Under one person: I, Zhang Zhiwei, the arrogant Zhang.

The two collided, unleashing a series of explosions.

Then, everyone watched in disbelief as the towering fire tornado rapidly crumbled.

The dark lightning and the raging fire collided incessantly, creating a deafening, continuous thunderstorm. The explosions sent countless sparks flying in all directions, scalding the ground and creating large, reddish craters wherever they landed.

The tragic scene of the disciples using golden light to block the flames was still vivid in everyone's mind, so no one dared to step forward to stop them and retreated to watch from a distance.

Zhang Zhiwei is no longer visible; all that can be seen is the clash between the Yin Lightning and the Calamity Fire.

In an instant, fiery clouds surged and lightning flashed, the aftershocks of the battle falling into the mountains and causing the fire to rage even higher.

The onlookers on the ground were stunned and somewhat bewildered; this tribulation seemed a bit too intense.

"Where's Senior Brother Zhang? Why can't I see him all of a sudden? Is he in any danger?" a young-looking Taoist priest asked with a worried expression.

The young Taoist priest was only ordained in recent years and entered the Celestial Master's Mansion; his qualifications are still relatively shallow.

In recent years, Zhang Zhiwei has mostly been in seclusion, rarely using his great supernatural powers. When he does teach, he compresses his own cultivation to a level similar to that of his fellow disciples.

This leads to many young Taoist priests only knowing that he is very strong and a legendary figure in the martial arts world, but having no real concept of just how strong he is.

This tribulation was particularly fierce, causing the young Taoist priests to worry.

In addition, he is not only powerful but also unpretentious, very approachable, generous, and highly respected. They certainly don't want anything to happen to such a good person during the tribulation.

This group of young Taoist priests can be considered to have caught the last train of this generation of disciples.

Later on, it will be Zhang Zhiwei, Zhang Huaiyi, Tian Jinzhong and their generation that will formally accept disciples. These young Taoists who have only been practicing for a few years will probably be promoted to junior uncles.

At this moment, a more senior Taoist priest said:

"Senior Brother Zhiwei is inside that black mud-like thundercloud. You haven't been practicing for long, so you may not have seen it before. This black mud-like thundercloud is the realm that can only be reached when our Longhu Mountain's ultimate martial art, 'Yin Five Thunders,' is cultivated to a high level. It is called 'Northern Azure Pool'!"

The young Taoist priest looked enlightened and exclaimed, "So this is the Northern Azure Pool! Its area is indeed like a pool of water."

"..." The old Taoist opened his mouth but didn't say that this was the Northern Cangtan level of Senior Brother Zhang's skill. If it were any other high-level cultivator, it would be remarkable if they could achieve even one-fifth of his level.

Even Zhang Shoucheng, who had deeply studied Yin Wu Lei, sighed:

"To be honest, this is the first time I've ever seen such a large Northern Lake."

Even though he had been cultivating Yin Five Thunder for decades, the size of the Northern Cangtan was not even half that of Zhang Zhiwei.

Zhang Yi said, "This kid's Yin Five Thunder is exaggerated, and his Yang Five Thunder is even more exaggerated. It can't be judged by ordinary standards. Speaking of which, isn't this kid supposed to be working on a Yin-Yang unified Purple Mansion Divine Thunder? Why doesn't he use it and instead chooses to settle for the second best by using Yin Five Thunder?"

"Ah, you've hit the nail on the head!" Zhang Shoucheng also realized what was going on and asked in confusion, "Why didn't he use the more powerful Purple Mansion Divine Thunder? Is he still hiding his strength even though he's already undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation?"

"Hiding his talents?" Zhang Jingqing said, "This kid is very aggressive, unlike your conservative approach. He has his own reasons for doing this!"

"Reason?" Zhang Shoucheng asked. "What reason?"

Zhang Jingqing paused for a moment and then explained, "Although the Purple Mansion Divine Thunder is a thunder technique that combines Yin and Yang, it takes into account the unparalleled power of the Yang Five Thunders and the bone-sucking and marrow-draining nature of the Yin Five Thunders. Its attack is strong, long-lasting, and has a wide range... It is no exaggeration to say that it is sufficient to deal with any situation."

"But sometimes, in a duel, it's not always better to use the most powerful spells. A head-on collision is not always advisable. You should pay attention to the relationship of mutual generation and restraint."

"The Heavenly Tribulation is a great force of heaven and earth, almost inexhaustible. To confront it head-on would not only consume a lot of one's own energy, but the aftershocks from the intense collision could also cause the fire to spread and even burn down the entire mountain. This would undoubtedly be an unwise choice."

"But Yin Five Thunder is different. Although the power of Yin Five Thunder is far less than that of Purple Mansion Divine Thunder, it is Yin in nature, damp and cold, thick and turbid, which perfectly restrains the extremely explosive tribulation fire, making it more effective than Purple Mansion Divine Thunder."

“Look closely, with each collision, the Northern Azure Pool grows stronger, and the Calamity Fire weakens.”

"Moreover, only a few scattered fires fell, which at most turned the area below into scorched earth and would not spread to other parts of the back mountain."

"Judging from this, this heavenly tribulation should end in the time it takes for one or two incense sticks to burn."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi exclaimed, "So there's quite a bit of intricacies involved here. Zhiwei looks simple-minded and all brawn and no brains, but I didn't expect him to be so clever!"

Zhang Jingqing said, "This kid has always been clever, especially in self-defense techniques. There are many things that others can't figure out even after decades, but he can see through them at a glance and learn them in no time."

"However, precisely because his protective measures are so strong, he tends to solve problems directly, which makes him seem somewhat reckless. After all, most things in this world can be solved with strength!"

"Alright, alright, senior brother, take a break. Don't act all innocent after getting the benefit. If Zhiwei hears this, he'll definitely say you're doing *that* kind of thing again," Zhang Yi said irritably.

Zhang Jingqing didn't speak, but just glanced at Zhang Yi sideways. These things are better left unsaid; it's better to keep them to yourself.

At this moment, Zhang Jingqing's junior brother, Zhang Yushan, suddenly said:
"So we're just going to wait here for Zhang Zhiwei's tribulation to end? Should we make some arrangements to welcome him back?"

Zhang Jingqing glanced at him dismissively. What kind of talk was that? Was she his lackey? Was she supposed to throw him a welcome dinner?!
This remark also angered Yi Qian, who had a fiery temper and couldn't help but retort:
"What are you going to set up? Are you going to put up a banner to congratulate Zhang Zhiwei on successfully overcoming his tribulation, saying that Zhang Zhiwei is all-powerful and has boundless magical abilities?"

Zhang Yushan quickly waved his hand and said, "Senior Brother Yi Qian, that's not what I meant. That's a bit of an exaggeration!"

“Then take a look behind you,” Yi Qian said.

Zhang Yushan turned his head and saw that Lu Ci, Tian Jinzhong and others behind him were holding up a large gilded banner with several large characters written on it in a vigorous and unrestrained style: "Welcome Senior Brother Zhang to successfully overcome the tribulation! Senior Brother Zhang has great supernatural powers and unparalleled magic power!"

"..." Zhang Yushan was speechless.

Yi Qian continued, "Those are just tricks for children. Yu Shan, you are an elder, you should act like one. Look at the way you looked when you mentioned that suggestion, where was the demeanor of an elder?"

Yi Qian was the most serious one among their generation, and Zhang Yushan was the junior brother. He had been scolded a lot since childhood and was always left speechless.

Zhang Yushan didn't argue with Yi Qian, but he thought to himself, "It's easy for him to talk when he's not in the same boat. The difference in strength is so great, even he, as an elder, can't stand up for himself!"
Am I supposed to put on airs in front of him? What if he slaps me across the face and brings me back to my senses?
Zhang Yushan was different from the other older generation. The other older generation had never faced Zhang Zhiwei directly, and all they witnessed Zhang Zhiwei's strength indirectly.

But he was different. During the legal professional qualification examination, he had genuinely faced off against Zhang Zhiwei, almost to the point of a physical confrontation. The psychological pressure he felt was something he could never bring himself to adopt in front of Zhang Zhiwei. But then, Zhang Yi stepped in to support him:

"Yi Qian, you old fool, you're all talk and no action, why are you getting so worked up? I think Yu Shan's point is right, what's wrong with us elders showing concern for the younger generation?"

"Yu Shan, go to the alchemy room and get some pills. The tribulation consumes a lot of energy, so give Zhiwei some to replenish his strength. Also, go and inform the dining hall to prepare a better meal today. Zhiwei is overcoming the fire tribulation, so we should celebrate and have a good meal. Just... just do it at the usual double standard."

Zhang Jingqing suddenly said, "Double the standard is too low. Let's do it according to my standard!"

Zhang Yushan asked with some surprise, "Is everyone up to the standard of a Celestial Master?"

“Yes, everyone!” Zhang Jingqing nodded.

“Yes, senior brother, I understand. We’ll have to splurge a little!” Zhang Yushan said.

"It's not too extravagant, and it's even better than what that kid, Bu Dezhiwei, ate when he went down the mountain to train!" Zhang Jingqing said.

That is indeed the truth. The so-called standard meal for the Celestial Master actually consists of three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes.

Such a standard would be excellent for an ordinary family, and even for a small landlord's family it would be considered quite good.

However, the Celestial Master's Mansion possesses tens of thousands of acres of fertile land. If it were a large landowner of the same scale, even the servants would eat better than Zhang Jingqing.

"Yushan, why aren't you going yet?" Zhang Yi asked, seeing that Zhang Yushan wasn't moving.

Zhang Yushan said, "I'll go after I've finished observing the Heavenly Tribulation. Besides, there's no point in me going now, since the people from the alchemy room and the vegetarian hall are right here!"

"They're all here?" Zhang Yi turned around and took a closer look. Good heavens, not only were the people from the alchemy room and the dining hall present, but even the Taoist priests from Zhengyi Temple who were in charge of receiving pilgrims had gathered here.

These people formed a large circle around Zhang Zhiwei's tribulation point. His attention was entirely on Zhang Zhiwei, which is why he hadn't noticed them.

"They've all arrived, which means there's not even anyone to receive the worshippers today? Yi Qian, what kind of work are you doing?" Zhang Yi said.

Yi Qian glanced at him sideways and said, "Knowing that this kid is about to undergo tribulation, my senior brother asked me to make arrangements in advance. We'll be closing the mountain for the day today. Do you have any objections?"

“Since it was my senior brother who suggested it, I naturally have no objections!” Zhang Yi said.

"uh-huh!"

Zhang Jingqing coughed and said, "Zhiwei's tribulation has caused too much commotion. With so many pilgrims coming up the mountain, it's easy for things to go wrong. It would be better to close the mountain for a day."

The reason for doing this is that Zhang Zhiwei has indeed made a lot of noise these past few times, especially the ball lightning experiment, which caused such a huge commotion that even after several years, the legend is still circulating.

As everyone was talking, a tremendous change occurred in the sky.

The vast abyss in the northern border grew ever larger, and black lightning engulfed the calamity fire. Amidst explosions that seemed to strike the heart like bells and drums, the calamity clouds connecting heaven and earth instantly collapsed and dissipated.

The celestial fire came quickly and went quickly; in just an instant, a gale, an explosion, and the celestial fire vanished.

Only the vast northern lake remained, stretching across the sky.

In the vast northern pool, the "Imperial Preceptor" was enormous, his body enveloped in blazing white lightning, roaring to the sky, displaying his ferocious power alone.

Hearing its roar, the old Taoist priest was alright, but the young Taoist priests, even though they knew it was their senior brother's inner demon, were still so frightened that their legs trembled and their faces turned pale.

"This thing is kind of creepy!" Zhang Yi muttered.

“It’s normal to feel uneasy, after all, it’s an inner demon, not a good character to deal with. It’s just that Zhiwei has suppressed it too much, so you think it’s harmless!” Zhang Jingqing said with a frown.

This monkey is so ferocious, what should Zhang Zhiwei do?
Just as Zhang Yushan thought this, he saw the Northern Cangtan begin to churn, and a thick, black, silty substance shot into the sky, transforming into a pitch-black face that swallowed the "National Preceptor" who was roaring to the heavens in one gulp.

Zhang Yushan: "…………"

Good heavens, this is a hundred times more ferocious than the inner demon! And with such behavior, who is more like the inner demon...? Looking at the huge face stretching across the sky, Zhang Yushan couldn't help but shudder, feeling that Zhang Zhiwei was even more terrifying.

Upon seeing this scene, Zhang Jingqing, Zhang Yi, and the others were surprised, but they also suddenly understood why this inner demon called Zhang Zhiwei "Big-Faced Thief"—his face was indeed very large.

The giant black face didn't last long. With a thought, Zhang Zhiwei felt the deep black color recede and surge towards his body from all directions.

During this process, Zhang Zhiwei used his dual-wielding technique to recover himself.

Although he handled this tribulation with ease, some damage was inevitable in the tempering of life force, and now his whole body was charred black, like a burnt corpse.

However, it only looks scary; in reality, it's all just superficial injuries. The most important foundation of life has not only remained undamaged but has become increasingly resilient.

Under the influence of the Dual-Hand Technique, his body glowed red, his charred skin peeled off, revealing a golden-yellow jade-like complexion, and his jet-black hair grew back. He then took out a brand-new Taoist robe from his spatial storage and put it on.

At this moment, he absorbed the entire Northern Azure Pool into his body and slowly descended from the sky.

After the calamity of the fire subsided, the raging flames on the ground also disappeared, and he fell onto the scorched earth.

The disciples rushed over, and some of the more mischievous junior brothers even shouted slogans like "Welcome Senior Brother Zhang to successfully overcome his tribulation! Senior Brother Zhang is all-powerful and has boundless magical abilities!"

Zhang Zhiwei's lips twitched as he looked at the banners they were holding, which proclaimed their immense supernatural powers and boundless magic.

He suddenly regretted using the Dual Hands technique to recover himself in mid-air. He should have come down as a charred corpse. How could he face anyone like this?
"Stop right there! What idiot came up with this idea?"

He pointed at the banner, looking disgusted.

The banner was quite well-made, but the slogan reminded him of the Starry Night Monster, and he just couldn't relate to it.

(End of this chapter)