Chapter 2886: Tribulation Spirits, Sin Power |
Everyone found it strange that Su Yi insisted on bringing a wimp like Wei E with them, but no one objected.
“Fellow Daoist Su, isn’t it about time we set off?” said River Ancestor Shen Xiao, his gaze amiable.
Su Yi nodded, then swung his sleeves. Over a thousand Dao Markings floated back into view, glittering like stars, their light criss-crossing. Before the others could get a clear look at it, an ethereal portal floated into view.
Everyone was stunned, but they quickly understood. Those were undoubtedly the markings carved on the stone stele. Now, when Su Yi arranged them according to a mysterious method, they transformed into a gateway to the Cave of Obsession!
“Impressive. It’s been so long since River Ancestor Lu Shu died. To think he left something like this behind!” sighed River Ancestor Shen Xiao.
He looked at River Empress Peacock. “Don’t you think it’s about time you told us what we’ll find in the Cave of Obsession?”
All eyes were on River Empress Peacock.
“The Cave of Obsession is where River Ancestor Lu Shu’s heart once was. It’s beneath the Spirit Treasure Celestial City, deep within the River of Destiny,” River Empress Peacock said calmly. “Your Excellency Shen Xiao, as a River Ancestor, I’m sure you know how difficult it is to go there, and how difficult it is to enter the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain that lies in the River of Destiny’s depths.”
Throughout the ages, no one had ever measured the depth of the River of Destiny. Everyone knew that the depths of the River of Destiny were a forbidden zone to all living beings!
If River Ancestors went there, they’d be eradicated!
The denizens of the River of Destiny all lived above the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain.
In different stretches of the River of Destiny, the distance between the surface and the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain varied, but there was a common standard. When you descended into the river’s depths and saw the Whirling Netherworld Blossoms, it meant the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain was near.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial City was built on River Ancestor Lu Shu’s bones. His corpse extended deep into the river. A portion of it extended into the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain. This was common knowledge.
“You’re saying that River Ancestor Lu Shu’s heart is in the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain?” River Ancestor Shen Xiao’s gaze was instantly solemn.
The Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain was a place no one in the River of Destiny dared venture, no matter who they were!
“That’s right,” said River Empress Peacock. “If not, I’d have found the Key to Endless Tribulations a long time ago.”
Her gaze was a bit conflicted. It had been a long time since she’d first found a lead to the key’s whereabouts, and she knew that the Cave of Obsession was in River Ancestor Lu Shu’s heart. But she’d never been able to go there, because the Cave of Obsession was in the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain!
There was only one safe way to get there: deciphering the markings on the worn-out stone stele.
Unfortunately, she’d never been able to do it.
Everyone was instantly much more solemn.
The Cave of Obsession was in the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain. That place was far too dangerous. A single misstep could lead to doom!
After all, those waters were anathema to all life.
“So you’re saying that River Ancestor Lu Shu knew that no one would be able to reach the Cave of Obsession in the Silent Annihilation Forbidden Domain, and that’s why he left the stele and a secret path?” Lu Shi asked suddenly. “But that doesn’t make sense. River Ancestor Lu Shu lost himself to obsession, destroying himself. Why would he arrange something like this?”
Before River Empress Peacock could respond, Wang Zhiwu said, “He did it because he wanted someone chosen by fate to find the Key to Endless Tribulations. Is that so strange?”
River Ancestor Shen Xiao nodded. “I learned a bit about River Ancestor Lu Shu before coming here. It seems he was forthright, with a strong sense of integrity and immense prestige.
“Even the ancient tomes of the Eternal Heavens Domain’s Divine Reverence Pavilion describe him as a man of great virtue and ambition, trusted far and wide! It isn’t unusual that such a man would make arrangements before his death, and I doubt he has malicious intentions.”
Su Yi couldn’t help but take another look at River Ancestor Shen Xiao. The old-timer obviously came prepared. He even researched River Ancestor Lu Shu.
A moment later, River Ancestor Shen Xiao changed the subject. “That said, an enormous amount of time has passed since the Primordial Era, and River Ancestor Lu Shu died because he lost himself to obsession. There’s no telling how many dangers are hidden in the place where he went mad and died.”
He looked at River Empress Peacock. “Thus, before we enter the Cave of Obsession, I’d like you to tell us everything you know about it. Only then can we be thoroughly prepared.”
River Empress Peacock looked at Su Yi, who nodded slightly. Only then did she say, “There are two types of dangers waiting for us in the Cave of Obsession.
“When River Ancestor Lu Shu died, his heart devil transformed into sin power. That sin power is infused in the baleful mists enshrouding the Abhorrent Evil Origin Zone. That’s why it can invade the heart and corrode the life force.”
The others couldn’t help but feel enlightened. No wonder the mists linger year-round, and no wonder they’re so dangerous. It’s because of River Ancestor Lu Shu’s heart devil and its sin power!
River Empress Peacock continued, “Second, we have to be on guard for Tribulation Spirits. They’re beings born of a Tribulation of Destiny, and they’re like true living beings. They control the power of tribulation, and fighting them is like fighting a Tribulation of Destiny. A moment’s incaution can lead to certain doom.”
Tribulation Spirits!? Everyone’s heart shook. The natural order of the Grand Dao contained tribulations. Some of these Laws of the natural order could give rise to Tribulation Spirits capable of controlling the power of divine tribulations.
But the Tribulation Spirits that River Empress Peacock spoke of were obviously different. They were born of the Tribulations of Destiny!
Any power touched by destiny would become incomparably special and taboo. Thus, the gathered experts didn’t even need to think to know that the Tribulation Spirits of the Cave of Obsession were incomparably terrifying.
Su Yi, meanwhile, was thinking about something else entirely. The first page of the Book of Destiny contains the Divine Punishment, Destiny Ruin, and the power of Destiny’s Wrath. That sounds shockingly similar to these ‘Tribulations of Destiny.’
Destiny’s Wrath was a divine punishment of destiny, while Tribulations of Destiny were tribulations arising from destiny. The names were different, but there was almost no practical difference between the two powers.
Su Yi couldn’t help but suspect that Tribulations of Destiny and Destiny’s Wrath originated from the same type of power.
“Might you tell us more about the Tribulation Spirits?” asked River Ancestor Shen Xiao. It seemed that even this existence comparable to a Heavenly Sovereign took the Tribulation Spirits seriously.
“The mists covering the Abhorrent Evil Origin Zone contain the power of a Tribulation of Destiny in addition to lingering sin power,” said River Empress Peacock. “You can test it for yourself, Your Excellency.”
River Ancestor Shen Xiao raised his hand, and a bundle of mist landed in his palm. When he circulated his cultivation base, the fog split into two strange and distinct powers.
One was as black as ink. This was a heart devil’s sin power.
The other was a turbid gray. It emanated a strange, malevolent, inauspicious aura that was highly unsettling.
Kcch!
Suddenly, that wisp of gray power flashed like lightning and stung River Ancestor Shen Xiao’s palm.
Within moments, River Ancestor Shen Xiao had ground it away completely, but everyone could see the scorched black, corroded wound it left on his skin.
The wound healed and vanished within moments, but it was surprising nonetheless. They didn’t even need to think to know that this gray fog was the power of a Tribulation of Destiny! It was so extraordinarily terrifying that it could injure even River Ancestor Shen Xiao.
It was just a wisp of power, but it was already this terrifying. How terrifying would the Tribulation Spirits born of this power be?
They couldn’t help but take the threat seriously.
They finally understood how critical River Empress Peacock was in all this. Without her, even if they somehow managed to find the Cave of Obsession, they’d have met with unforeseeable disaster as soon as they entered!
Even Su Yi fell silent. He’d brought Innocence with him on this journey, and she’d eaten her fill of the Abhorrent Evil Origin Zone’s baleful mists. The Book of Destiny had received a lot of “nutrients” too.
Now, after hearing River Empress Peacock’s explanation, Su Yi finally understood that Innocence was eating the sin power manifested from River Ancestor Lu Shu’s heart devil, while the book was “eating” the power of the Tribulation of Destiny.
There was something else Su Yi finally understood, too. The Divine Punishment Destiny Ruin on the first page of Destiny could use the power of Tribulations of Destiny as nourishment. With it, the ruin could advance and condense Destiny’s Wrath.
That in turn proved that Destiny’s Wrath was a level above the power of the Tribulations of Destiny.
In other words, if the Book of Destiny were a cultivator, Tribulations of Destiny were its cultivation resources, while Destiny’s Wrath was the resulting cultivation base!
And of course, cultivation resources came in numerous varieties. The Tribulations of Destiny were but one of them.
After understanding all that, Su Yi couldn’t help but be rueful. No wonder the Book of Destiny has been screaming like a hungry ghost ever since I entered the city. It could ‘taste’ the Tribulation of Destiny!
Innocence had benefited immensely, too, as she’d refined an enormous amount of sin power.
“When we enter the Cave of Obsession, we’ll almost certainly run into unknown dangers in addition to the sin power and Tribulation of Destiny,” said River Empress Peacock. As she spoke, she looked at Su Yi. “If you go there, you’d best be prepared for the possibility that you never return.”
She was clearly trying to warn him, but Su Yi was undeterred. “I’m going.”
He didn’t even pause to think. If I don’t go, what will I feed Innocence and the Book of Destiny?
Su Yi looked at Lu Shi. “Worst comes to worst, Lu Shi and I will both be buried in the Cave of Obsession.”
Lu Shi snorted coldly.
River Ancestor Shen Xiao laughed coldly. “Fellow Daoist, no need for all that depressing talk. The heavens never sever all paths. So long as we work together and advance side-by-side, I’m sure we can overcome any danger we come across and find the Key to Endless Tribulations! If you’re afraid of dying in the Cave of Obsession, just stick close to me.”
Su Yi smiled, then picked up the dejected Wei E and walked toward the portal.