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The Nine Heavens Mysterious Temple Turns Into Divine Thunder, and the Heavenly Tribulation is Broken!
"Emperor?!"
Hearing Jiang Yan's words, Liu Yun barely had time to react before a figure in a white robe silently emerged from where the stone table had been.
His face was hidden beneath his hood, making it difficult to see, but his simple yet majestic aura was unmistakable. No one else could exude such a presence—he was the Rock King Emperor, Zhongli.
Zhongli calmly picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
Liu Yun was momentarily stunned before a wave of shock washed over her.
That cup of tea had been prepared by Jiang Yan before their discussion on the Dao.
At the time, she had paid no attention to it, as she was still debating with Jiang Yan.
But now…
Zhongli had arrived earlier than they realized. Jiang Yan had noticed him immediately.
Everything—their discussion, her exaggerated praise—had been overheard by Zhongli.
What an embarrassment.
But the more pressing question was…
How did Jiang Yan perceive Zhongli's presence?
Before this, he had been just an ordinary person—weak, insignificant.
But weak?
Liu Yun looked up at Jiang Yan, standing alone in the sky like a dark cloud looming over all of Teyvat.
Was this what weakness looked like?
Liu Yun cursed herself for misjudging him.
She had to admit, though—Jiang Yan was undeniably captivating at this moment.
From a humble young master to an arrogant, unruly wanderer…
Such a contrast. If one wasn't careful, they might be completely deceived by him.
Liu Yun glanced at Gan Yu beside her. The little Qilin's face was flushed red.
She looked at Jiang Yan, her eyes filled not only with worry but also with an indescribable emotion.
Even Zhongli's arrival had failed to distract her.
Love-struck fool!
Liu Yun cursed internally but was relieved to see that her second disciple, Shen He, remained unaffected.
Of course, that might be because she had yet to experience such emotions.
Liu Yun nudged Gan Yu and quickly pulled her back to the stone table.
"Emperor, when did you arrive?"
Zhongli turned his gaze toward Jiang Yan and answered softly,
"Since before he silently recited the Huang Ting Sutra."
"This… So, Emperor, you've been observing him all this time?"
Liu Yun was surprised. Zhongli gave a slight nod.
"Of course. A visitor from beyond this world is worth noting—especially one who exists outside the destined cycle of reincarnation."
"Furthermore, he has been reciting the Huang Ting Sutra daily…"
Zhongli paused, his face under the hood growing solemn.
"That scripture alleviates my erosion. It may even reverse it…"
"What?!"
Liu Yun stared at him in disbelief.
Zhongli's erosion was an irreversible rule of Teyvat.
If it were truly so easy to counteract, why had Azhdaha been sealed for centuries?
Why would Zhongli consider abdicating his position as Liyue's guardian deity?
Liu Yun was stunned, but Zhongli himself was even more so.
"It seems… I was wrong after all," Liu Yun murmured, looking up at Jiang Yan with a conflicted expression.
"His abilities are undeniable, but his words are arrogant. His views on immortality are extreme. You heard our discussion earlier, Emperor. What he speaks of is utter nonsense, something that defies the heavens!"
"If Celestia were awake, he would have been struck down by divine retribution long ago!"
"I've lived for centuries in Teyvat and have never seen anyone defy the heavens and successfully cultivate immortality!"
Zhongli gazed at Jiang Yan intently before responding in a calm tone,
"You speak of Teyvat's laws. But how can you define an outsider using the rules of this world?"
"Do you truly know what his world is like?"
Liu Yun fell silent.
After a moment, she stubbornly retorted,
"Even so, his views are too extreme. What kind of nonsense is 'a demon is not an immortal, an immortal is not an immortal'?!"
"Wouldn't that deny all my years of cultivation?"
Zhongli chuckled lightly and said,
"Perhaps it's not a denial… Either way, just keep watching."
Liu Yun huffed in displeasure, muttering,
"What is he doing up there? Judging by the celestial phenomenon, it looks like a storm is brewing. If he doesn't get struck by lightning, our poor little Gan Yu will have to work hard to heal him."
"Master Liuyun!"
Gan Yu blushed but quickly turned her gaze skyward in concern.
"Lightning…"
Zhongli's expression changed.
Jiang Yan stared at the ominous sky.
The celestial phenomenon wasn't natural—at least, not one native to Teyvat.
The unfamiliar aura carried an immense sense of crisis, and Zhongli felt a chill run down his spine.
Then, with just one sentence, Liu Yun shattered the last of Zhongli's doubts.
Zhongli abruptly stood up, staring at Jiang Yan in utter disbelief.
"He's… undergoing heavenly tribulation to become an immortal!"
"What?! Tribulation?! That's just a myth!"
Liu Yun was stunned, but before anyone could answer, the brewing storm erupted.
A pitch-black bolt of lightning, vast as the heavens, crashed down, engulfing Jiang Yan in its brilliant fury.
The thunderclap that followed was deafening, shaking all of Teyvat.
From Mondstadt to Liyue, from Inazuma to Sumeru, from Fontaine to Snezhnaya, all eyes turned toward the sky.
Even the Abyss Order, the Original Gods of Celestia, and the secret Witches' Association at Teyvat's borders—
Everyone had heard the thunder that heralded Jiang Yan's tribulation.
Even Zhongli, who sat beneath Jiang Yan, felt his strength drain away.
Liu Yun and the others barely managed to keep themselves upright.
"This… This is insane…" Liu Yun whispered hoarsely, watching in shock.
Jiang Yan, however, stood firm. The purple energy surrounding him grew denser.
"Emperor, will Jiang Yan be alright?"
Gan Yu's voice trembled with worry.
Zhongli glanced at her, his expression unreadable.
He didn't know if Jiang Yan would be fine.
But he knew one thing for certain—
If this tribulation continued, he himself, the Rock King Emperor, might not survive.
"Marvelous!"
Jiang Yan's delighted voice rang out from above.
Unlike the reckless fools of cultivation novels who used their bodies to withstand tribulation lightning, Jiang Yan followed the Huang Ting Sutra.
He guided his true energy, tempering it against the heavenly lightning.
With every strike, his Qi transformed, refining into true immortal essence.
Thunderbolt after thunderbolt descended.
Every being in Teyvat watched in stunned silence.
And then—
Jiang Yan moved.
The golden threads of energy within his aura intensified.
Zhongli's eyes widened.
"Nine Heavens Mysterious Temple—"
Jiang Yan's fingers formed a mysterious seal.
"Divine Thunder transforms! The heavenly lightning shall be drawn… by the sword!"
A golden lightning sword emerged in his grasp, a blade of pure divine power.
With a single strike—
He severed the tribulation cloud in half.
And at that moment, everyone watching—Zhongli, Liu Yun, the gods of Celestia—
Witnessed a mortal defying the heavens.
The very concept of immortality…
Had been rewritten.