Chapter 1505: Attaining Spirit Transformation (Part One)

When a cultivator above Foundation Establishment breaks through, they will face a Heavenly Tribulation. Whether it’s a minor tribulation or a great one, it’s still a Heavenly Tribulation. This makes tribulations of all sizes a common occurrence in the Immortal Spirit Realm.

The spiritual energy in the Immortal Spirit Realm is exceptionally dense, and the rules of the Heavenly Dao are different from the lower realm. The chances of breaking through from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, and from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, are much higher.

Breakthroughs to the Golden Core Realm, in particular, are very frequent. If every breakthrough filled the sky with dark clouds and lightning, the sect would never be able to function normally.

Disciples leaving the sect would have to brave lightning storms every day, which is obviously not feasible.

Therefore, many sects have designated areas for breakthroughs. If you are unwilling to use them, you can go outside and choose your own place to break through.

“There are disciples who have returned to rest and cultivate. That possibility can’t be ruled out. Does Elder Lan suspect it’s coming from the Civil and Martial Hall?”

Tang Feng was sharp. He didn’t need to guess much to arrive at a possible conclusion.

This breakthrough was happening in the perilous land, and it was a Heavenly Tribulation for someone above the Nascent Soul Realm. Although there were cultivators from the Rear Hall cultivating behind it, it was currently wartime, and disciples of that level were all out on missions.

The Heavenly Tribulation they were witnessing was clearly a spontaneous breakthrough. Naturally, they thought of Li Yan.

“Let’s go take a look!”

As Great Master Lan spoke, her figure flickered and flew towards a side hall.

Although they could sense the Heavenly Tribulation from here, the area behind was shrouded by a grand formation. From outside the formation, they could only see that a tribulation was occurring, but they couldn’t pinpoint its exact location. They had to go inside.

And the various areas behind could only be reached via teleportation. Great Master Lan and Tang Feng flew directly into the side hall that led to the Civil and Martial Hall.

…

The moment the two entered the side hall, Elder Liu saw Great Master Lan and immediately said, “The breakthrough is happening here. Right now, that brat is the only one in the Civil and Martial Hall, no one else!”

Elder Liu knew the purpose of Great Master Lan’s visit, so she stated it directly without waiting to be asked.

“We’re going in to have a look!”

Great Master Lan nodded at her, then took out a special token and showed it to Elder Liu.

Great Master Lan was old-fashioned and rarely used her status to get her way. She always followed the rules. This was also why she had been unwilling to force Li Yan when she used him to test the formations.

Elder Liu merely glanced at the token before nodding.

Great Master Lan then led Tang Feng and quickly headed towards the teleportation formation in the rear.

…

A day and a half later, when Great Master Lan and Tang Feng emerged from the teleportation formation again, she immediately said to Elder Liu, “Elder Liu, the rules here remain the same. Without the Sect Master’s warrant or a bestowed token, no one is allowed to enter. I must ask Elder Liu to be extra vigilant about this!”

Elder Liu immediately nodded in agreement.

Although Great Master Lan was also a Void Refining Elder like her, her status within the sect was very special. She knew far more core secrets than more than ninety percent of the other elders.

Elder Liu had always been very curious about Li Yan’s identity, but she hadn’t inquired about it within the sect. The current situation was turbulent.

This was something personally arranged by the Sect Master. The fact that she hadn’t been told the reason already spoke volumes. Asking too many questions could bring trouble upon herself.

By the time she finished speaking, Great Master Lan and Tang Feng had already swiftly exited the side hall.

“Elder Lan, he actually managed to cultivate the Power of the Cold Moon in just over a year. Does this mean the next step of our plan can proceed soon?”

The moment they left the side hall, Tang Feng couldn’t help but ask in a low voice.

Their original intention was to see if Li Yan could make any breakthroughs in his star power within a year. It was a desperate attempt under compressed time.

If there was some improvement, they would decide whether to let Li Yan continue cultivating in the Civil and Martial Hall based on how much his star power had increased.

If the rate of improvement was not satisfactory, they would have him directly start assisting Great Master Lan with her formation research. But Li Yan had suddenly undergone a tribulation, and in just over a day, he had succeeded.

The moment he succeeded, Great Master Lan had taken him to see Li Yan. At that time, Li Yan’s aura was extremely weak, and he had many injuries.

But as long as the tribulation was successful, none of that was a problem.

When Li Yan saw them approaching, there was no surprise in his eyes. He had sensed their arrival when the tribulation began. But since only the two of them had appeared, he was relieved.

Still injured, Li Yan didn’t wait for Great Master Lan to ask. He simply raised his hand and pointed to the empty space beside him. A cool moonlight, like an autumn night, flashed from his fingertip and vanished.

Even Tang Feng felt the strange power contained within that moonlight. The result of Li Yan’s demonstration instantly brought a smile to the perpetually cold face of Great Master Lan…

…

Outside the side hall, the two continued to walk.

“The plan can certainly proceed. Are you getting flustered because you’re too concerned? Look at him now, how long do you think he can sustain the Power of the Cold Moon?”

“His tribulation injuries are also quite severe. I just gave him the best medicinal pills. It should take about half a year for him to recover from his injuries.”

“But he still needs to stabilize his realm. All in all, it will take about three years. But I have already explained to him that since he has cultivated the Power of the Cold Moon, he can spend the remaining two years peacefully stabilizing his realm.”

“If, after two years, he still hasn’t stabilized it and we haven’t notified him, he can continue to do so. He doesn’t need to adhere to the original agreed-upon time!”

As Great Master Lan spoke, a smile also appeared in her purple eyes. It had been a long time since she had smiled.

Hearing this, Tang Feng scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He had been looking forward to this day for too long.

Even now, his mind was filled with the image of Li Yan casually releasing the Power of the Cold Moon. He was so excited that he couldn’t contain himself.

They had tried everything, but after so many years, they had never made any significant breakthrough.

This caused Tang Feng, even after leaving the side hall guarded by Elder Liu, to still feel his head buzzing, lost in a daze.

“The Elder’s meaning is to try to buy him another year?” Tang Feng said, gradually calming down.

“We’ll try our best. This matter must be reported to the Sect Master as soon as possible. With internal troubles and external threats, he is under the greatest pressure!”

“Yes, the Sect Master has been worried about this for far too long. He should be able to breathe a sigh of relief now!”

“It’s just a notification. Don’t get too happy too soon. That plan is still based on our past speculations. If your old ancestor can’t sense Li Yan’s star and moon power at all, your disappointment will only be greater.”

As she walked, Great Master Lan had already reverted to her usual indifferent and stern expression…

…

Inside the Civil and Martial Hall, Li Yan, still stained with blood, sat once again before the two statues.

A little over a day ago, after being immersed in comprehension for an unknown amount of time, he had a sudden moment of clarity. The various insights that had been mingling within him for years all surfaced at once.

Rules, space, Taiji Yin-Yang, the Five Elements, and other concepts, like streams of water, converged from the sky and poured into his Sea of Consciousness.

These streams were no longer chaotic; many of them now had clear patterns. At that moment, streaks of black light appeared on the surface of Li Yan’s body.

And between his eyebrows, a black and red light flickered uncertainly, as if a third eye had opened. The eerie flashing of black and red light seemed to have opened a yin-yang passage between the world of the living and the netherworld.

Li Yan immediately awoke from his previous epiphany.

At that moment, his thoughts became crystal clear. The vague and indistinct feelings he had before were instantly clarified, as if he had been enlightened.

It was also at that moment that a strong sense of life-and-death crisis rose in Li Yan’s heart, and the rumbling of thunder echoed in his ears.

“A… a Heavenly Tribulation!”

Li Yan, who had just woken up, was a bit slow to react at first. Then, a jolt went through his heart. This was a sign of a spontaneous breakthrough.

The next moment, his figure flashed and disappeared from his original spot. The Pill Scroll Iron Book in his hand flew out at the same time, and in a single flicker, it shot out of the Civil and Martial Hall with incredible speed.

The moment he was outside, he saw wind and clouds gathering in the sky, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling amidst ink-black clouds like mountains. And it was right above the Civil and Martial Hall. Li Yan was truly terrified.

For the Soul-Suppression Palace, the fact that the Civil and Martial Hall was guarded by a Void Refining elder meant that it was invaluable beyond measure.

If he stayed inside and the Heavenly Tribulation began, the Civil and Martial Hall would likely be affected. That would be a catastrophe of his own making.

Li Yan immediately flew towards the far distance. He knew he had triggered the Heavenly Tribulation, and it was impossible to suppress or delay it now. He simply didn’t have time to leave this area.

Thus, as he quickly moved away from the Civil and Martial Hall and chose a desolate spot to sit down, the gathering wind and clouds in the sky followed his movement and arrived directly above his head.

What Li Yan didn’t know at the time was that the moment the wind and clouds began to gather, that Elder Liu had appeared. But then she saw Li Yan’s figure flash out of the Civil and Martial Hall.

Elder Liu watched Li Yan’s rapidly departing back and nodded. The boy hadn’t made a mistake in his haste. Just for this calm and steady temperament in the face of a crisis, his chances of a successful breakthrough were a little higher…

…

Returning to the present inside the Civil and Martial Hall, Li Yan recalled his experience of undergoing the tribulation, and a smile appeared on his face. After several hundred years, he had finally become a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator.

For this tribulation and breakthrough, Li Yan had used his dharma cultivation methods, simultaneously employing both the “True Scripture of Gui Water” and the “Saintly Soul Transformation Art” to face it.

He had been able to comprehend the power of laws precisely because the yin huns and yang pos of the “Saintly Soul Transformation Art” had rapidly enhanced his understanding of the Five Elements Great Dao.

And imperceptibly, his comprehension of the five elements laws had already deviated from the orthodox “True Scripture of Gui Water.” For Li Yan, who had come from an unorthodox path, he didn’t care how he cultivated. As long as it could improve his cultivation, it was the best method.

In this process, because his Five Elements Great Dao had improved, it had, in turn, deepened his understanding of the Yin-Yang Great Dao.

With the two complementing each other, Li Yan’s comprehension of spatial laws, life laws, and yin-yang five elements all seemed to merge and become one.

And so he sat there in a daze, continuously integrating various insights. Failure, success, then failure again, then success again…

Day after day passed in a daze. The moment all these thoughts connected, the aura on Li Yan that resonated with heaven and earth triggered the Spirit Transformation Heavenly Tribulation.

For this tribulation, Li Yan decided to use the “True Scripture of Gui Water” as his primary method and the “Saintly Soul Transformation Art” as a supplement to face the disaster.

After all, besides its relatively rich cultivation methods, the Gui Water Immortal Sect didn’t have many immortal arts he could use. And his natal magical treasure’s offense and defense happened to be of the soul type.

Besides, the cultivation path of all soul cultivators was not just about cultivating the soul; they also needed to cultivate magical power in tandem. They just used related arts less frequently.

Therefore, he wasn’t too worried about his identity being exposed, though it wasn’t an absolute certainty.

As it turned out, Li Yan’s choice was extremely correct.

Using the power of the five elements laws, Li Yan felt that this Heavenly Tribulation was not as terrifying as described in the classics.

Although he struggled to deal with it, the injuries he ultimately sustained were not that severe. He had only deliberately feigned them after sensing the arrival of Great Master Lan and the other.

However, after the two of them appeared, Li Yan didn’t intentionally use his soul cultivation methods to show off during the tribulation. Rather, under the pressure of the tribulation, his original plan to primarily use the “True Scripture of Gui Water” had encountered some problems.

When circulating the “True Scripture of Gui Water,” he found that the phenomenon of the five elements being isolated from each other in this world became even more severe under the Heavenly Tribulation.

There were several times when his mind had already reacted, but the attack of the Gui-Yi Water-Parting Spike was half a beat too slow. This situation became more severe as the later tribulations grew stronger.

At that time, as one tribulation after another was annihilated and the subsequent ones became stronger, Li Yan really had no choice but to simultaneously use his soul cultivation methods to cope.

Otherwise, relying solely on the Gui Water Immortal Sect’s cultivation methods, he might not have been able to withstand all the tribulations. At the very least, his injuries would have been more than twice as severe as they were now.

But as a result, the harassment from yin souls during the tribulation had greatly increased…

After Li Yan calmed down, he could put the dangers of the tribulation behind him. The various trials within this tribulation had brought him even greater insights.

‘The five elements are not just the five elements. Like the two modes, three talents, four symbols, six harmonies, and eight trigrams, they are all dao lineages for achieving immortality. They are a cultivator’s understanding of heaven and earth from different perspectives.’

‘Although every immortal path’s great dao has been precipitated and accumulated over countless years, each great dao is just a broad framework.’

‘Within this framework, one can explain every law between heaven and earth. But when it comes to the finer details, every great dao still has things it cannot fully explain.’

‘Take the two modes of yin and yang, for instance. It divides all things in the world into yin and yang, summarizing them as the primordial qi from the beginning of chaos, where clear qi rose and turbid qi sank, thus separating yin and yang…’

‘But for simple things like water and wood, you cannot simply classify them as yin or yang. Water is originally yin, but at its extreme, it becomes yang. Wood is originally yang, but at its extreme, it becomes yin.’

‘Thus, the theory of yin and yang proposes the dao path that a thing will reverse its course upon reaching an extreme. But if that is the case, what does earth become at its extreme?’

‘Similarly, in the eight trigrams dao path, the Zhen trigram has a yang yao on top, but two yin yaos below. Within a single trigram, there is both yin and yang, but it is not balanced. This, in turn, has some hidden connection to what the three talents dao lineage says…’

Li Yan now had more thoughts on the five elements laws.

He felt that the five elements laws should be more finely branched. He had gained some alternative insights into this when he first obtained the “Fuxi Plate.”

This made him feel that the existing Five Elements Immortal Dao still had many powers, many rules of heaven and earth that he simply could not touch.

The reason for this might be his insufficient cultivation. But his cultivation was an unorthodox path. When he couldn’t comprehend something, he could only use the method of using the stones of another mountain to polish his own jade. (TN: An idiom meaning to learn from others to improve oneself.)

Without proper guidance, his path of seeking immortality had been exposed to an eclectic mix of teachings. This inevitably led to his cultivation being influenced by other cultivation methods.

Under such circumstances, there was no one to correct Li Yan or teach him how to distinguish the merits of these cultivation methods. He could only think and act according to his own every insight.