Chapter 169: The Truth of the Great Tribulation

Chapter 169: The Truth of the Great Calamity

All raised their heads to gaze at the heavens, at those stern-faced Zifu, their eyes filled with reverence.

At that moment, a stooped old man appeared, speaking with anguish: "Senior Blood-Robe Sword God, this child is a branch of my Liu clan, utterly unrelated to our Liu family."

Before the Blood-Robe Sword God had even appeared, this mere Zifu began to babble endlessly.

The cultivators in the city watched this scene, their hearts a mix of emotions.

"This is a Zifu—a being whose mere flick of a finger could shake the entire Thunderwalk Continent.

And yet, because a descendant of the Liu branch offended the Blood-Robe Sword God, he traveled ten thousand miles to bind that very offspring right here."

"This Liu Wen, bullying men and women alike, has finally met his retribution by provoking the Blood-Robe Sword God!"

"Where is the Blood-Robe Sword God? Why hasn't he come yet?"

The crowd was puzzled, eager to see what the legendary Blood-Robe Sword God truly looked like.

"He's here!"

Just then, a figure in a blood-red robe appeared before the dozen or so Zifu of the musical troupe.

The man was handsome, with a tall, straight figure, and in his hand he led a harmless-looking little girl.

Yet no one who saw this little girl felt anything but fear and awe; they were not deceived by her appearance.

This was a Yin God.

"So this is the Blood-Robe Sword God—the aura of a Yin God Venerable is truly extraordinary.

Even if he concealed his cultivation and walked the streets, I would still take him for a peerless expert," a man remarked. Suddenly, he glanced at the man beside him, confusion in his eyes. "Brother Fengtian, what's wrong? Why are you trembling?"

Fengtian stared at the man in the blood-red robe in the sky, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He... how could he be the Blood-Robe Sword God?

Beside him, Sister Hua was also trembling violently, her face deathly pale.

Not far away, Ye Chan covered her mouth, staring at the Rogue Immortal Lord, unable to speak, her eyes blinking wildly.

The Rogue Immortal Lord, seeing this, was quite pleased and finally spoke freely: "You're not mistaken—he is the Blood-Robe Sword God. The one you just gave candy to is his daughter, a Yin God.

Your nerve is truly remarkable. I admire you."

At that moment, high in the sky, Qi Jianjun read out Liu Wen's crimes one by one.

A brilliant smile spread across Qi Yuan's face: "The greatest boast of your life will be that you died by my hand."

With a gentle push of his hand, Liu Wen—the one who had spoken so arrogantly on the Divine Flower Society forum—fell dead on the spot.

Qi Yuan glanced at the Zifu who had traveled a thousand miles to be there, and said softly, "I have always been reasonable. I do not harm the innocent, nor do I slaughter entire families. You may go."

Hearing this, the Zifu great cultivator breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Senior Blood-Robe Sword God, for purifying the cultivation world. When I return, I will strictly discipline my juniors—more action, fewer words."

"Mm."

Qi Yuan nodded, and his form dissipated at that moment.

The sound of the suona also ceased abruptly, and the Zifu in the sky vanished.

The cultivators in the city stared at the sky, still unsatisfied.

"We haven't seen enough—why did he leave?"

"Wouldn't it be great if he killed one more!"

"Maybe someone should provoke the Blood-Robe Sword God again, so we can watch the show!"

"You go if you want!"

At that moment, Qi Yuan, holding Qi Jianjun's hand, reappeared in the tavern.

But due to the nature of his original divine ability, others who saw him would not remember him or associate him with the Blood-Robe Sword God.

"The killing is done, Rogue Immortal Lord. Let's go and gather," Qi Yuan called out to the Rogue Immortal Lord.

Beside the Rogue Immortal Lord, Ye Chan's heart pounded wildly; she dared not speak.

In the distance, Fengtian and Sister Hua, their faces ashen, watched the exchange between the Rogue Immortal Lord and Qi Yuan, their emotions churning within.

"Let's go," Qi Yuan called to the Rogue Immortal Lord.

Ye Chan looked at the Rogue Immortal Lord, her voice choked with tears: "My legs won't carry me. I won't go."

She still couldn't accept it; she dared not face the Blood-Robe Sword God and his daughter, afraid of making a fool of herself.

The Rogue Immortal Lord sighed helplessly: "Alright, take care. I'll go chat with a friend and then deliver the pills to your grandfather."

Ye Chan heard this.

Deliver pills, my foot!

Just give them to me directly, wouldn't that work?

Of course, she didn't say it aloud.

Now, the Rogue Immortal Lord and Qi Yuan sat once more in their original seats at the tavern.

They ordered quite a few dishes.

Qi Jianjun held a wine cup, about to take a sip.

But Qi Yuan's chopsticks tapped her little hand: "Children can't drink."

Just then, the waiter saw this and smiled: "This is fruit wine—it won't get you drunk. Children can have it, no problem."

Qi Jianjun looked triumphantly at Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan glared at the waiter: "If my daughter turns out spoiled, it'll be your fault."

"Your daughter is sweet and clever, with a bright future. She'll surely become a True Person of Primordial Elixir one day," the waiter said, offering auspicious words as usual.

"Don't say that!" Qi Yuan shot back immediately.

The waiter paused: "A Divine Infant Lord!"

"Use a bit of imagination. I hope that three hundred years from now, my daughter will stand alone across the ages," Qi Yuan said casually.

The waiter laughed, finding this guest quite amusing.

Qi Yuan ate his meal, looked at the Rogue Immortal Lord, and spoke slowly: "Regarding what you told me some time ago about wanting to shatter your core and rebuild, I've pondered it for a long time and discussed it with the Great Wisdom Lord for several days. In the end, I concluded that you don't need to shatter your core and rebuild."

Toward his friends, Qi Yuan was always generous.

The words the Rogue Immortal Lord had spoken in the group chat had stayed in his heart.

Hearing this, the Rogue Immortal Lord was deeply moved.

At the time, he had only said in the group that his golden core was inadequate and he wanted to shatter it and start over.

He never expected that the Origin Heavenly Lord would truly consider it for him.

"With the Great Wisdom Lord's guidance, I think you can emulate his Two-Core Method.

Since you're dissatisfied with the golden core you've formed, why not form a few more?

These past few days, I've roughly created a technique based on your situation, called the Nine-Core Method. This method can condense up to nine golden cores."

But time was limited, and I didn't complete it entirely.

Once you've condensed many golden cores, you'll get used to it; later you can perfect it yourself into ten cores, twenty cores, whatever.

Qi Yuan handed a jade slip to the Rogue Immortal Venerable.

It must be said that creating this technique for the Rogue Immortal Venerable also gave Qi Yuan many insights.

His stellar golden core was currently being nurtured through devouring the True Fire of the Sun.

But as everyone knows, devouring too much leads to strange occurrences—an upset stomach.

So Qi Yuan thought that his golden core should also take two paths.

One was to condense more stellar golden cores and planetary golden cores; the other was for the stellar golden core to keep devouring.

"Thank you, Origin Heavenly Venerable!" the Rogue Immortal Venerable said, moved, as he accepted the jade slip.

"No need to thank me. Back when I lacked techniques, didn't you all give me techniques as well?" Qi Yuan said casually.

Back then, when he lacked techniques, the Four Sovereigns of Divine Flowers had all supported him to varying degrees.

Just then, suddenly, a streak of light landed before the tavern.

In an instant, several figures appeared.

The leader was an old man, his cultivation clearly at the Purple Mansion stage.

The cultivators inside the tavern, seeing this, all showed expressions of surprise.

"That's... Great Power Feng Xiao, why has he come here?"

"The one beside him is True Lord Lü Qiong, and his face looks rather grim."

"What happened? Did they come to the inn because some important figure is here?"

At that moment, Feng Xiao's face bore a look of terror as he gazed ahead: "Feng Xiao brings his unworthy descendant Feng Tian to seek an audience with Senior Blood-Robed Sword God."

Before Feng Xiao, the previously arrogant Feng Tian knelt, his body covered in wounds, clearly having been beaten.

But more than the pain in his body, Feng Tian was evidently more afraid of the legendary Blood-Robed Sword God.

Sister Hua was likewise kneeling on the ground, her face full of pleading.

As soon as Feng Xiao spoke these words, everyone in the tavern was shocked.

"Blood-Robed Sword God?"

"The Blood-Robed Sword God is in the tavern?"

Everyone quickly turned their heads to look, scanning the tavern, but they saw no sign of the Blood-Robed Sword God.

The tavern owner and the waiter also panicked.

Just then, a lazy voice came from within the tavern.

"I'm eating, don't disturb my peace.

Some trivial matters—once taught a lesson, it's over.

Am I, the Blood-Robed Sword God, the kind of petty person?"

Qi Yuan was very exasperated.

Indeed, it was better to keep his identity hidden.

Otherwise, even eating a meal would be anything but peaceful.

Sometimes, being too famous was not good.

Outside the tavern, hearing the Blood-Robed Sword God's transmission, Great Power Feng Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, for your magnanimity."

True Lord Lü Qiong also wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The Blood-Robed Sword God—that was a true god of slaughter.

Who would dare believe he wouldn't involve others?

The Bright Palace was directly annihilated!

As for the Heaven and Earth Palace of the Poor Venerable, those former strongmen were even lined up and beheaded.

Moreover, with that overwhelming blood aura, no wonder they thought he was a demon.

If he hadn't killed millions of beings, could there be such blood aura?

Great Power Feng Xiao came in haste and left in haste.

The guests in the tavern looked at each other, sizing one another up.

But they simply could not tell where the Blood-Robed Sword God was.

……

Within the Yaochang Sect.

True Lord Danheng was refining pills, and he glanced at the time: "That boy hasn't returned from delivering pills yet—wonder where he's loafing around?"

True Lord Danheng was very exasperated. This disciple was very much like his younger self—lazy and fond of boasting.

Just then, a hearty laugh rang out: "Brother Danheng, I never expected you to be hiding so deep!"

True Lord Danheng was startled, then saw Great Power Yechen arriving with Yechang.

"Greetings, Senior." True Lord Danheng was puzzled but still bowed, not knowing why Great Power Yechen had come.

"You've taken on a fine disciple," Great Power Yechen couldn't help saying.

True Lord Danheng's heart skipped a beat.

Damn it, could it be that Gao Xiaoyu had gotten into trouble again?

"Senior Yechen, what do you mean by that? Did my unworthy disciple fail to deliver the pills?" True Lord Danheng was somewhat angry.

Did this Gao Xiaoyu not understand what was important?

"The pills are not important." Yechen looked at True Lord Danheng, a hint of doubt in his eyes, "Brother Danheng, do you truly not know who your disciple is with now?"

"It seems he's with a friend.

Alas, my disciple has always valued loyalty and friendship. He has a friend who came here and has a great enemy to face.

Fearing he might not prevail, he invited my disciple to help, thus delaying the delivery of the pills to you, Senior. I hope you'll forgive him." True Lord Danheng's mind was quick, and he immediately embellished the story.

Hearing this, Great Power Yechen narrowed his eyes and smiled: "It seems, Brother Danheng, you truly do not know who your disciple's good friend is."

"Who is it? Did he offend you, Senior?"

"I wouldn't dare offend that one."

"What?"

"He is... the Blood-Robed Sword God."

"What!" True Lord Danheng stood frozen.

True Lord Yechen's smile was radiant: "With this connection, the Yaochang Sect shall flourish for ten thousand years!"

Half a month passed, and the Blood-Robed Sword God had traversed nearly all of the Eastern Lands.

The sound of the suona horn had also spread throughout the Eastern Lands.

All those who had once mocked him on the Divine Flower Society forum had received their due punishment.

Now, when Qi Yuan posted in the forum,

every reply was filled with nothing but praise.

The former hostility, the former arguments, and those grating responses—all were gone.

Qi Yuan gazed at the comments, his mood light: "It seems our purification of the cultivation world's atmosphere has achieved great success."

In the distance, Jiang Ya remained silent.

Was this success?

It was merely others too afraid to speak, too afraid to provoke him.

Great Wisdom True Lord sighed: "Indeed, the atmosphere of the cultivation world has been cleansed considerably.

But alas, beneath this prosperous age of blazing glory and peace across the seas, many evils and injustices still lie hidden."

Qi Yuan's gaze grew unusually deep for a moment: "The purification is not yet complete; we must all continue to strive."

Just then, Jiang Ya spoke: "Senior, the Ascension Pavilion will be upon us shortly.

My master said that all the techniques within the Ascension Pavilion are open to you."

Back in Wangyue Continent, Jiang Ya had once made an exchange with Qi Yuan.

They had swapped cultivation methods.

Now, Qi Yuan was heading to the Ascension Pavilion precisely for those techniques.

He had gathered many methods from other Yin Spirits,

but for him, it was still not enough.

After all, the Golden Core chapter was a bottomless pit.

And the Ascension Pavilion, which collected techniques from across the world, gathered not only those of the Eastern Lands but also from other regions of the Canglan Realm.

The Eastern Lands bordered the Northern Lands, but were far from other regions.

Especially the Central Heavenly Domain—even for a Yin Spirit, reaching it was no easy feat.

It could be said that within the Eastern Lands, the place with the most complete and abundant cultivation techniques was the Ascension Pavilion.

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn,

the spirit boat descended.

A tower that pierced straight into the clouds came into Qi Yuan's view.

Seeing this tower, Jiang Ya's eyes lit up with a radiant smile: "I'm back."

She had never imagined that merely participating in a minor Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Ranking would lead to so many events.

Everything felt like a dream.

"Greetings, Lord Blood-Robed Sword God." At that moment, a man in a white robe appeared, elegant and refined, with a strong aura of scholarly learning.

"Senior Brother," Jiang Ya called out.

This white-robed man was Jiang Ya's senior brother.

Great Wisdom True Lord looked at the white-robed man: "That old man Wutian didn't come down?"

The white-robed man seemed unsurprised by such a form of address.

"Master is trapped in meditation within the Ascension Pavilion; until the riddle is solved, he will not descend. Please forgive him, Senior," the Ascension Pavilion's senior brother said courteously.

"It's fine. Lead me into the Ascension Pavilion," Qi Yuan said.

He had no interest in meeting Old Man Wutian.

What interested him was the Ascension Pavilion's collection—

whether it truly lived up to its reputation of gathering techniques from across the world,

not only from the Eastern Lands but also from other realms.

"Please follow me, Senior," the white-robed man said.

Qi Yuan followed him inside, while the others remained where they were.

Soon, Qi Yuan arrived at the Ascension Pavilion, which soared straight into the clouds.

His left eyebrow twitched, and a smile spread across his face: "It seems there's good fortune to be had today."

Qi Yuan entered the Ascension Pavilion. The white-robed man bid him farewell and slowly vanished.

In the vast hall of the Ascension Pavilion, only Qi Yuan remained.

Qi Yuan looked at the dazzling array of technique jade slips on the first floor, a satisfied expression on his face.

"The Ascension Pavilion's reputation for collecting techniques from across the world is no lie."

On this floor alone, as his divine sense swept over it, he discovered over ten thousand techniques.

Low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, jade-grade, and profound-grade—all were present.

Even on the first floor alone, he found five heavenly-grade techniques.

To think that from the Poor Exalted One and the Affectionate Exalted One, he had only obtained six heavenly-grade techniques.

Here, there were five, and on the first floor at that.

According to Jiang Ya, the Ascension Pavilion had five floors in total.

This first floor alone was nearly as rich as a Yin Spirit.

And yet, Old Man Wutian was merely a Zifu Grand Cultivator.

"I have seen the Great Venerable of Wangyue."

Just then, a hoarse voice came.

Qi Yuan looked over and saw an old man sitting in a wheelchair.

The old man's body was withered like dead wood, but his eyes were bright and piercing.

A hint of surprise flickered in Qi Yuan's eyes: "You're already at the Zifu stage, and you still use a wheelchair?"

[An unusual cultivator, the master of the Ascension Pavilion, Old Man Wutian.]

"Sitting has become a habit; I cannot leave it," the old man said hoarsely.

"If you ever get married and prepare for the bridal chamber, would you still sit in a wheelchair?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

"Senior is truly an interesting person."

Facing Qi Yuan, he did not show the same fear as other Zifu cultivators.

The two seemed to interact as equals.

Qi Yuan paid no mind to this.

"If I cannot break free from the shackles of this body, how can I speak of... marriage." The ageless old man said, looking at Qi Yuan, "I envy you, fellow Daoist, for leaping to become the Great Venerable of the Moon, a... different kind of escape from bondage, granting at least a hundred thousand years of freedom."

"Stop speaking in riddles." Qi Yuan looked at the ageless old man.

The ageless old man fixed his eyes on Qi Yuan: "Does the Great Venerable of the Moon know what the Great Calamity is?"

Qi Yuan pondered, a look of surprise on his face: "You know?"

In truth, he had asked many Yin spirits, and they all mentioned the Great Calamity, but he had no idea what it specifically was. This ageless old man actually knew.

"Great Venerable, please look up at the sky, at the brightest star."

Qi Yuan looked up.

In the sky, the red-orange sun was like a glowing tomato.

"The sun? The Great Calamity is the sun?" Qi Yuan's eyes narrowed.

According to the information he had received, this sun in the sky represented a Yang God. That Yang God was also the most powerful in the surrounding realms. Hence, its light was the brightest. Of course, there were surely Yang Gods who shone upon the heavens stronger than this one, but they were far too distant from the Canglan Realm.

"Yes and no." The ageless man spoke, "The Great Calamity has an inexplicable connection with that great sun. Thus, even if there are some strong beings in the Canglan Realm, when facing the Great Calamity, they can only endure humiliation and allow themselves to be carved up."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan understood roughly in his heart. If what the ageless old man said was true, then this Great Calamity was indeed hard to resolve.

"Three hundred thousand years ago, a peerless powerhouse emerged in the Canglan Realm. He created his own cultivation method and ascended to become a Great Venerable. Facing the Great Calamity, he struck fiercely, even nearly suppressing it. But... at that moment, the stars of the heavens shone, and countless immortals and gods descended. That peerless powerhouse thus fell."

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(End of chapter)