CHAPTER 729: 604 DUNJIA

Shi Feiyang gathered the group of immortals on Tongye Island and began to mobilize them before the battle, "This Earth Tribulation involves the movement of the Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—and in terms of power, it is often beyond human resistance. There is also the Human Tribulation that occurs randomly. Although we have many people and have made full preparations in advance, human calculations cannot compare with the calculations of heaven, and in the end, it is still extremely dangerous.

My fellow Daoists, you must take good care of your children and ensure that they are not harmed, so that they can successfully pass through this tribulation. By achieving this merit, in the future, when we face the three calamities and eight difficulties of heaven, earth, and man, we will have a foundation and confidence, making it easier to pass through. Otherwise, the later ones will be even more formidable, and even more difficult to overcome."

Many Earth Immortals and Independent Immortals present, having heard of the danger and the benefits of overcoming it, assured each other and vowed to unite their wills and exert all their efforts to ensure success.

Shi Feiyang began to assign tasks. This tribulation would mainly be divided into two parts: the Earth Tribulation and the Human Tribulation.

He had previously ordered Jin Xunu to move eight mountain peaks from other places, each standing a thousand feet tall with a width of a hundred miles. With the combined efforts of a multitude of demons, he had refined them into eight Floating Islands.

Now, these Floating Islands were arranged above the vast seas around Tongye Island according to the positions of the Eight Diagrams.

He first called out the names of eight people, instructing the junior from Tianqian Mountain in the Northwest to oversee the Qian Palace Divine Peak, the Xiankong Ancestor to take charge of the North Kan Palace, the Shenjun Zhenyue to go to the Northeast Gen Palace, Shi Zhu to head the East Zhen Palace, Cang Lingzi to the Southeast Xun Palace, the Shaoyang God Monarch to preside over the South Li Palace, the two elders from the Shang Family of the Earth Wood Island in the North Sea to steward the Southwest Kun Palace, and the Taibai Immortal from White Rainbow Island in the West Sea to manage the West Dui Palace.

These represented the Earth Plate’s nine palaces, followed by the Eight Gates of the Human Plate.

He then appointed Deng Bagu to guard the Rest Gate, Shi Sheng to guard the Life Gate, Zhu Changyuan to guard the Hurt Gate, Yuan Hua to guard the Blocking Gate, Huo Wuhai to guard the Jing Gate, Xiong Man to guard the Death Gate, Lin Han to guard the Startling Gate, and Jin Xunu as the Opened Gate.

Next were the stars in the sky: Tianpeng Star Ling Hun, Tianrui Star Linglingzi, Tianchong Star Mr. Zhong, Tianfu Star Zhou Qingyun, Tianqin Star Ruan Jiu, Tianxin Star Zhuge Jingwo, Tianzhu Star Qi Lingyun, Tianren Star Jiang Shu, and Tianying Star Li Yingqiong.

Finally, the Nine Gods: Shi Feiyang released the Nine Child Mother Sky Demon, instructing each to hold an Immortal Slaying Sword and to hide in the clouds, ready to respond to his command at any moment.

As such, from the surface of the sea to the high sky, an array formation was laid out combining the Four Plates of Earth, Man, Stars, and Divine, forming a separate space-time model. As the four plates rotated, they had the power to adjust the Heavenly Number and shift the flow of fortune.

The Ancient Three Techniques are said to be passed down from the Yellow Emperor, who in turn learned from the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, though in reality they had existed since the times of the primordial deities Nuwa, Fu Xi, and Emperor Jun, only achieving Great Success later on.

After all, he utilized the Post-heaven Eight Diagrams alleged to have been created by King Wen, but in fact, they existed even before his time.

Yin Yang, Five Elements, Eight Diagrams... This set was originally intended for observing the heavens and earth and charting the great Dao, establishing calendrical systems and cultural norms; it is the summation of countless years of our ancestors’ exploration, practice, and enlightenment. Huaxia’s medicine, architecture, music, mathematics, and natural science, therefore, all stemmed from this system.

In the time of the Yellow Emperor, it was Fenghou who achieved the greatest mastery of these techniques of Qimen Dunjia.

Shi Feiyang, with his understanding of this Dao from before his transmigration, had followed its principles throughout his entire path of cultivation, already attaining Great Success from principles to actualization.

He had long wanted to establish such a supreme array, but lacked sufficient manpower in his sect. While he did command a large number of demons, few were skilled in this art.

Unlike now, where he could convene so many high-level experts of Heavenly and Earth Immortals, each skilled in extrapolation and divination. Though none could match him, they each possessed lofty realms. Only by combining their powers could such a tremendous great array be established, which he saw as preparation for the future.

Aside from these individuals, the rest gathered on Tongye Island, where they too were given their respective duties.

He donned the White Crane Cloak, solemn and dignified, and ascended the Dharma Platform that had been built on Tongye Island in advance.

As the appointed two hours had not yet arrived, after Shi Feiyang mounted the platform, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated in meditation.

Those on the eight mountain peaks also sat in meditation atop the peaks, while those in the sky concealed themselves in the void with spells, rendering the space between heaven and earth tranquil and the seas calm.

The surrounding seas had been cleared in advance, not a single seabird could be observed on the sea’s surface, and even the sea breezes had halted. It was eerily quiet; the people on the island spoke no words, silently waiting. Those of lesser Dao Levels felt even their breathing grow heavy.

As the time gradually entered the early morning hour, Shi Feiyang called for Mo Zhui, Mo Xiang, Mo Ying, and the Ganoderma Immortal.

"All of you are spirits born of vegetation and are thus physically frail. Despite absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon for thousands of years, you are still not comparable to humans who have cultivated for a lifetime. This is a flaw. Although you have accumulated merit and practiced inner refining, you still cannot achieve the state of Pure Yang. Today’s task I ask of you can harm your Dao Level and Mana, but if accomplished, it will bring about transformative benefits. Are you willing?"

The four spirits were prepared, "We will follow Father’s orders in all things! Whatever Father says, we are willing to do."

They knew Shi Feiyang would not harm them and that he surely had their best interests at heart.

Shi Feiyang did not elaborate too much and cast a spell to remove the top of Magnetic Peak, allowing them to descend deep into the earth’s core, then punctured the bubble housing the endless Ancient Poison Fire.

They belonged to Yimu, amongst the wood elements, Jia Wood is yang wood, firm and upright, while Yimu is yin wood, supple and weak.

Jia Wood elves and Yimu elves not only differ physically but also have substantial differences in temperament. Jia Wood spirits, such as pine, maple, and cypress trees, are usually simple and honest, with rough and ugly appearances. Yimu spirits, on the other hand, comprising various flowers and plants, are generally timid and scare easily, and they have delicate features when transformed into human form, excelling at hiding.

If they had remained as side door mavericks, that would have been alright, but their fate is full of disasters, especially during grand cataclysms of heaven and earth, which are the hardest to overcome.

To follow the orthodox path of the Mysterious Sect, they must pursue dual cultivation of life and nature. They have to temper and change their natures on one hand, and undergo a transformation of their bodies on the other.

This time, sending these four stalks of grass to prod the ancient poison flames below was bound to result in harm from the fire energy, incredibly dangerous. Should anything go awry, all four could be reduced to ash in an instant.

However, as they say, fortune depends on disaster, and disaster on fortune. If they managed to succeed, their root bones would be altered by the fire energy, enabling them to harmonize Jia and Yimu, laying the foundation for future ascension to pure yang, refining the spirit to return to the void, and merging with the Dao. Otherwise, even after cultivating for a hundred thousand years, they would only amount to powerful earth immortals...

Shi Feiyang knew that this journey was fraught with extreme danger. He had the three young ones conjure up the Heaven and Earth Quiet Circle, with circles of heaven, earth, and beings, fully protecting the four little ones. A burst of multicolored light emerged, resembling a rain of light.

He then handed over the Heavenly Treasure Mirror and the Earth Tablet to the Ganoderma Immortal instructing, "First, you must use the Earth Tablet to block the magnetic Qi passage. This is of utmost importance. Otherwise, if the taihuo poison flames mix with the Magnetic True Qi, not even a Daluo Immortal could handle it. You must completely seal it, then break through the bottom layer and release the ancient poison flames. Once initiated, do not return the same way. Immediately head east, with three leading and one covering the rear. Use the fastest speed to reach the ocean to the east, where the three Palace Masters of the Purple Cloud Palace will receive you."

Mo Zhui and the Ganoderma Immortal had ten thousand years of Dao Level. Mo Xiang had three thousand, and Mo Ying a thousand. They were inherently nurtured spiritual medicines and immortal herbs, more adept at absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth than other plants. Following Shi Feiyang, he had created a cultivation technique most suited to each of them, and by now, all had reached extremely high realms.

Mo Zhui took charge with the Heavenly Phenomenon Circle at the forefront, followed closely by Mo Xiang and Mo Ying, while the Ganoderma Immortal drove the Heavenly Treasure Mirror at the rear, producing a golden beam of light to pave the way. The four sped downward from the peak’s passage.

They quickly passed through the Magnetic Peak to the underground, following the path of the magnetic Qi and headed toward the Earth Axis, traveling for about the length of time it takes to drink a cup of tea to the main road leading to the Earth Axis.

Mo Zhui brought out the Earth Tablet, generating a massive amount of Earth Element Essence Qi, completely sealing the great earthly chasm.

Then they turned back, calculated their position, and fiercely attacked downward.

All four were proficient in the Earth Escape Technique and possessed treasures, allowing them to descend very quickly.

Once they passed through the rock and soil layers above, they entered the ancient earth layers, a total of thirteen levels. Some contained hot boiling mud, while others had rocks harder than steel.

Inside the deepest layer were many different sized chasms and passageways, horizontal and vertical, with extremely elemental water, fire, wind, and thunder flowing within—naturally formed. Some were like invisible tides, carrying an Invisible Evil Fire, intensely hot, capable of melting steel upon contact into liquid. Others were countless Earthly Evil Yin Thunders bursting out from the darkness, sounding like a stampede of horses, rumbling loudly, black in color and unseen until they exploded upon any obstruction continuously.

Although the four faced danger unscathed, they all had changed complexions.

Even Mo Zhui marveled, "I always thought our mana was quite formidable, and we’ve traversed many fiery guts of the earth, but I’ve never encountered such conditions. Without the Three Talents Clearing Circle and this Heavenly Treasure Mirror, we would definitely not have been able to descend."

After breaking through the thirteen ancient earth layers, they finally penetrated the fiery gut, near the Earth Core’s edge, finding the Taihuo Primordial Embryo that had been compressed here for billions of years, continuously nurturing and growing.

The four acted in unison, casting simultaneously, sending out a beam of green light that merged into a dazzling column, shooting straight forward, striking the Primordial Embryo.

The Primordial Embryo was massive, with much of it hidden within the Earth Core and fiery gut; what protruded was hundreds of miles in diameter. The four seemed infinitely small in comparison, like a grain of sand in the vast ocean.

Yet the four’s mana was profound, and the Primordial Embryo was of the Fire and Earth elements; wood overcomes earth, and fire engenders wood.

Quickly, the green light pierced the Primordial Embryo, igniting the Wood Qi within, causing the ancient poison flames to shoot out immediately.

Initially, the erupting pillar of fire was the size of a wheel, but in the blink of an eye, it rapidly swelled, and the flames surged outward like a tidal wave!

The four remembered Shi Feiyang’s instructions and the hardships they felt descending. Seeing the Primordial Embryo pierced, even the naughtiest Mo Ying did not dare to pause and look back. He immediately followed Mo Zhui, blasting through the bottom layer and escaping eastward.

They had only gone a few miles when the exploding and expanding ancient poison fire from behind caught up with them. Ganoderma Immortal hurriedly raised the Heavenly Mirror to reflect back, and the Treasure Mirror shot a golden light column, hitting the fire wave, stopping the fierce flames in their tracks.

"Move quickly!" The Ganoderma Immortal felt his mana rapidly depleting and, without daring to delay, urged them to hasten, with the three younger ones desperately paving the way up ahead.

Meanwhile, on Tongye Island, Shi Feiyang had already moved the entire Magnetic Peak.

With the eruption of the ancient poison fire, the earth began to shake violently, the once calm sea surface started to rise with waves, and in moments turned into numerous giant waves.

Seas within tens of thousands of miles began to stir, and one by one, the underwater volcanoes also started to erupt...