Chapter 157: The Death Tribulation Descends

This was the Profound Pill Death Tribulation.

Excluding Huo Ming, four of the Profound Pill Sect's original nine Supreme Elders had already fallen: Fu Canghai, Fu Xuanxu, Su Changkong, and Jiang Zhan.

Su Changkong was killed on Mount Hanyang in Taibai County. Jiang Zhan fell in battle a few months prior. Now, as the Profound Pill Sect desperately fought for survival, Fu Canghai and Fu Xuanxu had also perished.

When Han Yi received this news, he fell silent.

This was the cultivation world—a cruel and unforgiving realm.

Among the fallen Supreme Elders, Han Yi had been closest to Fu Canghai. It was Fu Canghai who had intervened when Han Yi first encountered Gu Zhijing outside Nanhua City, and Fu Canghai had later gifted him the Heavenly Capital Daggers. Han Yi also maintained the closest ties with the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild.

He never imagined that Fu Canghai would succumb to this tribulation as well.

A shadow settled over Han Yi's heart.

If nearly half of the Golden Core cultivators had fallen, what hope remained for those in the Foundation Establishment Stage?

"Junior Brother Han, how are your injuries?"

A voice pulled Han Yi from his turbulent thoughts. He looked up and saw An Xin.

Senior Brother Chuan, once ranked second on the Earth Ranking of Azure Dragon Peak, had completed his Foundation Establishment after returning from the Cave Heaven Trial and become an Elder of the peak.

During the fierce battle, Han Yi saw Senior Brother Chuan in dire straits and tried to help, but Yu Ming of the Heavenly Soul Sect targeted him. Fortunately, an Elder who had freed himself from his own fight joined An Xin's battle, and together they eliminated the enemy.

"It's nothing serious," Senior Brother Chuan said. "Divine Soul injuries can only heal slowly."

At that moment, Shen Ping approached. An Xin and Han Yi both greeted him with "Senior Brother Shen."

Shen Ping nodded. Turning to Han Yi, he said, "Divine Soul injuries don't heal overnight. Han Yi, return to your courtyard for now. I'll summon you if there's another mission."

Han Yi nodded and left without hesitation.

After he departed, An Xin opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.

Shen Ping seemed to anticipate her question. He paused before solemnly stating, "Junior Brother An, the Sect is in dire straits. Every member, whether Golden Core Stage, ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage, or recently advanced to Foundation Establishment, must contribute to the Sect's defense. This is unavoidable."

"I'm sure Junior Brother Han understands," Shen Ping said. "You should return to your courtyard as well. You'll be summoned if needed."

With that, he turned and left. An Xin sighed and reluctantly departed.

Meanwhile, Han Yi, having exited the Azure Dragon Palace, glanced upward at the dazzling display of spirit light swirling overhead. It was the Celestial Cycle Profound Astral Formation, a Fourth-Tier Formation Art now operating at full power. Entering or exiting the Sect required an Elder's authorization.

Without hesitation, he quickened his pace and hurried away.

Back in his courtyard, Han Yi activated its double-layered protective formations and finally exhaled in relief.

Only then did he turn his attention inward, immersing his consciousness in his Sea of Consciousness.

Within the Sea of Consciousness Space, his Divine Soul sat cross-legged. Opening its eyes, Han Yi noted that the pain from the earlier Soul Pill ingestion had significantly subsided.

He focused on a swirling mass of grayish-white mist floating nearby—the remnants of Mo Wen's Divine Soul, shattered by his nine Soul Swords. With a gentle gesture, Han Yi drew the misty mass into his body.

In the next instant, he felt as though he were watching a decades-long movie, with Mo Wen as its sole protagonist.

Moments later, Han Yi finished absorbing Mo Wen's memories. He assimilated the information about the Blood God Sect, Mo Wen's knowledge of cultivation, and his experiences, discarding all the dross and his twisted fascination with murder.

This wasn't Body Seizure, but rather the absorption of Soul Fragment Energy, along with the memories contained within those fragments. It was similar to a Soul Searching Technique, but within the Sea of Consciousness Space, such absorption was an instinctive function of the Divine Soul.

Conversely, if Mo Wen's Divine Soul had destroyed Han Yi's, devoured it, digested his memories, and taken root in the Sea of Consciousness Space, it could gradually assimilate by constantly devouring the surrounding Primordial Chaos Qi. Eventually, it would supplant Han Yi's Divine Soul entirely, tricking the Physical Body and Sea of Consciousness Space into believing that Mo Wen's Divine Soul was the true master.

That would constitute Body Seizure.

Having finished digesting Mo Wen's memories, Han Yi opened his eyes, a flicker of gloom passing across his face.

"The Blood God Sect, the Heavenly Soul Sect, and the Rogue Cultivators and Cultivation Families drawn by the news... this time, the Profound Pill Sect cannot escape unscathed."

Mo Wen's memories revealed that the cultivators stationed in the five foremost Immortal Cities numbered less than half of those currently besieging the Profound Pill Sect. Notably, the Sect Leaders of the two major sects were absent.

According to Mo Wen's memories, seven days from now, all cultivators would have fully mobilized for a final assault on the Profound Pill Sect. Among them were fourteen Golden Core cultivators. However, intelligence gathered by Han Yi revealed that the Profound Pill Sect had already slain three of them in today's battle. In return, the sect had paid a heavy price: two Supreme Elders dead, one severely wounded, and another lightly injured.

This meant that in seven days, eleven Golden Core True Persons would lead the charge on the mountain gate. Behind them would surge nearly one hundred and seventy Foundation Establishment cultivators and countless Qi Refining cultivators, like a relentless tidal wave destined to utterly annihilate the Profound Pill Sect.

Without a miracle, the sect's doom was inevitable.

His mind in turmoil, Han Yi rose from his meditation chamber, walked through the courtyard, and made his way to Azure Dragon Cliff.

He had long forgotten when he last visited Azure Dragon Cliff. Back when he had just broken through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining and moved to Azure Dragon Peak, he had cherished this place.

He stared fixedly ahead. The sea of clouds, once gentle, was now torn apart by Formation Arts, their Spirit Light flickering with deadly peril.

"The Immortal Path stretches endlessly onward, and I walk it alone."

At that moment, Han Yi's Dao Heart became crystal clear, as bright and reflective as a polished mirror.

He turned and left Azure Dragon Cliff, heading to Azure Dragon Palace. There, he found Shen Ping and relayed the information Mo Wen had extracted from his memory: the Heavenly Soul Sect would launch their final assault on the mountain in seven days. Shen Ping nodded.

"Junior Brother Han, we learned of this news over half a month ago."

"The Heavenly Soul Sect leaked this information to sow panic among our disciples and weaken their will to resist."

"But their scheme is doomed to fail. Every disciple of the Profound Pill Sect stands united, prepared to die alongside the sect."

Shen Ping's face glowed with unwavering resolve. Han Yi paused briefly, then silently withdrew from Azure Dragon Palace.

Moments later, he returned to his courtyard and reorganized the magic artifacts in his storage pouch. Suddenly, he remembered something. He retrieved a black token from a hidden corner of his meditation chamber.

The token bore the characters "Sui" on one side and "Zhu" on the other. It served as a key—a key to a mysterious land hidden within the Luo Clan's spirit fields in Daofu City. If escape became necessary, he couldn't afford to leave this token behind.

Indeed, Han Yi had already prepared for his escape after the Mountain-Shattering Sect's extinction.

His Dao Heart, clear as a mirror, illuminated his Immortal Path.

After securing his belongings, Han Yi returned to his meditation chamber and resumed cultivating the Ninefold Soul Tower.

Unfortunately, Yu Ming of the Heavenly Soul Sect had been completely transformed into Five Declines Qi by Han Yi's soul technique. The only way to eradicate it was through the grinding power of Primordial Chaos Qi, leaving no trace of his memories behind. Otherwise, those soul techniques would have been quite tempting.

Within the Sea of Consciousness Space, Han Yi sat cross-legged beneath a phantom Soul Tower. This towering structure continuously drew in the grayish-white Primordial Chaos Qi from the Sea of Consciousness's upper reaches, converting it into Soul Energy that nourished his Divine Soul.

This was Han Yi's unique method of cultivating his Divine Soul, now that the Ninefold Soul Tower had merged with it.

Three days later, ninety percent of his Divine Soul's strength had been restored.

Five days later, his Divine Soul was fully recovered.

For others, restoring their Divine Soul was an arduous process. But Han Yi was different. His Sea of Consciousness had expanded eighty-eightfold, and this vast space was saturated with Primordial Chaos Qi. Through the Ninefold Soul Tower, he could rapidly convert this chaotic energy into Divine Soul nourishment.

For Han Yi, his Divine Soul was essentially his Soul Tower, making the assimilation of Soul Energy effortless.

Six days later, Han Yi rose early and prepared thoroughly. He left his courtyard, descended from Azure Dragon Palace, and arrived at Little Spirit Void Peak, only to find Zheng Hai absent. Upon inquiring with the newly appointed Peak Lord, he learned that Zheng Hai had left the mountain over two weeks prior, joining other Inner and Outer Sect disciples in undertaking missions across Nanyang County, engaging enemies in battle. Whether Zheng Hai lived or died remained unknown.

Han Yi stood in silence for a moment before mounting his sword and returning to Azure Dragon Peak. After some contemplation, he decided against seeking out anyone else.

Within the Profound Pill Sect, years of solitary cultivation and seclusion had left him with few close acquaintances. If Zheng Hai had left the mountain, others likely had too. Even if they hadn't, finding them now would be futile; venturing down the mountain at this moment would be suicidal. Their only hope lay in waiting until the sect's defenses crumbled under attack, allowing them to flee.

Entering Azure Dragon Palace and stepping into the Elders' quarters, Han Yi walked toward a familiar spot along the balustrade before realizing he still lacked his own Meditation Chamber and courtyard here.

Typically, Elders promoted from Azure Dragon Peak's Inner Sect disciples were assigned to the peak.

Newly appointed Elders received exclusive meditation chambers within Azure Dragon Palace, each with a private courtyard. After all, the palace stood at the heart of a Fourth-Tier Spirit Vein, ensuring an exceptionally dense concentration of Spirit Qi in every Elder's chamber—a perk of their position.

However, Han Yi had only recently achieved Foundation Establishment Advancement. Moreover, upon emerging from his breakthrough, he immediately encountered the Nine Bell Resonance, signaling impending disaster for the Profound Pill Sect. Azure Dragon Palace hadn't even had time to prepare a proper chamber for him.

Just as Han Yi turned to leave, a voice reached his ears.

"Junior Brother Han."

Han Yi paused, turned back, walked a dozen steps forward, pushed open a door, and entered a meditation chamber.

Inside, Bai Wanqing sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, clad in a profound robe. Her stunning features were framed by raven hair that cascaded over her shoulders, her usual silver hairpin gone, lending her an unconventional allure.

"Bai... Senior Sister."

Han Yi had almost addressed her as "Elder Bai," but then remembered Gu Yu's words: after achieving Foundation Establishment, one could address senior disciples as "Senior Brother" or "Senior Sister."

Bai Wanqing's face was slightly pale, but her eyes shone like starlight, and a gentle smile played on her lips as she gazed at Han Yi.

"Junior Brother Han, your strength is truly remarkable. Even Gu Yu, whose Divine Soul was severely injured and rendered unconscious after encountering a cultivator from the Heavenly Soul Sect, managed to survive. It's quite astonishing."

Han Yi shook his head modestly. "It was just luck."

Indeed, during his battle with Yu Ming, if Yu Ming hadn't recklessly staked everything by pulling all his resources into Han Yi's Sea of Consciousness Space, but instead relied on ordinary spells and a gradual approach, Han Yi might not have been able to kill him so quickly. Defeat had been a very real possibility.

The battlefield was a place of constant change, especially when facing cultivators of higher cultivation realms. Han Yi took no pride in his victory, instead drawing lessons from the experience. Only by adopting the cunning tactics of the elderly cultivator he had first encountered—feigned attacks masking true retreats, false self-destructions—could one hope to survive longer.

That elderly cultivator had taught him a valuable lesson, one he would never forget.

"Senior Sister Bai, the Heavenly Soul Sect and the Blood God Sect will launch a joint assault on the mountain tomorrow. Please be extremely cautious. If the situation becomes untenable, don't hesitate to retreat down the mountain."

Han Yi hesitated for a moment before voicing his deepest concern.

Bai Wanqing was Luo Yunzhou's master. Years ago, when Han Yi was trapped in the mysterious region of the Luo Clan's Spirit Field, Bai Wanqing had intervened to preserve his courtyard.

This constituted a debt of gratitude.

Both sentiment and reason compelled Han Yi to warn her.

Bai Wanqing frowned, then her eyes widened in sudden realization.

"Junior Brother Han," she said, "you've only recently reached Foundation Establishment. There's something you likely don't know."

"Before the Nine Bells of Warning sounded, the Sect convened a council of Elders at the Foundation Establishment Stage and above. Two factions emerged: one adamant about fighting to the bitter end, refusing to retreat; the other advocating for temporarily abandoning Profound Pill Mountain and relocating—either to Qian Prefecture, the Great Qin Immortal Kingdom, or the Great Yong Kingdom. As a last resort, they could even seek refuge in the Southern Border, Northern Wilderness, or East Sea."

"During that closed-door session on Profound Pill Peak, the Sect Leader was absent. Senior Uncle Fu presided over the assembly of Elders at the Azure Dragon Palace."

"When the final vote was tallied, those determined to fight to the death comprised seventy percent, while those favoring relocation accounted for only thirty percent."

"That's why we launched the desperate assault on five Immortal Cities, striving to break through the encirclement and carve out an escape route."

"However, as you can see, Martial Uncle Fu and Senior Uncle Fu perished in the operation, and roughly thirty percent of the other Foundation Establishment cultivators also fell."

"Though we slew many of their Golden Core and Foundation Establishment experts, it wasn't enough to deter them."

"The battle has reached a fever pitch. Neither side can afford to retreat."

Bai Wanqing paused, her voice softening. "But... during the council meeting, we reached an agreement: we would fight to the death to defend the Sect's mountain gate until it fell. After that, we would scatter and flee."

"We even arranged to regroup at eight designated locations after escaping the mountain before venturing together to the Great Qin Immortal Kingdom to reestablish the Profound Pill Sect there."

Bai Wanqing looked up at Han Yi as she finished.

Han Yi suddenly understood.

This was the only logical course of action. Not everyone possessed the courage of Gu Yu and Shen Ping, who were willing to die alongside the Sect.

Between life and death lies great terror. This truth applied not only to mortals but equally to cultivators.

When faced with certain death, very few cultivators could truly maintain the resolve to embrace it.

Han Yi recalled Shen Ping's words, realizing that Shen Ping was one of those determined to fight to the death. He nodded in understanding.

"Finally, Junior Brother Han," Bai Wanqing continued, "the cultivators of Azure Dragon Peak have agreed to gather in Windrock City, Qian Prefecture."

Bai Wanqing's meaning was clear: she had lost faith in the Profound Pill Sect and was simply awaiting the final battle.

They spoke for a while longer, mostly with Han Yi asking questions and Bai Wanqing answering.

"Junior Brother Han, to be honest, you're at a disadvantage. You've only recently achieved Foundation Establishment and are immediately thrown into Foundation Establishment-level combat against cultivators far stronger than yourself."

"The sect truly owes you for this."

"However, with the sect in crisis, we can't spare the resources to help you. Tomorrow... Never mind. Let's all take care of ourselves." Bai Wanqing's mood darkened, her voice tinged with despair.

Han Yi didn't linger. He nodded solemnly, withdrew from the room, left the Azure Dragon Palace, and returned to his courtyard.

With this confirmation from Bai Wanqing, the final weight lifted from Han Yi's heart. He no longer worried and quietly awaited the dawn.

Even after achieving Foundation Establishment, anxiety about his Immortal Path still lingered in his heart.

A sleepless night passed.

The next day, at noon, fifteen cultivators stood suspended in the void outside the gates of the Profound Pill Sect. At the forefront stood three figures.

If Yuan Shun had been present, he would have immediately recognized them:

Feng Wusheng, the current Sect Leader of the Heavenly Soul Sect, a Golden Core cultivator at the Eighth Layer. Jiang Yichuan, the current Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect, a Golden Core cultivator at the Ninth Layer. Shou Rong, the Patriarch of the Shou Clan, one of the seven most powerful cultivation families in Shu Prefecture, renowned for their ancestral talisman-making traditions, also a Golden Core cultivator at the Eighth Layer.

"Fellow Daoist Shou," Jiang Yichuan said, his hands clasped behind his back, the Blood Sword strapped to his back. His face remained calm, but a volatile emotion simmered within his eyes, threatening to erupt with earth-shattering force. "Please proceed. As agreed, once you annihilate the Celestial Cycle Profound Astral Formation and breach the Profound Pill Sect, your Shou Clan may select half of their sect's historical texts. You will also receive ten percent of the contents of their Sect Secret Treasury."

Shou Rong, the elderly patriarch of the Shou Clan, was a man in his sixties with long white eyebrows and a flowing beard, exuding an aura of immortal dignity. He nodded in response and produced several jade boxes from his sleeve, which floated before him.

A pang of reluctance crossed his face, but he knew there was no turning back now. According to their agreement, the Shou Clan's sole contribution was to provide the Spirit Talismans to shatter the formation. Once the formation fell, they would receive their share of the sect's historical texts and treasury without further effort.

He cared little for the Sect's Secret Treasury; his true interest lay in the Profound Pill Sect's extensive collection of ancient texts.

For the Shou Clan, talisman crafting had reached a bottleneck, hampered by insurmountable obstacles and external constraints. Cultivating alchemy alongside talisman crafting offered a potential breakthrough, but its viability remained uncertain until tested.

Shou Rong opened the jade box, revealing two dark black Spirit Talismans and one purple Spirit Talisman. He retrieved one of the dark black talismans, lightly pinched its edges to activate it with his mana, and the talisman soared into the air, adhering directly to the Celestial Cycle Profound Astral Formation.

Then...

A colossal bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking the Profound Pill Sect's Sect Protection Formation.

The Celestial Cycle Profound Astral Formation shuddered violently.

Within the Profound Pill Sect, the core formations on the Nine Inner Peaks suffered a violent backlash, shattering over a hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones on the spot.

Fortunately, stewards stationed at the core formations immediately noticed the broken stones. Their faces paled as they swiftly replaced them with spares.

Yet the terrifying lightning strike that had descended upon the Profound Pill Sect lingered in the hearts of all within, sending shivers down their spines and shaking their very souls.

"This... this is a Third-Tier Spirit Talisman—the Nine Spirits Immortal Fall Talisman."

"It has finally come."

"After more than two decades of apprehension, today we can finally fight to our hearts' content."

"Death is inevitable. What is there to fear?"

From the Nine Inner Peaks and over a hundred Outer Peaks, countless cultivators rose to their feet with a thunderous roar. Those at the Foundation Establishment Stage and above took to the skies on their flying instruments, their eyes scanning the horizon.

Battle intent, unwavering resolve, murderous rage, resentment, despair, helplessness, regret, cowardice, confusion...

A maelstrom of emotions erupted from every corner of the Profound Pill Sect, so potent they felt almost tangible.

Han Yi soared into the air on his sword, his eyes gleaming.

For him, the outcome of today's battle was already decided. His only task was to seize the opportunity presented by the impending breach of the sect's defenses and break through—again and again.

Bai Wanqing's words had lifted any lingering psychological burden.

Just as the cultivators were still scrambling to their feet, another bolt of lightning crashed down, striking the Celestial Cycle Profound Astral Formation with a deafening roar.

Han Yi felt a chill run down his spine. The destructive aura within this lightning was identical to the previous strike—a Third-Tier Spirit Talisman, the Nine Origins Immortalfall Talisman. The Heavenly Soul Sect was truly sparing no expense; two Third-Tier Spirit Talismans! A single such talisman was powerful enough to threaten a Golden Core cultivator.

To be continued.

An even more formidable bolt of purple lightning crashed down upon the shimmering Sect Protection Formation. This single strike was ten times more destructive than the previous two, carrying immense and terrifying force.

Fourth-Tier Spirit Talisman: Great Purity Purple Thunder Talisman.

Crack!

In that instant, the sound of Spirit Stones shattering echoed throughout the Profound Pill Sect—on both the Inner and Outer Peaks, and even deep within Profound Pill Peak itself. The cracking quickly spread to the Formation Eyes.

Within Profound Pill Peak, countless Formation Eyes deeply embedded in the ground crumbled to dust.

Outside the peak, the nine-colored radiance that had filled the sky vanished instantly.

Fourth-Tier Formation: Celestial Cycle Profound Astral Formation—broken!

At the same moment,

Outside the Profound Pill Sect, the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been concealed in the Void materialized, surging forward like a dark tide. Though numbering just over a hundred, their combined aura filled everyone within the sect with a chilling premonition of impending doom.

The Profound Pill Death Tribulation had descended.