In the Taixu Spirit Realm, on this day, Li Taiqing triggered his Immortal Ascension Heavenly Tribulation.
Soon, dark clouds covered the sky, and terrifying tribulation lightning brewed within them; five-colored Lightning Dragons rolled in the sea of clouds, captivating souls.
Facing this Ascension Heavenly Tribulation, which was enough to annihilate the body and spirit of an ordinary Ascended Immortal Cultivator, Li Taiqing's expression remained unchanged.
"Sword, come!"
As Li Taiqing's words fell, an incomparably refined and invisible Sword Intent, seemingly capable of severing all laws, shot into the sky, instantly splitting into countless Sword Qi to battle the Lightning Tribulation.
Not long after, the Lightning Tribulation dissipated.
Li Taiqing's figure was bathed in seven-colored auspicious light; his body began to lighten, and a hazy Immortal glow emanated from him, transitioning towards a higher life form.
"Congratulations, Brother Li, on successfully Undergoing Tribulation!"
"Congratulations, Sword Immortal Li, on successfully Undergoing Tribulation!"
Below, the Sect Masters and Elders of various Holy Lands, as well as familiar friends like Lu Fan and Lin Potian, cheered in unison.
Successfully Undergoing Tribulation also meant being able to Ascend to the Upper Realm at any time.
While Li Taiqing's Undergoing Tribulation seemed effortless, it was due to his profound foundation and extremely high Sword Dao Realm, making him the foremost Sword Dao expert of his time.
For example, the Ascended Immortal Cultivators of the Kunlun Immortal Sect still did not dare to trigger their Immortal Ascension Heavenly Tribulation.
Once they failed, it would mean death and the dissipation of their Dao... Several months later.
Taixu Spirit Realm, Kyushu Continent, peak of Kunlun.
The main peak of Kunlun, shrouded in a sea of clouds, had an extremely solemn and serious atmosphere today.
On the plaza at the peak, it was already crowded with people, yet utterly silent.
Cultivators from the various Sects, Holy Lands, and ancient families of Kyushu, regardless of their cultivation level, held their breath and focused their gaze on the towering Heaven-Worshiping Altar in the center of the plaza.
The altar, forged from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade and stellar refined gold, was inscribed with countless intricate and ancient Ascension Immortal lines, and at this moment, it emitted a soft yet vast spiritual light, subtly resonating with the sky.
At the heart of the altar, one person stood alone.
It was Li Taiqing.
His posture was tall and straight, his face calm, with only a pair of eyes containing anticipation.
Today was the day Li Taiqing would Ascend to the Upper Realm.
"The hour is nigh."
An old Daoist, with white hair and profound aura, spoke, his voice low and solemn, echoing across the silent peak.
Countless gazes grew even more fervent, filled with envy.
"Brother Li, I'll be up there soon too!"
Lu Fan clenched his fists and murmured softly.
He had already reshaped the Physical Body for the Demon Venerable, repaying past Karma, and his sole goal was Ascension.
"Go up and say hello to master for me."
Little White Tiger transformed into human form, his golden eyes full of reluctance, yet he tried to straighten his back.
Nangong Wenjian held his long sword, his surrounding Sword Intent faintly humming, as if bidding farewell.
Rumble!
In an instant, the wind and clouds changed color.
Li Taiqing's figure, within the guiding Immortal light, began to slowly ascend.
His robes fluttered, like an exiled Immortal descending to the mortal world, but now returning to the Heavenly Palace.
"Farewell, Brother Li (Sword Immortal Li), on your Ascension to the Immortal Realm! May your Dao flourish!"
The Immortal light grew increasingly brilliant, and Li Taiqing's figure gradually merged into the Immortal Gate, becoming somewhat blurred.
The next moment, the Immortal light completely receded, the sky returned to its clear blue, and the sea of clouds still churned, as if nothing had ever happened... At the same time.
Han Xuanji witnessed Li Taiqing's Ascension, but also saw some of the future through his Eyes of Destiny.
This unlucky Disciple had good Aptitude, but the timing of his Ascension was not good.
It was a turbulent time, and most Ascenders were in a difficult situation.
Unless he was as outstanding in Aptitude as Han Xuanji once was, to the point of alarming the Lingxu Heavenly Palace, he would easily be captured for mining or even sent to the front lines.
He was his Disciple, after all, so he couldn't just ignore him.
In a certain Ascension Hall in the Lingxu Heavenly Domain.
The Immortal light dissipated, and the dizzying sensation of time and space flowing slowly faded.
After Li Taiqing awoke from his stupor, he felt the environment of the Upper Realm and couldn't help but show a joyous expression.
"As expected of the Immortal Realm; this Immortal Qi is so abundant."
His Physical Body was bathed in Immortal Qi, every inch of his flesh and blood greedily absorbing it, transforming and sublimating, forging the foundation of an Immortal.
When he walked out of his room and looked around, he found himself in a grand hall.
However, before he could fully appreciate the novelty and insights of his first arrival in the Upper Realm, a cold pressure enveloped him.
"Lower Realm Ascender, state your name, origin Realm, and Cultivation Technique!"
The voice was cold and hard, carrying undisguised scrutiny and disdain.
Li Taiqing looked up and saw three young men in Daoist robes appear as the mist parted.
The leader had sharp eyes, scanning him up and down with a pair of eyes that glowed with investigative Immortal light.
Li Taiqing's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly; the other party's attitude was poor, but as a newcomer, he did not wish to cause trouble, so he bowed respectfully, neither servile nor overbearing, saying:
"This one is Li Taiqing, from the Taixu Spirit Realm, and I cultivate the Sword Dao."
"Taixu Spirit Realm?"
The leading Immortal scoffed, flipped his hand to take out a jade slip, pretended to examine it, and then his face darkened,
"A low-grade Lower Realm! By law, your origins must be thoroughly investigated! Hand over your storage Magical Artifact and your Natal Immortal Sword; once we verify them, we will register you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Taiqing's expression immediately turned cold.
Hand over his storage Magical Artifact and Natal Immortal Sword?
How was this any different from killing him?
"Senior, isn't this action perhaps against the rules?"
Li Taiqing's voice was calm.
The surrounding Ascenders, witnessing this scene, dared not speak out despite their anger.
These few people had profound cultivation, far beyond what newly Ascended individuals like them could contend with.
If they didn't obediently hand them over, they would suffer a beating, and how would they survive then?
Some even had ulterior motives, wanting to step forward and show off.
"Rules?"
The Upper Realm Cultivator took a step forward, his pressure growing even stronger, and sneered:
"In this place, what I say is the rule! You lowly Cultivators from the Lower Realm, newly arrived in the Upper Realm, dare to question this Venerable One? It seems you indeed have a problem!"
As he nodded in Hint.
The two Cultivators behind him immediately stepped forward, their Immortal light flashing in their hands, and a rope transformed into two silver lights, intending to bind Li Taiqing.
Li Taiqing cursed under his breath, but a cold glint erupted in his eyes, his Immortal Sword poised to strike, unwilling to be captured without a fight.
Seeing the Immortal Sword in Li Taiqing's hand.
The leader's eyes lit up, and he said:
"Not bad, this sword is not bad! You brat, you really do have treasures on you!"
"Buzz—!"
Suddenly, the entire Ascension Hall trembled violently.
Time and space seemed to freeze at this moment.
The two Cultivators who lunged forward froze in mid-air, the sneers on their faces rigid.
The arrogance on the leader's face instantly turned to horror; he found that he couldn't even move a single finger, and his surrounding Immortal power was as if frozen.
An indescribably vast pressure silently enveloped the entire Ascension Hall.
Before this pressure, their Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivation was as insignificant as ants!
The next instant, a calm voice, yet imbued with supreme majesty, as if from the Nine Heavens, or perhaps echoing from the deepest part of their Divine Souls, rang out:
"My people, when did it become the turn of you scoundrels to interrogate them?"