Chapter 185: Chapter 185: The Apparition of the Ancient Emperor’s Phantom in the Mortal World
Under the thunderclouds, Ji Chen stood suspended in midair, his white robe fluttering in the wind, his whole being bathed in a brilliant light, resembling a celestial being descending upon the world.
At this moment, he had already successfully repelled eight celestial tribulations, yet appeared without a single injury.
Coupled with the intrinsic self-healing ability of the Hongmeng Body, he was virtually unaffected by any of the celestial tribulations.
"In such an era, it’s astonishing that such a prodigy can emerge from the Celestial Martial realm!"
"It’s terrifying, who is this person? What is their name? To withstand the tribulations unscathed!"
In the distant void above the Divine City, many cultivators from the outer realm starry sky were now paying close attention to Ji Chen’s tribulation crossing.
They were shocked, astounded to the extreme.
Clearly, even in the expansive outer realm starry sky, the Nine Dragon True Tribulation was an extremely rare celestial tribulation.
Throughout ancient history, very few have been able to summon such a celestial tribulation.
Unexpectedly, in this era of thin spiritual qi, in the waning age of the Celestial Martial realm, a genius like Ji Chen emerged, causing these outer realm cultivators immense shock.
"Having passed eight of the nine tribulations, only the last one remains. If he succeeds, he will step into the Celestial Essence Realm, and his physical body will be strong enough to challenge a Saint!"
Within the Divine City, many were discussing, astonished to the core.
The Nine Dragon True Tribulation is inherently a very rare celestial tribulation, and although it has rarely appeared throughout history, those who pass it always emerge battered, exhausting all their strength.
But now, Ji Chen still seems to have strength left unsummoned, which is the most terrifying aspect of all.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Above the Divine City, in the endless void, the sea of clouds roiled continuously, sending out rumbling noise, deafening those present, their skin tingling uncontrollably.
It felt as though heaven and earth were crumbling and collapsing, a terrifying scene akin to the arrival of doomsday.
"Buzz!"
All could feel that the power of the Dao, pervasive between heaven and earth, seemed to grow more frenzied, as if the Heavenly Dao was utterly enraged by Ji Chen, unable to halt him at the gates of the Celestial Essence Realm after eight tribulations.
Time passed, and another dozen breaths went by.
A terrifying aura seeped out from the endless sea of clouds.
In the instant this aura emerged, everyone in the Divine City couldn’t help but feel their hearts skip a beat.
It felt as if a fearsome ancient creature was about to awaken from the clouds.
"Buzz!"
Space trembled, and immediately, the thick cloud layers suddenly split open, casting down an expanse of dazzling light, as if to illuminate the entire world.
All eyes were fixed, watching as a figure slowly descended from that cloud layer.
It was a young man in black, his eyes appeared hollow, his face devoid of expression, and upon closer inspection, it became evident that this young man was entirely constituted of condensed lightning.
"Human-shaped tribulation!"
As this young man in black appeared, countless in the Divine City couldn’t help but burst into an uproar.
This type of tribulation was unprecedented, not even appearing during the glorious era of Desolate Ancient times, and was only rumored in legends.
But today, within this Divine City, as Ji Chen crosses the Celestial Essence Realm tribulation, a human-shaped tribulation appears!
"Buzz!"
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, the young man in black took steps in mid-air.
With each step he took, Dao patterns manifested, emitting an enigmatic power, causing those who saw it to tremble.
"That is..."
"Emperor’s Essence!"
An elder expert cried out in urgency, his voice trembling, heart aghast.
"How is this possible..."
"The tribulation actually manifested a phantom of an Ancient Emperor!"
No one could refrain from being astounded, their faces painted with extreme shock, finding it utterly incredible.
A human-shaped tribulation that existed only in legends, now appearing for real. Furthermore, unexpectedly, this human-shaped tribulation was a sovereign of the Emperor Realm from ancient times!
"Buzz!"
Amidst the exclamations of everyone present, heaven and earth quivered slightly, then behind the young man in black, a Mountain River Starry Sky Map appeared.
"That is..."
"Law Phenomenon!"
"It’s a law phenomenon of the Hongmeng Body?! This person..."
"Emperor Ming! It’s the phantom of Emperor Ming manifesting in the mortal realm!"
Once again, an uproar broke out, faces filled with shock as they realized the origin and identity of this human-shaped tribulation, unexpectedly Emperor Ming, who once shook the world.
Legend has it that Emperor Ming, too, obtained a Divine Fruit in the Immortal Burial Forest, thereby awakening his Hongmeng Body, and from then on, he swept through the world, forging his own invincible path.
This physique is one of the nine great physiques of Desolate Ancient, having only appeared twice throughout history.
Once during the era of Emperor Ming, and now, Ji Chen!
The youthful Emperor Ming appeared in the mortal realm, though derived from the celestial tribulation, not the true form.
But the tribulation is an embodiment of the Dao; manifesting the phantom of Emperor Ming implies that this youthful Emperor Ming possesses combat strength not far from his true self.
"Ji Chen’s final tribulation, he must confront a youthful Ancient Emperor!"
"How can this be... Throughout history, any Ancient Emperor was an invincible entity, controlling their peers, undefeated throughout life, ascending the pinnacle of the Dao with a flawless record. No one in the same era could defeat such a figure, and now, he appears."
"It’s impossible to win! Ji Chen’s attempt to pass the tribulation will surely end in failure!" someone exclaimed.
This is a kind of despair-inducing entity; any youthful Ancient Emperor commands their generation and is an invincible existence worldwide. No one can directly repel them.
Even in the Desolate Ancient era, the shocking prodigies couldn’t do it, and neither can Ji Chen!
"Youthful Ancient Emperor..."
Amidst the discussions throughout the city, Ji Chen silently stood in midair.
He slightly raised his head, meeting the gaze of the youthful Emperor Ming.
The other’s eyes were vacant, expressionless, entirely indifferent, like a puppet.
This is an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao Will, devoid of any emotions.
His arrival was to stand in the way of Ji Chen’s breakthrough.
This is the Heavenly Dao Will’s attempt to eradicate Ji Chen, to eternally block him at the gates of the Celestial Essence Realm!
"What of the Heavenly Dao? What of the Ancient Emperor?"
After taking a deep breath, a gleam flashed in Ji Chen’s eyes as he shouted defiantly, "Today, I shall breakthrough, and any entity standing before me will be swept away!"