Chapter 48
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Chapter 48: Ten Saints’ Heavenly Tribulation (Part 2)
Eastern Sea.
Angry waves surged as a huge dragon head emerged from a sea eye, gazing toward Godfall Ridge.
His gaze was profound, as if deep in thought.
"In Godfall Ridge, someone actually became a Saint?"
The divine dragon whispered, his exhaled breath causing the sea surface to undulate violently.
Godfall Ridge held great significance to the cultivators of Yuan Realm.
Especially cultivators as powerful as Eastern Sea Dragon King, whose inheritance spanned over a million years, and whose secrets far exceeded ordinary people’s knowledge.
"With such a major event occurring in Godfall Ridge, someone must go and investigate."
The divine dragon’s thoughts stirred, and within half a cup of tea’s time, a black dragon appeared.
The black dragon transformed into a black-clothed woman, her aura immensely powerful, unmistakably a Saint King.
"I pay my respects to Dragon King."
The black-clothed woman bowed in salute.
Eastern Sea Dragon King said, "Something has changed in Godfall Ridge; go and see what is happening."
"Remember, if it cannot be done, then there is no need to act."
"Your subordinate understands."
The black-clothed woman transformed again, turning into a black dragon that flew into the clouds, swiftly heading toward Godfall Ridge.
Pure Land.
A woman dressed in snow-white clothes, untainted by dust, with bare feet luminous like jade, walked out of a divine hall, her gaze gentle as water, a trace of sorrow and resentment visible between her brows.
Her voice was melodious and pleasant as she said, "Summon the Seventh Elder quickly."
Not long after, the Seventh Elder, Liu Ningmei, arrived.
"I pay my respects to the leader."
Liu Ningmei wore a purple long dress, her hair tied up high, with an indifferent expression like an iceberg.
She was also a Saint King.
"Ningmei, someone has become a Saint in Godfall Ridge; this matter is extremely strange, go and see what is happening," said the white-clothed woman in a gentle, enchanting voice, like celestial music.
"Godfall Ridge?" Liu Ningmei frowned, "Dare someone become a Saint there?"
"Not just one, but nine," said the white-clothed woman.
Liu Ningmei’s brows knitted tightly.
As the white-clothed woman said, this matter was very strange.
"Take Xin Yu with you and go for a walk to Southern Wilderness," added the white-clothed woman, "Recently, I noticed the celestial phenomena has changed, with Southern Wilderness being the most strange."
"Formerly, Southern Wilderness was the center of Yuan Realm, but due to the vicissitudes of time and years passing, it has deteriorated into decline."
"The celestial phenomena were changing; it might mean something has altered in Southern Wilderness."
Liu Ningmei believed her leader’s words without doubt.
Their leader was not only a quasi-emperor but also mastered the art of predicting the heavens. Her word was nearly absolute law within the Pure Land.
"This subordinate understands."
Liu Ningmei inclined her head. Ji Xinyu was her disciple, bright and talented. The leader sending Ji Xinyu to Southern Wilderness clearly aimed to nurture her.
If Southern Wilderness truly rebounded from misfortune, given Ji Xinyu’s aptitude, she would undoubtedly obtain great opportunities there.
Liu Ningmei took her leave and arrived at a cavern abode.
With a wave of her hand, the barrier dissolved. Entering the cavern, she saw a woman with an oval face, willowy brows, and vermilion lips, devoid of cosmetics.
She seemed as if she had stepped out of a painting. Seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion, she radiated a tranquil beauty that made one hesitate to break the silence.
"Master."
Ji Xinyu opened her eyes. They were like clear water, lucid and luminous.
"The leader has commanded you to accompany me to Southern Wilderness," Liu Ningmei solemnly said. "An upheaval might be occurring there, one offering a fitting opportunity for you."
"Southern Wilderness…"
Ji Xinyu’s brows knit lightly. If she remembered right, among the five regions of the Yuan Realm, Southern Wilderness was always near the bottom.
"Come with me."
Liu Ningmei waved her hand, and both vanished from the cavern.
…
This day, not only the Eastern Region but also the Western Region and Central Continent were unsettled by the saintly heavenly tribulation over Godfall Ridge.
The uniqueness of Godfall Ridge meant Southern Wilderness was doomed to seethe with undercurrents.
…
Southern Wilderness, Godfall Ridge, the tomb of Panwu the Great Sage.
The heavenly tribulation’s onslaught had lasted for a time. After four strikes of the Divine Thunder of Great Annihilation, the Nine Palaces Heavenly Lock Formation buckled under the strain, nearing collapse.
Thankfully, these four tribulations had passed. The remaining trials tested only the Dao heart.
When the fifth tribulation—stirred by inner demons—struck, the clouds of tribulation finally dispersed.
Yet the sky remained dark and oppressive.
Nine saints sat in lotus position, each facing their tribulation.
After an immeasurable time.
Old Ghost Fei was the first to regain clarity. He had weathered six rounds of the saint’s heavenly tribulation and now began consolidating his saint level cultivation.
The Nine Palaces Heavenly Lock Formation had shattered.
Old Ghost Fei observed the other eight, including Fu Tianxing.
They seemed trapped in the illusion of merging with the Dao, expressions vacantly enraptured yet intermittently contorted with pain. Clearly, ensnared by the Heavenly Dao’s temptation, they struggled to break free.
"I have attained the Dao…"
Suddenly,
The Saint of the Endless from the Endless Sect laughed heartily, as if he had suddenly achieved great enlightenment, like a madman. There wasn’t a trace of human emotion in his eyes.
His body turned into a pure light and slowly dissipated, merging with heaven and earth.
"Is this merging with the Dao?"
Old Ghost Fei’s pupils shrank to needle points, and he was utterly horrified.
This scene was too terrifying; the Saint of the Endless was merging with the Dao not with any trace of fear but in a state of ecstasy, as if merging with heaven and earth meant attaining the Dao.
This was the trap of merging with the Dao: once one’s resolve was weak, they could be tempted by heaven and earth and turn into part of it.
Cultivators trained by drawing from heaven and earth; after death, all their power would return to heaven and earth.
The Saint of the Endless was exactly like that.
"Fellow Daoist Endless!"
Old Ghost Fei stared as the Saint of the Endless’s body slowly dissipated and immediately shouted loudly, trying to awaken him from the trap of merging with the Dao.
But it was too late.
Just after he spoke, the Saint of the Endless smiled and merged with heaven and earth, without any fear from beginning to end.
Old Ghost Fei felt mixed emotions.
He couldn’t help the Saint of the Endless.
Fu Tianxing opened his eyes and glanced at Old Ghost Fei. His white hair turned black, the wrinkles on his face vanished, and he seemed decades younger, full of vitality.
"Old Ghost Fei, you really were the first to become a Saint," Fu Tianxing said with a laugh. "Congratulations to you."
"Congratulations to you too."
Old Ghost Fei smiled while cupping his hands in salute, then added with a stern expression, "Fellow Daoist Endless has merged with the Dao."
"It was all fate."
Fu Tianxing sighed lightly, without much feeling.
Having cultivated to their level, they didn’t place heavy importance on friendships.
The death of the Saint of the Endless only earned a sigh.
After two incense sticks,
Six of them successively overcame the trap of merging with the Dao.
The eight Saints congratulated each other.
"When I return, I must thank the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion properly. If it weren’t for him, this old man would have had no hope of becoming a Saint in this lifetime," the Alchemical Saint said, stroking his white beard with a smile.
"That’s mistaken."
The Heavenly Corpse Daoist lightly said, "It’s only a transaction. We don’t owe him anything."
The others didn’t bother to argue.
The Heavenly Corpse Daoist was famously selfish, malicious, and ruthless, but his strength was extremely powerful, and no one wanted to offend him.
"Since we’ve all become Saints, staying here is pointless. Let’s leave Godfall Ridge."
The middle-aged scholar from the He Huan Sect smiled faintly, his aura as refreshing as a spring breeze.
Beside him, his companion chimed in, "Staying in this accursed place always feels unsettling, as though someone is watching me."
"I feel the same way."
Fu Tianxing’s companion, Su Qing, also spoke up. After surviving the saintly heavenly tribulation, she had regained her youthful beauty. Standing beside Fu Tianxing, they made a perfectly matched couple.
"Hmph!"
The Heavenly Corpse Daoist snorted coldly, his gaze fixated greedily on the inner chamber. "Unless you all don’t wish to enter the inner chamber and claim the legacy of Panwu the Great Sage?"
"If you seek death, go alone."
Old Ghost Fei remarked coldly, "The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion warned us beforehand. You may doubt him, but this old man dare not."
"I’ll take my leave first."
"I’ll go with you."
"Wait for me!"
The several saints departed together, leaving the Heavenly Corpse Daoist utterly alone.
"Wealth comes with peril!"
The Heavenly Corpse Daoist let out a sinister laugh. "It’s just as well you’ve all left. Less trouble to hinder my plans."
"The Great Sage’s legacy—if I can obtain it, I’ll gain the chance to cultivate into a Great Sage myself. Then I could unite the Southern Wilderness and dominate the Yuan Realm!"
He settled down, sitting in lotus position to consolidate his cultivation.
Meanwhile.
Above the tomb of Panwu the Great Sage.
One eye after another emerged, all gazing intently at the departing figures and the Heavenly Corpse Daoist below.
"How did these outsiders enter?"
One eye spoke, its voice but a transmitted thought.
"With mere semi-saint cultivation levels, they barged into Panwu the Great Sage’s tomb, breached the arrays, and refined its core powers? Such incredible luck?"
"Do not forget—that old man also achieved sainthood. He too came from the Southern Wilderness."
Eyes exchanged thoughts in silent communion.
"To evade every danger and locate this tomb so swiftly in such a short time… They must have powerful backing orchestrating this from the shadows," uttered a pitch-black eye slowly.
"Shall we kill them?"
A murder-filled voice cackled menacingly.
"Merely ants," boomed a deep, resonant tone. "Our true aim is to uncover the mastermind behind them."
That same eye turned its cold gaze upon the Heavenly Corpse Daoist. "We need only ask him."
