Infinite Professions

Chapter 205 - 105: Karmic Fire

A few days later, Taohua Mountain.

This was originally a Cultivation Marketplace, co-managed by several Foundation Establishment powers. Although there were conflicts between them, they were kept within limits, so overall it was harmonious and attracted many cultivators.

However, after the Demon Catastrophe erupted, these powers outwardly remained calm but secretly turned to cultivating Demon Skills. In the end, they competed to form their cores, tearing all pretenses and turning this place completely into a Demon Cave.

Today, the Red Peach Blossom Miasma has disappeared, replaced by a crimson blood mist that envelops Taohua Mountain like clouds of smoke. Within a radius of a hundred miles, there is dead silence, no sign of life.

Suddenly...

"Boom!"

Thunder roared, the world abruptly darkened, ominous clouds rolled in, gathering at the top of Taohua Mountain.

The crimson blood mist opened wide, revealing a desolate and wrecked marketplace. Amidst the broken walls and ruins stood a White Bone Skull Mountain, atop which sat a Blood Robe Daoist.

"Hahaha!"

The clouds collided, thunder roared, the Blood Robe Daoist opened his eyes, then laughed maniacally, soaring into the sky to actively face those ominous tribulation clouds.

"Boom!"

At once, thunder fell like pillars, shrouding the Daoist’s body as if it were a Thunder Prison.

The Daoist was fearless, maneuvering within the thunder, emitting beams of blood light to counteract the tribulation lightning.

In this manner, in an instant, more than twenty waves of tribulation lightning descended, all dissipated by the Daoist with blood light.

Human power can reach here, seeming to touch heavenly might, the clouds suddenly contracted, twisting into a vortex, revealing destruction within, causing the Daoist’s face to tense below.

"It’s here!"

"The last round of the Three-Nine Celestial Tribulation!"

Red Corpse Daoist’s expression grew grim, knowing the Celestial Tribulation had reached its final stage, he dared not hold anything back, channeling all his freshly achieved Nascent Soul Power into his Lifebound Demon Artifact.

He was a Loose Cultivator from a heterodox sect, though his talent was decent, allowing him to form a Golden Core, but this was his limit. He drifted overseas for more than three hundred years, yet never glimpsed hope for Nascent Soul Formation.

Just then, the Demon Catastrophe descended, Demon Dao imparted teachings, chaos spread throughout the world. With his lifespan near its end, he decisively joined, not only extending his life but gaining many opportunities, ultimately achieving Nascent Soul.

If he can overcome this celestial tribulation, he will become a Nascent Soul Old Monster, enjoying hundreds of years of freedom.

Therefore, he dared not delay, channeling all his Nascent Soul Power into the blood demon banner he painstakingly refined. A Blood Sea Divine Demon inside revealed its fierce and menacing form, seemingly wanting to burst forth to challenge the tribulation.

He turned to the Demon Dao, practicing one of the Three Fierce of the West Sea, Blood Demon Dao’s supreme Great Technique, Blood Demon Scripture. It could refine three Lifebound Demon Artifacts: the Blood Infant Sword, Blood God Saber, and Blood Demon Banner.

Among them, the Blood Demon Banner was the easiest to refine, most suitable for a heterodox Loose Cultivator like him to refine.

Once refined, this banner can nurture Blood Sea Divine Demons, possessing formidable attack power and can consume cultivator’s karmic links, dissolving worldly sins, thereby reducing the tribulation’s power.

One is the number of beginnings, nine is the number of extremes, so it is with the celestial tribulation, highest being eighty-one layers.

Demon Dao cultivators, seize from heaven and earth, burdened with heavy karma and consequence, thus celestial tribulations often in the number of six-nine, extreme cases may summon eighty-one layer tribulations, akin to celestial punishment upon oneself.

Fortunately, if you have Zhang Liang’s schemes, I have ladders to cross the wall. Orthodox Demon Dao has ways to dissolve karmic sins, this blood demon banner is just a minor technique. If the Blood Infant Sword and Blood God Saber are refined to Magical Treasure Level, they even have the power of "killing without incurring karma."

Red Corpse Daoist may not possess such skill, but his painstakingly refined blood demon banner has provided several fortuitous encounters, not only helping him achieve Nascent Soul but also dissolving most sins, so now this Nascent Soul tribulation consists of only three-nine layers.

If he were still a heterodox cultivator, this three-nine celestial tribulation would still be a grave life-and-death obstacle.

But times have changed. He is no longer heterodox but orthodox, orthodox Demon Dao.

Therefore...

"Roar!!!"

With an angry roar, the Red Corpse Daoist shook the Blood Demon Banner, the Blood Sea Divine Demon nurtured within rushed out, colliding with the twenty-seventh layer of tribulation lightning descending from the sky.

"Boom!"

Instantly the heavens shook, sun and moon lost their light, leaving only blood lightning entangled in a fierce clash.

The might of heaven and earth, beyond the reach of human power.

Yet those who enter the Demon Dao may sometimes conquer heaven.

"Boom!!!"

With a final rumble, the tribulation’s momentum rolled away, and the thunder dissipated, leaving only a blood-colored demonic silhouette howling at the sky.

"My Dao is accomplished!"

Red Corpse Daoist laughed aloud, shaking the Blood Demon Banner once more, intending to recall the evolved Blood Sea Divine Demon.

"Roar!"

The Blood Sea Divine Demon turned its head, emitting a savage intent, but ultimately transformed into blood light, entering the Blood Demon Banner again, further contributing its power to enhance the Demon’s Might.

In the grand order, heaven unfolds in forty-nine, everything has a slim chance of survival, so it is with celestial tribulations. Within calamities hides not only survival but opportunities, able to assist cultivators to transform fundamentally, advancing further.

Now this Blood Sea Divine Demon, within the celestial tribulation, seized a hint of Pure Yang, complementing its Pure Yin nature, Yin and Yang joining to fulfill creation’s achievement, causing its Demon’s Might to surge violently.

Red Corpse Daoist, as the Demon Lord, benefiting from the feedback of the divine demon’s power, also refined his cultivation significantly.

"Truly an orthodox technique of the Demon Dao!"

Feeling the enhanced magical power within, the smile on Red Corpse Daoist’s face grew wider, then descended onto the White Bone Skull Mountain.

"Congratulations, Master, on achieving Nascent Soul!"

Several figures jumped forth, landing around the White Bone Skull Mountain, bowing respectfully to the Red Corpse Daoist.

They were his disciples and future resources.

"Hahaha!"

Surviving the celestial tribulation, achieving Nascent Soul, Red Corpse Daoist was in excellent spirits, so his attitude toward these disciples became much kinder: "Master has achieved Nascent Soul, and will join the grand occasion at Hidden Sword Mountain. You must cultivate diligently here, don’t let Master down."