Because the Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Realm had been revived further by Xu Ying and the others, this bolt of Purple Firmament Tribulation Thunder was far more formidable than the last. Remarkable though Xu Ying's Dao body was, it still suffered severe trauma in a single strike.
Once again, he was reduced to a charred humanoid husk, and once again, a powerful resonant communion between heaven and man unfolded.
The entire village turned out. They were not here to attend a funeral feast, but because sensing the nature of heaven and earth beside this charred humanoid form was much swifter.
Refined and perfected by their collective efforts, the Heavenly Dao shone with ever greater brilliance, dispelling more of the gloom.
When night fell, the strange flower of the Heavenly River hopped out of the Great Luo bodhimanda, roaming the wilderness to guard against any onslaught by bone skeletons capable of letting out Dao weeping.
"Forging the Dao body a second time? It will definitely be stronger than before!" The strange flower grew even more eager to claim Xu Ying's physical body.
By the evening of the second day, Xu Ying's Dao body had recovered. The newly forged body was far mightier than the last, and his comprehension of the Heavenly Dao rose alongside it. More crucially, mastering the Heavenly Dao meant mastering the Dao methods and divine abilities of the Mortal Realm!
"And yet, why am I still not an immortal?" Xu Ying looked up at the sky, utterly perplexed.
"An immortal!"
The simple villagers flew toward him in flocks. Arriving before him, they dropped to their knees in veneration. "We failed to recognize the exalted immortal and have offended and neglected you!"
Xu Ying paid them no mind, merely looking up to inspect the sky with a puzzled expression.
Yet in the eyes of the villagers, he had already become a true immortal. As they contemplated heaven, earth, and nature beside Xu Ying, they had noticed nothing amiss at first. Soon, however, they realized that they were turning into beings like gods and immortals!
Some possessed infinite strength; some could ride the clouds and mist; some could travel beneath the earth; some could summon wind and rain; and others could command thunder and lightning!
Only then did they realize that this plain-looking, dark-faced youth possessed such immense divine power!
Earlier, when Xu Ying claimed to be an immortal, they had not believed him. Only now did they truly believe.
Suddenly, thunder rumbled across the firmament as tribulation clouds gathered once more. Terrified by the resounding claps, the villagers hurriedly scattered in all directions.
Before they had run far, purple qi suddenly filled the skies. A slender purple lightning bolt plunged from above, illuminating the darkness of the Mortal Realm.
Looking back, they saw the "dark-faced immortal" charred black from head to toe, toppling stiffly to the ground.
"Exalted immortal!" someone wailed.
Xiao Man said cheerfully, "Now we can be close to nature again!"
The simple villagers quickly turned grief into joy, nodding in agreement. Once again, the kindhearted folk gathered around Xu Ying, joining their consciousness with his to contemplate the Heavenly Dao and blend with the Great Dao of heaven and earth.
"Old Dragon, that bright glow has grown larger," the Ancestral God said, nudging the Dragon Bell and gazing upward. "That Purple Firmament Tribulation Thunder in the Mortal Realm was brighter than before, too. Clearly, the tribulation thunder's might is increasing."
The Dragon Bell peered toward the dark expanse of the celestial canopy, and indeed, the region enveloped by the Heavenly Dao had expanded by several fractions.
"Still, what exactly happened down there?" the big bell inquired.
The Ancestral God answered honestly, "I don't know, nor do I have any idea."
At the Ancient Ferry across the Heavenly Sea, Immortal Emperor Supreme felt a chill in his heart upon witnessing this scene, growing even more desperate to breach the river of indestructible spiritual light.
When night arrived, the strange flower of the Heavenly River hopped out of the Great Luo bodhimanda again to patrol around the charred Xu Ying. Curiously, ever since that bone skeleton had assaulted Xu Ying, not a single skeleton had appeared over the past two nights.
"Could it be that I slaughtered them all?"
The strange flower shook its head. It had clearly seen many skeletons flee. Turning its gaze back to Xu Ying, eyes sprouted from the tips of its stamens, leaning close to peer into the cracks of the charred husk.
"This Dao body is bound to be even more flawless! My precious treasure..."
Another new day arrived. The charred shell shattered, and Xu Ying emerged, standing stark naked as he gazed up at the sky. Somewhat crestfallen, he murmured, "No, this isn't right. Why haven't I successfully crossed the tribulation? Something must be wrong here! I'll try again."
"Immortal master!"
The villagers flew over. A halo had already formed behind young Xiao Man's head, and the other villagers possessed vigorous magical power, every gesture brimming with astonishing might!
Before they reached Xu Ying, tribulation clouds abruptly gathered in the sky amid flashing lightning and rolling thunder, bringing them all to a halt.
"Don't panic, everyone! The purple thunder only strikes the immortal master; it won't hit us!" Xiao Man chirped crisply.
A bolt of purple heavenly thunder descended from the sky, detonating with a deafening roar.
Watching this from afar, the Ancestral God nudged the Dragon Bell. The big dragon and the big bell cast a lazy glance. "It's lit up again. Call me later when the Heavenly Dao expands."
Not long after, the Ancestral God nudged the Dragon Bell. "The Heavenly Dao has expanded."
At the Ancient Ferry, Immortal Emperor Supreme watched the phenomenon from a distance, looking suspicious. "Purple light flaring up every couple of days—could there be some pattern to this?"
Night fell, and the strange flower of the Heavenly River considered hopping out of the Great Luo bodhimanda to protect "its" Dao body, but after a moment's thought, it settled back down.
"It's not as if I can't protect it from inside the Great Luo bodhimanda."
In the blink of an eye, over a month slipped by. Another purple lightning bolt ripped across the sky, striking straight down upon Xu Ying's head. As usual, the villagers flew over to contemplate heaven, earth, and nature nearby. Inside the Great Luo bodhimanda, the strange flower lazily raised its massive flower bud and cast an outward glance. "Here we go again..."
In the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court, the Ancestral God lifted his gaze and muttered, "It has grown much larger again. Presumably, the area covered by the Heavenly Dao should be wider still."
As for the big dragon and the big bell, they no longer cared in the slightest.
At the Ancient Ferry, Immortal Emperor Supreme watched from afar and instructed the Heavenly Craftsmen who were toiling away, "If you grow too weary, you may rest for a day. There is no need to rush; ensuring the safety of the golden ship and the river of spiritual light is paramount."
Meanwhile, the entities Above the Nine Heavens had also grown accustomed to it, playing chess or sipping tea in leisure.
"Counting this one, that makes the eighteenth strike of Purple Firmament Tribulation Thunder."
In the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court, the Ancestral God still stubbornly tilted his head toward the sky. Seeing the purple tribulation thunder burst, he murmured to himself, *The area covered by the Heavenly Dao has expanded to thousands of times its former size. Yet this is merely the tip of the iceberg for the Mortal Realm; vast, boundless lands remain engulfed in darkness.*
His gaze turned profound. The Mortal Realm was many times larger than the Earth Immortal Realm; the Heavenly Dao region Xu Ying had restored was still far too small.
*Xu Ying has reached his limit in restoring the Mortal Realm; everything beyond remains shrouded in darkness. Since I gave my word that he would cross his tribulation and ascend in the Mortal Realm, I must not break my promise!*
The Ancestral God slowly rose and called out, "Tian, after I depart, you shall guard the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court. Take my fishing rod. If one day you notice Purple Firmament Tribulation Thunder erupting again in the Mortal Realm, remember to raise the fishing rod. Remember this well!"
Senior Brother Tian bowed and acknowledged the command.
The Ancestral God tossed his fishing rod upward, its line stretching impossibly thin and long, plunging through the celestial canopy.
The slender fishing line reached deep into the Mortal Realm, descending into the patch of light as though angling for fish in the mortal world below.
Senior Brother Tian took the fishing rod and sat down.
The Earth God quickly hopped onto the big drum and asked, "Where does the Ancestral God intend to go?"
"The mortal realm!" said the Ancestral God.
In recent years, he had already sensed the changes in the Mortal Realm—the Heavenly Dao was slowly reviving. Thus, when Xu Ying came looking for him, the idea of sending him to the Mortal Realm had taken root.
His objective was to use Xu Ying's hand to restore the Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Realm.
The more the Mortal Realm's Heavenly Dao recovered, the greater the Ancestral God's cultivation would become and the faster his injuries would heal. If Xu Ying could wipe away the darkness of the Mortal Realm entirely, his injuries would mend immediately!
Now, however, it seemed Xu Ying had reached his limit and could not fully restore the Mortal Realm's Heavenly Dao on his own. This demanded that the Ancestral God set out in person.
Over this period, Xu Ying had undergone eighteen consecutive Purple Firmament Heavenly Tribulations, restoring a region the size of the Yuanshou world to the Heavenly Dao, which imperceptibly aided the Ancestral God's recovery by another fraction.
Previously, he had not dared to step outside the Ancestral Court, but now he had ample confidence!
"Far Ancestor, this time you must accompany me," the Ancestral God said with a smile toward the Dragon Bell.
Spiritual light fluttered around the Dragon Bell, radiating deep, sonorous Dao tones like the long roar of a dragon. Dragon whiskers had even sprouted on its bronze shell. Exceptionally ponderous, the bell emanated an immensely formidable Dao prestige. Although not a Supreme treasure, it was scarcely inferior to a Great Luo immortal artifact!
A crisp, resonant voice sounded from within the bell: "Fellow Daoist, can you not descend straight through the starry sky into the Mortal Realm?"
The Ancestral God shook his head. "Peril lurks within the darkness. If I descend through the cosmos, I will surely be intercepted. For safety's sake, we shall take the Ancient Ferry. Your physical body is there, and with a few good friends accompanying us, our passage will be safe."
They stepped out of the Heavenly Dao Ancestral Court and headed toward the Heavenly Sea.
Before the mountain village in the Mortal Realm, many villagers who were meditating upon the Heavenly Dao suddenly grunted in unison. Opening their mouths wide, they let out bursts of Dao weeping!
Wherever the cries of Dao weeping reached, the Heavenly Dao unraveled, vegetation withered, running water decayed, and all vitality was severed!
"As I thought, something is preventing me from comprehending the Mortal Realm's Heavenly Dao!"
The charred humanoid husk suddenly burst apart. From the dust, Xu Ying flew forth, his Dao body immaculate. With a mere thought, garments materialized—woven from the Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Realm.
Gliding through the air, he arrived swiftly before the villagers who were uttering Dao weeping. Flicking his fingers in rapid succession, he infused the Mortal Realm's Heavenly Dao he had comprehended into his finger force, driving back the Dao weeping within each villager!
This Dao weeping had latched onto their resonance with the Heavenly Dao, invading their bodies and forcing them to cry out in attack against Xu Ying.
Yet in mere moments, Xu Ying sent the Dao weeping back the way it had come—a display of Dao methods so exquisite it defied imagination!
Tracing the source of the Dao weeping with his divine consciousness, Xu Ying probed deep into the shadows until his vision abruptly blacked out.
A voice faintly echoed in his ears: "What insolence!"
A terrifying force erupted, attempting to trace his position in reverse. Xu Ying instantly flicked his sleeve, shaping his hand into a Heavenly Sabre to sever his divine consciousness, cutting off the pursuer's approach!
Eighteen crossings had elevated Xu Ying's grasp of the Mortal Realm's Heavenly Dao to an exceptionally profound level; this technique was merely a small test of his skill.
Yet whenever he tried to advance further, he found the path exceedingly arduous.
The Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Realm was far more intricate than that of the Earth Immortal Realm. After all, the mortal world was the most complex place of all; the human heart was harder to fathom than the heart of heaven, and human will was harder to define than the Heavenly Will.
More crucially, he sensed a formidable power within the Mortal Realm persistently obstructing the revival of the Heavenly Dao. In the most recent attempts, this perception had grown increasingly acute.
Under the interference of this force, his insights into the Heavenly Dao had yielded little over the last few sessions, and the cultivation of his Dao body had hit its ceiling.
Xu Ying frowned slightly. *Strange. This Dao weeping isn't entirely simple—it doesn't seem to be pure Dao weeping...*
The villagers knelt and kowtowed, calling him their immortal master.
Xu Ying helped them up and smiled. "I am not yet an immortal. Although I survived this heavenly tribulation, the tribulation itself was incomplete, so it cannot be counted as a true crossing. Only once I cross it properly will I be a genuine immortal. When that day comes, you may call me your immortal master."
Observing the villagers, he was genuinely moved. Every one of them possessed extraordinary talent. Without ever cultivating—without having even entered the Qi Gathering realm—they already wielded remarkable magical power and commanded formidable divine abilities!
Examining them closely, he understood at once. *These villagers entered the Dao alongside me, comprehending and mending the Heavenly Dao. Without realizing it, they have already mastered a portion of the natural power of heaven and earth.*
Having grasped the power of the Heavenly Dao, the villagers possessed profound Dao cultivation that far transcended ordinary cultivation realms.
They had no idea how immense their power was or what vast transformations it would bring them in the future.
Looking at their earnest eyes, Xu Ying felt a surge of appreciation for their talent and considered imparting cultivation methods so they could train properly and not squander their foundation.
Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind: *If I don't pass down cultivation methods and instead leave them to their own devices, will they invent a system of Qi Gathering, Knocking on the Pass, and Inter-refining, or will they forge an entirely different path?*
With that thought, he dismissed the urge to teach them techniques. Waving farewell, he smiled and said, "I have stayed in your village for quite some time and have yet to visit other places. Farewell."
The villagers warmly urged him to stay, but with a slight tap of his foot, Xu Ying transformed into a streak of light, tore through the sky, and vanished.
His purpose here was ascension. Since he could not ascend right now, he would search for whatever was obstructing him and find a solution!
The villagers took to the air one after another, but having only recently grasped a few basic Dao methods, how could they hope to catch up with Xu Ying?
Leaving the villagers behind, Xu Ying surveyed his surroundings. The azure sky was vast, blanketing the four cardinal directions. Yet beyond the reach of the Heavenly Dao lay an incomparable darkness, dense beyond imagination.
The region covered by the Heavenly Dao resembled an anomaly within the Mortal Realm, untouched by corruption!
*The catastrophe that destroyed the Dragon Court back then destroyed the Mortal Realm along with it. Could that catastrophe have been Dao weeping as well? But what about that voice that called me insolent?*
Hesitating for a moment, Xu Ying headed toward the source of the Dao weeping.
Suddenly, a voice rang out: "Brother, my master requests your presence!"
Xu Ying looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young Daoist boy riding an immortal crane, exuding an airy, ethereal grace. The crane arrived before Xu Ying, flapping its wings as it hovered in midair. The young Daoist boy hurried to bow, saying, "Seeing a guest from his homeland, my master was overjoyed. He sent me to ensure you meet with him!"
Sensing something suspicious about his origin, Xu Ying asked, "May I ask who your master is?"
The young Daoist boy smiled and replied, "My master is an ancient immortal from antiquity. He once pioneered ten methods of attaining the Dao, earning renown throughout the world. His surname is Liu, and his name is Liu Guanyi..."
Xu Ying exclaimed in shock, "Ten Useless Heavenly Monarch, Liu Guanyi? How could he be in the Mortal Realm?"
Chapter 566