“WTF!!!”
In a flash, Han Zhiyuan barely had time to shout these words before an inexplicable force dragged him into a giant whirlpool. Then came the frantic spinning, as if he were at the center of a tornado, feeling like he would be torn apart any second. Instead, he felt the agony of his soul being forcefully separated from his body—a pain worse than death.
“What the hell!” Han Zhiyuan cursed. Forget about maintaining a refined facade; this was some kind of devil’s trick! Could this sudden, unexpected event at least let him finish his words?
“How do I find him?!” Just before his brain turned to mush, Han Zhiyuan desperately shouted into the spinning void, “How do I break the seal?!” And also, how the heck do I get back?
In response, a very annoyed cold snort came from all directions, making Han Zhiyuan feel like he was being crushed.
“Come on!” Han Zhiyuan’s vision went black, and he lost consciousness. When he opened his eyes again, he saw countless…backs?
His heart skipped a beat as he focused and saw rows of different backs pressed together. They were all dressed in ancient clothing, with long hair and their butts sticking out, craning their necks to look inside. They looked like a bunch of ducks with their necks squeezed.
Han Zhiyuan quickly tried to make sense of his chaotic thoughts. Ancient times? Which dynasty? What are they doing?
And why was his view level with their butts? Was he so short? Shocked, Han Zhiyuan quickly checked his own body and then froze.
“Cough, cough… Fellow Daoist, could you please get up… This old Daoist… cough.” A wheezing old voice came from under Han Zhiyuan’s butt.
Startled, Han Zhiyuan realized he was sitting. No wonder he felt short. But why was he sitting on someone?
He hurriedly got up, pretended to brush off dust, and saw that he had been sitting on an old man with hair as white as snow.
The old man’s gray robe was patched with colorful bits, making it look odd. His big toes stuck out of his shoes, kissing the ground, and his wrinkled face looked like a field’s furrows. At this moment, he looked like a squashed toad.
What’s going on? Han Zhiyuan’s mind really felt muddled. Fellow Daoist? Taoist?
Han Zhiyuan straightened his body and mimicked a Taoist salute, “Boundless Heavenly Venerable, old benefactor, are you alright?” No matter where you go, it’s good to be polite. He noticed he was also wearing ancient clothing.
The patched Taoist quickly stood up, his beady eyes darting around. After confirming no one saw his embarrassing state, he looked at Han Zhiyuan, brushing off dirt as he said:
“No harm, no harm. This little friend almost squashed me into a pulp. Boundless Heavenly Venerable,” the patched Taoist rolled his eyes and continued, “I’ve roamed the Nine Heavens Continent for hundreds of years. If I were sat to death by a kid like you, even the saints would laugh. Boundless Heavenly Venerable!”
Han Zhiyuan froze for three seconds, then his pupils shrank. Nine Heavens Continent, hundreds of years, saints, and fragments of memories occasionally popping into his confused mind… So, what kind of place is this?
“Sorry about that.” Han Zhiyuan forced a smile, trying to swallow his surprise, maintaining a polite demeanor.
The patched Taoist glanced at the tall, handsome young man who was being polite to him, leaving a good impression. Just as he was thinking this, the surroundings started to stir. The patched Taoist quickly dived into the crowd and disappeared in a flash.
“It’s starting!” someone shouted.
Han Zhiyuan, not understanding, followed the crowd.
“It’s finally starting. I waited all night,” someone said excitedly.
“It’s the Peacock King’s heavenly tribulation!”
“Exactly, a demon emperor-level expert. It’s worth waiting days and nights to witness this.”
“Days and nights? It’s a rare sight even in a hundred years.”
Peacock King? Demon Emperor? Heavenly tribulation? These terms made Han Zhiyuan’s head buzz. Clearly, this body wasn’t his, but now it was under his control, and the original owner’s memories were slowly entering his mind.
Looking in the direction everyone was facing, he saw a colossal mountain floating in the air thousands of meters away, as if fixed in place. Surrounding the floating mountain were four towering figures standing in the void, enclosing it. Further out, the sky and ground were filled with dense crowds, creating a spectacular scene.
The overwhelming sight left Han Zhiyuan in awe. The patched Taoist reappeared, smiling proudly, “First time seeing such a scene, little friend?”
Han Zhiyuan nodded. The patched Taoist continued, “Not to boast, but this is also my first time. The Peacock King is incredible. Do you see those four figures in the void?”
“Yes, but not very clearly.”
Han Zhiyuan also noticed six more figures standing with their hands behind their backs, staring at the floating mountain, exuding a powerful aura that pushed the onlookers further back.
Further out, people were either flying on swords or standing on flying beasts, with the weakest ones the furthest back.
“Those are the four great demons of the demon world, said to have demon king-level strength, protecting the Peacock King,” the patched Taoist said proudly, adding, “I wonder if the Peacock King will succeed this time. It’s unprecedented to attempt a second heavenly tribulation. Such courage, I admire it!”
“Are you saying this is the Peacock King’s second tribulation?” someone exclaimed, shocking everyone who looked at the patched Taoist.
The patched Taoist slowly stroked his beard and said, “You asked the right person. I’ve roamed the Nine Heavens Continent…”
Han Zhiyuan thought: Many probably want to smack him for wasting time with unnecessary words at a critical moment.
Sensing the crowd’s impatience, the old Taoist continued, “It’s said that the Peacock King attempted a tribulation three hundred years ago but failed.”
“What!” Everyone was shocked. “How is that possible?”
“The Peacock King is incredibly talented, a demon emperor. Is the heavenly tribulation that terrifying?” another person asked, trembling.
“The Dao is the most terrifying. Surviving a failed tribulation is a feat no one has achieved before,” the patched Taoist sighed.
Just then, a thunderous roar erupted as a bolt of lightning split the sky. The deafening sound left ears ringing, and the sky quickly darkened with rolling black clouds, sporadic lightning illuminating the sky, and continuous thunder shaking the earth.
The patched Taoist’s eyes were fixed on the churning clouds and lightning, his wrinkled face tense, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.
“It’s here.”
Han Zhiyuan gulped, staring at the rolling black clouds and the crackling lightning, lightning dragons weaving through the clouds as if ready to shred the floating mountain. Even with modern science and media, this scene was terrifying beyond imagination.
“It’s here!!!” someone shouted as a thick bolt of lightning struck the mountain peak.
“Damn!” Han Zhiyuan blurted out, thinking the lightning would turn the mountain to ash. His heart pounded, ears buzzing, but then the mountain peak suddenly shone brightly, clashing with the lightning. The mountain only trembled slightly.
“He blocked the first heavenly lightning,” someone shouted excitedly.
As soon as the words fell, another bolt of lightning struck, and the mountain shook violently, much more than before.
“Did he block the second one?” someone asked shakily. Suddenly, there were cracking sounds as something broke. “No, the Peacock King’s artifact was shattered by the lightning!”
Han Zhiyuan saw the light on the mountain peak dimming. But before they could catch their breath, the third lightning bolt followed. This time, it was twice as thick, and everyone felt a chill.
A thunderous roar echoed, followed by a piercing cry, like a peacock’s call. The mountain shook violently, smoking like it was about to explode. Was he dreaming?
“The Peacock King truly is incredible, blocking the lightning bare-handed without an artifact!” the patched Taoist said excitedly.
“The fourth lightning bolt is coming!” someone shouted.
The black clouds roared, converging over the mountain peak. A massive lightning bolt, at least a meter thick, struck the mountain.
“The Peacock King is doomed,” someone exclaimed. But then, a golden three-legged cauldron flew out from the mountain peak, followed by a celestial flute, a dragon bone cup… One high-level artifact after another formed a giant light circle, blocking the lightning.
“As expected of the Peacock King, possessing so many divine artifacts,” someone said greedily.
The collision between lightning and artifacts produced a blinding light. Everyone turned and ran, retreating over a thousand meters to avoid it. Han Zhiyuan, startled by his own speed, saw the mountain shaking violently, ready to explode.
“Does the lightning never end?” Han Zhiyuan panted.
“Only one more, the most critical one. Survive it, and the Peacock King can ascend. Fail, and it’s obliteration,” the patched Taoist said calmly.
Han Zhiyuan was too shocked to think as the black clouds spun wildly, converging over the mountain, rumbling so loud it made hearts race. It seemed determined to obliterate the Peacock King along with the mountain.
“It’s here!”
Han Zhiyuan heard a deafening roar, followed by a blinding light. A massive white peacock phantom appeared on the mountain, dazzlingly beautiful but also intimidating. Feathers spread across the sky as if embracing the heavens.
The white peacock let out a cry, shaking the mountains and rivers, and its feathers formed a giant shield above the mountain peak.
The final lightning bolt, thick as a pillar, struck with an unstoppable force. The white peacock’s feathers radiated golden light, but the force was immense, and the shield trembled. Everyone held their breath.
In the chaos, Han Zhiyuan felt a rush of admiration for the Peacock King. However, his focus quickly shifted to survival, realizing he was in a world where such power was a reality.
As the dust settled, the white peacock emerged victorious. It had blocked the lightning, but it was clear the effort had drained it. The once proud figure now seemed weakened, yet the surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.
The Peacock King had survived. It was a historic moment, and Han Zhiyuan, amid the awe and celebration, felt the weight of the new world he found himself in.
