Chapter 252: Chapter 247: As you finish your act, I take the stage
As the Sect prepared for the Sword Discussion Conference, Gongsun Qingyue’s absence fell without dispute upon Yun Jiuye’s shoulders.
Yun Jiuye was also knowledgeable in Qimen Dunjia and various arrays. He took advantage of the situation, causing the convergence of Water and Fire energies at this place, nurturing the land, stimulating the Wood Qi, and ultimately creating the current Heavenly Wood Tribulation, meeting the requirements for the Promotion Ceremony.
At this moment, he faced the crowd and said loudly, "Thank you all for coming to the meeting. I, Yun, am truly grateful. To express my thanks, I offer to cross the tribulation as a recompense. If any fellow Taoist wishes to join the tribulation, I, Yun, am also willing to wait."
The challenges of tribulation include not only Heavenly Tribulation but also mortal challenges.
Heavenly Tribulation naturally arises from heaven and earth, while mortal challenges come from humans.
The energy of Heavenly Tribulation is overwhelmingly powerful. If someone’s cultivation body and True Qi are thereby stimulated, it could lead to rage or a killing intent, attempting to eliminate the source – that’s the first possibility.
Those with a grudge may take advantage of the Heavenly Tribulation to attack the one crossing the tribulation – that’s the second.
The third are those who try to act in accordance with the heavens.
Just like a boat goes with the river’s flow, and a leaf rises with the wind, if a person acts in accordance with the heavens and harnesses its power, it could result in not just doubling of efforts but tenfold.
So-called learning from nature means to be close to nature, using the natural laws of the universe to propel one’s self forward. The person is that boat, that leaf, while the universe is the river flow and the wind.
This synergy with the universe’s motion, described by ancient cultivators as the virtue of heaven and earth, brings cultivation benefits because it is a response to the actions that are in harmony with the operation of heaven and earth, naturally leading to an increase in strength.
However, this feedback is extremely subtle and requires accumulation over time to see results, which is why most people never notice it. Heavenly Tribulation is a major operation of the natural world – in other words, it’s like strong winds and big waves.
Standing at the eye of the storm, even a pig could fly, let alone a human.
If there is someone practicing Wood Element Techniques and just happens to encounter this Heavenly Wood Tribulation, acting in accordance with the heavens, then even if they don’t manage to kill the one facing the tribulation in the end, their strength will still improve leaps and bounds just for having joined the tribulation. If they can act on behalf of the heavens and punish, slaying the one undergoing the tribulation, then this Heavenly Tribulation will become a great fortuity for them.
To be honest, Jiang Li was already feeling quite impulsive.
Among the Innate Eight Qi, one is the Wood Qi. If he were to combine his Wood Qi with the Heavenly Wood Tribulation and blast Yun Jiuye to ashes, his Innate Wood Qi would certainly achieve small success in one fell swoop, ascending from the Form Below realm to the Form and Above, much like a Clan Elder realizing the principle of Golden Qi Killing and coming to understand the rationale of Wood Qi.
"To act in accordance with heaven at the right time – could it be that the divinatory signs of Thunder Earth Yu were meant to come together here? But this doesn’t seem entirely auspicious," Jiang Li’s thoughts were in turmoil.
Although simply joining the tribulation without killing Yun Jiuye would still allow him to take advantage, if Yun Jiuye fails because of it, then Jiang would be responsible.
And looking at Yun Jiuye’s demeanor, he doesn’t seem to fear others joining the tribulation, or perhaps, he is waiting for someone to do just that.
So...
’I will restrain myself.’
Jiang Li suppressed the impulse in his heart and calmly sensed the tumultuous fluctuations.
Even without joining the tribulation, observing the pulsations of Heavenly Tribulation would bring not an insignificant benefit, seizing whatever little he could gain.
"Boom!"
The lush, green clouds converged into green thunder light, and the thunderclap resounded, shaking the area and startling everyone within the Dinghu Sect.
A vast and irresistible force locked onto Yun Jiuye, intertwining azure-green lightning suddenly thundered like a meteor, as a gigantic thunderball the size of a millstone fell from the sky.
A thunderball, pure with the energy of Heavenly Wood, completely blasted away the lingering yellow mist outside, violently smashing towards Yun Jiuye with unmatched power.
"Boom!"
The figure of Yun Jiuye was instantly engulfed by the azure-green lightning, intense light transforming into ripples that swept across the surroundings.
"Stop."
Yun Qiuchi was the first to act, her cherry lips slightly parting as she uttered a single word "stop," and the lightning assault that targeted her abruptly halted in its ferocity, frozen in place as if encased in ice.
Feng Ziyang remained seated upright, his spine straight; lightning, upon nearing him, was spontaneously severed by his sword qi, thundering by on either side of him.
Then there was Ling Wujue, the Fifth Brother, who had already risen to his feet, radiating a blood light, a faint blood-colored dragon shadow circling around him, diminishing the lightning wherever its brilliance reached. He was on alert, vigilantly regarding everyone present while moving forward to protect Yun Jiuye.
’It seems to be Elder Kaiyang’s method.’
Jiang Li thought, while raising a transparent qi shield, employing the Three Points Return to Primordial Qi, as the incoming lightning melded into it like a clay ox entering the sea.
Ling Wujue, intent on protecting Yun Jiuye, naturally had no mind to comprehend the Heavenly Tribulation; he used the method bestowed by Elder Kaiyang to block the lightning, standing in a position close to the core, constantly on guard against anyone who would strike.
Among them, Jiang Li was watched most closely.
’Why are you looking at me, I really am a good person.’
Jiang Li couldn’t help but sneer internally, surveying the five individuals on the other side.
In front of the two from Mo Sect, a giant shield had somehow been erected, unscathed under the assault of the lightning.
Daoist Xuanming from Yuxu Temple was covered within a hemispherical bowl-shaped light shield, with reddish light and emergent dragon patterns on it, impervious to the lightning.
As for the two from Kunxu Immortal Palace, the elegantly dressed woman wielded golden wind in her palms, pure gold energy sharp as knives and swords, slashing through the Heavenly Wood Lightning as easily as cutting through weeds, while the man simply retreated behind her.
Everyone seemed at ease in their response, even if it was just to the aftermath; such ease demonstrated that this strike of lightning was not very strong.
In terms of power, it was not enough to harm Yun Jiuye.
And as expected, in the next instant, a solid golden radiance rose from the center of the lightning, Yun Jiuye’s figure slowly ascended, once again appearing before everyone’s eyes.
What was surprising, however, was that on the ground below, there was another Yun Jiuye with eyes closed, sitting cross-legged behind an undamaged desk.
"Primordial Spirit," Jiang Li’s gaze shifted slightly.
Yun Jiuye had indeed cultivated a Primordial Spirit, and was now facing the Heavenly Tribulation with his Primordial Spirit Emergence.
"Boom thunder!"
Azure-green electric light gathered once more, as nine thunderballs fell in succession from the sky, a strong sense of vitality permeating the air. The bamboo around changed in an instant, shedding its early autumn yellow and thriving with growth, then wilting in the blink of an eye, completely losing vitality, devastated by the lightning.
The energy of plants and trees from Yunlai Island converged in the Heavenly Tribulation, adding to its ferocity. The electric light from the nine exploding thunderballs shrouded the vast bamboo forest, affecting Jiang Li and the rest of the onlookers.
Just then, a sword light suddenly erupted, and from Yun Jiuye’s true body, the copper-scabbard long sword transformed into light and flew into the embrace of the primordial spirit.
Yun Jiuye’s primordial spirit, holding the sword, flew towards the heavens, facing Heavenly Thunder with a body that shone brilliantly.
"Boom!"
The first thunder ball was split asunder in the sky, and the thunder light rampaged like a dragon and snake.
The sword light continued unceasingly, piercing through the clouds, shattering nine thunders, one after another, with flashes of green thunder light streaking across the sky.
"Rumble!"
Heavenly Tribulation seemed to be provoked, with thunderous roars erupting from the dark clouds, and furious thunder balls continuously bombarded the sword light, relentlessly striking Yun Jiuye’s primordial spirit.
Below, electric snakes darted about, and Wood Qi surged toward Yun Jiuye’s physical body like a raging tide, only to be intercepted by Ling Wujue.
Ling Wujue’s body exhibited the color of red copper. The Red Copper Primordial Body was fully activated, wielding the saber like fire, like a tide, like wind, fiercely unrivaled, dancing faster and faster, splitting waves and cutting through the crazed tide of Heavenly Wood, preventing it from approaching Yun Jiuye’s physical body.
Thanks to Elder Kaixiang’s assistance, he was able to hold on with sheer ferocity.
Moreover, the Jiuli Saber Scripture was mighty in slaughter, secretly aligned with Geng Metal, and it was also specifically counteracting Wood Qi. Yun Jiuye choosing Ling Wujue as a protector was indeed quite apt.
Amidst the thunderous roars of the Heavenly Tribulation, Jiang Li’s vision was completely devoid of any trace of other people. All around were green thunder light and the energy of Heavenly Wood.
The only thing he could observe was the sword light that continued to sweep across the sky.
In Jiang Li’s insight, Yun Jiuye’s primordial spirit, after being bombarded by the thunder, was becoming increasingly pure. The Wood-related thunder restrained his body, yet it also precisely helped him expel the Yin dregs from his primordial spirit.
Under the cleansing of the Heavenly Wood Tribulation, Yun Jiuye’s primordial spirit was about to completely shed Yin dregs and undergo a metamorphosis to Pure Yang.
He was not far from success.
Unless someone intervened in the tribulation and made a move on Yun Jiuye, Yun Jiuye’s promotion to fifth-rank was a foregone conclusion.
Jiang Li was faintly tempted, and suddenly felt an urge to laugh, bursting into laughter.
An omen of disaster!
Carrying the Heavenly Official Dao Fruit that bestowed blessings, the Jade Ruyi was utilized by him to predict fortune and misfortune, as Jiang Li’s right hand hung low, and the Wind Queen Compass, concealed beneath the sleeve, continuously performed calculations.
There was something eerie about this process...
Outside Yunlai Island, a figure in a green robe and a hat stood steadily on the surface of the lake, covertly watching the situation.
Although the thunder light was dazzling and fierce, it couldn’t obstruct his vision. Regardless of who it was, everyone was under his gaze, including Jiang Li, who would occasionally burst into laughter.
"This lad, could he have gone mad with indecision, acting all strange?" Elder Kaixiang muttered to himself, "He’s not really planning to make a move, is he?"
Although Jiang Li had made a vow in front of Second Master Guan, Jiang Li’s current performance, which was akin to a fit of insanity, made it extremely difficult not to suspect that he had gone mad on the spur of the moment and was preparing to take action.
Thinking this, Elder Kaixiang kept a close watch on Jiang Li.
If Jiang Li truly intended to act, then Elder Kaixiang would have to stop him before he could, to save him and prevent the situation from becoming unmanageable.
Under the close scrutiny of Elder Kaixiang, a heaven-shaking thunderclap resounded, and the electric light spread across the sky like a net, entangling and transforming into a sea of thunder.
In the center of the thunder sea, a pure golden light enveloped Yun Jiuye’s figure. The majestic and profound aura fused with the primordial spirit, making the ethereal soul body indistinguishable from a true person.
The Pure Yang Primordial Spirit had formed, and the crossing of the tribulation was successful.
The thunder light began to weaken gradually, and signs of the Heavenly Tribulation receding could be seen.
If Yun Jiuye had not expelled the Yin dregs and cultivated his energy to be perfectly harmonious, this already-commenced Heavenly Tribulation would persist, not dissipating until Yun Jiuye was destroyed. Conversely, if he was successful, the Heavenly Tribulation would begin to dissipate immediately, because the excess Qi mechanism had vanished.
In the end, Jiang Li did not take action, and neither Feng Ziyang nor Yun Qiuchi entered the tribulation. Thus, the Promotion Ceremony came to an end.
Yun Jiuye felt joy in his heart, but also some regret.
Had Jiang Li dared to make a move, he would have been able to completely suppress Gongsun Qingyue’s side, ensuring they had no chance to turn things around.
But now, it wasn’t too bad. Although he wasn’t able to provoke Jiang Li into acting, Yun Jiuye was indeed about to be promoted to fifth-rank, and next, it would be his era.
The Pure Yang Primordial Spirit descended from the sky, and at the same time, a shadow also descended from the heavens and entered Yun Jiuye’s physical body.
In an instant, a grand and far-reaching aura spread from within him, reaching far and wide. The weakness from crossing the tribulation was being compensated by the benefits brought by the ascent of the Dao Fruit, and then he became even more powerful.
It was at this moment—
The Wind Queen Compass stopped, Jiang Li thought for a moment, he did not let out laughter, the laughter halted.
The ominous warning of the Heavenly Official had not appeared, which indicated that no calamity would arise in the following moments.
"The time has come," he said softly.
To follow the heavens is one thing, to seize the timely opportunity is another.
By now, Jiang Li had come to understand that only by doing the right thing at the right time could one achieve the best results.
And that right moment was now!
Jiang Li felt changes within, as the Innate Qi transformed into Primordial Qi, and a robust, dense, and vigorous aura surged forth, shooting straight into the heavens.
The dissipating Heavenly Tribulation, as if stimulated, began to gather once again, and the energy of Heavenly Wood drew upon Earth Qi to grow. In an instant, lush greenery-like green radiance re-emerged, and the Heavenly Tribulation reappeared.
’If one speaks in terms of fate, fire gives birth to earth, I cannot rival Yun Jiuye. But earth can overpower wood, and now, wood can feed fire.’
Jiang Li looked towards the green tribulation clouds, his lips slowly curving into a smile.
Now was the time for him to take center stage after Yun Jiuye’s performance. Yun Jiuye’s end was his beginning.
Yun Jiuye wanted to use his promotion to suppress his peers. Then Jiang, too, would use Yun Jiuye’s promotion to suppress his momentum. Today, as Yun Jiuye achieved success, so too would Jiang.
"Senior brother, I’ll borrow your Heavenly Tribulation for a moment."