Mingxing Peak.
Bang!
On this day, dark clouds gathered on the summit, the once-clear sky now covered by tribulation clouds stretching hundreds of miles.
This was the phenonon of a Heavenly Tribulation.
The commotion stirred the attention of many.
"Is this Mingxing Peak? Is Zhi Xin crossing a tribulation?"
On Plum Blossom Mountain, Master i Hua suddenly raised his head, sensing the energy in the ether. After so calculation, he determined the direction of the tribulation—it was Mingxing Peak.
He was well aware of Zhi Xin’s condition. Undertaking a tribulation at this mont was unwise unless...
i Hua considered a certain possibility.
The winds surrounding Mingxing Peak roared for three days and nights.
The howling sounded like a tiger’s roar or a dragon’s cry, and hearing it alone was enough to chill the soul.
The entire upper echelon of the Taoist School noticed the spectacle.
They knew soone was attempting a tribulation.
The Wind Tribulation!
This relentless gale was called Bifeng.
Bifeng was no ordinary wind. It was not the southeast, northwest winds, nor the gentle golden autumn breeze, and certainly not the idle floral aroma or the swaying of pines and bamboo. It was a wind that descended from the Nine Heavens.
Its destructive capacity was unparalleled, and it could perate all things, sweeping from the crown of one’s head to the soles of their feet.
Its force could scatter one’s soul, extinguish life, and dissolve the Dao.
"A tribulation?"
In the Yunzhou Society Commandery, Chuu Yuying suddenly stood up.
"Crossing the tribulation now?"
Chuu Yuying doubted Zhi Xin’s ability to survive it.
She had assud Zhi Xin would attempt to evade the tribulation, but it seed he had chosen to confront it directly. Could he be holding onto so hidden trump card?
"Perhaps he does have a trump card after all..."
anwhile, atop another summit—the Heavenly Pond.
The Heavenly Pond was a lake perched on the mountain crest, ford by the Essence and Qi of the earth’s veins.
From above, it appeared as a crystal-clear mirror.
Dense trees surrounded the lake, and in their midst was a face resembling a woman’s visage.
Beneath the lake swam carp with dragon whiskers and strange beings that were half-human, half-fish.
By the lake’s edge was a cave mansion, and within its courtyard were a Taoist clad in yellow robes and one in green, discussing the Tao.
When the Wind Tribulation erupted, both of them abruptly silenced themselves, simultaneously gazing in the direction of Mingxing Peak.
"Zhi Xin is crossing a tribulation," the green-robed Xuan Sha said.
"He has made significant progress recently. This ti, I’d wager it’s nine out of ten he’ll succeed," the yellow-robed Earth Sha comnted.
The last ti they saw Zhi Xin, his condition was grim, yet his Essence, Qi, and Spirit remained vigorous, reflecting the confidence of soone mastering divine arts.
Thus, Earth Sha boldly predicted Zhi Xin’s inevitable triumph this ti.
"It seems the Zhi Xin of old has returned," Earth Sha remarked. "By the way, isn’t his disciple being held in Black Wind Valley?"
"I’m not certain, but their close relationship is undeniable."
Earth Sha replied.
Master-and-disciple yet almost like friends, Song Lin was no easy character either. Eight years of cultivation had rendered him increasingly composed.
Soon, the clouds of the tribulation dissipated over Mingxing Peak. The Taoist School dispatched individuals to investigate, only to find the grass-covered hut atop the summit gone.
Where it once stood remained only a white-robed Taoist.
Zhi Xin no longer appeared sickly, his complexion now flushed with vitality, his face glowing with radiance. Even his once-disheveled white hair had been tidied into a Taoist crown.
"Welco back, Master Zhi Xin!"
The emissaries of the Taoist School greeted him fervently.
Zhi Xin paid them no heed, closing his eyes instead to sense the ethereal Heavenly Dao.
Before him, a river of ti seed to erge, its currents shrouded in mist, obscuring its reality from sight.
The ever-shifting river constantly transford, yet Zhi Xin grasped its pulse.
He opened his eyes and turned his gaze toward the figure before him.
Everything about this person’s past unfurled before his eyes like a lantern carousel.
Though unable to see the particulars, Zhi Xin discerned the generalities and the roots of the person’s existence.
After all, Zhi Xin did not specialize in divination. The art of calculation was not rely about predicting one’s future.
His expertise lay in the Great Dao, in uncovering the foundation of existence, and in Heaven-defying Fate.
For finer details, he wasn’t quite on par with i Hua.
The person under Zhi Xin’s scrutiny felt their scalp prickle with unease.
"Take to see the Heavenly Master."
"Understood."
On the journey, Zhi Xin shut his eyes in contemplation.
The Da Yan Heavenly chanism Skill had been thoroughly researched. Even the so-called variables could now be accurately grasped.
The Great Dao numbers fifty, the Dao derives forty-nine, people evade but one.
Ordinary individuals linger within the boundaries of forty-nine, their vision of destiny fixed and unchanging.
Zhi Xin, however, controlled the elusive one needed for evasion.
When used correctly, it could reverse the forces of Yin and Yang, defying fate itself.
"However..."
Defying fate ca at an enormous cost.
Zhi Xin roughly estimated the limits—he could execute this ultimate skill only three tis in his lifeti.
Three chances to reverse fate were far too few.
Yet even one could transform countless situations.
Of course, this ability couldn’t be disclosed openly, not even to the Heavenly Master.
Having just three opportunities didn’t render Zhi Xin a helpless figure.
The Da Yan Heavenly chanism Skill could still be utilized to deduce tribulation-crossing techniques and Taoist arts.
Without relying on his three chances, Zhi Xin remained unrivaled in the art of calculation within the Holy Might Taoist School.
"i Hua, you never expected this, did you..."
Zhi Xin chuckled softly.
Already, he envisioned i Hua with a crestfallen expression.
A lifeti of contention and dominance had ultimately yielded victory to him.
For now, though, saving Song Lin was the overriding priority.
No more than ten years had passed yet.
Eight years might seem brief, but under such harsh conditions, it was undoubtedly torturous.
Unwittingly, they arrived at Xuanyu City and stood before the Heavenly Master Mansion.
Through the screen separating them, Zhi Xin sensed sothing amiss.
The Heavenly Master before him seed peculiar, wavering between reality and illusion, his fate elusive and undecipherable.
The sensation was haunting.
"Perhaps this is what it feels like to confront a superior," Zhi Xin mused.
"Congratulations."
The Heavenly Master’s voice was low and steady.
"Heavenly Master, I intend to return to the Taoist School, to contribute to its growth. My research into the Da Yan Heavenly chanism Skill is complete..."
Zhi Xin explained his situation.
"If you return, I recomnd taking up the role of Heavenly chanism Minister. How does that sound to you?"
The Taoist Alliance comprised five major palaces.
The Central Duozonglu Palace, South Dongyang Hua Palace, Qinghua Fangzhu Palace, Green Origin Spirit Spring Palace, and Zhou Jueyin Heavenly Palace.
The Central Duozonglu Palace was governed by the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master, who held the title Central General Record Lord.
The fifth palace, Zhou Jueyin Heavenly Palace, was led by the Holy Might Heavenly Master, bearing the title Beidou Destiny Lord.
The Taoist Alliance’s structure consisted of palaces, commanderies, bureaus, halls, and departnts.
The Heavenly chanism Minister was akin to the palace’s pri minister.
This showed just how highly the Heavenly Master valued Zhi Xin.
"I accept, but... I have a request."
"Speak with Earth Sha directly to claim your person,"
Before Zhi Xin could finish his sentence, the Heavenly Master already discerned his intent.
"Thank you, Heavenly Master."
Zhi Xin departed at once.
After rescuing Song Lin, Zhi Xin would delve into the Da Yan Heavenly chanism Skill to locate Qing’er’s whereabouts.
Qing’er’s given na was Wu Lingsu. She was the daughter of King Qin of Wu Country. Qing’er was her nickna.
Years ago, Qing’er failed her tribulation, and her True Spirit vanished into an unknown realm.
To locate it would allow Zhi Xin to employ the Heaven-defying Fate skill to resurrect her, fulfilling his long-cherished wish.
In this mont, Zhi Xin felt as though no greater joy existed in the world.
A few centuries of aimless wandering suddenly seed entirely worthwhile.
Not only had he broken through the realm, becoming a Fire Tribulation Expert, but he had also mastered ultimate arts and gained the chance to revive his Taoist companion.
Of course, all of this was tied to Song Lin.
The turning point of everything began with Song Lin.
Perhaps he was the earliest variable Zhi Xin ever encountered.
...
To the south, in the Witch God Heavenly King Dao Alliance.
A young man wielding a bow and dressed in hunting attire weaved through the dense forests.
If Song Lin were here, he would surely recognize Shi Yinhua.
Once pale and sickly, Shi Yinhua now bore a charming face with a beard along his jawline and a complexion restored with a healthy flush.
Bang!
The land before him suddenly exploded.
A sharp-nosed, spiny hedgehog opened its blood-red maw and lunged forward.
"The Immortal Master sent !"
Swish!
A flash of yellow streaked by.
A weasel three zhang tall instantly broke through the hedgehog’s armor.
Boom!
The massive hedgehog’s body crashed onto the ground.
The surrounding foxes, white snakes, weasels, and rats encircled the hedgehog closely.
Shi Yinhua tossed a talisman toward it.
"Sign your na, submit or perish!"
The hedgehog grumbled a few reluctant noises before eventually dripping its blood onto the talisman.
Clutching the talisman tightly, Shi Yinhua’s eyes glead with fervor as he laughed, "Today, the Five Directions Immortal Dao takes its first step!"
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