Unlimited priesthood

Chapter 174 Tribulation
Time flies, and decades pass in the blink of an eye.

Panwang Island in the South China Sea.

The island was deserted, with no formations or inhabitants.

Only at the very center, atop a high peak, can one see a single figure.

The man was of extraordinary stature, sitting atop the highest peak, seemingly one with the mountain rocks.

"Hoohoo!"

The wind howled, making clothes rustle, but the man remained unmoved, and the knife across his knees remained silent.

suddenly……

"Boom!"

The weather suddenly changed, and the sky turned pitch black.

"coming!"

"The phenomenon of Nascent Soul Condensation!"

"Go and report to the Ancestor immediately!"

Despite this, the person on the mountaintop remained unmoved, while a burst of spiritual light rose outside Panwang Island, sending messages flying in all directions.

Without even needing to transmit a message, as soon as the tribulation clouds gathered, several beams of demonic light pierced through the sky and landed menacingly outside the island, revealing numerous figures and exuding astonishing power.

It's a Nascent Soul cultivator!

"Martial Arts Madman!"

"The Three Calamities Blade Demon!"

"Today is your day to face your tribulation!"

Several Nascent Soul cultivators descended, their eyes filled with undisguised covetousness and murderous intent as they gazed at the person on Panwang Island.

Decades ago, this man appeared in the South China Sea, acting arrogantly under the guise of martial arts. He not only occupied the inexplicably emptied Panwang Island, but also used the Three Calamities Demon Soldiers to carry out massacres, causing the already chaotic cultivation world of the South China Sea to be burned by karmic fire.

Although they were all demonic cultivators, the group of Nascent Soul cultivators could not tolerate his unbridled behavior and took action to intercept and kill him, wanting to eliminate this scourge.

But don't want to...

"Although this person only has the cultivation level of Golden Core, his Karmic Fire Three Calamities are truly formidable."

"He has already refined the Three Calamities and Four Tribulations, the Karmic Fire Demonic Weapon, to the Second Calamity Realm. This gives him a great advantage over us demonic cultivators. He can even use his Golden Core body to fight against a demonic Nascent Soul cultivator from a legitimate lineage."

"If he were to advance further, shattering his Golden Core to condense his Nascent Soul, or perfecting the Three Calamities Demon Blade, then no one below the Nascent Soul level would be able to defeat him."

"If he fails to break through to the Nascent Soul stage today, that would be for the best. But if he succeeds, we will risk our lives to send him on his way, otherwise we will all become his sacrificial offerings!"

"Further words are useless; let's see what fate awaits him!"

A group of demonic cultivators watched coldly, eyeing Panwang Island menacingly, while streaks of demonic light continued to approach.

In a short while, nine Nascent Soul cultivators from the Demonic Path arrived and surrounded Panwang Island, their killing intent fully revealed and undisguised.

The intent to kill is not concealed, but rather used to exert pressure, distract the opponent, and ultimately lead to their demise under the heavenly calamity.

Besides them, there was a group of people watching from afar. Although their cultivation was not as advanced as that of the Nascent Soul stage, they could still discuss the world and offer their opinions on the state of affairs based on their observations of the internal and external situations.

"The White Bone Ancestor, the Poison Dragon Venerable, and the Nine Netherworld Ghost King!"

"The White Bone Sect, Poison Dragon Pool, and Netherworld Path, though not comparable to the Three Fiends of the West Sea and the Demonic Sect of the South Sea, can still be considered orthodox sects of the demonic path. Their ancestors all produced Nascent Soul Venerables, especially the Poison Dragon Venerable, who is said to have the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage and is no weaker than the Dragon-Slaying Sword Master of Golden Turtle Island."

"Three orthodox demonic cultivators, six unorthodox cultivators, and nine Nascent Soul cultivators joining forces—even if he succeeds in transcending his tribulation, he will die in the Northwest today."

"Hmph, if it weren't for suppressing the various sects of the Xuanmen, there would be far more than nine Nascent Soul cultivators today."

"After so many years of arrogance, it's time to pay the price!"

Whispers and discussions abounded, with a sense of relief and even a feeling of triumph.

This shows what that person has done over the years.

It is truly unpopular.

Outside Panwang Island, demons are eyeing the island covetously.

Panwang Island, however, remained calm and undisturbed.

At the very top of the peak, Shen He sat alone, completely ignoring the affairs outside the island and focusing solely on his own Dao fruition.

Decades ago, the Demon Lord Tianlu made a decisive move, gathering all the demonic cultivators from the inland to Hidden Sword Mountain. Although he intercepted and killed some of them along the way, he still achieved his strategic goal of clearing the wilderness.

Therefore, Shen He had no choice but to move his hunting grounds to the South China Sea cultivation realm to continue his demon-slaying and Dao-cultivation rituals.

After decades of honing his skills, he finally completed his cultivation and reached the critical moment of breaking through the elixir and forming the nascent soul.

Break the elixir and become a baby!

The three flowers gather at the top to build the foundation for the road.

The five elements converge to form the golden elixir.

Once the elixir is broken and the infant is formed, how should it be done?
It's very simple, a calamity of heaven and earth!
The three flowers gather at the top, and the five elements converge at the origin.

Human effort has reached its limit.

To go further, we need to draw upon the power of heaven and earth.

Therefore, the key to breaking through the elixir and forming the nascent soul lies in the tempering by the tribulations of heaven and earth.

Human power is within, while heaven and earth are without.

With the help of both inside and outside forces, they broke through the elixir and formed the infant.

This applies not only to the immortal path of Qi cultivation, but also to the martial path of refining Qi and blood, and the spiritual cultivation method of strengthening the spirit; all of these methods follow the same path at this stage.

At the sixth level of martial arts, one must draw upon the celestial and terrestrial energies to refine the golden core; at the sixth level of spiritual mastery, one must also draw upon the power of the laws of heaven and earth to refine the spirit.

Shen He cultivates the three arts of immortality, martial arts, and spirit control simultaneously. Therefore, when he breaks through, he doesn't need to rely on two different methods. He can focus all his efforts on the Heavenly Tribulation. If he can pass it, he will pass; if he can't, he will die.

There's not much to say.

Shen He activated his true essence and magical power, and the Great Dao Golden Core trembled, connecting heaven and earth from the inside out.

Suddenly...

"Boom!"

The calamity clouds collided, the heavens and earth roared, and layers of dense, dark sky curtains enveloped Panwang Island, with the center twisted into a vortex, within which lightning flashed and thunder roared, revealing the impending destruction.

"what!"

Shen He, however, was completely unafraid. With a long roar, he leaped into the air and crashed directly into the vortex of tribulation clouds.

Cultivation is already difficult, but heavenly tribulations are even more difficult to overcome.

Because of the extreme danger of heavenly tribulations, how to overcome them has long been a compulsory course for high-level cultivators, and even a lifelong problem.

Various methods for overcoming tribulations have also emerged.

Some people rely on external things, while others rely on supernatural powers.

Some people rely on their abilities, while others rely on luck.

In short, the Eight Immortals crossed the sea, each displaying their unique abilities.

But in Shenhe, there is only one word.

抗！
The tribulations of heaven and earth refine one's inner core and form a nascent soul. Evasion is a inferior method; only by confronting the tribulations head-on and breaking through can one achieve the superior approach.

Demonic cultivators have a great deal of authority to speak on this matter, because they create too much karma through demonic cultivation, their karma is entangled, and their tribulations are severe. Therefore, each tribulation is extremely dangerous, and they have to use some means to avoid tribulations, sever karma, and eliminate sins.

However, there are also some madmen of the demonic path who do not sever karma or absolve their sins. Each time they undergo tribulation, they withstand it with their own bodies and break through it with their own strength. Once they pass through, their cultivation and magical power will surge to an astonishing level, creating one after another earth-shattering demonic giants.

In fact, this method of overcoming tribulation is not unique to the demonic path. However, there are many madmen in the demonic path, and because of their cultivation methods, they are burdened with sins and their tribulations are heavy. Therefore, over time, breaking tribulations by force has become a stereotype of demonic cultivators. In reality, there are also many such powerful figures in the orthodox Xuanmen sects.

Shen He leaped into the air and entered the cloud of tribulation, where he was swallowed by the vortex.

He didn't care at all, and sat down cross-legged again, silently circulating his immortal martial arts techniques.

Suddenly...

"Boom!"

As the clouds collided, thunder roared, and within the boundless darkness, a great sun was faintly visible.

The sun shone brightly red, as fierce as fire, and then thunder roared away, transforming into a streak of crimson lightning.

"This is……!?"

Outside Panwang Island, everyone was shocked, and the nine Nascent Soul cultivators of the Demonic Path had particularly sharp eyes.

"Great Sun Thunder!"

"This person... could he be a fire-elemental spirit?" "No, a fire-elemental spirit should be able to draw upon the five elements of fire and lightning!"

"The Great Sun Thunder is extremely yang and strong; only those with a Great Sun Fire Body can suffer this calamity."

"The Great Sun Fire Body, the supreme being among fire, is the most outstanding fire-attribute spiritual body, even known as an immortal body. It was extremely rare even in ancient times. How could this person have obtained it?"

"With such a spiritual body, it's no wonder that the Three Calamities Fire was so terrifying in his hands!"

"No, no, no, the world is unpredictable, and the heavenly tribulations are even more uncertain. The one who summons the Great Sun Heavenly Thunder is not necessarily a Great Sun Immortal Body!"

Looking at the crimson lightning, as red as fire and as bright as the sun, amidst the endless tribulation clouds, the demonic cultivators were horrified. The nine Nascent Soul cultivators frowned deeply, and those from unorthodox sects showed fear in their eyes, their hearts already wavering.

However, before the shock could subside, the calamity took another turn, and a cold light suddenly appeared, merging with the great sun.

"hold head high!!!"

"Roar!!!"

Suddenly, dragons roared and tigers howled, water and fire clashed, and yin and yang were refined together.

A streak of crimson light and a flash of cold light, both formed from lightning, resembled a dragon and a tiger clashing, or water and fire clashing.

It is truly said: "Heaven and earth refine Yin and Yang, dragon and tiger interact with water and fire!"

The celestial and terrestrial energies, the dragon and tiger yin-yang thunder—this is the tribulation of martial arts body refinement.

Shen He sat within, letting the heavens and earth refine him, dragons and tigers intertwine, and water and fire merge.

"Boom!"

One layer after another, one barrier after another.

The three heavenly tribulations, each with nine paths, totaling twenty-seven paths of celestial and terrestrial energy, along with dragon, tiger, yin, and yang thunderbolts, bombard the body.

Shen He sat suspended in mid-air, unmoving, absorbing all the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Qi, and the Dragon Tiger Yin Yang Thunder into his body, tempering his physical body, blood, and the Great Dao Golden Core, and condensing a bit of Yuan Qi and a bit of innate Yuan Yang Qi within the core.

"Boom!"

After these three tribulations, the heavens and earth roared again, and demonic shadows appeared in the tribulation clouds, transforming into streaks of dark lightning that descended.

He is free to transform, a demon from beyond the realm!
This world is inhabited by celestial demons, who are extremely special beings who cannot enter the realm through conventional means. They can only be guided by the minds of living beings, disturbing their cultivation and corrupting their Dao heart.

Shen He cultivated the Great Method of Transforming into the Origin of All Paths, not only using it to comprehend the Dao but also to refine his mind and spirit. In the end, he even integrated it into the "Spirit Control Scripture" to complete the method of Spirit Control and Spirit Refinement.

Therefore, now, the Heavenly Demon has descended, transforming into a calamity to hinder his path to enlightenment.

"Boom!"

Such demonic lightning struck down as if a demon had entered the body, directly attacking the cultivator's soul and causing boundless demonic phenomena.

But the strange phenomenon, though it appeared only for a moment, vanished in an instant like a dream.

Leaving aside Shen He's three lifetimes of cultivation and the steadfastness of his heart and will, his professional talent as a seeker of the Dao, "Iron Heart," alone would allow him to easily overcome this tribulation.

Therefore, compared to the Martial Arts Dragon and Tiger Tribulation, this Spirit Control Demon Chaos Tribulation is much lighter. Countless demons entered the body, but they all dissipated like smoke and clouds, leaving only the purest power of heaven and earth to nourish the soul, and even allowing the Great Dao Golden Core to contain a bit of innate Yin Qi.

In this way, the triple tribulation was once again averted.

"The Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation!"

"He has already survived the Sixty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations!"

"It's not over yet, it's not over yet!"

"Is he going to undergo the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation again?"

"Nine-Turn Golden Elixir? He's a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir cultivator?"

Outside Panlong Island, the nine Nascent Soul cultivators of the Demonic Path were utterly horrified, though no one spoke of it.

The highest number of Heavenly Tribulations is ninety-nine, corresponding to the nine cycles of the Golden Elixir.

Therefore, in theory, only the Golden Elixir, after nine cycles, can trigger the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

Those who have completed the Nine Revolutions of the Golden Elixir will be destined to not only condense their Nascent Soul but also reach the Divine Transformation stage, with the potential to become True Immortals in the future.

This person……

"Roar!!!"

A skeletal demon roared and rode away in a staggering beam of light, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"The White Bone Demon!?"

"There's no way to make a fool of yourself!"

"That old devil is actually so afraid of death!"

Seeing this, the other Nascent Soul cultivators of the demonic path were either furious or relieved. In particular, the six who had switched from unorthodox cultivation paths immediately took off in their escape light without looking back.

Run away!
This place is dangerous; it is not advisable to stay here for long!
Their original plan was simple: to surround the island and put pressure on him. If he failed to pass the tribulation and was reduced to ashes, then everyone would be happy. If he succeeded by chance but was seriously injured, then they would swarm him and, with the combined power of the nine Nascent Soul cultivators, they could overwhelm him.

But now...

Nine-turn golden elixir?

Ninety-Nine Heavenly Tribulations?

And there are also strange phenomena such as dragons and tigers in the heavens and earth, and demons dancing wildly!
This guy, I'd believe you if you told me he was a reincarnation of a true demon!
Ninety-Nine Heavenly Tribulations?

Even the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation might not be able to kill this kind of monster, right?
If they can kill them with a single blow, then there's no need to say more; they won't even need to clean up the mess.

If they can't kill it, then even if such a being is left with only a breath, it's not something ordinary people can provoke. It's hard to say whether these nine Nascent Soul cultivators will be sent to their deaths or risk their lives if they go up against it.

Therefore, the White Bone Ancestor made a decisive move and immediately withdrew from this place of trouble.

With the departure of the White Bone Ancestor, the other demons scattered like birds and beasts, and Panwang Island, which had been heavily surrounded just moments before, was now deserted.

However, some cultivators were still observing from afar using various means. Not only the demonic sects, but also the righteous sects and various forces in the South China Sea were all quietly paying attention.

It was amidst all this intense public attention that the cultivators' tribulation finally reached its 99th year.

"Boom!"

The heavens and earth trembled, the clouds of calamity churned, and lightning flashed.

Thunder is divided into five colors, and lightning produces five lights: one is a clear and bright blue light, one is a sharp golden light, one is a blazing red light, one is a profound black light, and one is a deep yellow light.

Exactly...

"Thunder of Wood!"

"Thunder of Geng Metal!"

"Thunder of the Fire element!"

"Thunder of Ren Water!"

"Thunder of Earth!"

"Innate Five Elements Tribulation Lightning!"

"this……!"

Seeing the five-colored lightning emerging from the endless tribulation clouds, the nine demonic infants, who had already flown tens of thousands of miles away, were once again terrified. They squeezed out their magic power to increase their escape speed, and once again covered a thousand miles in an instant, fleeing for their lives.

But none of this concerned Shen He, who was completely absorbed in his own achievements, letting the innate five thunderbolts bombard him.

Dragon Tiger Divine Thunder is a calamity for martial arts!

The Heavenly Demon Thunder is a calamity for the gods!

The Five Elements Divine Thunder is a calamity for immortals!

A barrage of lightning, imbued with innate energy and the power of the five elements, struck down, but Shen He's body blocked it all. His flesh and blood absorbed it, his internal organs transformed it, and it gathered in his dantian, eventually condensing into a point of innate primordial energy within the Great Dao Golden Core.

The primordial yang and primordial yin, the primordial spirit and primordial qi, the three points of qi combine and make a soft sound.

"Crack!"

The golden core trembled and shattered.

At the same time...

"boom!!!"

When the nine-nine tribulations are completed, the five elements will be eliminated.

But the long, ominous clouds did not disappear; instead, they grew even more intense.

Amidst the swirling clouds of tribulation, a burst of purple lightning flashed, faintly condensing into an eye, a tightly closed amethyst eye.

Her amethyst eyes were tightly closed, yet they twitched intermittently. It took an unknown amount of effort to finally pull her eyelids open a crack.

With eyes fixed vertically, a horizontal line drawn, a sliver of vision opened up, cold and indifferent, disregarding all living beings!
Heaven is ruthless; it treats all things like straw dogs!
Utterly fair and just, selfless and impartial.

This is the tribulation of the Great Dao, the tribulation of the Great Dao for a twelve-turn supreme-grade golden elixir!
(End of this chapter)