Chapter 2963: As Stable As A Boulder

In the Outerverse, at the Heavens Sect, Progenitors and other cultivators moved out one after another, all making their way towards the Neoverse. They all wanted to watch Qing Ping become a Progenitor.

Lu Buzheng and the other Semi-Progenitors were particularly eager, as they all wanted to make their own breakthroughs, but were not confident about succeeding. They could only watch as their peers broke through one by one to become Progenitors.

Beneath the tribulation’s vortex, Qing Ping appeared calm. He had not been waiting very long for this day, but his junior brother's cultivation was improving too quickly. Lu Yin’s speed was so unbelievably fast that Qing Ping felt compelled to become a Progenitor.

After all, he was the senior brother.

Unless they died, all seniors had an obligation to protect their junior disciple brothers and sisters.

However, how was Qing Ping supposed to protect Lu Yin as a mere Semi-Progenitor?

More and more people arrived at the edge of the stellular tribulation. There were a great number of powerhouses from the Heavens Sect.

As expected, they witnessed a familiar scene: the Skyfield of Destruction.

This strange scene only ever appeared when the most extraordinary Semi-Progenitors challenged their Progenitor’s tribulation. It manifested as a perfect vacuum of stellular energy that restrained whoever was challenging the tribulation. The appearance of the Skyfield of Destruction indicated a certain level of recognition from the true universe. Qing Ping, much like Leng Qing before him, was strong enough that the true universe itself wanted to stop the man from becoming a Progenitor.

Leng Qing had treated himself as a blade, slicing through the sky and overcoming the tribulation.

Lu Yin had faced the Skyfield of Destruction during his sixth stellular tribulation. He had used the universe in his chest to seal his stellular energy in place, preventing the tribulation from stealing it.

Without the ability to overcome the Skyfield of Destruction, how could a cultivator ever hope to create their own power as a Progenitor?

Everyone was curious about how Qing Ping would handle this trial.

His weapon was a bell, and Qing Ping had only ever used stellular energy, as far as anyone knew. There had never been any sign of the man creating his own form of energy.

How would he survive this trial?

Elsewhere, Lu Yin returned to the Scourge, conflicted emotions filling his eyes. He was the one who had decided that his senior brother would escape capture by triggering his stellular tribulation. Ye Bo had repeatedly suggested sneaking into the Fifth Mainland to capture Qing Ping precisely because Qing Ping was ready to face his Progenitor’s tribulation.

None of Mister Mu’s disciples were simple, so failure was simply not considered.

Lu Yin walked towards his tower. His mission had failed, and he needed to give a report to Progenitor Xi.

In the Fifth Mainland’s Neoverse, the Skyfield of Destruction sealed off everything within a specific area, and not even sound could make its way in.

Qing Ping stood tall. Even as the Skyfield of Destruction surrounded him, he did nothing.

Everyone watched. Qing Ping could not fail. While he had not been particularly noticeable in recent years, that did not mean that he was by any means weak. He was one of Lu Yin's senior disciple brothers, which meant that Qing Ping also had the qualifications to be recognized by Lu Yin’s master.

Everyone was curious to see how Qing Ping would survive this trial.

Mu Xie arrived, and although he saw that Qing Ping was surrounded by the Skyfield of Destruction, no worry appeared on the Progenitor’s face. "As stable as a boulder."[1]

"As stable as a boulder?" Arch-Elder Zen felt puzzled.

Mu Xie explained, "Master has made comments regarding several of my fellow disciples, and he mentioned that Junior Brother Qing Ping is as stable as a boulder."

Arch-Elder Zen mulled over this comment.

The Skyfield of Destruction filled an entire region of outer space. There was absolutely no movement within the field, causing everyone watching to grow nervous.

Time passed, but everything remained the same.

The most common method to overcome this particular trial was like Lu Yin’s, who had sealed his stellular energy and prevented it from being stolen. One could also be like Leng Qing, who had destroyed the Skyfield of Destruction itself. Qing Ping’s situation was rare, as it only occurred when a person could not overcome the Skyfield of Destruction.

However, if Qing Ping was unable to overcome this trial, then it should have ended long ago. Why was it still continuing?

It was like seeing the waves of an ocean sweep across the land, only to fail to drown the land.

"So that's it." Big Sis appeared and she stared at the stellular tribulation. "What amazing control of stellular energy. The Skyfield of Destruction steals stellular energy from the body of the one challenging the tribulation, and then it attacks them with that same stellular energy. It’s very simple in principle, as it’s a basic attack from the stellular tribulation. However, Qing Ping is able to control his stellular energy even when the tribulation is trying to take it from him. He’s basically stealing stellular energy from the Skyfield of Destruction.

"If the Skyfield of Destruction won, he would fail this trial of his stellular tribulation and be destroyed. However, it appears that he was the victor. Any and all stellular energy that attacks him becomes his to use. What a freak. I’ve only ever heard of this sort of ability before.”

Mu Xie was surprised. "Has this happened before?"

He had thought that Qing Ping was the first one in human history to have used this method to surpass the Skyfield of Destruction. Stealing stellular energy from a tribulation sounded simple enough, but stellular tribulations came from the true universe, which was the origin of all stellular energy. How difficult was it to steal stellular energy away from its origin? This was something so difficult that even Mu Xie could not do it at his current level. This was also why their master had made the comment that Junior Brother Qing Ping was as stable as a boulder.

When it came to controlling stellular energy, Qing Ping was undoubtedly the best among all of Mister Mu’s disciples, and Lu Yin could not compare at all.

Qing Ping was simply too stable.

Big Sis rolled her eyes at Mu Xie. "What? Do you think that your master’s the only one capable of producing geniuses?"

"May I ask, Senior, who you’ve heard of surpassing the Skyfield of Destruction in this way?" Mu Xie asked.

Again, Big Sis rolled her eyes. "Wu Tian."

The Skyfield of Destruction was still raging, but within, everything was as stable as a boulder. Qing Ping was just standing in place, as though he could remain there forever.

Ultimately, the Skyfield of Destruction disappeared, and Qing Ping reappeared before everyone. He was as calm as ever, his expression not changing even once. His breathing had not shifted, and there was not a single wrinkle on his clothes. The Skyfield of Destruction had seemingly done less damage than a breeze.

Everyone stared at the man as he looked up at the black hole at the center of the vortex. Not a sound could be heard.

As everyone waited, Arch-Elder Zen grew curious about something. "Your master’s evaluation of Qing Ping is that he is as stable as a boulder. What is his evaluation of the Dao Monarch?"

Big Sis also looked at Mu Xie with curiosity.

Everyone who heard the question was intrigued.

Mu Xie smiled. "Senior Brother Mu Ke doesn’t hide his edge, but he only heard Master say one thing about our junior brother."

He paused, and everyone stared.

Mu Xie clasped his hands behind his back. "Master can't see through him."

Big Sis’ eyebrows shot up. "He can't see through him?"

Mu Xie nodded and sighed. "Master can't see through my youngest junior brother. Not even Master can determine Lu Yin’s future."

Big Sis was quite happy with this answer. The more uncertain Lu Yin’s future was, the more potential he possessed. In the end, Little Seven was indeed the best.

She had just felt a bit of pressure from Qing Ping. During her era, she had only ever heard of Wu Tian surpassing his Progenitor’s tribulation in this manner, and while Big Sis hoped that Qing Ping would be very powerful, she never wanted anyone to surpass Little Seven. Her little brother had to be the best.

Arch-Elder Zen and the others who heard Mu Xie’s answer were not surprised. No one could see through Lu Yin. That young man was unfathomable.

"Here it is!" Someone shouted.

Everyone looked up at the black hole at the center of the vortex, where they saw a finger appear and slowly descend, pointing downwards.

Ripples spread out from the finger, confusing everyone. Then, a chessboard appeared in outer space. Stars were scattered across the chessboard like pieces in the game. Qing Ping was also on the chessboard, clearly another piece in the game.

The finger pointed at a corner of the chessboard. Qing Ping’s foot rose, and he moved across the chessboard. He was using himself as a piece to play against the owner of the finger.

No one was sure what was going on. It was a very simple game of chess, but Qing Ping was using himself as a piece in the game. Was he restricted to the chessboard, or could he break free from it?

Regardless, the game continued to play out before everyone’s sight.

The game proceeded, and things were very clear to everyone watching. However, the onlookers’ expression grew strange, as it was clear that Qing Ping was about to win.

Everyone had expected the master of the finger to be a master of the game, but clearly, the other side was absolutely terrible. That person was so bad that everyone watching looked down on them. How could anyone who was so bad have the courage to play chess?

"This person is clearly very powerful since their image was summoned to attack Senior Qing Ping during his Progenitor’s tribulation, so I expected to see a chessmaster. Why is this person so terrible?"

"You’re right. I could beat him ten times in a row."

"I could beat him a hundred times in a row."

"What are you saying? Are you saying that you can kick my ass at chess?"

"Ahem, don't get me wrong. It just slipped out like that."

"Still, this guy is so bad. The game’s about to end."

There was a snap, which was the soft sound of a piece landing on the board. The sound seemed to echo in everyone's ears. Qing Ping took a step forward, moving to a position that secured his victory beyond any question or doubt.

Everyone stared, wide-eyed. This was the first time that anyone had seen chess being played during a Progenitor’s tribulation, and yet the game had been a horrible match.

Just when everyone assumed that the game was over, the finger suddenly pointed at Qing Ping, causing the man’s body to move of its own volition. At the same time, the various other pieces on the board started moving, and several of them returned to their previous positions. After a few seconds of movement, the game resumed.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded. What was this? Did Qing Ping’s opponent just take their move back?

Silence reigned as everyone stared. Manipulating a chessboard was beyond shameless, and yet the person summoned by the stellular tribulation had done exactly that before countless witnesses.

Big Sis suddenly became furious. "It's Ce Wangtian! It’s that shameless bastard, Ce Wangtian!"

People were startled by her sudden shout.

Mu Xie was taken aback. "Ce Wangtian?"

Big Sis gritted her teeth. "That’s definitely him. He's a terrible chess player, but he loves playing the game. However, whenever he loses, he just manipulates the board. There’s no one else who’s as shameless and brazen."

"Ce Wangtian? I remember that name. I heard that Progenitor Ce Wangtian was not good at chess, but I never thought that he’d be this bad."

"I can’t believe how shameless he is! He changed the entire board!"

"That’s beyond shamelessness. Look, he’s doing it again."

For the second time, the game of chess being played beneath the vortex of the stellular tribulation was about to end with Qing Ping’s victory. And once again, the finger changed the board. Qing Ping wanted to resist, but Ce Wangtian manipulated the power of space, forcing Qing Ping back a few moves. Everyone was left speechless by the sight.

"Shameless! Utterly shameless!"

"I can’t believe that anyone could be so shameless."

"Shameless!"

...

Within the crowd, Ce Laoyan was left speechless, and he silently ducked his head. "Ancestor, this is humiliating! You might have taken back your move, but you were still recognized. This is so embarrassing!"

Ce Laoyan cursed his ancestor, as did the rest of the Ce family. For a time, the Ce family was universally hated.

Big Sis gasped as she stared at the finger. If this was not a stellular tribulation, but the real person, she would absolutely rush up to cut that off that shameless Ce Wangtian’s finger.

No one had ever seen such an absurd Progenitor’s tribulation before. That finger reset the board again and again, refusing to admit defeat. Despite that, the finger always lost, no matter how many times the game was played. This person’s chess skills were so bad that they defied all understanding.

No one could have imagined that a powerful Progenitor, someone with the strength to see across billions of stars in an instant, could be so terrible at chess. Even if Ce Wangtian were not a Progenitor, no Semi-Progenitor would have such miserable chess skills.

The finger reset the board dozens of times. No one knew how many times it would take for this trial to end.

Qing Ping finally took action. As the power of space started manipulating the game once again, the man pointed a finger and used Origin Tracer.

The obscure power of time moved as Ce Wangtian reversed space. The game shifted to a battle between the powers of space and time, which caused the void to constantly warp and tear, destroying the entire chessboard.

Qing Ping was forced to move a few places forward by the power of space, but Origin Tracer succeeded in finding the exact moment in time when Qing Ping was about to be manipulated, and that moment was denied.

The chessboard instantly shattered, as it was unable to withstand the battle between space and time.

Qing Ping's body trembled, but he had still won.

He had not been facing Ce Wangtian as a Progenitor, which meant that Qing Ping had not been facing the true Ce Secret Art. The board had been reset repeatedly through the power of space turning things back to where they had been. So, when Qing Ping used the power of time to resist, the chessboard had been destroyed, which had naturally ended the game.

In fact, this game had never been a game of chess, but rather a matter of whether the board could be destroyed and if Qing Ping could escape from Ce Wangtian's power of space. If Qing Ping had failed to escape, he would have failed this stage of his stellular tribulation.

1. This is a Chinese idiom, but it translates pretty well. ☜