"Did you see that?"
The voice rang out again, tinged with sarcasm:
"This is Human Race... weak, insignificant, like ants."
"You cut off their life force, passed down martial arts, and devoted a century of effort... but what was the result?"
"A hundred years from now, they will still be slaughtered by the demon race, trampled by the Witch Clan, and regarded as food by Great Wilderness Myriad Races!"
"Is such a people... worth protecting with your life?"
Each question pierced the depths of his Dao Heart.
Xuandu remained silent.
The scene before me changed again.
This time, it's... the future.
After the Great Calamity, the Lich and Demon races were both severely weakened, and the Human Race was destined to rise and become the Protagonist of the Great Wilderness.
Human Race... did not appreciate the kindness of this Ancestor of Martial Dao.
Instead, due to the Martial Dao Inheritance, internal strife was constant, with numerous factions and endless wars.
Even worse, in their quest for the Martial Dao True Meaning, they toppled his statue, defaced the Martial Dao Heavenly Stele, and completely forgot about him, the Human Race's Master!
"Did you see that?"
The voice grew increasingly mocking:
"This is the human heart... greed, selfishness, ingratitude."
You gave them everything, but they... abandoned you in the blink of an eye.
Is such a group... worth it?
The scene changed again.
This time, it's... the Sect Leader Tongtian.
Biyou Palace, Tongtian sat cross-legged on a cloud bed, his face pale, his breath weak, and his Sword Intent shattering inch by inch.
The Immortal-Slaying Four Swords were broken, and the Myriad Immortals Array Diagram was torn apart.
Of the Jie Sect Myriad Immortals, some died, some scattered, and some betrayed them.
" Xuandu ..."
Tongtian raised his eyes, his gaze filled with disappointment:
" This Master you, your master defied Saints, defied the Heavenly Dao, and even resorted to the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation... but what was the result?"
" The Interception Sect flourished because of you, and it also perished because of you."
"If you had known this would happen, would you still have joined the Interception Sect in the first place?"
Each question was like a thousand arrows piercing my heart.
Xuandu's Dao Heart... trembled slightly.
The Heart Demon Tribulation targets obsessions and destroys the Dao Heart.
Everything he did was for the sake of Human Race, for the Interception Sect, and for... the resentment and obsession in his heart.
If Human Race is worthless, if the Interception Sect perishes because of him... then what was the point of his hundred years of cultivation and scheming?
Give up.
The voice softened, becoming seductive:
"Martial arts may be powerful, but ultimately they defy the will of Heaven."
"If you give up now, the Great Dao may grant you Glimmer of Hope, allowing you to return to an ordinary life and live a peaceful existence."
"Why risk your life for these worthless tribes and sects?"
The sound, as delicate as silk threads, seeped into every corner of the Dao Heart.
Xuandu slowly lowered his head.
Look at your own hands.
A century of cultivation, a century of war, a century of unyielding spirit.
Was it all really worth it?
He remained silent for a long time.
final.
He slowly raised his eyes.
His eyes swirled with Chaos Radiance, reflecting the horrific scene before him, yet he remained unmoved.
"Worth."
He spoke softly, his voice calm:
"Though the Human Race is weak, it possesses an indomitable spirit."
"Although the Interception Sect is in danger, it still has the bond of camaraderie among its members."
"I Establish Martial Dao and passed it on to the Human Race, not so that they would be grateful, nor so that they would remember me."
"Just so that... I can have a clear conscience."
The words had barely left his mouth.
"Boom!"
Deep within his Dao Heart, the Martial Dao Law Origin Rune suddenly shone brightly!
The Chaos-Colored Martial Dao Will erupted like a volcano, ruthlessly shattering all illusions and crushing all inner demons!
The scene before my eyes crumbled inch by inch.
The Demon Race Army, the tragic state of the Human Race, future betrayal, the master's disappointment... all vanished like bubbles.
All that remained was a clear and pure Dao Heart, and that increasingly brilliant and perfect Martial Dao Rune!
"A clear conscience...?"
The voice paused slightly, then turned into a long sigh:
"Never mind..."
The Heart Demon Tribulation... broken!
"Puff!"
Xuandu swayed slightly, and a trickle of purplish-gold blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Although the Heart Demon Tribulation was broken, the Dao Heart was shaken, ultimately damaging the source.
But his gaze remained calm as he slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at the increasingly violent Chaos Thundercloud.
The seventh tribulation has passed.
Only two more tribulations remain...
The eighth tribulation... the Karma Tribulation.
The Nine Tribulations... The Great Dao Judgment.
" Karma..."
Xuandu muttered to himself.
He cultivated himself for a hundred years, accumulating countless karmic Karma.
With the Human Race, with the Interception Sect, with the demon race, with the Witch Clan, with Saints... even with the Heavenly Dao and the Great Dao.
These Karma are usually hidden and not apparent.
But at this moment... they will all become vessels of Tribulation Punishment, transforming into destructive lightning!
"Buzz..."
Deep within the thunderclouds, the Law Chains intertwined once more.
This time, it's no longer a single law, nor is it an invisible inner demon.
Instead, countless fine Karma Threads extended from the Nether Void, disappeared into the thunderclouds, and transformed into Chaos of chaotic color, yet exuding different auras... Karma Lightning!
Each bolt of lightning represents a Karma.
The Karma between him and the Human Race transformed into Crimson Gold Lightning, his Blood Qi surging, his Will like the Tide.
The cause and Karma with the Interception Sect transformed into azure lightning, its Sword Intent sharp and resonant with Myriad Immortals.
The Karma with the demon race transformed into Dark Gold Lightning, burned by the Solar True Fire, and caused the Stars to revolve.
The Karma with the Witch Clan transformed into Blood Colored Lightning, its Blood Qi shaking the heavens, Pangu Phantom appeared and disappeared.
The Karma with the Saints transformed into various colors of thunder, Jade Purity Immortal Light Taiqing Purple Qi, Creation Rosy Clouds, Buddhist Golden Light... intertwining and rotating.
Even... the Karma and Karma with the Heavenly Dao and the Great Dao are all manifested within it, transforming into the most terrifying and profound Chaos Lightning!
The Karma Tribulation triggers the Karma of a lifetime, transforming into tribulation lightning to settle accounts one by one!
Once you overcome this obstacle, the cycle of Karma is resolved, Dao Heart attains enlightenment.
Unable to overcome... the Karma Backlash to death, the dissipation of one's spiritual essence, and the annihilation of True Spirit!
"They've arrived."
Xuandu's gaze sharpened, Martial Dao Rune around his body shimmered with light, naturally rising with the Hunyuan Dao Rhyme.
He no longer waited passively.
Instead... they actively faced the challenge!
"Martial Arts... Open!"
The four words, uttered with a voice that shook the Nine Heavens!
Xuandu took a step forward, his figure soaring into the sky, and crashed headlong into the Karma Thundercloud!
He intends to use his Martial Dao True Body to confront the Karma Lightning and settle all Karma!
"He's gone mad?!"
Yuanshi Tianzun cried out in a low voice:
" Karma Tribulation that cannot be avoided, yet he actively confronts it?"
Laozi also suddenly contracted:
"This kid... he's really courting death!"
Empress Nuwa's eyes shone brightly, and the Creation Divine Stone.
"Using one's own body as a furnace, and calamity as fire, to refine Karma... What a magnificent spirit!"
The Sect Leader Tongtian slowly clenched his fists in his sleeves, his eyes flashing with Sword Intent:
" Xuandu... you must succeed!"
Within the Karma Thundercloud.
Xuandu's figure moved like a meteor, crashing headlong into the myriad thunderbolts!
"Boom!!!"
The first bolt of lightning struck.
Crimson gold, the Human Race Karma!
Amidst the thunder, Myriad Human Race manifested, their Blood Qi Resonance, their Will like the Tide, transforming into a vast and boundless Human Dao Torrent, fiercely striking Xuandu!
Xuandu swayed slightly, but instead of retreating or dodging, he enhanced his Martial Dao True Body with Defensive Divine Ability!
Blood Qi and qi surged, Muscles and Bones Harmonize, Martial Dao Rune shone brightly, actually devouring and refining that bolt of lightning!
" The Human Race Karma... is settled!"
Xuandu gave a low shout, his eyes shining even brighter.
The second bolt of lightning struck.
Cyan, the Jie Sect Karma!
Amidst the thunder, the phantom of the Sect Leader Tongtian appeared, the Qingping Sword slashed down, the Myriad Immortals Array Diagram rotated, Immortal-Slaying Four Swords hovered in the air, carrying the will and killing intent of the Jie Sect Myriad Immortals, fiercely slashing towards Xuandu!
Xuandu raised his hand and pointed his fingers like a sword.
A Chaos Sword Light shot out from his fingertips, fiercely slashing towards the lightning!
" The Jie Sect Karma... is settled!"
The third, the fourth, the fifth...
The Demon Race Karma, the Witch Clan Karma, the karma of the Yuqing Chan Sect Karma, the karma of the Taiqing Human Sect Karma, the Wa Empress Karma, the Western Karma...
One after another, Karma Lightning, each carrying a different aura and power, struck down!
Xuandu's figure weaved through the thunderclouds, his Martial Dao True Body withstanding the attacks, the Chaos Sword Light slashing, and the Hunyuan Dao Rhyme refining...
With each bolt of lightning he survived, he ended a Karma.
With each bolt of lightning he refined, his Martial Dao Rune runes became more perfect, and his Hunyuan Dao Rhyme became more refined.
The Karma Tribulation, for him... became nourishment for tempering himself and Perfect Martial Dao!
"This child... truly defies the heavens!"
Yuanshi Tianzun's face was ashen, and the killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible.
He saw it clearly.
Xuandu not only withstood the Karma Tribulation, but also used the calamity to refine his Dao, settle his karmic Karma, and temper himself!
At this rate... the eighth tribulation won't be a problem for him at all!
"Only... one final calamity remains."
Laozi's eyes darkened as he stared intently at the increasingly dazzling Green Clad Figure deep within the thunderclouds.
" The Nine Tribulations... The Great Dao Judgment."
"He is doomed in this calamity!"