Chapter 91: Overcoming the Calamities, Becoming a Sage!
“No, you can’t break through at this moment!”
Immediately, Zhou Tong’s expression changed and he hastily stopped her.
The threshold between Semi-Sage and Sage is no trivial matter; it is an extremely terrifying life-and-death barrier.
Before this gateway, countless remains of supreme warriors have been buried.
To break through, one often encounters one of the calamities from the Three Calamities and Four Trials.
Calamities represent great tribulations, while trials signify lesser tribulations.
According to Zhou Tong’s judgment, most of the trials are life-sentence trials that strengthen one’s bottleneck.
After enduring this trial, the next challenge one faces would be one of the Three Calamities, and only those who endure it will be qualified to step into the realm of a Sage.
In a sense, the life-sentence trial is not a calamity; rather, it acts as a protective umbrella.
When a cultivator’s own strength is insufficient to face the great calamity, the life-sentence trial transforms into a barrier, preventing the Three Calamities from arriving.
When the cultivator gains the ability to overcome the life-sentence trial, it signifies that they have obtained a certain level of self-protection, ensuring that they don’t face certain death during the calamity.
However, the current situation is strange; Zhou Tong is unable to detect any signs of the life-sentence trial from Mu Ran Ya.
Her cultivation has been gradually increasing, and it is about to touch the limits of a Sage.
At that time, when the Three Calamities arrive, Mu Ran Ya’s body, which has suffered greatly from heart demons, will be unable to withstand it.
“Master, stop immediately, or there will be big trouble.”
Zhou Tong struggled to get up but was held down tightly.
“I don’t intend to break through, I just feel cold…”
Mu Ran Ya’s cold aura became heavier, to the point where even Zhou Tong couldn’t withstand it.
Her voice became distant, as if she were not of this world, and she seemed to have lost her soul.
“Snap out of it!”
Zhou Tong roared angrily, his voice thunderous, yet she remained unmoved.
Not only that, but two streaks of bloody tears rolled down from the corners of Mu Ran Ya’s eyes, signaling the imminent collapse.
“The situation is dangerous, we can’t wait anymore… don’t blame me!”
Zhou Tong acted without hesitation. Suddenly, red light surged from his body, and the Union Lock, like an enraged dragon gathering, climbed onto Mu Ran Ya’s delicate form.
“Master… hear me out, calm down!”
“How can I calm down!”
Zhou Tong widened his eyes, a situation he had never encountered before— the Union Lock was ineffective.
Rather than being ineffective, it was suppressed. Chaotic forces were attached to Mu Ran Ya, helping her resist the Union Lock’s invasion.
Upon realizing this, Zhou Tong drew in a sharp breath.
It indicated that one of the Three Calamities had already arrived— only this level of power could temporarily suppress the Union Lock!
But after a moment of panic, Zhou Tong quickly regained his composure.
The primary task now was to determine exactly which calamity Mu Ran Ya was enduring.
Whether it be the Body-destroying Calamity which destroys the flesh, the Soul-reversing Calamity that wreaks havoc on the soul, or the Dao-breaking Calamity that annihilates the foundations— each brought its own terrifying consequences. If mistaken, the results would be catastrophic.
“No matter what calamity or trial you are, you won’t harm the person I protect.”
“Mu Ran Ya is under my protection, do you understand?”
Probably, throughout history, no one else dared to threaten a heavenly calamity except Zhou Tong.
The luminous glow between his eyebrows brightened, and his spiritual power surged into Mu Ran Ya’s body.
“Ugh…”
Mu Ran Ya let out a sound of either pain or pleasure, and her eyes quickly regained a sliver of clarity.
“Good opportunity.”
Zhou Tong seized the fleeting moment. With the Union Lock activated instantly and taking full effect, Mu Ran Ya’s strength was depleted.
He quickly stood up, cradling Mu Ran Ya’s limp body in his arms, carefully sensing everything within her.
“Little one, I hate you!”
The beautiful, silver-haired woman defiantly raised her gaze, her eyes filled with annoyance and unwillingness, radiating a strong aggressiveness.
If it weren’t for the Union Lock, Zhou Tong had no doubt that he would already be lying on the ground.
But suddenly, changes occurred again.
Mu Ran Ya’s white frosty hair disappeared, her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and she regained her gentle and elegant demeanor.
“Little one… I like you, I like you so much, you’re not allowed to bully me anymore…”
Her hands coiled around Zhou Tong’s neck like snakes, as if she would never let go.
Just as Zhou Tong was about to speak, Mu Ran Ya frowned again, large sweat droplets sliding down her forehead, soaking Zhou Tong’s clothes.
“It hurts so much… my head aches horribly, it feels like something wants to tear me apart, Little one, help me!”
Seeing this state, Zhou Tong’s heart was somewhat reassured.
It was confirmed that Mu Ran Ya was undergoing the Soul-reversing Calamity.
Under this calamity, the soul becomes chaotic, and any misstep could lead to a state of total ignorance, losing all wisdom and becoming completely foolish.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here, I’ll take the burden for you!”
Zhou Tong’s heart was filled with sympathy as he held the person in his arms tighter.
If it were any of the other calamities, he might have found it difficult, but for the Soul-reversing Calamity, he was capable of withstanding it. Using the power of an Imperial Realm spiritual power to deal with such an impact was like using a big axe to chop tiny sticks.
By normal reasoning, ordinary individuals cannot assist others in withstanding calamities.
But with the connection through the Union Lock, the boundaries between their beings were erased, making this assistance entirely feasible.
“Leave everything to me.”
The moment those words came out, Mu Ran Ya’s tense body and mind completely relaxed.
Zhou Tong opened his mind, leaving his spiritual door wide open, allowing the calamity’s overwhelming power to surge into him, yet he remained steadfast.
At this moment, he gathered an immense amount of greed, anger, and ignorance, all byproducts of the chaotic soul, unable to harm him in the slightest but instead becoming his nourishment.
“A little more… then I can activate the Formless Glorious Pearl and reach the Ignorant Realm.”
Time flowed slowly, and Mu Ran Ya’s cultivation continued to steadily increase. Eventually, a gentle mystical light erupted from her body.
“Successfully overcoming the Soul-reversing Calamity and reaching the Sage position!”
Zhou Tong was completely astounded.
So, she broke through to Sage so easily? Without the spiritual energy’s coronation from heaven and earth, without the astonishing thundercloud phenomena, the entire process remained calm and restrained, even without a loud noise.
Thinking back to his previous life when he broke through to Sage, the spiritual energy was spread across the four seas, and the thunderclouds covered the nine provinces, known to all under the heavens!
This was a miracle, a divine wonder!
As Zhou Tong looked at the sweat-drenched beauty in his arms, she was full of lazy charm; she even tucked herself deeper into his embrace, revealing a comfortable and contented expression.
Who would have thought that this being, displaying the demeanor of a young woman, was actually a female Sage who possessed boundless cultivation?
“Little one, I take back everything I said earlier, I don’t hate you, I don’t even like you…”
Mu Ran Ya seriously declared, “I super like you!”
Saying that, two warm lips pressed onto Zhou Tong’s face.
“This is my reward for you.”
“Your reward… is the saliva of a Sage?” Zhou Tong jestingly remarked.
“If you don’t like it… then open your mouth, and I’ll personally feed you!”
“Enough, enough… I like it; there’s no need for you to bother, Elder.”
“Am I old?”
Mu Ran Ya pressed closer, almost sitting on Zhou Tong’s lap.
At this moment, the door opened, and Zhang Chuqiao came in with the Little Demoness.
“I totally won!”
