ATPnovel Chapter 26 Reaching the Summit
Chapter 26 Reaching the Summit
Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun kept their original intentions in mind and did not easily interfere with what they saw and heard with their profound cultivation. Most of the time, they just quietly observed, like two transcendent recorders.
Zhen Yuanzi paid more attention to the direction of mountains and rivers, the distribution of earth veins and spiritual energy, and the interdependent relationship between all things and the earth, which provided more intuitive confirmation and supplement to his understanding of the way of the earth.
Hongyun gained a deeper understanding of the flow of various primordial energies in the world, the changes in wind and clouds, the mysteries of the mutual generation and interdependence of water and fire, and the different aura attributes exhibited by different races. He felt that his own Four Symbols Dao was more harmonious and dynamic.
They would sometimes stop and find a place with extraordinary scenery, sit down on the ground, and discuss the Dao for several days. They would compare what they had seen and heard with their own Dao and felt that they had benefited greatly and their Daoist minds had become more clear.
The wilderness is vast and boundless, spanning countless years.
After countless sunrises and sunsets, and witnessing countless subtle changes in the world, on this day, following their unseen connection with the Father God Pangu, they finally arrived at the center of that primordial world, the origin of all things—at the foot of Mount Buzhou.
Looking up once more at this colossal pillar formed from the spine of the Father God, and feeling the overwhelming and boundless pressure of Pangu, Hongyun could not hide the shock and awe on his face.
Even though he was already at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, standing in front of this mountain, he still felt as insignificant as dust. It was an absolute sense of oppression that originated from the level of life and from the primordial origin.
The countless jagged and terrifying cracks on the mountain silently tell of the ferocity of the first battle and the greatness of the Father God.
Zhen Yuanzi, on the other hand, was much calmer. Through the memory sharing with Wanshou Yuanjun, he already had an extremely clear understanding of the appearance and oppressive aura of Buzhou Mountain.
Seeing Hongyun's shock, he used his divine sense to transmit a detailed account of how the Longevity Goddess descended at the foot of this mountain, how she dispersed her magical power and used only her physical body to withstand the pressure and temper her body, how she climbed step by step with great difficulty, and how she finally encountered the will of Pangu and the fragments of the Great Dao in the mountain peak area for baptism.
"So it turns out that when Fellow Daoist Wanshou Yuanjun first took human form, she underwent such a difficult and precious trial."
After hearing this, the shock in Hongyun's eyes gradually faded, replaced by heartfelt admiration and a burning fighting spirit.
"The spine of the Father God, the center of heaven and earth. If we cannot personally ascend and experience it, wouldn't our journey to this primordial world be in vain? Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, now that we have arrived here, we should emulate Fellow Daoist Yuanjun of yesteryear and use this supreme divine mountain to temper our bodies and wills!"
Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi's simple face revealed a hint of approving smile, and he nodded, saying, "That's exactly right. Only through personal experience can one truly understand its meaning. Let us travel together and look after each other."
The two were of one mind and immediately stopped hesitating.
Just as the Lord of Longevity had done in the past, they simultaneously and completely dissipated the immortal light and magical power protecting their bodies.
He suppressed his cultivation aura to the extreme, relying solely on the most primal physical strength, adjusted his breathing, and gazed firmly at the insurmountable mountain peak. Then, step by step, he began this arduous climb!
In the initial stage, relying on their incredibly strong foundation and cultivation (especially Zhen Yuanzi, who was born from the essence of the Earth element and whose foundation was reshaped by Pangu Jade Marrow, making his physical strength far superior to his peers), they climbed quite quickly and their steps were relatively easy.
But as the altitude continued to increase, the terrifying pressure unique to Mount Buzhou, seemingly originating from the weight of the entire primordial world, surged in layer upon layer like a tide, growing heavier and heavier. Skin, bones, internal organs…
Every inch of their flesh was subjected to unimaginable pressure, as if to be crushed into dust. Furthermore, the omnipresent chaotic energy, like countless invisible blades, frantically sliced at their bodies, bringing excruciating pain.
The will of Pangu, which permeated the air, constantly impacted their minds and tested the steadfastness of their Dao hearts.
Zhen Yuanzi's face was calm, and every step he took was as steady as a mountain. Beneath his earth-yellow Taoist robe, his muscles were bulging, and the powerful blood and qi in his body resonated faintly with the pulse of the earth, guiding that terrifying pressure to his limbs and bones, undergoing the deepest level of tempering.
Hongyun's face was slightly flushed, and the four illusory images of the four elements were faintly flowing around his body. The wind fueled the fire, and the water nourished the wood, circulating endlessly to help him share the pressure and stabilize his body.
Although he was not known for his physical strength, his foundation at the peak of the Great Luo realm was extraordinary, and he was able to grit his teeth and keep up step by step.
Their pace slowed down, and each step upward required them to muster all their strength to fight against the almost suffocating weight.
Sweat soaked through the Taoist robe, then evaporated by the chaotic airflow, leaving behind white salt stains.
But there was no sign of retreat in their eyes; on the contrary, they became even clearer and more determined, immersing themselves entirely in the understanding of controlling their own bodies and resisting external pressure.
This is not only a test of the body, but also a tempering of the will, a test of one's own way in extreme environments.
After countless exhaustion and recoverys, and after crossing countless seemingly insurmountable steep cliffs, when they finally made their way to the misty mountaintop and crossed an invisible yet clear boundary.
A miraculous change, exactly like what the Longevity Lord had experienced years ago, occurred again—the terrifying pressure that had almost crushed them suddenly lessened by more than half.
Instead, there was the vast and boundless remnant will of Pangu, full of indomitable spirit and creativity, permeating the surrounding air, as well as countless fragments of law insights that floated and shimmered like star fragments, each containing the mystery of the origin of the Great Dao!
"This...this is the initial enlightenment of the Great Dao left behind by the Father God?!"
Hongyun's mind was instantly shaken, completely immersed in it, his face filled with unparalleled shock and ecstasy. Those fragments of the myriad Great Dao Laws, although mostly incomplete and of shallow level.
However, its profound origins and far-reaching vision seem to have directly revealed the underlying code of the formation of heaven and earth, making him, a peak Great Luo cultivator, feel enlightened. Many obstacles and mysteries that he had been unable to understand in his previous cultivation were melted away by the light of these fragments!
Although Zhen Yuanzi had anticipated this, personally experiencing the mysteries of the mountain peak was ultimately completely different from perceiving them through memory.
He also devoted himself wholeheartedly to guiding those profound insights about "bearing," "stabilizing," "growing," and "creating" to mutually verify and integrate with his own incomparably profound understanding of the Way of the Earth.
He felt that his understanding of "earth" was no longer limited to mountains and rivers, but extended to the level of all things being supported and the foundation of cause and effect, becoming more profound and harmonious, as if he had touched some more essential rule.
After a long while, perhaps a moment, perhaps a thousand years, the two slowly awoke from that profound state of enlightenment.
With each blink of his eyes, an indescribable brilliance of wisdom flashed by. Although his aura did not surge, it became more restrained and profound. His foundation of cultivation was honed to be more solid, and he seemed to see the path to the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos more clearly in the future.
They smiled at each other, everything understood without a word.
Without any further hesitation, they took the last few steps together and steadily stepped onto the summit of Buzhou Mountain—the highest point in this primordial world!
In an instant, an overwhelming sense of vastness, indescribable in words, completely enveloped them.
It felt as if I was standing at the boundary between heaven and earth, with the endless and ever-changing primordial land beneath my feet. The magnificent picture scroll woven from the veins of thousands of mountains, the course of rivers, and the destiny of races was presented in my heart with an unprecedented clarity.
Looking up, the sky seems within reach, and the orbits of the sun, moon, and stars appear close at hand, containing the secrets of the celestial sphere.
A sense of grandeur and transcendence arises spontaneously, as if one has become one with the world, one's mind is infinitely broadened, and one's will becomes more and more indestructible after being tempered.
Standing atop this primordial peak, overlooking the vast multitude of beings, and feeling the pulse of heaven and earth, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun simultaneously experienced a profound realization:
Their path and their destiny, from the day they took form, have been inextricably linked to this vast, mysterious, and legendary primordial world.