Chapter 1252: I Did What The Sun Could Not

In reality, the “Three Tribulations Canon of Reincarnation” came with many limitations and dangers.

First, the martial art could only be practiced by women. Two, the practitioner must begin their practice from a young age as well. Three, they could never marry or have children, so they were destined for a lonely life. Four, they could not practice any other martial art except the “Three Tribulations Canon of Reincarnation” once they started on it. They could only walk this one path until the very end.

Five, practitioners of the “Three Tribulations Canon of Reincarnation” aged far faster than your ordinary person. On average, an ordinary person would enter old age at their fifties or sixties. A warrior would age even slower thanks to their rich vitality. However, a practitioner of the “Three Tribulations Canon of Reincarnation” would enter old age as early as their forties or thirties, meaning that they would need to reincarnate once every thirty to forty years.

Six, the reason the “Three Tribulations Canon of Reincarnation” had the words “Three Tribulations” in them wasn’t just because it enabled the practitioner to create three Tribulation Bodies. It was also because the practitioner would encounter one life-or-death tribulation during their three stages of life. If they managed to overcome the tribulation, then they would grow massively stronger. If not, then they would simply perish.

This was the reason the martial art had the words “Three Tribulations” in it.

Finally, every time the practitioner grew younger, their cultivation level would decline as well. This was why Sunlao Taijun was just a Great Trueman when she was a young girl, but a Half-Sage when she was at her oldest.

In terms of detriment though, the loss in cultivation level could hardly compare to the three tribulations. Not only must the practitioner of the “Three Tribulations Canon of Reincarnation” encounter a life-or-death tribulation during each stage of their life, future tribulations were always more terrible and deadlier than the ones before.

Besides that, there were plenty of minor detriments such as a twisted mind, a deeply rooted heart demon, a fickle temper and so on. However, they were nothing compared to the major detriments that were mentioned above.

In conclusion, the “Three Tribulations Canon of Reincarnation” wasn’t meant to be practiced by an ordinary human. It was a literal miracle—scratch that, an entire string of miracles—that Sunlao Taijun was able to practice it to the adept level and become a Half-Sage.

Before learning the details, Ye Qing was wondering if he could learn Sunlao Taijun’s martial art for himself. After all, it was a potent martial art involving the secrets of time and even capable of manifesting an illusion of the river of time. The techniques—the Lifespan Diminishing Finger, Palm of Aging, Heart Decaying Punch and more—weren’t half bad either. But now? Let’s just say that he wasn’t good enough for this martial art.

“Young master...”

A dozen or so breaths later, Sunlao Taijun’s eyes slowly regained their light. Then, she gave Ye Qing a bow.

“Mm. Bring him in.”

Ye Qing ordered, and the Taoist of Sleep, Warflight, and Ironface escorted Old Man of Zhi over to him.

“I’m willing to surrender and serve you, young master!”

As soon as Old Man of Zhi was brought before Ye Qing, he immediately dropped to his knees and begged. Unlike Sunlao Taijun, he wasn’t so loyal that he would die for the man. He would pay any price to live even a second longer, much less betray his old master.

“Good. Lower your mental defenses and do not resist!” Ye Qing ordered while pressing a finger to the old man’s forehead. A demonic lotus quickly sank into his mind.

“And done.”

After he converted Old Man of Zhi into his Heavenly Demon Dependent, Ye Qing finally allowed himself to let out a long sigh of relief. Some unexpected twists and turns had entered this plan of his, but ultimately, things were still proceeding smoothly.

Now that he was done with Ghost Taisui’s forces, it was time to go after Westwind Inn.

“Sunlao Taijun, contact Westwind Inn and inform them that we have left Cloud Hue Pass. Then, continue carrying out your plans as you have discussed beforehand,” Ye Qing instructed.

“As you command, young master,” Sunlao Taijun responded with a salute.

“Oh right! If possible, try to come up with a reason or make another offer to convince Westwind Inn to dispatch more elites into this ambush. Only four Shopkeepers? Did they think this is a child’s game or something?” Ye Qing said with a thoughtful look. Go big or go home, right?

“Understood.” Sunlao Taijun nodded.

“Taoist of Sleep, Old Man Zhi, the two of you should go make the preparations as well. I want Westwind Inn to send as many people as possible to this ambush... and to have none of them return,” declared Ye Qing.

“As you command, young master,” Taoist of Sleep and Old Man of Zhi responded affirmatively.

“Good. Now go.”

Ye Qing waved his hand, and the group dispersed.

After everyone was gone, Ye Qing stood at the peak of Nether Mountain and admired the view for a bit, a curious smile dancing across his lips. “It looks like Nether Mountain is going to need a new name.”

After the Earthly Sovereign Bell had purified this place with its light, the dark, yin, and deathly qi plaguing this place had disappeared completely. The zombies and Strangers had completely dissolved into ash as well. Therefore, the mountain was no longer shrouded in black fog or trembling in yin wind. Instead, it was calm, soothing, and full of potential.

He reckoned that life would start growing on Nether Mountain very soon. It probably would take a month or two at most for the entire place to be filled with trees, grass, and flowers. Not only that, the spirit and air of Dao permeating this place would most likely transform these plants into something extraordinary. They might turn into treasures or nature Strangers. They would definitely draw beasts and birds to this place.

Nether Mountain would soon transform into a place full of life, spirit, and potential. Naturally, it wasn’t right to call it Nether Mountain any longer.

It was at this moment a red sun leaped out of the sea of clouds and sprayed its columns of red light across the entire world. It was yet another new day.

At the Nether Mountain, as if unwilling to be outmatched by the sunlight, dark yellow light rose into the air like steam and shone even brighter than the light of dawn.

“Hah! Even the morning sun cannot outshine my light. Does that mean I am greater than the sun? I have it! From now on, this mountain shall be called ‘Above Sun Mountain’!”

Ye Qing barked out a laugh and threw a punch at a distant cliff, causing a loud explosion. When the dust had settled, and the rocks and stones had stopped rolling, a giant fist imprint that was as round as the sun but many times brighter than it was left behind on the cliffside.

As the light on the fist imprint gradually faded, it transformed into a pair of vibrant and elegant ancient scripts. It was none other than the two words, “Above Sun”.

As soon as the words took form, wind rolled in from the distance, and the mountain buzzed as cheering or celebrating its new name.

Ye Qing himself felt strangely excited and happy as the mountains continued to hum and vibrate. For whatever reason, his mind seemed to have become one with the mountains beneath his feet.

At that moment, he could clearly feel the mountains’ veins and energies. He could feel its joy and delight.

His blood ran together with the veins, his breathing swam alongside the energies, and his heart beat with the same rhythm and joy as the mountains.

Right here and now, he resembled the mountains, and the mountains resembled him.

Slowly, his blood ran slower, his breathing grew weaker, and his heartbeat grew softer. However, vigor was running furiously between the mountains, wind was blowing strongly across the trees, and the hums and the vibrations were rhythmic and unending.

It was as if the racing air currents were Ye Qing’s blood, the bowling wind was his breathing, and the continuous humming was his heart.

If before Ye Qing and the mountains only resembled each other, he was now the mountains, and the mountains were him.