Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 257 - 175: The Heavenly Tribulation of Worldly Calamities, Life Span Tribulation_2

Chapter 257: Chapter 175: The Heavenly Tribulation of Worldly Calamities, Life Span Tribulation_2

"Angri old bird, have you gone senile in your old age? Do you think the Heavenly Girl hasn’t taken precautions with him, or that those great powers from the Daoist Sects outside of the heavens are idlers?"

Xuan Yue’s handsome face showed a trace of disdain.

He himself was of Daoist Sect lineage, although ten thousand years had passed, and relationships spanned who knows how many generations, making them no longer of the same school. But Xuan Yue always held a deep reverence for the Daoist Sect, for he understood its profound legacy.

You could never tell when a Demi Immortal from the Three Pure Dao might arise from nowhere, someone like himself.

And Gu Wen had already come into prominence. For a massive entity like the Sanqing Taoist Sect, nipping him in the bud was futile; they must have prepared measures sufficient to protect Gu Wen. Otherwise, didn’t people want to kill the many prodigies of the Sanqing Taoist Sect throughout the generations?

Attacking Gu Wen would be less likely to succeed than trying to seize an Immortality Pill amidst a crowd.

"Or do you think I’m in dire need of an Immortality Pill? Just like you, who have only slightly glimpsed the great dao but never transcended life span?"

"All things must die; even the second realm of Demi Immortals is but a trick, not a true transcendence."

The Angri Cave Heaven Master and the other three Demon Saints took their leave, retreating to the distant Devil Clan ranks and transforming into various human forms.

A middle-aged man with red hair, a chilling man with disheveled hair, hissing a snake’s tongue, and a beautiful, rich lady.

Such transformations were done to conserve energy, as their huge true forms would consume immensely in the Immortal Land.

Upon landing, hordes of demons knelt before them, and even Ao Heng had to bow and show respect to these who were nominally juniors to him.

"Ao Heng, having failed to accomplish the task, accepts his punishment."

Strength was supreme among the Devil Clan; as long as he did not become a Demi Immortal, he would have to bow to one.

Even when facing some mighty Demon Saints, he would need to bow and offer greetings.

Baidi Xun, with a severed limb and injured, bowed, and his wounds instantly caught the attention of the Angri Cave Heaven Master and others.

Ba Snake Demon Saint inquired, "Are you the prodigy from the White Tiger family of thirty thousand years ago? What caused such injuries, and who could harm you?"

Tushan Yun’s face bore a pensive look, her eyes glinting with something unusual.

Baidi Xun’s reputation had always been known among the Devil Clan, and one who could endure thirty thousand years of self-sealing was certainly extraordinary; his strength should not have allowed him to be so grievously wounded.

"Could it be the Immortal Sword?"

Angri Cave Heaven Master noticed some clues, to which Baidi Xun replied, "Wounded by that Red Dust, he is very strong."

Uttering these words, his jaws clenched tightly, fists gripped, the whole person trembling.

He had always been invincible among his peers, often overpowering others across levels. Now, not only could he not defeat the opponent, but he had also been bested across levels, even two levels at that.

Having just left the battle shortly, the gaze of the surrounding demonic prodigies towards Baidi Xun held a strange mixture of mockery, yet they forcibly withheld its full display.

Just like Baidi Xun’s frustration, they wanted to ridicule him instead. Among the demon kind, there was no affection, only strength and weakness; weakness meant no grounds for argument.

Were they in Ao Heng’s place, they would have probably mocked Baidi Xun on the spot.

Baidi Xun lost to that Red Dust?

The three great powers of the Devil Clan were stunned; they knew of Gu Wen, but as far as they remembered, he was only at the Fifth Level Dao Foundation.

Baidi Xun was two levels above him, and yet he had lost; was the Immortal Sword really that powerful?

Their heads turned to look behind them, their gaze spanning dozens of miles and focusing on an ordinary man, who, feeling sensed, actually looked up in their direction.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort came from beyond the heavens, and the trio’s gaze was blocked, unable to pry any further.

Angri Cave Heaven Master averted his gaze, Tushan Yun’s brows furrowed tightly, and Ba Snake Demon Saint bluntly said, "Perhaps we should change our target. His growth may not fall short of Qingcang’s."

Even Baidi Xun was defeated and nearly crippled after being bested across two levels.

If the rumors that his cultivation was less than a year old were true, such talent was chilling.

"We can’t kill him; the Sanqing Taoist Sect will surely protect him to the death. If we divert more forces here, the Heavenly Girl’s side will have fewer people."

Tushan Yun shook her head. Angri Demon Saint knew it was impossible from the very beginning and hadn’t worried too much.

He seemed like a kind elder comforting Baidi Xun, saying, "It’s alright, you just revived too late. If you had recovered earlier, with the might of the Eighty-eight Dao Foundation, he certainly wouldn’t have been your match. Go heal now, and there’s no need to forcefully join the battle later."

"Yes."

Baidi Xun left to heal his wounds, while Ao Heng did not leave. He bowed to the Angri Cave Heaven Master again and said, "Elder, what should we do now? We probably can’t deal with that group from the Daoist Sect, but is there any other help available?"

This time, only a small part of the Devil Clan had come, such as the thirty-six Cave Heaven Masters, at least half of whom held a blood feud with Qingcang. But now, only three had come, and there was just one Cave Heaven Master among them.

"They’ve gone to vie for the Immortality Pill."

"So many are dealing with just one Heavenly Girl?"

"Most of them were stopped by the Daoist Sect. Only a few could enter the Immortal Land, and there are Great Powers within the Human Race also competing for it," sighed the Angri Cave Heaven Master. "If the Devil Clan could work together in harmony, they couldn’t stop us at all. But there are barriers between the Grotto-Heavens, and each Cave Heaven Master also wants the Immortality Pill for themselves."

The chance to become Immortal, the opportunity for eternal life – even possessing some roots could prolong life by hundreds, thousands, or even thousands of years.

With such a lifespan plus life-extending techniques, many old beings could cling to life for ten thousand years, and who knows, they might transcend their lifespan and wander eternally.

But in this realm, the Demi Immortals are the most ruthless, not restricted by lifespan. They break all ties and countless seek Immortality.

"But if Qingcang resurrects, all of this is but an illusion."

Angri Demon Saint was filled with sorrow, when suddenly his face stiffened, a strand of white hair appearing in his temple, and wrinkles uncontrollably spread across his skin.

Gulp!

It was like the sound of a heart beating suddenly erupted, causing the blood of the gathered Devils to flow in reverse.

Spurt!

A mouthful of blood spat out, igniting True Fire upon hitting the ground.

Angri Demon Saint, looking at the strand of hair that fell from his hand, was filled with disbelief. He was aging, despite possessing dozens of life-extending techniques.

Normally not engaging in magic, his lifespan consumption was minimal, like the Turtle Breath Technique, using a fraction of his lifespan like it was several parts.

Reaching the Demi Immortal level, even if unable to transcend lifespan, to extend life was very simple because prolonging life was an essential path on their second stage of cultivation.

He should still have at least eight thousand years left. Now only... eighty years?

All life-extending methods had failed.

"Ah, ah, ah!"

A scream came from nearby. Looking up, they saw Tushan Yun’s beautiful visage replaced by a withering old age, hair white and falling, face covered in wrinkles.

On closer inspection, where was there any beautiful woman? All that remained was an old lady.

She covered her face in disbelief, crying out in fear, "How could I age like this? I have long since been resurrected through a possession, why is my lifespan no different from my previous life?"

Ba Snake Demon Saint was still young, and he showed little change, yet he still retreated repeatedly.

Angri Cave Heaven Master looked at Ba Snake, seeing that the other did not age, and a realization dawned on him.

The Great Dao is fifty, creation is forty-nine; spare one for defense.

Only by becoming an Immortal can one transcend, but with nothing absolute, there are too many methods to extend life under the heavens.

The Mahayana six thousand, the Venerable nine thousand, the Demi Immortal who has not transcended lifespan twelve thousand.

But in reality, with techniques like the Turtle Breath Technique enhancing them, these lifespans could be used twice, three times, even ten times as long. Hence, the world nurtured another kind of tribulation, emerging once every ten thousand years, balancing the number of strong beings between heaven and earth.

Most cultivators are slain rather than dying of old age.

Wanting to live long and keep out of sight is difficult, yet simply living long is not hard.

Following this realization, a speculation formed, bursting forth like a volcanic eruption, unbounded fear surged into his mind.

"Is the ten-thousand-year catastrophe the lifespan tribulation? All life-extending methods turn pointless, but how many in this world are living on borrowed time like turtles?"