Chapter 10: " Cosmic Tribulation: The Forsaken Soul"

In the infinite expanse where silence and darkness intertwined, the vast void stretched endlessly, untouched by the passage of time.

At this moment, a faint light suddenly emerged within the boundless darkness, streaking across the void at an astonishing speed.

In a moment, it had already left the confines of the solar system, disappearing into the vast cosmic abyss.

Yet, in the grand scheme of the universe, even the fastest speed was insignificant.

Stars drifted like lonely sentinels, their distant glow flickering like candles in an eternal night.

Nebulae sprawled like celestial rivers, their ethereal colors twisting and shifting in slow, mesmerizing currents.

Countless meteorites and space debris floated silently, undisturbed for eons, their existence a mere whisper in the silence universe.

As the light continued its journey,it did not stop, moving ever forward, cutting through the endless void, as if drawn by an unseen force toward an unknown destination.

Gu Dao's journey through the void was not smooth.

Though the Dao Fruit's lingering energy protected him, it had been left hastily, far from perfect.

He was still just a mortal, unqualified to withstand the chaos of the boundless void.

The turbulent, chaotic energy surged through him, tearing his fragile mortal body apart in an instant.

Yet, before his consciousness could fade, the Dao Fruit's power surged, rebuilding his body anew.

Over and over, the cycle repeated—destruction and rebirth, pain and regeneration—

His consciousness teetered on the edge of collapse, yet he could not pass out. He struggled, convulsing in agony, fully aware of every fragment of pain coursing through him.

His soul was laid bare before him—a translucent, naked human figure, its surface covered in countless intricate markings.

Each mark blazed with a dazzling, piercing light, resembling the sharp edges of countless knives and swords.

"Aahhh!"

Within the vast space of his consciousness, Gu Dao let out a silent scream.

The pain was unbearable, like ten thousand blades slicing into his soul, the radiant marks writhing like saw teeth, endlessly cutting him apart.

Time lost its meaning. Seconds, minutes, hours—he could no longer tell.

At first, his mind was consumed by rage and desperation, the pain a living, breathing entity he wished to escape.

He fought against it, straining to hold onto his sense of self, but with each passing moment, the battle grew harder.

After what felt like an eternity, a part of Gu Dao's mind seemed to have freed itself from the pain, or rather...

'Has my soul gotten bigger?'

But there was no reference point, no anchor. The feeling was vague.

His soul drifted aimlessly in the endless void, and the agonizing pain continued its assault. He could no longer resist; his will was failing.

'Let it hurt then, anyway. I don't have any ability to resist right now, not even to faint.'

The struggle faded. His thoughts became detached from the pain, the world of suffering beginning to feel distant. Emotions—fear, anger, even hope—flickered weakly in his heart, only to fade into nothingness. It was as though his mind had numbed itself to the torment, accepting it as part of his existence.

And so time passed, as they say, the universe does not remember the years. Thousands of them drifted by, unnoticed, unmarked, as Gu Dao's torment continued without end.

Eventually, the light began to dim, its energy exhausted. No longer propelled by its power, Gu Dao's body was drawn toward a distant blue planet deep within a galaxy. But within him, the transformation had already taken place.

His emotions, once full of life, had dulled to an icy indifference. The pain, once unbearable, was now just an endless background hum.

As he drifted closer, the planet's faint protective membrane trembled before silently shattering.

His body slipped through unnoticed, like a fleeting shadow in the vast void.

Unaware of his arrival, the world continued as usual. And Gu Dao, after an eternity of torment, finally lost consciousness, plunging into a deep, dreamless sleep.

...

Time passed, and after a few hours, Gu Dao opened his eyes and glanced around.

"Where am I?" he spoke in a deep voice, full of the vicissitudes of time.

Gu Dao's eyes opened, and he found himself in the middle of a vast, endless forest.

The air was fresh. The towering trees stretched far beyond his sight, their thick trunks twisted and ancient.

Monstrous roars echoed from all sides, sending a chill through Gu Dao.

He stood up and looked around, only to realize he was completely naked, standing like a Pervert in the middle of nowhere.

He looked around, but found nothing. It was just him, alone in the endless forest.He looked around calmly.

First, he sought shelter under a large rock overhang, using branches and leaves to cover himself.

As Gu Dao slowly adjusted himself, trying to steady his breath, a small monster suddenly emerged from the shadows, charging at him with a vicious snarl.

Startled, Gu Dao instinctively threw a punch. The moment his fist made contact, the monster exploded into a blood mist, leaving nothing behind.

Gu Dao was surprised. So strong...

Soon, fragments of cultivation knowledge flooded his mind. During the thousands of years he'd endured in space, despite not absorbing energy, his body had continuously transformed.

The constant flow of various energies, matter, and laws had reshaped him.

According to the knowledge now within him, he was at the middle stage of Qi Training.

" I see." Gu Dao exhaled slowly, eyes cold. So that's how it is."

Though he lacked techniques or spells, his physical strength alone was enough to annihilate an entire human city on Earth with ease. He could feel the immense power going through him.

He let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the power he now possessed to protect himself.

Cautiously, he began to explore the surrounding area, every step measured as he remained alert to any signs of danger.

Whenever danger lurked ahead, he instinctively changed his path.

Days blended into weeks as he hunted, slept under the stars, and adapted to the harsh wilderness.

But he remained indifferent to his situation; it seemed it would take a long time for his emotions to recover.

Every step was a calculated risk—fight, flee, or survive. Time passed in a blur of cautious exploration,calculation, constant vigilance, and the primal need to survive.

And just like that, six months passed. By the time he emerged from the forest, his once handsome appearance had faded. His hair was wild, and his makeshift animal clothes were tattered.

A fierce murderous intent radiated from him, giving the impression of a demonic cultivator who had just massacred an entire city.

In truth, he had only been bullying low-level beasts, retreating when he encountered anything on his level.

As Gu Dao made his way through the forest, he soon spotted a group of monks heading in the same direction, likely hunting spirit beasts. His eyes brightened for a moment. Finally, humans!

He quickened his pace, eager to approach them, but as soon as the monks saw him, their expressions darkened.

Looking at his murderous intent, they immediately drew their swords, ready for a fight.

Gu Dao was taken aback, raised his Eyebrow for a moment,he cupped his fists like in the Novels he read and said. "Fellow Daoists, please, there's no need for hostility. I only wish to ask a question." spoke calmly.

The captain of the group, a middle-aged monk, studied him cautiously, his sword still ready to strike at any time. " Fellow Daoist. Please speak?"

Gu Dao smiled Lightly. "I've been lost for some time. Could you tell me where the nearest gathering of monks here? "

The monks exchanged puzzled looks, clearly confused. One of them spoke up. "Aren't you from Puchan Town?"

Gu Dao gave a bitter smile. "No, to be honest with you fellow Daoists, I'm not from here. My team and I came from another place, wanted to hunt spirit beasts.

But we were ambushed by a Foundation Building beast... we got separated in the chaos, and I ended up lost here."

his tone carrying just the right amount of sadness to make it believable.

Though they didn't entirely trust him, the monks' wariness seemed to decrease a little.

The middle aged monk, still skeptical but willing to listen, spoke up. "If you head west for about thirty miles, between the mountains, you'll find Puchan Town.

Gu Dao cupped his hands. "I appreciate your help, Fellow Daoists. I will take my leave."

As he turned to go, he couldn't help but feel a little lighter. At least he had a direction now.

The monks watched as Gu Dao turned and walked away, exchanging wary glances. One of them subtly gestured to the others. Should we do it?

The captain of the group shook his head, his expression serious. "No. Look at his murderous aura. This guy is definitely not ordinary person—he's a killer. Even if we surround him, we'd pay a heavy price trying to take him down. It's not worth it."

He waved his hand, signaling the group to continue. "Let's move on." The monks nodded as they continue their path.

And just like that, Gu Dao unknowingly walked right past the gate of hell.

The monks hesitated, doubt holding them back, and he narrowly escaped disaster.

.....