Free Web NovelChapter 396: Chapter 379: Heaven-Defying Physique
This was their destiny. Hex Zui and the others had come to terms with it, deciding to leave things to fate and take it one day at a time. Only Li Tianyi cultivated even harder, believing that Wang Meng and Mingren would surely return, stronger than ever. Call it naive, call it foolish—this was how he lived.
Another half a year passed. A loud BANG echoed through Wolong Mountain as Wang Meng was sent flying, followed by Mo Chen’s hearty laughter.
"Lad, it looks like you’ve fully recovered."
Wang Meng scrambled back to his feet. "Thank you, Senior. I’m not sure if it’s a breakthrough, but I can feel my power building up."
"Heh, according to your theory, others need forty-nine layers, but you only need forty-five. You’re just a hair’s breadth away from Minor Perfection now."
"But I’ve failed to live up to your expectations, Senior. The Artifact Soul still hasn’t appeared."
Wang Meng was a little ashamed.
"Haha, lad, that doesn’t sound like you. A Life Artifact would be great, of course, but not all of the absolute top masters possess a Holy Statue and a Life Artifact. You have the Five Elements Body—that itself is a great fortune, and other opportunities will come. Besides, until the moment you reach Minor Perfection, no one knows what will happen."
Mo Chen chuckled, but ’inwardly, he found it quite strange. Even with his Great Perfection power and using the Taiyin Technique to supplement Wang Meng for so long, there had been no effect. In the end, he had to settle for a lesser option: using his own Life Artifact to form a Fake Artifact Soul for Wang Meng, which might have increased his chances of success at the Minor Perfection stage. But even the Fake Artifact Soul couldn’t exist; it dissipated almost as soon as it formed. He’d never heard of such a thing.’
The Taiyin Sect was one of the oldest sects in the Small Thousand World, possessing a foundation that ordinary sects couldn’t possibly compare to. This included knowledge of the Five Elements Body, but even within the Taiyin Sect, it was considered a dead-end path. It consumed vast resources yet produced no tangible Life Artifact or Holy Statue, making it essentially worthless. Most critically, those with a Five Elements Body could not break through to Minor Perfection.
Suddenly, the world began to shake, as if some primordial monster was stirring deep beneath the earth. The tremors continued for a moment before subsiding.
"That’s the call of the Dragon Soul. It seems to be summoning the dying Giant Dragons back to this place. Heh, these ancient creatures are full of secrets. No one knows where dragons originate, but when they are on the verge of death, they all return here."
"Senior, haven’t powers like the Star Alliance or the three great sects ever thought of thoroughly investigating the Dragon Tomb?"
Wang Meng couldn’t help but ask, his curiosity piqued.
"Of course they have, but that was a long time ago. The Star Alliance once launched an expedition into the Dragon Cave, but they only managed to reach the second underground layer after losing six Great Perfection masters and dozens of experts at the Third and Fourth Heavens of Minor Perfection. Do you think they’d try again after that?"
Mo Chen chuckled. Even in death, these powerful creatures of heaven and earth had ways to protect themselves.
Wang Meng clicked his tongue in amazement. ’Six Sect Leaders, and dozens of Grandmasters and Ancestor Level experts... Damn, that’s enough power to flatten a Small Thousand Realm. What a massive undertaking.’
"When the time comes, we will escort you to the entrance of the first layer. Everyone who enters will suppress their Elemental Power to the First Layer of Minor Perfection or below. This minimizes the effects of the Dragon Tomb’s curse, so you won’t be at too much of a disadvantage."
"Heh, Senior, I’m actually looking forward to running into Zheng Dasheng."
Wang Meng licked his lips.
Coming from anyone else, this would sound like bragging. Even with suppressed Elemental Power, a stronger cultivator is still stronger. But Wang Meng had a reason for his confidence: his Sword Technique was simply too extraordinary, having reached the absolute pinnacle for his level. Even Mo Chen himself could do no better.
In Mo Chen’s view, if Wang Meng didn’t have the Five Elements Body—if he had even just the potential for a Life Artifact—his future would be limitless. The Five Elements Body only added countless tribulations to his path. But the lad’s greatest strength was his optimism.
Mo Chen and Wang Meng packed their things. The thatched hut turned to ash in the flames, for they would not be returning. Mo Chen showed no sign of being a man at death’s door; he laughed and joked with Wang Meng along the way. After the Dragon Cave’s call, it would still be some time before the Giant Dragons returned. This was the time for humans to make their preparations.
Meanwhile, in the Dragon Transformation Pool, a pillar of light shot into the sky, shaking the entire hall. Though it was deep underground, nothing could stop the formation of the Celestial Tribulation. Dark clouds gathered above the Dragon Transformation Hall, and thunder rumbled faintly.
All the disciples of the Celestial Secret Sect had gathered. The three Great Elders presided, waiting in silence.
Numbers Three, Five, Seven, and Nine hadn’t left either, though they had already exited the Dragon Transformation Pool. Who could have expected that Number Two—now Number One—originally the furthest behind, would advance to Minor Perfection with such explosive speed? It had caught everyone off guard.
Of course, one could attribute it to the resources provided by the Extreme Dao Alliance, but whose fault was it that they couldn’t secure the same support?
No one could help with a Celestial Tribulation. Anyone who interfered would be drawn into it, possibly triggering an even greater one.
"The Holy Light Demon Collapse Body truly is extraordinary. A forty-nine-fold Celestial Fire Purification Thunder Tribulation... he’s in for a world of hurt."
The remaining cultivators wore complex expressions. Some had failed, others had never even reached this stage, yet Number One was already breaking through to Minor Perfection and had triggered a Celestial Tribulation. The appearance of a tribulation meant there was a high chance a Holy Statue would manifest.
RUMBLE...
The might of the heavens was not to be trifled with. Bolt after bolt of Extreme Flame and Celestial Thunder slammed down into the Dragon Transformation Pool, one after another, making the entire Dragon Transformation Hall tremble.
The Dragon Transformation Pool was a blessed land chosen by the Celestial Secret Sect precisely because it aligned with the Celestial Dao, capable of mitigating a Celestial Tribulation to the greatest possible extent. It was a way of working in harmony with the heavens. But even so, the tribulation Mingren had triggered was astonishingly powerful.
The water of the Dragon Transformation Pool had already evaporated. Mingren’s eyes were lightly closed, as if he couldn’t feel the Celestial Tribulation at all. The surroundings had become a sea of fire, and the entire Dragon Transformation Hall was starting to collapse under the onslaught of Celestial Fire.
The onlookers outside were tense. ’Will he succeed?’
The Celestial Tribulation crashed down, bolt after bolt, yet there was no reaction at all from within the Dragon Transformation Hall... ’No resistance?’
’Isn’t he going to be struck dead by the tribulation?’
Zheng Dasheng’s expression was grim, but inwardly, he was secretly delighted. ’Let the lightning strike him dead! One less rival to worry about!’
The three Elders, however, were extremely nervous. If he failed, the loss would be catastrophic. The resources required for a Holy Statue Body were immense; what Mingren had consumed in this short time was enough to sustain an entire sect for more than ten years.
But cultivation was all about taking risks.
The Celestial Tribulation raged on, grinding the Dragon Transformation Pool to dust. Until the very end, Mingren showed no reaction whatsoever.
Ma Tian’Er swayed. ’Don’t tell me Mingren is going to... too?’
She was originally supposed to be sent away as well, but had been allowed to stay thanks to Mingren’s intervention. Ma Tian’Er already had a bad feeling, but she held onto the firm belief that Wang Meng would be fine. He would definitely come back alive!
"He failed," Zheng Dasheng said, his voice laced with an irrepressible joy.
The other cultivators began to whisper amongst themselves. If this man didn’t die, what chance would they have?
SHIFT. RUSTLE.
A sound came from the ruins. Debris was slowly pushed aside, and a figure stood up.
He wore the same placid expression as always. Mingren raised his head to look at the sky, then brushed the dust from his clothes.
The three Elders flickered and appeared beside Mingren, dumbfounded. "Did you... succeed?"
Normally, they would be able to tell, but this was simply too bizarre. They were completely baffled.
"So... that was the Celestial Tribulation?" Mingren asked faintly.
"Y-Yes, it was... Did you... did you succeed?"
"Too weak," Mingren said faintly, then his figure flickered and vanished, leaving the three Elders staring at each other in bewilderment.
’What was too weak? The Celestial Tribulation?’
Zheng Dasheng flinched and retreated abruptly as Mingren appeared before him.
Zheng Dasheng froze for a second. ’What am I afraid of? So what if he’s reached Minor Perfection? Who knows if he even formed a Holy Statue? Besides, I’m already at the Second Heaven of Minor Perfection. Even if he did form a Holy Statue, he’s not necessarily my match. At least, not right now.’
Mingren looked at Zheng Dasheng. "Where is Wang Meng?"
Zheng Dasheng was about to curse, but in the end, the words wouldn’t come out. "I don’t know."
A slight smile touched the corner of Mingren’s mouth as he reached for Zheng Dasheng with his right hand. Zheng Dasheng wasn’t about to stand on ceremony; he threw a fierce punch at Mingren.
But his Elemental Power vanished as if into a bottomless pit.
With a mere grasping motion through the air, Mingren lifted Zheng Dasheng off the ground. Mingren’s expression was one of rare indifference. Everyone was stunned, including Zheng Dasheng himself.
He no longer dared to resist.
’Gods, he actually succeeded!’
One of the Ten Great Sacred Bodies—the Holy Light Demon Collapse Body.
A giant figure appeared behind Mingren. One half of it radiated brilliant Holy Light, while the other burned with dark Demon Flame.
The Holy Light Demon Collapse Body, possessing two extremes.
All the cultivators of the Celestial Secret Sect fell to their knees. The Holy Light Demon Collapse Body was a Holy Statue on the same level as that of the Saintess.
The three Elders trembled with excitement. Five hundred years! Another Holy Light Demon Collapse Body had been born!
According to legend, among all the Sacred Bodies, the Holy Light Demon Collapse Body governed illusion and reality, yin and yang. Even the Celestial Tribulation could be deceived by it. The three Elders were beyond shocked; they now understood what Mingren had meant earlier. He was mocking the Celestial Tribulation for being too weak!
Mingren’s eyes also glowed with different lights: Holy Light in his left, Demon Flame in his right. It was a gaze that seemed capable of twisting one’s very soul.
Zheng Dasheng didn’t struggle. In that instant, Mingren’s status had changed completely.
"He’s dead!" Zheng Dasheng finally spat out, gritting his teeth. There was little point in trying to deceive the Holy Light Demon Collapse Holy Statue.
Suddenly, someone rushed out from the crowd of cultivators. "Impossible! You’re lying!"
Ma Tian’Er couldn’t believe it, nor could she accept it.
"This was in accordance with the rules of the Extreme Dao Alliance! You can’t punish me for this."
Who could have imagined that the Holy Light Demon Collapse Holy Statue, unseen for five hundred years, would appear so inexplicably?
’Were those few resources really enough? It was like some kind of joke.’
A murderous glint flashed in Mingren’s eyes. He realized Zheng Dasheng wasn’t lying.
’So Wang Meng was dead after all. Why do the things I hope for always end in disappointment?’
"I’ll kill you!"
Ma Tian’Er blasted her Elemental Power at Zheng Dasheng, but the moment it entered the range of the Holy Light Demon Collapse Holy Statue, it dissipated.
"Mingren, kill him! Avenge Wang Meng!"
Seeing that Mingren was about to kill Zheng Dasheng, the people of the Celestial Secret Sect remained kneeling obediently, showing no intention of interfering.
This was the strict hierarchy. The moment Mingren manifested the Holy Light Demon Collapse Holy Statue, he was no longer an ordinary cultivator.
Second to one, and above all others.
Ma Tian’Er had never been so furious. Her mind was now consumed by a single thought: revenge.
The Holy Statue raised its hand. The world spun around Ma Tian’Er, and she collapsed.
"Take her away."
"Yes." The Great Elder waved his hand, and two cultivators immediately helped Ma Tian’Er to her feet.
"If she loses a single hair on her head, you will all die."
