"Hiss—!" Everyone gasped.
The second bolt, the third, the fourth... each tribulation lightning stronger than the last, yet Dustin fought with growing ferocity! He faced the heavenly thunder with his physical body, each punch shattering the tribulation lightning. Thunder coiled around him as if the Thunder God himself had descended!
"His physical body... is being tempered by the tribulation, growing ever stronger!" Adam murmured.
"This is the true path of a powerhouse! Not avoiding heavenly tribulation, but facing it head-on!" Wonder flashed in Margaret's eyes.
The seventh bolt, the eighth, the ninth!
The final tribulation lightning was also the strongest—a purple-gold divine thunder, like a heaven-cleaving sword, crashed down from the nine heavens!
This strike's power was enough to annihilate everything!
Dustin roared toward the heavens, concentrating all his power into his right fist, and threw a punch!
The instant fist met lightning, heaven and earth fell silent, all color drained from the world!
A blinding light exploded, shockwaves sweeping in all directions, shaking the entire Buzhou Palace violently! Those too slow to escape were caught by the shockwaves, screaming as they were reduced to dust!
When the light faded, everyone looked on trembling—
Dustin stood proudly atop the ruins, bathed in blood yet still straight as a pine. Golden light flowed around him, emanating heart-stopping pressure.
And at his forehead, a golden mark faintly appeared—the symbol of a Spirit Transformation powerhouse!
"He... he succeeded!" Scarlet wept with joy.
Margaret also showed a relieved smile.
Just then, the grand voice spoke again:
"Congratulations on passing the final trial and obtaining the Buzhou Immortal's inheritance."
A golden light descended from the heavens, enveloping Dustin. Within the light, countless pieces of information flooded his mind—a complete cultivation technique called the "Buzhou Immortal Scripture," said to be the inheritance left by the Buzhou Immortal.
At the same time, another message came:
"The Buzhou Trial has ended. All survivors may freely descend the mountain."
Everyone cheered!
Outside Buzhou Palace, Qin Hao watched this scene with a grim expression. He never imagined his carefully laid plans would ultimately benefit someone else.
"Brother, what do we do?" Qin Xue asked quietly.
Qin Hao was silent for a long moment, finally saying: "Leave. Return to the Qin family."
"But the Spirit Transformation Pill..."
"Is gone." Qin Hao said coldly. "But this matter won't end here. Dustin, Margaret—I'll remember you."
He turned and disappeared into the night with Qin Xue.
Mark Montgomary lay severely wounded, watching all this with complex emotions in his eyes. He had fought with everything he had, only to end up like this. But he had no regrets—at least he had made a choice.
Ghost Shadow Elder had long since vanished. The Yu family remnants also fled in panic.
On Buzhou Mountain, only the survivors remained, along with... that figure standing proudly atop the ruins.
Dustin slowly descended, walking to Margaret and the others. Seeing them wounded yet still protecting him, warmth surged in his heart.
"Margaret, Scarlet, Adam, Qingxue, Wuhen... thank you."
Margaret smiled: "Why thank us? We're friends, aren't we?"
Scarlet couldn't help throwing herself into his arms, crying: "Brother Dustin, you scared me to death!"
Dustin gently patted her back, speaking softly: "It's alright. I'm back."
Bai Wuhen also stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Congratulations, Brother Dustin."
Bai Qingxue stood nearby. Though she said nothing, the relief and joy in her eyes said everything.
Dustin gazed toward Buzhou Mountain. This ancient peak had witnessed a heart-stopping trial, witnessed countless lives and deaths, and witnessed him—once a "mortal"—stepping back onto the path of cultivation.
"Let's go." He said softly. "Down the mountain."
Outside Buzhou Palace, Qin Hao was about to leave with Qin Xue when he suddenly stopped.
He turned back, gazing toward Buzhou Palace, complex emotions flickering in his eyes.
"Brother, are we really just leaving like this?" Qin Xue said unwillingly.
Qin Hao was silent for a moment, then said: "The Spirit Transformation Pill is lost. Staying would serve no purpose. Besides, that Dustin... is no simple man."
"What's so special about him?" Qin Xue pouted. "He just got lucky and snatched an opportunity."
Qin Hao shook his head: "It's not just luck. That power within him—I feel a strange familiarity. And to survive this long with sealed cultivation, to have so many people willing to risk their lives for him... this man is no ordinary person."
Qin Xue became thoughtful.
"Let's go." Qin Hao said. "Return to the Qin family and report everything to the Patriarch. Though Dustin has reached Spirit Transformation, our Qin family also has Spirit Transformation ancestors. This debt will be settled, sooner or later."
The two transformed into streaks of light and vanished into the horizon.
Meanwhile, Mark Montgomary was being carried away, also preparing to descend. His injuries were severe—had the Montgomary Palace guards not desperately protected him, he would have died in the chaos.
"Young Master, what... what do we do now?" A trusted aide asked quietly.
Mark smiled bitterly: "What can we do? Return and beg my foster father's forgiveness. This time, I was too greedy."
He gazed toward Buzhou Palace, complex emotions flickering in his eyes.
"Perhaps this is fate." He murmured.
Ghost Shadow Elder had long since vanished without a trace. The Yu family remnants fled in panic—their mid Golden Core man was dead, the remaining Foundation Establishment experts scattered like homeless dogs.
The independent cultivator alliance had completely collapsed. Several small clans suffered devastating losses. The Buzhou Mountain trial had killed countless people here, while a select few gained opportunities.
And the greatest opportunity had fallen into Dustin's hands.
Several days later, at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
Dustin's group finally set foot on level ground. Looking back, that heaven-reaching mountain still stood tall, but the golden barrier that had covered its base had vanished. Everyone could leave freely.
"Finally... we're out." Scarlet let out a long breath, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Margaret was also exhausted but still held herself straight. She gazed into the distance—toward the new capital.
"Let's go. Time to head back."
Dustin nodded. He turned and bowed deeply toward Buzhou Mountain.
"Thank you, senior, for this opportunity."
The mountain gave no response, only the howling wind.
Everyone turned and began their journey home.
In the distance, in the direction of the new capital, someone was waiting for him.
– Marinien
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