296 - After Defying the Villain’s Fate for Nine Lifetimes, the Heroines Turn Mad!

Title: Ninth Realm Villain: The Heroines Collective Darkening - Chapter 296 With a breakthrough imminent, Jiang Chen had no choice but to sit cross-legged on the spot and begin guiding spiritual energy into his Yuan Dan. Upon seeing this: "Is he... about to break through to the Upper Four Realms?!" The Nine Wonders Patriarch was in shock. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" The Seven Stars Sword Patriarch's face was one of horror. He couldn't comprehend it at all! Just a moment ago, Jiang Chen's aura was steady with no signs of a breakthrough. How could a few words push him into a breakthrough? And across such a significant boundary? More importantly! A cultivator of the Upper Four Realms at such a young age is extremely rare, even in the High Domain! "Is this the human Saint Physique?" The Seven Stars Sword Patriarch's eyes were filled with cold light. His rational mind told him. The talent Jiang Chen displayed was exceedingly monstrous; such a person must not be left alive for long! However, A glance at Nine Wonders Patriarch and the others, who were looking at him coldly... "If you dare move, you die!" Nine Wonders Patriarch was bluntly unreserved. Su E, finding Jiang Chen increasingly pleasing to the eye, also stated, "My husband is about to make a breakthrough, and I, as his wife, must serve as a guardian!" "You shameless ghost," Xiao Hongyi immediately mocked. "Have you ever seen a ghost with shame?" Su E retorted without anger. "..." Xiao Hongyi said nothing in response, only shook her head in derision. "Haha! Worthy of being the young lord! Such talent is comparable to the head of the family in his youth!" Chen Sheng laughed wildly. Ever since the appearance of the Mysterious Ice Secret Realm, Nangong Jiu Xi had been taken aside by two elders of the Wan Dao Demonic Sect for strict protection. Seeing Jiang Chen about to break through, Nangong Jiu Xi felt both happy and worried. She was happy because, The man she had chosen was indeed extraordinary. And worried because, Jiang Chen's strength and cultivation both far surpassed hers, and if this continued, she wouldn't even have the qualification to stand by Jiang Chen's side. "I must return to the sect to undergo closed-door training!" she murmured. Upon hearing this, the two elders of the Wan Dao Demonic Sect were very gratified. They also looked at Jiang Chen's talent with admiration, but they valued their sect's prodigy more than Jiang Chen. Even so, they still cast a vigilant glance at the Seven Stars Sword Patriarch. "Sigh!" The Seven Stars Sword Patriarch sighed. He was very sure that if he tried anything at this moment, he would definitely be the one to die! He could only blame the unfairness of heaven for allowing such a demonic talent to emerge from the demonic path! He withdrew his gaze and turned to leave. This relieved Nine Wonders Patriarch and the others immensely. If not necessary, the group didn't want to clash with the Seven Stars Sword Patriarch, not out of fear but concern that it might affect Jiang Chen's breakthrough. With many cultivators still around, Nine Wonders Patriarch immediately utilized his cultivation to announce, "The disciple of the Nine Wonders Demonic Sect is undergoing a breakthrough, idle people withdraw!" The voice rolled forth, causing a shudder in those who heard it. In just an instant. The originally crowded exit of the teleportation array was left with only Jiang Chen and his group. "A breakthrough crossing a major boundary requires an absolutely quiet environment. Let's move further away," Nine Wonders Patriarch instructed the others. The rest nodded, retreating a hundred steps with great harmony. At this moment, Jiang Chen indeed found himself at a critical point of his breakthrough. Although the system could directly elevate his cultivation, it hadn't transformed his Yuan Dan into a Yuan Shen. The good news was, Jiang Chen, having undergone nine lifetimes, had broken through to the Upper Four Realms multiple times. Even with inadequate preparation this time, he skillfully manipulated spiritual energy based on previous experiences. Under his guidance, the boundless spiritual energy gathered at the Violet Palace, like an ocean, continually impacting the suspended Yuan Dan. Everything was progressing smoothly, yet an anomaly occurred at the moment the Yuan Dan was about to transcend and transform into the Yuan Shen. Jiang Chen suddenly felt suppressed. A suppression originating from this old heaven! The suppression this time was peculiar, though heavy like a mountain, enough to halt the flow of spiritual energy. Yet, it opened a door, permitting him to break through it. Jiang Chen faintly felt that the heavens weren't so kind, but with the breakthrough imminent, he had no choice but to guide the spiritual energy, knock on the door, and more forcefully wash and nourish his Yuan Dan. Suddenly! With a "crack" sound, A crack appeared on his Yuan Dan, and then it peeled off like an eggshell, revealing a miniature illusory figure resembling Jiang Chen but appearing younger! This was the Yuan Shen! "It's done!" Jiang Chen was overjoyed! Yet just as he held his breath, intending to consolidate his cultivation, "Rumble!!" Thunder rolled in the sky, and dark clouds suddenly gathered overhead! "Boom!!" A bolt of violet lightning struck down from the sky, aiming directly at Jiang Chen's head! Sensing danger, Jiang Chen abruptly opened his eyes. His first reaction was that this old heaven intended to suppress him again, hence the heavenly punishment. But soon, he realized something was off. This violet heaven's lightning, though seemingly powerful, carried a rich essence of life, almost like... "A lightning tribulation?" Jiang Chen was astonished. Before transmigrating, he had read many fantasy and cultivation novels, and naturally knew of the existence of lightning tribulations. But he clearly remembered! Cultivators in this world didn't need to undergo tribulations when breaking through! Why then did he need one now? After a brief panic, Jiang Chen quickly understood. The reason other cultivators didn't face tribulations is that they were cultivating according to heaven's will. Though Xiao Hongyi and others were rebellious and contrary to heaven, their cultivation hadn't yet reached the limits set by the heavens, thus remaining within heaven's guidance. But he's different. He is a heaven-appointed main antagonist, having repeatedly surpassed the heavenly suppression in terms of cultivation, truly embodying defiance against heaven! Such defiance naturally required a price. And this lightning tribulation was likely heaven's punishment! Successfully overcoming it would elevate his cultivation. Otherwise, His soul would be annihilated! Jiang Chen had no experience in overcoming tribulations. Though he had read numerous novels before his transmigration, the methods of overcoming tribulations varied in them. Some involved enduring the lightning with one's body to temper it, others using spiritual tools to resist, aiming only to get through... At the moment, he truly didn't know which method would work best! Helpless, Jiang Chen could only look towards the Seven Stars Sword Patriarch in the distance. “????” The Seven Stars Sword Patriarch was taken aback, vaguely sensing something bad! Sure enough! With the sky lit by lightning, Jiang Chen ran towards him! "What... What are you doing?!" The Seven Stars Sword Patriarch panicked. "You take on the lightning tribulation for me first, and I'll gather some experience!" Jiang Chen shouted. Your sister! I take the lightning, and you gather experience? Consider the audacity of this request! Without any hesitation, the Seven Stars Sword Patriarch turned and fled! But he had only taken a few steps. A jade coffin appeared in front of him! He had no time to defend and was struck in the face by the jade coffin, his body flying several zhang away, landing precisely in the lightning tribulation circle! Simultaneously. "Boom!" The violet lightning landed. Whether coincidentally or not, it directly struck the Seven Stars Sword Patriarch's head! "Hmm, it seems this lightning tribulation automatically targets the strongest person in the circle!" Jiang Chen nodded, starting to glean insights. Chapter 294: Old Man, What a Miserable Death The Seven Stars Sword Patriarch endured the lightning with his body, albeit unharmed, but his hair and clothes were scorched, emitting black smoke.