Chapter 1 The Beginning
The first heavenly tribulation arrived.
A bolt of lightning as thick as an acre, descending from the Ninth Heaven, carrying a power that made even the Eight Immortals of Chan Sect tremble, and everyone with a stake in the matter turn pale.
Not for any other reason.
But because the requirement for Sun Wukong to undergo tribulation, as set by the Heavenly Dao, seemed even harder, and even more terrifying this time!
Those who knew would think the Heavenly Dao was deliberately testing Sun Wukong, hoping to make him stronger.
To better handle the greater destruction from the Demonic Path in the future.
Those who didn't know would think the Heavenly Dao was still wary of Sun Wukong due to past events, and intended to reprimand him, forcing him to yield!
"Fellow Daoist Sun, you must be exceedingly careful. Due to your unique circumstances, after much calculation, I have discovered that the difficulty of this tribulation is a hundred times greater than that of ordinary mid to high-grade Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortals."
"This first heavenly tribulation alone possesses the power of a high-grade Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal. Each subsequent tribulation will increase in power by several folds, until you have survived the ninth heavenly tribulation."
"Only then will you be considered successful."
"While my Primordial Treasure Box is wondrous and capable of shielding against the probing of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao, as well as the Demonic Path, it is not omnipotent."
"At most, it can absorb seventy percent of the tribulation's might. The remaining thirty percent is still not to be underestimated, so do not be careless!"
Outside the Primordial Treasure Box, Yuanshi Tianzun sensed the first heavenly tribulation aimed at Sun Wukong, which was a hundred times more powerful than that of others of the same level undergoing tribulation.
Without even thinking.
He knew that this was because Sun Wukong's capacity for "seeking death" was too strong, and his progress too rapid, making even the Heavenly Dao somewhat displeased.
It was seizing this opportunity to torment him with greater force!
However, this matter concerned Sun Wukong and Luo Hou, and the Pangu bloodline that made even the Heavenly Dao wary. Even Yuanshi Tianzun, one of the six Sages,
Dared not speak of it directly.
He could only hint at it indirectly.
Unexpectedly.
Sun Wukong, upon hearing this, was not overly surprised. He had long ago realized that his excessively fast progress and his several instances of "seeking death" that had brought him into conflict with the Heavenly Dao, as well as the manifestation of his Pangu bloodline,
Were highly likely to make both the Heavenly Dao and Dao Ancestor Hongjun somewhat apprehensive.
Therefore, Sun Wukong had no wasted words. After offering his sincere gratitude to Yuanshi Tianzun, he immediately adopted his most perfect state.
To face this strengthened heavenly tribulation, which even the Heavenly Dao was rigging!
The first heavenly tribulation descended.
It was merely the power of a high-grade Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal.
Sun Wukong's physical body and primordial spirit were not weak. He endured it with relative ease, with only a slight furrow of his brow.
However.
Seeing how easily he completed it, the remaining eight heavenly tribulations would not be as simple. Instead, they became truly stronger one after another.
Each one becoming more difficult for Sun Wukong to endure. He could only grit his teeth and persevere, employing various spells and divine abilities while doing his best to resist!
Thus.
For the next few hours, a scene unfolded that stunned even Yuanshi Tianzun.
The second heavenly tribulation arrived, more than a hundred times stronger than the first, equivalent to a high-grade Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal at 50% power.
Sun Wukong coughed up a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth, but the injury was not severe.
He continued to hold on!
The third heavenly tribulation immediately became even fiercer, indeed a hundred times that of the second, meaning it was equivalent to a high-grade Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal at 100% power.
This time, Sun Wukong's Chaos Golden Cudgel was knocked away. Clearly, the Heavenly Dao intended to humiliate him and prove its authority.
But Sun Wukong showed no sign of retreat. Instead, he activated his fleshly body, formed from the Five-Colored Stone, and forcibly absorbed this third heavenly tribulation, shocking both friends and foes!
...
"This Sun Monkey is in trouble."
"The Heavenly Dao itself fears his existence. Why break through now instead of earlier? Isn't he courting death?"
"What a pity for such a junior who could have been promoted by me in the future. Indeed, young people are still too young."
Laozi sighed with emotion.
...
"This Sun Monkey deserves to die."
"Back during the Investiture of the Gods calamity, the Western Sect, in league with Laozi and the second elder Yuanshi, stole my Immortal-Slaying Swords. Even I dared not contend with the Dao Ancestor. Where does he get his courage?"
"If he doesn't die this time, I can write my Dao title backward!"
On the other side, Tongtian Jiaozhu, who wished for Sun Wukong's death and the heavy losses of the Heavenly Dao lineage, sneered!
...
"My son is foolish."
"He can offend anyone, even the Sage-level experts of the Heavenly Dao and Demonic Path, for they are wary of his status as the Senior Disciple Brother of the First Journey to the West in the Immortal Realm."
"But the Heavenly Dao is absolutely different. It is supreme above all of us. How can you be so reckless, my child?"
On Nuwa Niangniang's side, as expected, after praising Sun Wukong's potential a few days prior, she displayed a mother's worry!
...
"Good riddance, good riddance, truly good riddance."
"Even the two Saints of the Outer Sects, with their eight hundred disciples, wouldn't dare to defy the Heavenly Dao like this. Where does this Sun Wukong get his audacity?"
"Even if he doesn't die this time, I fear he will be punished by the Heavenly Dao, losing a layer of skin."
On the side of the Western Sect, Jieyin Daoist and Zhunti Daoist spoke with mockery and schadenfreude, clearly not considering Sun Wukong as one of their own!
...
The Heavenly Dao was furious, yet also found it both laughable and exasperating!
"Well done, Sun Monkey, to dare absorb the power of a tribulation enhanced a hundredfold! Does he truly believe this Heavenly Dao dare not kill him outright?"
"Hongjun, this matter was originally your responsibility. Look at it yourself. You've nurtured such a monster in Sun Wukong that even this Heavenly Dao cannot subdue him."
These words, seemingly intended to further strike at Sun Wukong, actually carried a second meaning.
That is, he had no choice but to make good use of Sun Wukong as a chess piece.
At the very least.
Before the complete annihilation of the Demonic Path Alliance, the destruction of the Second Journey to the West in the Mortal Realm, and the consolidation of his own position and the subjugation of all the Saints of the Heavens,
This Heavenly Dao truly dared not destroy its own foundation.
He could only look at this Sun Wukong, whom he wished to eradicate yet was forced to rely on, with complex emotions!
"Heavenly Dao, rest assured."
"This Dao Ancestor knows what needs to be done."
"While this Sun Monkey is somewhat unruly, he has always been respectful to the Heavenly Dao lineage and has not truly rebelled. Why not give him a slight lesson and be done with it?"
Hongjun Dao Ancestor, standing beside it, spoke words that, as expected, hit the Heavenly Dao's intentions directly, making it impossible to deny.
It could only nod reluctantly.
Immediately.
It withdrew the remaining six heavenly tribulations, the excessive and unnecessary power.
Upon seeing this.
Hongjun Dao Ancestor understood the Heavenly Dao's intentions and wasted no further words.
He then slightly eased the intensity.
Consequently.
The fourth to the ninth heavenly tribulations, though half as strong as originally imagined, still left Sun Wukong with considerable external and internal injuries.
But at least it didn't make him too disheveled.
Just as countless people eagerly awaited Sun Wukong's failure to overcome the tribulation, he, wielding the Westward Journey Gatling, a half-step innate supreme treasure, combined with the Pangu bloodline,
Had truly endured all nine heavenly tribulations and, seizing this opportunity, absorbed all their power, transforming his physical body and strengthening his primordial spirit.
Let alone others.
At the very least, Yuanshi Tianzun, who was the closest, was completely dumbfounded.
But at this very moment.
Suddenly, another wave of heavenly tribulation arrived!