Chapter 328 - 308: Yang God! Attained
He’d always felt the Yang Gods of this world were somewhat "hollow," their foundations not forged through arduous cultivation.
And now, it seemed he was right!
’The key to becoming a Yang God, the Thunder Tribulation, was completely controlled by the Celestial Will?’
’Once a Cultivator reached the peak of the Yin Spirit realm, their ability to trigger the Thunder Tribulation, the time and place of their ordeal, and even its intensity... could all be manipulated by that formless Celestial Will?’
’How could this be considered a cultivation breakthrough?’
’No wonder... No wonder the Yang Gods of this world have such limited techniques and are so mentally fragile.
To a large extent, their power doesn’t stem from their own arduous exploration and mastery of the Great Dao, but from the bestowal and approval of those "above."
The moment they encounter a power that exists outside this system of approval, their faith and strength easily crumble.’
Qi Yun slowly withdrew the right hand he had pressed against the void. Hao Yue Master’s Soul Body fell to the ground like a tattered rag and rapidly dissipated.
It ultimately dissolved into a few specks of faint light before being utterly annihilated.
He stood with his hands behind his back in the silent core of the meteorite, gazing at the reflection of his own deep eyes on the crystal walls.
’Authority over thunder, control by the Celestial Will... the investiture of Yang Gods...’
The keywords collided in his mind.
He recalled his previous speculation that "someone had replaced the Celestial Will."
A clearer, and more unsettling, picture gradually began to take shape.
If the current Cangque Celestial Will had truly been replaced or seized by some entity...
...then the authority to invest "Yang Gods" was undoubtedly one of its most important tools for controlling this world’s Cultivation Realm and maintaining its rule!
By controlling who could become a Yang God and when, it could maintain a firm grasp on the creation and loyalty of this world’s most powerful combatants.
’And in a sense, wouldn’t those "invested" Yang Gods all become... vassals or slaves to the one who "replaced the Celestial Will"?’
’In that case, the entire Cultivation Realm of Cang Que...’
’...has likely fallen completely into the hands of the "Celestial Will"!’
The corners of Qi Yun’s mouth slowly curled into an icy arc.
’Things are getting more and more interesting.’
He raised his hand. A wisp of pure Power of the Divine Soul, already tinged with the faintest trace of pure Yang Qi, coiled around his fingertip.
These were the gains from the Refinement of Hao Yue Master, allowing his Divine Soul Cultivation in this world to reach a new peak in a short amount of time.
’Yin-to-Yang Transformation requires a Pure Yang Thunderbolt to pierce the Soul Acupoints and temper away all Yin dregs...’
’I control the Shenxiao Thunder Talisman, which contains a trace of the Heaven and Earth Thunder Origin Dao Intent. It is the true manifestation of the authority for Punishing on behalf of Heaven.
In terms of its tier, it is even superior to the "tamed" heavenly thunder of this world.
I shall use my thunder to temper my spirit.
And I can achieve the Yang God realm all the same!’
His mind made up, he hesitated no longer.
With a single thought, Qi Yun instantly retracted his aura to its absolute limit, becoming like the oppressive deep sea before a storm.
He slowly moved his hands in an arc before his chest. His fingertips left chaotic trails in their wake, which lingered without dispersing.
Within these trails, tiny flecks of golden light faintly jumped about, emitting soft crackling sounds, as if containing a Thunder World on the verge of eruption.
"Array, rise."
He stomped his foot lightly.
VMMMM—!
The Shenxiao Thunder Control Grand Array!
This array had once made a fleeting but stunning appearance in Taixu Hall during his confrontation with Black Mountain Master.
Now, in this completely isolated space, Qi Yun had used the power of Daluo Heaven to deploy it with all his strength. Its might hadn’t just doubled—it had magnified many times over!
The moment the Grand Array formed, the aura within the Array Domain changed dramatically. The once-tranquil space, with its flowing starlight, was instantly filled with a ubiquitous "thunder intent" that caused one’s Divine Soul to ache with a piercing numbness!
The shimmering starlight on the surrounding dark silver crystal walls seemed to be drawn in, flickering erratically and casting distorted shadows that writhed like electric serpents.
But this was merely the prelude.
With a solemn expression, Qi Yun slowly raised a hand and gently tapped the space between his eyebrows with his index finger.
"Talisman, appear."
A speck of golden light—so brilliantly pure that it seemed to contain all the majesty of thunder between Heaven and Earth—leaped forth from the Ancestral Acupoint between his brows!
Though initially only the size of a grain of rice, the golden light seemed immeasurably heavy. The instant it appeared, the entire Shenxiao Thunder Control Grand Array thrummed in resonance!
All the Array Patterns on the ground erupted with blinding lightning, like subjects bowing before their king!
The golden light rapidly stretched and unfurled, transforming into a tangible Talisman. It was about three feet long and three fingers wide, made of neither gold nor jade, its entire body woven from countless natural thunder Dao Patterns.
The Shenxiao Thunder Talisman!
A manifestation of true intent!
The Talisman hovered silently in the space three feet above Qi Yun’s head, rotating slowly.
Each rotation stirred the endless thunder intent within the Grand Array, causing it to surge and roar with a deep rumble, like thousands of great dragons lying in wait.
The thunder Dao Patterns on the Talisman’s body flickered and flowed, faintly outlining the terrifying spectacle of a Thunder World’s cycle of creation and destruction, its judgment passed upon all living things.
Qi Yun looked up, his gaze calm as he watched the Talisman that contained the supreme authority over thunder. It was as if he were looking into a mirror that reflected his very self, or gazing up at a mountain of lightning about to collapse and forge him anew.
"With my Talisman, I summon my thunder."
"Refine my Yin Spirit, forge my Yang Soul."
"Tribulation... come."
Those last two words were spoken casually, yet they were like a spark landing in a powder keg.
KRA-KAAABOOM—!!!
The hovering Shenxiao Thunder Talisman trembled violently, and the countless Dao Patterns on its body blazed to life all at once!
An indescribably brilliant golden light erupted from the Talisman!
Nine bolts of golden lightning, each as thick as a palace pillar and incomparably condensed, descended from the Talisman, instantly engulfing the seated Qi Yun below!
The moment the nine pillars of lightning touched Qi Yun’s body, they passed straight through his flesh and blood. They struck deep within his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, slamming into the illusory figure of his Divine Soul—a figure that had already solidified as if real and had reached the peak of the Yin Spirit realm!
"Urk—!"
Qi Yun’s body convulsed. Even though he was prepared, and even though the lightning was completely under his control, the destructive, agonizing pain originating from the deepest, most fundamental part of his soul still forced a stifled groan from him.