Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 582 The Mythical Beast of the Eastern Sea Undergoes Heavenly Tribulation!
Before you stands a magnificent, five-story ship.

Since there are only eleven passengers on board, each cabin is extremely spacious, with its own private courtyard, resembling a private villa in the sky.

Its appearance does not deliberately pursue extravagance, but rather adheres to ancient charm, emphasizing elegance and solemnity. The wooden eaves are carved, and subtle magical formations are incorporated; all materials used are of the highest quality.

Such understated yet grand scale reflects the demeanor of a great sect. If it were a smaller, less prestigious sect, it would likely be adorned with gold and jade, ostentatiously displaying its wealth and exuding an undeniable air of nouveau riche.

The three elders were already waiting on the ship.

[You subtly stir your divine sense and quietly scan them—two of them have already reached the Golden Core stage of the Great Dao, their auras deep and unfamiliar; you have never seen them before at the Star-Picking Gathering or in the mountains.]

Undoubtedly, these two are among the sect leader's most trusted confidants.

The other person, whose cultivation was not as high as the others, was at the peak of the Dragon Court realm. This was Elder Xin, whom they had met briefly at Qiyun Peak earlier, and who held Nie Qingzhu in high esteem.

[Your eyes gleamed with magical power, a jade-like luster subtly appearing as you glanced towards the hull. There, five cultivators at the mid-stage of the Dragon Court realm were working together to steer the ship. Spiritual light flowed between their palms, subtly resonating with the ship's array.]

[A ferry ship of such scale could not possibly be maneuvered by one person alone. As far as you know, Fangcun Mountain possesses seven or eight true ferry ships, each more than ten times larger than the one before you, appearing as a moving mountain range when traversing the sea of ​​clouds.]

Only those who possess such treasure ships capable of traversing an entire continent can be considered truly powerful.

You slowly withdrew your gaze and stood with the group on the Class A platform.

At this moment, Duanmu Xiwei also slowly boarded the ship, saying, "This trip to the East Sea has been very helpful, Elder Xin."

Upon hearing this, Xin Tie immediately bowed, but his tone carried an undisguised arrogance: "Hall Master Duanmu, you flatter me. This is simply my duty."

He spent many years traveling between the East China Sea, often enduring hardships due to his humble origins and the difficulty of establishing himself within the family.

Now, Fangcun Mountain has entrusted him with such a heavy responsibility, not only restoring him to his position as the Mountain-Holding Elder of the Punishment Hall, but also promising to promote him to the Mountain-Suppressing Elder and bestow upon him precious treasures and a chance to break through to a higher realm after the matter is accomplished.

How could he not be excited!

Duanmu Xi smiled and said, "Elder Xin has been in the East Sea for many years. He will naturally need to rely on you on his journey through the Longquan Sword Sect."

This is indeed true. Starting from Fangcun Mountain and traveling eastward to the sea, one must traverse almost half of the Central Plains of Yuzhou, passing through the territories of three major sects, crossing a vast sea, and even needing to detour through the lands of two heretical sects.

[If one is unfamiliar with the intricacies of the situation and the complexities of the route, even if the flag of Fangcun Mountain is flown high on the ship, it will likely be of no use.]

Xin Tie naturally dared not be presumptuous; as for this Hall Master who had bestowed the reward, and who was also a confidant of the Sect Master, he responded to every single word.

[Duanmu Xiwei addressed the group, saying, "The journey to the East Sea is urgent, so we will have to endure some hardship."]

"The second floor has eighteen quiet rooms, each equipped with elixirs and spirit-gathering arrays, enough for two months of cultivation."

You acknowledged and proceeded one after another to the second-floor attic.

Just as you were about to take a step, Qi Ling slowly approached and said softly:

"Senior Brother Zhou, I'll choose the room next to yours."

[You have no problem with it; keep a few steps away from her and settle in separately.]

Yuan Shujian also chose to stay in a room not far from yours.

The so-called quiet room is more accurately described as a residence.

You push open the door and step into the quiet room. Looking around, you can't help but sigh inwardly: the exquisite furnishings and abundant spiritual energy here far surpass your dwelling on Little Green Peak. Your previous life truly seemed impoverished.

As for Duanmu Xi's mention of "austerity," it likely refers to the fact that he had no servants accompanying him on this journey.

On ordinary treasure ships crossing continents, there are usually many female cultivators or half-demon women serving customers, but this treasure ship appears unusually empty and desolate.

[As you enter the courtyard behind the meditation room, you see freshly picked spiritual fruits laid out on a stone table. The fruits are fragrant and refreshing, and the spiritual energy they contain is in no way inferior to that of the back mountain of Little Green Peak.]

Two other storage bags sat on the table. One bag was filled with pills: Qi-replenishing pills, Rejuvenation pills, Nine-Turn pills, Dragon Court pills, Soul-nourishing pills… the variety was almost all-encompassing; the quantity was so great that it would last not just two months, but even three years.

The other bag contained a dazzling array of items, including talismans, sword pellets, and armor.

These two storage bags have an enormous capacity, only half the size of the one you obtained from Ant Master.

Such elaborate preparations are clearly for entering the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury to retrieve treasures; Fangcun Mountain's preparations this time are extremely thorough.

You glanced at it briefly with your divine sense, then stopped paying attention, focused your mind, and began to cultivate diligently.

Now that you have reached the peak of the Dragon Court Realm, your most pressing task is to comprehend the path to the Golden Core of the Great Dao. Having mastered over ten profound techniques, it is time to forge your own path.

You slowly calmed your mind, and soon entered a meditative state.

Those who cultivate themselves in seclusion never count the years, nor do they know the changing seasons.

It is common for cultivators to enter a deep, secluded cultivation phase, only to awaken a century later, their physical bodies long since reduced to bones, leaving only their primordial spirits to drift away and ultimately dissipate into the world. For this reason, cultivators in seclusion often require disciples to periodically awaken them, or a spiritual beast to remain by their side for protection.

[After an unknown amount of time, you suddenly felt the treasure ship slowly pause amidst the clouds, and your mind gradually cleared.]

[A quick calculation reveals that a full month has passed. This is the longest period of focused cultivation you have ever undertaken. While you have made some progress on the path to the Golden Elixir, you have yet to grasp its essence.]

Your knowledge is too diverse and extensive; almost every profound skill you've mastered is a path to the pinnacle of this world.

If you follow the established path step by step, you too may become a supreme master who dominates the world.

This is not what you seek. Supreme masters are common, but those who ascend to immortality are rare.

You push open the door to the quiet room and see dark clouds looming overhead, lightning flashing across the sky, and a howling wind.

[Not only you, but Yuan Shujian, Qi Ling, and the others on the second floor also awoke from their seclusion, pushed open the door, and gazed at the sky. Lightning was already appearing among the thick clouds, and immense divine power was gathering.]

The treasure ship glides through the thick clouds, with flashes of lightning appearing all around.

Qi Ling's gaze shifted to you, and she smiled sweetly, "Senior Brother Zhou has been in seclusion for a whole month..." Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly paused, a look of surprise in her eyes: "Senior Brother, what's going on—?"

She keenly sensed that your aura was not concealed, faintly revealing a profound and harmonious, almost innate, Daoist charm.

[You then realized that you had been so focused on comprehending the Dao that you had momentarily forgotten to conceal your aura.]

In an instant, that lofty and ethereal realm vanished.

You smiled calmly and said, "I have made some progress in this seclusion, and my cultivation has improved slightly."

When Qi Ling focused her senses again, she saw that you had returned to normal, except that your cultivation had reached the perfect stage of the mid-stage of the Dao Embryo realm.

Thunder rumbled across the sky, and a massive black shadow pierced through the clouds, slowly emerging and instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Sun Miao, Feng Qingge, and the others also emerged from the quiet room and came to the deck. Qi Ling and Yuan Shujian looked surprised, and even Duanmu Xiwei and Xin Tie stepped out of their cabins, staring intently.

Duanmu Xi frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Elder Xin, shall we stay here and observe the situation?"

Xin Tie nodded calmly: "Don't worry, Hall Master Duanmu. I've traveled back and forth across the East Sea for two hundred years and have never seen such a strange phenomenon. But the ancients have long advised: when encountering a strange beast undergoing its tribulation, the only way to avoid incurring karma is to stand still. If you rashly rush in or retreat, you will be seen as provoking it."

He paused briefly, then continued, "Moreover, such a spiritual being undergoing tribulation will inevitably be protected by powerful beasts. However, Master, there's no need to worry. This ship is equipped with a void teleportation array, so even if something unexpected happens, we can leave calmly."

[Duanmu Xiwei's gaze remained fixed on the distance as he softly said, "Under normal circumstances, witnessing such a celestial phenomenon might be considered a rare and magnificent opportunity... But the situation in the East Sea is urgent, and any further delay could introduce unforeseen changes."]

After a moment's hesitation, she finally nodded: "Very well, let's follow Elder Xin's advice and observe the situation."

"However, if the snakehead fish doesn't overcome its tribulation within three days at most, we'll have no choice but to force its way through."

Xin Tie also nodded in worry.

Your eyes gleam with a subtle luster, your gaze seemingly piercing through the clouds of the heavens, surveying the mortal world and taking in the distant landscape with crystal clarity.

Beneath the treasure ship lay a vast, turbulent sea, its waves churning violently.

[A colossal beast suddenly appeared from within the thick clouds: its body resembled a black tortoise, yet it possessed the head and tail of a fish. Lightning surged around it, and it remained unmoved beneath the overwhelming might of heaven. Its roars were deep and resonant, like the barks of a dog.]

[If you look closely, you'll see that the surrounding thunderclouds are all surging towards this place, and the overwhelming power of the heavens is pressing down, all falling on the strange beast that resembles both a turtle and a fish.]

"It's... a snakehead fish? It's undergoing its first nine-stage tribulation."

The snakehead fish is a renowned auspicious creature of the East China Sea. Not only is its shell indestructible, but it is also famous for its gentle nature and its ability to protect fishermen. It is said to possess the innate ability to manipulate dreams, and along the coast of the East China Sea, it is common to hear stories of fishermen receiving messages from snakehead fish in their dreams, foretelling storms and thus avoiding disaster.

In many parts of the East China Sea, the snakehead fish has long been revered as a deity and worshipped with incense.

Although this snakehead fish is not a true spirit, it is still a rare and extraordinary beast in the world.

To witness him undergo the Nine Heavens Tribulation firsthand is truly a rare and extraordinary opportunity.

[When ordinary beasts undergo tribulation, they often seek secluded places to avoid being seen by outsiders.]

Unexpectedly, they stumbled upon this place shrouded in heavenly tribulation today.

No wonder the treasure ship suddenly stopped here; it had already fallen into the range of the heavenly tribulation.

Yuan Shujian couldn't help but exclaim, "We've only been away from Fangcun Mountain for a short time, and yet we've already witnessed such a magnificent spectacle. We are truly fortunate."

[All spirits and strange beasts of the world who wish to shed their mortal form and transcend the mundane must pass through the first minor heavenly tribulation, which corresponds to the Nine Heavenly Tribulations of the Golden Core realm.]

This is a test bestowed by Heaven. Although it is only the first tribulation, it already contains the power of thunder, fire, and wind, making it extremely dangerous.

However, in this world, there are also extraordinary beings, blessed by heaven and earth, who are born without needing to undergo the tempering of heavenly tribulations—these are the legendary "true spirits."

Once a true spirit reaches adulthood, it can naturally ascend to the Golden Core realm of the Great Dao, possessing an exceptionally high level of talent.

You gaze at the surging lightning in the sky, knowing that this calamity will not end overnight; it seems the treasure ship will remain here for some time.

[As you pondered, your gaze suddenly sharpened—deep within the churning thunderclouds, a familiar purplish-gold light flashed, extremely faint and hidden within; had your cultivation not advanced further, you would likely have missed it.]

[This looks so familiar...it's...the Purple-Gold Light of the Three Mountains!]

[Aside from the ancient Three Mountains Daoist sects, this light can only be attributed to the innate supernatural power of the Purple-Gold Heavenly Horned Ant, one of the true spirits.]

[A person flashes into your mind. No way, you've already run into an acquaintance just outside Fangcun Mountain.]

[This isn't the weak old ant that broke through its cultivation barrier on Fangcun Mountain; we'd better be careful.]

[Though it's just speculation, the more I think about it, the more likely it seems—every strange beast undergoing tribulation has a protector, who could be a blood relative, elder, or close friend.]

But let alone the East Sea, I'm afraid that in the entire world, even within this realm, Old Ant might be the only one all alone!

You chose to observe quietly, silently withdrawing your gaze, and awaiting the unfolding of the heavenly tribulation.

Two days have passed in the blink of an eye.

The thunderclouds grew increasingly violent, with blinding flashes of lightning tearing through the sky, illuminating the entire sea of ​​clouds as if it were daytime.

【"boom--!!!"】

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were shattering, resounded. The treasure ship trembled violently amidst the dark clouds, every inch of its hull illuminated by lightning.

The snakehead fish's shell was already shattered, dripping with blood, its body bathed in blood and lightning. Thunder cascaded down like a waterfall, relentlessly.

The snakehead fish let out a mournful cry. Though its energy was waning and it was riddled with wounds, it stubbornly persevered until the lightning tribulation gradually subsided.

Under the Heavenly Dao, Heavenly Tribulations must never be interfered with by external forces. If someone forcibly helps another person overcome their tribulation, not only will they not be recognized by the Heavenly Dao, but they will also incur Heavenly wrath, resulting in a tribulation several times stronger than the previous one.

[There was once a case at Fangcun Mountain: During a tribulation, the female cultivator was severely injured and on the verge of her soul being scattered, with all her magical treasures destroyed by heavenly lightning. In desperation, her partner disregarded the taboos of the Heavenly Dao and resolutely rushed into the tribulation clouds to shield her. What was originally a tribulation of one level nine lightning bolts suddenly surged, and the tribulation clouds enveloped the entire Fangcun Mountain.]

Ultimately, both perished under divine punishment.

If you do not possess the power to defy fate, do not rashly entertain thoughts of compassion.

The first tribulation of lightning has just subsided, and the second tribulation of wind has already begun.

This wind is no ordinary wind; outsiders cannot perceive it. Only the snakehead fish caught in the calamity can understand it—this is the "Golden Wind Calamity," which not only erodes bones and flesh but also directly blows upon the soul and shakes the primordial spirit.

The snakehead fish, carrying its enormous shell, suddenly trembled as if plunged into an ice cave amidst the rolling thunderclouds, and a chilling mist rose from its body.

[Once a cultivator reaches the Dao Embryo Realm, they acquire a flawless body, impervious to heat and cold; how much more so a strange beast that has cultivated for countless years?]

This golden breeze blew for a full half-day.

The snakehead's mournful cries echoed endlessly across the vast sea, chilling all who heard them.

The terror of the Heavenly Tribulation lies not only in testing one's cultivation foundation, but also in tempering one's will. The excruciating pain of cleansing the marrow and the agony of the body cracking, coupled with the oppressive force of the endless thunderclouds that permeate the heavens and earth, are all extreme forms of mental torment.

Qi Ling frowned slightly. She saw the snakehead fish thrashing and struggling in the clouds, seemingly in excruciating pain, but suddenly its movements froze, and it fell silent.

The thunderclouds had not yet dispersed; they continued to gather and surge, and the divine might grew ever more profound.

She murmured hesitantly, "Could it be... that it failed its tribulation?"

(End of this chapter)