Chapter 36 - 36: Pointing Out
The Golden Crow neighed, akin to a second sun. Everywhere it passed over set aflame, turning the lands into pits of hellfire.
Jiang Li remained unafraid of this heat, not even a drop of sweat flowing down his face. He sidestepped, seizing the Golden Crow by the roots of its wings and allowing it to flail as it pleased.
“It appears you’ve trained in the cultivation technique of Contemplating the Great Sun Realizing Yang Power. A good technique, indeed, but you’ve only focused on the Golden Crow as a representation of pure yang power. You’ve forgotten that the world consists of both Yin and Yang. The Golden Crow is only a part of the Yang aspect, not the entirety. Go forth, seek out other representations of Yang. ”
Jiang Li threw the Golden Crow towards the person utilizing Dharma Manifestation in the World. The individual was pressing an enormous handprint towards Jiang Li, but the sudden heat from the sun made him instinctively retract his hand.
Jiang Li unleashed his spiritual energy, forming a similarly enormous handprint, catching the wrist of the person utilizing Dharma Manifestation in the World. With a gentle twist, the person was left crying out in pain.
“Your conceptualization of Dharma Manifestation in the World is commendable—it has both offense and defense. However, a strong exterior is just a facade hiding a weak inner core. If you cannot endure the hardships and pains of cultivation, then on what will you rely? Cultivation demands suffering, yet suffering alone mars the root. The path of the ascetic is difficult to comprehend without clarity. it is through balance you will find the right wav.
Engage in direct combat, let even getting beaten become part of your cultivation.”
The person utilizing Dharma Manifestation in the World collapsed in pain. Everyone around was overcome with darkness as this massive figure fell onto the ground, eliciting chants of Divine Skills to create holes in his body and make their escape. They showered him with criticisms of incompetence.
The Peng reacted the quickest with a flap of its wings, soaring upwards to narrowly evade the person utilizing Dharma Manifestation in the World.
He had lost his parents at a young age and had been through countless trials and tribulations only to become the Core Disciple of a sect. Unafraid of pain, the method employed by the Human Emperor had no effect on him.
He refused to believe that Jiang Li could remain unfazed as he charged towards him with such a massive figure.
“You admire the freedom of the Peng, a commendable desire.”
Jiang Li could see that this individual was different from the True Dragon and individuals from the Golden House he previously encountered. His transformation into a Peng was simply because of the creature’s freedom. The Peng could transform into a fish in the sea to compete with the True Dragon, or transform into a large bird to soar through the skies. If the Kylin was free, then he would admire the Kylin. If the Human Emperor was free, then he would aim to become the Human Emperor!
“But order and law are important attributes in the Greater Zhou Dynasty, they do not suit you. If you sought a place where martial arts are revered, it would be more advantageous for your cultivation.”
Jiang Li really didn’t evade, he pressed down on the Peng’s beak, causing the entire head to curse into the ground. Majority of the body was left awkwardly sticking out, looking quite comical.
Next, Jiang Li methodically pointed out flaws in others, easily defeating them in the process. He hadn’t moved a single step throughout, and had even kept one of his hands behind his back the entire time.
Even the descendent of the Sunrace, Qisha Daozi, Song Ying, and so on were unable to withstand even a single move from Jiang Li.
The only ones left standing in front of Jiang Li were the one controlling the Heavenly Tribulation and Qin Luan.
“Human Emperor Jiang, catch this!”
The person controlling the Heavenly Tribulation had been gathering energy during this time. The dark clouds above Jiang Li were as black as ink, seemingly formed not from water vapor, but the convergence of dark heavenly lightning!
His sect was famous for mastering lightning, being the youngest disciple of the Sect Leader, he was naturally well-versed in lightning techniques, especially Heavenly Lightning.
Amongst all Heavenly Lightning, he believed that the Heart Demon Immortal Lightning presented the greatest threat and was the hardest to overcome. Who could possibly contend with the Heart Demon and the immensely powerful Immortal Lightning at once?
He believed that no one could!
“So, it’s the Heart Demon Immortal Lightning, what an interesting idea.”
Jiang Li had the experience of weathering fifteen trials of Immortal
Tribulation, he instantly realized the type of heavenly tribulation it was.
“However, its power is… lacking.”
Jiang Li motioned with his hand, bringing the one controlling the Heavenly Tribulation towards him. They were both now within the range of the Heart Demon Immortal Lightning.
In the world of cultivation, it was a rule that each person had to face their tribulation alone. The more people involved, the greater the power of the tribulation.
The one controlling the Heavenly Tribulation’s eyes widened in astonishment. He found himself unable to control the tribulation as the power of the Heart Demon Heavenly Lightning began to uncontrollably expand!
500111!
The sound of the thunder resounded throughout the whole space. All those who heard it were shivering in fright indicating the immense power of the tribulation faced by the two men at the center.
To the very least, the individual controlling the Heavenly Tribulation was terrified to the point his legs were trembling.
Even Dream Pure, who was observing from behind the scenes, was taken aback.
Jiang Li, standing before the overwhelming tribulation, was unperturbed and even started to yawn.
He alone bore the burden of the double strength tribulation while leaving the one controlling the Heavenly Tribulation facing the heart demon.
“Hmm, I don’t feel anything.” Jiang Li smacked his lips, feeling that the tribulation lacked power. Though the one controlling the Heavenly Tribulation imagined the most formidable tribulation, to Jiang Li it was nothing.
It wasn’t surprising, after all, his sect was but a minor one situated in a remote corner of the Greater Zhou Dynasty. He had limited knowledge about the tribulations faced at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage or the Mahayana Realm. For instance, he probably only knew that the Primordial Xiao Fan Lightning was described as an “unopposable celestial force.” However, specifics about the strengths of this tribulation were beyond his imagination.
Jiang Li also pulled over an utterly baffled Qin Luan.
The power the Heavenly Tribulation increased fourfold!
Qin Luan panicked momentarily, but soon regained his composure and concentrated on fighting the Heart Demon. He trusted that the Human Emperor had only pulled him into challenge the Heart Demon, not to face the terrifying Lightning Tribulation.
Qin Luan’s guess was correct, as Jiang Li continued to bear the burden of the Tribulation.
“Hmm, it’s a bit itchy.” Jiang Li bore the quadruple strength tribulation, still feeling it slightly lackluster. But he didn’t pull over more people, allowing those around to breathe a sigh of relief.
The others weren’t ready to face such challenges, forcing them to confront the heart demon would be premature.
He couldn’t simply destroy the talents of Jiu Zhou just because he wanted a massage from the tribulation.
Jiang Li felt he was being rather sensible.
The one controlling the Heavenly Tribulation kept his eyes closed, visibly trembling as he faced the heart demon.
Jiang Li lightly slapped his forehead, pulling him out of the heart demon’s influence.
“Little guy, you’re eager to make others face the heart demon, but you seem clueless when confronting your own. After you return, make sure to reflect on how to confront the heart demon.”
The man slowly regained his senses from the fear of confronting the heart demon. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Human Emperor Jiang, why were you not affected by the heart demon?”
The heart demon was inescapable. Once triggered, a cultivator could only confront it head-on; there was no other way around it.
He was convinced that even Human Emperor Jiang would not be exempted from this rule!
“Probably because I scared off my heart demon in the past. The heart demon doesn’t dare to show up in front of me now.” Jiang Li pondered before explaining.
In the past, his heart demon had assumed the form of the various past Human Emperors, shouting, “There is no need for chivalry, we should fight shoulder to shoulder!” only to be soundly defeated by him, left crying for mercy.
The situation seemed to resemble the current one.
The man fell silent, realizing Jiang Li’s strength really exceeded his imagination.
Making one’s heart demon fearful, who was the actual heart demon here then?
He expressed his gratitude for Jiang Li’s guidance and retreated quietly.
Before leaving, he shot a glance towards Qin Luan, who was still confronting his heart demon, feeling envious.
If only he had the mental strength of Qin Luan, perhaps he could’ve earned Human Emperor Jiang’s attention too.
It was laughable that before entering the secret realm, he was foolish enough to believe that he could compare himself with Qin Luan. Now, he realized how far he still had to go..