Chapter 616

No!

But still, an extradimensional celestial demon appeared, completing the tribulation of the external demon obstructing the Dao.

Yet a colossal demon realm gate opened above the Three Sovereigns' Platform, and a faint demonic qi flowed out from within.

It was a dazed little celestial demon, having just attained the form of an extradimensional celestial demon, its cultivation equivalent to that of a true immortal.

It had been cultivating on a certain mountain peak in the extradimensional celestial demon realm, but was suddenly kicked out by someone.

Yet at this moment it had no time to daze; in the next instant, a purple-gold celestial light appeared, piercing its demonic body and reducing it to dust.

After its demise, the boundless demonic qi surging from the depths of the void was instantly scattered by streams of purple-gold celestial light.

The third tribulation had already passed.

Then, as Zhang Jian's expression suddenly changed, he felt his primordial spirit and Dao heart instantly enveloped by a vast, majestic power—this power surged mightily, passing through the Dao Sovereign's rank deep in the chaos primordial sea, and in an instant drew him into the profound depths of a grand, spacetime, and fate-long river.

This power was overwhelming beyond imagination, seemingly the very power of the myriad heavens and worlds themselves, carrying his primordial spirit and Dao heart across the endless river of spacetime, then soaring toward the depths of the spacetime origin.

In the depths of the river of time, Zhang Jian saw the origin of myriad beings and the beginning of all things.

He could see countless immortal cities, immortal sects, and the rise of ancient divine clans.

As spacetime power inverted, Zhang Jian could no longer tell whether he was truly dreaming back to antiquity or merely submerged in a fragment of vast heaven-and-earth spacetime.

Zhang Jian leaned toward the former.

Regarding the four tribulations of formation, dwelling, decay, and emptiness, Zhang Jian gained some insight.

This tribulation is usually closely related to the formation, dwelling, decay, and emptiness of a heavenly realm.

However, the exact circumstances vary greatly among each tribulation-transcender.

In the ancient texts of the heavenly court, some tribulation-transcenders discovered they had indeed returned to the time when heaven and earth first opened, and must complete special cultivation therein, planting the Dao's root at the dawn of creation, only then able to return.

Others entered a fragment of heaven-and-earth spacetime.

Some even arrived in the illusory realm of ages within an extradimensional heavenly realm.

But no matter where one enters, one must reestablish the Dao Sovereign's root source, thereby penetrating ancient and modern; only thus is one considered to have achieved eternal, carefree transcendence over all spacetime.

Though the ages of spacetime flew by, Zhang Jian could still clearly perceive his Dao Sovereign Dao fruit rapidly achieving roundness and fusion.

His Dao Sovereign form remained under his control.

"I just don't know what my formation tribulation will be."

Zhang Jian secretly pondered at this moment.

A flicker appeared in his eyes; he could only hope his luck would be better.

Though every immortal and deity seeking to transcend the Great Tribulation of Destruction enters a stretch of ancient ages, the four tribulations of formation, dwelling, decay, and emptiness are quite different.

Some are very easy; others are nearly hellish in difficulty.

Most immortals and deities attempting to transcend the Great Tribulation of Destruction have eight or nine out of ten perishing in these latter four tribulations.

At the same time, as he shuttled through the depths of ancient ages, four unnamed terrifying powers suddenly emerged from the void in the depths of heaven-and-earth spacetime, instantly transforming into flowing light that merged into his Dao Sovereign immortal body.

Zhang Jian opened his palm, yet saw four distinct auras suddenly converge deep within his palm, forming four special patterns that together composed a black jade ruyi, resembling four pearls upon a jade ruyi, arranged in a diamond marking.

Zhang Jian knew this was the seal formed by the heavenly realm calamity from the depths of the chaos primordial sea.

This is also the restraint bestowed by the chaos primordial sea upon every tribulation-transcender.

Only by completing the four tribulations can one achieve the Dao Sovereign's form.

Zhang Jian could now feel that the transformation of his Dao Sovereign Dao fruit was being suppressed by the four tribulation seals; they were like four terrifying fetal marks affixed to his primordial spirit, Dao heart, Dao fruit, Dao cultivation, and immortal body.

Their formation slowed the transformation of the eternal Dao fruit by countlessfold, as if rusted.

Zhang Jian's expression, however, showed no change.

As spacetime flowed by swiftly, Zhang Jian gradually witnessed the shocking and stirring moment of the Three Sovereigns' heavenly realm's initial formation—he saw countless human powerhouses summoned from all directions by the Three Sovereigns' Palace, entering the Three Sovereigns' heavenly realm to fully strengthen it.

Among them, he also saw countless heretical demons and external paths wandering outside the Three Sovereigns' heavenly realm, battling bloodily with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, as well as numerous human powerhouses.

Immortal deities fell like rain from the heavens; countless immortals and deities perished in the slaughter, and boundless tribulation qi spread across the battlefield's center.

Many immortals and deities seemed to have forgotten themselves, retaining only the will to survive on the battlefield.

Among them were not lacking great supernatural beings and ancient supremes who fought amidst the carnage, their blood staining the surroundings of the Three Sovereigns' heavenly realm.

Zhang Jian observed the changing expressions; even in such a great battle, the survival rate of a Dao Sovereign was only slightly higher, let alone other immortals and deities.

Zhang Jian could only silently pray in his heart, hoping he would not be so unlucky, that the river of time would not reverse and stall here.

If his formation tribulation were to survive such a battlefield, that would truly be a matter of life and death.

Fortunately, his luck still seemed decent.

The power of spacetime reversal did not cease.

Spacetime continued forward, and soon Zhang Jian saw the scene of the Three Sovereigns' heavenly realm's opening of heaven and earth.

Yet he saw a colossal three-dimensional innate yin-yang taiji diagram flowing forth, carrying a vast, remnant chaos fragment, then taiji gave rise to the two polarities, the two polarities to the four symbols, the four symbols to the eight trigrams, and the eight trigrams gave birth to all things.

A vast realm was nurtured from the chaos remnants.

Furthermore, numerous innate demon-gods of formidable cultivation flew forth from the void, bearing massive chaos continents, casting them in, and through the refining of earth, water, wind, and fire, gradually formed a vast expanse of land and a lofty azure sky.

Then, countless immortals and deities flew from afar, ranks upon ranks carrying myriad rare flowers and strange herbs, or heaven-and-earth spiritual roots, to reshape a pure land.

But in an instant, all between heaven and earth fell into darkness; several clusters of terrifying black qi, as if penetrating the endless river of ages, surged forth, disturbing the heaven-and-earth yin-yang, leaving all things dust-covered.

Many immortals and deities were swept up by the terrifying black qi, their marrow extracted in an instant, reduced to countless fragments scattered in the void; their essence, energy, and spirit were instantly taken by this age-penetrating terrifying black qi.

"Phoenix Demon Sovereign, how bold you are, daring to ruin our great affair!"

From the depths of the void, accompanied by an enraged shout, a golden-yellow sword light like a waterfall flowed forth from the depths of the universe heaven and earth, as if it could cleave heaven and earth.

Yet a black wheel appeared, turning, as if all things in heaven and earth were peers, with endless great destruction omens emerging.

Terrifying undulations burst forth from the center of the collision.

A figure clad in a white bone mask and black robe emerged from the boundless black qi, his form calm, the demonic might radiating from him unparalleled, as if capable of obscuring the sun and moon of all myriad heavens and worlds.

Under this power's collision, the spacetime temporal passage where Zhang Jian resided also suffered great impact.

Zhang Jian narrowly avoided being thrown out of the spatiotemporal passage of heaven and earth.

"Hmm?"

The black-robed figure, the Minghuang Demon Sovereign, seemed to sense it as well, his eyes sweeping over and instantly piercing through endless spacetime, as if seeing Zhang Jian undergoing tribulation.

At this moment, Zhang Jian felt that with just a glance, his Dao heart seemed shrouded in boundless darkness, a terrifying power of eternal sinking.

Yet he saw that Demon Sovereign suddenly raise one palm and viciously lunge toward the spacetime passage where Zhang Jian was.

"Minghuang, how dare you be so reckless, distracted before this Emperor? Today you court your own destruction!"

At this moment, vast golden divine might swept across the heavens above, and countless golden divine radiance burst forth from the body of a towering divine figure, as he pointed his finger to the heavens, immeasurable sword light appeared in the depths of the void, surging like a flood toward the Minghuang Demon Sovereign.

Countless sword shadows resembled flowing ochre floods, like the movement of the earth itself, shocking and draining all color.

Under such immense power, Zhang Jian's Dao heart also violently trembled, but as the Xuanyuan Holy Emperor acted in the light and shadow, the Minghuang Demon Sovereign could only temporarily suppress his thoughts, rapidly forming seals with his hands, able only to wield layer upon layer of overwhelming demonic divine abilities to resist that heaven-shaking, earth-shattering domineering sword light.

Moreover, in the darkness, more and more demon god silhouettes emerged from the demonic aura.

But with the Xuanyuan Holy Emperor's interruption, the flow of heaven and earth's spacetime instantly resumed, and Zhang Jian's form continued flying toward ancient ages.

As he left this spacetime, Zhang Jian noticed the Xuanyuan Holy Emperor's profound divine sense seemed to sense his presence, and the final gaze toward the spacetime passage carried deep meaning.

At this moment, Zhang Jian also sensed within the Niwan Palace that the talisman edict representing the Dao Lord's title was faintly emitting light.

"This is probably the most precious aspect of this title!"

Zhang Jian secretly thought.

Suddenly, Zhang Jian's heart stirred; raising his hand, he saw the seal of the 'Cheng' calamity among the four calamities of formation, existence, decay, and emptiness deep in his palm faintly heat up, then dissipate with the wind.

"Has the Cheng calamity passed?"

Sensing this change, Zhang Jian's eyes filled with astonishment, though deep in his Dao heart rippled faintly.

This Cheng calamity was truly passed by sheer luck.

At the same time, Zhang Jian also remembered the Minghuang Demon Sovereign, this powerful figure of the demon realm.

But in his memory, the spacetime he inhabited seemed to have no record of such a powerful being as the Minghuang Demon Sovereign.

Logically, such a Demon Sovereign capable of matching the Xuanyuan Holy Emperor evenly could not be an unknown nobody in the future.

The Heavenly Court's intelligence system must surely have a record.

Zhang Jian's thought was quickly suppressed; what he must now face are the next three calamities.

Heaven and earth's spacetime continued surging forward.

Pressing onward.

Zhang Jian felt a sense of eternal solitude.

Heaven and earth destroyed, only I remain.

That boundless great divine being, or perhaps ordinary mortal spirits, the mountains and rivers of heaven and earth all vanish in the flow of spacetime ages, leaving only the eternal, ever-bright starry sky.

Such rapid passage of spacetime, his lifespan was rapidly being consumed.

But he had long since become an immortal, indestructible body, even a divine body, utterly indifferent to such lifespan consumption.

After an unknown duration, the spatiotemporal passage of heaven and earth ages suddenly rippled again.

A heaven-shaking, earth-shaking tremendous sound transmitted; even within the spatiotemporal passage of heaven and earth ages, Zhang Jian could hear it.

Then came a heaven-shaking, earth-shaking azure divine light, this divine light severing heaven and earth, severing the long river of ages.

Within the spatiotemporal passage, Zhang Jian also felt his whole body suffused with chill, his hairs standing on end.

This erupting sword light was simply astonishing to the extreme.

Zhang Jian's eyes showed some change; fortunately, that sword light was not aimed at the ages passage. At this moment, gazing from the depths of the ages river, he could see a vast realm within milky-white sword light, suddenly exploding.

He had never seen such terrifying sword intent.

It truly left one stunned.

Merely a glance, and Zhang Jian instantly felt his condensed Dao Lord Dao fruit, as if being worn away by the sword light.

Truly a world-destroying sword intent!

A trace of sword intent appeared like a shadow following him; he quickly activated his innate spiritual treasure, third-grade innate creation azure lotus, to suppress his Dao heart, while gradually purifying the residual sword intent.

He was not directly observing, but merely perceiving through the reflection in the river of time.

One can imagine how desperate the powerful beings within that realm must have been, likely slain by a single sword, countless lives extinguished.

"It might be the primordial vast land of the ancient ages!"

Zhang Jian secretly thought.

He knew the myriad realms originate from the Earth Immortal realm, but before that lay a forgotten, vast expanse of heaven and earth, where the earliest divinities were nurtured, the source of heavenly immortals, demons, and monsters, within which too many mythic legends were born.

The sword light split heaven and earth, accompanied by the sounds of countless great explosions, and the permeation of countless resentful energies.

At this moment, Zhang Jian could see boundless resentment seeping out from within, fleeing in all directions, converging in streams, within which who knows how many terrifying demon heads were born.

Countless immortal and divine remnants directly transformed into demons from within.

Among them were not lacking terrifying Dao Lords, even heavenly divinities.

And at this time, boundless Dao sounds also emerged, while a massive Xuanhuang-colored treasure pagoda soared into the void, gathering and suppressing most of the demonic aura, finally subduing it.

At this moment, Zhang Jian's expression grew somewhat numb.

He felt that the four calamities of formation, existence, decay, and emptiness he had endured were indeed somewhat exaggerated.

Which immortal or divine being could withstand such a degree of the four calamities?

Yet he had encountered them.

However, he appeared to have 'good fortune'—merely affected, not directly drawn into the center.

"According to the ancestral secret transmission, generally, when heaven and earth ages flow backward, it should not exceed the time of this celestial realm's initial opening; I fear I have retreated to an era before the myriad realms even originated..."

Zhang Jian secretly thought.

Moreover, the reversal of the heaven and earth ages river had not yet ended; he could only go with the flow.

At some unknown time, Zhang Jian suddenly sensed a strange qi.

Deep in his brow, the third-grade innate creation azure lotus faintly emitted a special ripple, as if a resonance from before ancient times was emerging.

Following this resonance, the light of the innate spiritual treasure burst forth from his entire body, instantly tearing through the heaven-earth spacetime passage, carrying Zhang Jian flying out of this place, descending into the void.

In the distance, Zhang Jian saw a completely different central celestial realm, the magnificent heaven and earth of the Three Emperors' Celestial Realm.

Towering divine peaks, majestic as giants, stood between heaven and earth; countless ancient remnant species galloped across the land, and terrifying divine beasts soared freely in the sky, hunting at will.

A primordial, savage aura surged toward him.

For a moment, Zhang Jian did not know whether he had truly entered a heaven and earth from before ancient times, or if he was still trapped in an unknown and terrifying illusion.

But regardless of which state it was, he had to confirm one thing: whether his path was contaminated at this moment, and whether he could reestablish his foundation.

Otherwise, passing this fourth calamity, the dwelling calamity, would be difficult.