Shun Long watched with a solemn look in his eyes, as the 3 bolts of Heavenly Tribulation that were as thick as an adult's man's waist easily broke past the defenses of Jiang Chen's Kingdom of Darkness and headed for his head.

Jiang Chen's eyes had turned a bright crimson color as he let out an angry roar, before his cultivation at the peak of rank 9 in the Nascent Soul exploded outwards in the next moment.

Jiang Chen didn't wait for the 3 bolts of Heavenly Tribulation to hit him, as he decided to make the first move.

Taking out his golden saber from his spatial ring he raised it above his head, before the pitch-black wings on his back flapped once as he shot straight towards the bolts of Heavenly Tribulation.

At the same time, the remaining energy from the 'Kingdom of Darkness' around him coalesced together, forming an enormous, almost corporeal black hand, that shot towards the bolts of Heavenly Tribulation as well.

BOOOOOOM!

BOOOOOOOM!!

BOOOOOOOOM!!!

Even though this took time to describe, it had actually happened in the blink of an eye, as the 3 bolts of pure white lightning appeared in front of Jiang Chen.

The enormous black fist that was created from Jiang Chen's 'Kingdom of Darkness' only managed to last for a single moment in front of the bombardment of the 3 bolts of Heavenly Tribulation, before it disintegrated into nothingness soon after.

Infusing all of his qi inside the golden saber in his hands, Jiang Chen slashed it forward as he roared loudly

''Earth splitter!''

An earth-colored slash emerged from the surface of the golden saber in the next moment, as it collided with the 3 white-colored lightning bolts head-on.

This was the complete Saint middle-grade martial skill that Jiang Chen had picked from the second floor of the Golden Treasures Hall, the 'Earth splitter'!

Normally, disciples who entered the top 1000 in the Martial Roll of Honor would be allowed to choose a complete Saint low-grade cultivation technique or martial skill for themselves, but Jiang Chen's master had allowed him to choose a complete Saint middle-grade martial skill instead.

The 'Earth splitter' was one of the strongest Saint middle-grade martial skills on the second floor of the Golden Treasures Hall, and although Jiang Chen's attack was still just the second form of this martial skill, its power was nothing to scoff at!

Jiang Chen's present state was truly his strongest state.

Having activated his bloodline of the 'Demonic Crow of Darkness' inside his body as well as his Eternal Darkness unique physique, along with the 'Earth splitter' and his golden saber that was already a 1-star weapon, even peak rank 1 Dao Kings would hesitate to take this attack from Jiang Chen head-on.

'Pfffttt!'

The scene that followed however completely stunned Shun Long who was watching from the side, as well as the surrounding disciples who had gathered in the distance.

The earth-colored slash from the 'Earth splitter' was destroyed in an instant, as the 3 bolts of Heavenly Tribulation landed on Jiang Chen's golden saber and entered his spiritual sea soon after.

Jiang Chen spat out a mouthful of blood as his body shot downwards at a terrifying speed, creating a human-shaped hole on the ground below him.

A few moments later, an extremely pale Jiang Chen opened his eyes and looked at his surroundings, while the cloud of Heavenly Tribulation above his head started to vanish, allowing Jiang Chen to heave out a sigh of relief.

''Who is this guy? He had to face 3 bolts of Heavenly Tribulation all at the same time, just to breakthrough to the Dao King realm? Even geniuses who have comprehended a supreme Daos don't have such a terrifying Heavenly Tribulation...''

''Right! Even young lady Niu may not have to face a more difficult Heavenly Tribulation than this!''

''Hey, do you even know who young lady Niu is? How dare you talk about her like that?''

Shun Long completely ignored the discussions of the surrounding disciples, as he flew straight towards Jiang Chen.

He could sense that although Jiang Chen had successfully managed to breakthrough to the Dao King realm, his spiritual sea was shaken heavily after taking on 3 bolts of Heavenly Tribulation head-on!

Of course, this was only natural.

Among Nascent Soul stage cultivators, Jiang Chen's Heavenly Tribulation was definitely ranked among the most difficult ones.

Normally, even geniuses who had comprehended a supreme Dao wouldn't have to face 3 bolts of Heavenly Tribulation simultaneously, and would usually face them one after the other.

As for Liu Mei's Heavenly Tribulation, that was already an exception.

Although Liu Mei had comprehended a supreme Dao as well, she still had to face the second and the third bolts of Heavenly Tribulation at the same time.

Shun Long guessed that the reason behind that was the 'Blood Absorption art' that she was training in.

As for Xingyi and Bai Longtian, their tribulations were most likely increased in difficulty as well because of the cultivation techniques that they were training in.

Since those cultivation techniques came from the 'Immortal Dimension' and increased their potential and their combat strength even further, the Heavenly Tribulations that they would have to face would naturally be incomparable to other cultivators at the same level!

At that moment, Jiang Chen opened his eyes and looked at Shun Long who was flying towards him, before he waved his hand and took out a bottle of pills from his spatial ring.

This was a top-grade rank 5 pill that Shun Long had refined in bulk for everyone a few months before they left for the King's Palace, the 'Soul mending pill'.

Although 'Soul mending pills' were considered to be relatively common alchemy pills that couldn't be used to increase the spiritual strength or the purity of a person's soul, they were still extremely sought after since they were perfect to heal the injuries in one's soul as well as the spiritual sea.

The price of a single top-grade 'Soul mending pill' could easily reach the 100.000 middle-grade spirit stones mark inside the Holy city!

A few moments after consuming a couple of 'Soul mending pills', Jiang Chen opened his eyes and looked at Shun Long, before he said in a reassuring tone

''I am fine.''

Nodding his head, Shun Long patted Jiang Chen's shoulder without speaking, as he turned his gaze towards the depths of the King's Palace.

By now, he was the only one who had yet to breakthrough to the Dao King realm, but he could clearly feel that the pressure in the outskirts of the inner region of the King's Palace wasn't enough to stimulate his potential and allow him to breakthrough.

''It seems that I have to head even deeper inside.''