The Beginning of the Tribulation

Amidst a piercing scream, Gong Xin's chest was torn asunder, blood pouring down like a torrential rain. His Great Witch true form then dissipated, his body crashing heavily to the ground. He struggled a few times but couldn't stand up.

Hoo...

Tai Cang let out a long breath, retracted his Heaven and Earth Manifestation, and looked at Gong Xin on the ground. "You lost."

Gong Xin trembled upon hearing this, then lay back with a look of relief. "I lost. I never expected a cultivator's physical body to be this formidable." Before he finished speaking, he fainted.

"Gong Xin!"

The expressions of the remaining nineteen Great Witches changed drastically. Several rushed forward to check on him, and after a moment, breathed a sigh of relief. "He's fine, just severely injured. He'll recover after some rest."

The Great Witches finally relaxed. For them, injuries were commonplace, especially in a fair and square competition.

When everyone looked at Tai Cang again, their eyes were filled with respect. Previously, they had acknowledged him because of the Bloodline Pill, but now, it was genuine admiration for his strength.

"Tai Cang wins!"

Hou Yi announced loudly, though his heart was churning like a stormy sea. He had never expected Tai Cang to actually win, and was even more shocked by the Heaven and Earth Manifestation, which was comparable to a Great Witch's true form. If cultivators could all master such divine abilities, the Witch Clan's advantage would cease to exist.

After a moment of adjusting his breathing, Tai Cang's mana had already recovered. The terrifying recovery power of the Nine Revolutions Cang Skill allowed him to quickly regain his energy even after such an intense battle.

"Everyone," he swept his gaze over the remaining Great Witches, his eyes burning, "shall we continue?"

Faced with the challenge, the nineteen Great Witches, though shocked by Tai Cang's strength, showed no intention of backing down.

"Let me face you."

Before the words were even out, a Great Witch had already leaped forward, launching a fierce assault on Tai Cang without hesitation.

"Just as I wish!"

Tai Cang calmly responded and engaged the opponent in a fierce battle. During the intense fight, he could clearly feel the Grand Clarity Bright Jade Body operating more smoothly, and his physical body's toughness was continuously increasing.

"It actually has such a miraculous effect."

"Combat truly can stimulate potential."

Sensing the changes within himself, Tai Cang rejoiced inwardly. His strength, defense, and physique were all continuously enhancing in the battle, showing a trend of growing stronger the longer he fought.

This discovery made Tai Cang's fighting spirit surge even higher. He completely let loose, immersing himself in the battle with ecstatic abandon. As time went on, the Great Witch began to show signs of fatigue.

Tai Cang's rate of improvement was astonishing. Not only was his physical body strengthening, but his close-combat skills were also becoming increasingly proficient. He even drew upon his past life's experiences to create numerous exquisite techniques, displaying the demeanor of a master solely through the circulation of his Blood Essence.

A sharp eagle claw pierced the Great Witch's chest. Before the opponent could react, a chain leg technique sent him flying and crashing to the ground, completely incapacitated.

"This is impossible!"

"What were those techniques?"

"Exquisite beyond compare, able to concentrate all one's strength into a single point for an explosive burst!"

The Great Witches watching were all shocked, and Hou Yi also showed an expression of disbelief. Initially, the two sides were evenly matched, but as Tai Cang's unique techniques were continuously employed, even the Great Witches, who excelled at close combat, found it difficult to resist.

"This is the Martial Dao!"

After winning, Tai Cang suddenly had a realization. He understood that this combat style, considered inferior in this world, could unleash such power when combined with a formidable physical body.

He was certain that if the Martial Dao were to be taught to the Witch Clan, it would significantly enhance their combat power, making spells and divine abilities pale in comparison. If the exquisite techniques from the countless Martial Dao classics he had read in his past life could be recreated here, even without the aid of a Primordial Spirit, the Witch Clan would be invincible.

"Martial Dao!"

"I must perfect it!"

A fiery light ignited in Tai Cang's eyes. Although his Primordial Spirit cultivation was superior, if combined with the Martial Dao, his physical body's potential would be fully unleashed.

With this thought, he looked intently at the remaining eighteen Great Witches. "Again!"

"Let's continue sparring!"

The Great Witches exchanged glances. Having witnessed those miraculous techniques, they no longer possessed their previous composure, their faces filled with solemnity and apprehension.

"I will learn from you."

A Great Witch with a powerful aura stepped forward and said solemnly, "Brother Tai Cang, let me experience your masterful techniques."

Before his words were even out, he had already activated his innate turbid qi to protect his body and unhesitatingly attacked Tai Cang.

"Just as I wish!"

A sharp glint flashed in Tai Cang's eyes, and he moved forward like lightning. His hands flew, and numerous martial arts techniques from his past life were consecutively employed: Flower Plucking Finger!

Great Compassionate Palm!

Fire Blowing Palm!

Eight Extremities Collapse!

Heavenly Frost Fist!

Wind God's Leg!

Tai Cang's fighting spirit grew increasingly fervent. In the intense battle, he continuously refined the Martial Dao system. As one Great Witch after another fell, his techniques gradually sublimated, even evolving into ultimate skills on the level of Cang Huan.

Nine Secret Divine Abilities!

Primordial Treasure Arts!

Heaven-Smiting Secret Method!

In an instant, all twenty Great Witches fell to the ground.

Ding! Mission complete, received One-Click Max Level Privilege.

Ding! Martial Dao mastered.

The System's prompts pulled Tai Cang out of his enlightenment. He looked up to see twenty Great Witches lying scattered on the ground. Though their faces showed shock, their eyes gleamed with fervent light.

I won just like that?

Tai Cang felt a bit dazed. The Martial Dao he created to complete the mission had unexpectedly opened a new path. Although this method was unsuitable for cultivators, it was perfect for the needs of the Witch Clan and the Human Race.

Essence of humanity...

It seems I have a lead on how to obtain it.

Tai Cang turned his gaze to Hou Yi. "Fellow Daoist Hou Yi, where is my residence? I need to go into seclusion immediately."

His heart was surging with excitement. If he could pass on the Martial Dao to the Human Race, he could not only gain fortune and the essence of humanity but also help the innate Human Race grow. It was a win-win situation.

"Follow me."

Hou Yi retracted his complex gaze and led Tai Cang away. Soon after, the members of the Witch Clan helped the injured and retreated.

After this battle, Tai Cang's name resounded throughout the Witch Clan. The feat of defeating twenty Great Witches solely with his physical strength spread like wildfire, attracting more powerhouses to seek him out.

Meanwhile, Tai Cang was already sitting cross-legged in the quiet room arranged by Hou Yi. "System, use One-Click Max Level on Martial Dao."

Ding! Privilege consumed, Martial Dao has reached its peak!

In an instant, a torrent of Martial Dao true meanings surged into his sea of consciousness. Tai Cang focused all his attention on digesting these profound insights, completely oblivious to the passage of time.

Eight hundred years slipped by quietly.

On this day, Tai Cang's tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open, and he let out a long sigh. "Finally finished digesting it all."

The end of the Martial Dao holds such power that even the System couldn't fully deduce it.

If I can cultivate these Martial Dao secret methods to perfection, I'll be able to contend with top Great Witches using only my physical body, without even using any mana!

Tai Cang's eyes flickered.

This unexpected gain far exceeded my expectations.

Many of the deduced Martial Dao techniques can complement cultivators' methods, not only greatly increasing combat power but also having no side effects.

Physical body realm...

It seems I cannot slacken in body-refining cultivation.

He muttered to himself, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. "System, directly upgrade Heaven and Earth Manifestation to the perfected realm."

Now that I've confirmed the power of the Martial Dao, this divine ability, improved by a Sage, is invaluable. Combined with my current Martial Dao cultivation, its power is comparable to a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

Ding! One Max Level Privilege consumed, Heaven and Earth Manifestation has reached perfection.

Instantly, the profound principles of Heaven and Earth Manifestation flooded Tai Cang's sea of consciousness.

His understanding of this improved divine ability deepened continuously, and the flaw of requiring a massive amount of mana to maintain was gradually being rectified.

Hoo--

After a long while, Tai Cang slowly opened his eyes, unable to hide his joy.

Heaven and Earth Manifestation in its perfected realm had reached perfection. Now, using it only required one-tenth of the original mana consumption. With the self-operating speed of the Nine Revolutions Cang Skill, it was enough to offset this consumption.

This meant that Heaven and Earth Manifestation could now be used as freely as a Great Witch's true form, without requiring extra control. More importantly, the divine ability and physical body were perfectly integrated, allowing the full strength of his current physique to be unleashed when performing it.

In a sense, Tai Cang was now comparable to a Great Witch who could freely control their true form in battle.

Magnificent!

After examining his own changes, Tai Cang couldn't help but laugh heartily.

The gains from these two upgrades were no less than mastering the space-time law previously. At the current stage, it could help his physical body directly contend with Grand Unity beings, and when using Heaven and Earth Manifestation, he could even fight against Grand Unity Golden Immortals.

"Fellow Daoist Tai Cang!"

Hou Yi's voice came from outside the barrier.

Tai Cang turned to look and saw Hou Yi blocked by a spatial barrier.

He waved his hand and removed the barrier.

Hou Yi strode forward and cupped his fists. "The essence of earth you requested has been prepared. The Ancestral Witches have also prepared heavenly materials and earthly treasures and their essence blood. I implore you to refine another batch of Bloodline Pills."

With that, he clapped his hands as a signal.

A large number of Witch Clan warriors filed in, carrying vessels filled with the essence of earth and various rare materials.

Seeing this, a hint of joy flashed in Tai Cang's eyes.

The essence of earth has been collected, the Supreme Earth Flower is about to take shape, and with the Martial Dao I created, I can quickly obtain the essence of humanity. I am one step closer to condensing the Supreme Three Flowers and advancing to the Grand Unity realm.

Tai Cang readily agreed. "This is no problem! I can refine another batch of Bloodline Pills for the Witch Clan."

But why aren't the Ancestral Witches here this time?

It's truly strange.

In the past, the Ancestral Witches personally handled the refinement of Bloodline Pills, and their control over this item was extremely strict.

To have handed over the entire process to Hou Yi this time is truly baffling.

Aren't the Ancestral Witches worried that Hou Yi and other top Great Witches might embezzle the Bloodline Pills?

Thank you, Brother Tai Cang.

Seeing Tai Cang agree, Hou Yi breathed a sigh of relief and said with a solemn expression, "The Ancestral Witches have gone to investigate the mastermind behind this, so they cannot return for the time being.

Daoist Tai Cang, have you ever heard of a person named Pan Wang?"

Pan Wang?!

He is the mastermind!

Tai Cang's pupils contracted slightly, his face showing shock.

As far as he knew, there was indeed a powerful cultivator named Pan Wang in the Primordial World, one of the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace. He was eccentric, unsociable, and had few friends in the Primordial World, so almost no one remembered his existence.

However, the ancient texts recorded Pan Wang in detail.

His most acclaimed skill was his poison and Gu technique. It was rumored that he once refined a Gu poison capable of killing a Quasi-Saint, causing panic among the gods of the Primordial World. He was eventually besieged and killed by them.

The records also mentioned that Pan Wang seemed to harbor ill intentions towards the Queen Mother of the West, repeatedly designing schemes to harm others for her. Even the death of East Prince Gong was related to him.

I know a little.

Tai Cang steadied himself and looked at Hou Yi, "If the mastermind is indeed Pan Wang, it won't be easy for the Ancestral Witches to find him.

Pan Wang is proficient in the Way of Poison and Gu. His poison skills are so potent that even top Great Witches find it difficult to resist the ferocious beasts he cultivates, let alone his own poisonous abilities.

The most troublesome aspect is his 蛊 technique. As long as one 蛊 worm survives, he can be reborn in a new body, almost on par with Senior Minghe's divine ability of 'Blood Sea does not dry up, Minghe does not die.'

At this point, Tai Cang hesitated.

He secretly speculated that, given the current situation, even if the Twelve Ancestral Witches found Pan Wang, they might not gain any advantage. They might even be severely injured.

Such a thing exists!

Hou Yi was greatly alarmed and couldn't believe it.

Who would have thought that an unknown Pan Wang would be so terrifying? Judging by Tai Cang's attitude, the Ancestral Witches' expedition might very well be in vain.

Thinking of this, Hou Yi became even more anxious. "Brother Tai Cang, I entrust the Bloodline Pills to you. I will go and gather my brothers to discuss supporting the Ancestral Witches."

With that, Hou Yi hurriedly handed over the twelve drops of Ancestral Witch essence blood to Tai Cang and turned to leave quickly.

The other members of the Witch Clan also left one after another. However, as they departed, they couldn't help but glance at Tai Cang a few extra times, their eyes filled with curiosity.

The battle from years ago had already become legendary.

Especially the twenty Great Witches who were defeated. Afterwards, they imitated Tai Cang and practiced martial arts. Although they didn't achieve the same mastery as Tai Cang, their combat strength significantly increased.