Chapter 2001: Tribulation
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the Divine Ocean Continent, countless people were looking up towards the heavens. In the sky above the continent, it was as though a deity was standing up there. Emperor Xi had become a divine deity.
The destructive storm covered the space. Under the watchful gazes of the crowd, the powerful Emperor Xi was facing the onslaught of the law of the Great Path. Light of catastrophe of various colors was charging towards him, attacking his figure again and again. However, Emperor Xi was surrounded by a terrifying light shroud of the Great Path. He withstood the blows from the light of catastrophe.
Rumble. A dull sound could be heard. The ocean was being pushed back. Huge waves churned on the Divine Ocean. With Emperor Xi as the center, an absolute domain of the Great Path emerged. It was as though it was the domain of a deity that formed its own independent space. An extremely dazzling galaxy circled his figure endlessly. Emperor Xi stood at the center of the galaxy, appearing to be its master.
Legends told that deity-level existences possessed their own divine domains of the Great Path. Such existences transcended this world and were not restricted by the laws of the Great Path. They existed high above the heavens and were one with the universe, immortal and indestructible.
This was what all cultivators pursued. However, it was said that only those with flawless Great Paths were qualified to chase after this goal.
The Heavenly Law had changed. It did not allow for the existence of transcendent-level figures. Hence, this tribulation of the Law of the Great Path had descended. Emperor Xi needed to complete all three stages to transcend. However, it was rumored that each stage was a life-or-death experience. Even for existences at his level, they could still perish to the tribulation and be destroyed.
Emperor Xi had cultivated on Turtle Deity Island in the Divine Ocean Continent for many years to prepare for this.
The light of law rampaged. It charged into the light of the galaxy and collided with the power of the Great Path of the galaxy. It annihilated the light of the galaxy. It was as though even the domain of the Great Path of the galaxy could not withstand the unending onslaught of the light of law.
Emperor Xi’s figure shone brilliantly, radiating divine light. Above his Body of Way, a gigantic shadow of a divine turtle appeared. It was a gigantic Xuanwu. It was like a boulder that enveloped Emperor Xi’s figure.
The galaxy and the Xuanwu protected his body.
The people below felt their hearts tremble in astonishment. Emperor Xi was so powerful. Yet, such a figure had to go all-out to face such a tribulation. Many Renhuangs trembled when they felt the might of the tribulation. Countless demonic beasts in the ocean did not dare to surface. They could only bow and submit to this power. This was a heavenly might that they could not resist.
They were also only sensing the pressure of the might. This power was aimed solely at Emperor Xi and would not attack them. At most, they would only feel the aftershocks.
Millet Emperor retracted his defenses, allowing Ye Futian and the others to personally feel the power.
This was Ye Futian’s first time witnessing someone facing a divine tribulation of the Great Path. He was also in awe at what was happening. This tribulation was the most powerful event that the world could accommodate.
Would Emperor Xi be able to withstand it?
“What is that?” Ye Futian asked as he saw an even more frightening power accumulating above Emperor Xi. An endless storm of Clouds of Catastrophe gathered together. They were far from where Ye Futian was, but they still made his heart falter.
“A law attack of the Great Path is gathering over there,” Millet Emperor explained. “I have heard that every time a cultivator faces a tribulation, the law attack which appears is different for each of them. There is even a difference in power. I wonder what type of power of law Emperor Xi will attract.”
The Divine light of the Law of the Great Path coalesced. The light that radiated from there caused the people around here to cower in fear. The light was also blinding, resulting in people not daring to watch.
The power gradually took form. It left the crowd in awe. It was actually a sword.
“A Sword of Law!”
The Millet Emperor’s expression became serious.
“Teacher, is that law attack very powerful?” Zong Chan asked the Millet Emperor. If he could reach Emperor Xi’s Plane, he might experience a similar scene in the future and face his own tribulation.
The Millet Emperor explained, “It is very powerful. A Sword of Law gathers the swordsmanship of the heavens and the earth. It is considered an existence with terrifying attack power. For Emperor Xi, this might prove to be dangerous.” This caused the hearts of the surrounding people to quaver. Would it pose a danger for a figure as powerful as Emperor Xi?
This Sword of Law must be the most critical blow of the tribulation.
In the sky, the darkness dissipated. Endless streaks of light of catastrophe gathered around the sword. A beam of light descended from the sky, seemingly penetrating this part of the world. The heavens were pierced through. If this sword attack landed on the Divine Ocean Continent, it would even stab right through it.
All of the cultivators of the Divine Ocean Continent had stern expressions as they stared at the Sword of Law in the heavens. Before this, many people were excited about the event. Yet, right now, everyone was gazing up in the sky with profound respect.
This was a tribulation, the first of three stages.
Legends claimed that each stage was like passing through Death’s door. Passing each stage was like being reborn into a new life. There would be three stages of tribulations, each one stronger than the last. The third one was the most critical one of all. Legends said that very few people had managed to survive the last stage. Many transcendent figures had reached this stage only to perish to the tribulation. Hence, some cultivators were willing to put off facing this last stage and cultivate in seclusion, preparing for tens of thousands of years to face it.
The Divine Prefecture was too vast; it was practically endless. Many people believed that such reclusive figures as these old monsters who had lived for countless eons existed.
At that moment, many people were worried about Emperor Xi. Could he withstand this law attack?
Rumble!
Intense rumbling could be heard. Ye Futian’s group lowered their heads and peered down. Beneath Turtle Peak, the earth shook, and huge cracks appeared on the surface, forming frightening chasms.
From underground, seemingly buried beneath the earth, a gigantic creature appeared. It had the shell of a turtle.
This humongous creature slowly rose into the sky. The crowd felt their hearts tremble intensely. This gigantic creature was actually a giant beast.
A Xuanwu! A great turtle!
The crowd revealed astonished looks. Beneath Turtle Deity Island, there was actually a hidden Xuanwu that no one knew about. It seemed to be hibernating without a sound or presence and had become one with the earth.
A deep sound could be heard as the Xuanwu let out a cry. The Divine Ocean roared, and huge waves churned on the surface. He raised his head, and then, with a flash of his figure, he charged into the sky. In an instant, he traversed the space. Such a gigantic creature was actually so fast. Before the witnesses could react at all, he had arrived beside Emperor Xi.
“You are already so old. Why did you come out from your burrow?” Emperor Xi asked.
“To help you,” the Xuanwu replied.
“That won’t be necessary,” Emperor Xi answered.
The Xuanwu raised his head and looked at the Sword of Law. No one else understood Emperor Xi’s abilities better than he did. Such a sword could destroy Emperor Xi’s entire life’s cultivation.
“I have slumbered for a thousand years just for this day,” the Xuanwu said. “It is just as you said: there is no meaning in living forever.”
As he said this, his gigantic figure advanced and came up beside Emperor Xi. He actually merged with the gigantic shadow of the Xuanwu that was enveloping Emperor Xi’s body. His eyes looked up at the divine sword, and a scorching glow burst out from them.
The sword light splashed down. The crowd saw that in the heavens above, the Sword of Law was charging down. At that moment, the world was pierced right through.
The Xuanwu lifted his head and bellowed. The heavens trembled, and earthquakes shook the continent. The Divine Ocean was sent into a frenzy, and huge waves swept over the various islands. The crowd felt their spiritual souls quavering. Their Qi and blood churned within them. However, their gazes were still fixed on the sword in the sky.
The sword stabbed down, and blinding divine light followed. It caused many people to involuntarily shut their eyes, not daring to look at it. Only Renhuangs could withstand the blinding rays of light. They squinted as they watched the sky above.
They saw the galaxy shatter and the sword stab down. The gigantic figure of the Xuanwu, the Black Turtle, was ripped apart gradually. However, the humongous beast still had an unshakeable and calm look in his eyes.
The Great Path collapsed, and mountains and rivers shattered. However, he remained standing.
The surface of the Divine Ocean Continent was pierced through by the sword light. The body of the Xuanwu was not destroyed yet. The might of the Great Path was released to its utmost limit from Emperor Xi’s body, merging with the Xuanwu. Emperor Xi’s long hair danced frantically in the wind. His eyes revealed a pained expression. He had already prepared to face the tribulation and had allowed people from all around to witness it. Regardless of whether he survived or died, he had prepared himself to accept it. At the same time, this was also a warning to the world of what a divine tribulation was.
“Old friend, I’ll be heading off first,” said the Xuanwu with a muddy voice. His voice sounded exceptionally heavy, like a mountain. It was as though a part of the sky was pressing down on Emperor Xi. Be it man or demonic beast, those who cultivated sought the highest Way. No one truly wanted to die.
Even if they lived for countless eons, they would still be reluctant to die. The words of the Xuanwu had merely been to comfort Emperor Xi.
At that moment, Emperor Xi did not ask the Xuanwu why he had done so. Instead, he calmed down and said, “You go on ahead. I will come find you in the future.”
“For the next stages, if you cannot manage, just don’t face them,” said the Xuanwu. His body shattered under the sword, constantly exploding. It appeared as though the heavens and earth were falling apart.
Endless divine light radiated from Emperor Xi’s figure. He became one with the galaxy and was bathed in the residue sword light.
After cultivating for a lifetime, was it still that difficult to face the first of three divine tribulations?
Blinding light radiated, and the Sword of Law became beams of light that dispersed without a trace. Many people still had their eyes shut.
After a long while, the Clouds of Catastrophe in the heavens above seemed to dissipate gradually. Countless people raised their heads and looked up into the sky. The sword had already disappeared, and the tribulation was also over. Only one person remained standing silently in the sky. It seemed as though he had been standing there for a long time.
This figure was Emperor Xi.
“Congratulations, Emperor Xi,” cried countless people from all over the Divine Ocean Continent. Regardless of whether Emperor Xi could hear them, they were still happy for him.
So, this was a divine tribulation. They had taken it too lightly before. Now that they had witnessed a true divine tribulation, it was as though they had died and been reborn and had actually experienced it themselves.
Emperor Xi had gone through a life-or-death experience.
“Congratulations, Emperor Xi,” cried out countless people on Turtle Deity Island as they congratulated him on successfully facing the divine tribulation of the Great Path.
The top figures looked at the silhouette in the sky. They did not say anything as they looked up in the sky quietly. To survive this tribulation, Emperor Xi had also paid an enormous price. The super-powerful Xuanwu had perished.
They actually had not known that such a terrifying Xuanwu had been slumbering beneath Turtle Deity Island. Emperor Xi kept too low a profile. If it weren’t for this tribulation, no one would have known.
Unfortunately, such a gigantic Xuanwu had perished just like that. He had taken Emperor Xi’s place so that he could survive this tribulation.
Emperor Xi stood high in the sky, quietly. He just stood there. No one knew what he was thinking. However, they knew that for Emperor Xi, there was no joy in having passed the tribulation. For Emperor Xi, this was a tragedy!