Chapter 106: Please Face the Tribulation

Lin Jiufeng was busy.

He meticulously scoured the vast Cang Mountains, hunting down the escaped prisoners from the Dimensional Prison.

If he found one causing chaos, he would strike them down without hesitation. If he discovered one in hiding, seeking to recover their strength, he would politely invite them to ascend. Only when they refused would he resort to battle.

Almost none agreed immediately.

Thus, Lin Jiufeng was locked in relentless combat, ceaselessly clashing with powerful beings who once stood above him but had since been weakened.

Yet, these battles refined his strength. His cultivation, still fresh at the Eleventh Forbidden Realm, was stabilizing and growing steadily.

The Dao principles he had comprehended were evolving, one after another, reaching the realm of the Mortal Dao.

Among them, his four great phenomena were the first to ascend in rank. They transformed from ordinary manifestations into Mortal Dao-level phenomena, their power soaring exponentially.

Even the once-severed "Moon Rising Over the Sea" phenomenon was reborn, its crescent shape beginning to rise once more.

With these advancements, Lin Jiufeng grew more formidable. He now faced the formidable criminals of the Dimensional Prison with even greater confidence.

In just a few days, he had made no effort to conceal his actions. Word of his ruthless purge spread rapidly among the escapees.

Those who had intended to feast on humans as mere livestock hesitated, their ambitions curbed by fear. They fled from the Central Plains, seeking refuge in the distant frontiers, hoping to recover in peace.

But they had underestimated Lin Jiufeng's spiritual sense. His divine perception could trace the faintest clues, following their trails no matter where they ran.

Even if they hid in the desolate northern steppes, Lin Jiufeng would track them down and extend the same invitation: Ascend.

If they refused? Then they would fight.

And when Lin Jiufeng fought, he held nothing back. Few could withstand his fury.

In his wake, he left behind mountains of corpses—prisoners who had fled the Dimensional Prison, only to find their demise in the mortal world.

In mere days, his fearsome reputation spread like wildfire.

Those who remained quickly learned that Lin Jiufeng could not be reasoned with.

So from that day forward, whenever he arrived and extended his invitation, the escapees, though resentful, dared not resist. Some pleaded in hushed voices, others fumed in silent rage, but ultimately, all of them chose to ascend.

Lin Jiufeng, pleased with this development, nodded in satisfaction.

"It seems building a fearsome reputation has its benefits. It keeps these criminals in check, sparing me from unnecessary fights."

And so, he continued his journey.

Each time he arrived at a new location, his divine perception scoured the surroundings. Upon finding a target, he would simply stand before them—silent, motionless, eyes cold as ice.

Without fail, the prisoners would sigh in resignation.

"Lord of the Mortal Realm," one grumbled, "you are powerful, that much is undeniable. But why do you insist on forcing us out? We have done no harm to mortals!"

Lin Jiufeng's gaze was calm, his words even colder.

"You restrain yourselves only because you are still weak and not yet my match. But once you regain your strength, your restraint will vanish. By then, dealing with you will be far more troublesome.

"It is better to send you away now—before it is too late."

The prisoner fell silent.

And, under Lin Jiufeng's unwavering stare, he chose to ascend.

Lin Jiufeng, unfazed, turned and set out for the next target.

—

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Lin Jiufeng fought relentlessly. Every battle was a battle to the death.

He had slain over three hundred Dimensional Prison escapees.

He had forced more than six hundred to ascend.

Through it all, his black robes had been stained with blood, layer upon layer, until the fabric had dried stiff.

Yet, he ignored it all and pressed on.

Lin Jiufeng estimated that few criminals remained.

Once he was finished here, he could finally return to the Archive Pavilion and rest.

Thinking this, his spirit lifted—he saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

But then, his expression darkened.

He halted, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.

In an instant, more than a dozen terrifying auras locked onto him.

Lin Jiufeng instantly understood:

The remaining prisoners had joined forces.

Rather than allowing Lin Jiufeng to hunt them down one by one, they had decided to eliminate him first.

If Lin Jiufeng died, they could rule the mortal world at their leisure.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The air trembled violently.

From all directions, over a dozen monstrous figures emerged.

A bull-headed warrior, a golden python, a one-horned behemoth, a demon-flower in full bloom…

The elites of the hundred races had assembled.

The very air around them quaked under the weight of their combined power.

"Who would have thought," one sneered, "that a mere mortal world could birth such a monstrous genius?"

"In just one month," another murmured, "you alone have slain and exiled nearly all of our kind. Truly impressive."

"The ones you killed," a third growled, "were once monsters of the Fifteenth Forbidden Realm."

"At their peak, a mere sneeze from them could have obliterated you. Yet here, in this wretched world, they perished at your hands."

"What a joke."

"You came here to find us." A seductive voice purred. "Well, now that we've found you first… how about we send you off instead?"

Laughter filled the sky.

The hundred races had encircled Lin Jiufeng, their energy rising like a tidal wave, shrouding the heavens.

—

Across the mortal world, countless eyes watched.

In Yuhua Sect, the elders stood frozen in worry.

Wen Qingyun clenched her fists, watching anxiously.

In the imperial court, the emperor and his ministers held their breath.

In the South Sea, an old dragon narrowed his eyes.

In the Peach Blossom Mountain, Daoist masters exchanged tense glances.

Even the once-injured Drunken Sword Immortal, now fully healed, stood with an unreadable expression.

Everyone was watching.

Everyone hoped Lin Jiufeng would emerge victorious.

For this was the mortal world.

And it belonged to mortals.

—

At the center of it all, Lin Jiufeng remained utterly unshaken.

He gazed at the approaching elites of the hundred races, their murderous intent pressing against him from all sides.

Then, he smiled.

And asked, "Have you all… ever faced a tribulation?"

The hundred races froze.

They did not understand.

A moment later, they did.

BOOM!

Lin Jiufeng unleashed his full power.

He shattered the limits of the mortal world.

Instantly—heaven's tribulation descended.

A hundred bolts of divine lightning, each carrying enough power to annihilate gods, came crashing down.

With a polite bow, Lin Jiufeng spoke softly:

"Please—face the tribulation."

BOOM!!!