Chapter 1 First Arrival
Unknown dimension...
Unknown space-time...
Flowing Wind City.
A dim and lightless sky, an environment lacking vitality, and filled with deformities. It looked extremely like a world defiled by massive amounts of nuclear wastewater.
"Hu..." Letting out a long breath, Xiao Feng woke from his state of profound cultivation.
"Heh..." A low laugh sounded like mockery. Xiao Feng raised his eyes, slowly stood up from the bed, and walked slowly to the window.
"Divine Tribulation Realm..." Xiao Feng whispered softly. "Why? Exactly why? It has been a full twelve years!"
Since breaking through to the Divine Tribulation Realm at the age of six, he had been so proud. He once even thought he was a so-called Child of Destiny and that the world would unfold around him.
But reality was always cruel. As the people around him grew up one by one and their cultivation broke through, he remained stuck at the tenth level of the Divine Tribulation Realm without any breakthrough.
The Divine Tribulation Realm should have had no bottlenecks and should have been a realm of pure profound energy growth, yet he had been stuck for a full twelve years! What use was an increase in profound energy if it could not bring about a breakthrough in realm?
His realm made no progress, and even his profound arts seemed to be firmly shackled by a layer of restriction.
"Feng'er?" Hearing a slight sound inside the room, Xiao Ling'er called out gently.
Hearing the voice, Xiao Feng instantly inhaled, sweeping away his decadent posture. His eyes shone as he slowly walked down from the second floor to the first floor, looking toward the source of the voice.
Entering his vision was a girl wearing a pale white elegant dress with jet-black hair pinned up. Her skin was as fair as new snow, her chest full and high, and her slender waist was upright and could be grasped with a single hand. Her bewitching and perfect figure could ignite a man's desire with just one look.
However, her facial features were ordinary, without a single outstanding point. Any man who looked at her would cry out "what a pity." But under the erosion of the Abyssal Dust where skin generally became rough, such fair skin was still pleasing to the eye.
Xiao Feng hooked up a smile and looked at Xiao Ling'er. "Sister Ling'er, I have finished cultivating. How are the customers in the medicine store recently?"
"Just as usual. I heard from people coming to the store that a few cities recently seemed to have turned into empty cities overnight, and the people disappeared..."
Xiao Ling'er looked Xiao Feng up and down and spoke slowly. "Although you still haven't broken through, your profound energy seems to have become a bit more solid again. Do not lose heart. As the saying goes, accumulate thinly to erupt thickly. After crossing the tribulation, your Profound Dao cultivation will definitely advance by leaps and bounds."
"That is of course!" Xiao Feng said proudly. "With my Profound Dao talent, once I break through the Divine Tribulation Realm, it will be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. I will surely soar into the sky!"
"Hehe~" Xiao Ling'er hooked up a smile. "I watched you grow up. I know your talent far better than anyone else. You will definitely... definitely become that most dazzling star!"
"En. Sister Ling'er, I want to go out for a stroll."
"Okay, come back early."
Watching Xiao Feng's figure go out the door, Xiao Ling'er gazed for a long time before slowly going to a compartment on the first floor. This was a rather large book room with an extremely large collection of books, looking more like a library dedicated to disciples in a sect.
She picked up a book titled "Historical Records of Profound Cultivation" and flipped through it quickly.
She read the familiar characters one by one and chanted softly. "Exactly why has he been unable to break through the Divine Tribulation Realm, which should have no bottlenecks, for a full twelve years?"
She had flipped through a massive amount of books, not missing even local gossip and miscellaneous books. She would read anything that might offer a bit of inspiration, but she had gained nothing all this time. She knew Xiao Feng was definitely not as calm as he appeared on the surface.
Divine Tribulation Realm... as the name implied, if one wanted to break through this realm, they must first pass the lightning tribulation. Only after undergoing the baptism of the lightning tribulation could one successfully advance. However, every year there were people crossing the tribulation who died under the heavenly tribulation.
This also led to some people choosing to stay in the Divine Tribulation Realm for life because they feared the lightning tribulation.
But in an environment where almost everyone pursued the supreme Profound Dao, how would others view someone stuck in the Divine Tribulation Realm for a full twelve years? Being afraid of the lightning tribulation or lacking ambition would be considered good interpretations. Labels like greedy for life and afraid of death, or coward, would accompany this life and become an indelible brand.
How could a teenage boy bear this kind of "injustice" that could not be defended?
"Sigh." With a sigh, Xiao Ling'er's thoughts drifted as she unconsciously murmured. "Could it be caused by that incident back then?"
Soon, she gathered her drifting thoughts and threw herself back into the books, seeking only not to miss any deep meaning between every word and sentence.
...
A desolate and withered environment, a world with few signs of human habitation; everything was so out of place.
Xiao Feng walked slowly through the city. Here, the Abyssal Dust permeated the air, making even the atmosphere uncomfortable. A layer of faint milky white light covered Xiao Feng's body.
Light profound energy had a blocking effect against Abyssal Dust. This was something Xiao Feng had discovered at the time of his birth.
Abyssal Dust was ubiquitous like air. It would corrode a person's life at any time until death. The only way to resist Abyssal Dust was to constantly improve one's profound energy to become stronger.
Or, one could go to a Divine Kingdom protected by a True God. A True God could use divine power to create a barrier that isolated the Abyssal Dust.
Or perhaps, a pure land without Abyssal Dust...
Xiao Feng looked toward the dim sky, his thoughts complicated.
His light profound energy was cultivated through the Creation God Art "Miracle of Life" from one of the four great Creation Gods, Li Suo.
To cultivate the Miracle of Life, one must first possess a "Sacred Heart" or "Sacred Body."
He vaguely remembered that at that time, it seemed someone was whispering the general formula of the Miracle of Life in his ear. This induced him to complete the introduction of the first wisp of profound energy during his infancy, reaching the Elementary Profound Realm.
The profound art was not unfamiliar; it could even be said to be familiar. This was because it came from a book titled "Against the Gods."
"Hehe..." A low laugh. Xiao Feng spoke to himself. "I thought of competing with Mars to see who lived longer. I didn't expect heaven to go against people's wishes; I actually lost."
That year he was eighteen. Was it because the study pressure was too high and he was mentally and physically exhausted as exams approached, leading to sudden death?
Moreover, if his guess was not wrong, he should have transmigrated to the world titled "Against the Gods." Furthermore, it was the Endless Abyss belonging to the World of Extinction!
He didn't wait for the "Six Great Divine Kingdoms" update but ran to the Abyss a step ahead of Yun Che. At that time, he didn't even know what to feel...
Witnessing Yun Che's growth step by step, what he learned and thought was etched in his heart.
He originally thought this world would unfold around him, but fate played a massive joke on him. He was trapped in the tiny Divine Tribulation Realm and could not break through.
In the Abyss World, how humble was a mere Divine Tribulation Realm? Even if one possessed a body of powerful profound arts and profound skills, what use was it?
He had even turned from a genius envied by others into a coward despised by them.
Strolling through the city... Xiao Feng's spiritual perception sensed someone watching him. Xiao Feng followed the gaze and looked over; it was a man.
The man had a tall figure and simple appearance, but his entire body currently emitted a kind of "aura of kingly dominance" that suggested no one else was worthy. A man was following beside him, likely his lackey.
Xiao Feng knew that person emitting the aura of kingly dominance. His name was Qi Panjian.
Seeing the person watching him, Xiao Feng paid him no more attention. He turned his head, intending to continue relaxing.
However, seeing Xiao Feng look over but not walk toward him, Qi Panjian took large strides and followed Xiao Feng at a moderate pace.
Qi Panjian came to Xiao Feng's side and struck up a conversation like he was meeting an acquaintance. "Yo, Brother Xiao, I trust you have been well since we last met. I haven't seen you for a long time."
Xiao Feng twitched the corner of his mouth. Qi Panjian was two years older than Xiao Feng and they had "played" together when they were young, so calling him "Brother" was not considered a breach of etiquette.
Since he was already in front of him, Xiao Feng could not pretend he didn't see him. He cupped his hands and said, "Brother Pan, long time no see. Looking at this momentum, presumably your cultivation has improved again."
Qi Panjian's face was indifferent as he spoke slowly. "Indeed, a small breakthrough." After speaking, he glanced very slightly at the lackey beside him.
The lackey was named Qi Yi. He was a servant of the Qi family specifically responsible for Qi Panjian's daily life. Xiao Feng had a tiny bit of an impression of him.
Qi Yi shouted exaggeratedly, "Young Master is truly humble! As early as last month, he already successfully passed the tribulation and advanced to the Divine Spirit Realm. Moreover, he withstood a two-fold heavenly tribulation! His future is boundless!"
"Furthermore, yesterday he pressed on with one effort and has already become a heaven's chosen one at the second level of the Divine Spirit Realm. Presumably, a mere Divine King realm is also surely just around the corner!"
Xiao Feng knew where the impression came from. This bootlicking could reach the heavens.
"Shut up!" Suddenly, Qi Panjian spoke, scolding Qi Yi. It made Qi Yi feel at a loss, and even Xiao Feng could not make heads or tails of him. His personality... should not be like this.
Qi Panjian said with righteous dignity, "How did I speak when we were at the Qi family? I emphasized to you countless times: a hidden dragon conceals itself in the abyss. I repeatedly emphasized the word 'hiding clumsiness.' You must absolutely not widely publicize a little achievement and let everyone know!"
"Moreover, in front of Brother Xiao. He reached Divine Tribulation at six years old. He knew he would surely attract worldwide attention and even be hated by people. Thus, he 'specially' faded into the crowd."
"For a full twelve years, he has not had a trace of a breakthrough. Even when rumors rose everywhere saying he was greedy for life and afraid of death, he remained steadfast and immovable, never making the slightest progress..."
After finishing, he paused slowly. Then his tone rose a few degrees higher than before. "This kind of persistence, I am already inferior to. Thinking of my mere Divine Spirit Realm, Brother Xiao could surely enter it as he pleases. Speaking like this in front of Brother Xiao, do I not appear to be deliberately showing off and displaying my slight skill before an expert!"
Xiao Feng's face could not stop twitching...
After speaking, he even extended his hand wanting to pat dust that did not exist on Xiao Feng's shoulder. Who knew that Xiao Feng would dodge sideways, and Qi Panjian's hand slapped directly onto an afterimage.
He quickly retracted his hand and placed it on his lower back, but a trace of astonishment flashed across his face. Even the current him was actually still completely unable to see through Xiao Feng's movement trajectory!
"Cough cough..." Coughing lightly, Qi Panjian just wanted to speak.
Xiao Feng had already spoken in advance. "Congratulations on Brother Pan's breakthrough. I have not visited for a long time; it is truly a breach of etiquette. If you have leisure time, you can go to the medical clinic opened by my sister, explain the situation, and collect some wound medicine."
"I still have matters to attend to and truly cannot spare the time to visit. Please forgive me."
Qi Panjian laughed heroically. "It is all a small matter. But your family's wound medicine is indeed easy to use; those old brands cannot compare to yours. I won't be polite then. I will go in a while. You go get busy; I won't disturb you."
Xiao Feng did not respond and turned to walk out of the city...
Qi Yi looked at Xiao Feng's retreating figure and curled his lips, saying, "Truly arrogant enough. He still thinks he is that genius admired by people from before!"
Since childhood, he had always been suppressed by Xiao Feng, and he could not out-talk him either. This also made Xiao Feng the first person Qi Panjian thought of after his realm breakthrough.
The smile on Qi Panjian's face could not be concealed at all. He praised Qi Yi, "Well done."
It really killed me with delight. You don't know, looking at Xiao Feng's slightly twitching face was unspeakably satisfying! Qi Panjian shared his inner thoughts with Qi Yi, completely unlike something a twenty-year-old should do...
...