Chapter 226

Chapter 226: The Dao King Facing a Tribulation, the Pavilion Master Attaining Immortality

“How could a formation suddenly appear?”

The white-bearded old man, Lin Qianmo, the middle-aged Daoist nun, and even Emperor Venerable Four Extremes and the others, all experienced a great change in their expressions. For over two hours, they hadn’t detected even a trace of this formation.

Moreover, this formation seemed specifically prepared for the Dao King.

“Duobao Daoist?” The white-bearded old man’s gaze turned sharp. “He looks neither like a Daoist priest nor a monk, but has learned a hodgepodge of things. Does the Dao King mean Duobao Daoist is secretly causing trouble?”

The three true immortal experts—Meng Changan, the Green Robed Drunkard, and the man in yellow—reacted subtly.

They were fully aware Duobao Daoist was secretly manipulating things.

However, these three true immortals had been keeping each other in check, unable to extricate themselves. By the time the Black-robed Immortal King descended, there was no longer any need for them to act.

After all, a cultivator at the peak of the great emperor realm couldn’t threaten them.

“His cultivation is only at the peak of the great emperor realm,” Meng Changan mused, a flicker of insight in his eyes, “yet he could seize the opportunity of the Yuan Realm’s resurgence to set up a formation at an immortal level. His background is far from ordinary.”

“It seems being trapped in Godfall Ridge has really caused me to fall behind,” the Green Robed Drunkard agreed with deep feeling.

Ye Xu looked toward the battlefield, his expression composed.

Duobao Daoist and the Dao King shared an irreconcilable blood feud; Duobao had been secretly scheming for a long time. The resurgence of the Yuan Realm was the Dao King’s chance to attain immortality, and it was also Duobao Daoist’s moment to strike.

“Hmm?”

His heart stirred, and he instinctively glanced toward the direction of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

He sensed a change within his true self.

“You think a mere formation like this can trap me?” The Dao King roared at the sky. He unleashed his full physical combat power. All three hundred and sixty-five acupoints on his body opened wide, divine blood surging fiercely. Three hundred and sixty-five divine deities manifested before him.

KA-BOOM!

The Dao King threw a punch. His blood qi poured forth like a long river of stars, shattering the fabric of the world with a single blow. The Primordial World crumbled beneath his fist, turning to ash.

But as the force dissipated, a lofty, imposing gate remained suspended high in the heavens, gazing down upon all living beings.

Streams of sound of the Dao emanated from the gate, ethereal and elusive, profound and mysterious—impenetrably profound.

Profound and even more mysterious—the Gate of All Mysteries.

This formation was called the Exterminating Immortal Formation. It was a top-tier immortal-grade formation that Duobao Daoist had comprehended from the Gate of All Mysteries.

Though Duobao Daoist lacked sufficient materials to manifest the complete formation, what he deployed was more than enough to deal with a Dao King who hadn’t yet attained immortality.

Duobao Daoist dissipated his corporeal form and vanished.

As he saw it, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Dao King had no hope of emerging alive.

BOOM!

Meanwhile, the Creation spiritual embryo, having restrained an ancient divine clan with a mere thought, exuded unparalleled dominance. He, along with Nangong Zhandao, strode towards the Epoch Golden Book that embodied the principles and mysteries of the Yuan Realm.

“We absolutely cannot let that boy get his hands on the Epoch Golden Book!” At that moment, a hoarse, aged voice rang out. Radiant lights blossomed from a true immortal’s cave. An immense primordial spirit materialized, ablaze with immortal light, as immortal energy flooded the surroundings.

“Another true immortal?”

Many Emperor Venerables were shocked. Were there that many true immortals in the Lower Realm?

"It was not a true immortal, only a half-immortal, who had touched the threshold of the immortal path," Emperor Venerable Four Extremes solemnly said. "This is the old Emperor Venerable of the Zhu Rong Divine Clan, who had lived nearly one million years."

Gasps!

The crowd was utterly shocked. The lifespan of a Great Emperor was about several hundred millennia, and even for an Emperor Venerable, without attaining immortality, it was only nearly one million years.

This Emperor Venerable was clearly an expert at the end of his years.

Boundless sky fire burned in from the edge of the heavens, melting all power of the Great Dao and turning heaven and earth into a furnace. Countless immortal spiritual patterns danced in the sky fire, carrying a trace of immortal power.

Nangong Zhandao frowned. "Since they are ungrateful, I’ll kill one to establish authority."

With a thought, the Creation spiritual embryo clenched its fist seal and threw out a punch.

Bang!

The Great Dao of creation erupted, and the punch extinguished the sky fire in an instant. Even the immortal power was obliterated. The Creation spiritual embryo punched toward the primordial spirit, invincible and unstoppable.

"Zhu Rong Banner!"

A scarlet flame banner rose, and an immortal primordial spirit suddenly manifested, clad in armor and wielding weapons, like an Immortal King in the fire.

This was the supreme immortal treasure of the Zhu Rong Divine Clan.

Boom!

But it was useless.

Without reaching the True Immortal Realm, it was nearly impossible to unleash the full power of the immortal artifact. The might of the Creation spiritual embryo forcefully pushed the immortal primordial spirit back into the Zhu Rong Banner.

The next second, the fist descended, and the primordial spirit vanished without a trace.

"Ancestor!"

Mournful cries rang out from the Zhu Rong cavern-heaven.

A top Emperor Venerable had died.

Nangong Zhandao returned to his usual indifference, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. One by one, the Emperor Venerables bowed their heads.

"Master, should we really give that Epoch Golden Book to him?" Ji Tianjue hopelessly said to the man in yellow.

The man in yellow’s mouth corner twitched.

He certainly wanted the Epoch Golden Book, but the intimidation of the Black-robed Immortal King was too overwhelming.

If he acted and angered him, the World Master of the Xuankong World was a vivid example.

"Wait and see calmly."

After careful deliberation, the man in yellow said through gritted teeth.

"Who else wishes to contend with me for the golden book?" Nangong Zhandao solemnly said.

No one dared to answer.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, a tremendous commotion erupted from the Exterminating Immortal Formation. The shadow of the Gate of All Mysteries hung in the sky, and infinite supernatural powers and countless law forces burst out one after another. Dao King was covered in wounds all over.

"Ten Thousand Immortals Bowing!"

Dao King had been forced into a desperate position and used his unified divine ability.

At that moment, three hundred and sixty-five divine deities within Dao King’s acupoints fused with three hundred and sixty-five forms of immortal light and divine shadows. The Enlightenment Tree swayed, channeling a surge of immense power into his primordial spirit.

Dao King had reached his absolute peak.

The energy of Ten Thousand Immortals Bowing climaxed.

He resembled an Immortal Emperor, his imperial might majestic, overlooking all beings.

"His power… it has actually surpassed mine…" Su Miao Zhen had woken from her grief. Watching Dao King, she felt a touch of shock within her heart.

This was undoubtedly power approaching immortality.

Simultaneously, Dao King held the Immortal-Slaying Gourd. Its spout opened, and a strand of Immortal-Slaying Sword Qi, brewed for a long time, erupted forth, instantly shattering countless laws and divine abilities.

"Death throes."

Sensing the change in the formation, Duobao Daoist departed without turning his head.

Dong!

The Gate of All Mysteries trembled faintly. All spells, all Daos, all sword intents, continuously dissolved.

Dao King’s power melted away swiftly, like early snow encountering spring sun.

The former overlord, once dominating a territory, seemed destined to fall here.

"Master!" Yan Duxing’s eyes flushed red. Dao King had been pushed to a dead end; hope for survival was slim.

"Sect Master…"

The two elders of the Taihao Heavenly Sect also wore expressions of tension and terror.

"I bear the fates of both realms! Killing me won’t be that easy!" Dao King roared. "Taihao Tai Xuan Classic!"

Bang!

Dao King’s aura erupted completely. His Great Dao rapidly evolved, his magic power instantly surged, transcending the peak Emperor Venerable Realm and stepping into the realm of an Immortal True Immortal.

He had long attained the level of immortality. He had endured for so long only to face his tribulation safely. Yet, the terror of the Exterminating Immortal Formation forced his hand.

Attaining immortality was the only way to break the tribulation.

Crack!

Thunder roared across the heavens. The aura of the Dao of Heaven once more descended upon the Yuan Realm. Thunderstorms covered a radius of a million miles. Great Dao True Dragons swam through the sea of lightning, painting a picture of apocalypse.

"The True Immortal Tribulation… Great Dao True Dragons…"

Meng Changan’s pupils constricted sharply. "That… junior… he intends to face the Nine Celestial Tribulations? He means to use the power of the Nine Celestial Tribulations to break the formation."

"He’s ruthless!"

Green Robe Drunkard clicked his tongue in amazement.

For cultivators, facing a tribulation was always a life-or-death gamble.

The stronger the cultivator, the greater the difficulty.

Especially the Nine Celestial Tribulations.

It was a process of qualitative transformation. One had to gain the Dao of Heaven’s recognition to enjoy the glory of sharing the sun and moon’s radiance and possessing heaven and earth’s longevity.

Thus, the Nine Celestial Tribulations were utterly terrifying.

Its power far surpassed the Exterminating Immortal Formation.

Even if Dao King used the Nine Celestial Tribulations to break the Exterminating Immortal Formation, he would still likely find it impossible to survive the Nine Celestial Tribulations.

“Nine Celestial Tribulations?”

Even Duobao Daoist, far away secretly collecting treasures, was startled by the aura of the Nine Celestial Tribulations. Instantly, he understood Dao King’s plan.

His expression remained blank as he continued gathering treasures.

“He’s going to face a tribulation?”

Nangong Zhandao frowned deeply.

He looked up at the Great Dao True Dragon swimming across the sky, his heart tightening. This Nine Celestial Tribulation spanned nearly a million miles. Every Emperor Venerable and Great Emperor was retreating.

The Creation spiritual embryo could not possibly withstand the Nine Celestial Tribulations and seize the Epoch Golden Book.

“We can only wait,” Nangong Zhandao said grimly, retreating with the Creation spiritual embryo over a million miles away.

The man in yellow, Meng Changan, the Green Robe Drunkard, and others also dared not remain.

They knew the might of the Nine Celestial Tribulations all too well. Even having achieved immortality, they didn’t wish to face it again.

For a moment, only the Exterminating Immortal Formation, the Epoch Golden Book, and Dao King remained within that stretch of sky and earth.

All the natural treasures, magical artifacts, and immortal herbs had long since escaped beyond the heavenly tribulation’s reach.

“Back to the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom,” the Green Lotus Demon Emperor said lightly, his gaze devoid of desire as he flew straight towards the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom.

Lian Jiuyou silently grumbled in his heart but dared not disobey his father.

“Brother Ye, the events of today have surpassed anything I’ve experienced in my entire life! Aren’t you astonished?” Great Emperor Ziwei had also fled back in fright.

He had managed to seize a top-tier divine herb: a hundred-thousand-year-old Mystic Infant Fruit, specifically for tempering the primordial spirit.

“Truthfully, I came today only to spectate,” Ye Xu chuckled lightly. “But seeing such spectacle stirs even my soul. Tai Sui is on the way. Once he arrives, we can go see if any treasures remain that suit our needs.”

“Excellent!” Great Emperor Ziwei had been waiting for those very words.

With Tai Sui present—possessing power at least equivalent to a late-stage Emperor Venerable—they would have at least some measure of safety.

Ye Xu showed a faint smile.

Dao King’s Nine Celestial Tribulations had arrived at the perfect time.

At this very moment…

Within the depths of Time and Space, deep inside the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Ye Xu’s true form sat in the lotus position. His entire body was permeated with immortal power. His Dao fruit had transformed into a brilliant gold, overflowing with an aura of immortality.

He was breaking through to the True Immortal Realm.

Over these past two days, he had nearly completed comprehending the profound mysteries within the Creation Dao Fruit.

Therefore, Ye Xu exchanged the Creation Dao Fruit for a billion heavenly secrets points.

Combined with the points he already possessed, this amounted to a total of 14 billion heavenly secrets points. Yet, breaking through to the True Immortal Realm required only 6 billion.

This time, Ye Xu devoted all of his heavenly secrets points solely to advancing his own cultivation.

Ye Xu’s eyes were closed, his expression serene, surrounded by swirling immortal energies.

Unlike the celestial palaces within the divine realms of figures like Su Miao Zhen, Dao King, or Nangong Zhandao, only a single Divine Palace resided within his Celestial Court.

The Creation Divine Palace.

Ye Xu cultivated the Great Dao of creation alone.

For when the Great Dao of creation is practiced to its ultimate pinnacle, it naturally gives rise to all things derived.

It mirrored the principle: Dao creates one, one creates two, two creates three, and three creates all things!