Ian Song didn’t bother to block. Instead, he stepped to the left front, and instantly, all seven spirit swords slashing toward him missed completely.
"Interesting!"
Seeing this, Charles Qiu’s lips curled into a faint smile. The other Outer-Sect Elders, however, were all visibly surprised.
As for Old Man Tanner and Raina Quinn, they both looked as if this was perfectly expected.
After all, their young master’s formation skills were already at the Earth-Grade Formation Master level, and he was also highly proficient in sword dao. If he actually got hit, that would be the real surprise.
After missing their first strike, the seven elders began shifting positions constantly. As they moved, Ian Song—standing inside the formation—felt a binding force restricting his movements.
If he wasn’t mistaken, this Megrez Minor Star-Sword Formation was derived from the Big Dipper Seven-Star Formation. It might work against cultivators who don’t understand formations, but trying to use it on him was a lost cause.
He simply strolled through the array, taking several light steps at key points—his posture relaxed, his expression calm.
But as he moved, the united momentum of the seven elders suddenly grew obscure. To their horror, even though they cultivated the same Megrez method, their qi began to repel each other instead of merging.
"What’s going on?"
The seven elders were shocked. The formation leader quickly shouted, "Change formation!"
In the next moment, their formation shifted, and that obscure, repulsive feeling suddenly vanished. But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, Ian Song took two more steps—this time with his hands clasped behind his back, looking even more relaxed and composed.
With his first step, all seven elders felt their vision go dark.
With the second step, a tremendous force slammed into all seven of them.
The next instant...
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!..."
With a series of muffled groans, all seven were blasted backwards, and the sword formation naturally collapsed!
"What...?" Charles Qiu’s expression froze.
"What happened? Why did the sword formation suddenly collapse?" All the Outer-Sect Elders watching were dumbfounded—not just them, even the Inner-Sect Elders couldn’t figure out what was going on.
"My apologies!" Ian Song cupped his fists toward the seven stunned Inner-Sect Elders, then turned to Charles Qiu and said, "Senior, can you take me to see Master Mingtan now?"
Charles Qiu, having recovered his composure, curiously asked, "How did you do that just now?"
Immediately, everyone perked up their ears, eager to know how Ian Song had broken the formation.
Ian Song smiled and said, "I’m a formation master myself, and I’ve also trained in sword dao, so..."
He didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone immediately understood. So he was a formation master—no wonder he could break the array so easily.
But Charles Qiu felt it wasn’t nearly as simple as Ian Song made it sound. The Megrez Minor Star-Sword Formation was created by the ancestors and refined over generations. Although it was derived from the Big Dipper Seven-Star Formation, it had become a unique array in its own right.
He was certain that even an ordinary Profound-Grade Formation Master couldn’t break this array so easily—let alone break it while under attack from seven Soul-Split elders, especially when Ian Song’s cultivation was only late Out-of-Body stage.
Considering all the evidence, he was certain that this young man was anything but ordinary.
"Come with me. I’ll take you to request an audience with the sect master!"
"Thank you, Senior!"
With Charles Qiu leading the way, Ian Song and his two companions arrived before a towering grand hall.
Black-armored guards stood watch before the grand hall.
"I am Charles Qiu, an Inner-Sect Elder. I’ve come to request an audience with Master Mingtan. Please inform him of our arrival!" Charles Qiu said to the group of black-armored guards.
"Please wait a moment!"
One of the black-armored guards turned and walked into the hall.
After a short while, the guard returned and said coldly, "The sect master will see you now."
In the next moment, Ian Song and his companions entered the grand hall.
The grand hall was built incredibly tall, with a ceiling over two hundred meters high. Standing inside, one couldn’t help but feel insignificant.
At the far end of the hall sat a throne, and upon it was a middle-aged man in blue Daoist robes and a feathered crown, his face stern and dignified. There was no doubt—this was Master Mingtan, the one who presided over the mighty Prime One Church.
"Greetings, Sect Master!" Charles Qiu bowed deeply, his manner extremely respectful.
"Junior Ian Song pays his respects to Master Mingtan." Ian Song also bowed, and behind him, Raina Quinn and Old Man Tanner followed suit, not daring to show any disrespect.
"You may rise."
Master Mingtan spoke calmly, his presence commanding respect without anger.
After late-stage Integration, crossing one heavenly tribulation advances you to early Tribulation. Another tribulation brings you to mid-stage, and yet another to late-stage Tribulation. Finally, if you survive one last tribulation, Heaven will descend with immortal spirit energy to help the tribulation-crosser condense their immortal foundation.
Cultivators also face heavenly tribulations when condensing their Golden Core or Nascent Soul.
However, those two tribulations are considered minor; only the tribulations of the Tribulation Stage count as true heavenly tribulations. Each one is stronger than the last—every step is perilous. That’s why every tribulation must be planned with utmost care. A single misstep could mean death under the heavenly lightning, your soul scattered, with no chance to reincarnate as a loose cultivator.
"Thank you, Sect Master!"
Charles Qiu expressed his gratitude.
"Changchun, you may leave now."
"As you command!"
Once Charles Qiu left, only Ian Song and his two companions remained in the vast hall.
"Ian Song, why have you come to see me?" Master Mingtan’s gaze fell upon Ian, his tone steady and unhurried.
Ian Song met Master Mingtan’s eyes and said, "Master, I’ve come to propose marriage. I hope you will allow Lila Li to marry me!"
Master Mingtan’s expression turned cold. "Are you aware that Lila is already betrothed to Li Sixuan?"
"I am aware," Ian Song nodded.
"Since you know, how dare you come here to propose marriage!" Master Mingtan’s voice was icy. As he spoke, a vast and overwhelming aura, like a starry sky, filled the entire hall.
Thud! Thud!
Unable to withstand the aura, Old Man Tanner and Raina Quinn dropped to their knees on the spot.
Though Ian Song didn’t kneel immediately, sweat beaded on his body as if a giant mountain pressed down on him, forcing his posture to bend.
Body of Ten Thousand Stars!
With a roar in his heart, starlight flickered across his skin. His bent figure abruptly straightened, like a javelin.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort exploded in Ian Song’s ears like thunder. Instantly, his mind reeled, his tensed body collapsed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. At the same time, he was forced to the ground, unable to move an inch.
Endless humiliation and burning rage surged through Ian Song’s heart. To be pressed to the ground like a toad—such naked humiliation was even worse than death.
World-Shaping Avatar!
With another roar, his prone body suddenly swelled, instantly transforming into a giant over ten zhang tall.
Boom!
With effort, he raised his right fist and slammed it into the ground, his muscles bulging all over.
"Ah!"
He shouted, unleashing his full strength.
Boom!