Dao Calamity! The Martial Ancestor's Projection?

On the second day after breaking through to the Late Divine Ability Stage, Yu Tunzhou still hadn't finished his cultivation. His Primordial Spirit sank into his Inner Heaven and Earth, refining this small world that belonged to him inch by inch, while simultaneously solidifying the foundation of his realm.

In the initial breakthrough, one is only focused on exploration and creating wonders. Only when one calms down and settles down can one truly touch the core mystery of this realm.

As the Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo grows, the Inner Scenery Heaven and Earth further evolves, receiving more infusion of laws and principles. The wonders in various places seem to "come alive," subtly resonating with the physical body and giving rise to real Divine Ability and wonders.

He tried them one by one and found that the first four wonders were the most direct: Kunlun Mountain was the bone, the vast sea was the blood, the mist and clouds were the breath, and the moon and sun were the spirit.

Each of the four scenes corresponds to a specific aspect of the physical body, strengthening one layer of its foundation.

Without any deliberate effort to circulate energy throughout the body, a muffled thunderous roar suddenly resounded within, as heavy as a collapsing mountain or as powerful as a surging tide in a vast ocean. A layer of profound light emanated from the internal organs, purely spontaneously generated by the physical body.

The weight of Kunlun Mountain pressed down on his body, making his bones as hard as black iron and refined steel, stronger than any weapon. Combined with the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, it was almost equivalent to a demigod weapon.

The already abundant Qi and Blood surged forth like a vast ocean, endless and inexhaustible;

The mist and haze fill the dantian and circulate through all the meridians, making the internal Gang Qi condensed and dynamic, capable of being both hard and soft, solid and ethereal;

Even within the Primordial Spirit Heaven and Earth, it seemed as if a projection of the sun and moon had appeared, reflecting the Primordial Spirit through the principle of the alternation of the sun and moon. The sun could dispel evil and filth, while the moon could concentrate the mind and stabilize the will. The two rotated endlessly.

He sensed it slightly and knew that the nourishment from his Inner Heaven and Earth was greatly benefiting his physical body.

However, it's still a long way from being able to withstand the ninefold lightning tribulation of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art...

Yu Tunzhou shook his head inwardly, his mind sinking into the other three wonders.

He stood up. The most direct manifestation of the [Star River Descending into the World] was the Divine Ability. With a flick of starlight, a star path could be laid out under his feet, and each step covered tens or even hundreds of feet.

[Yaoguang Ensnaring Illusion] can conceal one's own aura and also create a phantom that is identical to one's own aura, used to confuse the enemy and distract them.

In terms of current power, these two extraordinary Divine Ability that evolved from wondrous phenomena are decent at the level of the Divine Ability Realm, but they are nothing special at the level of the External Scenery. However, Yu Tunzhou knew in his heart that their potential was far greater than this.

For example, [Star River Descending into the World] ultimately shrinks the distance to an inch.

And the final wonder—

He looked inward at his body and saw faint, seven-colored light bands running through the various acupoints, like long bridges of energy connecting his limbs, bones, and internal organs. These bands not only nourished the acupoints but also increased his body's self-healing speed.

The seven wondrous scenes and the seven rudimentary forms of Divine Ability, all transformed from the void of Inner View into innate Divine Ability abilities usable in actual combat, under the infusion of the principles of law.

Even though its power is currently limited by the depth of its Inner Heaven and Earth's evolution, it is still enough for him to glimpse a corner of the future.

After analyzing the seven wondrous sights one by one, Yu Tunzhou stabilized his current realm and began to ponder the key to breaking through.

External Scenery...

This will be a major transformation on a life level, from guarding one's inner self to harmonizing with the universe, and is the threshold to truly step into the ranks of the strong.

For ordinary martial artists to break through External Scenery, they need to pass three tests: the Pure Land, the Unity of Heaven and Celestial Person, and the Forging of the Inner Heaven and Earth.

The first two need no further explanation.

The only problem right now is the Inner Heaven and Earth.

For ordinary martial artists, their Dao Foundation and Inner Heaven and Earth strength are already quite remarkable if they can support one or two extraordinary sights.

The reason he was able to contain seven wonders was twofold: first, the manifestation of the Dao Path; and second, after the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art passed the tribulation of lightning, his Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo also underwent considerable growth, allowing him to open up additional wonders.

What now stands in his way on External Scenery is the final spectacular sight.

Only when the Eight Sceneries are unified can the ninth wonder of the Eight Sceneries Palace — the Primordial Chaos.

This is the true essence of the Eight Sceneries Palace. When it is visible, the Eight Sceneries are arranged separately; when it is hidden, the primordial chaos returns to oneness. It is an unparalleled prototype of Inner Heaven and Earth.

But to accommodate the eighth wonder...

"Judging from the amplification of the previous two tribulations, if we try to withstand this third tribulation head-on..." Yu Tunzhou had a headache. "Should I be able to withstand the first seven?"

When he broke through the first tribulation of lightning, his overall strength was roughly comparable to that of Half-Step External Scenery.

When he broke through the second tribulation, although he was only at the Early Divine Ability Stage, his overall strength was already comparable to the External Scenery Third Layer, which is why he managed to overcome the Nine Heavens.

Since then, his strength has improved considerably, but the biggest improvement has been in his cultivation of Nature Cultivation and, after his realm was raised, the Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo's ability to bear the laws of law was enhanced.

This means that after breaking through to the Late Divine Ability Stage, the Inner View nourished the physical body, bringing about an increase in physical strength.

"This third tribulation is at least at the Quasi-Grandmaster, and might even be at the Grandmaster level!"

Yu Tunzhou secretly clicks its tongue in amazement.

Reaching the External Scenery Fourth Layer and opening up the Dharma Domain represents a qualitative leap. Back when he was fighting against Xuanyangzi, the latter could severely injure him with a single blow.

The key lies in the Dharma Domain. This thing is completely overwhelming to martial artists who have not yet opened up their Dharma Domain.

If he were to leave Luofu Grotto-Heaven and lose the blessing of the heavens and earth's Martial Fortune, he was confident that he could hold his own against an ordinary External Scenery Fourth Layer cultivator, and even try to fight them head-on, but whether he could win was unknown, let alone the higher fifth-level External Scenery Fifth Layer.

Ultimately, although his breakthrough speed over the past four months seemed incredibly fast, advancing from the Early Divine Ability Stage realm, how could the transformation of the Divine Ability Realm compare to the enormous leap after opening up the Dharma Domain at the External Scenery Fourth Layer?

These are not even on the same level.

Even a hundred Late Divine Ability Stage are no match for External Scenery Fourth Layer cultivator; this is a fundamental chasm in their cultivation levels.

My confidence in being able to navigate the External Scenery Fourth Layer mainly stems from the significant improvement I've made in my Nature Cultivation.

Yu Tunzhou couldn't help but gasp.

Without passing the tribulation of the third level of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, he would be unable to open the eighth wonder, lay the foundation of his Inner Heaven and Earth, and thus break through the External Scenery.

But without breaking through to the External Scenery, how could he possibly rival Quasi-Grandmaster, or even Grandmaster, in terms of Divine Ability powers?

Is this a double blockage?

Thinking of this, Yu Tunzhou fell into deep thought, and finally slowly shifted his gaze to the Martial Fortune of Heaven and Earth.

As if sensing his gaze, the Martial Fortune of heaven and earth seemed to leap with extraordinary joy...

This Martial Fortune originally belonged to him, and ever since he came out of the Buddhist Kingdom, he has been so eager to use it that he almost wanted to give it to him on the spot.

However, after talking with Yu Tunzhou Huntian had no intention of getting involved in the karma encompassed by Martial Fortune.

Don't you see that even that old Martial Ancestor is ruthlessly cutting things up!

"In the end, a simp always ends up with nothing..." Yu Tunzhou thought to himself.

If he were to receive this Martial Fortune, he would immediately be able to surpass the External Scenery Fourth Layer, let alone the Grandmaster level, but he wouldn't be completely powerless to resist.

We've turned into a dead end...

Yu Tunzhou frowned. If there really was no way out for the time being, he wouldn't hesitate. Was he going to suffocate?

Let's be straightforward and just borrow the Martial Fortune!

It's simply a matter of today's cause, tomorrow's effect, and paying off debts in the future.

He shared this idea with Huntian.

Huntian hesitated again and asked the same question once more:

"Fellow Daoist, are you sure you haven't practiced the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art incorrectly?"

"Otherwise, why would you have to endure such a tribulation of lightning at the third level of the Profound Technique? Even those from the Jade Void Lineage back then wouldn't have been able to survive at your level..."

Huntian sounded puzzled. The Eight-Nine Mysterious Art it gave Yu Tunzhou was a version given to it by its sworn brother. It had also practiced it itself, and the first three levels of the first chapter were only the Foundation Establishment stage.

Yu Tunzhou is currently at the second level of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, while according to the current Martial Dao, the third level of the Arcane Arts and the Great Foundation Establishment are equivalent to the first or second level of the External Scenery.

The last three stages of the second chapter are the methods for achieving physical sainthood, each stage representing a qualitative transformation.

For example, the fourth level is called "[Hating Heaven Without a Handle, Hating Earth Without a Ring]". Once mastered, one can suppress all Immortals and Gods with just the physical body and officially embark on the path of physical sainthood.

"If we don't consider the possibility that it was repaired incorrectly..." Huntian pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "Then there's probably only one possibility left."

"This is not a heavenly tribulation, but Dao Calamity!"

"Dao Calamity?"

"Indeed, I sensed something unusual about your tribulation last time. Tribulations in the primordial era were often standardized, categorized according to cultivation level. Some with shallow foundations naturally found it difficult to overcome, while others with deep accumulation could easily pass through. The intensity of the tribulation did not vary from person to person, because the Heavenly Dao is impartial, but there is one—"

Huntian paused, then said solemnly, "That is the ' Dao Calamity ' that only those who Forming a Heaven of One's Own Primordial Unity achieved Hunyuan status need to face!"

Even if Forming a Heaven of One's Own, without relying on external things, as long as one has not truly transcended this This Shore, one cannot escape the Predestination calamity and the disaster of the Great Dao.

"The threat of Dao Calamity is often a step or even greater than that of those undergoing Tribulation, and each one is no less than a life-or-death crisis."

"But each Dao Calamity is no less than a rebirth, elevating one's cultivation and Dao Foundation."

Upon hearing this, Yu Tunzhou's heart stirred. "This is similar to my situation. After I survived the tribulation last time, the laws that the Dao Sprout Immortal Embryo carried also increased, allowing me to create an additional wondrous scene."

"I thought of this when you survived your second tribulation, but I wasn't sure," Hun Tian said Huntian. "This tribulation of yours is neither too small to be called a heavenly tribulation, nor too large to be called Dao Calamity. I suspect it might be related to your reincarnation."

"Although you were reincarnated and started over, your True Spirit remains undiminished and has long since returned to oneness. You were envied by the heavens and underwent incomplete Dao Calamity in your the Unseen. This is currently the most likely explanation."

After listening to Huntian's analysis, Yu Tunzhou became even more puzzled. Could it be that he was truly a being who had achieved the unity of the True Spirit?

"Whether it's a heavenly tribulation or Dao Calamity, the most important thing right now is how to withstand this lightning tribulation," Yu Tunzhou said slowly. "If I can withstand this lightning tribulation, it will truly be like a true dragon entering the sea."

The combination of the eight wonders into one, and the [Nether Passage] (a spiritual pathway) naturally formed, also signifies that his Inner Heaven and Earth foundation will be fully established, and there will be no more obstacles on the path to the External Scenery.

Once he enters the External Scenery, it will be a qualitative leap. He will have already laid the initial foundation for the [One Qi Transforms into the Three Pure Ones] technique that he has been looking forward to for so long.

Any one of these transformations far surpasses his advancement from the Early Divine Ability Stage.

At that time, let alone the External Scenery Fourth Layer...

He could even challenge Grandmaster in the top twenty of the Earth Ranking!

"If it truly is Dao Calamity..." Huntian said cautiously, "Then it's best to avoid things like luck, otherwise it might bring unexpected trouble."

"Accident?"

"Indeed, fortune is mysterious and difficult to describe, and the essence of Dao Calamity is a 'Dao tribulation' or 'heavenly envy.' If external fortune is mixed in, it may bring about other changes."

"Then there's nowhere left to go," Yu Tunzhou said helplessly.

"Not entirely..." Huntian pondered, "If you, fellow Daoist, can find certain elixirs and immortal herbs, such as the Ginseng Fruit from Five Villages Temple, the Peach of Immortality from the Heavenly Court, or the Nine-Revolution Golden Elixir refined by Laojun, you can naturally overcome this Dao Calamity."

Yu Tunzhou's lips twitched. "If this were ancient times, none of these things would be difficult. At worst, I could use my teacher's connections. But where am I supposed to find that now? Even if I wanted to build a relationship, there's nowhere for me to do so!"

"Indeed..." Huntian sighed, a hint of melancholy in his voice, as if lamenting the end of an era.

There is a way, but it would require Yu Tunzhou to risk traveling overseas to bring it back to the demon Demon Race. With the Demon Race's resources, it wouldn't be difficult to find a few rare treasures equivalent to Ginseng Fruit.

However, it estimated that Yu Tunzhou wouldn't be happy, and it couldn't say for sure what the current situation of the Demon Race was.

Furthermore, since Yu Tunzhou stole the Demon-Suppressing Banner last time, even if he finds a similar rare treasure after going overseas this time, he will most likely lose the Demon-Suppressing Banner.

In the dark Huntian chaos, it's best to keep the Demon-Suppressing Banner in your own hands; you can't let it go to someone else.

Once I return to the world and regain my full power, with the speed of the heavens and earth combined with the Demon-Suppressing Banner's restraint on the Demon Race race, how many Demon Race will be able to contend with me?!

At that time, it will be the number one saint of the Demon Race!

Yu Tunzhou looked down at the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist, his gaze falling on one of the lustrous beads.

He took off the prayer beads, played with them in his hand, and at the same time Primordial Spirit into them.

This Heavenly Court Fragment has long been refined by Master Lu into an Ascension Platform. As long as the Heavenly Court is unsealed from the mist, one can use it to ascend to the Heavenly Court at any time.

In addition, Master Lu left a coordinate on this Ascension Platform, requiring that one must reach the External Scenery Realm or possess External Scenery combat power to enter.

Yu Tunzhou recalled Qin Yong's words: Master Lu was tricked by various factions, and at the Divine Ability Realm, he came into contact with the taboos of the Immortals and Gods levels, thus severing his path to the Dharma Aspect Realm...

I don't know if it's related to this requirement.

"Peach of Immortality, Nine-Revolution Golden Elixir..."

Yu Tunzhou murmured.

"Both of these items have a chance of being found in the Heavenly Court; one is in the Peach of Immortality Garden, and the other is in the Tushita Palace. It's just that after all these years, I wonder if the Peach of Immortality Garden still exists, and I don't know if the Tushita Palace still holds the Nine-Revolution Golden Elixir..."

Yu Tunzhou's gaze then fell on the Vajra Bracelet.

For him to enter the Heavenly Court ruins, either those old guys would have to scout ahead, or the Vajra Bracelet would have to break free from the Demon-Suppressing Banner's restraint and at least block one attack, giving him time to retreat.

"Let's first collect what Master Lu left behind, then Divine Capital."

With a firm resolve, Yu Tunzhou Primordial Spirit into the Ascension Platform in his hand.

A nine-tiered stone platform came into his Primordial Spirit, ancient and mottled, with each step engraved with dim cloud patterns and immortal seals, as if it had existed here since the ancient times and had never changed in the slightest.

Yu Tunzhou didn't rush to touch the coordinates left by Master Lu, but instead first inspected the Ascension Platform.

The Heavenly Court remains shrouded in thick mist, and the connection between the Ascension Platform and the Upper Realm is intermittent, as if separated by an impenetrable veil.

The time is not yet ripe, and the Heavenly Court has not yet opened. Ascending at this time would be tantamount to throwing oneself into the Void void, with no chance of survival.

This was expected.

He withdrew his gaze and focused on the very center of the Ascension Platform, finding a unique coordinate.

As expected, this was left by Master Lu.

Yu Tunzhou examined it carefully for a moment, and after confirming that it was correct, he slowly probed his primordial Primordial Spirit power into it.

The next moment--

An indescribable sense of pull surged from the Ascension Platform, as if an invisible hand had gripped him and pulled him sharply.

He did not resist, letting this force pull him through layers of Void, "ascending" towards a very distant direction.

My field of vision contracted rapidly, then suddenly opened again.

As the world spun around him, countless fragmented images flashed before his eyes. When everything finally calmed down, he found himself wading through ankle-deep snow.

He looked around and saw only a vast expanse of white.

The place seemed to be a mountaintop, and not far away stood a wooden house, covered in snow, with a fire burning inside.

Not some kind of ruin?

He had thought that the coordinates left by Master Lu were just a secret place that sealed something away, but now it seems that this is not the case.

Suddenly, the door to the cabin opened.

A young man walked out of the house. He looked no older than him, wearing a thick cotton robe, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a straight nose. His face could even be described as handsome.

Unfortunately, judging from the way he walks, he has a limp in his right leg.

Yu Tunzhou's gaze lingered on his right leg for a moment before he looked away.

He was somewhat puzzled. The coordinates left by Master Lu seemed to point to a complete world, and near where he landed, there lived a handsome young man with a limp.

Where is this place?

Who is this young man?

For some reason, Yu Tunzhou felt that the other person's face looked somewhat familiar.

This immediately put him on alert, having just emerged from the Buddhist realm. Could this also be a lower realm, and the person before him be someone's "projection"?

As he sized up the other person, the young man was also sizing him up.

The latter stared at him for a while before speaking first, "You're one of Master Lu's men, aren't you?"

Yu Tunzhou understood immediately; it was indeed Master Lu's arrangement.

He nodded and asked, "And you are, sir?"

"Come in, it's snowing heavily outside." The young man turned and went inside, gesturing for Yu Tunzhou to go in first.

Yu Tunzhou quickly searched his mind to see whose projection the other person was. He even carefully compared the other person's face with that of Master Lu, but there was no resemblance.

Stepping inside, the warmth of the heating system hit you, pine wood crackled and burned in the hearth, and a pot of unknown medicinal soup sat on a shelf, filling the room with the bitter smell of herbs.

Yu Tunzhou glanced around the room and asked directly, "Were you placed here by Master Lu?"

The young man poured a cup of hot water, handed it to him, then stared at him intently, and suddenly said:

"You're the greatest Martial Ancestor in the world?"

Yu Tunzhou was taken aback. Martial Ancestor?

Did the other party mistake him for the Martial Ancestor?

Why is that?

He instantly understood—

It must have been Master Lu who told this young man that the one who would come to find him in the future was another number one person in the world, Martial Ancestor Lu Daolin.

In other words, before Master Lu entered Luofu Grotto-Heaven, this Heavenly Court Fragment was originally intended to be given to Martial Ancestor?

Yu Tunzhou re-examined the young man in front of him.

Master Lu left behind was neither a divine weapon nor a clue, but rather... a lame young man?

Before he could answer, the young man suddenly shook his head and spoke again, his voice like a thunderclap in Yu Tunzhou's ears:

"You are not the Martial Ancestor. Master Lu said that the Martial Ancestor looked somewhat like me."

The moment the words left his mouth, a storm raged within Yu Tunzhou's heart.

His pupils dilated slightly, and countless thoughts exploded in his mind.

Could this person be...?

Lu Daolin's projected form?!