Chapter 23 Before the Tribulation

Ji Ning's heart tightened. He could see that his master, Patriarch Subhuti, and the Old Man Source had some conflict between them. Would he be forbidden from studying the Heart Sutra?

“What did Source Daozu pass on to you?” Subhuti asked.

“The Heart Sutra,” Ji Ning dared not hide it. “It contains many techniques and methods for using heartforce from Senior Source, along with a few scattered techniques from other Daozus. They are not systematic, but they have been of great help to me. In particular, there is a method for using heartforce to channel the soul, which greatly aids me in controlling the Grand Thousand Sword Formation and also helps in overcoming the Heart Demon Tribulation.”

Subhuti glanced at Ji Ning and revealed a faint smile. “I am not a stubborn man. Since Source Daozu has bestowed this technique upon you and has not forcibly taken you as a disciple, just learn it! If Source Daozu later stands on our side, you will naturally repay the favor. But if he stands with the Void Sect… then the two camps will fight to the death. Even if he had merely taught you a technique, or even if you were truly master and disciple, you would still have to fight to the death!”

Ji Ning’s heart trembled. He immediately said, “Your disciple understands.”

This was a calamity!

A calamity no one could escape.

“I hope Senior Source stands on our side,” Ji Ning thought secretly. Those who had shown him kindness, like Lord Cui of the underworld who had taught him the Nuwa Painting and was the First Judge, clearly belonged to Nuwa’s camp. His other unseen master, Sanxiao Daoren, was also on Nuwa’s side, as were the seven great gods of Zhaixing Major World, his master Patriarch Subhuti, Redbright Daozu, and Emperor Xia. All of them were the same.

Added to this was his own enmity with the Void Sect.

Moreover, he disapproved of the Void Sect’s methods of ruling the world. Once they ruled, they would not maintain order but instead incite endless slaughter.

“This Source Daozu is indeed remarkable,” Subhuti said to Ji Ning. “His strength is probably not inferior to mine. He delights in studying various techniques and is proficient in many schools. In heartforce, he is likely second only to Houyi, and in breadth, he surpasses Houyi. Study this Heart Sutra well. In particular, the method of using heartforce to channel the soul you mentioned—you must comprehend it. Once you do, your chances of overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation will increase by several tenths.”

“Your disciple understands,” Ji Ning nodded.

Heartforce is the commander; the soul is the soldier.

Once heartforce channels the soul’s power, externally it can control more treasures; internally, it makes it harder for heart demons to invade… For a weak soul, a terrifying heart demon illusion can be easily created. But for a strong soul, creating a powerful heart demon illusion is much more difficult. Some terrifying souls are immune to heart demon illusions altogether.

Once Ji Ning learned this method of using heartforce to channel the soul, the stability of his soul might increase tenfold or more. Then the heart demon illusions produced by the same Heart Demon Tribulation during the Heavenly Tribulation would be relatively weaker.

“Your disciple has a vague premonition that if I comprehend this heartforce soul method, the second true body’s tribulation will be almost without danger,” Ji Ning said. “Should I postpone the tribulation day?”

“No need,” Subhuti shook his head.

Ji Ning looked at his master in confusion.

“Once you comprehend the heartforce soul method, the second true body’s tribulation will indeed be very easy,” Subhuti nodded. “But first, when you will comprehend it is unknown—after all, this is an application of heartforce to the soul, quite different from using it on your sword-finger immortal swords. Second, your second true body’s tribulation, while a tribulation, is also a rare opportunity for tempering.”

“Tempering opportunity?” Ji Ning’s expression shifted.

“When you overcame the Karmic Fire Tribulation, your heartforce increased greatly,” Subhuti said. “By the same token, the Heart Demon Tribulation in your second true body’s Heavenly Tribulation can also allow you to undergo tempering, strengthening your heartforce and firming your Dao-heart. If you comprehend the heartforce soul method first and then undergo the tribulation, it will be too easy and lose its tempering effect.”

“Remember this.”

“Your second true body’s tribulation is a minor matter. What matters most to you is your true body’s tribulation,” Subhuti looked at Ji Ning. “Your true body has cultivated many divine abilities and has far greater potential than the second true body. After all, compared to divine power cultivation, qi cultivation ultimately has a weakness in the body. Looking across the Three Realms, those who stand at the very top all possess powerful divine bodies.”

“Take Sanxiao, for example. He clearly hadn’t comprehended the Heavenly Dao, yet he still killed several Daozus,” Subhuti looked at Ji Ning. “Or take you. Even if your second true body becomes a Pure Yang True Immortal, it would likely only be average among Pure Yang True Immortals. But if your true body becomes a god, you will immediately be among the top of the gods and true immortals. After a short period of cultivation, you might even catch up to the extraordinarily fortunate Lü Dongbin. That is the advantage of divine power cultivation! Look at the famous figures of the Three Realms: Houyi, Nuwa, Pangu, the Old Man Source. Even your master here—which of us is only a qi cultivator?”

Ji Ning nodded.

“The more monstrous the talent, the more terrifying the tribulation. I don’t know exactly how powerful your God Tribulation will be, only that it will be astonishing,” Subhuti looked at Ji Ning. “So your most important task now is to prepare for your upcoming God Tribulation.”

“Your disciple understands,” Ji Ning said solemnly. “I will undergo the second true body’s tribulation in three days.”

“Yes.”

Subhuti nodded with satisfaction. “If this tribulation succeeds, the second true body becomes a Celestial Immortal, tempering your Dao-heart. That is a good result. Even if it fails and you lose the second true body, you will still have experienced the Heart Demon Tribulation. Its failure will temper you even more greatly.”

Ji Ning nodded.

Everything for the true body!

“Should I go to Redbright Daozu for the tribulation?” Ji Ning asked.

“No need,” Subhuti shook his head. “Undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation is a major event. I naturally want you to undergo it without external interference. I was originally going to protect you during the tribulation, but you went to find that Xia Mang boy first.”

Even Subhuti couldn’t maintain the Dream of the Three Realms constantly. He only learned later that Ji Ning had sought out Xia Mang.

“Undergo the tribulation at Mount Yan,” Subhuti said. “Rest assured. I will not appear, but no one will disturb you.”

“Thank you, Master,” Ji Ning quickly said.

“This tribulation is only a tempering. Do not slack off. Your God Tribulation is the most important,” Subhuti said solemnly.

Once he became a god, Ji Ning would truly be a formidable figure in the Three Realms.

“Calm your heart and prepare for the tribulation. Although this second true body’s tribulation is not as great as your God Tribulation, it is still no small matter.” Subhuti smiled, then vanished into thin air, no longer visible.

…

Ji Ning remained at Mount Yan, calmly preparing. He also took time to visit Emperor Xia, informing him that his master, the Daozu, would protect him, so there was no need to trouble Redbright Daozu. Emperor Xia nodded; it was naturally better to avoid trouble if possible.

In the three days before the tribulation,

Ji Ning visited West Prefecture City, where he had lived as a child; the Dongshan Swamp, where he had once roamed; and the mountain range where he had killed that Bozi Shan… Following the traces of his past, Ji Ning’s heart grew calmer.

On the day between spring and summer, early morning, it was quite cool.

On a solitary peak within Mount Yan, Ji Ning’s true body and the black-robed Ji Ning both sat cross-legged, their bodies covered with dewdrops. The true body and the second true body had sat there all night, their hearts as calm as still water. On another peak in the distance stood Uncle Bai, Little Qing, Mu Zishuo, Immortal Caicai, Qiuye, and Yü Wei, who was pregnant. They watched nervously, for Ji Ning was about to undergo the Heavenly Tribulation.

…