The Celestial Wind and the Fiery Trial

“Whoosh~~~” Within this deathly silent world, gales suddenly erupted from every direction, all of them flying towards the location of the Diancai Immortal. Ji Ning, the Wufeng Immortal, and the Whitewater Hound all felt the intensity of these winds, though they could withstand them with their own energy.

The closer the winds drew to the Diancai Immortal, the more terrifying their power became. The converging winds from all directions gradually coalesced into azure wind blades. By the time these azure wind blades reached the Diancai Immortal, they had deepened into a dark azure, almost black.

Just looking at them caused Ji Ning and the others to feel their hearts clench.

“Open.”

The black-robed, black-haired Diancai Immortal stood there, the five Plowshare Heaven Immortal swords circulating around him, radiating a five-colored light. The terrifying black wind blades crashed against this barrier again and again, but were all blocked.

“Senior apprentice-brother Diancai’s sword arts have improved this much?” The Wufeng Immortal revealed a delighted expression. “Ji Ning, I had some expectations for your master’s sword arts, but he has surpassed my expectations! Back then, we all believed that senior apprentice-brother Diancai had the greatest hope of becoming a Celestial Immortal. His sword arts were already astonishing. After roaming the outside world for forty years, and with the scriptures you gave him, his sword arts are now on par with those of the Beixing Immortal. He truly has the potential to become a Celestial Immortal!”

“Yes.” Ji Ning was also filled with anticipation.

Putting everything else aside, just the ‘Five Elements Sword-Intent’ his master had displayed told Ji Ning that his master’s sword arts were likely on the same level as his own. There was no doubt that he was the Black-White College’s most talented genius, the one most likely to become a Celestial Immortal.

…

The ferocious black wind blades struck the five-colored light again and again, causing the surrounding space to crack.

Boom~~~

All the black wind blades dissolved, and for a moment, the world fell silent. But soon, another type of wind filled the sky. This wind was like needles, howling as countless golden needles formed in midair, all stabbing towards the five-colored light formed by the five Immortal swords.

…

Ferocious winds, insidious winds, gentle winds, freezing winds, scorching winds…

All kinds of winds arrived, one after another.

Even ‘Heavenly Winds’ appeared, a total of twelve different types.

Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent once more, and this time, no wind appeared for a very long time.

“Not good.” The Wufeng Immortal was startled. “The final tribulation of the Wind Tribulation has begun.”

Ji Ning was also anxious and uneasy, watching his master from afar with tension.

The Heavenly Tribulation was divided into four great tribulations — the Wind Tribulation, the Fire Tribulation, the Lightning Tribulation, and the Heartfiend Tribulation. During the Wind Tribulation, ordinary winds came first, followed by various Heavenly Winds with different levels of power, and finally, the most terrifying of all — the ‘Celestial Wind’. This Celestial Wind was formless and colorless, difficult to find anywhere in the Three Realms; it only appeared when one was undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation.

No magic treasure could block this Celestial Wind. It would appear directly before the tribulation-taker, then enter through the top of their head, penetrating through any Daoist robe or barrier!

Once the Celestial Wind entered through the crown of the head, it would sweep through the Five Viscera and Six Bowels, circulating throughout the entire body.

At this point, what was being tested was the Dao-heart.

If the Dao-heart was lacking, once the Celestial Wind entered, it would cause the body to instantly dissolve into ash! Only the Golden Lotus Nascent Soul could escape. Nine out of ten returning-to-vacuity Earth Immortals failed at this stage.

If the Dao-heart was strong enough to hold steady, then after passing the ordeal of the ‘Celestial Wind’, a transformation would occur, gradually changing the body into the body of a Celestial Immortal.

“Master, you must hold on,” Ji Ning prayed, full of worry.

“Hold on,” the Wufeng Immortal stared intently.

The Diancai Immortal, who stood in the distance surrounded by five black Immortal swords, opened his eyes and revealed a smile, looking at Ji Ning and the Wufeng Immortal. “The Wind Tribulation is over.”

“Excellent!” the Wufeng Immortal laughed heartily. “I knew that junior apprentice-brother, your Dao-heart was formidable. The Celestial Wind couldn’t do anything to you. Quickly recover your energy and prepare for the coming Fire Tribulation!”

Ji Ning also let out a sigh of relief.

At the very least, the first tribulation had been passed.

In truth, considering his master’s usual Dao-heart, he should have had confidence. But before entering this minor world, his master’s emotions had been stirred, and he had even spoken of dying and reuniting with his junior apprentice-sister. Ji Ning was very worried that his master might be affected by his feelings from back then. If his Dao-heart wavered even slightly, he would be instantly reduced to ash.

The Heavenly Tribulation was merciless; not even the slightest mistake was allowed. One wrong step meant utter failure.

Ji Ning, the Wufeng Immortal, and the Whitewater Hound all released their divine sense, carefully scouting and keeping watch from afar, all the while watching the Diancai Immortal.

Approximately half an hour after the Wind Tribulation had ended.

Red clouds appeared in the sky, like a cluster of flames gathered together.

“The Fire Tribulation has arrived.” Ji Ning and the Wufeng Immortal watched nervously.

The Fire Tribulation, though lacking the Yin nature of the Wind Tribulation, was far more violent! If even a trace of this fiery power could not be blocked, the Earth Immortal’s body would be burned to ash.

The fiery red clouds in the sky began to slowly descend, causing the surrounding temperature to skyrocket. A vague red haze filled the air.

“Crackle~~~” The ground began to soften, then turned into red-hot magma, rolling and flowing.

The Diancai Immortal levitated into the air.

“Go!”

The Diancai Immortal pointed into the distance. One of the black Plowshare Heaven Immortal swords flew out, transforming into a flaming serpent that danced wildly in the air, charging directly into the enormous red cloud. It stirred the cloud into chaos. However, the Plowshare Heaven Immortal sword was soon sent flying back by the impact.

The red cloud then descended at an accelerated pace, soon completely engulfing the Diancai Immortal.

Crackle~~~

The temperature rose to a terrifying degree. The rock and soil in that area were scorched into nothingness. Even the rocks and soil where Ji Ning and the others stood, far away, turned into flowing magma. This gave an indication of just how terrifying the temperature was.

“Boom~~” “Rumble~~” “Crackle~~~”

Through the red cloud, beams of Heavenly Fire could be vaguely seen. Some were golden, some were black, some were emerald green, and some were the color of brilliant stars…

“All kinds of Heavenly Fire have descended,” Ji Ning and the Wufeng Immortal watched with tightly clenched hearts.

“Boom!”

Suddenly.

The entire red cloud rapidly contracted toward the center. Then, a figure appeared, protected by five Immortal swords. The red cloud transformed into flames, passing through the obstruction of the Immortal swords as if it were incorporeal, and flew directly into the figure’s body.

In an instant, the world cooled down, the temperature plummeting.

But the Diancai Immortal, floating in midair, was glowing with fire. Ji Ning could even see the fire inside his master’s body; he had become a human torch.

“The final type of fire in the Fire Tribulation, the ‘Celestial Fire’,” the Wufeng Immortal said nervously.

The body of a Celestial Immortal had to be tempered by the Wind, Fire, and Lightning Tribulations to forge the body of a Celestial Immortal.

Then, the Heartfiend Tribulation would temper the Dao-heart of a Celestial Immortal.

Only by passing all of them could one become a free and unfettered Celestial Immortal!

“He made it.” Ji Ning, who had been watching nervously, revealed a joyful expression. He saw his master slowly change from a ‘human torch’ to a normal state, the glow fading.

The Diancai Immortal descended to the ground, then sat down cross-legged to quietly regulate his breathing and recover his energy.

“The Fire Tribulation is over. Now comes the most dangerous tribulation… the Lightning Tribulation!” the Wufeng Immortal said softly.

“Yes, the Lightning Tribulation.” Ji Ning’s heart was also in his throat.

Of the four great tribulations, the final Heartfiend Tribulation was the most bizarre!

But the Lightning Tribulation was the most terrifying!

The Lightning Tribulation was the most violent, with wave after wave of lightning, its power continuously escalating. Even the Celestial Immortal Juhua and the Beixing Immortal of the past had been battered by endless Heavenly Lightning, their bodies destroyed, their Golden Lotus Nascent Souls damaged to the point that they could only flee and become Loose Immortals. It could be said that the ‘Lightning Tribulation’ was a nightmare! Countless incredible talents had fallen to it. There was no clever trick to resisting the Lightning Tribulation. When a bolt of Heavenly Lightning struck, you could either block it and face the next, or you could fail to block it. If you failed to block it, you were finished!

It was as simple as that.

“I wonder how many bolts of Heavenly Lightning there will be,” the Wufeng Immortal said, worried.

“Master’s sword arts are extremely profound, his talent is great, and he has five top-grade Immortal flying swords. I’m afraid the Heavenly Lightning will not be few in number,” Ji Ning said, also worried.

The Lightning Tribulation varied. Some Earth Immortals might encounter only nine bolts of Heavenly Lightning.

Others might face eighteen, twenty-seven, or thirty-six bolts of Heavenly Lightning. Legends spoke of a maximum of eighty-one bolts!

The number of Heavenly Lightning bolts depended on many factors, even including one’s karma. Generally speaking, Ki Refiners would not encounter the legendary eighty-one bolts of Heavenly Lightning. The ‘eighty-one’ bolt tribulation was usually encountered by Fiendgod Body Refiners going through their tribulation. Many heaven-defying Fiendgod Body Refining cultivators at the returning-to-vacuity stage had been struck to death by the Heavenly Lightning!

Ji Ning understood this well. Even if he were to train his Eight-Nine Arcane Art to the third cycle, encountering eighty-one bolts of Heavenly Lightning would still reduce him to slag without any hope of resistance.

“I hope it’s less than thirty-six.” The Wufeng Immortal said softly.

“Yes.” Ji Ning nodded gently.

Ki Refining cultivators who opposed Heavenly Lightning were naturally weaker than Fiendgod Body Refiners. Generally speaking, it was very difficult to overcome a Lightning Tribulation with more than thirty-six bolts.

…

Another half hour passed.

Two huge black clouds suddenly appeared in the calm sky. They flew in from different directions, blotting out the sun as they rumbled and rolled. As the two black clouds drew close, bolts of lightning began to flicker between them. The terrifying power of it made Ji Ning, the Wufeng Immortal, and the Whitewater Hound worry.

Gradually, the two enormous black clouds began to merge. The combined, colossal black cloud began to rotate.

Soon, the cloud of the Lightning Tribulation had transformed into a swirling vortex of lightning.

“Such a large cloud for the Lightning Tribulation.” The Wufeng Immortal’s expression suddenly changed.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Ning asked, worried.

“When I went through my tribulation back then, I was defeated by this very cloud of the Lightning Tribulation. But the cloud I faced was not this large,” the Wufeng Immortal said, worried.

“What? How many bolts of Heavenly Lightning did you face back then?” Ji Ning asked.

“I don’t know. I was struck by the twenty-fifth bolt, which shattered my magic treasure and broke my body. I gave up and fled,” the Wufeng Immortal said. “Junior apprentice-brother Diancai’s Heavenly Lightning will definitely be more than mine.”

As soon as he finished speaking.

Boom!

Ji Ning felt a deafening roar in his ears as a dazzling bolt of lightning shot down from the vortex of lightning in the sky, striking directly towards the Diancai Immortal below.