Chapter 54: Nine Heavens God-Demon Tribulation

Wait a moment, judgment of life and death!

But this time, it seemed like he was the one being judged...

As Li Changshou uttered the words "wait a moment," a sudden realization dawned in his heart.

And when that immense pressure descended from the sky, Li Changshou instantly understood something!

In this situation...

Well, he really had to take half the blame himself.

The other half could only be attributed to Tian Dao, which was supposed to oversee everything!

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

The air suddenly filled with a series of buzzing sounds, and strange ripples appeared in the sky above!

This astonishing pressure enveloped an area of a hundred li, making all living beings in the vicinity tremble and freeze in place, unable to move.

Boom!

Li Changshou looked up again and saw a dark cloud, only about sixty zhang in diameter, had appeared in the sky out of nowhere.

At the center of the dark cloud, two slits slowly cracked open, like a pair of enormous eyes gradually opening, while the entire cloud formed the outline of an old daoist's face, expressionless, with empty eyes staring down at Li Changshou.

Tian Dao?

Dao Zu?

Li Changshou felt as if he had been thoroughly examined from head to toe, and a strong sense of danger surged in his heart.

His spiritual senses were no longer just twitching—they were screaming like a boiling kettle, whistling wildly!

Even the immortal light that had been shimmering over his upper body was now forced back inside him!

What should he do!?

In his current state, if he was seen as a deviation by Tian Dao and treated as a flaw in the Hong Huang world, he could be directly erased by Tian Dao!

Even if he hadn't done anything, even if he had no karmic ties at all!

With a resolute heart, Li Changshou couldn't worry about the details anymore.

Braving the pressure, he shouted loudly:

“Dao Men disciple has no intention to offend the heavenly might! It was merely carelessness and a momentary oversight!

Please, Tian Dao master, wait a moment!”

Damn, what was he even saying, asking Tian Dao to wait...

This was a Zi Xiao Shen Lei warning!

Li Changshou quickly untied his dao robe and removed the treasure-lined short jacket he wore underneath, which had sixteen pockets sewn into it front and back, then stashed it into his bracelet.

He never imagined he'd have to reveal part of his hidden cards in a situation like this.

He had prepared so much for heavenly tribulations, but this was completely unexpected...

It turned out Tian Dao wasn't paying that much attention to him after all.

On his left arm near the shoulder, a cloth rope was wrapped around, tied with a piece of broken jade that emitted a faint, obscure dao rhythm.

Nameless broken jade: When Li Changshou was five years old, a group of grave-robbing thieves came to the grasslands, trading excavated ancient artifacts for cattle, sheep, and gold and silver with their tribe. This piece of jade was treated as ordinary and picked up by Li Changshou after he noticed an ancient character for 'fire' on it, which he begged to keep.

Effect: Unknown.

But ten years after entering the sect, Li Changshou secretly placed the broken jade near his master and used his beginner's divination methods, only to find he could no longer accurately trace his master's whereabouts as before.

The jade's effect was inferred to be evading divination searches, so he had kept it with him ever since.

The cloth rope: Originally a piece of hemp cloth stained with blood, taken from the interlayer of an ancient beast skin scroll that recorded the deeds of human sages. This cloth was likely a fragment left by a great human figure after an injury.

Effect: According to the scroll, wearing it grants the protection of human sages, though it's probably just a psychological effect.

He yanked off the cloth rope and the nameless broken jade, stuffing them into his wrist bracelet. Then, from the bracelet, Li Changshou pulled out a dagger and turned to look at his back.

The heavenly might descending from the sky weakened slightly.

Li Changshou felt a surge of joy in his heart, but he quickly steadied himself and glanced at his left shoulder, where an ancient talisman tattooed on his skin was faintly glowing.

Li Changshou slid the dagger across the corner of the talisman, breaking it instantly...

Fortunately, once the wound healed later, the talisman would restore itself.

Ancient Wu Clan secret talisman: For evading disasters, warding off calamities, and defending against divination, created by the Ancestral Witches to counter the Yao Clan.

It needs to be drawn on beast hide to work, but on flesh, it's even more effective.

He had another such talisman under his right rib, which Li Changshou also cut open himself...

Instantly, the heavenly might from above weakened a bit more.

But that wasn't all...

Li Changshou caught the key phrase—"defending against divination."

He immediately put away all the other items he carried close to his body.

For example, the two small ancient coins sealed in his undergarment pocket;

These were said to be from the first edition of human currency in ancient times, carrying a trace of merit and effects for defending against divination and evading disasters.

Then there was the demon bone fragment tied to his ankle and the colorful fish scale stuck to his thigh...

In total, seven strange and miscellaneous items, which Li Changshou had tested on his master and confirmed could evade divination searches to varying degrees...

These weren't any kind of treasures; the difficulty lay in finding them, not obtaining them.

Speaking of Hong Huang, what leaves a deep impression, besides various treasures, divine abilities, and great experts, is probably that miraculous art of divination.

A powerful expert proficient in divination can borrow Tian Dao's power, calculate with their fingers, and instantly know events from ten thousand li away.

Li Changshou himself was a "little secret," reincarnated into this Hong Huang world with memories from his previous life, so he was extremely vigilant about this. Through hard work and good luck, he acquired these little gadgets.

But he never expected...

That even Tian Dao had been fooled by them!

At this point, the pressure had gradually faded away, and the outline of the old daoist's face on the dark cloud slowly dissipated, though the cloud still hovered above his head.

Li Changshou was drenched in cold sweat. If not for his strong mental fortitude, he would have collapsed on the sea surface by now...

He had acquired these items purely to prevent others from divining him, not to guard against Tian Dao.

"When your cultivation is too low, any deliberate disguise can attract the attention of the powerful and bring disaster."

He had understood this principle long ago and always used ordinariness as his camouflage in the sect.

Why would he deliberately go against Tian Dao?

Perhaps...

Maybe...

It could be that Tian Dao has different modes?

Standby, energy-saving, full operation, high performance?

Cough, just a joke.

Tian Dao monitors the operation of all things in the world but doesn't overly focus on every living being, especially those who haven't become immortals and pose no threat.

The eight thunder tribulations Li Changshou had previously undergone were just Tian Dao's response based on his aptitude, like a pre-set program.

It was only when issues arose after the tribulation that Tian Dao took notice...

Normally, for other tribulators whose accumulations far exceeded their "aptitude expectations," Tian Dao would adjust the tribulation's intensity to provide sufficient tempering, and if they couldn't withstand it, they would perish.

But who knew Li Changshou was carrying all these strange "anti-divination" items? Even in "energy-saving mode," Tian Dao had overlooked it...

And when Tian Dao looked closely, a mere "half-immortal" like him had no secrets left.

The pressure that descended earlier wasn't for probing—it was a warning.

The real Zi Xiao Shen Lei warning.

"Good thing, maybe it was the benefit of being polite earlier."

Li Changshou adjusted his breathing, quickly put his short jacket and dao robe back on, and pondered what words of thanks he should say to Tian Dao.

Suddenly, a muffled thunder rumbled in the sky, stirring winds and clouds for thousands of li around!

Li Changshou immediately bowed deeply with his hands clasped.

He shouted again:

“Dao Men disciple now appeals to the heavens!

The variables in this tribulation were not deliberately calculated by this disciple! They were merely means to evade human disasters!

Today, gaining this dao foundation is due to this disciple studying Dao Men scriptures and following the teachings of Dao Men ancestors through diligent cultivation day and night!

I humbly beseech the heavens to consider the hardship of my cultivation and send another thunder tribulation!

Also, please allow this disciple to change the tribulation location to avoid untimely death!”

As his words fell, the dark cloud in the sky began to expand slowly, with gusts of wind blowing from all directions. Gray clouds formed on the sea surface within hundreds of li, converging toward Li Changshou's head!

Li Changshou immediately understood and turned to dash into the sea.

Earlier, to guard against interference during the tribulation, he had selected several tribulation sites and set up arrays on the seabed to accelerate water escape.

Who could have predicted that his move to the second site wasn't due to human intervention, but because...

He was facing a second heavenly tribulation!

Undergoing the immortal ascension tribulation twice?

He'd never even heard of such a thing...

See, preparing as many contingencies as possible for heavenly tribulations was never excessive!

This time, the tribulation cloud covered a hundred li of the sea surface, and its thickness was ten times that of before...

Li Changshou sped through the water with water escape, and the massive tribulation cloud above moved eastward at the same speed.

Looking up at the cloud, it had condensed into a majestic heavenly palace, with countless gray figures at the front and back, and a stern emperor seated within the palace.

All these figures were formed from the tribulation cloud, their faces indistinguishable.

Below the palace, two enormous dragon and phoenix sculptures stood: the dragon bared its fangs and claws, the phoenix spread its wings in a high cry, as if they might come alive any moment and fight each other.

Beneath the dragon and phoenix, hordes of fierce beasts and burly human-like shadows seemed to enact a great battle between great demons and Wu Gods!

At the very bottom, silver-white lightning spots with a purple hue appeared throughout the tribulation cloud, quickly gathering to form a thunder pool about ten zhang wide!

The thunder in the pool flowed like liquid, slowly filling up.

Li Changshou's second tribulation site was just three hundred li away, and along the way, several pre-set arrays boosted his speed in water escape.

Almost as soon as he arrived at the second small island, a booming sound echoed from above.

With no time to lose, Li Changshou grabbed a treasure pouch and swung it hard, flinging six folded mage birdcages in different directions—without even opening them...

Before the pouch hit the ground, Li Changshou's left hand gripped an engraving knife, his right held a wooden sword, and talismans flew out from his sleeve!

Sensing something, he looked up just as his feet stumbled.

What on earth was this?

In the sky, the thunder pool tilted slowly, and a cascade of thunder poured down like a waterfall, smashing straight toward him...

Countless bolts of lightning instantly lit up the dim world!

Li Changshou's left hand moved the engraving knife swiftly, carving ancient characters in mid-air. His whole body surged with magical power, and multicolored immortal light shimmered over his upper body once more, with his immortal spirit aura layered on top!

Boom!

Li Changshou's figure was engulfed by the thunder cascade. Those ancient characters shattered almost instantly, and his tall form was pressed into the now-melted ground...

After a moment, the lightning faded. Li Changshou leaped out of the square pit, his dao robe in tatters, his breath unsteady, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

So this was the real heavenly tribulation?

Tough, really tough.

He immediately waved the engraving knife, writing ancient characters around him. These formed the content of an ancient human sage Shen Nong's essay on planting;

The characters seemed to create their own array, arranged around him according to the original text, then slowly rose above his head.

At the same time, a cluster of San Mei Zhen Huo surged around him, enveloping his body.

Around him, clusters of nine-petaled lotuses slowly bloomed, each as large as a basin.

—This was the phenomenon that appeared when he fully channeled his magical power!

Bring it on, heavenly tribulation!

Li Changshou looked up, his long hair and dao robe fluttering in the wind, as the thunder pool above tilted again, sending another cascade crashing down!

But this time, Li Changshou bent his knees and shot into the sky, his eyes gleaming with divine light, charging straight into the thunder cascade!

Nine thunder heavenly tribulations!

I've been waiting for you for far too long.

...

“Master, why have we stopped again?”

Above the South Sea, on a white cloud, the young girl being led by the old daoist whispered.

The old daoist stared at Li Changshou's second tribulation site and couldn't help but gasp.

“This... what kind of heavenly tribulation is this?

A heavenly palace above, dragon and phoenix in the middle, gods and demons below—could it be the second-ranked Nine Heavens Divine Demon Tribulation!”

But then, the old daoist shook his head with a sigh. “What's going on in the South Sea today? Geniuses gathering for tribulations?

What a pity, another young one is about to perish in the heavenly tribulation.

Let's go, no point watching.”

The girl asked softly, “Master, can't anyone survive this kind of tribulation?”

The old daoist replied, “In the eight-thunder tribulation earlier, did you feel any spiritual energy surging toward the tribulation site?”

The girl shook her head immediately.

“See? The eight-thunder tribulation is already extremely hard to survive, let alone the thirty-two fierce tribulations. The one before has already had their soul scattered, and now another has come.”

The old daoist said bitterly, “Talent that's too outstanding invites heavenly jealousy. There are already too many experts in Hong Huang; without tribulations to hold them back, great calamities could come in an instant.

Let's go, don't watch such disheartening scenes.”

As the old daoist spoke, the white cloud continued flying south, but the girl curiously glanced back at the sea thousands of li away.

That enormous tribulation cloud was now almost pressing down to the sea surface.