Qi Yuan: I Have Golden Immortal Aptitude

Old Daoist Qi Yuan's Immortal Ascension Tribulation arrived earlier than expected, previously shy and hesitant like an unmarried maiden, coy and reluctant.

But as Li Yang's Golden Pill completed Old Daoist Qi Yuan's Dao Foundation, the Immortal Ascension Tribulation came like a famished wife, fierce and ravenous, charging swiftly toward Old Daoist Qi Yuan.

As dusk approached, on the back mountain of Lesser Qiong Peak, it was still that chosen tribulation site.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan, holding his horsetail whisk, had already steadily entered the Mage Birdcage.

Though he believed his Dao Foundation was complete and a mere heavenly tribulation was nothing to worry about, he still couldn't resist Li Changshou's urging, and even Li Yang advised him to use it.

"Ah! Having disciples who treat me too well is also a troubling thing!"

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sighed outwardly, but inwardly he was delighted.

Yet he also felt some guilt; he hadn't expected that the Immortal Pill refined by his second disciple could actually make up for his foundation.

Such an Immortal Pill was simply wasted on him.

Unfortunately, regret came too late; what he needed to do now was successfully cross the tribulation and not let his disciples' efforts go to waste.

So Old Daoist Qi Yuan flicked his whisk, swapping his worn robe for a new blue-green silk one.

The robe shimmered faintly, clearly a quality Dharma artifact.

Then several rays of treasure light appeared around him, showing that Old Daoist Qi Yuan had also prepared thoroughly.

Li Yang and the other two hid in the treetops about a hundred zhang from the tribulation site, watching nervously.

Li Changshou, meanwhile, held a bamboo slip in his left hand and a carving knife in his right, his spiritual sense enveloping his master, observing all the omens of the approaching tribulation and recording them in detail.

Li Yang knew that Li Changshou was preparing for his own future tribulation, which also meant Li Changshou was nearing the point where he could no longer suppress himself.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, wind stirred between heaven and earth. Old Daoist Qi Yuan looked up sharply, and strands of light emerged around him, converging into a pillar that shot through the Mage Birdcage into the sky.

This was the omen of an impending tribulation.

The light pillar lasted for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, then the weather over Lesser Qiong Peak changed abruptly.

Countless streams of heaven and earth spiritual energy gathered from all directions, forming gray Tribulation Clouds a hundred zhang above Old Daoist Qi Yuan's head.

Then, Li Yang activated the Composite Grand Array of Lesser Qiong Peak. Heavenly might erupted instantly, and on every peak of the Immortal Crossing Sect, figures flew out, gazing from afar at Lesser Qiong Peak.

At that moment, brilliant silver lightning appeared beneath the Tribulation Clouds, and arcs of electricity crackled in the surrounding air.

Li Yang counted on his fingers and frowned slightly. This was not the Five-Thunder Immortal Ascension Tribulation from the original text, but the Nine-Thunder Immortal Ascension Tribulation.

He immediately transmitted to his master: "Master, based on my calculations, you are crossing the Immortal Ascension Tribulation with nine thunderbolts! If you feel you can't withstand the next one, take the precious pill Senior Brother gave you immediately."

Old Daoist Qi Yuan was startled as well. He had initially thought he would face the weakest Three-Thunder Heavenly Tribulation. Even after making up his Dao Foundation, he assumed it would be the Five-Thunder Heavenly Tribulation. But now he was told it was Nine Thunders?

One must know that the Immortal Ascension Tribulation had its rules. It would send down different powers and numbers of thunderbolts based on the cultivator's aptitude and future immortal potential.

The tribulation never exceeded nine, ranging from three, four, five, six, seven, eight, to nine. Common ones were four, five, or six thunderbolts; the weakest was three, and the strongest was nine.

Among them, three or four thunderbolts promised a chance at True Immortal; five or six promised a chance at Celestial Immortal; seven or eight promised a chance at Golden Immortal; and nine thunderbolts meant that, theoretically, if one didn't fall midway, the likelihood of achieving Golden Immortal was extremely high.

Of course, this referred to ordinary heavenly tribulations. In the Primordial Wilderness, tribulations were ranked by power; the greater the power, the broader the immortal path ahead.

It was said that the top ten tribulations guaranteed Golden Immortal if one didn't fall; the top three guaranteed Daluo.

"This is Golden Immortal Aptitude. Who would have thought that Old Daoist Qi Yuan, with his Dao Foundation destroyed, still had such potential."

Many immortals who knew about Qi Yuan's past regretted it, slapping their thighs. Qi Yuan had been a genius of their generation back then. Who could have imagined he would later be severely injured? Though given many heavenly treasures and healing pills, his Dao Foundation was never restored.

And now?

The churning Tribulation Clouds told them that the Qi Yuan they looked down on still possessed Golden Immortal Aptitude even in this state.

That was the sect's foundation!!!

Taiqing above, we regret this so much!

"Rumble!"

With a tremendous roar of thunder, the Tribulation Clouds trembled. Accompanied by the fluctuations of the Great Dao containing the principles of heaven and earth, a dazzling thunderbolt crashed down straight at Old Daoist Qi Yuan!

In an instant, heaven and earth lost their color!

The immortals and Qi Practitioners, already stunned by Qi Yuan's talent, were astonished to find that the tribulation, which by principle could not be blocked by Dharma artifacts, was completely 'absorbed' by the wooden cage around Old Daoist Qi Yuan!

Lightning flashed all over the wooden cage, but Old Daoist Qi Yuan stood inside completely unharmed.

"No... what is this thing again?!"

They were all baffled, wondering if Qi Yuan had been faking it all these years by not becoming an immortal.

"Senior Brother, we succeeded! The Mage Birdcage really works."

"Don't celebrate too early."

Li Yang's cold voice shattered Lan Ling'e's joy. Then, before Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e's delighted faces, an obscure fluctuation of the Great Dao suddenly appeared, and the Mage Birdcage exploded.

"The Dao truly does not allow shortcuts. And have you noticed? No Immortal Spirit Qi has appeared around Master."

One must know that for anyone crossing the tribulation to become an immortal, after the first thunderbolt, Immortal Spirit Qi should appear around them.

Thus, the heavenly tribulation itself is a kind of creation, a transformation for Qi Practitioners.

The Mage Birdcage seemed to help dodge a Heavenly Tribulation, but it correspondingly cost the tribulation-crosser some benefits.

Gain and loss go hand in hand—this is the constant principle of the Great Dao.

In truth, if this thing could be used, it might be far better saved for the last Heavenly Thunder that one cannot cross. But the last Heavenly Thunder brings greater benefits, and no one knows what might happen.

Also, the idea of dodging the thunder might be wrong. One should instead guide the thunder, then find a way to weaken it..."

Li Yang rambled on, the carving knife in Li Changshou's hand blurring into shadows. He knew Li Yang was using his own tribulation-crossing experience, along with their master's situation, to explain the tribulation's workings on the spot.

Meanwhile, as Li Yang chattered, five bolts of the thunder tribulation had already fallen.

But by now, Old Daoist Qi Yuan, though he had made it through, was in a poor state—his robes tattered, his body covered in wounds.

"Crack!"

With the sixth Heavenly Thunder crashing down, Old Daoist Qi Yuan was instantly slammed into the ground by the tribulation.

Only after the thunder faded did Old Daoist Qi Yuan spit out a mouthful of blood, then swallow a few pills.

At this moment, the seventh thunder tribulation was gathering power. The majestic heavenly might left Old Daoist Qi Yuan somewhat dazed.

Several magical artifacts shot into the sky, and one after another, mana barriers were erected before him.

"Boom!"

The thunder pillar fell. Artifact after artifact shattered, barrier after barrier was blasted open. When the last mana barrier broke, the remaining thunder finally struck Old Daoist Qi Yuan, grinding him into the earth.

If not for the fact that Old Daoist Qi Yuan's aura hadn't vanished, and the tribulation hadn't disappeared, Li Yang and the other two would have thought their master had perished.

When the thunder dissipated, Old Daoist Qi Yuan lay in the pit, convulsing uncontrollably. His mana was completely spent, his skin split open, and his bones emitted a faint, clean white glow.

"Huff... crackle!"

While the eighth Heavenly Thunder was still brewing, Old Daoist Qi Yuan finally crawled out. He pulled out a jade bottle and stuffed all the pills he had prepared into his mouth.

"Wait, why hasn't Master taken the Melting Immortal Pill yet?"

Li Changshou had long stopped recording; he was hopping with anxiety.

"Master wants to give it one more try."

Li Yang, seeing that his master hadn't yet taken the immortal pill he had asked Lan Ling'e to deliver, understood his intention. He pressed his senior brother's shoulder to calm him down.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan quickly regulated his breathing. His mana surged back to fullness, and he once again threw up layer after layer of mana barriers, even taking pills to restore mana while stacking more barriers.

"Boom!"

The eighth thunder pillar descended with a murderous aura, nearly shattering all the barriers Qi Yuan had set up in an instant.

"Master!"

Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e cried out in alarm. Even Li Yang tensed up.

Fortunately, Old Daoist Qi Yuan still managed to cross the eighth Heavenly Thunder.

But by now, he was in a bad state. Only a sliver of mana remained, blood flowed from his body, and he was severely wounded.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan mustered the last of his mana and struggled to fly up.

He looked at the terrifying thunder spot brewing in the Tribulation Cloud above, his eyes devoid of fear or regret.

This Poor Daoist has been wretched for centuries. But my eldest apprentice begged for medicine for me, my second apprentice refined an immortal pill for me, and my youngest gave me pills. How could I let them down?

Even if I die, I, Qi Yuan, will die standing. I will let my disciples know that their master does not lack this steadfast heart for the Dao.

This... is the spirit of us human Qi Practitioners!

Qi Yuan stared at the nearly certain death of the tribulation and ultimately chose not to take the Melting Immortal Pill in the Jade Box. Though his eldest apprentice swore he had more, Qi Yuan still wanted to leave this Precious Pill for his three disciples.

So, he took out the pills Lan Ling'e had given him.

Even though he knew that pills meant for the Spirit Transmutation stage would do little for him, he would still use them.

Seeing this, Li Changshou panicked. His paper effigy, clutching the Melting Immortal Pill, was about to rush forward, but Li Yang held him down tightly.

"If you go up, Master will truly fail the tribulation."

Li Changshou glanced at Li Yang and forced himself to stop, suppressing the unease in his heart.

After Old Daoist Qi Yuan took the pills Lan Ling'e had given him, his mana recovered rapidly, and even the transformation of his immortal body accelerated.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan looked at his three disciples not far away, his expression complicated.

He knew it.

These brats had been lying to him all along.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and once again faced the challenge.

This time.

He would cross the tribulation and become an immortal.

He absolutely could not let down the high hopes of his three children.

"Boom!"

The ninth thunderbolt crashed down.

No one saw a bolt of purple thunder, like a small snake, vanish along with it.

"Hmph!"

A muffled grunt. Beside Lan Ling'e, Li Yang instantly collapsed, turning into a single Golden Pill.