The old man stood silently, his presence cloaked from all but the most powerful cultivators.
Only those who had achieved the Void Tribulation Realm could perceive his figure, hovering just beyond the edge of the torrential heavenly lightning.
For the rest, he was an invisible specter, observing the chaotic display with an unshakable calm.
Meanwhile, Riley remained focused, undisturbed by the commotion outside. Thirty minutes passed in serene stillness before he finally initiated his breakthrough.
BANG!
1st Stage Void Tribulation Realm!
Riley's eyes snapped open as an overwhelming surge of power coursed through him. His spiritual senses had evolved into divine sense, granting him an unparalleled awareness of the world around him.
His body now possessed the ability to regenerate at will, as long as his soul remained intact. Even if his physical form were obliterated down to the last atom, he could reconstruct it with ease.
"This strength… this life force," Riley muttered, marveling at his transformation. His lifespan extended beyond 10,000 years, and his spiritual essence had grown purer and more refined.
Though he had no immediate reference to measure himself against, he instinctively felt his strength was enough to obliterate the entire continent with a single punch.
Tempted as he was to test his newfound power, Riley dismissed the thought for now. He had no intention of stopping here; he wanted more. Closing his eyes again, he resumed his cultivation.
BANG!
2nd Stage Void Tribulation Realm!
BANG!
3rd Stage Void Tribulation Realm!
"What?! He's still going?! He didn't stop to consolidate his cultivation base!"
"Who is this senior?!"
"This… this isn't human. That's a monster in human form!"
The powerhouses whispered in astonishment, their disbelief growing with each successive breakthrough.
Normally, a cultivator would pause after reaching a new stage to consolidate their foundation, adapting to their newfound power before attempting to advance further.
This methodical process ensured stability and prevented cultivation deviation.
But Riley defied convention. He pressed forward without hesitation, ascending the Void Tribulation Realm stages one after another.
What the gathered powerhouses didn't know was that Riley possessed the Primordial Chaos Physique, a physique unparalleled in its ability to generate and store vast, untapped reserves of essence.
Unlike ordinary cultivators who needed to siphon spiritual energy from the world to fuel their breakthroughs, Riley drew directly from his boundless internal reservoir.
This unique advantage allowed him to accelerate his cultivation with unprecedented speed and efficiency, bypassing the limitations that bound others.
The sky above churned with chaos as Riley's cultivation climbed higher, leaving everyone watching in awe, fear, and confusion.
And riley of course did not stop there.
Bang
Bang
Bang
BANG!
10th Stage Void Tribulation Realm!
Riley reached the peak stage of the Void Tribulation Realm and finally halted his cultivation.
The violent storm of heavenly lightning still roared above, with towering pillars of blinding energy raining down, but Riley stood unbothered.
His shadowy manifestation, the Hangman, absorbed the punishment without faltering.
Not a single scratch had marred Riley during the grueling ordeal, a feat that left even the heavens seeming to simmer in impotent fury.
As the chaotic lightningstorm slowly began to wane, Riley sensed a shift in the atmosphere. A subtle, otherworldly pull tugged at his very being, faint yet persistent.
"What's this?" he murmured, his brows furrowing as he tried to interpret the sensation.
It felt like an invisible thread tied to his soul, urging him upward. Riley's thoughts raced, and his lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Ah, I see now… This is the lower realm," he said aloud. His voice carried an undertone of excitement.
"A place where the so-called top dogs are merely Void Tribulation powerhouses. Beyond this lies the Immortal Realm, a world far greater than this one, teeming with cultivators in a league of their own."
The idea of exploring such a realm stirred a fire in his heart.
He envisioned endless opportunities: new challenges, stronger opponents, and a vast, uncharted expanse waiting to be conquered. But Riley was not impulsive.
"Not yet," he said with a chuckle. "There's no point in rushing. I've just broken through to the peak of this world. I have 10,000 years of life ahead of me. Why waste them chasing after a future I can afford to wait for? Life is best enjoyed one step at a time."
He closed his eyes for a moment, imagining the adventures that awaited him in the Nine Cauldrons Continent. There were treasures to discover, sects to overthrow, and legends to carve.
With his newfound strength, the entire world lay at his feet, ready for him to shape as he wished.
Ding!
The familiar sound of his system echoed in his mind, pulling him from his thoughts.
***
Host: Riley Mason
Cultivation Base: 10th Stage Void Tribulation Realm
Rewards Acquired: Soul Dominion (17 uses left), Primordial Chaos Physique, Heavenly Judgment Palm
Minions: Gideon Hunter
***
Riley read through the display and nodded in satisfaction.
"Hmmm… This is more than enough to enjoy my life in this xianxia world," he said to himself. The strength he wielded now felt boundless.
Despite the intoxicating sense of omnipotence, Riley remained grounded. There was no rush to flaunt his newfound power, no immediate need to dominate or destroy.
He preferred to savor the moment, to let the world wonder and speculate about the mysterious cultivator who had defied the heavens.
With a single thought, Riley vanished from the depths of the ocean. His departure left no trace, only the lingering echoes of the heavenly tribulation.
Across the Nine Cauldrons Continent, chaos erupted.
Cultivators who had felt the heavenly lightning's fury flocked to the edges of the Abyss Ocean, desperate for answers. Rumors spread like wildfire, each more fantastical than the last.
Who was this senior cultivator? How had he weathered such a terrifying tribulation with neither protectors nor formations?
Sect leaders, ancient hermits, and reclusive powerhouses debated among themselves.
"Whoever it was has already surpassed the limits of this world," one elder mused, stroking his long beard.
"To provoke such wrath from the heavens and emerge unscathed... Such a feat is unheard of!"
Another nodded solemnly.
"Indeed. This cultivator must be a being of unparalleled talent or an anomaly unlike any other. Perhaps even the chosen of the heavens themselves."
Meanwhile, Riley's deeds began to take root in the annals of history. His tribulation became legend, inspiring awe and terror alike.
Over time, the cultivators of the Nine Cauldrons Continent bestowed upon him a moniker—a name that carried the weight of his deeds and the mystery of his shadowy manifestation:
Daoist Scarecrow.