He sighed deeply in his heart. Su Chen had already guessed this would be the outcome, but without the Dragon Saliva Pill, Bai Li wouldn't be able to hold on.
He refused to give up. Su Chen bowed to Dean Lan, saying, "Dean Lan, besides using points, how can I obtain the Dragon Saliva Pill?"
"I must have the Dragon Saliva Pill."
The word "must" was spoken with great weight, indicating Su Chen's resolve.
Lan Shang stared at the young man before him and finally nodded, saying, "There is a way. You can obtain the Dragon Saliva Pill without points, and you'll have unrestricted access to the Martial Pavilion, Artifact Pavilion, and Pill Pavilion. You can choose anything you like from them."
"Dean Lan, please tell me."
Without any hint of joy, Su Chen understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch. If he could get the Dragon Saliva Pill and choose anything he wanted, things certainly wouldn't be that simple.
Chapter 38: Tribulation Valley, Tribulation Roars
Lan Shang smiled and said, "To the northeast of the academy, there is a place called the Tribulation Valley. Its unique environment generates tribulations, and any martial artist can use points to enter the Tribulation Valley for cultivation."
This was the first time Su Chen had heard of the Tribulation Valley.
"The Tribulation Valley is extremely dangerous. Even students from the Imperial Ace Class, including teachers, can only cultivate in the outer regions of the valley and cannot enter the central area."
"In the very center of the Tribulation Valley, there is a Tribulation Ladder. According to legend, the Tribulation Ladder has ninety-nine steps, and each step contains the terrifying might of heavenly tribulations. As long as you can reach the ninety-ninth step, I will make an exception and give you a Dragon Saliva Pill. Furthermore, you can visit the Martial Pavilion, Pill Pavilion, and Artifact Pavilion to choose one item from each."
"Understood."
Su Chen turned and left. He could tell from Lan Shang's words how difficult it would be to reach the summit of the Tribulation Ladder.
However, he had no other choice. He couldn't just watch his friend die without doing anything.
He couldn't.
"I want to tell you that since the Eastern Desolation Academy was founded, only the First Dean discovered the Tribulation Valley and was the first to ascend to the summit of the Tribulation Ladder. Besides him, no one has been able to reach the summit in ten thousand years."
Watching the disappearing figure, the smile on Lan Shang's face gradually faded.
"I hope you can reach the summit of the Tribulation Ladder to make up for the lost opportunity of the Imperial Bone. This is all I can do for you."
"Brother Su, your son is very outstanding. I will watch over him well."
A sigh, slowly sounded.
Leaving the Dean's office, Su Chen headed directly northeast. Since he had decided to help Bai Li, he had to try any method that might work.
The Tribulation Valley is located in the deepest part of the northeast of the academy and is one of the forbidden areas. Only academy students and teachers, including the Vice Dean, can enter.
Each entry into the Tribulation Valley requires 1000 points. After redemption, one can stay in the valley indefinitely. The academy is not responsible for whether one lives or dies.
The Tribulation Valley is very dangerous. With the slightest carelessness, one could perish under the heavenly tribulations.
Because of this.
Although the Tribulation Valley is one of the academy's sacred grounds for cultivation, not many students dare to enter it. Even those who do only cultivate in the outer areas.
When Su Chen arrived, only a few dozen people were processing their point redemptions.
"Student, do you also want to enter the Tribulation Valley?"
Su Chen chose to ignore them directly.
Su Chen was in a hurry because Bai Li could die at any moment, and he couldn't waste any time. He walked straight to the entrance and handed his identity jade token to the teacher.
The teacher frowned slightly but didn't say much, processing Su Chen's entry into the Tribulation Valley.
As soon as he stepped into the Tribulation Valley.
A terrifying aura of heavenly tribulation surged towards him. Su Chen looked at the so-called heavenly tribulation before him and was somewhat stunned.
Thunderclouds covered the entire valley, and countless bolts of lightning raged, fiercely tearing through every inch of space. The thunderous roars made one's eardrums tremble.
Strong winds howled, and lightning raged.
This was the Tribulation Valley. Although it was not the actual descent of a heavenly tribulation, the special heavenly tribulation accumulated over ten thousand years was not to be underestimated.
Feeling the terrifying lightning aura relentlessly eroding him, Su Chen knew clearly that the outer regions of the Tribulation Valley were indeed a sacred ground for cultivation, where danger and opportunity coexisted, bringing unexpected benefits.
Without hesitation, Su Chen walked towards the depths of the Tribulation Valley. After all, according to the Dean, the Tribulation Ladder was hidden in the very center of the Tribulation Valley.
Outer Deep Region.
Just as Su Chen was about to venture further.
"Junior student, moving further will take you into the depths of the Tribulation Valley. The heavenly tribulations there can instantly devour Nascent Soul Realm martial artists."
He turned to look at the woman. Her ink-black hair, phoenix-like eyebrows resembling the moon, a high-bridged nose paired with cherry lips, and skin as delicate as snow – she was truly beautiful.
'Ji Youxi?'
From the woman's profile, Su Chen vaguely recognized a figure – his fiancée, Princess Ji Youxi of the Panding Dynasty.
They were childhood sweethearts. Because his father was known as the strongest in the Eastern Desolation, the royal family repeatedly approached the Su family, seeking an arranged marriage.
Now, times had changed. Because he had his Bloodline crippled by Su Hao and his father became a living dead, the royal family wished to annul the engagement.
He still held the marriage contract. In Su Chen's view, if the engagement was to be broken, it would be he who divorced Ji Youxi, not Ji Youxi who ended the engagement.
"Are you Princess Ji Youxi of the Panding Dynasty?"
Nodding, Ji Youxi didn't think much of it. Many people recognized her at the Eastern Desolation Academy, though she didn't recognize them.
She had entered the academy ten years ago and even became a disciple of the Vice Dean. Her status, talent, and beauty ranked in the top three of the academy, and she had too many suitors.
It was indeed her.
Su Chen had only guessed because the woman strongly resembled the figure in his memory, but he hadn't expected it to be Ji Youxi.
He felt no good feelings towards her. Once he dealt with Su Hao, he would settle the matter of their engagement with Ji Youxi.
Looking at the young man who was cold and ignored her, Ji Youxi's brows furrowed. She seemed surprised that this person would be so unappreciative, as she was only kindly reminding him.
"Serves you right for dying."
She closed her eyes again. Ji Youxi was attempting to break through to the eighth level of the Golden Core Realm. When she saw junior students, she couldn't help but remind them, because she knew very well the danger of taking that next step.
The outer areas of the Tribulation Valley were already terrifying. Even she had to be extremely careful, lest she perish under the heavenly tribulation. Once one stepped into the depths of the Tribulation Valley, even the academy teachers might not be able to emerge unscathed.
For this reason, very few students dared to venture into the depths of the Tribulation Valley, including those from the Imperial Ace Class.
This person was clearly not from the Imperial Ace Class or the Ace Class. Arrogance and confidence had to be paid for.
*Rumble!*
In the depths of the Tribulation Valley, lightning like water snakes raged everywhere, fiercely colliding with space, turning into an endless tsunami that suppressed everything.
The thunder grew louder, fiercely crashing towards Su Chen. The surrounding space began to tremble violently. Even Su Chen dared not be careless.
He immediately circulated the Primal God-Demon Art and the Chaos Devouring Technique. Streams of God-Demon Qi formed a protective shield around his body. To ensure no mistakes, Su Chen even used the Chaos Devouring Technique to absorb the might of the heavenly tribulation around him.
'If you want to destroy me, I will devour you.'
Su Chen also had a bold idea: to devour the heavenly tribulation to break through his own limits. This would be risky. Would anyone else dare to do this? Probably not even dare to think about it, but he dared to do it.
The terrifying rolling lightning surged continuously, carrying the pressure of heavenly tribulations, making Su Chen feel suffocated.
His face was filled with solemnity. Su Chen did not dare to be careless at all, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to it. There could be no unexpected events, otherwise, he would not only be unable to save Bai Li but would also lose his own life.
He took out the Tomb Tribulation Brush. This treasure could also provoke heavenly tribulations, but he couldn't use its true power yet.
At the fastest speed, he began to draw around him, forming a massive vortex. In the center of the vortex, he avoided the surging lightning.
Step by step, he walked towards the Tribulation Ladder, using the Chaos Devouring Technique to continuously devour the power of the heavenly tribulation, quickly forming a vortex within his body that enveloped the Virtual Core. He instantly broke through his limit, advancing from the third level of the Virtual Core Realm to the fourth level, stabilizing at the peak of the fourth level.
The thunder roared, and the heavenly tribulation raged. Su Chen walked step by step with the Tomb Tribulation Brush, each step being extremely difficult. However, Su Chen's face was filled with surprise and anticipation. Cultivating under such pressure and devouring was absolutely beneficial for his breakthrough.
After walking several hundred steps, a purple-black step gradually came into view.
This was the Tribulation Ladder, with a total of ninety-nine steps. According to Dean Lan, in the past ten thousand years, only the First Dean of the Eastern Desolation Academy had reached the summit of the Tribulation Ladder; no one else had.
Lightning flashed and raged everywhere, violently attacking each step. The dense lightning made everyone retreat.
Chapter 39: Why not find someone else?
He continued to draw with the Tomb Tribulation Brush around him.
The Primal God-Demon Art and Chaos Devouring Technique circulating within his body layered upon each other, covering his entire body.
The Tribulation Ladder had ninety-nine steps. The left and right sides of each step were invisible, all covered by lightning. From afar, only the first step could be seen, and not even the second, let alone the subsequent ones.
Without hesitation, Bai Li's injuries were too severe. He had to reach the summit of the Tribulation Ladder as quickly as possible to obtain the Dragon Saliva Pill.
The moment he stepped onto the first step.
A vast and domineering aura of lightning fiercely struck him, like sharp knives, constantly reaping. He almost retreated.
Enveloped by lightning, his body was torn apart. Su Chen gritted his teeth and persisted. He knew very well that the initial steps of the Tribulation Ladder would certainly be the easiest.
Holding the Tomb Tribulation Brush, he immediately drew its power to form a vortex.
Su Chen took a step forward, like a leopard, and began to quickly move towards the second step.
His body was in excruciating pain. Su Chen knew he couldn't keep devouring indefinitely; his body simply couldn't withstand it. He could only proceed step by step, using the Tomb Tribulation Brush to divert the lightning.
In just two hours, Su Chen had climbed thirty-three steps consecutively. Most of the credit for this undoubtedly belonged to the Tomb Tribulation Brush.
Without the Tomb Tribulation Brush, Su Chen probably wouldn't have been able to climb even ten steps. The pressure of the Tribulation Ladder was too terrifying; even someone in the Soul Palace Realm might not be able to reach this point.
"Huh? Someone's here."
He saw a woman lying on the ground not far away, covered in bloody wounds, in a semi-comatose state.
Su Chen couldn't just leave her to die. Anyone who could reach this point must have extraordinary strength. A student wouldn't be able to, so it was likely a teacher from the academy.
He took a step forward. Just as the woman was about to be swallowed by the lightning, Su Chen's Tomb Tribulation Brush quickly drew out, and the surging power diverted the lightning, saving the woman.
Looking at the pale woman, Su Chen's eyes focused. What a beautiful woman. Among all the women he had seen, only Luo Tianfei could rival her.
Her exquisite face was flawless, especially her eyes, which captivated anyone who looked at them. Every smile and frown could charm the world.
"Thank you for your help."
"Are you a teacher at the academy?"
Yan Meimei's eyes immediately sharpened. She seemed surprised that the other party didn't recognize her. Nodding, she said, "My name is Yan Meimei. I am a teacher for both the Ace Class and the Imperial Ace Class at the academy."
Nodding, Su Chen said, "I still need to climb more steps. And you?"
Su Chen could almost guarantee that with Yan Meimei's current severe injuries, let alone climbing further, whether she could even leave the Tribulation Ladder safely was uncertain.
He couldn't just watch Yan Meimei die here.
"If you stay by my side for an hour, I can recover most of my injuries."
"Alright."
He immediately sat cross-legged. Su Chen didn't waste time either, beginning to use the Chaos Devouring Technique to devour the surrounding heavenly tribulations, turning them into his own power.
With the power from the Tomb Tribulation Brush covering him, the heavenly tribulation couldn't get close, which was Su Chen's greatest reliance and confidence.
Yan Meimei's eyes were somewhat dazed. She really didn't expect this student to be so indifferent, ignoring her beauty. She shook her head helplessly, realizing that not all men were lecherous.
Not wasting time, she only had one hour to recover her injuries before she could safely leave the steps. Her trip to the Tribulation Valley had been quite rewarding, as her cultivation had finally broken through to the peak Heaven Soul Realm, just one step away from the Spirit Condensation Realm.
The Soul Palace Realm is divided into Human Soul Realm, Earth Soul Realm, and Heaven Soul Realm.
Yan Meimei was at the ninth level of the Heaven Soul Realm. She came to the Tribulation Valley to cultivate, hoping to break through to the peak Heaven Soul Realm, and also to see how many steps she could climb. Thirty-three steps were her limit. If this person hadn't appeared in time, she would likely have been devoured by the heavenly tribulation by now. Thinking about it now, she still felt a lingering fear.
After an hour of devouring, refining, and integrating, Su Chen broke through to the fourth level of the Virtual Core Realm and then successfully advanced to the fifth level of the Virtual Core Realm.
He was somewhat dazed, but Su Chen also understood how powerful his Chaos Devouring Technique was, especially with the superposition of the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Formula and the Primal God-Demon Art. He possessed a uniquely favorable opportunity.
*Pfft!*
A mouthful of blood spurted out. The Bloodline Wheel condensed above Yan Meimei's head actually showed traces of cracks, and a fox phantom appeared, looking flustered.
"Bloodline Bewitching Fox."
Su Chen was also surprised by the Bloodline Wheel Yan Meimei possessed. The Bloodline Bewitching Fox was a bewitching bloodline. When cultivated to a high level, a single glance could make an enemy's mind reel and even drive them to suicide or madness.
The Bewitching Fox was not a top-tier bloodline but was considered a very special one.
Havenly tribulations were the nemesis of the Bewitching Fox. Su Chen felt speechless. If Yan Meimei hadn't released her bloodline, everything would have been fine. He believed that with his Tomb Tribulation Brush, Yan Meimei could have recovered her injuries and left the steps safely.
Now, the situation had completely changed.
The surging heavenly tribulation continued to pour in, fiercely bombarding Yan Meimei. Even with the Tomb Tribulation Brush, the cracks on Yan Meimei's bloodline became more numerous.
If this continued, Yan Meimei wouldn't be able to leave the steps, and might even perish on the spot.
Su Chen noticed that Yan Meimei's eyes had a seductive look that no man could resist. That charm likely originated from the Bloodline Bewitching Fox.
Not this again?
He had already lost his first time to Luo Tianfei's forceful advance. He didn't want to go through it a second time.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"Speak."
"My Bloodline Bewitching Fox is being suppressed by the heavenly tribulation and has developed cracks. The Bewitching Fox cannot suppress itself and can only seek another half to merge with. Only by sharing a room can we prevent my bloodline from shattering."
If there were any other way, Yan Meimei wouldn't have said this. She was known as the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Desolation Academy, at the peak of the Heaven Soul Realm, just one step away from the Spirit Condensation Realm, and she had maintained her virginity.
She certainly wouldn't want to do this under such circumstances, but facing life and death, she couldn't remain calm. Should she just perish like this?
There was no other way. There was only this young man here. Regardless of whether she was willing, she had to choose him. Fortunately, the young man was quite handsome and not lecherous.
His brows furrowed tightly. Su Chen felt speechless. Why did he keep encountering such things? He had already been forcefully taken by Luo Tianfei, and now Yan Meimei was here.
He was just climbing a Tribulation Ladder, and he encountered such a situation.
"Why not find someone else?"
"Bullshit! If I could find someone else, would I need you? I, Yan Meimei, am the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Desolation Academy, am I not good enough for you?"
The Tomb Tribulation Brush in his hand kept drawing around him. He knew the current situation. If Yan Meimei really decided to force herself on him, he wouldn't be able to resist.
Yan Meimei's cultivation was already much higher than his, coupled with the special environment here, he was truly facing a tragedy, being forcefully taken for the second time.
"Yan Meimei promises that after this is over, I will give you the greatest reward."
Seeing Yan Meimei's eyes becoming increasingly strange, Su Chen finally chose to compromise. As the saying goes, saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. He couldn't just watch Yan Meimei's bloodline shatter and refuse to help.
The Tomb Tribulation Brush in his hand, covered by God-Demon Qi, began to draw on its own. Su Chen slowly walked towards Yan Meimei.
At this moment.
Hue flooded Yan Meimei's face, like a ripe red apple.
Chapter 40: Just Half a Step Away
The Bloodline Wheel had cracks and urgently needed to merge to solve the problem.
The Bloodline Wheel of Yan Meimei was very special. Once the Bloodline Bewitching Fox was suppressed by heavenly tribulation, it required a male and female union to resolve the fox's crisis.
This battle lasted for three full hours.
A clear fox cry and a phoenix cry resounded throughout the Tribulation Ladder.
Feeling the cultivation in his body, it had broken through three levels consecutively, from the fifth level of the Virtual Core Realm to the eighth level of the Virtual Core Realm. Su Chen was completely stunned.
He hadn't expected that after just being united with Yan Meimei, the Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Formula within him would automatically circulate and perfectly fuse with the secret technique performed by Yan Meimei's Bewitching Fox.
Not only Su Chen, but Yan Meimei's cultivation also increased by three levels, directly advancing from the peak Heaven Soul Realm to the third level of the Form Spirit Realm.
The Spirit Condensation Realm is divided into Form Spirit Realm, Spirit Refining Realm, and Spirit Condensation Realm.
"This is unbelievable."
He smiled wryly. She still couldn't believe that she and the other party had simultaneously advanced by three levels. Just now, she seemed to have heard a phoenix cry from this person.
"I still don't know your name."
"Junior Class 22, Su Chen."
"The worst beginner class?"
Hearing that Su Chen came from the worst beginner class, Yan Meimei was very surprised. After thinking for a moment, she said, "If you want to enter the Ace Class, I can arrange it."
"No need, I'm doing great in the beginner class."
"You're going to continue?"