Chapter 466 – Transcending Four Tribulations in Succession, the Final Decay of Self-Loathing!
by spirapiraChapter 466 – Transcending Four Tribulations in Succession, the Final Decay of Self-Loathing!
【After the Decay of Vigor activated, you felt yourself once again plunging into a state of fortune-spent, life-ending decline.】
【What was even more terrifying was that aside from the massive reduction in cultivation, your physical stamina had become like that of someone on the verge of death from old age—utterly feeble.】
【The slightest physical exertion caused your armpits to break out in sweat, leaving your entire body in a state of weakness.】
【This made you even weaker than before…】
【But fortunately, with the Celestial Demon General’s protection, you managed to pass the early stages relatively safely…】
【Until simulation year one thousand four hundred and fifty, your three hundred and fiftieth year of enduring the Decay of Vigor, when the foreign races’ offensive grew increasingly severe.】
【And the Celestial Demon General could no longer spare the attention to look after you…】
【You were targeted by a second-tier deity among the foreign races…】
【You desperately activated time stop, freezing heaven and earth for three seconds…】
【However, you were simply too weak. After the time stop ended, facing the pursuit of a second-tier deity, you still had no power to resist…】
【You died!】
【Ding, this simulation has ended!】
After the simulation ended, Su Xing felt quite helpless.
“The five signs of celestial decay really are difficult!”
“Though this is also because I used poison to prematurely trigger the five signs of celestial decay… the power of the five signs of celestial decay has been amplified several times over!”
“If it were an ordinary Golden Immortal, transcending the five signs of celestial decay shouldn’t be this difficult…”
Su Xing felt rather helpless. In order to get through it as quickly as possible, he could only bear greater risks.
“Phew… but at least I managed to get through two tribulations successfully… that counts as some progress!”
Su Xing’s gaze turned to this simulation’s rewards.
【Time Stop Between Breaths】: red talent, priced at 100 origin energy.
【Half-step Supreme Unity Golden Immortal】: Successfully transcended the Decay of Purity and the Decay of Splendor, with 150 years remaining on the third decay, the Decay of Vigor. Priced at 50 million origin energy!
Su Xing looked at the simulation text before him and furrowed his brow slightly.
“Just transcending two and a half of the five signs of celestial decay costs fifty million origin energy?”
“Then if I were to completely transcend all five signs of celestial decay… it would probably cost over a hundred million origin energy!”
“And that’s not even counting what’s needed to advance to Supreme Unity Golden Immortal!”
Su Xing immediately felt a headache coming on.
Though he currently had a full five hundred million origin energy on hand, it probably wouldn’t last!
“Regardless, these two rewards must be brought out!”
Su Xing didn’t hesitate, silently reciting:
“I choose to bring out…”
【Ding, you have successfully brought out half-step Supreme Unity Golden Immortal cultivation… remaining origin energy: 463,064,395 points…】
【You have successfully brought out the red talent “Time Stop Between Breaths”… remaining origin energy: 463,064,385 points…】
As the Chime’s notification sounded in Su Xing’s ears, a subtle change occurred in the vital energy throughout his entire body.
A layer of filth visibly formed on the surface of his skin, and his strength rapidly declined.
But in the blink of an eye, the impurities dissipated, and his strength returned to its peak!
The first of the five signs of celestial decay—the Decay of Purity—transcended!
Immediately after, Su Xing’s head of dark hair turned white in an instant, and the feeling of weakness once again appeared in his body.
The next moment, the full head of white hair transformed back into dark locks, and the lost power was restored once more!
The second of the five signs of celestial decay—the Decay of Splendor—transcended!
The sensation of weakening and then recovering to peak strength twice in succession gave Su Xing a foreboding feeling.
Sure enough, the next second…
Su Xing’s armpits began to sweat, and his entire body became incomparably weak.
And this time, Su Xing did not recover his strength.
His entire being was in a state of weakness, with barely one percent of his power remaining—even inferior to a Mystic Immortal cultivator.
“Hiss… I miscalculated!”
“I didn’t expect the state of the Decay of Vigor to be brought out along with everything else…”
Su Xing furrowed his brow slightly. If his guess was correct, he was now in a state of fortune-spent, life-ending decline!
In this state, his strength had dropped to below that of a Mystic Immortal, making his situation extremely dangerous.
“I need to start the next simulation as soon as possible!”
“I must push through the five signs of celestial decay in one go, otherwise it’s too dangerous!”
Su Xing didn’t hesitate, silently reciting:
“Begin simulation!”
【Simulation #201 initiated. Current remaining origin energy: 463,064,385 points… remaining simulation attempts: 3.】
【Simulation begins!】
【Drawing a talent costs 1 origin energy point. Draw?】
“Yes!”
【Ding, congratulations on drawing the gold talent Southern Illumination Separation Fire Physique. Next draw gold talent probability: 80%, red talent probability: 20%…】
【Southern Illumination Separation Fire Physique】: Gold talent. One of the Hundred Great Divine Physiques. Possesses a natural affinity for the divine fire of heaven and earth, the Southern Illumination Separation Fire. Born accompanied by this divine fire. (Southern Illumination Separation Fire: an all-purpose fire suited for both combat and alchemy, a miraculous flame excelling at pill refinement.)
“Hmm? Southern Illumination Separation Fire…”
Su Xing raised an eyebrow. Ever since he began cultivating, he had mastered a supernatural art called the Separation Fire Technique.
That supernatural art had been a decent offensive tool when Su Xing was at lower cultivation levels.
Though it had long since become outdated, it was still the fire Su Xing used for pill refinement.
“Tsk tsk… the Southern Illumination Separation Fire Physique should be able to enhance the power of the Separation Fire Technique, or even directly evolve it into Southern Illumination Separation Fire!”
“It would certainly help with my pill refinement!”
Su Xing nodded slightly. He felt his luck was quite good this time—he’d drawn a useful talent.
“Then, let the simulation begin!”
“Finding a safe place and transcending the five signs of celestial decay as quickly as possible is the priority!”
Su Xing’s gaze turned to the simulation panel.
【Please select Plus One…】
“I choose to enhance the Late Bloomer talent…”
【In the spirit field grotto-heaven, you realized you were in a simulation.】
【You were in a state of fortune-spent, life-ending decline, feeling as though danger could strike at any moment.】
【Without hesitation, you immediately headed toward the Lesser Azure Cloud Realm.】
【It took you a full year to reach the Lesser Azure Cloud Realm.】
【During this year of voyaging through the void, you were attacked by Strange Voidbeasts dozens of times.】
【Fortunately, your comprehension of the spatial Dao was extremely deep, and combined with activating the “One More Shot” talent and “Time Stop Between Breaths,” you ultimately preserved your life.】
【In the second year, after reaching the Lesser Azure Cloud Realm, you quickly made your way to Lesser Azure Cloud City.】
【You then found the Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect and revealed your identity, requesting passage to the Azure Cloud Realm.】
【The True Immortal Elder saw through your current state, understood the urgency, and without the slightest hesitation, escorted you to the Azure Cloud Realm.】
【In the third year, you successfully arrived at the Azure Cloud Realm and met Qingyunzi.】
【At this time, Qingyunzi had not yet fallen to demonic corruption, and you struck a deal with him.】
【You knew that in your current state, survival in the Three Thousand Worlds would be difficult, and the Azure Cloud Sect was a rare safe haven.】
【So you decided to remain within the Azure Cloud Sect, safely enduring the remaining hundred-plus years of the five signs of celestial decay…】
In the Real World, Su Xing breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
“After reaching the Azure Cloud Sect, I should be safe…”
“Qingyunzi will fall to demonic corruption, but that’s still five hundred years away…”
“Right now, while Qingyunzi hasn’t yet fallen, the Azure Cloud Sect is indeed the safest place in the entire Azure Origin Domain!”
“However, after successfully transcending the Decay of Vigor, I’ll still need to leave the Azure Cloud Sect and head to the Heavenly Secrets Domain to see if it’s safe…”
“The five signs of celestial decay get harder each time. The Canglang Realm probably won’t be safe enough… I can only try my luck at the Celestial Secrets Realm!”
Su Xing sighed once more. No wonder it was so difficult for rogue cultivators—very few could ever reach Supreme Unity Golden Immortal.
Setting everything else aside, just the five signs of celestial decay alone were enough to give those rogue Golden Immortals a world of trouble.
Only by finding a reliable sect could one’s safety be somewhat guaranteed.
But people die for wealth, and cultivators were no different… who could guarantee that during one’s weakened state, those former fellow disciples wouldn’t turn on you?
Su Xing let out a sigh and turned his gaze to the simulation panel.
【Over the next hundred-plus years, you remained within the Azure Cloud Sect, safely enduring the tribulation.】
【During those hundred-plus years, you guided Fairy Ziling in the art of spirit cultivation.】
【In simulation year one hundred, Fairy Ziling successfully advanced to the Supreme Unity realm.】
【In year one hundred and fifty-three, you successfully transcended the Decay of Vigor. The weakness faded from your body, and your strength grew once more.】
【At this point, three-fifths of the five signs of celestial decay were complete!】
【But you knew the Azure Origin Domain was no place to linger, so you chose to head for the Heavenly Secrets Domain.】
【In year one hundred and sixty, you successfully arrived at the White Cloud Realm.】
【To secure a position within the Celestial Secrets Pavilion, you would need to rely on the upcoming Celestial Vessel defense battle.】
【Therefore, you did not rush to take the Foul Stench Pill and trigger the Decay of Odor…】
【You chose to spend this time comprehending the Great Dao…】
In the Real World, Su Xing silently recited upon seeing this:
“Use immersive simulation, duration 274 years!”
【Ding… spending 100,000 origin energy. Remaining origin energy: 462,964,384 points…】
In the previous simulation, Su Xing hadn’t used the immersive simulation because there wasn’t enough time.
But this time, since Su Xing intended to join the Celestial Secrets Pavilion, he naturally couldn’t waste simulation time.
And so, as the Chime’s notification fell, Su Xing’s consciousness entered the simulated world.
…
Before long, over two hundred years of immersive simulation concluded. Su Xing slowly opened his eyes, a look of satisfaction on his face.
“Excellent. The Great Dao of Thunder has finally reached fifth realm Major Mastery!”
“It’s not far from the sixth realm now… I wonder if the Supreme Unity Thunder Tribulation will push the Great Dao of Thunder directly into the sixth realm?”
Su Xing was rather expectant.
“Now that I’ve successfully reached the Celestial Secrets Pavilion, I’ll enter seclusion here… hopefully during the great battle in eight hundred years, I won’t have to participate…”
Su Xing estimated that while transcending the five signs of celestial decay, he likely wouldn’t be forced to fight.
His gaze turned to the simulation panel.
【In year four hundred, after receiving guidance from the Mirror of The Void, your Great Dao of Thunder successfully reached fifth realm Major Mastery.】
【With nothing pressing at the time, you purchased a high-grade cave dwelling within Celestial Secrets City and took the Foul Stench Pill.】
【You began transcending the Decay of Odor…】
【You were in a state of fortune-spent, life-ending decline, and your entire body emitted a nauseating stench…】
【This stench defied spatial barriers and isolation, making everyone in the vicinity clearly aware that you were in seclusion.】
【Had you been anywhere else, this stench alone might have attracted tribulation cultivators to target you.】
【But fortunately, you were now a Heaven-tier Elder of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion, and you were in seclusion, so you were relatively safe.】
【Though the stench was foul, the lack of major threats made your passage through the Decay of Odor considerably easier…】
【In the blink of an eye, five hundred years passed.】
【You did not participate in the eight-hundred-year Heavenly Secrets Domain great battle. The war lasted a hundred years, and the human race’s side indeed suffered heavy losses.】
【By the time you emerged from seclusion, the great battle between the Heavenly Secrets Domain and the foreign races had just concluded…】
【You knew that for the next four to five hundred years, while there would be fighting in the Heavenly Secrets Domain, there would be no large-scale battles.】
【You requested permission from the White Emperor, took the “Self-Loathing Water,” and prepared to begin transcending the final decay—the Decay of Self-Loathing.】
【Though the Celestial Secrets Pavilion needed high-level combat power at this time, the White Emperor understood that your advancement to Supreme Unity Golden Immortal would bring even greater value.】
【Thus, the White Emperor approved your seclusion.】
【Within Celestial Secrets City, you began preparations to transcend the final decay—the Decay of Self-Loathing!】
“Here it comes!”
In the Real World, Su Xing’s heart stirred upon seeing this, and he felt rather nervous.
“The five signs of celestial decay—the Decay of Self-Loathing! The most perilous of all five decays!”
“The first four decays—whether Purity, Splendor, Vigor, or Fragrance—all weaken the body and cultivation!”
“Only the Decay of Self-Loathing is different. It weakens the spirit and erodes the will!”
“Those whose willpower and Daoheart are not firm will be unable to transcend the Decay of Self-Loathing…”
“Ordinarily, the Decay of Self-Loathing would be manageable enough—I’d have full confidence… but this version, amplified by the Self-Loathing Water, is truly perilous. I don’t have much certainty at all!”
Su Xing broke into a cold sweat.
The Decay of Self-Loathing was the most dangerous of the five signs of celestial decay—even boasting the highest mortality rate!
Because even Peak Golden Immortal cultivators, when transcending the Decay of Self-Loathing, might… commit suicide!
Yes, suicide!
A mighty Peak Golden Immortal, just one step away from attaining the Supreme Unity Dao Fruit, might choose to take their own life at this juncture!
The reason was that the Decay of Self-Loathing’s effect caused cultivators to lose all interest in life, cultivation, and even existence itself.
After experiencing aging and suffering, cultivators would feel that the path of cultivation was meaningless, even developing a deep self-loathing!
Under such extreme emotions, many Peak Golden Immortal cultivators would end their own lives!
“And that’s just the ordinary Decay of Self-Loathing… I took the Self-Loathing Water, amplifying it several times over. Can I really transcend it successfully?”
Su Xing took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the simulation panel.
【In year nine hundred, half a year after transcending the Decay of Odor, you took the Self-Loathing Water and began transcending the Decay of Self-Loathing!】
【When transcending the Decay of Self-Loathing, your physical body was powerful and your cultivation was at its fullest… this tribulation targeted your willpower and Daoheart!】
【During the first few decades, you didn’t feel much difference. You even secretly believed this was the simplest of the five signs of celestial decay.】
【Until year one thousand—your one hundredth year of enduring the Decay of Self-Loathing—you began to gradually change.】
【This change was subtle, imperceptible, and you yourself were completely unaware of it.】
【At first, you merely lamented the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, recalling the suffering of your own bodily weakness.】
【During this phase, you began to feel compassion for all beings, began to perceive the suffering of mortals…】
【And so, another hundred years passed!】
【Year one thousand one hundred—your two hundredth year of enduring the Decay of Self-Loathing.】
【By this point, you had gradually shifted from compassion for mortals to a loathing of heaven’s injustice!】