with the great era approaching, if he wanted to alter its course…He must seize greater authority.

This breakthrough was Lu Chen’s way of asserting his own voice.

Observing the complex expressions on everyone’s faces, Lu Chen smiled and said, “It’s likely because my Golden Core is unique, and I possess two Great Divine Abilities, which is why I received such a blessing.”

Whether this explanation held truth or not was beside the point.

Even if it didn’t, Qing Yi and the others had no means to verify it.

Before Lu Chen, there had never been anyone who could master two Great Divine Abilities at the Golden Core Stage while also possessing a First-Grade Heavenly Golden Core.

Recalling the scale of the tenfold heavenly tribulation Lu Chen had just endured, they even began to suspect that his Golden Core might not be as simple as a First-Grade Heavenly Golden Core.

After all, in the tens of thousands of years of Central Province’s history, cultivators with First-Grade Heavenly Golden Cores had appeared before.

But none had ever caused such a commotion during their breakthrough as Lu Chen.

Unless they could find another existence similar to Lu Chen, they had no choice but to accept his explanation.

What else could they do, even if they didn’t believe him?

They couldn’t prove it false.

After the initial shock, Gu Liqing suddenly thought of another issue.

“Little Lu, you’ve now reached the Nascent Soul Stage in one leap and achieved Perfection instantly. Even with your current cultivation, you’re already among the top in Central Province.”

“But the current situation in Central Province is treacherous, with many ill-intentioned individuals lurking in the shadows.”

“If they remain unaware, that’s fine. But once they learn of your circumstances, I fear they’ll spare no effort to eliminate you.”

“After all, reaching the pinnacle of Nascent Soul in a single leap—this isn’t just unprecedented in Central Province, but likely throughout the Major Thousand Worlds.”

“If you don’t mind, I think…”

Before Gu Liqing could finish, Lu Chen continued: “Sect Leader, are you suggesting changing my identity to guard against prying eyes?”

Gu Liqing nodded, confirming that was indeed his thought.

A veteran cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage Perfection.

Versus a cultivator who achieved Nascent Soul Stage Perfection in less than a century.

The former was clearly much more normal.

Moreover, this approach would be extremely easy for both Lu Chen and the Azure Cloud Sect, with numerous benefits and no drawbacks.

The Azure Cloud Sect had many great cultivators in seclusion.

Even the Sect Leader of Azure Cloud Sect didn’t know exactly which powerful ancestors were hidden within the sect.

Let alone other schools.

If some great cultivator from Azure Cloud Sect were to announce their emergence at this time,

the outside world wouldn’t know it was someone who had reached Nascent Soul in one leap.

They would simply think it was an Azure Cloud Sect elder emerging from seclusion.

This would effectively protect Lu Chen.

Lu Chen agreed with this suggestion.

In fact, he had been thinking along these lines from the beginning.

As for his original identity as a 75th generation disciple,

that could easily be explained away with the reason of going into seclusion.

His true self would operate under a different identity as an Agent.

As this thought crossed his mind, a sudden inspiration flashed through Lu Chen’s consciousness.

Gu Liqing, unaware of this, continued: “Since we’re concealing your identity, you’ll need a new Daoist Title.”

“But this new title…”

“Shangqing.”

Before Gu Liqing could finish, Lu Chen suddenly spoke.

Gu Liqing was momentarily stunned, then began contemplating the Daoist Title Lu Chen had proposed.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Lu Chen’s chosen title was indeed excellent.

Especially since Lu Chen had chosen it himself.Gu Liqing, as well as Qing Yi and the others beside him, all expressed that this new Daoist Title would be best used as Lu Chen’s public identity when traveling abroad.

As for his identity as Lu Chen of the Azure Cloud Sect, it was publicly announced that he was in seclusion.

And so, a great cultivator known as Shangqing Daojun,

like a sudden clap of thunder from a clear sky, emerged abruptly in the Central Province…

(End of Chapter)