Chapter 52: Thank you, Lord Heavenly Tribulation, for Taking Time Out of Your Busy Schedule to Come and Strike

Honghuang is truly too terrifying...

Amidst the ceaseless clinking sounds, Ao Yi sat on the edge of his luxurious bed, which was over a hundred feet long. His hands trembled uncontrollably, causing the nourishing tea in his grip to constantly spill, with only a little making it to his lips.

He was shaking all over, his entire body quivering lightly.

The reason for Ao Yi's trembling wasn't fear of the Longmu, Gui Xianren, or the several dragon uncles present, nor was it worry about any punishment he might face.

Although he had only been out of his egg for eleven or twelve years, he considered himself fairly resilient. Before being sent to Nanhai Jin'ao Island to seek initiation under the Jie Jiao great immortals, he had endured three months of torment from ice pillars and iron spikes without yielding at all.

This trembling, however, happened naturally, beyond his own control.

He felt as if his body had no strength left, and a shadow had formed in his heart—this shadow was the source of his shaking.

Just slightly lifting the corner of that shadow, Ao Yi saw the icy-cold face of that human old Daoist.

How could humans be so treacherous?

The thought of that brief battle made Ao Yi tremble even more intensely.

The Longmu beside him quickly urged the elder dragons to examine her second son, but after repeated checks, their only conclusion was—

Overindulgence in alcohol.

Ao Yi's barely protruding Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he suddenly took a large gulp of the nourishing tea, brewed from dozens of precious spiritual herbs. But he immediately spat it out toward the side, followed by violent retching.

Several maidservants rushed forward, but Ao Yi suddenly let out a miserable howl, his eyes filled with terror.

"Don't come over!What are you trying to do?"

The delicate and beautiful maidservants quickly bowed their heads in apology and hurried back.

Panting heavily, Ao Yi clutched his forehead, his trembling voice gradually softening. "Let me be alone for a while. Don't come near me..."

"My son," the dignified and graceful Longmu called out worriedly, "what on earth is wrong with you?"

Ao Yi slowly placed the empty white jade condensing glass cup beside him, but his hand shook, accidentally smashing the valuable cup onto the jade-paved floor.

He covered his face with both hands, trying to slowly uncover the shadow in his heart.

The way to conquer fear is to face it!

Hallucinogens, powerful hallucinogens...

That massive square seal had smashed down on him from above, stunning him and completely clouding his mind...

Yet his body and bloodline retained many memories, many sensations.

In his unconscious state, he felt like a gutted salted fish, being rinsed repeatedly with seawater from inside out, not sparing a single detail of his body...

Then coated with some kind of soap powder and rinsed again...

During the rinsing, seven or eight palms kept slapping him, and streams of spells struck his body, much like the royal chefs in the Dragon Palace tenderizing premium snowflake unicorn beef to perfect its texture...

In his daze, he even felt that this human, like a demon, was going to eat him!

And not just any way—it would be every piece of his dragon flesh prepared to perfection: pan-fried, sliced, deep-fried, stewed, using every method to bring out the ultimate flavor of this dragon meat feast!

This process of being treated like an ingredient repeated at least several dozen times!

Several dozen times!

That old Daoist wasn't human—he was the most terrifying dragon-eating beast!

No, that was the true nature of humans!

In his half-month of unconsciousness, Ao Yi kept reliving and savoring it. When he awoke and saw his mother, he thought it was all a dream, perhaps a nightmare from before he hatched from the egg...

But it wasn't a dream.

Was this how humans fought the dragon race in direct combat?

Was this the real reason his dragon race dared not wage war against humans?

No chance of winning, definitely no chance.

That old Daoist's aura had clearly felt weaker than his own, yet he had still managed to...

To...

Just then, he overheard two uncles whispering nearby:

"The protective dragon scales have already flashed, meaning that thief didn't intend to kill. He just forced Ao Yi to drink a lot of wine. Why hasn't he come to the Dragon Palace to claim his reward?"

"Probably because he's afraid we'll go back on our word and break our promise.Sigh, but according to the rules, we must thank him properly."

Wh-what?

The Dragon Palace still has to thank that dragon-eating monster?

Ao Yi shakily stood up, about to speak, but the words caught in his throat as his mind flashed with images of that group of stern old Daoists pinning him, a young dragon, to the sea floor and repeatedly washing him with endless seawater...

And then his own dragon race, his family, would have to express gratitude to this demon and give him rewards?

Was all of this part of that human old Daoist's scheme?

Could any random human Qi refiner just show up and easily handle a dragon prince with Dragon King bloodline?

Ao Yi's legs went weak, and he slumped back onto the bed, sucking in a sharp breath.

Honghuang is truly...

Too terrifying.

...

Meanwhile, in the South Sea, on a coral island near the southern continent.

The cold-faced old Daoist, who was Li Changshou in disguise, sat cross-legged in a recessed reef, his aura gently trembling as strands of spiritual energy gathered from the sea surface.

He breathed in and out freely and at ease;

The world was clear and bright, and he was completely immersed.

After a short while, a green light flickered on Li Changshou's forehead, and several nine-petal lotus flowers drifted around him, slowly rotating.

The green light bloomed briefly and then faded;

His body echoed with roars like mountains and seas, gradually merging with the sound of waves crashing against the small island.

Suddenly, a thunderclap rang out, and wisps of green light emanated from Li Changshou, with more nine-petal lotus flowers scattering around him, accompanied by a faint fragrance.

Fish and shrimp in the surrounding ten li of sea were drawn by the scent, and the lotus flowers drifted toward some creatures with a bit of spirituality.

But abruptly, Li Changshou opened his eyes, his gaze full of green light. The lotus flowers shattered gently, and the sea creatures sensed a strong danger, immediately fleeing far away...

Enlightening creatures in Honghuang was a benevolent act, earning a small amount of merit from the Heavenly Dao.

But if any creatures he accidentally enlightened turned into demons and harmed humans, he would bear part of the karma, and that merit might not even cover it...

He had broken through.

Li Changshou exhaled, internally examining himself and checking repeatedly.

Even with the most critical eye, his foundation seemed solid.

Was it time to face his immortality tribulation?

Li Changshou looked up at the sky, which was clear with not a cloud in sight, a vast blue expanse.

Hmm, he still seemed a bit short of the ideal state. His earlier assumption that rushing to the ninth level of Returning to Dao would immediately bring heavenly tribulation was slightly off.

After all, he had always planned for the worst.

Closing his eyes in concentration, Li Changshou continued his meditation and cultivation. The small spirit-gathering array made of spirit stones beneath him steadily emitted spiritual energy, which he absorbed without wasting a drop.

In various directions within ten li, several paper effigy avatars were hidden in the seabed, monitoring the surroundings and luring out any potential attackers.

This reef area had minimal setups, as the heavenly tribulation would surely destroy the place.

He had placed his arrangements farther away, and they were all for escape, not defense—pure evasion formations.

This would allow him to transfer quickly after the tribulation.

This spot was the ideal place he had found for crossing the tribulation: no Qi refiners active within a thousand li. Any passing Qi refiners were usually hundreds of li away.

—This was related to the distribution of mortal cities on land.

After half a month of meditation, Li Changshou suddenly felt a sense of restlessness, and an obscure Dao rhythm appeared around him.

The heavenly tribulation was coming.

After entering the ninth level of Returning to Dao, he had been given half a month to consolidate his realm and stabilize his Dao foundation—the Heavenly Dao was quite "lenient" in that regard.

Li Changshou transformed his form into a fish, using water escape to patrol within a hundred li, then returned to the reef.

Come on, he was ready.

This feeling was quite peculiar.

It was like facing a major life test, similar to staying up all night before the final exam after twelve years of hard study in his previous life...

"Do not let your heart grow restless; stay calm and focused."

Li Changshou silently recited the calming mantra in his heart, and soon after, he took out the Wuwei Scripture, holding it and pondering it carefully.

More insights meant more accumulation, which would increase his chances of surviving the tribulation.

Three days later, the premonition of the impending tribulation grew stronger.

The calming mantra had lost its effect, and he couldn't focus on any insights. An vague pressure enveloped the area within three li, making other creatures instinctively stay away.

His master's tribulation had been like this—shy and hesitant, dragging on.

He wondered if his own would be gentler or more wild and surging...

His own tribulation.

It should be seven or eight lightning strikes.

Li Changshou thought to himself, relaxing his mind without forcing calmness. Instead, he experienced this unease and anxiety in his heart.

This was a natural reaction for any living being facing heavenly might, unrelated to the level of Dao realm.

The immortality tribulation, also known as the path-achieving tribulation, had Li Changshou pondering the meaning of "achieving the path" long ago.

Today, he finally had an answer.

Qi refining, spirit transformation, returning to emptiness, returning to Dao—these were Qi refiners learning from nature, imitating nature, and summarizing their own Dao within it. This "Dao" was the foundation for their immortality and longevity.

The immortality tribulation was the Heavenly Dao's "inspection" of a Qi refiner's Dao, checking if it qualified for immortality.

At the same time, it was a trial to help the Qi refiner transcend mortality, allowing them to elevate through their own Dao.

Born as a spirit, transformed into an immortal.

Dao and Dao realm shouldn't be generalized. In Li Changshou's view, naming one's own Dao was inappropriate.

Just as with human nature: steady or frantic, bold or shy, anxious or open-minded.

Dao is the same.

"I am, as well."

Li Changshou closed his eyes and smiled slightly, and suddenly, wisps of breeze arose around him, turning into whirlwinds that soared upward.

Muffled thunder rumbled, and storm clouds gathered abruptly over the sea. Patches of dark gray tribulation clouds surged in from hundreds of zhang high, enveloping the nearby ten li of sea.

The clouds seemed to hold mountains, or perhaps towers, like heavenly soldiers forming ranks, with giant gods beating drums.

The tribulation clouds displayed various omens, and the lower clouds began to rotate slowly, resembling a massive sea vortex from afar.

But this vortex only formed halfway, with thunderous lights flashing and lightning crackling inside!

Li Changshou slowly rose from the reef, straightened his robes, and with a casual point, twelve immortal master birdcages unfolded around him. Several pills were already prepared in his sleeve.

His Dao body was enveloped in green light, and his Yuan Shen power was fully condensed.

Exhaling his last breath of turbid air, Li Changshou looked up at the sky and then...

Performed a respectful Daoist bow, using the most orthodox ancient rite.

He spoke clearly:

"Disciple of the Dao sect now addresses the heavens:I am grateful for the heavens bestowing the tribulation of path-achieving.I sincerely accept it.I establish my own Dao to become an immortal without worries.If the heavenly tribulation descends and I cannot endure it, leading to my body and Dao perishing, it is because my Dao is insufficient for eternal life with heaven and earth, and I will have no complaints.The Great Dao resounds, the Heavenly Dao is just.I thank the Heavenly Dao for its care and for granting this opportunity for immortality!"

Boom—

The tribulation clouds seemed to respond, or perhaps they didn't hear Li Changshou's words at all—the power of the tribulation remained unchanged.

In the swirling clouds, several well-sized thunder spots flashed, and faint arcs of electricity appeared around Li Changshou.

He slowly floated upward, with the twelve immortal master birdcages drifting on the sea surface, spreading out to maintain distance for later use.

When Li Changshou reached nine zhang high, three silver-white thunder spots shone simultaneously, erupting into streaks of electric light like silver snakes!

These thunderbolts converged in the center into a beam as thick as a millstone, striking down directly on Li Changshou. Though his spiritual sense detected no danger, he still channeled his full magical power throughout his body.

His Dao body emitted a faint glow, which was then engulfed by the thunder!

The first thunder's power was roughly equal to the third thunder his master had faced?

His tribulation was indeed not to be taken lightly.

Li Changshou withstood the thunderbolts completely and looked up at the sky, quietly waiting.

The aftermath of that thunder...

It was ticklish, slightly numb, and strands of immortal spiritual energy were already brewing within him, with his Yuan Shen soaked in the lightning.

Unexpectedly...

It felt quite comfortable.