Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 1139 - 993: Deadly Tribulation (Extra - for Monthly Votes)

Chapter 1139: Chapter 993: Deadly Tribulation (Extra Chapter for Monthly Votes)

"Could it be... Has my entire life’s pursuit of immortality been in vain?"

King Xiaoyao said somberly.

I had heard of the riches of the East Sea, but I never imagined they would be so vast; compared to them, what’s an emperor of the mortal world but a beggar?

Beyond his noble status and some mundane gold, silver, and power, he truly had nothing that could touch the treasures of the immortals.

But these worldly possessions, in the eyes of a true immortal, are nothing more than rubble, easily obtained in tenfold, a hundredfold!

For King Xiaoyao, who was accustomed to wielding wealth and power to command the people of the Martial World, it was indeed a considerable blow.

"Hmph... I was just about to attend a grand gathering on Divine Wood Island in the East Sea when I happened upon your boat and saw that your lives were hanging by a thread. I descended my sword light to save you... merely for the sake of acquiring merit,"

Zhuo Yifan continued.

King Xiaoyao’s eyes lit up, "I am grateful to the master for the rescue. I swear by the master’s name that I will perform ten thousand good deeds to accumulate virtues for you!"

"Not bad, not bad; the child is indeed teachable,"

Zhuo Yifan nodded, finally revealing a faint smile.

"This is my first visit to the East Sea, and I have yet to hear of the grand reputation of Divine Wood Island. May I inquire what this grand gathering of immortals is about? I would request Master Zhuo to join me; I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared..."

King Xiaoyao, who had been honing his skills of observation and interpretation within the palace since childhood, was now utilizing them to their utmost.

Zhuo Yifan was somewhat tempted, and upon glancing at ’Cui Feiniang,’ his expression grew solemn before he said, "Enough, I know what you seek... While I cannot grant you an Immortal Fate, taking you to Divine Wood Island is not a problem. As for Immortal Fate? It depends on whether you are destined for it or not..."

"As for Divine Wood Island... it is a leading immortal gateway in the East Sea. The old Island Master is highly advanced in his Taoist Cultivation, and his chief disciple ’Duanmu Long’ is preparing to refine his Origin Soul and become an undying immortal in the near future. Naturally, it’s a grand event in the East Sea’s Immortal Realm!"

"Immortality? Immortals!"

Upon hearing these words, even Niu, Cui Feiniang, and other figures from the Martial World lit up with longing.

...

At the same time.

Within a volcano.

Heavenly Thunders roared and fell, breaking through the earth’s crust, drawing out the ancient Earth Flames poison fire.

Endless ancient poison fire transformed into a Fire Dragon, joining the Thunder Dragon formed by Heavenly Thunder, both encircling a Tai Chi Diagram, slowly refining a streak of blood within it.

This diagram was none other than the ’Innate One Qi Tai Chi Diagram’, the treasured artifact of the Shu Mountain Sect!

"Shu Mountain..."

Just then, a voice filled with hatred and venom rose up.

The streak of blood gradually dissipated, eventually becoming utterly silent.

"Congratulations to the Master for completely refining the Blood Sea King, Liang Yin!"

Monk Di Xin and the younger generation, including Yu Ying, Bu Dengyun, and Xin Hongyun, all bowed in respect.

They had been waging war against the Demon Path for many years, crossing swords numerous times, with the help of senior experts from all the great orthodox sects. After countless efforts, nine years ago, they had finally annihilated the demon horde of West Kunlun and trapped Liang Yin’s Origin Soul with the ’Biyi Qi Nine Palaces Xumi Array’.

Then, the Sect Master Ling Chan Tongzi brought the sect’s treasure, the ’Innate One Qi Tai Chi Diagram’, to this place to summon Heavenly Thunder and Earth Flames. After nine years of effort, today marked the completion of their endeavor, as they successfully refined Liang Yin to death, leaving not a trace of his Origin Soul to escape!

With the demon’s death, the heavens and earth seemed to sense it, with strands of golden Qi gathering, descending upon Ling Chan Tongzi’s head, manifesting into a Merit Golden Wheel.

This golden wheel shone with dazzling light, exceptionally extraordinary.

Monk Di Xin was mesmerized and praised, "Congratulations to the Master for forging the Merit Golden Wheel. Surely ascending as a Heavenly Immortal Fruition would be effortless now..."

Through this great battle of good and evil, though countless from the smaller sects and Demon Sects perished, the people of Shu Mountain, however, reaped tremendous benefits.

Not only did they connect with the inheritances of previous masters’ abodes, consuming supreme Spiritual Pills like they were mere beans, vastly advancing their Taoist Cultivation, but they also amassed a collection of magical treasures.

Now that they had exterminated the demon horde of West Kunlun and great merit descended from heaven and earth, even helping several from Shu Mountain to ascend wouldn’t be difficult.

"Though that is the case, it is difficult to fight against destiny. Five hundred years from now, the Last Dharma Tribulation will come. Wishing the whole sect to ascend, we still lack a fraction of fortune... We must target the smaller paths for another righteous and evil sword battle,"

Ling Chan Tongzi sighed softly.

He could ascend but was bound by the sect’s karma, and he was also reluctant to ascend as a Celestial Immortal.

While becoming a Celestial Immortal was a high achievement, free to roam even in the Heavenly Realm,

Ascending as a Gold Immortal would naturally grant a different status.

To lead the entire sect in ascension, even in the Heavenly Realm, they would be founding ancestors of a sect!

With this thought, Ling Chan Tongzi glanced at Xin Hongyun. Shu Mountain had long planned for Yu Ying and Liang Yin to be the main protagonists of this era.

However, Xin Hongyun had a twist in her fate, encountering a destined Demon Star, losing "The Book of Purple Mansion", missing out on the Purple Green Immortal Seal, and by only relying on the Tushita True Decree, she could at best reach the state of a Celestial Immortal and was unable to glimpse the mysteries of a Gold Immortal.

"As for the smaller paths, the first target should be Fang Xi from Qinghe Mountain!"

Xin Hongyun spoke out immediately.

"Agreed!"

Ling Chan Tongzi, now with Heavenly Immortal Fruition, calculated and then smiled, "Although Qinghe Mountain has arrays concealing the Heavenly Secret, it is not difficult to deduce from other causes and effects... I am certain that Fang Xi from Qinghe Mountain is now nearing the power of a Celestial Immortal, yet he will ultimately struggle to break through. Desperate to achieve Celestial Immortalty, he must leave Qinghe Mountain, and that will be his Deadly Tribulation... His chances of becoming a Celestial Immortal are a foregone conclusion of ten deaths and no life!"

"Hmm?"

Xin Hongyun’s eyes showed a flicker of movement.

To continue elevating one’s Immortal Grade as an Individual Immortal, the Origin Soul must consistently shed layers of tribulations.

"Recently, the leading master has determined that Fang Xi’s Heavenly Immortal Calamity is a certain death without life, which is a great good!"

Xin Hongyun was well aware of the power of the leader’s innate prophetic calculations.

How many old demons from West Kunlun had been found out this way, their proudest demon magic directly solved, and even the means to constrain all beings between heaven and earth became ineffective, dying without understanding why.

"Fang Xi of Qinghe Mountain, this person does not cultivate good karma, solely focused on advancing his magic power... unaware of the multiple tribulations in the external world, constantly evading them, accumulating until it becomes a sure death without life calamity!"

Ling Chan Tongzi said, "Had he emerged into the world nine years earlier, there would still be a chance of nine deaths and one life, but now even that last thread of vitality is gone..."

"Leading master, please give your orders," said Yu Ying and the others as they bowed down.

"This person wishes to achieve the status of a Heavenly Immortal, but there is one cause and effect that is difficult to overcome, which concerns Duanmu Long of Divine Wood Island... For him to have achieved the Origin Soul, he owes it to the other’s gift of a ’Five Elements True Evil’, and thus owes a karmic debt, having made a promise. Now, if he doesn’t overcome this tribulation, it will be difficult for him to become a Heavenly Immortal. Therefore, he must attend the Origin Soul grand event of Duanmu Long on Divine Wood Island!"

Ling Chan Tongzi said, "This ’Five Elements True Evil’ was originally a possession of ’Peach Plum Fairy’ Yue Huzhong, hence there is also a karmic connection with the Hua Mountain Sect. Ancestor Lie Huo of the Hua Mountain Sect, who had some interactions with us during the great battle between good and evil, will soon receive a letter from me, requesting him to make a move... Fang Xi follows the path of the wood element, and the ’All-Heaven Fire Sword’ is the perfect restraint!"

"Take my written commands, and visit Lord Tianlong, Divine Master Great Wild, Yuekong Master... and then all go to Divine Wood Island together to settle this old case."

"At your command!"

Xin Hongyun clenched her fists in secret.

Eighteen years ago, the Shu Mountain Sect could not have mobilized so many friends and relatives.

But things are different now!

Who will hold sway over the great trends of the Mortal World if not I?

’Fang Xi...’

’The karma of that year, finally, it’s time to resolve!’

She bowed respectfully, with a gloomy look in her eyes.

...

Qinghe Mountain.

"Taiyi Formless, appear!"

A flying sword like a chip of ice, became invisible in the Void, the sword light turned, and it disappeared from sight.

This flying sword had originally been kept by Fang Xi in his true form, only to be used when he had returned to the Earth Immortal Realm.

After all, this sword’s karmic connection with the Shu Mountain Sect was too great!

Fortunately, after his true form cultivated the Earth Immortal Undying Skills, he used the native forces of heaven and earth to refine the flying sword anew, severing its connection with the Shu Mountain Sect completely, allowing it to be used in this realm.

"Si Chen, appear!"

Fang Xi flicked his finger, and the Si Chen Sword flew out, transforming into twelve rays of Meridian God Light, each ray turning into a flying sword.

"Life and Death, appear!"

He finally pointed towards the Taiji Yin and Yang Pool.

A Tai Chi Diagram of one yin and one yang emerged, and a flying sword half black, half white, roared, leaping out from the water.

"Void, Light and Time, Life and Death..."

"The Three Talents unite, Small Three Mysterious Sword Array, form!"

Fang Xi’s fingers moved as if strumming a Qin, as sword lights filled the sky suddenly merged, forming a sword array!

An aura, mysterious beyond comprehension, suddenly emanated from within the sword array, bringing with it a shockingly evil Qi!

But after just a few breaths, the overwhelming sword light exploded all at once, returning to three flying swords.

The Taiyi Invisible Sword and the Si Chen Sword were vibrant with sword light, while the Life and Death Sword fell behind, clearly mismatched with the two flying swords of Pure Yang Treasure quality of the Immortal Grade.

"Although the Small Three Mysterious Sword Array is formed, this ’Life and Death Sword,’ even after my meticulous repairs, has only reached the level of eight refinements of form and essence, still one transformation short of true Pure Yang!"

"With the three flying swords of differing qualities, the Small Three Mysterious Sword Array cannot operate in equilibrium."

Fang Xi shook his head and sighed, then began to operate his magic power again.

The Five Elements Primordial Spirit emerged, with strands of five-colored magic power spanning heaven and earth, evolving into numerous spells and magical artifacts... so powerful it was inconceivable.

"Merge!"

At that moment, Fang Xi clapped his hands together and the vast Five Elements divine light suddenly merged, turning into a murky halo.

This invoked the magnetic forces of heaven and earth’s poles, emitting Tai Yin Origin Magnetism divine light and Tai Yang Origin Magnetism divine light, extraordinarily profound.

"Mixed Origin Innate Five Elements Magnetic Power!"

"Such power should be able to clash with the ’Innate One Qi God Talisman’ of the Shu Mountain Sect, eh?"

Fang Xi sighed.

In these eighteen years, his cultivation had soared, not only completing Earth Immortal, but also by studying the Origin Magnetic bans within the Pre-Heaven Magnetic Disc, he had stripped away another layer of impurity from his magic power, achieving ’Mixed Origin Innate Five Elements Magnetic Power!’

This power derived from the Five Elements and could shatter all Five Elements, extremely wondrous.

He was just a hair’s breadth away from achieving Heavenly Immortal!

"To achieve Heavenly Immortal, I must overcome a significant calamity."

Fang Xi silently operated his Origin Soul to make calculations, then suddenly smiled, "This calamity... ten deaths without life! A wonderful death, a delightful death! I was indeed looking forward to delving into Reincarnation!"

"After eighteen years of hard cultivation, it’s time for a trip to Divine Wood Island to complete the tribulation!"