From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 76 A Turning Point Approaches, Dawn Appears

"I..." I was about to speak when I suddenly felt an even stronger force descend from the sky, pressing down on me so hard I could barely breathe. This force didn't come from heavenly lightning, but rather... another, more sinister and eerie aura.

Oh no! Before I could even think, a sharp pain shot through my chest, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood, my vision going black. I managed to steady myself and looked up to see a swirling black mist in the shattered sky, rapidly coalescing into a gigantic skull that roared silently.

"It's... the remnant soul of a demon god!" My heart sank. This power was far stronger and more malevolent than that of the Asura King. Could this be the true calamity?

Wen Chen's expression changed drastically. He struggled to stand up, but due to the excessive exertion from his previous battle with the Asura King, he swayed precariously. "Yao'er, be careful!" His voice was hoarse, tinged with despair.

I took a deep breath, enduring the excruciating pain, and mobilized all the remaining immortal power within my body. Even facing the remnant soul of a demon god, I will never back down! I was once a useless person, but I have risen to where I am today not through talent, but through my indomitable will!

"Trying to devour me? Not so easy!" I gritted my teeth, quickly forming hand seals, guiding the remaining heavenly lightning power around me to form golden light blades, which I slashed towards the giant skull.

The light blade clashed with the black mist, emitting a piercing shriek and sending sparks flying. I felt my power rapidly draining away, but the skull didn't seem to have suffered much damage. This remnant soul of a demon god is indeed troublesome!

Just when I was about to give up, a warm power suddenly surged into my body. I turned my head and saw Wen Chen, who, despite his pale face, stood firmly behind me, releasing his Immortal Venerable aura to form an invisible barrier, blocking the erosion of the Demon God's remnant soul.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” he said weakly but firmly.

His power merged with mine, creating a wondrous resonance that revitalized my nearly depleted immortal energy. I felt a new power surging within me, stronger and purer than before.

I gathered my divine power once more, and this time, the golden blade of light was even more dazzling and sharper. I poured all my strength into this strike, slashing fiercely towards the skull's brow!

With a deafening roar, the skull trembled violently, the black mist churned even more violently, and emitted a mournful howl.

I knew I hadn't completely defeated it yet, but at least I saw hope. I felt my body had reached its limit, and everything before my eyes began to blur… Wen Chen caught my swaying body, his hand, cold yet strong… “Yao’er…” Wen Chen’s hand, cold yet strong, was like a lifeline, allowing me to grasp a sliver of hope just as I was about to fall into the abyss. I nestled in his arms, my consciousness fading, yet I could still feel the roar of the demon god's remnant soul, like a sharp knife scraping against my nerves.

"Yao'er, hold on!" Wen Chen's voice rang in my ears, trembling slightly but full of strength. I knew he was struggling to hold on as well.

I struggled to open my heavy eyelids, but the world before me was a blur. Only the swirling black mist and Wen Chen's anxious face were vaguely visible. I wanted to speak, but no sound came out. I could only feel the immortal power within my body rapidly draining away like a receding tide.

Just when I thought I was about to collapse, a strange power quietly descended. The churning black mist and the suffocating pressure of the demonic god seemed to have weakened somewhat. I felt a sense of doubt; this power... did not come from Wen Chen, nor was it my own.

I managed to lift my head, and through my blurry vision, I saw a sliver of clarity appear in the sky that had been shrouded in demonic illusion. It was as if an invisible hand had torn a hole in the illusion, revealing the original azure sky.

At the same time, the previously menacing Asura King let out a painful roar. The demonic energy around him surged even more violently, but it was no longer as solid as before; instead, it appeared somewhat chaotic, as if it were being suppressed in some way.

Could it be... the Jade Emperor? This thought flashed through my mind, and a glimmer of hope rose in my heart. It seems that the Heavenly Court is not entirely standing idly by.

Just then, the Asura King suddenly roared to the sky, his voice filled with anger and resentment. "Despicable! You dared to plot against me!" he roared, raising his hands high and beginning to chant an obscure and difficult-to-understand incantation.

As he chanted, an even colder, more malevolent aura emanated from him. This aura was more terrifying than the remnant soul of a demon god, as if it came from the deepest hell, carrying endless death and destruction.

Oh no! He's summoning evil power from the depths of the demon realm! My heart tightened. If this power were to be fully unleashed, the entire cultivation world would likely be plunged into utter destruction.

However, at this critical moment, a golden light descended from the sky and struck the Asura King fiercely. The Asura King let out a scream, his incantation interrupted, and the evil power that was gathering dissipated.

Immediately afterwards, a majestic voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth: "Asura, how dare you violate the rules of heaven and earth! Your crime is unforgivable!"

I recognize this voice; it is the embodiment of the rules of heaven and earth! It seems that Asura King's act of summoning power from the depths of the demon realm has crossed the bottom line of the rules of heaven and earth, and has resulted in a backlash from those rules.

King Asura clutched his chest, his face pale, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness. He knew he had lost, utterly lost.

I felt a warm power surge through my body, a power that was both familiar and strange. I turned to look at Wen Chen; he was still holding me tightly, his eyes filled with worry and love.

"Yao'er..." he called my name softly, his voice trembling slightly, "How are you feeling?"

I wanted to answer him, but I found myself still unable to make a sound. I could only hold his hand tightly, feeling the warmth of his palm and the strength he was giving me.

Suddenly, I felt the warm power within my body begin to flow, gathering in my dantian, repairing my damaged meridians and replenishing my depleted immortal energy. I felt my body slowly recovering, and my consciousness gradually clearing.

I struggled to open my eyes and looked at Wen Chen, wanting to tell him I was alright, but I saw his gaze go past my shoulder and look at a certain place behind me, his eyes filled with shock and...fear.

"Yao'er..." he spoke again, his voice unusually low and filled with disbelief, "You... behind you..."

Wen Chen's voice sent a chill down my spine, and a strange unease welled up inside me. I tried to twist my neck to see what was behind me, but found my body stiff as a stone, unable to move.

A warm power flowed through my body; I knew it was the compassionate power of Guanyin Bodhisattva. This power not only repaired my damaged meridians but also stabilized my mind, allowing me to maintain a sliver of clarity even in this critical moment. I felt the divine power within me rapidly recovering, even becoming more abundant and stronger than before.

"Yao'er, behind you..." Wen Chen's voice rang out again, trembling slightly, and filled with a fear I had never heard before...?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to turn my head despite the stiffness in my body. What came into view was a dazzling golden light. This golden light did not come from the sky, but... emanated from my own body.

I saw a colossal image of Guanyin appear behind me. The image was benevolent and dignified, radiating boundless peace and compassion. And I felt as if I were embraced by this image, bathed in golden light.

I was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words. What... what's going on? Why is the image of Guanyin Bodhisattva appearing behind me?

"Yao'er, you..." Wen Chen's voice was filled with disbelief, "You...have become a god?"

Becoming a god? My heart skipped a beat. Could this be the ascension to godhood? But I haven't even passed the Heavenly Tribulation yet!

Just then, the demonic barrier in the sky completely dissipated, revealing the original azure sky. Erlang Shen led his heavenly soldiers and generals down from the sky, wiping out the remaining demons. The Asura King, severely wounded, fled in a sorry state, his previous arrogance completely gone.

I felt the power of Guanyin Bodhisattva continuously working within me, allowing me to withstand the lightning tribulation and the Asura King's attacks while also stabilizing my mind and searching for a new breakthrough. I took a deep breath, circulating the abundant immortal power within me, preparing to meet the challenges ahead.

I know this is only a temporary calm; the real test is yet to come. Although the Asura King has been defeated, he will not give up easily. The heavenly tribulation is not over either, and may even become more intense because of my "becoming a god."

I slowly closed my eyes, feeling the surging power within me, my heart filled with unprecedented confidence. This time, I will not back down, I will not run away. I will use my strength to protect those I love, to protect this world I depend on for survival.

Suddenly, I sensed an unusual aura. I abruptly opened my eyes and looked at the White Bone Demon not far away. She was trapped in Erlang Shen's magic and couldn't move. Seeing the Guanyin image behind me, her eyes were filled with fear, yet also with a hint of...hope? She opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something, but dared not speak.

I stared at her coldly, without saying a word. I knew she must be up to something.

Just then, the dark clouds in the sky churned again, and the thunder roared, even more violently and terrifyingly than before. A powerful pressure descended from the sky, as if to crush me.

I took a deep breath, looked up at the sky, and my eyes were filled with determination. I knew that the real test had only just begun.

"Yao'er..." Wen Chen's voice rang in my ears, tinged with worry, "Be careful..."

I gripped the sword tightly, feeling the cold touch of its blade.

Suddenly, I sensed… I sensed… a strange movement emanating from the White Bone Demon. Her previously terrified face now wore a fawning smile, a smile that looked particularly eerie on her pale, skeletal features. She struggled desperately, trying to break free from Erlang Shen's magical restraints, muttering, "Immortal Xiao Yao! Great God Xiao Yao! I know I was wrong! Please spare my life! I am willing to serve you like a dog!"

As she spoke, she struggled to crawl towards me, wriggling like a maggot—a truly repulsive sight. I sneered inwardly. Spare her? She had committed countless evils, harming innocent lives; now, seeing my power, she wanted to wag her tail and beg for mercy, clinging to life?

"Shut up!" I shouted sharply, my voice carrying the compassionate power of Guanyin Bodhisattva, yet also an undeniable authority. The White Bone Demon's body trembled violently, daring not to move forward an inch, but her empty eye sockets remained fixed on me, filled with pleading.

I ignored her and instead gazed into the distance. Although the Asura King had fled, I knew he wouldn't give up so easily. This battle was far from over.

The dark clouds in the sky churned even more violently, thunder roared, and lightning flashed, as if a bolt of lightning would strike at any moment. The power of this heavenly tribulation was several times stronger than before. It seems that my "becoming a god" has triggered some rule of the Heavenly Dao, causing this heavenly tribulation to escalate accordingly.

"Yao'er, be careful!" Wen Chen's voice rang out again, filled with deep worry.

I smiled slightly at him, giving him a reassuring look. I took a deep breath, circulating the surging immortal power within me, preparing to face this even more intense heavenly tribulation.

The image of Guanyin Bodhisattva still shone with golden light behind me, forming a protective shield that enveloped me. I felt Guanyin Bodhisattva's power continuously flowing into my body, repairing my damaged meridians and strengthening my power.

I closed my eyes and felt the flow of three forces within my body: the power inherited from Guanyin Bodhisattva, the lightning power of the heavenly tribulation, and the immortal power I had cultivated myself. These three forces were originally incompatible, but they miraculously merged together within my body, forming a more powerful and purer force.

I slowly opened my eyes, a glint of light flashing within them. I felt that the power within me had reached an unprecedented peak.

Just then, I sensed an evil aura coming from afar. I turned my head sharply in the direction where the Asura King had fled. There he stood atop a towering mountain peak, his hands raised high, chanting incantations, seemingly summoning some kind of evil power.

The dark clouds in the sky suddenly began to churn violently, forming a huge vortex. At the center of the vortex, a black energy was constantly condensing.

A chill ran through me; I knew that the Asura King was about to make a desperate gamble.

I took a deep breath, completely merging the three powers within me, transforming them into a dazzling light... and charged towards the Asura King.

"Wen Chen, take care of yourself..."