Chapter 1386: Yeah, I'm Beating You

Little Immortal Honglian glanced at Fang Chen. "Do we leave, or fight?"

"Fight."

In the next instant, the two of them struck at once.

Little Immortal Honglian entered the fray, taking some pressure off Meng Qingling and the others.

She had assumed Fang Chen would join her, but out of the corner of her eye she saw him heading straight for the Ascension Realm cultivator.

Seeing the bronze jade token at Fang Chen's waist, the Ascension Realm cultivator let out a snicker. "Bold. Interesting. Do you really think that having a bronze jade token lets you leap a whole major realm to fight me?"

But the next moment, a look of absolute horror crossed his face, and he barked at Fang Chen, "Wait! Don't come near me!"

Lightning flickered in the sky—heavenly tribulation!

It wasn't the Ascension Realm cultivator's tribulation, but Fang Chen's!

The Ascension Realm cultivator could never have imagined that Fang Chen would fight him while also undergoing his tribulation.

Although Heavenly Tribulations targeted only the one crossing it, nearby cultivators of comparable cultivation can be drawn into its scope, bolstering the tribulation's power accordingly.

"Run! He's a madman," shrieked the Ascension Realm cultivator toward his team, fleeing as quickly as possible.

Seeing that Fang Chen's tribulation was about to descend, the man's teammates also stopped fighting and skedaddled.

Fang Chen didn't give chase. He stood where he was to face the second heavenly tribulation. Once he passed it, he would advance to the late stage of the Tribulation Realm, one step closer to the Ascension Realm.

Meng Qingling and the others hadn't expected this turn of events. They didn't dare approach, fearing they'd amplify the tribulation's power, or be pulled into it.

"The captain's really going to face the tribulation? So fast. It was almost yesterday when he resisted his first tribulation, and now it's the second..." Lin Yuan muttered.

They were all still at the early stage of the Tribulation Realm; none had even faced the first tribulation yet, let alone the second.

"This won't end well," Yu Wuxia said gravely, looking into the distance. "If the captain succeeds, he'll need a few days to stabilize his realm, he'll be extremely weak then. And those people haven't gone far."

The Ascension Realm cultivator and his teammates had indeed not left. He had merely retreated a safe distance away, watching with his teammates, a cold smile on his face.

"There's nothing we can do about it. We can only wait until the captain succeeds and then see what we'll do," Meng Qingling said with a frown. "We'll try to smooth things over and avoid a beating. The main worry is the captain—his cultivation won't be stable. If he is beaten hard enough and drops a realm, it might damage his foundation."

"You shouldn't have stuck your noses in," she added, glancing at Little Immortal Honglian. "At worst we'd just get thrashed, we wouldn't die. Why didn't you take the captain and leave?"

"He is the captain," Little Immortal Honglian said coolly.

They exchanged looks, understanding her meaning. It wasn't that she refused to leave, she followed the captain's lead.

"It seems these decades together really forged a deep bond. The captain couldn't stand seeing us get thrashed. He stepped in even though he was about to face his tribulation," Lin Yuan sighed with emotion. "In a bit, I'll go let them beat me up to vent their anger. No way I'm letting them lay a finger on the captain."

The others nodded at once.

"Alright."

Thunder roared as lightning flashed within the dark clouds, ready to descend at any moment.

The commotion drew many onlookers.

Within just three breaths, several dozen Tribulation Realm and a few Ascension Realm cultivators arrived nearby.

"The vein's got nothing to do with us anymore, but if the captain passes his tribulation, that's still something to celebrate," Lin Yuan said, scanning the new arrivals.

Within moments, his gaze landed on a familiar face, and he called out warmly, "Fellow Daoist Yu!"

Yu Wuxia and the others also saw Yu Tiange. Several members of an exploration team followed him, all at the Tribulation Realm.

Yu Tiange spotted the team too and approached. He glanced at the spirit stone vein and then turned to the group, brows raised. "Daoist Fang is preparing to advance to the late stage of the Tribulation Realm. Why pick here instead of a safe spot?"

"It's a long story," Lin Yuan said quickly. "We're worried that after the tribulation, he'll be in a weak state. If someone takes advantage of the situation to damage his foundation, it would be troublesome. Fellow Daoist Yu, could you lend a hand?"

Yu Tiange's eyes fell on Fang Chen, his gaze complicated. Their duel from more than ten years ago was still fresh in his mind. Though Fang Chen hadn't taken first place, he had used earth elemental energy to stop his Nine Tribulation Lightning Body, leaving him in a slump for a time. Fortunately, he had since recovered and regained his confidence.

"No problem. As long as you're not contesting this vein, they won't attack for no reason. We're all cultivators of the Enlightenment God Palace; things won't be pushed too far," Yu Tiange said casually. "Since I've run into you today, I'll help protect your leader as he withstands his tribulation. We'll leave after Daoist Fang advances."

"Many thanks! Truly righteous of you, Fellow Daoist Yu. Thank you for not forgetting we're in the same alliance," Lin Yuan said gratefully.

Yu Wuxia and the others echoed their thanks.

Joining Yu Tiange's small alliance had indeed been wise.

Though not in the Ascension Realm, he wore a silver jade token. They would show him some respect, regardless of anything.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Lin Yuan sneaked a glance at the Ascension Realm cultivator. As expected, upon seeing Yu Tiange's silver jade token, he looked conflicted.

An hour later, Fang Chen had passed the tribulation. He looked a bit bedraggled, but not overly so. Everyone felt something about the process had been odd, but they couldn't say what.

Yu Tiange stepped forward to offer his blessings. "Daoist Fang, congratulations."

Fang Chen nodded and asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Yu, have you gained anything these past six months?"

"A bit," Yu Tiange replied with a reserved smile.

If the last six months had borne no fruit, he wouldn't have been in the mood to stand guard here at all.

His teammates also wore faintly satisfied looks.

"Save the reminiscing for later," scoffed the Ascension Realm cultivator, walking over. He looked coolly at Fang Chen. "You knew you were triggering a tribulation and still ran at me. Were you trying to get me killed?"

Yu Tiange was a little surprised, then his expression shifted as he grasped the situation.

He glanced at the man's token, which was colorless, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile.

"Whoever you are, Daoist Fang has just advanced. If you want trouble, do it later. For now, please leave."

The man narrowed his eyes. Sensing the slightly mocking looks from the surrounding cultivators, he made up his mind and smiled at Yu Tiange. "A silver jade token, a rare genius. But you're still young. Before me, you're a junior.

He pointed at Fang Chen. "What's between him and me is our business. You sure you want to meddle?"

"He has a bronze jade token. I have a silver jade token. You should understand we're in the same circle, unlike you. I'm not 'meddling.' It's that you can't touch him. Touch him, and you're touching

our

circle," Yu Tiange warned, voice growing cold.

The Ascension Realm cultivator hadn't expected such a firm stance from Yu Tiange. He suddenly found himself in a difficult situation, unsure how to proceed.

In the end, he forced a smile. "So what do you plan to do, hit me?"

"Yeah, exactly that," a voice snapped.

In a flash, several figures tore through the air, every one of them a Tribulation Realm cultivator, each with a bronze jade token at the waist.

They stared at the Ascension Realm cultivator with open provocation, with not a shred of fear, only eager anticipation.