Throughout the ancestral land of the Xu family, lanterns and banners were hung everywhere, and guests arrived like a surging tide.
In just a few days, it would be Xu Lanshan’s Scenery Command Grand Ceremony—a grand event rarely seen in a hundred years. Cultivators from all directions who had heard the news spared no effort to travel there so long as they could make the journey. Even some Dao Foundation patriarchs living in rural seclusion crossed mountains and rivers with the young juniors of their clans, just to broaden their horizons.
The outer city of the ancestral land was open around the clock, bustling with clamor and excitement, while the ancestral mountain itself was heavily guarded, with all entry and exit strictly forbidden. When the time came, the cultivators would observe the ceremony from a hundred li away. At this distance, dharma idol cultivators could clearly sense the aura of the heavenly tribulation, allowing them to draw their own insights from it. As for the Dao Foundation patriarchs, they could only glean whatever they could from the expressions on the faces of the dharma idol cultivators.
In an ordinary tavern in the outer city, virtually every seat was taken. The patrons were an eclectic mix: some dressed in opulent finery, radiating an extraordinary air; some adopted profound airs, looking utterly enigmatic; and others, though plainly dressed, wore expressions that practically had the words “I am a master” carved onto their faces.
Though drinking cheap wine, they spoke of the most thrilling and perilous matters of the martial world, recounting legendary tales of how they had narrowly escaped with their lives from the claws of various Scenery Command great demons. Their faces flushed red with drink, yet they never forgot to boast and flatter one another, leaving a group of country youths beside them dumbstruck and feeling their horizons vastly expanded.
Just then, a young cultivator stepped into the tavern. He carried a gentle, unassuming aura that naturally made people want to approach him.
The tavernkeeper hurriedly gave him the last remaining table and swiftly brought out wine and dishes. The young cultivator did not strike up a conversation with anyone, merely listening in silence. For some reason, seeing him listen so intently, several patriarchs in the room grew inexplicably excited and began digging out the deepest, most cherished secrets of the martial world from the bottom of their chests.
One patriarch leaned in conspiratorially. “Have you heard? There is a Creation Immortal Venerable hiding in Qingming—supposedly a rare demon beast—”
The young cultivator’s hand jerked violently, nearly spilling his wine.
Another Dao Foundation patriarch remained composed, speaking in a measured tone: “Your news is out of date. From what I know, this demon beast has a taste for the beauty of the Shamans, so it constantly trades with them, exchanging for Shaman beauties for its own pleasure.”
The young disciples listened with slackened jaws, crying out in shock, “Shaman beauties? Aren't those monsters?”
The patriarch glared, scolding, “What do you know? Isn't a demon beast a monster too? In the eyes of a demon beast, monsters are what's beautiful, while we're all hideous freaks.”
The young cultivator sitting alone seemed so shocked that he could barely swallow his wine. Completely unaware that they had just lingered before the gates of hell several times over, the patriarchs continued their grand pontifications.
At long last, a patriarch brought up news unrelated to Qingming: “...I heard that the Xu family has another immortal who is also about to attain Scenery Command. He just keeps a low profile and hasn't made a big fuss about it.”
Just then, another female cultivator walked into the tavern. She had a plain, unremarkable appearance and was dressed in understated clothes.
The tavern was already full, and only the young cultivator sat alone at his table. The female cultivator walked over to him and asked softly, “May I sit here?”
“Of course,” the young cultivator replied with a smile.
The female cultivator ordered only a pot of wine, pouring and drinking by herself. Only after downing three cups did she speak up to ask, “Did you also come for the Scenery Command assembly?”
The young cultivator shook his head. “Originally, yes. But I changed my mind later. I just came to have a look around, and I'll be leaving shortly.”
The female cultivator seemed a little surprised. “You don't want to watch the heavenly tribulation?”
“What's there to see about a heavenly tribulation? They're all more or less the same; it's not like it can pull off any new tricks,” the young cultivator answered dismissively.
The patriarchs nearby could listen no longer. How could this young lad have an even bigger mouth than they did?
Immediately, one patriarch said, “Young people just love to brag. Have you ever seen a heavenly tribulation? Let me tell you, there's a world of profundity in heavenly tribulations. Just the major categories alone number around a dozen. This time, we might even get to witness one of the Upper Three Tribulations—”
The young cultivator looked at this middle-stage Dao Foundation patriarch and asked with a slight smile, “Have you experienced one, Elder?”
The patriarch’s face flushed scarlet in an instant. The retort, “What heavenly tribulation hasn't this patriarch seen?” nearly slipped out, but that boast was simply too preposterous. Fortunately, he was not yet completely drunk and managed to hold his tongue in time.
The young cultivator and the female cultivator began chatting about mundane trivialities, paying no further heed to the patriarchs. However, the words they spoke were entirely different from what reached the patriarchs' ears.
The young cultivator asked, “You can actually swallow this kind of wine?”
The female cultivator replied, “When I was roaming the world in the past, I was once trapped in dire straits. I ate and drank whatever I could find; otherwise, I would have lost my life long ago. So I'm not picky. Don't just lecture me—aren't you drinking it too?”
“My parents were both mortals. Normally, they couldn't even afford wine like this; they could only share a pot during festivals.”
“Born of mortals, yet you managed to cultivate so quickly? Never mind, I have no desire to pry into your secrets. Are you truly not planning to stay until the ceremony ends before leaving? It would also benefit your future cultivation.”
The young cultivator smiled. “I was still hesitating at first, but now I'm even more certain: I'll leave shortly. Your heavenly tribulation is fast approaching. Instead of hiding in a quiet room or secret chamber, why are you wandering around out here?”
The female cultivator said, “A sudden impulse struck me, so I decided to take a stroll outside. As it turned out, there really was a pleasant surprise—didn't I run into you?”
The young cultivator chuckled. “Running into me is hardly a good thing. By the way, I heard that another person in your Xu family is about to make a breakthrough?”
The female cultivator nodded. “Xu Fang. He's ten years younger than me, a true direct descendant of the Immortal Ancestor's bloodline. Ten days after I break through, he will face his tribulation.”
“Then congratulations in advance on gaining two new True Monarchs. I'm off. Remember to settle my bill.”
Seeing the young cultivator stand up, the female cultivator froze. “You truly don't intend to watch?”
The young cultivator smiled with easy grace. “What's there to see about a heavenly tribulation? Besides, this world is already quite dull. It's better to leave behind a few interesting opponents. Once you've broken through, I'll come back to see you.”
The young cultivator walked out of the tavern doors and vanished in the blink of an eye. The female cultivator reflected on what he had said, unable to make head or tail of it. Deciding not to dwell on it, she also left the tavern.
Once both of them were gone, the alcohol went to the patriarchs' heads, rekindling their urge to boast. They resumed bragging about how terrifyingly formidable the high-level cultivators and great demons they had encountered were.
***
In the ancestral land of the Xu family, the female cultivator appeared before the entrance of the secret realm, hesitating for a moment.
Two people emerged from within the secret realm. One was young and handsome, yet his eyes were brimming with arrogance. Seeing the female cultivator, his brows knitted slightly, and he said, “The Immortal Ancestor has been waiting for you. Where did you run off to? You're about to face your tribulation, and you're still gallivanting around outside?”
The female cultivator shed her disguise, revealing herself to be Xu Lanshan. She said coldly, “My affairs are none of your concern. Even if we're both in Scenery Command, you won't be my match! You'd best not make a fool of yourself.”
The young-looking cultivator did not lose his temper. Instead, he said, “That's not so certain. The Immortal Ancestor has bestowed another fortuitous opportunity upon me; who will be stronger and who weaker in the future remains to be seen. After reaching Scenery Command, we must leave behind descendants. Aside from me, it seems you have no other choice. You surely wouldn't turn to Qiuniu, would you?”
A trace of killing intent flashed across Xu Lanshan’s face. “Even turning to Qiuniu would be better than you.”
The young-looking cultivator finally glared at her with fury, gritting his teeth. “Who you choose won't be up to you! Just you wait.”
At this moment, an ethereal, transcendent voice of a young boy echoed from within the secret realm: “Since you have returned, why haven't you entered?”
Xu Lanshan snorted, no longer bickering with Xu Fang, and stepped into the secret realm.
Only after stepping inside did she suddenly realize that there should have been another person standing beside Xu Fang, yet she had retained zero impression of her. She only vaguely remembered that it seemed to be a woman with green pupils and a bald head.
Xu Lanshan was inwardly startled. That woman had been standing right before her, yet she had nearly overlooked her entirely. Had it not been for her impending breakthrough—which had rendered her primordial spirit and spiritual perception extraordinarily keen—she probably would not have sensed that woman’s presence at all!
The secret realm was shrouded in darkness as Xu Lanshan walked forward at an easy pace. After a few steps, a beam of light appeared before her. Sitting cross-legged beneath the light was a youth, looking like a figure straight out of myth.
The youth opened his eyes and said slowly, “Are you fully prepared?”
“Yes,” Xu Lanshan answered respectfully.
The youth pinched his fingers in silent calculation, then said, “There should be no major obstacles to your breakthrough this time. Go.”
Xu Lanshan bowed and withdrew from the secret realm. Behind her, the beam of light vanished as well.
Three days later, the heavenly tribulation descended—an orthodox ninefold heavenly thunder. Xu Lanshan bathed in the lightning and was reborn, stepping into Scenery Command.
Ten days later, the young cultivator once again walked into that same small tavern, took his old seat, and ordered the same wine and food as before. Only this time, there were very few patrons in the establishment; the patriarchs had probably been unable to afford the city's expenses and had all returned to their hometowns.
Halfway through his meal, wind and clouds suddenly converged: another heavenly tribulation was brewing.
Tribulation clouds surged from all directions, virtually blotting out the entire outer city, their momentum far more vast and thunderous than during Xu Lanshan’s tribulation! The clouds were red suffused with gold, faintly revealing layers upon layers of celestial palaces and pavilions, solemn and holy, displaying the full majesty of heaven!
Xu Lanshan, who had been resting in her quiet chamber, began trembling involuntarily the moment she sensed the aura of this tribulation. She immediately stepped out of the chamber and looked toward the sky, her face draining of color in an instant.
This seemed to be the Golden Court and Jade Tower Celestial Sky Chaos Tribulation. This tribulation had only ever appeared in the records of ancient Daoist scriptures; not a single sighting had been recorded in recent years. Xu Lanshan was overcome with shock. What virtue or merit did Xu Fang possess to be worthy of such a heavenly tribulation?
A short while later, facts proved that Xu Fang was indeed unworthy of such honor.
He died.
Chapter 604