Of course, at this moment, Willow God’s breakthrough was only in cultivation—the real ascent to Tier Nine Imperial Realm still required her to withstand the Thunder Tribulation.

"Willow God has broken through!"

Inside the research institute, Dean Lin and the others, who had been anxiously waiting, sensed that vast and boundless aura. Their faces lit up with joy, knowing that Willow God had likely succeeded.

As long as Willow God survived the Thunder Tribulation, the Great Qin Empire would become the second greatest power in all the land—no longer having to fear annihilation at the hands of their enemies.

"Assistant Zhang, dispatch more personnel immediately. Seal off the area—do not let anyone within a kilometer of Willow God, so as not to disturb her breakthrough."

Dean Lin hastily turned, giving orders to Assistant Zhang.

Willow God was the key to whether their Great Qin Empire could stand proudly in this world—there could be absolutely no mistakes.

Meanwhile, Willow God, who was about to face the Thunder Tribulation, began silently regulating her condition, so that she could face the trial in her best state.

After all, she was of the flora and wood kind—a spiritual demon most afraid of Celestial Thunder and Heavenly Fire. She would either be struck to pieces or burned to ashes, so she had to go all out.

Soon, the world changed color. The originally dreamlike cyan-lit sky suddenly darkened, with vast swathes of dark clouds gathering from all directions, shrouding the entire Imperial Capital.

Whoooo—

The wild winds howled, like evil ghosts from hell wailing, echoing back and forth through the city.

Rumble—

Next, streaks of purple lightning lit up within the dark clouds, like myriad thunderous dragons surging madly. The thunder roared as if ten thousand beasts howled together, dizzying and dazzling all who heard it.

Such a phenomenon instantly caught the attention of the Imperial Capital’s residents. The turbulent lightning and raging wind left them horrified, feeling as if a heavy weight pressed on their chests, making it hard to breathe.

The streets descended into chaos, a cacophony of sounds. The fearful citizens began frantically running home, while those farther away dashed into malls or other buildings.

Many cultivators, upon seeing the thunder and recalling the earlier cyan light, immediately understood—their faces all wore expressions of amazement.

"This must be Willow God’s breakthrough!"

As the Guardian God of the Great Qin Empire, everyone wished for Willow God’s cultivation to become ever stronger.

Especially considering the fierce competition between humans and beastkin right now, with the Thunder Tiger King looming like a mountain over humanity’s head, the Great Qin Empire desperately needed someone to stand against him.

And Willow God, who had once contended with the Thunder Tiger King, was their one and only hope.

Rumble—

Time passed, minute by minute. The thunder in the sky grew ever more violent, a terrifying aura of destruction pouring down like a waterfall, sweeping in all directions.

Below, Willow God raised her head, gazing calmly at the surging Thunder Tribulation above. She turned into cyan mist, merging into her true body.

In the next instant, a thunderclap exploded over the Imperial Capital—a sound so terrifying it shook the entire city. All Great Qin citizens hiding inside buildings trembled, a fear rising unbidden in their hearts.

Boom!

Brilliant purple lightning illuminated the dark Imperial Capital as a pillar of thunder crashed down, its target Willow God’s true self.

Below, Willow God stood unafraid, her expression tranquil. Cyan divine radiance coursed along every Jade Willow Branch, like Order Divine Chains, shooting up to meet the thunder pillar head-on.

Rumble—

The thunder pillar struck by the Jade Willow Branches immediately exploded, spreading into a sea of thunder. The deafening noise and dazzling purple light illuminated the entire sky.

Yet the Jade Willow Branches bathing in the lightning fared poorly—many were quickly obliterated under the power of the thunder, scattering away as cyan motes of light.

When Willow God finally withdrew her branches, several were clearly broken in two, and some were charred black along their leaves.

Fortunately, in the next moment, each branch swayed gently, and cyan light spread forth—soon, all the damaged branches completely recovered.

Rumble—

At that moment, another thunder pillar fell from the sky.

Willow God remained composed, activating her true form with Tier Nine Spiritual Power. Branch after branch pierced out, repeatedly shattering the descending thunder pillars.

Time flowed on—Willow God successfully endured eighty-one bolts of Celestial Thunder!

Above, the once surging lightning and cloud shroud rapidly dispersed.

The howling gales instantly ceased as well, and the sky quickly brightened from its former gloom.

Willow God’s true form now shone with cyan brilliance; under the Thunder Tribulation, she was unscathed, and instead seemed transformed—her trunk and leaves alike bathed in luminous glory, flowing with traces of the Power of Law.

In the next instant, Willow God withdrew all phenomena, returning to simplicity—becoming no more than an ordinary willow tree.

Now, having just broken through to Tier Nine Imperial Realm and with her cultivation still unstable, she needed time to consolidate her foundation.

...

Time flowed like a river—before anyone noticed, ten years had passed.

Jiang Che and Fang Yuan had been in the Ancestral Demon Realm for ten years as well.

Tiger King Ridge, Peach Grove Valley.

Brilliant golden spiritual light flickered in the ancient woods, waxing and waning like breathing.

Within the Cyan Stone Pool, Nangong Luo cultivated with eyes closed, her whole body aglow with golden spiritual light. Powerful energy waves spread into the surroundings.

No one knows how much time passed before Nangong Luo slowly opened her eyes.

Sensing something, Nangong Luo turned her gaze toward the direction of the Imperial Capital, as if able to pierce endless barriers.

"Willow God has already broken through to Tier Nine... I wonder when my turn will come..."

Nangong Luo’s eyes revealed complicated emotions. Thinking of her own cultivation, her face inevitably showed guilt.

In these ten years, except for a small amount of time spent handling Tiger King Ridge affairs, virtually all her days went into cultivation.

Yet even so, her cultivation still hadn’t risen to Tier Nine—she only barely stood at the peak of Tier Eight.

Peak Tier Eight cultivation was already exceedingly rare in this world—a once-in-a-blue-moon existence.

Yet, compared with her eldest and second brother, and with Willow God, she fell far behind.

Her eldest and second brother, and Willow God, had already reached Imperial Realm ten years ago, but as for her, it had taken ten years just to brush the threshold...

Splish—

Rising, Nangong Luo walked out of the Cyan Stone Pool. Then, almost unconsciously, she glanced back at the empty ground before the Bodhi Cave, letting out a long sigh and shaking her head.

"Sigh... So many years have passed, and I still don’t know when Eldest Brother and Second Brother will return! I hope nothing went wrong!"

Thinking of her brothers entering the Ancestral Demon Realm so many years ago, yet still with no word, Nangong Luo could not help but worry.

But the next moment, Nangong Luo shook her head sharply.

Impossible. Eldest Brother and Second Brother are both Tier Nine Imperial Realm—who could do anything to them!