Whoosh!
The sound of something cutting through the air echoed as an eight-armed sea creature, shrouded in a blue watery soul force, flew in from afar. As it landed on the ground, water splashed around, revealing its figure.
"Wow, Brother Lin, this ride of yours is truly impressive," Zhang Zide exclaimed, looking at the grand carriage that had come to a stop.
However, something felt off to Zhang Zide. Lin Qian and Ye Xin appeared to be cultivating on the carriage, but given his arrival, they should have noticed and reacted by now. Why were they still immersed in their cultivation?
Curious, Zhang Zide moved closer, trying to get a better look. Just as he was about to approach, a figure suddenly blocked his path.
"The Emperor and Empress are currently in seclusion, breaking through. Please wait patiently," Zhao Long explained, standing in front of Zhang Zide with his Taillong Spear firmly planted in the ground, maintaining a respectful but firm stance.
"Brother Lin and Sister-in-law are in seclusion, breaking through?" Zhang Zide's eyes widened in surprise as he glanced at the carriage.
Over the past days, with Lin Qian's help, Zhang Zide and the others had experienced rapid growth in their strength.
At the same time, the gap between their combat power and Lin Qian's had gradually closed. By the time they entered this small world, they had even surpassed him in some aspects.
Considering how powerful Lin Qian was in the Breakthrough Realm, Zhang Zide could only imagine how formidable he would become once he successfully broke through to the Life and Death Realm. In this small world, he might as well be unstoppable.
Not to mention, Sister-in-law Ye Xin was equally exceptional. Though not as strong as Brother Lin, her combat power was still extraordinary.
"A couple breaking through together, how interesting," Zhang Zide mused, crossing three of his arms over his chest while scratching his chin with another.
The Life and Death Realm was different from the Breakthrough Realm. The latter required the accumulation of soul force, while breaking through to the Life and Death Realm depended on one's state of mind.
If the mind was at peace, then breaking through to the Life and Death Realm would naturally follow.
Back when Lin Qian helped improve their cultivation techniques and provided miraculous potions, their combat power surged rapidly, which left them feeling elated.
Their state of mind became serene due to their newfound strength, allowing them to smoothly overcome the tribulations and successfully break through to the next realm.
Not long after, Li Yunfeng arrived from the opposite direction of Zhang Zide. He, too, admired the carriage and then looked at Lin Qian and Ye Xin in confusion.
After Zhang Zide explained the situation, Li Yunfeng understood.
About half an hour later, Zhang Qi and Zhang Wenshuan also arrived and soon grasped the situation.
Their attention quickly turned to Zhao Long, whom they curiously scrutinized.
Judging by his aura, they could tell that Zhao Long was no ordinary person. From how he addressed Lin Qian and Ye Xin, it was clear that he was one of Brother Lin's people.
What puzzled them, however, was how Lin Qian had managed to bring Zhao Long into the small world.
The stability of the portal to the small world was limited, and the number of people who could enter was naturally restricted.
The participating forces in this South Meeting, both sea and human, varied in strength, so the number of slots they were allocated also differed. For instance, the Eight-Armed Sea Clan, a mid-upper-tier force, had been allotted eight slots, which they shared with their human allies.
As they wondered how Lin Qian managed to bring Zhao Long in, there was a sudden movement from the carriage.
Purple-blue lightning suddenly appeared on Lin Qian and Ye Xin's bodies, causing Ye Xin to frown slightly.
"The body tribulation for advancing to the Life and Death Realm has begun," Li Yunfeng observed, his eyes fixed on the two.
The tribulation lightning bathed Lin Qian and Ye Xin, enveloping them in a sea of purple-blue electricity.
However, unlike them, the carriage and the Flame Hoof Warhorses pulling it were unaffected by the lightning. The body tribulation lightning only impacted those undergoing the tribulation.
The intensity of the tribulation lightning far exceeded Ye Xin's expectations. Originally confident that she could endure it, she now found herself trembling from the pain.
At that moment, Ye Xin felt Lin Qian's grip on her hand tighten slightly, as if he was silently encouraging her.
Feeling Lin Qian's strength, though the pain didn't lessen, Ye Xin felt a bit more at ease.
Meanwhile, Lin Qian remained relaxed, his eyes open, calmly sensing the tribulation lightning coursing through his body, enhancing and strengthening him.
The rapid enhancement of his physique made Lin Qian feel elated. It was a sensation he had never experienced before.
Though his body had always been strong and his cultivation speed quick, it had always been a gradual process. Now, the increase was exponential.
As long as he successfully endured this tribulation lightning, he would smoothly advance to the Life and Death Realm.
While Lin Qian was enjoying the benefits of the tribulation, Zhang Zide, Li Yunfeng, and Zhang Qi were all left speechless, utterly stunned.
During their own body tribulations, they had closed their eyes to enter a state of cultivation, focusing their soul force to mitigate the pain and protect their bodies.
Ye Xin was doing the same, but Lin Qian, on the other hand, seemed entirely at ease, as if the tribulation lightning was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"Even with lightning attribute soul force, it shouldn't be this easy, right?" Zhang Wenshuan exclaimed as Lin Qian glanced over and even smiled at them.
Zhang Zide chuckled bitterly and shook his head. "If you think about it, we've probably forgotten that Brother Lin has an incredibly strong physique. Remember, back during the clan meeting, he nearly killed a Breakthrough Realm opponent with just one punch."
"That's true. When our grandmasters first brought us to find Brother Lin, their primary goal was to have him help us strengthen our bodies," Li Yunfeng added with a sigh, gazing at Lin Qian with a hint of envy. He wished he had such a powerful physique himself.
Indeed, with Lin Qian's abnormally strong body for his realm, enduring the tribulation lightning was effortless. The pain felt like mere scratches, and the greatest benefit was the further enhancement of his physique.
As Lin Qian continued to revel in the benefits of the tribulation lightning, a message from the Tian Gong Department of the Hua Xia Empire suddenly shook his mind.
The bizarre nature of this revelation left him in disbelief, as it exceeded anything he had imagined.