Chapter 103: The Intent of the Ten Thousand Mile Gale

“When it happens only a few times, it poses little problem. But once the number accumulates beyond a certain point…”

A trace of fear flashed through Li Qing’s eyes.

“If tribulations like [Greed for Wealth Corrupts the Seal] are calamities in which Great Qian’s Heavenly Dao punishes individuals, then the [Tribulation of Dharma Deviation] is the final reckoning of heaven itself, the complete outpouring of the will of heaven and earth!”

“It spares no one. All living beings suffer the same tribulation.”

“Since the founding of Great Qian over five hundred years ago, the Tribulation of Dharma Deviation has descended more than once. Every occurrence has left countless dead and devastation beyond measure!”

Li Qing drew a deep breath.

“Even Elder Wei would turn grave whenever he mentioned this tribulation, speaking of it only with great caution.”

“The Tribulation of Dharma Deviation…”

Li Shun could not help recalling the bolt of lightning that had reduced him to ashes the previous day.

Perhaps that could be considered a Tribulation of Dharma Deviation directed solely at him.

But if a calamity of its full scale were to descend…

Under the roar of heavenly thunder, who knew how many would perish in an instant?

“Elder Wei once said that the source of the Tribulation of Dharma Deviation lies in cultivators who borrow lifespan and use gold and silver to evade their calamities. If every cultivator in the world followed the Cycle of Twelvefold Longevity Methods properly, this horrifying disaster would never occur. However…”

Li Qing let out a cold snort.

“Using gold and silver to avert calamity merely compresses the duration and intensity of the tribulations that erupt in the latter six realms. It does not truly extend the amount of lifespan one can borrow.”

“But among those high officials in the imperial court, who could resist such temptation?”

“So long as they can preserve their prime for a few more years, why would they care how the Tribulation of Dharma Deviation ravages the world?”

“They sit high within the Sacred Capital. At worst, they can simply redirect this overwhelming calamity elsewhere with a few casual words.”

At that moment, Li Shun finally understood.

The Cycle of Twelvefold Longevity Methods had originally been the iron law of borrowed lifespan established between the Qian Emperor and the heavens of Great Qian.

If everyone followed the rules and bore the price step by step, then both sides would remain in balance.

Yet somehow, someone had created this unorthodox method of “transforming calamity with gold and silver,” exploiting a loophole in the Heavenly Dao’s contract.

This clever trick greatly suppressed the backlash of the Twelvefold Longevity Methods, allowing cultivators to enjoy several additional years in their prime.

Naturally, cultivators throughout the world flocked to it.

Over time, karmic debt accumulated unseen. Delusion piled upon delusion until it finally erupted into a world-shaking catastrophe.

“As the one who established this method, how could the Qian Emperor simply stand by and allow them to act so recklessly?”

A hint of confusion arose within Li Shun.

Then he suddenly recalled that at the founding of Great Qian, the Qian Emperor had ordered all the gold and silver in the world to be collected.

He had, in effect, cut off the possibility of exploiting this loophole at its source.

“Today, those capable of using gold and silver to evade calamity are all figures of immense power and influence. Compared to the total number of cultivators, their numbers are negligible.”

“That is why, over the five hundred years since Great Qian's founding, the Tribulation of Dharma Deviation has occurred only a handful of times.”

“But if gold and silver still circulated freely as currency, and people discovered their ability to avert calamity…”

Following this line of thought, Li Shun immediately foresaw a terrifying age of chaos, one in which order collapsed and countless lives were lost.

“The Qian Emperor clearly discovered this loophole in the Heavenly Dao long ago, yet lacked the means to eliminate it entirely. Thus, he could only settle for the next best solution, collecting all the world's gold and silver to delay the arrival of this great calamity as much as possible.”

“If that is the case, then transforming calamity through gold and silver may well be an unalterable law of the Xuanhuang world itself. Even someone as powerful as the Qian Emperor could not overturn it.”

Li Shun's thoughts gradually settled.

Looking at Li Qing, he could not help but praise him.

“Little Tuanzi, it seems you've truly learned a great deal following Elder Wei. You can solve even such difficult mysteries in an instant.”

Li Qing scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Brother, don't praise me yet. The danger hasn't truly passed.”

“Then let me meet this lifespan-reclaiming shadow of the Imperial Mausoleum.”

“The Imperial Mausoleum is about to return to the Xuanhuang world. This may well be its final performance.”

With that, Li Shun dispelled the concealment of the secret art [Empty Vessel, Bereft of Self].

The next instant, an inexplicable sense of dread surged within his heart.

Li Shun raised his head and narrowed his eyes at the sky.

“When I first entered the Imperial Mausoleum, I couldn't sense this malice at all. I simply lost my head to the shadow in the middle of the night without understanding why.”

“But now…”

“Why has my perception become so clear?”

“Have I grown stronger, or…”

Li Shun carefully examined himself and quickly discovered the answer.

“The Primordial Ten Invocations, Verdant Wood Invocation!”

“The power of the Shaman God originates from heaven and earth. The Primordial Ten Invocations are ten methods for communicating with different forces of the world.”

“After cultivating within the sealed earth of the Imperial Mausoleum for over twenty years, I've finally touched the threshold.”

“My sensitivity toward heaven and earth has naturally become much sharper.”

Thoughts churned through Li Shun's mind.

Seeing him stand motionless, Li Qing thought something unexpected had happened and asked worriedly,

“Brother?”

“It's nothing. He's coming.”

Li Shun shook his head, his expression darkening.

As if his words had become law, moments later a black shadow identical to Li Shun suddenly descended.

Compared to their first encounter, the phantom had become much more solid.

Its indistinct facial features could now vaguely be seen.

Streams of black qi shot from its hands like flying swords, seeking to sever Li Shun's head.

“The Master does not speak of strange phenomena, violence, disorder, or spirits.”

“Let no harm touch my body!”

Reciting the words of the sages, Li Shun shone with brilliant golden radiance.

The black shadow seemed trapped in a swamp, its movements growing slower and slower.

Every attack that landed on Li Shun produced only the sound of metal striking metal, unable to injure him in the slightest.

Li Shun pointed into the air, his fingers moving as though wielding an invisible brush.

“If Heaven intends to destroy this culture, then so be it!”

Golden light erupted, descending upon the black shadow's head.

In an instant, the shadow resembled a snowman exposed to the blazing sun.

It melted away completely, vanishing without a trace.

In less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, Li Shun had suppressed the lifespan-reclaiming shadow.

“Although this is only the second time it's come to reclaim your lifespan, the fact that you suppressed it so easily…”

“Brother, you're truly incredible.”

Li Qing looked Li Shun up and down once more before offering his sincere evaluation.

Li Shun paid it little mind.

Though trapped within the sealed earth for twenty-five years, unable to cultivate, he had not spent that time idly.

“Next, we wait until noon, when the world of the Imperial Mausoleum rejoins the Xuanhuang world.”

“Then we'll see whether heavenly punishment still descends.”

“If it does…”

Fortunately, events did not develop in the worst possible direction.

When the heavens of the Imperial Mausoleum were torn apart and the long winds of the Eastern Sea poured inward, the heavenly punishment that should have descended never appeared.

A great calamity dissipated silently.

Li Shun stood quietly, sensing the transformation of heaven and earth.

“The changes in the rhythms of Yin and Yang. The altered flow of time.”

“And…”

“The deathly aura accumulated within the Imperial Mausoleum over thousands of years has been swept away completely, replaced by boundless vitality pouring in from the outside world like an endless ocean.”

Li Shun closed his eyes, feeling the world-creating vitality around him.

Suddenly, his heart stirred.

His lips parted ever so slightly, and a series of ancient, austere chants echoed forth.

They carried the desolation of primordial antiquity and the remoteness of endless ages, imbued with a profound weight that seemed to transcend time itself.

This strange and mysterious rhythm immediately drew Li Qing's attention.

The next moment, the ten-thousand-mile gale pouring through the shattered heavens descended with a thunderous roar.

Like a giant dragon receiving enlightenment, it surged entirely into Li Shun's body.