C12 King the Benevolent Had Broken Through Again!

King the Benevolent!

The stalwart pillar of the Vrabouton Empire.

In his youth, he led his troops to battle on all fronts.

He vanquished the Wildlings of the south, ensuring they dared not encroach upon Vrabouton soil.

He crushed the Evilkind of the Far North, setting their power back by a decade.

Truly, he stood as the unrivaled champion of Vrabouton.

Soong Wang had not anticipated that King the Benevolent, though idle at home, would emerge at a pivotal moment to lend his might to the Empire.

His swift and decisive execution of Yao Tiankui outside the imperial mausoleum had bolstered the pride of both the Vrabouton Royal Family and its citizens.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The State Preceptor, elated, quickly assented and, with Soong Wang's retinue and guards in tow, made haste toward the sacred grounds where King the Benevolent was in meditative seclusion.

Meanwhile, the news rippled through Newcliff, sending waves of elation among the Vrabouton populace.

"True to his reputation as Vrabouton's foremost hero, King the Benevolent has once again turned the tide with his unyielding blade."

"With King the Benevolent's wisdom and valor guiding us, our Empire's foundations are secure for centuries to come."

"King the Benevolent's defeat of Yao Tiankui has avenged Vrabouton's honor. His deeds will be eternally etched in our hearts."

In an instant, King the Benevolent's prestige soared to new heights.

Yet, unbeknownst to all, it was not King the Benevolent who had slain Yao Tiankui, but Soong Lin, the sentinel of the imperial mausoleum.

Silence fell as Soong Wang, accompanied by the State Preceptor and their entourage, arrived at the secluded sanctuary, only to find the protective array still active.

The once pristine ground outside was now a tapestry of overgrown weeds and thick dust—a clear sign of long abandonment.

"Could it be... King the Benevolent has yet to emerge from his seclusion?"

Soong Wang's expression shifted with concern.

The State Preceptor's brow furrowed in kind.

After a brief pause, he burst into laughter and said, "Your Majesty, perhaps you're unaware that a formidable being like King the Benevolent doesn't tread the earth like common folk—he travels on the wind. Despite the dust and overgrown weeds here, the fact that the formation is active and the spiritual energy within the sacred area is rich indicates that King the Benevolent is still present. Even if he has emerged, we would be none the wiser."

Soong Wang had an epiphany!

"Truly, you are the State Preceptor of Vrabouton, attuned to King the Benevolent's mindset!" he said with a light chuckle.

After a moment, he continued, "Since King the Benevolent prefers solitude, we shall respect his wishes and not intrude. Let him pursue his meditative breakthrough undisturbed. Should a Nascent Infant cultivator arise within our Vrabouton Empire, even the Demon Emperor would have to weigh his options carefully."

With these words, Soong Wang's retinue and protectors all made their way back to the palace. Nonetheless, the news of King the Benevolent's intervention continued to ripple through the capital. The families of the fallen warriors from the arenas outside Newcliff regarded King the Benevolent as their savior.

Su Lang and his daughter received Soong Wang's bounty. Su Lang was elevated to Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards. Despite his disability preventing him from taking his post with the guards, his access to cultivation resources and benefits saw a significant increase.

As for Su Yingying, Soong Wang bestowed no official title upon her. However, he granted her access to the royal cultivation grounds and arranged for an imperial cultivator to mentor her practice.

Soong Lin paid little mind to these developments. He remained in the imperial mausoleum of Vrabouton, diligently checking in daily. The Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures he acquired grew in abundance, and his realm soared with the aid of various spirit pills and wondrous medicines.

One day, a formidable aura burst forth from the imperial mausoleum, piercing the heavens. Dark clouds swiftly enveloped the skies above Newcliff, with ominous black clouds laced with golden lightning converging overhead. The intensity of this phenomenon far surpassed any before it. Witnessing this from the palace, where he managed the state affairs of Vrabouton, Soong Wang was taken aback by the sight.

"State Preceptor, who is wreaking havoc in our Vrabouton Empire? Seize them at once and bring them to justice!"

The State Preceptor's gaze pierced the void with solemn intensity.

After a moment, he exclaimed with elation, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations indeed. This is a sign that a great cultivator is transcending the thunder tribulation. It seems our Vrabouton Empire will soon have the protection of a Nascent Infant expert."

"Can this be true?"

Soong Wang, despite hearing every word, struggled to accept it.

Vrabouton's power was waning.

The highest among them had only reached the late Core Formation stage.

A breakthrough to the Nascent Infant Stage would grant the empire much-needed defensive strength.

Such an event was a monumental boon for both the Vrabouton Royal Family and its citizens.

"Your Majesty, I am certain of my observation. Observe how the thunderclouds loom dense and unyielding. And the thunder tribulation within the lightning is exceptionally potent, a clear harbinger of a Nascent Infant breakthrough."

The State Preceptor explained with earnest.

Upon hearing this, Soong Wang's joy was uncontainable.

"To have such a master within the Vrabouton Empire is indeed a stroke of fortune. Dispatch orders to the Imperial Guards immediately. Establish a ten-mile radius around the capital as a restricted zone. Any intruder shall be met with lethal force. Additionally, activate the city's protective array to ensure the safety of our expert's Tribulation Crossing."

Commands were swiftly executed.

Soon, Newcliff City was under a strict watch.

The Imperial Guards were fully deployed, patrolling every street.

Even the outskirts of Newcliff were under stringent control.

Not even a bird could breach the perimeter.

With everything in place, Soong Wang, beaming, turned to the State Preceptor, "State Preceptor, find out who this Tribulation Crossing expert is. Once they have succeeded, I intend to meet them personally. They are the bedrock of our Vrabouton Empire."

"Your Majesty, I have already made inquiries. The individual bears a strong aura of our royal lineage. Moreover, judging by the direction from which the thunder tribulation is converging, it appears to originate from the retreat of King the Benevolent. It is my belief that it is he who undergoes the Tribulation Crossing."

"Is King the Benevolent on the verge of another breakthrough? Excellent! After decades of secluded cultivation, he's emerged to slay the Evilkind's Fourth Prince and advanced to the Nascent Infant stage. This heralds the rise of our great Vrabouton Empire!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

The State Preceptor was equally ecstatic.

At that moment, the citizens of Newcliff, who felt the presence of a Tribulation Crossing, were buzzing with excitement.

Little did they know, the individual facing the Tribulation was not King the Benevolent, but the deposed crown prince, Soong Lin.

Whoosh!

Soong Lin's aura grew increasingly powerful.

The golden core within his power core had expanded significantly, now marred by visible cracks that threatened to splinter at any moment.

"To break the core and form the Nascent Infant signifies my ascension to the Nascent Infant stage. Once I overcome the thunder tribulation, my status will be firmly secured. Just one final push! Press on!"

Soong Lin's expression was one of intense focus.

As he spoke, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged swiftly around him.

Refined through his meridians, it transformed into a dense shower of spiritual essence, cascading into his power core.

The fissures in the golden core widened under the deluge of spiritual energy.

Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed from within the power core.

Soong Lin's golden core burst apart.

A Nascent Infant, the size of a palm, emerged triumphantly.

In that instant, Soong Lin's aura rocketed skyward.

The thunder tribulation, gathering force in the void, was drawn forth, plunging toward the imperial mausoleum of Vrabouton like a mighty dragon.

Seeing this, Soong Lin's joy was uncontainable.

"Survive the thunder tribulation, and I'll stand among the true Nascent Infant masters. Thunder tribulation? Bring on your fiercest storm!"