SWNOVELXO Chapter 6:
Chapter 6:
No matter how shocked everyone was, the celestial phenomenon continued, growing more intense by the moment. Zhou Tong’s transformation had already become an undeniable reality.
The sky darkened, thunder roared, and dense black clouds pressed down, as if something monumental was about to erupt.
“This is… this is the Heavenly Tribulation Thunder! His enlightenment has alarmed the Heavenly Dao!”
Baihe Fairy murmured, her voice trembling with awe.
Mo Liusu’s entire body quivered as she stared intently ahead.
Before she could speak, Jiang Yuyao and Ge Hongqiu had already lost their composure.
“This is impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could Zhou Tong, of all people, deserve this? What qualifications does he have? He’s just a sycophant, a useless failure! Among all the disciples of the Azure Purity Sect, only Little Junior Brother is worthy of alarming the Heavenly Dao!”
Tang Qi remained silent but nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with their sentiments.
Even the elders shared this perspective. For someone who had just been crippled to suddenly attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao? It sounded utterly absurd.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning, imbued with the power of the tribulation, tore through the sky, silencing their disbelief and metaphorically slapping them all in the face.
Everyone was stunned, their bodies cold as they realized the truth—it was indeed a Heavenly Dao tribulation!
Blinding lightning erupted, illuminating the sky as thunderbolts danced like serpents. These bolts intertwined, forming a magnificent Dao Diagram in the sky.
The diagram shimmered slightly before transforming into a vast starry river, with countless stars descending toward Zhou Tong.
Those with knowledge trembled at the sight. These were not actual stars but manifestations of pure, condensed spiritual energy—a supreme opportunity!
Under everyone’s gaze, Zhou Tong spread his arms and absorbed the stars, drawing them into his body.
In an instant, his aura surged, transforming him from a crippled mortal back into a cultivator. He swiftly ascended to the peak of the Acquired Realm.
The scene left the onlookers gasping in disbelief. Cultivation was an arduous path, requiring years of accumulation for every step forward. Yet Zhou Tong had crossed nine stages of the Acquired Realm in a single moment—a feat that defied all reason!
Could an enlightenment alone truly achieve this?
In truth, no one understood the significance of this moment.
Zhou Tong’s state of mind had reached perfection. From this point forward, he had the qualifications to aspire to the supreme Emperor Realm.
This celestial phenomenon was the Heavenly Dao’s acknowledgment of his potential to become an emperor.
“What’s so shocking about this?”
Mo Liusu’s disdainful voice broke the silence, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Ancient texts have long recorded that when someone burns their potential to its limits, they can temporarily raise their cultivation level, even fooling the Heavenly Dao into triggering a phenomenon. However, the price for this is…”
“Exhaustion of their life force, leaving them nothing but ashes!”
Someone couldn’t help but cry out, their gaze filled with disbelief as they looked at Zhou Tong. Could this once-brilliant genius really have chosen to destroy his future for a moment of glory?
It was the only explanation that made sense.
Seeing that many were starting to believe her, the mockery on Mo Liusu’s lips grew more pronounced.
“To slap me in the face, you resorted to such disgraceful tactics. What a pity that I’ve seen through your petty schemes. This is nothing but the performance of a clown!”
“Master, this piece of trash has probably exhausted all his potential. Even if he begs for forgiveness on his knees, would you still accept him?” Ge Hongqiu chimed in, her tone dripping with malice.
“Hmph! No matter what, we share a karmic connection. If he repents in time, I might be willing to grant him a life-sustaining pill to prolong his miserable existence,” Mo Liusu said coldly.
At her words, pity filled the eyes of those looking at Zhou Tong.
Even the greatest geniuses had met tragic ends before, becoming nothing more than fleeting memories. Zhou Tong seemed destined to join their ranks.
Boom!
Just as everyone was lamenting, an even grander phenomenon erupted!
The heavens glowed with radiant light as the earth split open, revealing surging spiritual springs. Lotus flowers bloomed, encircling Zhou Tong in their midst.
Birds soared in the sky, their wings fluttering as they circled around him. Tigers and leopards bowed low, kneeling in reverence before him, painting a scene befitting a celestial king’s descent.
The unprecedented spectacle left everyone in stunned silence. Was this truly enlightenment, or had an ancient, peerless expert been reborn in Zhou Tong’s body?
At the same time, Zhou Tong’s cultivation surged again, stepping into the Innate Realm. He ascended through nine stages consecutively, reaching the peak of the Innate Realm!
Such a leap could no longer be explained by burning potential. No mortal, even if they sacrificed everything, could leap across two major realms, let alone cause such a phenomenon!
“‘The king of birds respects him, beasts bow to his wisdom; the stars and moon converge, and springs rise from the earth!’”
Someone murmured the lines, sending chills down the spines of everyone who heard them.
These words were from the Diagram of Becoming an Emperor, perfectly matching Zhou Tong’s phenomenon.
Could Zhou Tong truly have the potential to ascend to the Emperor Realm?
“What’s going on? His aura feels so weak, and yet, from this distance, I feel an urge to kneel in worship,” someone muttered, wiping cold sweat from their brow.
“You’re not alone—I feel it too. It’s as if my knees won’t obey me. This isn’t right… Could the Azure Purity Sect have just let a true dragon slip through their fingers?”
“Haha… If it’s true, this will be interesting. Seeing that woman so high and mighty is truly irritating. I’d love to see her regret this!”
“Honestly, the best course of action would be to apologize to Zhou Tong immediately and bring him back. That would solve everything!”
Hearing the murmurs, the elders in the hall broke into a cold sweat, their gazes shifting to Mo Liusu, who now seemed incredibly uncomfortable.
But she quickly masked her unease, sneering coldly. “So what if he triggered a celestial phenomenon? Trash is still trash. I will never allow him to return. Besides, with his low cultivation, even a servant disciple surpasses him. Let’s see who would even take in that useless wreck!”
Her words finally put Tang Qi at ease, allowing a smile to return to his face. Mo Liusu was right. Even if Zhou Tong could cultivate again, he was no longer a match for Tang Qi.
The cultivation levels progressed from Acquired to Innate, followed by the Soul Division Realm, Spirit Transformation Realm, and Heart Integration Realm—together known as the Five Mortal Realms.
Only by breaking through the Heart Integration Realm could one reach the transcendent realms.
Before being crippled, Zhou Tong had been at the peak of the Heart Integration Realm. Tang Qi, already in the same realm, believed it wouldn’t take long for him to surpass Zhou Tong completely and cross into transcendence.
When that time came, Zhou Tong would be nothing more than a bug beneath his feet, easily crushed with a wave of his hand.
But then, Tang Qi’s smug expression froze.
Several figures, exuding powerful auras, descended from the skies and approached Zhou Tong.
The crowd gasped in shock as they recognized these individuals—each one was a prominent figure from major sects, some even leaders of their respective factions.
It was clear they had all come to recruit Zhou Tong.
“Young friend, now that you’re a free man, would you consider joining our Azure Pill Sect?”
An elderly man stepped forward, his face kind and inviting.
“The Azure Pill Sect? My goodness!”
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd. Though the Azure Pill Sect lacked supreme experts, it was a sect of alchemists with deep ties to countless powerful figures, making its status exceedingly high.
If Zhou Tong joined, he would undoubtedly gain access to a wealth of spirit pills, quickly restoring his strength and even surpassing his peak.
“Young man, don’t listen to that old geezer. They don’t understand cultivation. If you go with them, you’ll be wasting your talent!”
A refined man stepped forward, his appearance sending shockwaves through the crowd.
“It’s him! Sect Master Ying Shaoxuan of the Profound Heavenly Sect!”
Even Mo Liusu couldn’t maintain her composure. The Profound Heavenly Sect, alongside the Azure Purity Sect and the Upper Purity Sect, was one of the Three Supreme Sects, each on equal footing.
For Ying Shaoxuan to personally recruit Zhou Tong was completely beyond her expectations.
“You wish to take me as your disciple?” Zhou Tong asked expressionlessly.
“Not me. My master wishes to accept you. If you agree, you’ll become my junior brother!”
His words left everyone stunned.
Ying Shaoxuan’s master… the previous Sect Master of the Profound Heavenly Sect and now the Supreme Elder?
If Zhou Tong became his disciple, he would share the same rank as Ying Shaoxuan, and even Mo Liusu would have to address him as “Uncle-Master.”
Mo Liusu’s face changed repeatedly, and she abruptly stood up.
“Senior, are you truly serious about bringing this ingrate into the Profound Heavenly Sect?”
Through the Heavenly Dao’s projection, Mo Liusu bowed to Ying Shaoxuan and asked stiffly.
“Do you have objections? Or are you regretting your actions and want to take him back?” Ying Shaoxuan asked with a sly smile.
“Impossible! I would never take back such trash!” Mo Liusu denied immediately.
“Then keep your mouth shut and watch quietly!”
Mo Liusu’s expression darkened, but she held back her anger and forced a smile. “I’m only thinking of the Profound Heavenly Sect’s best interests. You may not know this, but that ingrate carries a demonic seed within him!”
“If you don’t believe me, you can verify it on the spot. Taking him into your sect would be like inviting a devil into your home, and the consequences would be unimaginable!”
…
(Ingrate: A person who shows no gratitude. synonyms: thankless wretch, ungrateful person. persona non grata, unwelcome person.)