Immortal Divine Tribulation

Chapter 167: Return to the Northern Region

Beneath the Dark Abyss, boundless demonic energy surged around Tian Fan’s body. Countless streams of black mist from the heavens and earth gathered ceaselessly toward him, becoming the perfect nourishment for cultivating the Heaven-Slaying Devil Art.

On the other side, the little dragon watched him in boredom, silently counting the beautiful violet-gold scales on its body. In the end, it couldn’t resist yawning and simply fell fast asleep. It didn’t even know how long it had slept. When it woke up and saw Tian Fan still sitting there motionless, it fell asleep again.

Just like that, the little fellow woke up several times, but Tian Fan never showed the slightest intention of standing. Thick demonic energy coiled around him. Just when the little one couldn’t bear it anymore, the black cocoon of demonic energy shrouding Tian Fan slowly dissipated. He stood up quietly, two streaks of demonic light flashing in his eyes and vanishing instantly.

“Big Brother…”

The little one was overjoyed to see Tian Fan awake and leapt straight into his arms.

“Come on, let’s head back up.”

Tian Fan chuckled, rubbing the little fellow’s head. But as he turned, a faint trace of sorrow appeared on his face. The countless bones all around were painfully shocking. He bowed deeply in that direction, then strode away.

Suddenly, he turned again, looking toward the left. 

A few scattered skeletons lay there, and his brows furrowed at once. They weren’t corpses of demons, nor of immortals or gods. They resembled human remains, yet definitely weren’t. Strange energy flowed faintly through the bones.

An odd thought arose in him—that these skeletons didn’t seem to belong to this world at all. As he continued walking forward, broken bones littered the ground. Each step crushed them easily, brittle and fragile compared to the ones before, though still sharing similar features. The mystery puzzled him greatly.

Golden light flickered in his eyes as he examined the more complete skeletons. Shock soon appeared on his face. Having reached the Primordial Unity Realm, he could deliberately restore some things to their original form. But these remains resisted him—an enigmatic power interfered with his probing.

“Forget it. It’s time I left…”

At last, he stopped. His calm voice echoed faintly in the air as his white-clad figure vanished. Standing now at the edge of the Dark Abyss, he gazed downward. No longer was he affected—the black mists parted on their own, as if facing the supreme lord of the demon realm.

If anyone had seen this sight, they would likely have been scared half to death. Someone daring to stand on the very edge of the Dark Abyss and look down? Unimaginable.

He stood there quietly, staring deep into the abyss. In the end, he sighed softly and disappeared, leaving behind only a faint breeze tinged with sorrow.

“I’m hungry…”

On a forest path, Tian Fan walked silently, a faint smile on his lips. Perched drowsily on his head was the little violet-gold dragon, its head drooping.

Tian Fan was speechless. By conservative estimate, the little fellow’s strength surpassed even the Immortal Ascension Realm, making it a genuine little deity. And yet, here it was saying it was hungry.

“I’m hungry…”

The little one lowered its head, big watery eyes blinking at him pitifully. That look alone could melt the heart of any young maiden. Tian Fan could only surrender and head toward a nearby town with a tavern.

Inside a private room of a tavern, Tian Fan sat dumbfounded as the little fellow devoured whole roasted oxen and lambs, along with piles of spiritual meats he didn’t even recognize.

His head spun as he watched its two golden claws blur in the air, stuffing food into its mouth endlessly.

“Little one, can we stop eating now?” Tian Fan asked cautiously.

“I’m still growing!”

That was all the little dragon said before burying its head back into the feast. Tian Fan nearly cried. It wasn’t that he was stingy—it was that he suddenly realized something tragic. He didn’t have a single coin left. He had given everything he owned to that poor woodcutter last time.

“Ahh, so fragrant. Finally full…”

The little dragon stretched a golden claw and patted its round little belly contentedly. 

Tian Fan’s eyes widened. No matter how he looked, he couldn’t figure out where that mountain of food had gone. That belly, barely the size of an apple, couldn’t possibly hold it all.

And so, Tian Fan did something truly disgraceful. Just like that old fraud from the Great Sealing Sect back then, he cast his Shadow Escape technique and vanished from the tavern. Not long after he left, he heard furious roars echoing behind him.

He broke out in a cold sweat.

 A mighty Primordial Unity Realm expert, sneaking out without paying his meal—surely in the entire cultivation world, only he would stoop this low.

“Hurry up!”

Three cultivators rushed forward, all at the mid Spirit Condensation stage, two men and one young woman in yellow about twenty years old. Her anxious tone made Tian Fan curious, especially since he noticed not just these three, but many people ahead as well—all in a rush.

“Excuse me, young lady, may I ask what’s going on? Why is everyone in such a hurry?”

Tian Fan approached with a smile, cupping his fists in greeting.

“Who are you!?”

The two men immediately stepped forward, blocking the girl and glaring at him warily.

Tian Fan was speechless. He wasn’t handsome, true, but did he really look like a villain? He cupped his fists again, saying he was just a wandering cultivator, curious about their urgency.

“Don’t be so noisy! I’m still growing!”

The noise had woken the little dragon on Tian Fan’s head. It was very displeased.

“Wow, what a cute little snake!”

The yellow-clad girl finally noticed the violet-gold dragon. She snatched it up, rubbed it against her cheek, then hugged it tightly with stars sparkling in her eyes. 

The little one blinked drowsily, glancing at Tian Fan, then back at the girl, too confused to react. 

Tian Fan twitched his lips hard. 

A divine dragon… being called a little snake? Truly ridiculous.

“A great event has happened in the Northern Region—the Sword Immortal Sect is in huge trouble.”

The three clearly centered around the girl. Seeing her so happy with the “little snake,” and Tian Fan not seeming dangerous, they explained.

“No way. How could the Sword Immortal Sect have trouble?” Tian Fan was stunned. That was the number one force in the Divine Martial Realm. Who could possibly bring them trouble?

“You must be behind on news. The Northern Region is in chaos right now. The Sword Immortal Sect is overwhelmed.”

The yellow-clad girl raised her head, making Tian Fan even more puzzled. He asked again for details.

“Three months ago, the so-called Son of God of the Northern Region was thrown into the Dark Abyss by the Sword Immortal Sect. Supposedly, he had no real backing—just a former disciple of the Great Sealing Sect. But for some reason, the ancient martial Shangguan Clan was enraged. The entire Central Region shook as countless Shangguan scions soared into the skies, murderous intent surging, and stormed into the Northern Region through the great teleportation array. They actually declared war on the Sword Immortal Sect!”

“Oh no, let’s go! The great teleportation array of the Western Region is about to close. This is a rare chance—it’s usually never opened!”

The yellow-clad girl stomped her foot anxiously, clutching the little dragon with one hand and grabbing Tian Fan with the other, pulling him forward. The two men behind her were left dumbfounded, their eyes nearly popping out. Even Tian Fan himself was a little stunned.

Ahead, a sea of people gathered. 

A massive rune array shimmered faintly with light. 

Tian Fan’s pupils shrank. Such a teleportation gate was a grand project beyond imagination. The energy it required was unfathomable. No wonder it was rarely opened.

“Come on!”

The girl urged, and the four of them stepped into the ten-zhang-tall teleportation gate. Darkness swept over them before their vision cleared again. They found themselves standing atop a small mountain.

“Northern Region, I’ve returned once more…”

Tian Fan’s white robes fluttered gently as he whispered to himself, his voice tinged with sorrow, gazing into the distant horizon.