Chapter 581
The former is punishment, often referred to as "tianfa" (heavenly punishment), while the latter is more of a trial, known as "tianjie" (heavenly tribulation).
Li Mo had arrived at Shenbing Peak, and judging by the current commotion, it seemed more likely to be the latter...
At that moment, Ying Bing seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up.
In the sky, at the edge of the three great suns, a faint outline began to emerge.
Blood-red lightning flickered around it, resembling a sun, or perhaps an opened vertical pupil, or something in between.
...
"Heavenly punishment descends, and another sun appears?"
"Since ancient times, there has only been one great sun. I've heard the other two are manifestations of powerful members of the Da Yu royal family. Could it be that the royal family has produced another being transformed into a great sun?"
"Even if that’s the case, what does it have to do with heavenly punishment?"
Countless people were left speechless upon noticing the additional sun in the sky.
Some claimed it was not a great sun at all, but rather a wondrous phenomenon created by powerful beings clashing. Others suggested it was mere coincidence, with a divine artifact appearing just as a royal expert broke through.
There were even those who said that in mythology, there were originally nine suns, and these great suns had merely concealed themselves for the sake of the world, having always existed.
Amidst the myriad of opinions, only a very few knew the truth.
In the tall tower of Yantian Sect, an old woman with a pale face took out a jade plate, beginning to deduce the changes within.
In the imperial capital, Emperor Jing Tai stepped out of the study, a look of worry etched on his brow, as if he had witnessed something he was extremely reluctant to see, and it had already come to pass.
...
Boom—
Above Qingyuan Sect, a blue-purple lightning bolt tore through the dark clouds, cleaving the mountainside of Shenbing Peak and heading straight for the Hammer of Treasures below.
Li Mo did not release the Hammer of Treasures; in an instant, he made a decision and pushed against the current, moving upward.
The force of the hammer surged, like a meteor shooting up from the ground, destined to fall from the sky. His strength was unremarkable, yet it was overwhelmingly fierce.
There was no technique involved, only raw power.
The Hammer of Treasures was connected to his bloodline, intimately tied to his inner world. Moreover, the essence of the Eight-Nine Profound Art was to endure tribulations and rise against the odds.
Rip—Bang!
A tremendous roar echoed, lightning and fire danced chaotically, and the aura of destruction spread across the mountaintop.
Fortunately, Li Mo had enlisted the help of Du Shengr, who had taken the disciples from Shenbing Peak away; otherwise, the casualties would have been unimaginable.
In the main hall of the peak.
When the fourth great sun reappeared, everyone had already gathered here to watch.
"What’s going on with the heavenly punishment?"
"And what about the four great suns?"
"Who got struck by lightning on Shenbing Peak?"
The entire Qingyuan Sect was in disarray.
Du Wufeng set down the others from Shenbing Peak and explained the situation, and only then did the noisy hall fall into a bewildered silence.
"How did he forge a quasi-Dao weapon?"
"Xiao Mo already had one; this time, he just fused the Panjie Meteor Hammer with it."
"Where did he get it?"
Those familiar with Li Mo, as well as those who weren’t, were puzzled. Except for those who had been to the imperial capital, who suddenly recalled a rather unremarkable firewood stick they had seen in Tianren City.
But at this moment, other reasons didn’t matter; what mattered was that Li Mo had just broken through the heavenly tribulation.
Yet the four great suns still hung high, seemingly brewing even more terrifying power.
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Chapter 672: Great Strength Brings Miracles
Three great suns, along with a sun resembling a setting sun, hung in the sky, yet dark clouds loomed overhead—a scene that seemed to belong to a dream.
Everyone saw the traces of lightning on Shenbing Peak, yet a mysterious aura surrounded the figure holding the hammer, who remained completely unharmed.
However, everyone held their breath, knowing this was just the beginning.
"If it’s a weapon tribulation for a quasi-Dao weapon, why is Xiao Mo involved?"
Shangguan Wencang rubbed his forehead; he really should have felt at ease after taking that longevity pill last time.
Being the sect leader for Li Mo felt like being in prison; he didn’t know how many years he had lost.
Du Wufeng pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "There are indeed precedents of weapon masters undergoing tribulations alongside their weapons, achieving a unity of man and weapon, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s not just for that reason..."
"Mooching food I understand, but mooching tribulations? What’s that about?"
Qian Bufan couldn’t help but murmur.
Only King of the South, Zhong Qin, stared intently at the newly appeared fourth sun, his fists clenched, knuckles turning white.
"The Emperor’s time is running out..."
Suddenly—
A fierce wind and scorching heat surged, mixed with a howling wind of dark fire, resembling a vortex that could strip flesh from bones, tightening the skin of those nearby.
"Wind and Fire Tribulation!"
Shang Qinqing was the first to recognize this heavenly tribulation.
Li Mo on Shenbing Peak didn’t even make a move; a luminous aura surrounded him, and he stood firm against the fierce wind.
After reaching the fourth realm, with the support of the Eight-Nine Profound Art, the time he could maintain his indestructible state was no longer just a few breaths; it was enough to quell the wind and fire of the mountain, leaving only noise for him.
Eight-Nine Profound Art, indestructible!
The Hammer of Treasures, like him, would never wear down.
After enduring the baptism of the wind demon, the hammer trembled twice, like a proud child.
Weapons and their masters often share similar traits, so it was entirely reasonable for the Hammer of Treasures to possess the ability to fight.
"Is there more?"
The elders of Qingyuan Sect, still caught between the inner and outer realms, gathered their spirits and began to observe this natural force seriously.
The inner realm is the process of using one’s inner world to validate the outer world.
Thunder and rain are both blessings from heaven, and for them, this was also a rare cultivation experience.
"The progress of the profound art has improved significantly."
Li Mo stood ready, and suddenly, a river appeared in the void. This river had no physical form; each wave surged with ancientness and eternity, unknown in origin and destination.
It seemed that what surged within was not water, but time itself.
"This can’t be taken lightly."
Li Mo examined himself and found that all his belongings were ineffective.
But having realized what the tribulation was testing, he instead smiled freely, not dodging or avoiding, allowing the illusory river of time to wash over him.
Of course, this was not a true river of time; it couldn’t genuinely advance or reverse time, only affecting the inner world connected to the Hammer of Treasures, yet its power was still terrifying.
In an instant, his vitality began to wane, decaying, comparable to the body of a profound weapon, growing increasingly dim, as a deep sense of despair enveloped him from all sides.
Stars flowed within his inner world, and the sea turned to mulberry fields.
His inner realm began to fade alongside him, the rising sun moving toward dusk, ultimately resembling a candle flickering in the wind.
"The tribulation of a quasi-Dao weapon is truly terrifying; it has transcended the realm."
Qin Yuzhi felt a dull pain in her head, as if she were witnessing the scene she had encountered when she touched the threshold of the eighth realm, some long-buried memories breaking free.
Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and asked Shang Qinqing beside her, "Isn’t Xiao Bing’er’s inner realm related to time? Perhaps there’s a way; why isn’t she here?"
Shang Qinqing shook her head, indicating she didn’t know either.
But she felt there was a reason for Ying Bing not being present.
As the inner realm faded like a candle in the wind, Li Mo’s hair turned white. Ordinary people might struggle to imagine the pain of turning from black hair to white overnight, but he had already aged in the Tianhuang Domain.
His expression remained unchanged, showing no attachment.
The flickering candle had only a bit of ember left, yet that last flicker could never be extinguished; each time it neared extinction, it would spark back to life, defiantly illuminating the darkness.
The rekindled power grew stronger each time, intensifying, not only sufficient to support the Eight-Nine Profound Art but surpassing the past!
Li Mo’s white hair turned black again, his eyes bright as the Hammer of Treasures, unwavering.
Having traversed time, he remained a youth!
"It should be over now." Du Wufeng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked at the hammer, and just thinking about being able to examine it closely soon made him wipe his mouth in anticipation.
With the wind and fire unextinguished, and time unbroken.
In the future, given time, the "quasi" in front of the quasi-Dao weapon could be removed.
"Time cannot erase Li Mo’s inner realm?"
Others felt a weight lift from their hearts, yet their curiosity only grew.
Time is like a knife; many at the Xuan realm cannot advance further, ultimately unable to withstand the test of time and unable to transcend.
The fourth realm, relying solely on an inner realm... how is that possible?
Others had begun to celebrate their survival, voicing their congratulations.
"Thank goodness I exchanged for the second volume of the Eight-Nine Profound Art..."
But Li Mo, feeling himself advancing further, stepping into the threshold of the second volume of the Eight-Nine Profound Art, remained unmoved.
He looked toward the four suns.
The sun that felt familiar to him was like the Blood God, yet not entirely the same.
What hidden truths lay within, Li Mo did not know; the only thing he could be certain of was...
It wasn’t over yet!
"Hmm?"
The people of Qingyuan Sect also sensed something was off.
They followed the source of the strange feeling and saw that within the fourth great sun, it increasingly resembled a gaze, one filled with authority and a chilling rage.
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