Chapter 1986: Don't Conclude Too Soon

A ethereal female voice, like a beautiful immortal melody, echoed through the vast starry sky.

This statement was directed at the fifth Shenjiang, Tianjiu, and originated from Wulei Zhicheng.

In that moment, everyone's gaze converged on the head of Naihe Qiao.

There, Tianjiu stood silently, his back appearing desolate and covered in the dust of ages. It seemed he had traveled far in search of his beloved, his eyes filled with a man's tender affection as he gazed toward Wulei Zhicheng, as if he could see through the misty clouds to that veiled female figure in white.

"Is this for real? An Huangjing expert trying to cross Naihe Qiao?"

"What's the big deal? Back in the day, Shengti Ye Chen crossed Naihe Qiao when he was only in Tianjing, and his cultivation was even lower than this guy's, but he still made it through."

"You're right. Naihe Qiao doesn't care about your cultivation level; it tests your Dao heart. It's like surviving a heavenly tribulation—as long as your spirit is unbroken, your body won't perish."

Before Tianjiu even set foot on Naihe Qiao, the surroundings erupted in chatter, with people pointing and speculating everywhere.

"Senior, your word is your bond." Tianjiu's words were calm. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he resolutely stepped onto Naihe Qiao.

In an instant, all sounds fell silent.

The onlookers held their breath, not daring to exhale loudly, afraid of missing any part of the spectacle.

The tranquil starry sky was filled only with pounding echoes.

Tianjiu's first step onto Naihe Qiao was incredibly heavy, causing the bridge to rumble. It wasn't that his footfall was weighty, but the pressure on Naihe Qiao was immense, like that of a mountain.

On the second step, his shoulder bones exploded with a boom, sending blood and bones flying.

On the third step, his arms burst into a mist of blood.

On the fourth step, his legs were crushed into dust under the pressure.

On the fifth step, his physical body completely collapsed, leaving only his Yuan Shen.

Only then did he stop.

Or rather, he could no longer move forward—the pressure was too overwhelming.

"That's only the fifth step! And he's already reduced to just his Yuan Shen. How strong is the pressure on Naihe Qiao?" The onlookers all gasped in shock.

"If he takes another step, he'll likely be destroyed on the spot."

"An Huangjing expert can't defy the heavens after all."

"He's done for." Renwang sighed helplessly, unable to bear watching any longer.

"He's a peerless Shenjiang who once fought alongside Diczun across the world. How could he fall to something like Naihe Qiao?" In contrast to Renwang, Ye Chen's eyes shone with determination, full of confidence in Tianjiu.

Renwang shook his head with a smile and said nothing.

"Take one more step, and it will mean death. If you leave now, you can still live." Once again, the ethereal voice came from Wulei Zhicheng.

"The worst that can happen is death—what is there to fear?" Tianjiu's words were calm and unperturbed, his blurred eyes as still as an ancient well. Having seen through life and death, how could he fear it?

With that, he lifted his foot, moving slowly and with great difficulty.

Accompanied by a thud, that foot landed on Naihe Qiao once more.

Instantly, his illusory Yuan Shen shattered inch by inch.

Yet, his eyes remained calm and unwavering, filled only with an unyielding will.

Ah!

The onlookers sighed, turning their eyes away, unable to witness the tragedy.

However, at that very moment, Tianjiu, on the verge of dissipation, reignited the flame of his Yuan Shen.

Soon after, a domineering pressure erupted from Tianjiu, spreading endlessly across the seas and lands. It was the aura of a Zhundi, and not just any Zhundi—it was at the peak level, infinitely close to that of a Dadi.

In merely three breaths, Tianjiu reformed his Yuan Shen and reshaped his physical body. His once hunched back on Naihe Qiao stood tall and straight, like an unyielding monument that no force in the world could topple.

His demeanor had changed, becoming profoundly ethereal. His eyes were like stars, encompassing the heavens and earth. Profound Dao essences evolved within him, his black hair cascading like a waterfall, each strand gleaming with radiant immortal light. It was as if he were no longer a mere person, but a god of war, a supreme Shenjiang.

"This..." The onlookers from all directions were stunned, gazing in astonishment at Naihe Qiao and that figure's back.

"Nirvana rebirth? But this is too outrageous."

"A single transformation, and he went from Huangjing straight to peak Zhundi."

"Something's off." An elderly cultivator narrowed his eyes, as if uncovering the truth. "The Tianjiu we saw before was in a state of tribulation response. This is his true form. Before the tribulation, he was already a Zhundi."

"Shenjiang—he's a Shenjiang." Someone suddenly exclaimed.

This single word stirred massive waves. Many elderly cultivators pulled out scrolls, each containing nine portraits—the likenesses of the nine great Shenjiang. After comparing them one by one, they were shocked to discover that the person standing on Naihe Qiao was identical to the fifth Shenjiang, Tianjiu.

"What poor eyesight we have—it's the fifth Shenjiang in his tribulation state."

"A Shenjiang! One of Diczun's Shenjiang! His legends are nothing short of myths."

"We never met him back then, but seeing the real person now is a blessing for three lifetimes."

Discussions erupted again, swelling like ocean tides. The name of a Shenjiang commanded respect across the universe.

"What a surprise, truly a surprise." In a corner of the crowd, Renwang marveled. "He achieved nirvana between life and death, passing his tribulation ahead of time. Wulei Naihe Qiao truly holds both peril and opportunity."

"A Shenjiang is indeed a Shenjiang." Ye Chen was equally excited, his heart pounding wildly.

"Even so, his fate remains fragile."

"Do not conclude too early. You've been wrong once—there's no guarantee you won't be wrong again."

"You're right about that." Renwang coughed awkwardly and stopped his calculations, leaving the answer to unfold on Naihe Qiao. The fact that Tianjiu had already defied his predictions proved he was a variable.

On Naihe Qiao, the Shenjiang remained still for a long time, his eyes growing even more weathered.

Now, the memories from before his tribulation had all returned. He was a Shenjiang, one of Diczun's Shenjiang.

This rebirth into the world was like living a second life.

This mortal tribulation involved a touch of crimson beauty—it was both emotion and fate, an unbreakable karmic bond.

Normally, after passing the tribulation, one wouldn't retain memories from before. But because his feelings ran so deep, that bond was etched into his soul.

The Shenjiang smiled, his expression full of weariness.

A breeze blew, turning his long hair strand by strand to snow white. He was already old, yet in his twilight years, he had forged this emotional tie. And that woman was from Wulei Zhicheng.

The red dust is ever-changing, and the world is full of uncertainties.

He had seen too many people step onto Naihe Qiao and too many perish on it.

But he never imagined that one day, he would walk this path himself, braving thorns for a single fated connection.

"Shenjiang, I hope you've been well." The indifferent female voice came once more from Wulei Zhicheng.

"You're still as heartless as ever." Tianjiu replied faintly.

"No tears means no heart."

"If the human world has emotion, how can there be no tears?"

"You cannot cross Naihe Qiao—leave now!" The words of Wulei Zhicheng's master were still so ethereal.

"I cross this Naihe Qiao not only for love, but also for Diczun. His Shenjiang has never dishonored his name from beginning to end." Tianjiu smiled, his words equally calm. Slowly, he lifted his foot, step by step, toward the other side of the bridge. Perhaps his body was too heavy, or the pressure of Naihe Qiao too ferocious—each step landed with a resounding thud.

"Good." Ye Chen suddenly shouted out of nowhere.

"Are you out of your mind?" Renwang scolded loudly.

Ye Chen's shout was so abrupt that it nearly scared Renwang witless.

"Good." Before Ye Chen could respond, another shout rang out from the opposite side—it was Lin Xing, and Liudao was yelling too. Those two troublemakers stood out in the crowd.

Sure enough, their shouts prompted the onlookers from all directions to join in.

The cheers grew louder and louder, shaking the starry sky as they rallied for the fifth Shenjiang.

No one had a favorable view of Wulei Zhicheng.

Since they disliked it, they all hoped the Shenjiang would humble its arrogance and show Wulei Zhicheng that the heavens were not without capable people.

Amid the cheers, the Shenjiang did not pause.

Though he drew closer to the end of Naihe Qiao, his condition grew increasingly terrifying.

The pressure of Naihe Qiao was overwhelmingly dominant, even for a Shenjiang. It reduced him to a mass of bloody flesh, with footprints of blood trailing behind him, staining the bridge and its flowers red.

Once again, the Shenjiang stopped.

By now, he was a figure of blood, his limbs, organs, meridians, and veins all crumbling inch by inch. Blood flowed from his entire body, and the protective immortal light had dimmed to its limit.

Only nine steps remained, yet they felt like an insurmountable chasm.

He was a Shenjiang, but ultimately not a Dadi.

The starry sky fell silent because of his halt, with countless eyes fixed on him.

"It's not too late to retreat now." Wulei's words suddenly rang out.

"For emotion, and for Diczun." The Shenjiang murmured faintly, then abruptly lifted his foot, stepping down with a thud on Naihe Qiao.

Immediately after, his legs exploded into a mist of blood, and his body could not escape the doom, turning to ash in an instant, leaving only his Yuan Shen state.

The onlookers' hearts leaped to their throats, their breathing halted.

"You're even worse off than I was back then." Renwang rubbed his brow.

"Without suffering, how can there be nirvana? You said that yourself." Ye Chen replied leisurely.

"I did say that, but today, let me add one more thing for you: you can't help but admire it."

"I won't accept defeat even in death." Ye Chen responded.

"Heavens! Bloodline Limit." As they spoke, the starry sky erupted in chaos.

Ye Chen and Renwang both looked up. They saw the Shenjiang's form changing again—he had reformed his body. His snow-white hair turned strand by strand to blood red, a divine mark appeared on his forehead, and his blood transformed to black. Waves of demonic aura surged wildly, his pressure making the heavens tremble. Many people couldn't withstand it and spat blood from the force.

Bloodline Limit, the ultimate evolution of one's bloodline, a state of immortality.

Because he activated Bloodline Limit, the starry sky shook, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring, and terrifying visions appeared one after another.

"Has Bloodline Limit become as common as cabbages?" Renwang's mouth twitched.

"Immortality—if he still can't cross Naihe Qiao now, it's against the natural order." Ye Chen rolled up his sleeves, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Having activated Bloodline Limit more than once, he knew all too well the terror of this state—it gave him the power to withstand Naihe Qiao's pressure.

"What a miscalculation, truly a miscalculation." Renwang said awkwardly, once again calculating with his fingers.

"What did you figure out this time?" Ye Chen asked with a smile.

"I figured out that his fate is harder than iron." Renwang replied with a serious expression.