Spiritual Treasures Transform, Lu Xuan Battles Taiyi

In the end, Coral Tree and Blood Ruyi stubbornly endured the next two rounds of heavenly lightning. At last, they could successfully transform into human Dao bodies.

Before Hongjun attained the Dao and became a saint, Primordial World beings faced no so-called Transformation Tribulation when taking form. Thus, most of those who transformed were half-human, half-demon.

Only those blessed with great fortune could truly transform into Innate Dao Bodies. The foundation of today's Demon Race Heavenly Court lay in these Demon Race members.

But ever since Hongjun attained the Dao, the Heavenly Dao had established rules. Any living being seeking Transformation had to undergo the cleansing of heavenly lightning.

It had even divided Transformation Tribulations into the Three-Nine Lightning Tribulation, Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation, and Nine-Nine Heavenly Punishment—three different degrees of heavenly punishment.

The Three-Nine Lightning Tribulation existed purely to temper the flesh and soul of beings undergoing Transformation. So long as they endured it, they could transform into human Dao bodies.

If a being had become tainted by Karmic Retribution before Transformation, then the Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation awaited them. The final three rounds of the Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation were meant to cleanse them of their Karmic Retribution.

As for the Nine-Nine Heavenly Punishment, it was reserved for existences the Heavenly Dao sought to destroy. First, the transforming being might be burdened with too much Karmic Retribution. Second, the Heavenly Dao might simply forbid that being from transforming, such as those Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Roots.

In other words, more rounds in a Transformation Tribulation were not necessarily better. One could even say that the Three-Nine Lightning Tribulation was the best possible Transformation Tribulation.

Most spiritual treasures that underwent Transformation experienced the Three-Nine Lightning Tribulation. After all, before transforming, they rarely had opportunities to become tainted by Karmic Retribution.

Yet Lu Xuan had not expected the tribulation clouds in the sky not to disperse after Coral Tree and Blood Ruyi successfully transformed. New tribulation lightning was even beginning to brew within the clouds.

Lu Xuan could not help finding this strange. Coral Tree and Blood Ruyi should not have been tainted by any Karmic Retribution.

Lu Xuan focused his gaze and finally discovered the crux of the matter. The two of them actually carried a trace of Blood Fiend Aura.

Only then did Lu Xuan understand. It must have been Sha Qi they had inadvertently picked up when they were struck down by the Yuantu and Abi Swords all those years ago.

Lu Xuan even believed that this Blood Fiend Aura was precisely what had ultimately caused the reclusive Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao to perish in the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

He immediately sighed and said, "I never expected that battle long ago to leave you tainted by the Sha Qi of the Netherworld Blood Sea. I suppose this is the calamity written into your fates."

"Do your utmost to receive the next three rounds of heavenly lightning with your own bodies. Unless there is no other choice, do not use spiritual treasures to withstand them."

"Rest assured. At the critical moment, this Daoist will intervene. I will absolutely not let you perish beneath the heavenly tribulation."

The two of them bowed to Lu Xuan at once. "Thank you, Immortal, for showing us the way through the fog."

After speaking, they focused completely on facing the coming heavenly lightning.

Just then, a sudden change occurred. A long rainbow descended from the heavens and landed directly above the valley. Taiyi had arrived using the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique.

When Taiyi arrived above the valley, his first glance fell upon Lu Xuan, Zhao Gongming, and the Three Xiao Sisters. Then he glanced at the two who were undergoing Transformation.

Taiyi's arrival naturally caught Lu Xuan's attention. He immediately said, "Taiyi, do you still recognize this Daoist?"

Taiyi sneered. "No wonder you dared become enemies with my Demon Race. So you were relying on the Witch Race as your backer."

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches protected you this year and allowed you to escape unscathed. Now that the Twelve Ancestral Witches are not present, this Emperor will surely kill you."

As he spoke, the Eastern Emperor Bell appeared in Taiyi's hand. The pressure of an Innate Supreme Treasure instantly descended upon Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan naturally feared none of it. He lightly stepped upon the void, and the Twelfth-Grade Pure World White Lotus appeared beneath his feet.

At the same time, the Heaven-Earth Sea-Calming Ruler began slowly revolving above Lu Xuan's head. Streams of dragon breath fell from it, completely enveloping Lu Xuan.

Then Lu Xuan swung the Compliant Iron Rod and charged directly at Taiyi. Clearly, he intended to engage Taiyi in close combat.

He did not forget to instruct Zhao Gongming and the Three Xiao Sisters to stand guard over Coral Tree and Blood Ruyi as they underwent Transformation. If necessary, they could act to block the heavenly lightning for them.

Although doing so would hinder their cleansing of Karmic Retribution, as long as they lived, there would be opportunities for everything. It was better than dying beneath the heavenly lightning.

When Taiyi saw Lu Xuan charging toward him, a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth. He immediately suspended the Eastern Emperor Bell above his head and wielded the Golden Crow Scarlet Sun Sword as he charged at Lu Xuan.

For a time, the two fought fiercely in midair, evenly matched.

Taiyi's Golden Crow Scarlet Sun Sword met the Compliant Iron Rod in a slash, scattering sparks. The impact jolted both men half a step backward.

The Eastern Emperor Bell above Taiyi's head trembled lightly, and waves of sound spread like ripples. The grass and trees in the valley instantly turned to dust, while layers of mountain rock peeled away.

The Purifying World White Lotus beneath Lu Xuan's feet shimmered with flowing radiance, blocking all the sound waves three feet away. Wherever its white light passed, shattered space slowly healed.

The Heaven-Earth Sea-Calming Ruler transformed into thirty-six phantoms that coiled around him like roaming dragons. Every phantom contained the power of a small world, as heavy as ten thousand jun.

Taiyi sneered, and his sword momentum abruptly changed. Sword light filled the sky like a rising sun, so dazzling that one could not open their eyes. Every strike carried Solar True Fire.

Lu Xuan swept his Compliant Iron Rod horizontally, meeting the blade head-on. Space collapsed where the weapons collided, exposing black emptiness. The aftershock cleaved a distant mountain cleanly in two.

The two retreated a hundred zhang at the same time. The Eastern Emperor Bell above Taiyi's head rang again, and this time its chime condensed into substance, crashing down like a golden tidal wave.

Rather than retreat, Lu Xuan advanced. The Twelfth-Grade Pure World White Lotus blazed with brilliant radiance. White light collided with the golden wave, and heaven and earth fell silent.

Taiyi had now discovered that Lu Xuan's body was extraordinarily powerful, even comparable to an Ancestral Witch. In close combat, it would be difficult for him to gain any advantage.

He immediately shot backward, placing the Eastern Emperor Bell in his palm. The next moment, Taiyi slapped the Eastern Emperor Bell, and the sun and moon instantly shone together in the sky as stars emerged.

Lu Xuan likewise knew that his cultivation did not match Taiyi's. His ability to remain deadlocked with him relied on the strength of his body and his comprehension of the Great Dao Battle Law.

Thus, he swung the Compliant Iron Rod and charged at Taiyi once more. He did not want to give Taiyi the chance to rely on the Eastern Emperor Bell and draw upon the power of the stars.

Unfortunately, Lu Xuan was still half a step too slow. A simplified Celestial Star-Dome Formation had already begun spreading across all of Wuyi Mountain, centered on the Eastern Emperor Bell and Taiyi.

Lu Xuan knew this was his final chance. If he could not reach Taiyi immediately, he would be trapped within the Celestial Star-Dome Formation.

With a thought, he transformed into a ten-headed Ghost Chariot. Spitting demon fire, he charged at Taiyi.

When Taiyi suddenly saw Lu Xuan turn into Ghost Chariot, he could not help freezing. In that brief moment of distraction, Lu Xuan finally reached Taiyi's side.

At once, he transformed back into his own form. The Compliant Iron Rod in his hand swept toward Taiyi's chest.

Taiyi was caught completely off guard and sent flying backward. At the same time, he launched a counterattack, driving the Eastern Emperor Bell straight into Lu Xuan.