Hongjun Became a Sage

Lu Chen's words made Tongtian stop himself from waving away the lightning tribulation.

Seated upon a meditation cushion, he watched Duobao outside.

The divine lightning that had gathered in the sky for so long finally descended.

The bolt was as thick as a barrel and shaped like a roaming dragon, containing a might that seemed capable of destroying everything.

It crashed down toward Duobao's head.

Watching the seemingly unstoppable lightning tribulation above him, Duobao's eyes held not the slightest fear, only intense excitement.

He knew this was his Transformation Tribulation. As long as he passed it, he could take human form, pursue a higher Great Dao, step into the Golden Immortal realm in cultivation, and from then on become imperishable between Heaven and Earth.

"Duobao, do not use your mana yet. Try to withstand it with your physical body. If your body cannot endure, then use your mana."

Standing beyond the range of the lightning tribulation, Lu Chen transmitted his voice to Duobao.

Duobao's ears twitched. Out of trust in Lu Chen, he tucked the Duobao Pagoda, which he had been about to take out, back away.

"Using the Transformation Tribulation to temper the physical body is quite a clever idea."

How could the little movements between Lu Chen and Duobao escape the three men in the palace? Laozi nodded faintly.

"Your disciple has a fine idea."

They had all been born sacred and had World-Opening Merit protecting them, so they had not encountered lightning tribulations when taking form.

Duobao's roots, however, were innate, yet he possessed no merit.

Thus, he had to endure the tempering of a lightning tribulation.

The lightning tribulation struck Duobao, making his body sway. The spot directly hit turned charred black, while lingering arcs of lightning spread across his skin and raged wildly.

Duobao took the lightning arcs on his body into himself and circulated his power to refine them.

The second lightning tribulation followed close behind and struck Duobao.

Another charred patch appeared on Duobao's body, and he once again drew in the lightning arcs.

The cycle repeated over and over.

After the tenth bolt, Duobao's originally golden fur had turned scorched black. His complexion was no different from Lu Chen's, and he now looked somewhat like his brother. He was covered in wounds, blood gushing from the blackened injuries.

Yet Duobao merely looked miserable on the surface; his aura had not weakened much. His bright golden eyes stared at the heavenly lightning overhead, filled with eager anticipation.

He had followed Lu Chen through the south and north for so many years, not merely to drift along. Though his cultivation was low, that was because he had followed Lu Chen's instructions and used part of the spiritual energy provided by each portion of Spirit Liquid to strengthen his physical body.

This made his body no less formidable than an ordinary magic treasure.

Only the remainder was refined to raise his cultivation. Otherwise, he could have entered the Golden Immortal realm much earlier.

The tribulation clouds dispersed.

Within the immortal palace.

Yuanshi glanced at the little fatty lying on the ground, his face pale as a sheet of paper and his body covered in charred wounds, looking rather pitiful. Lu Chen stood beside him with a paw pressed to his face, looking toward Tongtian.

"Your disciple has a bit of wildness in him. Not bad."

Though he disliked demonkind, Tongtian was still the respectful younger brother and good little brother he held dear. For Tongtian's sake, he suppressed the dislike and prejudice in his heart and gave an objective evaluation.

Without that bias, he had to admit that although Duobao's roots were far inferior to Lu Chen's and appeared ordinary, this temperament of his earned a measure of Yuanshi's appreciation.

Seeing his second brother give Duobao such praise, Tongtian was delighted.

No one knew better than he did how strict Yuanshi was and how high his standards stood. For Yuanshi to say "not bad" already meant he was exceptionally good.

Not to mention that Duobao was a rat demon.

"Though he looks a little miserable, his origin has not been harmed. Still, the body this boy Duobao has taken is truly rather adorable."

Hearing the voice arise in his heart once more, Tongtian was startled.

Just now, he had been watching the situation outside the entire time and could guarantee that Lu Chen had not transmitted his voice.

The first time could still be explained as voice transmission, but this time, Tongtian was certain that the voice had come from Lu Chen's inner thoughts.

How could I hear Lu Chen's inner thoughts?

Tongtian was baffled. He secretly glanced at Yuanshi and Laozi's expressions.

He wanted to confirm whether everyone had heard those inner thoughts, or whether he alone had heard them.

Seeing that Yuanshi and Laozi's expressions remained normal, Tongtian immediately had his answer.

He did not reveal that he could hear Lu Chen's inner thoughts.

"Big Brother, I endured every lightning tribulation with my physical body and did not use a single shred of mana."

"Mhm. Duobao, you did very well. Now that the lightning tribulation has passed, you have successfully taken form. Rest and regulate your breathing."

"Mhm."

Duobao nodded and, with Lu Chen's help, sat up his round, plump body.

Just then.

A terrifying pressure suddenly descended upon Heaven and Earth.

It pressed Duobao's round body back down onto the ground.

Lu Chen, beside him, felt that incomparably heavy pressure. Even though he resisted with all his strength, his cultivation was too shallow. His body was pinned down, and he lay prostrate on the ground, unable even to lift his head.

"Hongjun became a Sage this quickly!"

"Next time I face such pressure, I will stand!"

Lu Chen roared inwardly.

Perhaps because the Three Pure Ones within the immortal palace were powerful, or perhaps because the one releasing the pressure had shown them some consideration, their bodies merely bent slightly under the pressure. They were not sprawled on the ground like Lu Chen.

"Hongjun."

"Lu Chen knows where this pressure came from?"

Listening to Lu Chen's inner thoughts, Tongtian's gaze shifted, and a contemplative look appeared in his eyes.

The next moment, golden lotuses surged through the air, strange phenomena appeared in succession, and a vast Dao voice resounded through Heaven and Earth, echoing in the ears of countless living beings in the Primordial World.

High upon the Ninth Heaven, I recline; upon a cushion, Dao's truth is made complete.

Beyond Heaven and Earth's Mysterious Yellow, I shall be revered as the master of teachings.

Pangu gave birth to the Taiji; the Two Principles and Four Images follow in turn.

Leader of the Mystic Sect, one breath transforms into Hongjun.

"I am Hongjun. Today, I have proven the Dao and become a Sage. I perceive that the Dao methods of the Primordial World are incomplete, and the Dao Path is arduous.

"Therefore, I shall establish a Dao field in Chaos, Zixiao Palace, and lecture on the Dao in three thousand years. All those with fate may come and hear the Dao!"

As the voice faded, the heavy pressure of the Sage slowly receded.

Duobao lay on the ground, sweat soaking his entire body. Together with his pale face, he looked utterly exhausted.

Although Lu Chen's physical body and cultivation were both stronger than Duobao's, he did not fare much better.

His black fur faintly gleamed beneath the sunlight.

That was how it looked after the fluids from Lu Chen's body had soaked his fur.

"Big Brother, Hongjun just said he had proven the Dao and become a Sage. Together with that immense pressure, he must be an existence beyond Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals. If we can hear his teachings, we will surely benefit greatly."

Desire flickered in Yuanshi's eyes.

"Indeed."

Laozi nodded as he stroked his beard, likewise expressing his agreement. Then he noticed Tongtian's contemplative expression.

"Tongtian?"

Hearing Laozi call him, Tongtian came back to himself. He cupped his hands and said, "Big Brother, I naturally agree on the matter of hearing the Dao. But might we bring Duobao and Lu Chen along as well?"

"The land of Chaos contains Chaos gales and is extraordinarily dangerous. Only Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals can travel through it. Yet Duobao and Lu Chen are merely Golden Immortals..."

Yuanshi frowned slightly.

"Second Brother, no matter. When the time comes, I shall use the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda to help them withstand the disturbance of the Chaos gales."

"This method is indeed feasible." Yuanshi's brows relaxed.

"Thank you, Big Brother!"