Chapter 361 - 271: Breaking the Tribulation (Part 2)

Their abilities had grown immensely, and their effect on Zhao Xuanqi was far stronger than before.

White fur sprouted across Oono Bonan’s body. His arms lengthened like an ape’s, his face grew ferocious, and his Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect became even more distinct.

Black fur likewise grew on Shinkawa Yue as sharp fangs emerged from her mouth. The sense of stagnation from her Spiritual Realm intensified.

With the further unleashing of their Holy Seed abilities, all four underwent a deeper bestial transformation, and their powers were greatly enhanced.

They had even broken through the shackles of the Ghost God Realm, reaching an entirely new plane.

The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi went berserk as a savage will and power spread. What now stood before Zhao Xuanqi were no longer human, but four apex Exotic Beasts from the Ancient Times—creatures that once stood at the top of the food chain, preying on all living things!

’This is...’

Zhao Xuanqi’s pupils contracted. The scales on his dim Holy Armor rippled, not from his conscious control, but as an instinctive reaction to the terrifying danger his body sensed.

The Hundred Beasts’ Intent was crying out as it never had before.

In his two previous lifetimes, he had only experienced this level of instinctual warning once before.

It was at the end of his last life, the moment before he was annihilated by a continuous, overwhelming barrage of artillery fire. That moment had marked the end of his previous life.

Now, such a crisis had appeared once more!

Apex Ancient Exotic Beasts were all beings on par with Divine Generals. Although none of these four could individually reach the heights of an apex Exotic Beast in its prime, the threat they posed together was, if not equal to a Divine General, at least on the level of Yuan Tianhao after his breakthrough. Furthermore, their use of power was far more reckless than Yuan Tianhao’s.

The mysterious figure had used a special method to further unleash the Holy Seed within them!

This was an ability the mysterious figure had not even used when dealing with Yuan Tianhao, and its price was immense.

The air seemed to congeal. Each breath became incredibly heavy, his body felt as if it were filled with lead, and every movement became a struggle.

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

Before Zhao Xuanqi had any time to think, a ferocious assault was upon him once more.

Light Blades crisscrossed the air!

RIP!

A Light Blade struck his body. His Silver Scale Armor was pierced, scales flying as the blade’s edge instantly split his skin, sending blood gushing forth.

But it wasn’t over. The Light Blade seemed to possess a life of its own. Instead of dissipating after the strike, it twisted like a snake and burrowed deeper into his wound, trying to expand the injury.

He dodged to the side, trying to create distance, but the Light Blade swam through the air, striking at him again.

Such an ability could not be explained by the normal Martial Dao. These were Divine Abilities, born from the fusion with Qi.

And there wasn’t just one such Light Blade, but nine of them!

Nine Light Blades, like Wandering Dragons or Flying Swords, assaulted Zhao Xuanqi’s body from every conceivable angle.

Meanwhile, Oono Bonan manipulated his Primordial Spirit Dharma Aspect, bringing a palm down. As it descended, the surrounding air was sucked in and compressed, causing the palm to shrink drastically. One could only imagine the terrifying power that would be unleashed when it struck and the compressed air detonated.

Finally, Jiang Feiyu and Shinkawa Yue attacked simultaneously. Shinkawa Yue’s power was particularly devastating; the intense spiritual influence of her Yin Demon Dog was stronger than ever, as if it could truly freeze time. Under its effect, Zhao Xuanqi’s body instantly froze in place.

RIP! RIP!

The Light Blades danced, carving more than a dozen gashes across his body in an instant. Blood flew. If not for the protection of his Holy Armor, the blades would have pierced him through.

Light Blades tore at his flesh, a giant palm of Primordial Qi descended from above, and Sword Intent assailed him from both sides. And yet, at this critical moment, Zhao Xuanqi was unable to move, his very thoughts momentarily bound.

The aura of death washed over him, more potent than at any other moment in his life.

Yet, stimulated by death, Zhao Xuanqi felt no fear. Instead, his mind grew perfectly calm. His pores opened and closed. In this instant between life and death, his Spirit felt as if it were soaking in the sweet springs of Liquan, a trace of warmth spreading through him.

His Qi and Blood surged on their own, a torrent rushing from his torso toward his brain.

But as it passed through his neck, the flow of Qi and Blood was obstructed, reducing the raging torrent to a mere trickle.

The surging Qi and Blood struggled to ascend to the Six Yang Leader.

Under this unprecedented life-or-death crisis, Zhao Xuanqi’s body relaxed to an extreme degree. It seemed even the bottleneck for Qi and Blood in his neck began to loosen.

However, merely loosening was not enough to reverse his fate in this split second between life and death.

But now, under the influence of his opponents’ abilities, Zhao Xuanqi’s consciousness experienced something different.

The Power of the Wheel of Time had frozen his will, as if time itself had stopped. But he used this very power to extend his consciousness infinitely, seemingly ignoring the flow of time.

His consciousness expanded, and once again, he could feel the great current of the world.

He saw beyond the Fog to the gloomy sky and the cracked earth covered in fire and blood. He saw the tense faces of the crowd. He saw, within the walls of Shangjing, countless faces looking in his direction, their eyes filled with hope.

He even seemed to ride this great current, traveling back through time.

Dynasties rose and fell in his mind. He saw generations of heroes upon this land shed their blood in pursuit of the highest realm, expanding the borders of the Divine Land and protecting its people. From the Ancient Times, they carved a path through hardship, battling heaven and earth, driving out the Exotic Beasts, and building a civilization.

Divine Generals protecting the world!

It was as if the entire Martial History of the Divine Land was unfolding within his mind.

Finally, at the end of this Martial History, he saw a figure.

He stood upon a mountain peak, countless Exotic Beast corpses at his feet, the sky itself seemingly stained with blood.

The figure slowly turned its head, as if meeting his gaze.

The Holy Beast Divine General, Li Zhenyuan.

’Survey the Martial History of ages, command the power of heaven and earth, and ride the six Qi to wander the infinite...’

Zhao Xuanqi whispered in his heart.

The next moment, his consciousness returned to his body.

The Qi and Blood surged upward, striking the Six Yang Leader. The barrier was broken.

BOOM!

The first of the Nine Dragon Soul Acupoints—the Renying Acupoint—was broken!

ROAR!

Qi and Blood flooded in as his internal Qi surged. Zhao Xuanqi activated the Renying Acupoint, and his tremendous roar stirred the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

Listen to the dragon’s roar!

The force of the great roar stunned the four masters, their bodies suddenly going rigid, frozen in place for a brief moment!

And yet, at that very moment, Zhao Xuanqi’s body suddenly seized up once more.

His Spirit was pulled by an unseen force. His eyes seemed to pierce the Fog, spotting a shadowy figure ten kilometers away.

The shadow stood atop a tall building, its face and form impossible to discern.

The next moment, his vision began to distort. Terrifying Black Flame erupted from the figure, transforming into a giant Black Flame Strange Bird that shrieked at the heavens. The image of the bizarre bird flooded his mind.

He was experiencing the same thing Yuan Tianhao had.

At the crucial moment of his breakthrough, the mysterious figure was using an ability to interfere with his will.

At such a critical juncture in both battle and breakthrough, this interference was utterly fatal!

The path to becoming a Divine General was fraught with tribulations—one trial after another!

’So that’s how it is. You cowardly rat, hiding in the shadows! You dare try to stop me from leaping the Dragon Gate?!’

Zhao Xuanqi’s will let out a terrifying roar as his incredible Spirit erupted. A silver light burst forth in his mind, piercing the gloom of the Black Flame like the first light of dawn.

Having learned from Yuan Tianhao’s mistake, he had long been prepared for this exact moment!

Break the tribulation, and the trapped dragon ascends!

The silver light broke the Black Flame’s influence, and the Form of the Qilin reasserted its dominance over his body.

His will returned, and his Qi and Blood surged once more!

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

At the same time, the Qi and Blood in Zhao Xuanqi’s body surged like a torrent, continuing its unstoppable ascent toward the crown of his head.

Tonight, not a thousand tribulations nor a hundred hardships could stop his will to shatter his shackles and become a dragon!

The second Dragon Soul Acupoint, Fengchi, broken!

The third Dragon Soul Acupoint, Ya Gate, broken!

The fourth Dragon Soul Acupoint, Philtrum, broken!

...

His Qi and Blood surged from one point to the next, breaking through every barrier in its path as the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi vibrated violently.

"How is this possible?! How can this be?!"

The mysterious figure’s gaze pierced the Fog, taking in every change. His expression once again turned savage and frenzied.