Chapter 223 The Heavenly Tribulation Emerges
However, although the heavenly punishment dissipated, it did not disappear; rather, it existed in another form.
In the void, dark clouds rolled, and muffled thunder rumbled. Above, it seemed as if there were divine palaces and celestial palaces, pagodas, heavenly soldiers arrayed in formation, and giant gods beating drums.
Various wondrous phenomena manifested one by one, gradually forming a vast and magnificent world in the sky. Within it, lightning flashed, and thunder roared.
This world was very familiar to Feng Zichen; its appearance and aura were exactly the same as the Nine Heavens Heavenly Realm, evolved from the Nine Heavens Thunder Domain within the Thunder Swamp.
In later generations, the Nine Heavens Heavenly Realm was the main base of the Thunder Department, the place where the primordial thunder operated.
Its power was not only to control clouds and rain, but also to govern heavenly calamities and blessings, to hold the balance of things, to control things and people, and to govern life and death.
It possessed the power to bring down tribulations on behalf of heaven!
Its appearance signifies that Heavenly Punishment has silently changed, transforming into a slightly weaker Heavenly Tribulation.
Unlike Heavenly Punishment, Heavenly Tribulation is the true test of Heaven's Dao upon all things in the primordial world. It sets different standards based on the target's strength, striking and leaving without hesitation.
Whether the target lives or dies depends entirely on its own strength. Survival means life, failure means death!
However, the Heavenly Dao at this time is not as perfect as it is in later generations, lacking the established rules. The primordial world now has no concept of Heavenly Tribulation.
Heavenly Tribulation is the result of the return of the Zhou Tian Zheng Shen after the Investiture of the Gods, and the restoration of the order of heaven and earth. Before that, there had never been Heavenly Tribulation in the primordial world.
Now, with the intervention of the origin of heaven and earth, the Heavenly Dao has undergone inexplicable changes, prematurely evolving Heavenly Tribulation. Of course, the newly born Heavenly Tribulation is naturally not as perfect as it is in later generations.
Its appearance is only for those who defy the heavens. From now on, whenever something defies the heavens is born, Heavenly Punishment will no longer descend, but will instead be transformed into Heavenly Tribulation.
To leave them a sliver of hope, demonstrating Heaven's benevolence towards life.
"A Heavenly Tribulation?"
"Intriguing indeed!"
"This path might hold great promise!"
Sages are intimately connected to the Heavenly Dao; thus, the six sages immediately sensed the change in the Heavenly Dao. They also vaguely perceived a tremendous opportunity within the Heavenly Tribulation.
Therefore, each of them silently plotted, their intentions unknown.
"I wonder if this turn of events is good or bad for the Innate Sword Dao?"
In the North Sea, Feng Zichen gazed at the eighty-one innate runes beneath the tribulation clouds, speaking with some worry.
The Heavenly Tribulation was aimed at the Innate Sword Dao; only it could overcome it on its own. If Feng Zichen intervened, it might trigger unforeseen changes, not only failing to help the Innate Sword Dao but also potentially drawing him into the tribulation.
Therefore, the success or failure of this Heavenly Tribulation depended entirely on the accumulation of the Innate Sword Dao.
"Boom!"
A vast torrent of heavenly lightning poured down from the Nine Heavens, each bolt more ferocious than the last.
The dazzling lightning bolts, each thicker and larger than a mountain, struck down, shattering glaciers and exploding the void.
This tribulation initially consisted of golden, silver, and purple lightning. Towards the end, its power grew stronger, imbued with various attributes; multicolored lightning began to rage, tearing apart the heavens.
"Boom!"
A bolt of lightning crashed down, bursting forth with five colors, transforming into five thunderbolts that struck the innate runes—the innate five elements divine lightning.
Within the lightning, the innate runes were shattered and scattered, gradually dimming, their innate Daoist essence dissipating, as if reverting to a post-natal state. This was
because the tribulation was terrifying, not much weaker than the heavenly punishment. The difference was that the heavenly punishment was endless, continuing until destruction. But the tribulation was different; it had limitations on time and number.
According to Feng Zichen's calculations, this tribulation was called the Nine Heavens Tribulation, the first tribulation of the primordial world. It consisted of nine layers, each with twelve bolts of heavenly lightning, totaling one hundred and eight bolts.
In other words, as long as the Innate Sword Dao can withstand 108 bolts of heavenly lightning, it can successfully pass this tribulation, merge into the origin of heaven and earth, and completely become a part of heaven and earth, transforming into the Innate Dao!
Unfortunately, the Innate Sword Dao is only a product of the Great Luo, and compared with the tribulation of the Quasi-Saint level, it is still too weak and cannot contend with it at all.
It can't even withstand the first layer of the tribulation, and there is a tendency to revert to the Acquired Sword Dao.
This scene made Feng Zichen very anxious, but he couldn't help it at all. This feeling of having power but nowhere to use it was truly extremely frustrating.
"Who is that person in the heavenly punishment?"
"The Pangu aura on his body is so pure, this is another true Pangu!"
"Also, he and the Innate Dao in front of him are both extremely unfamiliar, existences never heard of before!"
"He is establishing a new Innate Dao, and this heavenly punishment is caused by this!"
"However, the condition of his Innate Dao is not very good; it seems that it is going to fail!"
The heavenly punishment was replaced by the heavenly tribulation, and the power of the Heavenly Dao that permeated the sky above the North Sea also disappeared. This brought the North Sea back into the sight of the great supernatural beings.
Therefore, everything that happened in the North Sea was clearly presented to them.
Immediately, a chorus of shocked voices erupted. Whether it was the true lineage of Pangu or the new innate Dao, both were enough to move them, let alone the simultaneous occurrence of both.
However, among these great supernatural beings, three saints were particularly astonished: Taiqing, Zhunti, and Nuwa.
Others didn't know Feng Zichen's origins, only assuming he was a primordial deity born from a portion of Pangu's origin, who had remained hidden in the primordial world until his enlightenment, intending to make a name for himself.
But these three had all had contact with Feng Zichen; how could they not know his origins? He was merely a post-natal being.
Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, he would transform from a post-natal being into a primordial being? And in the blink of an eye, he would metamorphose into a primordial deity, and the most supreme lineage of Pangu in the primordial world at that!
With the power of a sage, if they were willing to spare no expense and expend a great deal of innate essence, they could still transform an ordinary acquired being into an innate god or demon.
However, transforming an acquired being into a true descendant of Pangu is something even the Heavenly Dao itself could not achieve, let alone a sage. Transforming an innate god or demon into a true descendant of Pangu is also impossible.
Therefore, how could such a creation, far exceeding their imagination, not shock them!
"This child possesses great opportunities and great secrets!"
At this moment, the three sages simultaneously felt a strong curiosity about Feng Zichen, unsure whether it was good or bad for him.
Seeing that the innate sword path was about to give way and could revert to the acquired path at any moment, the essence of heaven and earth couldn't help but intervene again.
Rumble!
Above the North Sea, a Daoist sound resounded, and celestial flowers rained down… Accompanied by these sacred phenomena, myriad paths manifested, casting down boundless Daoist charm, enveloping the innate sword talisman.
(End of this chapter)