Seeing the Second Bolt of Chaos Heavenly Lightning was almost upon him, the Human Great Emperor shook his head lightly.
It wasn't that he was underestimating the Chaos Heavenly Tribulation, it was just that because of this little scheme of the Divine Punishment Immortal, he had been forced to take out one of his final means before time. Now that it was in the open, he was sure that many would covet it, even from the Heavens Above who're still watching what is happening here with great interest from the dark.
Taking a final look at the spinning orbs around him, the Human Great Emperor once again moved his right hand lightly. This time, another burst of Sword Qi erupted, but much more powerful than before. The moment the burst of Sword Qi left him, it met the descending lightning bolt head-on.
BOOM !
A deafening sound erupted as the two forces of nature collided with each other with tremendous power, each wanting to obliterate the other to push forward.
While everyone was still watching the show, the Human Great Emperor started the next step of his plan, even though he knew it would come with a great cost in the end.
Without any further ado, the Emperor circulated the spiritual qi in his body and a momentum slowly began to rise.
If it was any other time, he might have acted with caution, but this time there was no need. As he already knew, soon many powerhouses would come here to covet what was his and thus the Human Great Emperor didn't delay anymore.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! …
One after another, the Binding Seals inside his body snapped, each like a thunderclap echoing through the heavens. Enormous waves of spiritual qi surged forth in reckless abandon, flooding every meridian with divine fury. His cultivation began to soar—no external force, no borrowed power—this was his own strength, sealed away for countless years.
And now, in this moment of absolute crisis, he had chosen to release it all.
Initial Stage of the Transcendent Realm!
Middle Stage of the Transcendent Realm !
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Initial Stage of the Great Transcendent Realm!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Conferred Lord Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Conferred King Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Quasi-Saint Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage of the Quasi-Saint Realm !
By the time the Human Great Emperor's cultivation surged past the Quasi-Saint Realm, the Second Bolt of Chaos Heavenly Lightning had already been obliterated—shattered in the heavens along with the titanic Sword Qi that met it head-on.
But no one watching could focus on that anymore.
All across the Atonement Platform, every being present—save for the Divine Punishment Immortal—was forced to their knees, unable to even raise their heads beneath the crushing pressure of a Quasi-Saint's divine presence.
Even the nearby Immortals, still groveling before the Emperor, trembled in disbelief, their minds spinning with only one thought:
'How…? Why would someone with such terrifying power still remain in the Lower Heavens? He could have ruled the Lower Strata of the Middle Heavens with ease!'
Far away, the Divine Punishment Immortal narrowed her eyes, brows deeply furrowed.
'Quasi-Saint Realm… and it's still not stopping? How someone like him is still in the Lower Heavens? Could someone really delay their Ascension Tribulation just by sealing their cultivation? No—how is this even possible…?'
As several thoughts flashed in her mind, the sky darkened again.
The Third Lightning Bolt of the Chaos Heavenly Tribulation had already begun its descent, streaking toward the Atonement Platform with earth-shattering might—its target, the Human Great Emperor, unmoving as it bore down with divine lethality.
By now, even the Heavens themselves were enraged. The man they sought to strike down was treating their wrath like a mild inconvenience—toying with divine judgment as though it were beneath him.
In response, the Third Chaos Lightning Bolt descended with far greater ferocity than it should have, the sky roaring in protest, divine might compressed into a beam of annihilation.
Yet the Human Great Emperor didn't even look at it.
His gaze was distant, calm.
He placed his trust in his strength—and in the two ancient beads spinning protectively around him. Even if the Divine Punishment Immortal were to attack at this very moment, he knew it would take her quite a while to breach his defense.
And time was all he needed.
So, ignoring the wrath of the Heavens, he focused solely on his cultivation.
His path was clear: break the final seals, reclaim his true realm, and be ready—because once he rose, the world would come for him.
The Divine Punishment Immortal could only watch, torn between awe and doubt, as his cultivation continued to soar—unhindered, unchallenged, unstopped.
Boom! Boom! …
Thunderous echoes rumbled within his body as seal after seal shattered, his qi and blood surging like a tidal wave. Yet he remained perfectly still atop the Atonement Platform, like an immovable god reclaiming his throne.
Saint Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Quasi-Sacred Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage of the Quasi-Sacred Realm !
BOOM!
With a tremendous roar, the Third Chaos Lightning Bolt struck. But against the boundless might of the Quasi-Sacred Realm pouring from his body, the bolt didn't just fail—it disintegrated.
No explosion. No ripple. Just obliteration.
It vanished like dust in a storm.
But still, the Human Great Emperor's breakthrough did not stop. Even under the rage of the Heavens, with divine destruction looming above, he calmly continued circulating spiritual qi, climbing ever higher—as if the outside world simply didn't exist.
The Divine Punishment Immortal, already guiding the Fourth Chaos Heavenly Lightning Bolt, narrowed her eyes. Her red lips twitched in visible frustration.
'Still going...? Even I can't see his limit. What kind of monster has been hiding here, beneath our very eyes…?'
While the Divine Punishment Immortal was visibly frustrated, the elevation in Human Great Emperor's strength didn't stop at all.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! …
Sacred Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Great Sacred Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Quasi-Supreme Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage!
Supreme Realm — Initial Stage!
Middle Stage!
Late Stage!
Peak Stage of the Supreme Realm !
BOOOOOOM!
The Fourth Lightning Bolt of the Chaos Heavenly Tribulation descended in fury, carrying the full wrath of the Heavens. It was the Heavens' answer to the man who dared defy its laws—who continued breaking through to forbidden realms not allowed in the Lower Heavens.
But it was all in vain.
Under the crushing pressure of the Supreme Realm, the devastating Lightning Bolt shattered before it could even showcase its might. It was erased—not countered, not resisted, but simply erased by the overwhelming force of the man standing tall on the Atonement Platform.
And still, the Human Great Emperor stood.
Now, only the Divine Punishment Immortal remained alive within the surrounding space. Every other so-called Immortals, who were showing their prowess minutes ago, had already perished—blasted into bits of blood and fragments by the divine pressure that radiated from the man like an apocalyptic tide.
She understood now—he would not fall quietly. And worse, he was no longer bound by the limits she once believed governed this realm.
Even though she knew the Heavenly Laws would soon forcefully punish him for breaching their limits, for breaking through realms forbidden in the Lower Heavens… she had made up her mind.
This kill was hers.
This glory—hers alone.
A brilliant golden light erupted from her body, divine and radiant, as a Golden Trident materialized in her jade-like hands. The already strained space around her cracked and continued to shatter in pieces under the immense power of the divine weapon.
Without hesitation, she hurled the Golden Trident forward with all her might, while simultaneously steering the Fifth Bolt of the Chaos Heavenly Tribulation to strike him again—this time with no chance to defend or recover.
But her little schemes and murderous intentions hadn't gone unnoticed by the man.
The Human Great Emperor, already nearing the final stage of his plan, could no longer let her act freely.
'Such a bitch...you will surely be punished by me later....'
As the Human Great Emperor conveyed his thoughts towards that woman like before, his actions didn't stop in the slightest.
With a flick of his hand, an enormous Divine Sword condensed in mid-air—formed entirely from Immortal Spiritual Qi, radiating a terrifying might equal to that of a true divine artifact.
With a single thought, the Divine Sword surged forth, meeting the Golden Trident head-on.
BOOOOMMM!
Nature trembled, Void shattered, all beings became silent under Heavens.
The shockwave from the clash sent both combatants flying back, forcing them to retreat several steps to stabilize themselves.
However, the Human Great Emperor didn't stop.
In an instant, just like before, another Divine Sword materialized from his hand and was hurled upward, clashing with the descending Fifth Lightning Bolt.
BOOOOMMM !BOOOOMMM !BOOOOMMM !
Shockwaves blasted outward in every direction, tearing apart sacred structures, shattering immortal platforms, and leveling everything within miles. The sheer impact reduced once-holy lands to rubble.
Even the Human Great Emperor, for all his defenses, was knocked back several steps, the shockwave slamming into him like a divine tidal wave.
The Divine Punishment Immortal fared no better—hurled from her position, barely managing to stabilize herself at the last moment.
And now, both of them stood.
Still.
Breathing.
Glaring.
Each circulating their spiritual energy, warily watching the other.