Chapter 553 66: Mixed Element Seven Tribulations Diagram

Fang Cheng and Jiang Zheng stood in the void, looking out at a boundless sea below.

Frigid currents surged and mournful gales howled. Vast, churning waves stretched for thousands of miles, all shrouded in frozen clouds and cold mist. It was a gloomy, desolate scene, with no end in sight.

A few icebergs drifted on the sea's surface, emanating a chilling aura as heavy snow fell all around.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, this place is sparsely populated. Why don't we stop here for now? We can decide our next move after our Disciples have familiarized themselves with the surroundings."

Jiang Zheng said.

Fang Cheng had no objections. He smiled and said, "I will follow all of your arrangements, Fellow Daoist."

Jiang Zheng nodded, took out a black and white pearl, and casually tossed it toward the sea.

The Black and White Spirit Bead spun and transformed, landing on the water's surface and turning into an island several hundred miles wide.

The island was shaped like a yin-yang symbol. The outer edge of the left peninsula was a profound black, dotted with strange golden flowers and holding magnificent, golden-roofed towers.

The right peninsula was blanketed in white snow, its expanse of palaces shrouded in a silvery haze.

This was the Divine Image Sect's Tier Five Pocket World Spiritual Building—Yin Yang Island.

At that moment, the Cultivators of the Divine Image Sect emerged from their pavilions and Cave Mansions, curiously observing their new surroundings.

Jiang Zheng sent a brief telepathic message, instructing Elder Zhuang Daojing and the others to manage the sect and explore the area. Then, he and Fang Cheng went to a tower in the center of the island.

Jiang Zheng took out the Langhuan Ancient Stele and placed it on the ground. The two of them sat cross-legged before it, carefully examining its contents.

There were seven diagrams in total on the ancient stele.

The first diagram at the top was a nine-foot-diameter Yin Yang Vortex, surrounded by 360 carved stellar orbits, with faint wisps of Profound Yellow Qi swirling around it.

Below the Yin Yang Vortex were the raised reliefs of five mountains, with countless runes appearing on their surfaces...

In the middle of the stele was a star chart, where the faint image of a Divine Spirit sat enthroned.

Beneath the star chart was an abyss where a Profound Turtle trod upon the waves, its shell seemingly flowing with infinite Profound Patterns and Daoist rhythm.

Below the abyss was a Yellow Springs River, and below that were diagrams of four divine beasts...

Finally, at the bottom of the ancient stele, all the diagrams seemed to collapse into a single point of primordial chaos.

Jiang Zheng stared intently at the Langhuan Ancient Stele, sensing the Profound Mechanisms and wondrous principles within the seven diagrams.

Fang Cheng, however, was immersed in his sea of consciousness. The Creation Golden Talisman trembled slightly, and new information appeared on it—

[Talisman Master] Fang Cheng

[Divine Power Technique]

Mixed Element Seven Tribulations Diagram · Entry (0/999,999)

...

Creation Points: 2,193,786

'So the Langhuan Ancient Stele isn't its real name. This stele should be called the Primordial Seven Tribulations Stele.'

Fang Cheng thought to himself, for now restraining the impulse to "add points" and comprehend the Profound Skill right next to a Tribulation Realm Cultivator like Jiang Zheng.

The seven diagrams on the ancient stele corresponded to seven incomparably powerful Divine Techniques. The Creation Points required just to reach the entry level were close to one million.

Back then, when he was comprehending the Circulation Qi Collection Technique, it had only taken him a little over 160,000 points to reach the entry level.

The profundity of the Circulation Qi Collection Technique alone had stumped countless prodigies in the Red Profound Association.

Now, this Mixed Element Seven Tribulations Diagram was even more difficult for ordinary Cultivators to comprehend. No wonder it had been hidden within the Black Sun Wind Disaster.

After observing for a long time, Jiang Zheng finally let out a soft sigh. He glanced at Fang Cheng and asked, "Fellow Daoist Fang, you are exceptionally talented. Have you made any progress?"

Fang Cheng shook his head with a wry smile. "How could I have made any progress in such a short time? I can only comprehend it slowly in the future."

Jiang Zheng seemed slightly relieved. He smiled and said, "Now that we're hiding in this Qianyu Heaven, there's no need to be too hasty. How about this? The two of us will take turns possessing this stele, rotating every ten years. For the first decade, you shall have it, Fellow Daoist."

Fang Cheng cupped his hands in thanks and said, "You should take it first, Fellow Daoist. I have only just arrived in this world; I'd like to go out and look around first."

Jiang Zheng's expression flickered. He hadn't expected Fang Cheng to be so generous. He said in a deep voice, "In that case, I won't be polite. If I have any insights over the next ten years, I will share them with you without reservation, Fellow Daoist."

"Then I'll congratulate you in advance on your success, Fellow Daoist." Fang Cheng smiled, stood up, and took his leave.

A moment later,

he found the Qiu Sisters on the island, summoned the Golden Radiance Tower Ship, and flew off into the distant sky.

Jiang Zheng, on the other hand, entered complete seclusion and began to dedicate himself to deciphering the Langhuan Ancient Stele.

...

On the way to Qianyu Heaven, Jiang Zheng had already given Fang Cheng a detailed account of this world.

After this Supreme Elder of the Divine Image Sect broke through to the Tribulation Realm, the first Outer World he visited was Qianyu Heaven. He stayed there for a century and was quite familiar with it.

This world was different from other World Heavens. The many sects within it only passed down the hundred arts of cultivation, while the true methods of Dao cultivation were found within the 108 "academies" established by the Dongyang Immortal Alliance.

There were also a few Noble Immortal Race lineages whose inheritances could rival those of the academies.

These 108 academies were scattered throughout Qianyu Heaven, and even the weakest of them possessed a Tribulation Realm inheritance.

Thirty-six of these academies had produced Spirit Immortals, and were thus known as Spirit Immortal Academies. They were the top-tier institutions of this world, sacred lands of cultivation that countless Cultivators dreamed of entering.

Among these thirty-six academies, the top ten possessed "Spirit Immortal Bestowed Arts"—Secret Techniques comparable to Upper Realm inheritances like the Circulation Qi Collection Technique, the Mixed Element Seven Tribulations Diagram, and the Profound Celestial Divine Puppet.

Among the top ten, three academies held a transcendent status, looking down on all others. This was because the Ji Jiu of these three academies were all avatars of Upper Realm Spirit Immortals. Receiving direct guidance from a Spirit Immortal was naturally superior to merely having a Spirit Immortal's inheritance.

In this world, any member of the Human Race with cultivation talent could participate in the academies' great examinations and, based on their results, be either accepted or rejected.

Regardless of their background—be they mortals, Loose Cultivators, from poor families, or from powerful Noble Immortal Races—everyone was treated equally and given the chance to enter an academy to cultivate.

Provided they could pass the great examinations.

Even if the children of powerful Noble Immortal Races had poor Life Talismans or no cultivation talent, they could easily succeed in cultivation by transplanting various "Artificial Qi Seas," "Artificial Life Talismans," or "Innate Bloodlines," allowing them to compete for a place in the academies.

This was one of the main reasons for Qianyu Heaven's flourishing age of cultivation.

After cultivating in an academy to the Life Talisman Realm, or even the Life Soul Realm, a Cultivator could leave and join one of the major sects.

These sects established themselves through the hundred arts of cultivation, specializing in talisman crafting, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, agriculture, and so on, creating a vast and rich world of cultivation.

Many of these sects were controlled by Cultivation Families. They were immensely powerful and influential, with Tribulation Realm Great Powers presiding over them. They explored the various Outer Worlds, plundered cultivation resources, and funneled them back into Qianyu Heaven.

Compared to other worlds, the chances of a Cultivator in this realm surviving the Nine Tribulations and successfully ascending to the Spiritual Sky Realm were several times higher. Any one of the thirty-six Spirit Immortal Academies, if placed in Extreme Jade Heaven or the Red Profound Realm, would be considered the number one power of the age.

Besides the Spirit Immortal inheritances, there was something else in this world that greatly interested Fang Cheng: it possessed Sixth-rank Magical Artifacts!

Each of the top ten academies had a Sixth-rank Magical Artifact to anchor its fortune.

The most famous of these was a Magical Artifact bestowed by the Upper Realm's Dongyang Immortal Alliance, named the Dongyang Immortal Jade.

Legend had it that this treasure was a Tier Six Top-grade Magical Artifact, jointly refined by several Spirit Immortals from the Dongyang Immortal Alliance, and possessed infinite wonders.

Within Qianyu Heaven, this treasure had manifested a "Spirit Ruins Treasure Realm" that covered the entire world. Anyone holding a Spirit Ruins Talisman could enter it with their divine soul, as if it were a real place.

Moreover, this "Spirit Void Treasure Realm" could manifest all things, real or illusory, below the level of a Spirit Immortal.

Inside, Cultivators could not only reshape their own bodies, Magical Artifacts, and Spirit Beasts, but also fight to their hearts' content. Even if they died, they could be "revived," suffering only minor damage to their divine soul afterward.

The great examinations for Cultivators in Qianyu Heaven were held in this "Spirit Ruins Treasure Realm."

The Spirit Void Talismans that granted initial entry into the Spirit Void Treasure Realm were a closely guarded secret of the various academies.

Outside Cultivators who wished to enter the "Spirit Void Treasure Realm" could only obtain a Talisman Decree by joining an academy or by completing certain tasks for an academy to earn merit.

Aboard the Golden Radiance Tower Ship, the Qiu Sisters were filled with wonder as they listened to Fang Cheng's explanation of the Spirit Void Treasure Realm.

Qiuyu Tan asked curiously, "Master, are we going to find some Spirit Ruins Talismans to go have a look inside?"

"Correct." Fang Cheng nodded. "Every hundred years in this world, the three great academies hold a Spirit Ruins Magic Competition. All Cultivators below the Tribulation Realm can participate to compete for the title of World's First True Monarch."

"Whoever wins this title can go to any of the three great academies to seek an audience with a Spirit Immortal's avatar. If they're lucky, they might even be taught a technique by the Spirit Immortal."

"For the sake of the countless lives in the Red Profound Realm, I must ask a question of a great Spirit Immortal."

The Demon Lord's true form was a Spirit Immortal who had been corrupted by an Outer Celestial Demon.

The best way to deal with the Demon Lord was, naturally, to consult the Ji Jiu of the three great academies, who were also Spirit Immortals.

Dragon Elephant Wanderer must have had a fortunate encounter in another World Heaven or in the Void Ghost Marketplace, and was bestowed the refining method for a Sixth-rank Magical Artifact by a Spirit Immortal.

Fang Cheng had gained very little from the Void Ghost Marketplace over the years, so he could only place his hopes in Qianyu Heaven.

Finding another path was certainly better than risking everything on a single bet.

Qiu Wensi and Qiuyu Tan were his lovers, and the two sisters had heard a little about the situation in the Red Profound Realm. They knew that if their Master didn't resolve the matter of the Demon Lord, he would have no hope of becoming a Spirit Immortal in the future.

He might even perish under the heavenly tribulations.

At this thought, a trace of worry appeared in both of their hearts.

Fang Cheng smiled faintly and said, "I've heard that the academies in this world are very inclusive and open their doors wide to Cultivators from Outer Worlds. As long as you have a specialty, you can be appointed as a School Principal. We'll go find a few academies and try our luck."

*

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Above the great sea, a massive, towering volcanic island stood between the vast sky and ocean.

The cone-shaped volcano was a thousand miles wide. Firelight flickered at its peak, which contained boundless flames and lava.

Countless fortresses and manors were scattered across the volcano in dense, orderly rows. They flashed with spiritual light from time to time, and strange auras soared into the sky.

At the volcano's summit, an immense and imposing Profound Iron City sat securely in the sky, positioned directly over the crater!

From a distance, one could see that the city was filled with tall buildings and interconnected corridors. Shimmering lights flickered and flowed, giving it an extraordinary appearance.

Within the city stood nine high towers, like divine pillars supporting the heavens. They reached thousands of feet into the sky, their tops extending into the astral winds and faintly connecting with the auras of the stars beyond, presenting a wondrous sight.

This was one of the many academies in Qianyu Heaven, known as Chongxuan Academy.

On this day, a Golden Radiance Tower Ship sailed leisurely through the clouds and over the sea, approaching the island.

...