Chapter 38

Tai Cang stepped into the pavilion and saw red silk hanging everywhere, with elegant furnishings that made it resemble a woman's private chamber. He did not care. He had come only to undergo the tribulation, and being isolated from the world suited him perfectly.

A faint fragrance drifted through the room, identical to the scent on Queen Mother of the West.

She really didn't treat me like an outsider.

Was Queen Mother of the West really that close to me?

Tai Cang frowned slightly, feeling that something was off, yet unable to put his finger on it. Shaking his head, he entered a quiet room, sat down, and began refining the Heaven and Earth Cang Huang Ruler.

As for the laws of space and time, although either could be brought to max level with One-Click Max Level, he could only choose one. After hesitating for a long while, he decided to undergo the tribulation first and obtain the other max-level privilege after defeating Xiao Xi.

The refinement of the Heaven and Earth Cang Huang Ruler went extremely smoothly. After it acknowledged him as its master, Tai Cang began refining the restrictions within it. This Houtian Merit Supreme Treasure contained seventy-two innate restrictions and nine acquired restrictions; refining them all would be no easy task.

A hundred years passed, and the nine acquired restrictions were successfully refined. Afterward, Tai Cang continued tackling the innate restrictions. Another three hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Tai Cang gave a low shout, and the Cang Huang Ruler in his hand blazed with light. He had refined seventy-three layers of restrictions, but with his Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation, he was temporarily unable to shake the remaining eight innate restrictions.

Rumble—

Dark clouds suddenly gathered over Purple Orchid Pavilion, shaking all of Western Kunlun. Terrifying pressure descended, aimed directly at Purple Orchid Pavilion.

The Nine Trials had arrived!

Tai Cang's heart tightened. He immediately put away the Cang Huang Ruler, swallowed a Nine Revolutions Golden Pill, and adjusted his breathing in preparation for battle. Unlike the Three Calamities, the Nine Trials would arise from within. An hour later, the tribulation descended.

In an instant, all the mana in Tai Cang's body vanished. Like a mortal, he endured the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death, bitter cold, scorching heat, hunger, thirst, and exhaustion.

Someone was undergoing the Nine Trials!

It was in the direction of Western Kunlun!

The cultivators of the three sects on Kunlun Mountains all turned their attention toward it. After making deductions, they discovered that the one undergoing the tribulation was actually Tai Cang.

Junior Brother Tai Cang?

Within Grand Clarity Palace, Cang Du was first startled, then his gaze hardened. Since that was the case, he, as an elder brother, could not fall behind either.

He bowed to Laozi. "Master, I am preparing to undergo the Nine Trials."

Laozi nodded and tossed him a bottle of Nine Revolutions Golden Pills. "After four hundred years of accumulation, your Dao heart is stable. Once you overcome the tribulation, you should gather the Three Flowers at the Crown and enter the Grand Unity realm directly. Remember to proceed step by step. Do not seek quick success."

Understood.

Cang Du accepted the pills, looked toward Western Kunlun, and formed a hand seal. "Nine Trials, come!"

Moments later, dark clouds filled the skies above Grand Clarity Palace. Cang Du triggered the Nine Trials Heavenly Tribulation and began his breakthrough.

Eastern Kunlun!

It was Senior Brother Cang Du!

Senior Brother Cang Du was undergoing tribulation as well.

This scene immediately drew the attention of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect within Primordial Clarity Palace. They exchanged glances before Guangchengzi and the others asked Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning, who sat at the head seat, "Master, may we undergo tribulation as well?"

Tai Cang and Cang Du undergoing tribulation one after another put immense pressure on Guangchengzi and the others. Four hundred years ago, Laozi had released them from the Time-Space Roulette. Although every one of them possessed mana as profound as that of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, their realm remained at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage. It was not that they did not wish to break through, but that the Three Pure Ones had deliberately suppressed them, requiring them to first perfect their Grand Unity Golden Immortal Dao Fruits and Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning pondered briefly before saying to the Twelve Golden Immortals, "Your Dao hearts have stabilized. It is time for you to undergo tribulation."

Begin. Your master will protect you.

"Thank you, Master!"

The Twelve Golden Immortals were overjoyed. They had thought they would have to seek out separate places to undergo tribulation, never expecting Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning to personally protect them. Moved, they each triggered the Nine Trials Heavenly Tribulation.

Rumble—

Thunderclouds churned above Primordial Clarity Palace. The spectacle of the Twelve Golden Immortals undergoing tribulation shook all of Kunlun Mountains.

Yuan Shi!

The Chan Sect!

Within Upper Clarity Palace, Sect Master Tongtian, who had been preaching the Dao, frowned slightly. He looked at those seated below him and asked, "Duobao, does anyone among you wish to undergo tribulation?"

Faced with the question, Duobao and the others hesitated. Although they had sensed the disturbance caused by Tai Cang, Cang Du, and the Twelve Golden Immortals undergoing tribulation, the Jie Sect had always valued mana over realms and was not fully confident in overcoming the Nine Trials. Even Duobao and San Xiao, who had cultivated within the Time-Space Roulette, were no exception.

"Master, I am willing to undergo tribulation!"

Duobao suddenly gritted his teeth. Glancing at his severed arm, he said firmly, "The Jie Sect direct disciples are absolutely no inferior to those of the Human and Chan Sects."

The moment he said this, Zhao Gongming and the others' expressions changed drastically. Duobao's words clearly meant to force everyone to undergo tribulation together. San Xiao might manage, but Zhao Gongming and several other direct disciples had not yet reached the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. How could they undergo tribulation?

Before anyone could respond, Sect Master Tongtian had already agreed. "Since that is the case, trigger the Nine Trials. Your master will protect you."

"Thank you, Master!"

Duobao was overjoyed and immediately triggered the Nine Trials Heavenly Tribulation. With their third master personally protecting them, overcoming the tribulation would naturally be worry-free. San Xiao exchanged glances. Though they had their concerns, under Tongtian's expectant gaze, they too triggered their Heavenly Tribulations. Wudang, Jinling, and Guiling followed close behind, leaving only Zhao Gongming and four direct disciples awkwardly standing where they were.

A trace of disappointment flashed through Tongtian's eyes, but he said nothing. With a wave of his hand, he sent Zhao Gongming and the others out of Upper Clarity Palace, then turned his full attention to protecting Duobao and the others.

"Break!"

Within Purple Orchid Pavilion, the Heaven and Earth Cang Huang Ruler, True Martial Black Eagle Banner, and Innate Yin Yang Sword circled Tai Cang's body. With a furious shout, boundless mana suddenly erupted.

In an instant, the Nine Trials rapidly crumbled. Before his unwavering will, those tribulations posed no threat whatsoever.

Especially since he had lived through two lifetimes, the trials that caused ordinary cultivators to tremble in fear were nothing more than ordinary hardships to him.

Buzz—

Tai Cang's aura suddenly surged. He had overcome all Nine Trials, and his Grand Unity Golden Immortal Dao Fruit descended.

At the same time, his sea of consciousness churned. Three flower buds flew from the Dao Fruit and merged with his primordial spirit.

His body trembled slightly. The Three Flowers first appeared, marking the complete refinement of his Grand Unity Golden Immortal Dao Fruit.

Three flower buds floated behind him, drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth throughout Western Kunlun into a mad convergence.

As time passed, the first flower bud rapidly grew—third grade, sixth grade, ninth grade!

The Heavenly Flower bloomed, reaching the ultimate ninth grade.

Immediately afterward, the Earthly Flower likewise rose to the ninth grade.

Finally, the Human Flower also bloomed into the ninth grade.

With the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, all at the ninth grade, Tai Cang's mana increased dozens of times over. At this moment, he was no weaker than cultivators in the late stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

He could even clearly sense that with a single thought, the Nine Revolutions Cang Skill could break through to the seventh revolution and enter the Grand Unity realm.

"!"

However, Tai Cang forcibly suppressed his cultivation breakthrough. Although the Three Flowers had reached their ultimate state, the three supreme methods had not yet been perfected. Advancing to the Grand Unity realm now would only ruin all his previous efforts.

"All three flowers are ninth grade. Your talent truly is extraordinary."

A seductive voice suddenly rang out. A fragrant breeze swept past, and Queen Mother of the West silently appeared.

"Freeze!"

Before Tai Cang could react, Queen Mother of the West pointed a finger and restrained him.

She stepped lightly with her bare feet, standing in the air as she carefully examined the ninth-grade Three Flowers. Satisfied, she said, "The abundance of your yang energy surpasses even East Prince Gong, Di Jun, and Tai Yi."

"Tai Cang, since Laozi sent you here, he must have known what I needed. Since that is the case, I will not stand on ceremony."

Before her words had faded, Tai Cang felt drowsiness wash over him, and he instantly sank into unconsciousness.

After an unknown amount of time, Tai Cang awoke on a jade bed.

His entire body ached, his mana was nearly exhausted, and the power within him had completely changed.

The originally fierce and domineering power of the Nine Revolutions Cang Skill had become much gentler. Under the enhancement of its max-level realm, it could continuously nourish his internal organs. The strength of his Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body had risen another level; in terms of physical strength alone, he was no weaker than those veteran Great Witches of the Witch Clan.

What exactly was going on?

Tai Cang struggled to sit up, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes. He vaguely guessed at one possibility, but with Queen Mother of the West's quasi-saint-level cultivation, why would she do such a thing to him? Yet if that were not the case, how else could he explain the changes in his body?

Tap, tap, tap—

Footsteps approached from afar.

Looking up, he saw Xiao Xi push open the door and enter. She walked to the jade bed and smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist Tai Cang, you are finally awake." As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept over Tai Cang's muscular upper body. Her cheeks immediately reddened, and she hurriedly looked away before handing him a bowl of clear medicinal soup. "Fellow Daoist, you have just completed the harmonization of yin and yang, and your body is still weak. Quickly drink this tonic."

Harmonization of yin and yang!

Could it be that Queen Mother of the West really...

Tai Cang's pupils shrank as he stared at Xiao Xi in disbelief. "Fellow Daoist, this..."

"Please do not misunderstand!"

Xiao Xi hurriedly explained with a red face, "This harmonization of yin and yang is not that kind of harmonization of yin and yang. It is a secret art passed down through our Western Kunlun lineage. The Saint Laozi invited you here not only to prepare for your tribulation, but more importantly to ask Master to use this secret art to harmonize the yin and yang within your body."

Once cultivators reached a certain realm, the yin and yang within their bodies would become unbalanced. A lone yang could not give birth, and solitary yin could not grow. Only when yin and yang supplemented each other could one's Dao foundation be stabilized. In the past, countless great powers of the primordial world had sought this art while carrying precious treasures, yet none could obtain it.

It was originally supposed to be performed by me, but all three of your flowers bloomed at the ninth grade. My aptitude was insufficient, so Master had to act personally.

So that was it!

Tai Cang let out a long breath, and the weight in his heart lifted. Fortunately, it was not as he had imagined; otherwise, he truly would not have known how to face it. Taking the medicine bowl, he drained it in one gulp. He immediately felt his strength return. The Nine Revolutions Cang Skill began circulating on its own, and his depleted mana also started recovering rapidly.

"Rest well, Fellow Daoist."

Xiao Xi took the empty bowl. Before leaving, she secretly glanced at Tai Cang again, then hurried away with the tips of her ears flushed red.

Tsk, tsk. It seemed this body of mine was rather popular.

Tai Cang raised his brows smugly. Just as he was about to meditate and regulate his breathing, a patch of crimson on the bed stabbed into his vision. His entire body shook, and he clenched his fists. "How is that possible? Queen Mother of the West actually..."

Tai Cang's mind descended into chaos.

His worst suspicion had actually become reality. Though there had been no substantial loss, thinking of Queen Mother of the West and her mature, regal bearing, he could not help regretting why he had been unconscious the entire time.

Forget it!

Either way, I didn't lose out!

After a long while, Tai Cang suppressed his thoughts and circulated the Nine Revolutions Cang Skill to regulate his breathing. Seven days later, the mana throughout his body had returned to its peak.

Tai Cang leaped down from the jade bed. His gaze swept over the remaining crimson stain before he strode outside.

The barrier around Purple Orchid Pavilion had dissipated after he successfully overcame the tribulation, and Tai Cang left without obstruction.

"Fellow Daoist Tai Cang!"

Xiao Xi's call came from the distance.

She had originally intended to check on Tai Cang's recovery, only to discover that he had already awakened. Xiao Xi immediately quickened her pace, came before Tai Cang, and said excitedly, "Since you have recovered, Fellow Daoist, let us have a match!"

As she spoke, she was already rubbing her fists together, clearly having looked forward to this agreement for a long time.

Tai Cang readily agreed. He needed to complete this task to obtain the One-Click Max Level Privilege. However, he did not immediately make a move and instead asked, "But before we compete, I would first like to thank Senior Queen Mother of the West. Could you lead the way?"

Tai Cang still had doubts regarding Queen Mother of the West. According to Xiao Xi, Queen Mother of the West indeed possessed the art of harmonizing yin and yang, but why had she personally harmonized him?

"I am afraid that will not be possible." Xiao Xi shook her head. "Master announced not long ago that she would enter seclusion to comprehend the path of severing the Three Corpses. She will not emerge for at least tens of thousands of years."

Severing the Three Corpses?

Tai Cang's pupils narrowed, and he immediately understood the reason. It seemed the opportunity Queen Mother of the West had mentioned referred to this. Her union with him had been precisely for the sake of severing the Three Corpses, which also confirmed what she had said in Purple Orchid Pavilion.