When the Dragon Blood Legion warriors entered their cultivation states, the air around them shimmered with countless miniature galaxies. Their souls seemed to leave their bodies, aligning with the cosmos itself. It was as if the entire legion had become one with the universe.
The Starry Sky Manifestation granted them unparalleled synchronization in battle. The moment they fought together, their energies would align, forming a seamless web of power that amplified their attacks, defences, and spiritual senses.
Long Chen observed this phenomenon with awe. This was the true unity of the Dragon Blood Legion.
One of the most profound changes was the emergence of a Mutated Celestial Manifestation. Originally, their Celestial Manifestations were merely an external projection of their power, a means to channel their will into reality. However, with the formation of the Heaven Dragon Soul, something unimaginable occurred—their Celestial Manifestations mutated.
Their Manifestations were no longer limited to their previous forms. Instead, they began to resonate with the power of the stars, merging with the cosmic energies that surged within them and enhanced their view on their Martial Dao Path.
Another shocking discovery was made during their cultivation—the awakening of Fake Spirit Bones and Evolved Spirit Roots.
Spirit Bones were divine skeletal structures that only the most powerful cultivators could develop. Normally, they were born into geniuses and required generations of refinement. However, due to the Heaven Dragon Soul's influence, the warriors of the Dragon Blood Legion found something unique forming within them—Fake Spirit Bones.
While not true Spirit Bones, these pseudo-divine structures granted them immense physical resilience, increasing their combat endurance while also granting boosted Cultivation.
Alongside this, their Spirit Roots also evolved along with Spiritual Roots.
Yet, the greatest transformation of all was happening inside their Dantians.
Each Dragon Blood Legion warrior now held a Half-Formed Starry Sky Astral Chart—an incomplete celestial construct that contained countless Star Clusters, constantly shifting, pulsating with unstable power.
Long Chen could sense the raw, untapped energy within these Astral Charts. However, they were far from stable.
If they could fully stabilize these Starry Sky Astral Charts, their power would rise to an entirely new level, surpassing anything in the mortal realm. But for now, they needed time, patience, and refinement.
Excitement flooded in Dragon Blood Legion, their blood surging with newfound power. A sense of indomitable strength flooded their veins, and each warrior felt as if they had transcended their former selves. Their cultivation had soared to the 11th Heaven Stage of the Tendon Transformation Region, an unimaginable feat that defied the natural laws of cultivation.
As they stood together, bathing in the overwhelming force of their rebirth, their leader Long Chen gazed at them with eyes filled with pride. He nodded approvingly, his heart swelling with satisfaction. The transformation had been a success, and now the Dragon Blood warriors were at a level where they could shake the heavens (ofcourse it's just words... they aren't strong yet.)
With an air of confidence, Long Chen finally spoke, his words carrying both weight and revelation.
"Now, you all have finally caught up to the level I was at when I reached the 9th Heaven Stage of Tendon Transformation."
A stunned silence fell over the Dragon Blood warriors. Their minds struggled to process what they had just heard. What? They had just undergone a heaven-defying transformation, ascending to the peak of the Tendon Transformation Realm with the Heaven Dragon Soul, and yet… they were only equal to Long Chen at 9th Heaven Stage of the same realm?
How was that possible?
The shock was palpable. They had believed they had stepped into a new realm of power, far beyond what anyone could have imagined. Yet, Long Chen's words suggested that he had once possessed strength that rivaled theirs even before he reached their current stage. The revelation left them bewildered, some even doubting if they had truly grasped the depths of their leader's power.
Seeing their confusion, Long Chen chuckled and decided to demonstrate his point. He reached for a spear, gripping it casually in one hand. Without activating any energy or martial techniques, he simply thrust it forward with pure, raw strength.
The moment the spear was released, a terrifying force erupted.
The ground beneath them trembled as an invisible pressure weighed down upon their chests. The wooden spear, seemingly ordinary, pierced straight through two towering mountains in the distance, splitting them apart as if they were mere twigs. Cracks ran through the earth, and the warriors felt their very souls tremble at the sheer magnitude of Long Chen's power.
They could hardly believe their eyes. This was only his raw physical strength?
Some among them had sparred with Long Chen before, but they had never witnessed him display his true might. Now, as they watched the aftershocks of his strike ripple through the mountains, an undeniable truth settled upon them: their leader was a monster beyond comprehension.
Elder Xie, the Soul Manifestation behind them, stepped forward. With his vast experience and wisdom, he observed the aftermath of Long Chen's casual strike with narrowed eyes.
"Unbelievable," the elder murmured. "Long Chen's sheer physical power alone rivals that of a half-stepped Foundation Forging expert."
A collective gasp echoed through the crowd. A half-stepped Foundation Forging expert—that was a level of power reserved for those on the verge of stepping into an entirely new cultivation realm.
Their minds reeled at the implications.
Foundation Forging was a legendary boundary, separating the truly powerful from the rest. It was said that those who reached this level were a hundred times stronger than the strongest warriors in the Tendon Transformation Realm. Yet, Elder Xie. corrected himself—
"No… not a powerhouse Foundation Forging warrior," he said, shaking his head. "I meant to say… a normal Foundation Forging warrior upto Grade-2 Celestial as limit or Simply a Grade-5 Celestial at peak of Sea Forming Realm."
That made an even greater difference.
To fight against a half-stepped Foundation Forging expert was already unfathomable. But to fight against one with a Foundation Forging Realm expert? That was on an entirely different level.
And yet, Long Chen could already match them?
The realization was terrifying.
Even among the elite sects of the Eastern Wasteland, those who reached half-stepped Foundation Forging even without any Celestial Energy were revered as near-invincible. Yet Long Chen, while still in the Tendon Transformation Region, was already capable of challenging them and even emerging victorious.
Their respect for Long Chen transformed into awe.
But before they could fully absorb the weight of this revelation, Long Chen turned serious once more.
"Enough of that. We have something more important to prepare for."
The atmosphere tensed.
Long Chen's expression darkened as he spoke the next words.
"We must prepare for the Tribulation."
A heavy silence followed.
Tribulation?
The warriors instinctively felt their blood run cold. Tribulation was not something to be taken lightly. In the cultivation world, it was an event that decided life and death. Only those who challenged the natural order of the world faced Tribulation.
Long Chen then elaborated.
"Since you all have broken the natural limits of cultivation and stepped into the 10th and 11th Heaven Stages, you have defied the laws of Heavens. This means… the heavens will not ignore you and sine you guys are Celestials, the tribultions will be terrifying but only limited to check up on you to bless you guys mostly."
Their hearts pounded.
Long Chen continued.
"Normally, only Xuantian Realm experts suffer Tribulation while breaking through to the Sea Forming Realm. But this time…"
His gaze swept over the warriors.
"All of you… will experience Heaven's Wrath while still breaking through to the Bone Forging realm."
The gravity of his words crushed them.
This was unprecedented.
Tribulations were terrifying ordeals where heavenly lightning, fire, and cosmic forces descended upon cultivators to test their worthiness. Only those who survived were granted the right to step into the next level of existence.
And now, they—the Dragon Blood Legion—would face Tribulation never before seen at their cultivation level.
Fear gnawed at their hearts.
Would they survive? Could they survive?
Sensing their unease, Long Chen let out a hearty laugh.
"Relax," he said. "You have nothing to worry about."
The warriors turned to him, uncertain yet hopeful.
One of them finally asked, "Boss… why are you so confident?"
Long Chen smirked.
"Because I've already experienced a Tribulation… when I was breaking through to the Blood Condensation Realm."
Dead silence.
What?!
The warriors stared at him, their mouths hanging open in shock. Experiencing Tribulation while breaking through to Blood Condensation Realm? That was unheard of!
It was an absolute impossibility!
And yet, if Long Chen had survived it, then…
A new wave of confidence spread through the warriors. If their leader had endured the impossible, then perhaps they, too, could face this Tribulation and emerge stronger than ever.
And so, with their hearts steeled and their minds resolved, the Dragon Blood Legion stepped forward to meet their fate.
To Be Continued...