In the center of the venue, an old Taoist priest looked at the crowd with lingering fear. In front of him was a silver plate, and on the silver plate was the Qiankun Ring that had been passed down for thousands of years.
What's going on?
For a moment, the experts looked down on the novices, and the novices looked down on the experts. Thousands of people looked at each other in bewilderment, and no one made a sound anymore.
"Ahem... Fellow Daoist, please calm down. It's our fault, old folks. If we hadn't fled together, this situation wouldn't have happened," Zhang Daoren quickly tried to calm things down when he saw the situation was turning bad.
The old Taoist priest looked at Xiao Wenbing, the culprit who was the first in the room to make a clear attempt to escape. Xiao Wenbing was looking around with curiosity, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
Sigh... This guy. Just thinking that he was this guy's master made the old Taoist feel his face burning. He quickly said, "Sect Master, please calm down. This matter is indeed no one's fault."
The Sect Master of Tianyi took a deep breath, his expression shifting constantly. After a long while, he finally sighed, "What a calamity! If I were to attain the Great Dao in the future, how could I face my ancestors?"
His voice was filled with sorrow, clearly indicating that he was truly distraught and unable to speak.
At this moment, a Taoist priest suddenly appeared from beside the Tianyi Sect Master. It was none other than the old Taoist Yiming. He shouted loudly, "Disciples, be quiet and listen to the Sect Master's instructions."
As expected of a sect leader, the Tianyi Sect Master quickly calmed his anger and said loudly, "The treasure bestowed by Ancestor Bailu is a test of the disciples' character and will. Once someone with a heart touches the treasure circle, it will trigger a series of illusions. If one cannot persevere, there is nothing more to say. Only by being able to persevere and persist can one become the true master of the treasure circle."
Volume Three: The Tribulation of the Five Elements, Chapter Eighty-Eight: Strange Phenomena
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Everyone then realized that the heavenly tribulation they had just witnessed was merely an illusion. However, this illusion was so realistic that not a single one of the thousands of people recognized it.
With this in mind, everyone's gaze towards the Qiankun Ring changed somewhat.
It truly lives up to its reputation as a treasure inherited from the Immortal Realm. We need not concern ourselves with its other magical powers for now; in terms of its terrifying power alone, it is probably unparalleled in the entire cultivation world.
“Since it’s a test of willpower, then whatever the person who comes into contact with it fears most will naturally come to pass. We old guys in the Tribulation Transcending stage are most worried about the arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation. That’s why the Heavenly Tribulation phenomenon will appear after Junior Brother Yi Su touches it.” Old Daoist Yi Ming added, “As for us leaving quickly, it’s because we were afraid that the illusion would distract our minds and cause the Heavenly Tribulation to arrive ahead of time. As for you, there’s no need to worry about it.”
A gasp of amazement rippled through the plaza. No wonder these top experts at the Tribulation Transcending stage were running so fast; so that's why...
At this moment, those with sharp minds in the arena almost simultaneously thought of one thing: since the old Taoist priests in the Tribulation Transcending stage dared not step forward to touch it, it meant that they could almost withdraw from the competition.
Upon realizing this, the eyes of those qualified experts in the Separation and Union stage immediately lit up, and they all felt their hopes greatly increased.
Of course, there are also those who are mature and prudent, seemingly calm and collected, but what they are thinking in their hearts is unknown.
"Ah, I see." Below the many seniors, Xiao Wenbing nodded deeply, agreeing with the old Taoist's explanation.
However, just as he finished speaking, two delicate cries came almost simultaneously from beside him and from his arms.
"Put me down."
"Let go."
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback and hurriedly released the two women. Zhang Yaqi, her face flushed, steadied herself with Xiao Wenbing's support.
However, her head remained lowered, right in front of her chest, and she refused to raise it.
Just thinking about how Xiao Wenbing had carried her for so long in front of so many people made Zhang Yaqi's blush deepen. It was truly mortifying.
As for Feng Baiyi, after Xiao Wenbing let go, she simply turned her head away, ignoring him completely. However, given her proud nature, the fact that she didn't draw her sword and cut off his reckless hand was already a great show of respect for Xiao Wenbing.
Feeling rather embarrassed, Xiao Wenbing glanced at the two women, then looked up and saw the many elders with unfriendly expressions. He chuckled awkwardly and said, "Continue, continue."
The Sect Master of Tianyi glared at him irritably. If it weren't for his quick reaction, the situation might not have become so chaotic. However, even he couldn't reprimand this honorary elder of the sect, so he simply turned his head away, pretending he had never seen the man.
After a while, the arena had basically returned to calm, and the Tianyi Sect Master finally said, "Except for those in the Tribulation Transcending stage, all other disciples in the sect can give it a try."
After a flurry of activity, everyone returned to their original positions. The Heavenly One Sect Master and the others in the Tribulation Transcending stage had already left far away, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.
An old Taoist priest approached the silver plate, hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out and grasped the Qiankun Ring.
Everyone stared intently, and the sky above was clear and cloudless, just like any other fine weather, with no unusual celestial phenomena appearing.
Almost everyone felt a sense of relief at the same time; it was just an illusion after all, there was no heavenly tribulation.
However, they were clearly too happy too soon. Just as their hearts were at ease, another strange event occurred. A huge fire suddenly broke out within ten steps of the old Taoist priest.
It resembled the ever-burning flames of the Flaming Mountain in Taoist legends, or the divine fire from the heavens, or even the dark netherworld fire that leaped out from the netherworld.
Within a radius of ten paces, it transformed into a raging sea of fire.
Since the sect leader of Tianyi Sect had said that all of this was an illusion, the old Taoist priest was startled but not panicked. He sat cross-legged, trying to use his composure to resist the illusion.
Given his unparalleled cultivation at the Separation and Union stage, resisting minor illusions should be effortless for him...
However, he immediately realized that his wishful thinking was not going to work. No matter how he tried to circulate his internal energy or calm his mind, the burning sensation persisted and intensified, quickly exceeding his limit of endurance.
"ah……"
The old Taoist priest could no longer care about being watched by everyone. He suddenly withdrew his hand, discarded the Qiankun Ring, and let out a desperate, tearing cry.
This roar was so tragic that it broke the heart of anyone who heard it.
The people around him looked at him in confusion, wondering how a mere flame could force this master of the Separation and Union stage to shout out so wildly, disregarding his status.
The gazes of the crowd toward the old Taoist priest became somewhat strange. If this man had not been renowned in the cultivation world of Earth, almost everyone would have doubted his identity and abilities.
Strangely enough, as soon as his finger left the Qiankun Ring, the surrounding red area vanished without a trace, as if the raging fire had never existed. The immortal treasure truly had its extraordinary properties.
"The Tribulation of Blazing Fire? Could it be that the test of the Universe Ring is the Tribulation of Blazing Fire?" the old Taoist asked uncertainly.
"Not necessarily." As expected of a grandmaster, the Sect Master of Tianyi had regained his composure and shook his head slightly.
The old Taoist priest exclaimed in surprise, "Senior brother, this is indeed the Calamity of the Southern Fire."
“I know, but what I’m worried about is that there may be more than one Southern Fire Tribulation on this Qiankun Ring,” the Tianyi Sect Master said softly.
"More than one?"
“That’s right, junior brother, don’t forget. Actually, the Qiankun Ring has another name.”
After a moment of contemplation, the old Taoist priest opened his eyes and exclaimed in surprise, "The Five Elements Circle?"
"Indeed, the circle is divided into five elements, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. They nourish and promote each other, but also restrain each other. If my prediction is correct, then to obtain this Qiankun Circle, one must undergo the tribulation of the five elements."
"The Five Elements Tribulation?" The old Taoist priest looked strange and said, "Didn't our patriarch know that for thousands of years, let alone the Five Elements Tribulation, even the first three tribulations have been difficult for most people to withstand? Could it be... that he didn't want people to use the Universe Ring anymore?"
“No, there was once someone who survived the Five Elements Tribulation.” The Heavenly One Sect Master’s gaze was unfocused as he stared at the Universe Ring in the silver plate, muttering, “Persistence, perseverance…”
Volume Three: The Tribulation of the Five Elements, Chapter Eighty-Nine: Tianyi's Elite Disciple
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Flames surged and roared.
Chen Shanji clenched his teeth, his body covered in cold sweat, his entire mind focused on resisting the endless flames.
Following the old Taoist priest, three more people came up one after another, but without exception, they all fled in a sorry state.
Although they weren't physically harmed, their disgraceful display in front of so many disciples caused them to lose face. Thus, after the three most powerful individuals, widely recognized as having failed, no other expert above the Nascent Soul stage dared to embarrass themselves further.
The cultivation world is a place where strength speaks volumes. Chen Shanji's cultivation level is the closest to the Nascent Soul stage among all Golden Core disciples, so he is the first to appear without hesitation.
As the chief disciple of the Tianyi Sect Master, Chen Shanji was favored by the old master and has been diligently cultivating for over a hundred years, never relaxing his demands on himself for a single day.
In fact, although his talent far surpasses that of ordinary people, in the eyes of cultivators, he is only considered to be of above-average talent.
The fact that he was chosen by the Sect Master of Tianyi, who not only took him under his wing but also hinted at passing on his mantle, shows that he must possess extraordinary abilities.
In fact, he possessed a unique strength that set him apart from others: willpower. Even now, after struggling for half an hour in the raging flames, though his entire body was red and he was in excruciating pain, he still managed to put it to rest.
Although his face was already extremely ferocious, he still gritted his teeth and persevered.
Gradually, the red fire dimmed, and finally the rain stopped and the flames went out.
He finally survived the tribulation of the Southern Fire and became the first person today to be able to stand up after holding the Universe Ring for half an hour.
However, just when he thought he had succeeded, a red wave spread outwards from him. This wave traveled extremely fast and covered an immense area, instantly enveloping the entire plaza.
On the plaza, everyone roared at the same time. The shockwave brought them an intense burning sensation, a feeling so real that it felt as if their bones were about to melt away.
Caught off guard, few could remain calm. One by one, they leaped up from the ground, hopping and howling like monkeys.
However, this feeling came quickly and went even faster; after only a few jumps, I returned to normal.
Countless people stared wide-eyed, their only expression one of terror. The intense pain, though only momentary, was enough to leave an indelible mark, one that would never be forgotten.
Chen Shanji reached out and grasped the Qiankun Ring, but no matter how hard he tried, the ring remained as immovable as a heavy mountain. Gradually, the surrounding scenery changed, and a deep red color began to spread outwards in large swaths.
Seeing the red spreading outwards, the people around hurriedly retreated. The slight ripple just now had caused great pain; if they had come into contact with this red area, they would have been burned to death.
The vibrant red spread for about twenty paces before stopping. At this point, within ten paces of Chen Shanji, a dull, earthy yellow had replaced the bright, dazzling red.
More sweat suddenly appeared on Chen Shanji's forehead. He persevered for a while, then suddenly let out a loud roar and released his grip on the Qiankun Ring.
The surrounding scenery immediately darkened, and the two distinct colors transformed into starlight, dissipating into the space.
Unlike the others, Chen Shanji did not immediately step down. Instead, he stood there, panting heavily, completely disregarding his image. Clearly, the ordeal had left him utterly exhausted and without any strength left.
"Shanji, sit properly and gather your energy..." Sect Master Tianyi suddenly shouted.
Chen Shanji was taken aback, as if he had understood something, and he immediately sat down cross-legged on the spot.
A surge of powerful spiritual energy erupted from his body, causing those with profound cultivation around him to nod in approval. After a long while, a loud explosion suddenly erupted around Chen Shanji, as if something had exploded, and a golden light slowly shone from his body.
It started as a tiny spark, but in an instant it shone brightly, carrying a massive amount of spiritual energy as it shot out from his body.
A tiny golden figure, about the size of a finger, flashed above his head and disappeared.
"Good, your nascent soul has been formed and your inner core has been established. Good luck. You have been able to endure this tribulation, so you are now qualified to use the Universe Ring." The Heavenly One Sect Master looked at his eldest disciple with a smile on his face.
"It is a cause for celebration that the sect leader has such a talented disciple."
Congratulations came from the group of top-ranking Taoist priests and bald monks. Although the Sect Master of Tianyi spoke modestly, he had a look of satisfaction on his face and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "There are successors, there are truly successors..."