Chapter 67: Innate Primordial Spirit, Blossoms in Twelve

Chapter 67: Innate Soul, Opening the Twelve

Qi and essence pertain only to the transformation of the physical body, having nothing to do with the workings of heaven and earth. Yet the soul is different; it seeks the supreme realm of unity between man and heaven. By comprehending the laws of heaven and earth, it is able to transform and advance.

The inner landscape connects with the outer, and suddenly the weather shifts dramatically. Thunder rumbles, dark clouds surge, and within a radius of ten miles, darkness descends. If not for the remote location of Heaven Escape Valley, the commotion would surely have made headlines.

Luo Feng drew in a sharp breath. In such circumstances, at the very least, one must be prepared for exposure. But Luo Feng was ready for this; after all, he was well aware of his own cultivation progress. Sooner or later, he would ascend to immortality. And with that, heavenly tribulation would follow.

He coughed softly, “Would you grant me a moment to prepare?”

Above, thunder paused, not immediately striking. The way of heaven is merciless, operating naturally. To heaven, humans and ants are no different; it never halts at their request. What halted the tribulation was Luo Feng displaying an acre of fortune—pure and radiant—forming auspicious clouds that enveloped the valley. Protected by fortune, the thunder hesitated.

Gazing at the impending tribulation in the sky, Luo Feng smiled faintly. During his time as the elder of the Scripture Pavilion in the Shangqing Sect, he had perused countless scriptures. To seek celestial immortality, one must perform a thousand three hundred good deeds; for terrestrial immortality, three hundred. Many spirits seeking transformation would flee to households of great virtue and fortune.

Luo Feng suspected that fortune and merit had subtle effects in overcoming tribulation. Thus, opposing the Eastern Isles was not only following the trend, staying true to his heart, but also preparing for his ascension.

Now, it seemed that human fortune, or merit, is not part of the heavenly system. It cannot revoke heavenly thunder, but can conceal tribulation and delay its onset.

As time passed, fortune began to dissipate gradually. Though only a negligible portion was lost, it proved that fortune is indeed a consumable resource. Yet, time was sufficient.

With a thought, Luo Feng withdrew the threefold defensive array from the valley, then laid down two layers of mist. Next, he moved five million tons of explosives from the rear mountain, lest the thunder strike and cause an explosion.

He then attended to the stream and various other arrangements, laboring for an hour. At last, he cleared away all means of defense.

It was true: Luo Feng’s purpose now was to face the tribulation head-on. Lady Wei Chunhua, the founding matriarch of the Shangqing Sect, had left records stating that to become immortal, thunder tribulation could not be avoided. It is not merely a trial, but a form of creation. To ascend while evading tribulation yields weak power and an impure longevity, risking depletion of lifespan.

Luo Feng would not allow such a fate.

Having removed all defenses, he stood solemnly, offering a salute to the celestial tribulation above.

“O vast Heaven, boundless green fields. With Heaven’s compassion, let thunder cleanse humanity. Luo Feng of the Daoist sect pays respects to the Way of Heaven!”

This was the ancient rite of worshipping heaven and earth, as recorded by his senior Ma Tianling, who traced his lineage to the shamanic tradition.

Thunder rolled fiercely, yet did not cancel or lessen the tribulation for Luo Feng’s gesture.

“Boom!”

The first thunderbolt struck. Luo Feng met it calmly, his nearly pure yang spirit confronting it directly. The power was akin to a Tianshi of Dragon Tiger Mountain wielding the Five Thunders True Art. The force was… impressive.

The second thunderbolt struck, ten times stronger than the first. This was equal to a Tianshi’s full strength, using the Five Thunders True Art. Its power warranted attention.

The third thunderbolt struck, ten times stronger than the last. This was like a Tianshi’s sacrificial attack, risking all for mutual destruction. The intensity was remarkable.

Luo Feng received the blows with his spirit, comprehending the majestic power of heaven.

Thunder is the pivot of yin and yang, the foundation of command over all things. Without thunder, there can be no mastery over the three realms. Thunder is the origin, the root of all classes and species. It is the primal mechanism of life and death. The universe began with the explosive union of yin and yang; thus, thunder’s manifestation is everywhere.

Therefore, the yin soul must be refined to yang, passing through trials of wind and fire, listening for spring thunder, and enduring tribulation. To ascend further, the yang soul must transform into flawless primordial spirit, passing nine thunder tribulations, pure and untainted, capable of myriad changes in a single thought.

Thunder is destruction, yet also creation.

After three tribulations, Luo Feng’s nearly pure yang soul approached completion. A mysterious aura of creation arose within his spirit.

It was the breath of innate ancestral qi.

Innate thunder ancestral qi!

After three thunderbolts, the tribulation paused, brewing new lightning.

A gleam shone in Luo Feng’s eyes as he pondered deeply. He saluted once more, solemnly:

“All beings are born of heaven and earth, relying on all things for survival.

Heaven and earth are merciless, and thus possess the greatest compassion. The Way of Heaven speaks no words, and thus holds the greatest wisdom. Heaven’s heart loves none, and thus manifests the greatest love.”

With his salute complete, new thunder descended.

Gold, wood, water, fire, earth—the five elemental tribulations fell in sequence, each annihilating all things according to the cycle of mutual restraint.

Luo Feng shouted, his soul returning to his body. Together, spirit and flesh endured the five elemental tribulations.

In an instant, his robes were torn, revealing delicate, alabaster skin suffused with power.

Luo Feng muttered, “I knew the clothes would tear.”

Though he complained, joy could not be concealed in his tone.

The five elements restrain, and also generate each other. His soul advanced, transforming into pure yang; with inner and outer connected, his body received immense creation.

Standing against the wind, Luo Feng gazed at the sky, his expression solemn.

Now came the final thunder tribulation.

It brewed for a while, at an unknown moment.

A bolt of thunder, half black and half white, descended slowly—yet swiftly, breaking the limits of time.

Thunder is born of yin and yang; thunder is yang, lightning is yin. According to the Five Elements of the River Diagram: “East three, south two, north one, west four—these are the ancestors of numbers, with center as five.”

This is the thunder of yin and yang.

Upon the twelve grades of spirit, the pure yang primordial spirit stood in the center of the lotus, hands clasped toward heaven, radiating phoenix-like grace.

The thunder faded, clouds dispersed.

Luo Feng donned a Daoist robe and bowed to heaven. “Thank you, Way of Heaven, for the thunder and the grace of transformation!”

At this moment, neither yin soul nor yang soul remained.

Pure and flawless, he possessed the pure yang primordial spirit.

With a thought, he could roam the Northern Sea; with a thought, traverse the galaxy.

Such is the power of the primordial spirit—so long as one avoids dangers akin to gamma-ray bursts, one may travel the universe.

Having passed through tribulation, Luo Feng did not relax. For success, one must seize the momentum; hesitation weakens resolve.

He maintained a cautious heart, acting with vigor.

Now was the best time to step into the innate.

His true qi was vast as the ocean, his vital energy strong as a celestial dragon, his spirit pure yang, breaking through the immortal heavens.

Above the twelve grades of essence, a golden dharma figure sat solemnly, dignified in appearance; above the twelve grades of qi, a phantom figure, faintly visible; above the twelve grades of spirit, the innate pure yang primordial spirit stood, gazing outward, united with heaven and man.

(End of chapter)