Chapter 816 - 368: Tribulation and Dao (Part 2)

Qingyunzi said, "This involves the existence of this place and the ’calamity’ that fellow Daoist asked about earlier."

"In the distant past, there was an unimaginable catastrophe during which almost all the powerful ancient cultivators experienced a ’calamity.’"

"Under the effect of the calamity, their bodies underwent various mutations. They began to age, emit a foul odor, and their mana declined significantly..."

"Celestial Person’s Five Declines," Chu Xiu suddenly said.

Qingyunzi was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Chu Xiu to suddenly convey such a concept with his divine soul, then nodded and said, "Exactly, the Celestial Person’s Five Declines."

Chu Xiu’s expression grew solemn as he recalled the ancient trials prior when a celestial person experienced the Celestial Person’s Five Declines due to a connection between the Peach Blossom Spring and the outer world, leading to his physical body being utterly devoured.

That celestial person was merely an ordinary human who obtained a sliver of power from forbidden objects, not a true celestial person and far inferior to powerful ancient cultivators who could transform into a world, yet this coincidental connection still sparked a thought in Chu Xiu’s mind.

Could it be that the unimaginable catastrophe Qingyunzi speaks of was caused by the Abyss?

Could even powerful existences capable of embodying a world be unable to contend with the Abyss?

While Chu Xiu’s mind raced with thoughts, Qingyunzi, unaware of his pondering, continued, "Back then, the ancient cultivator struggled for millions of years after the calamity struck, but ultimately fell, his body transforming into this world."

"Yet even after his death, the calamity continued to ravage his body, leading to the current situation."

"Impossible!" Qingyunzi’s words made Chu Xiu furrow his brow, "Why was the civilization of the Demon-Exorcising Race able to flourish peacefully, never encountering a tribulation beast?"

"Moreover, you yourself mentioned that this ancient existence’s time span is unimaginably long, can the calamity truly persist for such a long time?"

Facing Chu Xiu’s doubts, Qingyunzi smiled lightly, "Fellow Daoist, no need to rush. I will clarify everything. To explain this, I must reveal my identity."

"Fellow Daoist might have guessed, I am the ghost king who destroyed the Demon-Exorcising Race two thousand years ago."

"But do you know how I was born?"

This question made Chu Xiu slightly taken aback. He had certainly thought about it, but had not arrived at a conclusion, only finding the ghost king’s existence utterly abrupt.

Yet now, he had a slight conjecture.

But he did not voice his guess, only saying, "Does it matter?"

Qingyunzi did not beat around the bush and laughed, "Back then, the heroic spirits of the Demon-Exorcising Race set up a large array at the furnace bottom, ambushing the heroic spirits of the Human Race with over a hundred King Tier cultivators, ultimately perishing together. The array’s function was to gather spiritual power, and because everyone perished within, it never stopped turning, instead, it grew ever stronger, nourished by the abundant spiritual power."

"And the ambush site of the Demon-Exorcising Race was called the ’Ninth Holy Land’ by their people, a most peculiar holy land, existing outside the Eight Great Holy Lands, because they discovered that although the Yin Qi concentration there wasn’t particularly high, cultivation was unexpectedly quick, and refining ghosts or artifacts was especially smooth, as if some power was assisting from the sidelines."

"What they didn’t know was that the reason for this special capability was the gathering of a large amount of ’Dao Rhythms.’"

Chu Xiu furrowed his brow. What are these Dao Rhythms again?

Seeing Chu Xiu’s confusion, Qingyunzi smiled and explained, "Fellow Daoist can view it as the power that the ancient cultivator used to resist the calamity, or as the culmination of that cultivator’s lifelong cultivation efforts."

Qingyunzi’s words were somewhat esoteric. After pondering for a while, Chu Xiu said, "Please continue."

Qingyunzi nodded, "That array, in its continual operation, gradually gathered the scattered Dao Rhythms, and finally, a wisp of consciousness was born from the concentrated Dao Rhythms."

"I see," Chu Xiu sighed, no wonder this ghost knows so much; he was born from the remains of this ancient cultivator!

Being born from the remains of a powerful being is not unheard of, just like the Seventy-Two Blood Demons in the Corpse Demon World, born from the remnants of the Blood Pool.

Such an existence is, in the strictest sense, a new life, though it may retain some traits or inheritances from the original body.

Qingyunzi continued, "When I was first born, I was in a muddled haze, only knowing to continually devour souls to strengthen myself. After absorbing the spiritual power within the holy land, I ventured to other holy lands, consuming the whole furnace bottom before seeking food upwards."

"By the time my consciousness began to clear, the entire Hundred Demons Melting Furnace World had fallen into chaos, the ghosts, stirred by my aura, crazily attacked all living creatures in the world, and it was then I realized I had the ability to control other ghosts."

"I had no feelings regarding the destruction of the Demon-Exorcising Race civilization. In my eyes, they were just like food, like humans eat chickens or fish, was it not the natural order of things? But I did understand the principle of not killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, originally planning to raise those creatures, but an unexpected change arose."

"The calamity," Chu Xiu sighed.

"Fellow Daoist, you are indeed extraordinarily wise," Qingyunzi nodded, "like for me, the calamity’s target was to utterly destroy that ancient cultivator. With his consciousness revived, those calamities that had already become one with this world once again revealed their horror."

At this point, Qingyunzi showed a look of lingering fear, clearly remembering certain terrifying memories, but finally only said, "Fortunately, the re-emergence of the calamities was a slow process, giving me enough time to respond. While contending with the calamities, I concluded that my power in the face of the calamities was as weak as weeds, only the ’Dao’ could contend with the calamity."

"What you now see is the resulting situation. The power of the calamity has sealed this area, and I have used the ’Dao’ to carve out a haven. Spreading cultivation techniques and fabricating consciousness to create ghosts was all to select the best among them to aid me in Penglai against the calamities."

"Once they are strong enough to enter Penglai, I will use the ’Dao’ to neutralize the calamities within their bodies, reconstruct their physical forms, and grant them true independent consciousness."

Qingyunzi’s words left Chu Xiu visibly startled, even though he had long known there must be secrets here, he never anticipated the secrets would run so deep.

Afterwards, he asked several more detailed questions, all of which Qingyunzi patiently answered, allowing Chu Xiu to fully understand the situation here.

The mutated Death Qi is the "calamity," the Immortal Qi is the "Dao Rhythms," while the ordinary Death Qi is a combination of both.

Because Penglai is constructed by "Dao Rhythms," the calamities within it constantly combine with the Dao, forming a Death Qi Waterfall ten thousand meters high.

As for the Inheritance Immortal Stele, it is also a form of "Dao Rhythms," only existing in a tangible form, unlike the "Dao Rhythms" in the form of "Qi."

Correspondingly, the Stone Bead is the tangible form of the "calamity."

And this calamity’s power is almost identical to the power preventing Chu Xiu’s breakthrough!

Realizing he’s been carrying such a dangerous object all along, even Chu Xiu couldn’t keep his heart from racing!

Moreover, Chu Xiu had an even bolder notion.

He had not forgotten that the Stone Bead, after absorbing Immortal Qi, actually converted it into Cause and Effect Points!

"In other words, the special form of ’calamity’ has the ability to devour ’Dao’ and convert it into Cause and Effect Points..."

Chu Xiu had a hunch that he might have glimpsed a facet of the Abyss’s essence.

Taking a deep breath, suppressing his thoughts, he looked at Qingyunzi and said, "I now understand the situation here, so let’s discuss business next."

"How can I leave this place, and what is the matter you want to collaborate with me on?"

"Leaving this place is simple. Just unlock the restriction on Penglai and I can send you out immediately," Qingyunzi said.

Chu Xiu’s eyes lit up. He knew the other party must have conditions, but as long as there was a method, that was good enough, his biggest fear was that even Qingyunzi was completely trapped here, that would truly be trouble.

"Name your conditions," Chu Xiu said.

Qingyunzi chuckled, "As I said earlier, Penglai is my shelter and place of safety. If the restriction is lifted, even just a tiny opening, the calamity outside would instantly rush in and tear me to pieces."

Chu Xiu nodded. Seeing the endless Death Qi Waterfall, he could tell how terrifying the calamity gathered around Penglai was, far beyond what could be found in the Carrion Cave.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"Very simple."

With a flip of his wrist, Qingyunzi revealed a Stone Bead in his palm almost identical to the one Chu Xiu had with him!

"I need you to help me collect more ’Tribulation Pearls’ and open the passage to ’Yin Sun’!"

Yin Sun?

Chu Xiu was taken aback.

That thing, isn’t it the sun that hangs high above this world, constantly unleashing streams of Yin Qi?