Chapter 676: The Dao-Forming Tribulation, the Body of Ten Thousand Ages' Dao Transformation

Wooo~

The instant he stepped out of the Lesser Grotto-Heaven, Li Yuan felt a chill in his heart and instinctively activated the Kun Ming Ten Thousand Layers Armor.

"This is?"

Li Yuan's gaze sharpened as he sensed a deep, cold, omnipresent killing intent!

He looked around and felt that throughout Mount Mount Dongxuan, whether in the grass and trees, the rosy clouds, or even a gust of wind, there lurked a bone-chilling killing intent.

"Heaven unleashes killing intent!"

That was the thought that sprang into Li Yuan's mind.

Cultivation has its tribulations; beginning with the Dao-Forming Tribulation, every step is a tribulation, and they all originate from Heaven!

This was a line he had read in a travel journal. He had paid it little heed at the time, but now, feeling that omnipresent killing intent, the words suddenly flashed back into his mind.

"Heaven unleashes killing intent—is this the omen of a Dao-Forming Tribulation descending?"

"It's been barely more than ten years, and yet another senior brother is about to undergo the Dao-Forming Tribulation?"

"What luck, to actually run into a senior brother crossing tribulation. This Dao-Forming Tribulation is a top-grade scene-gathering ground; ordinarily it's hard to come by!"

"The senior brother crossing tribulation is… Qi Yun?"

Almost at the same moment Li Yuan stepped out of the Lesser Grotto-Heaven, figures also flew out of the other Lesser Grotto-Heavens one after another, looking around in surprise or bewilderment.

Quite a few pinched their fingers to divine who was crossing tribulation, but only after a moment's thought recalled this Qi Yun senior brother who had offered a treasure to hang his name on the register and usually kept a very low profile.

Boom!

Muffled thunder rolled in from the horizon. Unlike a natural weather phenomenon, even this muffled thunder carried an incomparably fierce killing intent that made one's heart pound at the sound.

"The tribulations of cultivation begin with the Dao-Forming Tribulation. I wonder if Senior Brother Qi Yun will be able to survive it…"

The words sounded familiar to Li Yuan. He followed the voice and saw Yu Yu Xuanji, wreathed in drifting clouds and rosy mist, gazing into the distant sky as if moved to reflection.

"Senior Brother Wang."

Li Yuan cupped his fist in greeting. The other returned the courtesy, then gave a start and cupped his fist again toward Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen, who had just stepped out: "Senior Sister Yu."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen gave a slight nod and looked toward the distant mountains:

"Senior Brother Qi has come out."

The place Qi Yun had chosen for crossing tribulation was ten thousand li from Mount Mount Dongxuan. For the disciples of Mount Mount Dongxuan, this distance naturally counted as nothing; a slight focusing of the mind was enough to see it.

They saw, atop a desolate mountain ten thousand li away, amid raging wild winds, Qi Yun stride out slowly, hands clasped behind his back at the peak, awaiting the descent of the Dao Tribulation.

"Senior Brother Qi has quite a solid foundation."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen praised.

Li Yuan focused his perception and could faintly sense Qi Yun's qi rising like beacon smoke straight into the sky, climbing ceaselessly as if to pierce through the Nine Layers of Gale Wind beyond the heavens.

Boom!

As if it had sensed Qi Yun's qi surging upward, the thunder on the horizon suddenly swelled. In only a few instants, boundless dark clouds had rolled in from every direction.

The ink-black sea of clouds was thick and viscous, utterly unlike any natural sight, and for a moment that stretch of ten thousand li gave off the feeling of day and night being inverted.

Mount Mount Dongxuan was not among them.

Li Yuan looked up and found that Mount Mount Dongxuan was almost entirely free of shadow. Those sky-covering dark clouds had actually gone around Mount Mount Dongxuan, their killing intent rolling as they poured entirely onto the distant mountain.

"The divine patterns are more active than ever before…"

Li Yuan keenly detected the anomaly and focused his perception.

Over the distant mountain the dark clouds were dense, thunder dragons roared, electric serpents writhed, displaying all manner of violent scenes. The divine patterns contained within were numerous, and one could faintly sense the aura of superior-grade divine patterns.

"The Dao-Forming Tribulation is a top-grade scene-gathering ground. The scenes it manifests differ according to the tribulation of transformation, but no matter which kind of Dao Tribulation, there will inevitably be thunder crashing down…"

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen spoke at the right moment:

"Junior Brother Li, seize the timing. Don't get too close, and don't get too far. Apart from harvesting divine patterns, do not make any other move, or you will be locked onto by the Dao Tribulation."

"Thank you, Senior Sister, for the guidance."

Li Yuan committed it to memory, and at the same time removed his Five Senses Set, taking control one by one of treasures including the Dun Tian Zhou, making preparations for harvesting divine patterns.

When the Dao-Forming Tribulation descends, no one can intervene. Whether one wishes to lend aid or do harm, doing so will draw the Dao Tribulation's lock onto them.

"It's about to begin!"

Wang Wang Jingyi's voice was low.

Ten thousand li away, the dark clouds suddenly pressed down, and rolling thunder and lightning poured down like a waterfall, drowning the mountain range beneath violent Lei Guang.

That grand, violent aura made one's spirit tremble even across a distance of several tens of thousands of li.

"Crack!"

The Lei Guang fell like a cascading waterfall, and atop the desolate mountain, Qi Yun—who had been gathering his strength for two full years—raised his hand and formed a hand seal. Brilliant azure light burst forth from among the mountains to meet the thunder waterfall.

"Green Wood Thunder-Dissolving Array."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen, well-versed and widely experienced, did not forget to explain to Li Yuan as she watched the battle.

Li Yuan nodded. He carried five Shan Xuan Teng She sloughs, and his understanding of this went even deeper than Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen's.

That brilliant azure light was a thunder-dissolving grand array, a Fa Jie Zhi Fa recorded in the Qing Di Chang Sheng Jing. Because it originated from oneself, it did not add to the ferocity of the Lei Fa Jie, yet it did not diminish one's own magic power either.

Li Yuan not only knew this, but moreover, if he had Qing Di magic power and the corresponding divine patterns, and the Shan Xuan Teng She had also advanced to the peak of the Fifth Realm, he could lay it out himself.

"Boom!"

The waterfall-like Lei Guang blazed for the span of a full cup of tea's time. When the boundless azure light dispersed, Qi Yun let out a long breath, lightly adjusted his Dao crown, and uttered the word "Grow!"

Hmm!

The extinguished azure light instantly blazed back to life, surging skyward like wave after wave of tsunami, and in the nick of time withstood the next wave of waterfall-like Lei Guang.

This wave of Lei Guang was even more ferocious than the last. After the Lei Guang dispersed, the azure light was also nearly extinguished, but Qi Yun uttered "Grow!" once more.

Even more dazzling azure light surged up again.

Repeating this eight times in succession, Qi Yun had not even activated a magic treasure, let alone any spell.

"This works too?"

Li Yuan heard an elder martial brother cry out in astonishment, and he too was rather surprised.

He knew this grand formation well, yet he hadn't expected it to be so powerful, withstanding eight waves of thunder waterfalls in a row.

"The Green Emperor Longevity Scripture truly lives up to its name as chief of the Five Scriptures; its method of transforming calamity and averting disaster is truly exquisite—no wonder it's called the 'Longevity Scripture'…"

Someone else exclaimed in admiration.

Li Yuan glanced sideways and saw it was Yu Yu Xuanji, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance, with considerable approval.

"Boom!"

Thunder waterfalls rolled on, eighteen waves in total, and that curtain of green light stubbornly withstood all eighteen waves of Lei Guang, leaving many Mount Mount Dongxuan disciples quite astonished.

Mount Mount Dongxuan's Gong Fa and Gu Gu Shentong were countless; though the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture was a great scripture, not everyone knew of it, and seeing it now, they could not help but be amazed.

And then, Qi Yun displayed the full mysteries of the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture.

After the thunder waterfalls, the violent Lei Long were also slain one by one, and he hadn't even used any dharma treasures or spells—his own state was still at full peak!

"This should be the seventh tribulation. Is Senior Martial Brother Qi Yun's foundation really this deep?"

After two layers of Lei Fa Jie, many well-informed Mount Mount Dongxuan disciples already knew how many layers the Cheng Dao Fa Jie that Qi Yun was undergoing had.

"The first six layers should be no obstacle for Senior Martial Brother Qi."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen paused slightly, looking at Li Yuan: "Junior brother, you may go harvest the divine patterns now. Be sure not to violate the taboos…"

"Thank you, Senior Martial Sister, for the reminder."

Li Yuan had long been prepared. With a shift of his mind, he transformed into a streak of Jin Guang and fled far away—it was precisely the Tian Peng Dun Fa, already cultivated to Dao San Shi Zhong.

In less than an instant, he had crossed ten thousand li, and under the startled gazes of many Mount Mount Dongxuan disciples, he landed near the Cheng Dao Fa Jie.

Rumble rumble rumble!

Lei Long rolled past, emitting world-shaking sounds.

Li Yuan merely listened, and already felt his whole body numb; even the Tian Peng Dun Fa was somewhat hard to hold steady, and he had no choice but to activate the Wan Chong Armor.

"This is still the outermost edge. If I were to step inside, I'd probably turn to tribulation ash on the spot!"

Li Yuan was somewhat shaken. He skirted the area of thunder and lightning, connected with the Shan Xuan Teng Tree, and headed toward the divine patterns he sensed. He looked toward the center of the Lei Fa Jie.

Qi Yun stood atop the mountain peak, letting the Lei Guang rise layer upon layer, yet he remained immovable—clearly well prepared.

"Whoosh!"

Li Yuan didn't dare look too long. Harvesting scenery during Lei Fa Jie was extremely dangerous, and the timing vanished in an instant. He immediately focused his spirit and began harvesting.

"The 'Zhen' character divine pattern is generally born at the instant the Lei Fa Jie shakes down…"

Li Yuan focused his spirit intensely, seizing the timing. After several consecutive failures, his heart trembled slightly—a wisp of dark, heavy mist was drawn over by him. "Success!"

After harvesting the divine pattern, Li Yuan didn't even have time to harvest another. He turned and vanished from the outermost edge of the Lei Fa Jie, for he sensed an indescribably terrifying aura brewing.

Boom!

Almost at the same moment Li Yuan flew back to Mount Mount Dongxuan, a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering collision sound rang out simultaneously.

He turned and looked back.

He saw a terrifying black light, like a pillar of heaven, connecting the dark clouds and the earth, utterly annihilating the endlessly surging green light.

"Buzz~"

The next instant, beneath the extinguished green light, a giant tree of ink-jade color burst from the ground, and in the blink of an eye had grown to a height of myriad zhang. Its trunk stood straight as the spine of heaven,

piercing straight through the Feng Feng Mantian thunder clouds!

"The Shan Xuan Teng Tree!"

Li Yuan focused his spirit to observe the tribulation.

One tree reached to the heavens, piercing through the Lei Hai, and immediately myriad wondrous scenes emerged. The area covered by the dark clouds instantly transformed into a scene of lush green grass and mountains offering tribute.

"This is Senior Martial Brother Qi's Dharma Realm!"

Li Yuan recognized the origin of this wondrous scene, and his heart gave a sudden jolt. After that Dharma Realm emerged, it slowly rose into the air, lifted by Qi Yun, and shot toward the heavens.

"The Dharma Realm ascends to the heavens!"

"Good!"

"A giant tree breaks the tribulation, the Dharma Realm ascends to the heavens—the Green Emperor Longevity Scripture is truly remarkable!"

Seeing this scene, someone in Mount Mount Dongxuan immediately cheered. This was six tribulations passed; only the final step remained.

Li Yuan instead looked at Yu Yu Xuanji, Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen, and the other inner disciples, and found their expressions rather solemn, as if the Cheng Dao Fa Jie had only just begun.

"Senior Martial Brother Yuan, what do you think are the odds of this Senior Martial Brother Qi achieving Du Fa Jie Cheng Gong?"

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen suddenly asked.

Li Yuan couldn't help but look at Yu Yu Xuanji as well. The latter's expression didn't change: "It depends on his luck."

"Luck?"

Li Yuan was taken aback.

"The Cheng Dao Fa Jie places the greatest weight on luck."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen, however, nodded in agreement. Seeing Li Yuan dazed, she offered an explanation:

"This isn't something the two of us are saying—it's universally acknowledged."

"Junior Martial Brother Li must be watching someone undergo tribulation for the first time; otherwise you wouldn't have this doubt."

Yu Yu Xuanji looked up:

"It's coming!"

Boom!

Li Yuan gazed into the far distance.

He saw Qi Yun standing with his hands at his sides, lifting his Dharma Realm to ascend to the heavens. From those Feng Feng Mantian dark clouds, countless bolts of Lei Ting rolled forth, charging at the Dharma Realm.

Some were blocked by azure light, some by Dao Soldiers within the Dharma Realm, and the slaughter erupted with extreme intensity—nearly every instant, a Dao Soldier was struck down by Lei Ting.

But that Dharma Realm was also on the verge of breaking free from the tribulation.

It was at this very moment that a chill ran through Yu Yu Xuanji's heart, and then, he heard a series of deep, rhythmic, enormous drumbeats.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

As if some primordial divine being were wielding the stars to batter the firmament, the colossal drumbeats reverberated for untold tens of thousands of li, and every listener felt their qi and blood surge.

"This is the Seventh Tribulation…"

Forcibly enduring the discomfort of his surging qi and blood, Yu Yu Xuanji saw a wisp of purple light kindle at the center of the ink-black dark clouds, and then, like a night sky full of stars—

Tens of thousands of purple specks of light emerged.

Those specks of light shifted endlessly—now transforming into thunder dragons and electric serpents, now into mountains, rivers, and stars—and finally, into Dao Soldiers clad in bizarre armor, wielding spears, sabers, and swords!

"Boom!"

The next instant, tens of thousands of Lei Fa Jie Dao Soldiers came pounding down like a curtain of rain upon the tottering Dharma Realm.

"Rise!"

Daoist Qun Xing let out a long, resonant cry. The Shan Xuan Teng She at the center of his Dharma Realm trembled violently, and its sky-obscuring branches and leaves transformed into ten thousands of thick, long vines, lashing brutally toward the thunder clouds.

Explosion after explosion piled into one continuous roar—countless Lei Fa Jie Dao Soldiers were beaten down by the Shan Xuan Teng She, yet more surged forth.

The Dao Soldiers that Daoist Qun Xing had cultivated within his Dharma Realm also poured out in force, and under the gaze of the many Mount Mount Dongxuan disciples, they erupted into bouts of utterly savage slaughter.

As for Daoist Qun Xing himself, he wore an expression solemn as he gazed toward the very center of the thunder clouds, awaiting—as if awaiting judgment—the evolution of that dazzling wisp of purple light.

"That purple light?"

Yu Yu Xuanji had only glimpsed it from afar, yet he felt a chill in his heart, as though an invisible great hand had seized his very heart, making even his breathing somewhat labored.

"The Tribulation of Dao Transformation."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen, expression solemn, explained softly.

The Tribulation of Dao Transformation is a tribulation that inevitably appears in any Dao-Attainment Tribulation, no matter how many layers, and it is the greatest of them all.

"This tribulation will reflect and manifest the Dao-Transformation shadows of every person who has ever attained the Dao throughout the ages at the moment of their Tribulation Crossing—its depth and reach are boundless…"

Yuan Han could not help but speak up:

"In years past, when an earlier-generation true-disciple senior brother underwent his tribulation, the Dao Tribulation actually reflected the shadow of a Divine Marquis from the Origin Divine Dynasty, ten epochs ago—and he failed his Tribulation Crossing by the margin of a single move!"

So it all came down to luck!

Yu Yu Xuanji was inwardly shocked, yet also felt a certain dawning clarity.

He had heard similar talk before, but had not expected that this Dao Tribulation actually encompassed such a vast scope, rather than being, as he had previously assumed, merely those with karmic ties coming to obstruct the Dao.

"This really does depend on luck…"

Watching the savage slaughter of the myriad Dao Soldiers within the Lei Fa Jie, Yu Yu Xuanji at last truly understood why the Dou Zhan Platform could gather so many cultivators.

Even those with god-demon-grade talent and peerless combat prowess would fail their Tribulation Crossing if their luck was poor and they encountered the Dao-Transformation shadows of those supreme, supreme-grade existences.

"It seems Senior Brother Qun Xing's fortune is quite good."

Hearing Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen's voice, Yu Yu Xuanji activated the Five Senses Set, then focused his gaze—and saw a burly figure woven from purple lightning step out from the center of the thunder clouds.

"Senior Sister recognizes him?"

Yu Yu Xuanji truly could not make anything of it, only feeling that the burly figure's aura was vast and terrifying, yet having no idea which deity's former self it was.

"I don't recognize him."

Yu Yu Fa Huan Zhen shook her head: "Precisely because I don't recognize him is why I say his luck is good. If someone came out that you could recognize at a glance, then there'd be no point in watching any further."

"Fair enough."

Yu Yu Xuanji caught the implication, and resolved that later he must go to the Scripture Pavilion to see if there was anything like a 'Chronicle of Ancient and Modern Powerhouses.'

Boom!

Lei Guang flared again in the distance, and in an instant the ten-thousand-li thunder clouds were dispersed by the light.

Even with the Five Senses augmented, Yu Yu Xuanji could no longer see the scene within that curtain of light, only faintly catching the flickering glow of Yi Dao Dao Fa spells.

Not long after, accompanied by a high-spirited long howl that pierced the clouds, Daoist Qun Xing—his whole body stained with blood, his disheveled hair flying wildly—burst out from within the Lei Fa Jie:

"My Dao is accomplished!"

Boom!

As the sound waves reverberated, brilliant azure light had already dispersed the ten-thousand-li thunder clouds; myriad wondrous sights evolved and perished, immortal light and auspicious glows spread across ten thousand li of cloudy sky.

Then, under the watching eyes and congratulatory voices of the many Mount Mount Dongxuan disciples, Daoist Qun Xing raised the Dharma Heaven high and vanished into the vault of heaven.

He still had to exert every ounce of his life's strength to push the Dharma Realm as high as possible.

Du Fa Jie Gong Cheng!

"Congratulations to Senior Brother Qun Xing on the Du Fa Jie Gong Cheng!"

Throughout Mount Mount Dongxuan, congratulations rang out without cease, and Yu Yu Xuanji also offered a salute from afar.

(End of this chapter)