El Primigenio era realmente... demasiado aterrador...
In the clinking of teacups, Ao Yi sat on the edge of his hundred-foot-long luxurious bed, both hands trembling incessantly. The warming tea he held spilled constantly, with only a small amount reaching his lips.
He was shaking, trembling, his entire body quivering...
The reason for Ao Yi's trembling was not fear or dread of the Dragon Mother, the Turtle Immortal, or the several uncles of the dragon clan sitting before him. He wasn't worried about any punishment either.
Although he had only hatched eleven or twelve years ago, he considered himself fairly tough.
Before being sent to Golden Ao Island in the Southern Sea to seek out the Jie teachings' great immortal as a teacher, he had endured three months of ice pillar and iron spike torture without yielding the slightest.
This trembling was happening naturally, beyond Ao Yi's control.
He felt his body completely devoid of strength. In his heart, there was a shadow—and this shadow...
Was the source of the trembling!
Peeling back a corner of that shadow, Ao Yi saw that cold, expressionless face of the human old Daoist.
How could humans be so cunning?
Just thinking about that brief battle, Ao Yi trembled even more violently.
Beside him, the Dragon Mother hurriedly urged the old dragons to examine her second son's condition, but the conclusion the old dragons repeatedly reached could only be—
Excessive drinking.
Ao Yi's barely protruding Adam's apple bobbed up and down. He took a fierce gulp of the warming tea—brewed from dozens of rare spiritual herbs—then suddenly spat it out to the side, gagging violently.
Several attendants rushed forward, but Ao Yi suddenly let out a terrified cry, his eyes filled with terror.
"Don't come near! What are you trying to do?!"
The delicate, beautiful attendants hurriedly bowed their heads in apology and retreated.
Gasping for breath, Ao Yi clutched his forehead, his trembling voice gradually slowing. "Let me be alone. Nobody come near me..."
"My son," called the Dragon Mother, elegant and dignified, her voice filled with worry, "what on earth is wrong with you?"
Ao Yi slowly placed the empty white jade cup aside. His hand shook, accidentally dropping the expensive teacup onto the jade-inlaid floor.
He covered his forehead with both hands, trying to slowly peel back the shadow in his heart.
The way to overcome fear was to face it!
Anesthetic, powerful anesthetic...
The great square seal smashed down upon his head, knocking him unconscious—his mind completely blacked out...
But his body, his bloodline, had retained many memories, many sensations.
In his unconsciousness, he had been like a salted fish with its organs removed, repeatedly rinsed by someone with seawater—from the inside out, not sparing a single detail of his body...
He was coated in some kind of cleansing powder, then rinsed again...
During the rinsing, seven or eight hands continuously slapped him, and technique after technique was hammered into his body—resembling a Dragon Palace chef tenderizing premium snowflake divine bull beef, making the flesh more perfect...
In his unconsciousness, he had at one point felt that he was about to be devoured by that human who was like a demonic overlord!
Not just devoured—this one wouldn't spare a single piece of dragon flesh, pan-frying, slicing, deep-frying, braising—using every method to process his flesh, bringing this dragon meat feast to the ultimate perfection of flavor!
This process of being treated as an ingredient had repeated at least several dozen times!
Dozens of times!
That old Daoist wasn't human—he was the most terrifying dragon-eating beast!
No—that was the true face of humanity!
During his half-month of unconsciousness, Ao Yi had repeatedly relived and reflected on this. When he woke and saw his mother, he had thought he was in a dream—that everything before had been a nightmare from before he hatched...
But this was no nightmare.
Was this how humans fought dragons in direct combat?
Was this the root cause of why the dragon clan didn't dare declare war on humanity?
No chance of victory. Absolutely no chance.
The old Daoist's aura—he had clearly sensed it wasn't strong, should have been much weaker than his own, yet he had been able to...
To...
He heard two uncles whispering nearby:
"The Protective Dragon Scale flashed, and that thief didn't deliver a killing blow. He onlyforce-fed Ao Yi nephew with a great deal of wine. Why wouldn't he come to the Dragon Palace to collect the reward?"
"Probably afraid we'd break our word and go back on our promise. Sigh, but according to the rules, we really should thank him."
Wh-what?
The Dragon Palace had to thank that dragon-eating madman?
Ao Yi struggled unsteadily to his feet. He was about to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Before his eyes, there appeared once more the image of those cold-faced old Daoists pinning him—a little dragon—against the ocean floor, summoning boundless seawater to rinse him over and over...
And then the dragon clan, his own family, was supposed to be grateful to this demon lord and offer him a gift?
Had all of this been under that human old Daoist's calculation?
Could any random human cultivator step out and effortlessly deal with a dragon prince of royal blood?
Ao Yi's legs went weak. He sat back down on the edge of the bed, sucking in a sharp breath.
The Primigenio was truly...
Too terrifying.
......
At the same time, in the Southern Sea, on a coral island near the Southern Continent.
Li Changshou—in his cold-faced old Daoist form—sat cross-legged in a concave rock formation, his entire aura gently vibrating. Wisps of spiritual qi converged from across the sea surface.
Breathing in and out, free and at ease. Heaven and earth clear, completely forgetting himself.
After a short while, a blue-green glow flickered on Li Changshou's forehead. Several nine-petaled lotus flowers drifted from his body, slowly rotating around his form.
The blue-green light bloomed briefly, then dimmed.
From within Li Changshou's body came sounds like mountains roaring and oceans surging, gradually harmonizing with the sound of waves washing over this small island.
Suddenly, a crack of thunder rang out. Blue-green light drifted from Li Changshou's entire body. Nine-petaled lotus flowers scattered outward, and a faint fragrance emanated from his surroundings.
Within ten li, the fish and shrimp in the sea were drawn by the scent. The lotus flowers drifted toward some particularly spiritual creatures.
But suddenly, Li Changshou's eyes snapped open, both filled with blue-green light. The lotus flowers gently shattered, and the sea creatures sensed intense danger, immediately turning to flee in all directions...
Enlightening living beings was actually a virtuous act in the Primigenio, earning a small amount of merit rewarded by the Dao of Heaven.
But if the beings he inadvertently enlightened became demons and harmed humans, he would bear part of the karmic burden. That small amount of merit might not even be enough to offset the cost...
He had broken through.
Li Changshou exhaled and examined his interior, inspecting himself repeatedly.
Even with the most critical eye, his foundation was rock solid.
Was it time to face his Tribulation of Ascension?
Li Changshou looked up at the sky. Not a cloud for ten thousand li, the sky a brilliant blue.
He still seemed to be a bit short of the mark—it was slightly different from what he had anticipated, that entering the ninth stage of Return to the Dao would immediately trigger the Tribulation.
After all, he had been planning for the worst case.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind. Li Changshou continued meditating and cultivating. Beneath him, a small spirit-gathering formation arranged with spirit stones continuously emitted spiritual qi, which he absorbed without letting a drop escape.
In various directions within ten li, several paper clone bodies were hidden on the ocean floor, monitoring all sides while also attracting any potential ambushers.
There weren't many arrangements around this rock formation. When the Tribulation descended, this place would certainly be destroyed.
He had placed all his preparations in more distant areas, and they weren't defensive formations—they were all escape-oriented formations.
Convenient for rapid relocation after the Tribulation.
This was already the ideal tribulation site he had found. Within a thousand li, there was minimal cultivator activity. Occasionally, a cultivator passing overhead was usually several hundred li away.
This had to do with the distribution of mortal cities on land.
After meditating for half a month, Li Changshou suddenly felt a restless, uneasy sensation. Around his body appeared an inscrutable Dao resonance.
The Tribulation was approaching.
After entering the ninth stage of Return to the Dao, the Dao of Heaven had given him half a month to consolidate his realm and stabilize his Dao foundation to the last thread. The Lord of the Dao of Heaven was quite "lenient."
Li Changshou transformed his body into a fish, using the advantage of Escape por Agua to patrol within a hundred li twice, then floated back to the rock formation.
Come. He was ready.
This feeling was actually quite peculiar.
It was like facing a major test of life—like that night in his previous life, after twelve years of grueling study, when he couldn't sleep no matter what the night before the crucial exam...
"Don't be restless and impetuous. Calm the mind and focus."
Li Changshou silently recited the Conjuro de Calma del Corazón. Before long, he also took out the Escrituras del Wuwei, holding it in his hands and contemplating it carefully.
One more insight, one more bit of accumulation—his confidence in surviving the Tribulation would grow by another fraction.
Three days later, the premonition of the Tribulation's arrival grew ever stronger.
The Conjuro de Calma del Corazón had lost its effect, and he could no longer calm his mind for further contemplation. Within three li, a faint, barely perceptible pressure permeated the air, subconsciously driving all other creatures away from the area.
Last time, his master's Tribulation had been like this—coy and hesitant, dragging its feet...
He wondered whether his own Tribulation would be gentler, or wild and unrestrained, surging forth...
His own Tribulation.
Should be seven or eight lightning bolts.
Li Changshou thought to himself. He relaxed his mind, not forcing himself to be calm, but rather experiencing the anxiety and unease within him.
This was a reaction any living being would have when facing the might of heaven—it had nothing to do with one's level of Dao cultivation.
The Tribulation of Ascension, also known as the Tribulation of Dao Completion. Li Changshou had long pondered the meaning of "Dao Completion."
Today, he finally had the answer.
Qi Refinement, Spirit Transformation, Return to the Void, Return to the Dao—these were essentially the stages by which a cultivator learned nature, imitated nature, and distilled from nature their own Dao. This "Dao" was the support for one's immortality and longevity.
The Tribulation of Ascension was the Dao of Heaven's "test" of the cultivator's Dao—whether the Dao the cultivator had condensed qualified one for immortality.
At the same time, the Tribulation was a trial that helped the cultivator transcend the mortal, allowing the cultivator to elevate through their own Dao.
Born as a spirit, transformed into an immortal.
Dao and Dao realm could not be lumped together. Giving one's Dao a specific name, in Li Changshou's view, was highly inappropriate.
Just like human temperament—calm as it was, chaotic as it was, bold and shy as it was, anxious and open-minded as it was.
The Dao was the same.
"And so am I."
Li Changshou closed his eyes with a faint smile. Around his body, gentle breezes began to rise, swirling upward into the sky.
A muffled thunderclap sounded. Above the sea, the wind and clouds shifted suddenly. Hundreds of zhang up, clusters of gray-black tribulation clouds rapidly surged in, shrouding the surrounding ten li of sea.
The clouds above seemed to hold mountains, as if containing pagodas, as if celestial soldiers were arrayed in formation, as if a great god was beating war drums.
The tribulation clouds displayed many phenomena. Below, the clouds began to slowly rotate. From a distance, it looked as if a waterspout were forming.
But this waterspout only formed halfway before lightning flashed within, thunder booming!
Li Changshou slowly rose from the rock formation, shook out his robes, and casually waved his hand. Twelve jaula de lo-que-sea-Faraday spread around him, and several pills were already prepared in his sleeve.
His Dao body radiated blue-green light throughout, and the power of his primordial soul had fully condensed.
He exhaled his final breath of turbid qi, looked up at the sky above, and then...
Bowed deeply in a Daoist salute, using the most orthodox ancient rite.
Then he proclaimed in a clear voice:
"Disciple of the Daoist path now addresses the heavens! With gratitude, the heavens descend the tribulation of Dao Completion. This disciple humbly receives it with sincerity. Establishing one's own Dao, becoming a carefree immortal. If the Tribulation descends and this disciple cannot endure it—body destroyed, Dao extinguished—then it is simply that this disciple's Dao is insufficient to endure as long as heaven and earth. I hold no resentment in my heart. The Great Dao resonates; the Dao of Heaven stands true. Gratitude to the Dao of Heaven for its care, descending the opportunity for immortality!"
BOOM—
The tribulation clouds seemed to respond, or perhaps they hadn't heard a word of what Li Changshou said. The power of the Tribulation remained unchanged.
Within the tribulation cloud vortex, several lightning spots the size of well openings flickered. Around Li Changshou's body appeared faint arcs of electricity.
He floated slowly upward. The twelve jaula de lo-que-sea-Faraday also drifted apart above the sea surface, spreading their distance in preparation.
When Li Changshou reached a height of nine zhang, three silver-white lightning spots shimmered simultaneously, erupting into electric silver serpents!
These lightning bolts converged at the center into a bolt the thickness of a millstone, striking down directly at Li Changshou. His spiritual sense felt no danger, yet he still swelled his entire body's mana, distributing it throughout his form.
His Dao body radiated a faint glow, then was swallowed by the thunder!
The first lightning bolt's power was roughly equivalent to the third bolt of his master's Tribulation?
His own Tribulation really couldn't be taken lightly.
All the lightning was blocked by Li Changshou. He looked up at the sky and waited in stillness.
The aftereffect of that lightning strike...
Tingly, numbing. Wisps of immortal qi were already brewing within his body, and his primordial soul was immersed in the lightning light.
Unexpectedly...
It was actually quite comfortable.