Chapter 49: Scroll of Life and Death, Originating from a River in the Void

A cold glint flashed in Zhexian's eyes, and the Jade Flute in his hand stopped abruptly; the pink petals around his body instantly ignited into a blazing flame, within which a faint phantom of a phoenix spread its wings and soared, carrying endless pressure and the power of destruction.

"Boom!"

The flames surged into the sky, transforming into a massive pillar of fire that headed straight for the Ten-Headed Fierce Sun Snake.

The Ten-Headed Fierce Sun Snake seemed to sense the terror of this power, a trace of panic flashing in its scarlet eyes, but it did not retreat; instead, it opened its giant maw and spat out a scorching flame, attempting to contend with Zhexian's Burning Heaven Technique.

The two flames collided in mid-air, instantly erupting with an earth-shattering roar; the entire cavern was illuminated by the scorching light, the magma in the magma pool was stirred into splashing everywhere, and the air was filled with a burning heat.

However, the Ten-Headed Fierce Sun Snake's flames appeared insignificant before the Burning Heaven Technique, persisting for only a moment before being completely swallowed.

The True Phoenix Flame thoroughly burned the body of the Ten-Headed Fierce Sun Snake.

"Roar!"

The Ten-Headed Fierce Sun Snake let out a shrill roar, its massive body twisting wildly in the flames as it tried to break free from this deadly restraint.

Yet, the True Phoenix Flame of the Burning Heaven Technique was not only burning its flesh, but also scorching its soul.

A moment later, the body of the Ten-Headed Fierce Sun Snake gradually ceased its struggle, eventually turning into a pile of ashes that dissipated into the magma pool.

Only a single Inner Core, emitting a faint glow, remained suspended in mid-air.

Zhexian put away the Jade Flute and walked quietly to the Inner Core.

With a wave of his sleeve, he took it away.

Afterward, he continued walking toward the depths.

Zhexian stepped into the ball of light, and the world before him suddenly shifted.

His soul seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, entering a strange space.

There was no scorching heat or danger of the Hell Road here; instead, it was a tranquil void, with faint mist permeating the surroundings, as if he were in a dream.

However, this tranquility constantly exuded a cold aura, like a world after a massacre.

Zhexian frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings, and he said indifferently: "Your Dao and mine are vastly different; this killing intent is not suited for me."

Following this, his whole person exuded an even more terrifying aura of slaughter, and behind him, there even appeared a vision of a pile of corpses of two hundred thousand living beings.

His voice echoed in the void, carrying a faint, elusive mockery.

That cold killing intent seemed to sense Zhexian's power and instantly receded significantly, as if in fear of his existence.

Zhexian sneered, no longer paying heed to this insignificant threat.

He raised his hand and waved, and the pink petals around his body appeared once more, carrying a cold Immortal Qi that dispersed the surrounding mist.

As the mist dissipated, a passage gradually appeared in the void, with light at the end of the passage, as if leading to another world.

Zhexian stepped toward the passage without hesitation, his pace composed and firm.

The moment he stepped into the light, the scene before him changed again.

He found himself standing at the foot of a mountain that towered into the clouds, surrounded by forests.

"Out at last."

Looking back, there was nothing but emptiness behind him.

【Destruction Nine Trials, First Trial: Trial complete, reward: Destruction Law.】

【Life Nine Trials, First Trial: Trial complete, reward: Life Law.】

As the voice in his mind faded.

Two ultimate laws descended into Zhexian's body.

Destruction Law, Life Law.

Zhexian closed his eyes slightly and soon comprehended these two laws.

He then leaped up and flew into mid-air.

Zhexian stood in mid-air, and the massive scroll behind him slowly unfurled; purple and green intertwined, with the powers of destruction and life flowing within it, as if the most primal forces of heaven and earth were being manifested at this moment.

The purple Destruction Law was as violent as thunder, carrying endless intent of destruction and annihilation; the green Life Law was as gentle as a spring breeze, containing endless vitality and the power of restoration.

The two laws collided and merged within the scroll, yet they miraculously achieved a certain balance, as if enacting the most essential laws of the universe.

Zhexian closed his eyes slightly, feeling the fluctuations of power coming from the scroll behind him.

His mind was connected to the scroll, as if he were the master of this heaven and earth, capable of deciding the life and death of all things with a single thought.

"Destruction and life are, after all, two sides of the same coin," he whispered to himself, a hint of enlightenment in his tone.

Just then, a violent spatial fluctuation suddenly came from the distant sky.

Zhexian opened his eyes, his gaze like lightning, looking toward the direction from which the fluctuation came.

He saw a massive spatial rift slowly tearing open, from which a dense aura of destruction emanated, as if some powerful existence were about to descend.

"Is he the God of Destruction?" Zhexian said indifferently, a hint of interest in his tone.

A figure slowly walked out from the spatial rift.

It was a man draped in a purple-black robe, his face cold and stern, with the light of destruction flickering in his eyes. His aura was as unfathomable as the Abyss, as if he could cause heaven and earth to collapse with a single thought.

"Congratulations on passing the first trial," the God of Destruction said, his voice low and majestic, carrying an unquestionable sense of oppression.

Zhexian stood in mid-air, his expression calm, and said indifferently: "Does the fellow Daoist have other business here?"

The God of Destruction nodded slightly, his gaze like lightning sweeping over the purple-green scroll behind Zhexian, a flash of approval in his eyes: "The fusion of the Destruction and Life Laws is quite interesting."

Zhexian did not respond, merely waiting quietly for what followed.

The God of Destruction continued: "You may set the trial for the second test yourself."

Upon hearing this, Zhexian was stunned for a moment.

He then found it somewhat amusing; one could even set the content of the trial oneself?

Yet the God of Destruction said nothing more, his gaze involuntarily turning toward a certain direction, his heart having long been filled with frustration.

That existence... what exactly are they trying to do?

If they want to bestow a god position, they could just pass it to him directly; why go through all this formality...

Thinking of that person's power, the God of Destruction could not help but tremble.

A few months ago, coming from a river in the void, a single strike nearly crushed the entire God Realm; if not for that person pulling back their hand...

And Zhexian did not seem to be in a hurry regarding this divine position, so he asked a question.

"How does this continent trigger the Heavenly Tribulation?"

Hearing Zhexian's question, a flash of surprise crossed the eyes of the God of Destruction, but he quickly returned to calm. He spoke indifferently: "Soul Beasts on this continent that break through to two hundred thousand years can be called Fierce Beasts; every time a Fierce Beast breaks through a one-hundred-thousand-year limit, it will trigger the Heavenly Tribulation. The Heavenly Tribulation is the God Realm's suppression of Soul Beasts, acting like shackles to limit their upper potential."

Upon hearing this, Zhexian did not feel surprised by the God Realm's suppression of Soul Beast growth.

All living things in this world are merely subject to natural selection.

However, undergoing the tribulation sparked Zhexian's interest.

He had been searching for a way to trigger the Heavenly Tribulation since a few months ago, and he also knew that Fierce Beasts breaking through could trigger it.

"Are there any Fierce Beasts about to undergo the tribulation recently?"

(End of this chapter)