Volume 4, Chapter 83 – The Nature of the Tribulation Struggle (Two-in-One)

He called me “Your Highness”?

Don’t tell me this is going to be one of those ridiculous melodramatic twists, where the Spirit-Command Sect has some connection to the emperor of the Xuan Dynasty?

Bai Xiang’s look practically spelled out those exact words, so openly that the dark-skinned monk’s eyelids twitched, forcing him to explain himself. “That title is meant to honor Your Highness’s will. Anyone with the courage to strengthen and uphold order, we address in that way.”

“The history of the Spirit-Command Sect goes back far too long,” he said with feeling. “So long that it exceeds the lifespan of certain ‘Exalted Saints.’ We have lived through several Void Tribulations and tribulation struggles. We know well that if the sentient beings of the world are to retain any hope or future, almost all of it rests upon the will and conviction of people like Your Highness.”

“Give me a detailed account of your background, and of some of the specific history of the Spirit-Command Sect.” Bai Xiang could not be bothered to listen to this kind of empty talk. She lowered her eyes to the already shrinking, collapsing edge of Shenwu Heaven and stepped onto the flying vessel first.

A short while later, the medium-sized flying vessel forcibly broke through the boundary of the void and slipped out from the edge of Shenwu Heaven. Everyone aboard turned back at that point to look at Shenwu Heaven’s condition. The enormous boulder that had once been wrapped in violet mist had already shrunk to the size of an egg, and even that continued to shrink until it soon vanished into the darkness.

“The birth and death of all things—this is perfectly normal.”

He Xian and Zhu Canghai did not dare speak. It was the dark-skinned monk who noticed Bai Xiang staring at the sight in silence and offered an explanation.

“Shenwu Heaven could actually be counted fortunate, because after it was stripped away, it still existed for nearly two thousand years. That gave it ample time to comprehend many mysteries of the Void Realm and the void beyond, and on that basis, it nurtured its own unique land and culture.”

“But it died.” Bai Xiang did not move her body or face; only her eyes slanted sideways toward him. “Even though it encountered an enlightened ruler and obtained a once-in-an-age opportunity, it still perished.”

A large share of the “credit” and the “blame” for that ending belonged to Bai Xiang herself. Yet when she said that, it was not because she regretted it, nor because she sympathized with the fate of the Wu Emperor or Shenwu Heaven.

She understood very clearly that, because of his lifespan, the Wu Emperor had already walked himself into a dead end from the very beginning.

If he had realized earlier that what he held was an Order-Preserving Treasure, and had gambled everything on drawing out its full potential, then perhaps he might still have had a chance to go one step further.

But unfortunately, he had not done that. And if that was the case, then even without Bai Xiang, even if Shenwu Heaven had plotted to seize some other territory, with the Wu Emperor’s capabilities and methods, there was no way he could have escaped alive from the Sacred Court’s covetous gaze—or Blood Soul Heaven’s.

So whether Bai Xiang existed or not, Shenwu Heaven was doomed to die.

What moved her was that, through Shenwu Heaven’s ending, she caught a glimpse of the countless Illusory Realms that had been extinguished over the endless ages in the void and the Void Realm. She glimpsed their gravestones, their endings, and felt a slight stir in her spirit, nothing more.

It was like an ordinary person reading the history of an empire and, through it, sensing the war and chaos of that era, the turbulence of the whole world, the sense of a land battered by wind and rain. It was simply a normal reaction for a sentient being.

Of course, from that same understanding, Bai Xiang also felt an even graver sense of crisis.

Void Tribulation. Void Tribulation.

Every cycle of Void Tribulation scraped away the surface civilization of the main world. This had repeated again and again over billions of years. The civilizations torn away from the surface could only form places like Shenwu Heaven out there.

Put nicely, they were called “Illusory Realms,” “planes,” “minor worlds.”

Put bluntly, they were nothing but fragments—isolated islands cut off from the primary order.

Without Immortal Venerable-level sentient beings sheltering them beneath the rules of their own spirit pools, they could not even survive drifting through the void by themselves. How could such lands be called normal or healthy? By that measure, they were not even qualified to be called “worlds.”

She could not help wondering: this state of affairs had gone on for billions of years, yet there seemed never to have been an exception—never a single civilization that had survived a Void Tribulation intact.

So when Great Yu severed communication between heaven and earth, had it been to prevent exactly this from happening?

But now that Void Tribulation had returned, they had clearly failed. Did that mean that one day in the future, Great Yu too would be scraped away?

Would such a tearing have rules?

Would it tear apart the Nine Provinces of Great Yu directly, or would it act in a lawless, brutal way, randomly ripping every territory into pieces?

If a catastrophe like that truly descended upon Maozhou, how was she supposed to lead that newborn land and keep it alive?

Setting power aside, and speaking only of motive, what real difference was there between her and Shenwu Heaven, between her and the Wu Emperor?

That was the storm brewing in Bai Xiang’s mind in that brief span of time. And because of those realizations, she had made the rare choice to respect an enemy, giving the Wu Emperor a dignified end.

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“My name is Zhuye.” The dark-skinned monk bowed to her again, paying no attention at all to the fact that she was not even looking his way. “Just as you guessed, I am one of the Spirit-Command Sect’s very few disciples who still walk in the world.”

“Still walk in the world… does the Spirit-Command Sect itself still exist?” Bai Xiang finally turned her head to look at him.

The coordinates of the main world were no longer any kind of secret. This flying vessel had originally been assigned by Cloud Tower to He Xian, so of course it contained the relevant data. Bai Xiang did not need to direct anything. Under He Xian’s control, the vessel was already returning toward the main world on its own.

During that time, it was convenient enough for her to hear Zhuye’s background and see whether it might deepen her understanding of the Xuan Dynasty, Xuandi, and especially her own bloodline.

“It now exists as nothing more than a concept,” Zhuye said, shaking his head.

He Xian and Zhu Canghai did not dare eavesdrop on the conversation between the two of them and chose to shut the partition door to the cockpit. That let Zhuye speak freely as he laid out the Spirit-Command Sect’s origins, foundations, and transmission in full.

From his account, the Spirit-Command Sect had in fact originated in the Xuan Dynasty of the main world.

“At that time, the world could be described as ‘yin and yang divided, heaven and earth muddied,’” Zhuye said. “The demon race and the human race were locked in all-out war.”

“Then Xuandi Fengche appeared out of nowhere and, by the great power of divine soul arts, suppressed the eight wastes, forcibly calming the chaos among all races within only a few decades.”

“My Spirit-Command Sect was born in that era, an era even earlier than Great Yu.”

Bai Xiang studied him carefully. His qi-presence carried a hint of the Venerable level, but it was far weaker than the real thing. She asked, “So the Spirit-Command Sect were followers of Xuandi? Were you purged along with the fall of the Xuan Dynasty?”

She guessed that the role the Spirit-Command Sect had played in the Xuan Dynasty might have been similar to the role Suzhen Dao had played in the Yu Dynasty.

“We survived much longer,” Zhuye said with a shake of his head. “It was the Void Tribulation that broke us apart.”

As he revealed more and more historical records, Bai Xiang finally came to understand the circumstances.

The era of the Xuan Dynasty had actually been quite close to that of the Yu Dynasty. It could not really be called the ancient era or the primordial era. At most, it barely brushed against what one might call the middle antiquity.

By that period, traces of the ancient human race in the main world had already become quite sparse. Many ancient clans had been forcibly swept away by earlier Void Tribulations, severing their connection to the main world forever. That in turn caused the human race—“the first sentient beings”—to gradually descend from the highest throne.

Yes, that was exactly how it had been. In a far older age, before the influence of Void Tribulation had spread in full, before Dao-Void Methods had been born, before any sentient being had mastered demonic aura or demonic power, there had been an age of human rule—and it had lasted far longer than the age of demon rule.

But as time passed, the power belonging to demons began to rise.

Demonic power was, after all, a heaven-given form of the supernatural. Not only could it twist living beings through Loss of Order and turn them into monsters, before that stage it could also have a kind of enlightening effect, awakening many beings that had never possessed awareness.

Pigs, cattle, sheep, tigers—even mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees.

These creatures had originally been mindless livestock, and plants in particular did not even possess the most basic sense of pain.

Yet under the interference of Loss of Order, under the influence of demonic power, their bodies could be remade. In a single stroke, they awakened to the existence of the self and transformed into all manner of demons.

And the same kind of interference happened to humans as well. Because Loss of Order could seize troops from among the myriad races and spirits, the very concept of the demon race expanded at a terrifying speed. That was how it was able, in such a short time, to grow powerful enough to threaten the age of human rule.

Then, after still more years passed, and after generation upon generation of demon geniuses had refined and expanded their knowledge, Dao-Void Methods were born. The demon race formally seized control of the supernatural and truly became powerful enough to stand as equals against the ancient human race.

That was history, and it was also the backdrop to the birth of the Xuan Dynasty.

It had been an era far more chaotic than the present. The remaining humans of the main world refused to accept that a herd of beasts should replace civilization, while on the other side the demons regarded the human race as nothing but blood-food.

The contradiction between the two sides seemed innate, naturally representing the opposition between preserving order and breaking order.

And yet, under those circumstances, Xuandi Feng had actually managed to forcibly fuse the two sides together and sustain it for a period of time, forming a unified dynasty.

His strength truly deserved to be praised as that of a great power, a Saint.

“When Emperor Feng was still alive, the Spirit-Command Sect was no more than one insignificant branch among countless Dao lineages,” Zhuye continued. “But we did indeed share a connection with Emperor Feng.”

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Because the sect aligned relatively well with the Xuan Dynasty’s philosophy of governance, the Spirit-Command Sect had later received support.

That allowed them to grow and reach the peak of their prosperity as a sect.

But the good times did not last. The contradiction between the two races meant that any era of peace was doomed to be short-lived. Emperor Feng was soon attacked from many sides, and among those who moved against him were not only demons but also a great number of powerful humans.

The Xuan Dynasty’s rule collapsed with Emperor Feng’s death. The Spirit-Command Sect then wandered through the chaos that followed, barely managing to preserve its Dao lineage and transmission.

But they were never content with that.

Because of the sect’s founding principles and cultivation methods, they were innately devoted to Emperor Feng’s ideals. They firmly believed that there would one day be another Emperor Feng. The reason they preserved their strength was not merely to survive, but also to wait for a new sovereign—just as Bai Xiang had guessed, much as Suzhen Dao had followed Great Yu, they wished to follow him.

But unfortunately, reality was far removed from their ideals.

First came the remnants left behind by Emperor Feng. Whether it was the so-called Xuan clans or factions like the Feathering Sect, in the eyes of the Spirit-Command Sect they were all useless trash that could not be propped up.

It was not as though they had never tried to make contact with such people. But without exception, the other side merely sought to absorb and control them.

That was not just a matter of disrespect. There was no interpretation of Emperor Feng’s ideals in them at all.

Even if they truly helped such people seize the Dao and ascend the throne, those people would be no different from the demons. That was not what the Spirit-Command Sect wanted to see.

So they chose to keep waiting, waiting for the real candidate to appear.

That person would have to possess “the spirit to contend with all under heaven,” “the courage to face a world full of enemies,” and “the martial power to suppress the eight wastes.”

When Bai Xiang heard that, her brows drew together slightly.

Aren’t those requirements a little too high?

Any one of those three conditions could be called an outrageous demand. Even across the billions of years of the Void Realm, with so many geniuses produced, most would at best qualify for one or two of them.

The hardest requirement, in truth, was the first: spirit.

Ordinarily, if someone truly had the power to suppress the eight wastes, then courage and the like would naturally not be lacking.

But having the ability did not mean one had to act.

Emperor Feng had been strong, right?

Strong enough to step forward, to try to contend against the world, to forcibly twist the will of two entire races.

And how had that ended for him?

Primordial times, ancient times, middle antiquity, late antiquity.

Across billions of years, only one such fool had ever appeared.

So naturally, with standards that high, the Spirit-Command Sect could never have any result. Later events followed exactly as Bai Xiang would have expected. Those people never found any hope, and when the next wave of Void Tribulation swept through, they were torn to pieces.

That was not a metaphor or exaggeration.

The land where the Spirit-Command Sect had hidden, the very territory itself, along with everything on it, was physically ripped apart.

“According to the records left by our predecessors, Void Tribulation itself ought to be formless,” Zhuye said, as if recalling the past. “It has no shape of its own, yet it manifests its existence through Loss of Order and destruction.”

“After that tribulation, the very concept of the Spirit-Command Sect was almost extinguished. Only one man survived: Master Xuanye.”

“Master Xuanye was also the patriarch of my own branch. Because of him, our Dao lineage remained, and it has continued down to the present day.”

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Zhuye revealed a great many details, then suddenly shifted the direction of the conversation and looked up at Bai Xiang with great care.

“Originally, I was only using the sect’s root method to sense that there was ‘anomalous bone’ in this direction. I came to see whether I might be able to uncover some fossil or remains of an ancient demon.”

He had already explained this earlier, and Bai Xiang herself knew it as well. Although the Spirit-Command Sect was an ancient great lineage, recorded even in the dossiers of certain Upper Realm factions, other people’s understanding of them was almost that of archaeologists.

They were not a sect especially famed for overwhelming strength. Their foundational methods relied on linking themselves to demon spirits. According to rumor, they could excavate the bloodline power contained within ancient demon fossils through their “archaeology,” and used that as a way to advance their cultivation.

“But I never imagined the truth would be even more terrifying than I thought!” Divine light flickered in Zhuye’s eyes. “That was actually… an Order-Preserving Treasure!”

So he really does know.

Bai Xiang narrowed her eyes, hesitating over whether to kill him to keep the secret buried.

Other things were one matter. Even for something like the Xuandi Scripture, with the strength she now possessed, those factions would not dare act rashly for the time being.

But if news got out that she held the Heavenly Stem Precious Jade, she estimated that the Demon Court and Blood Soul Heaven alike would go mad over it.

“I will not pose any threat to you.” Zhuye bowed deeply to Bai Xiang.

“The reason I said so much earlier was precisely to make my roots and my stance clear to you.”

“The Spirit-Command Sect, and I, Zhuye, are absolutely loyal to Emperor Feng.”

“Even if I had not discovered the Order-Preserving Treasure, I would still have done this. In fact, for us, even that discovery is less important than discovering you—you are the true supreme treasure of this world!!!”

Now that was flattery.

Even Bai Xiang could not help widening her eyes slightly.

No matter how narcissistic or arrogant she was, she would never place herself in so important a position. After hearing Zhuye, she frowned and said, “I have no interest in inheriting Emperor Feng’s road.”

It looked as though this man intended to bring whatever remained of the Spirit-Command Sect’s strength to support her.

And in that case, how were they any different from the Feathering Sect?

Whether they sincerely wanted her to sit on that throne or only falsely meant to make her a puppet, either way, in her eyes, it was still a forced attempt to twist her will, and it still deviated from the road she had laid out for herself.

She truly had no interest in managing some grand project of coexistence between the two races.

Demons?

Humans?

She did indeed agree with Emperor Feng’s ideals. Once one’s thinking reached a certain level, there really was no essential difference between those two races.

But the way she meant that was very different from the way Emperor Feng had meant it.

For her, it meant this: anyone who blocked her path would be killed.

“This is no trivial matter. It is not something you can decide with a single sentence,” Zhuye insisted. “At the very least, please, Your Highness—leave a mark in my true spirit! Make certain the news cannot leak out!!”

That much was true enough.

Bai Xiang nodded and did as he asked.

“What does Your Highness intend to do next?”

Zhuye looked extremely excited.

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He was the one now under her control, yet he looked as though he had found his true home. It was honestly a little pathological.

What I plan to do is none of your business.

Bai Xiang glanced at him and warned, “I cut ties with those people long ago. From now on, do not call me ‘Your Highness’ again.”

She disliked bloodline determinism.

Bai Xiang had reached where she was today mostly through her soul-abilities, and those abilities came from ten years of bedridden contemplation in her previous life.

Now this Xuandi bloodline suddenly pops up, making it sound as though all my present accomplishments come from my bloodline.

She truly disliked that way of thinking.

“All right,” Zhuye said, nodding. “Then does Your Highness not intend to take part in the tribulation struggle?”

This bastard.

Bai Xiang narrowed her eyes.

She had known from the first meeting that his personality was slippery and scheming.

She had been about to scold Zhuye when something suddenly occurred to her, and she asked, “What do you mean by tribulation struggle?”

The way Zhuye was using the term seemed different from what she had understood.

“You mean contending for the dragon-throne?” Zhuye blinked.

“It has to be fought over every time a Void Tribulation descends. Because after the cleansing of the vortex, the only thing that can remain in the main world is the single strongest dynasty recognized by the primary order. So every tribulation struggle is a struggle for that orthodoxy. Without exception.”

What did he just say?

Bai Xiang’s heart jolted slightly.

In that instant, she thought of Liu Yong, and of the strand of purple-gold dragon qi she had glimpsed on him.

So that was it?

There really is a contest for the dragon?

But not the dragon contest she had imagined before. What they were fighting for was the primary order’s recognition—the right to remain in the main world through the next round of Void Tribulation?

If that was the case, then the very concept of the Yu Emperor Sacred Dynasty… could that itself be a kind of spirit pool?

Wait, no… then wouldn’t Great Yu Sword Dao also…?

And if so, then wouldn’t Dao-Void Methods themselves…?

Her lips parted, and waves of shock ran through Bai Xiang’s mind.

Her consciousness spread outward through the void without cease, and for the first time she truly felt the coldness and cruelty of the Void Realm.

If that is how it is…

She half narrowed her eyes.

Then for the true great figures, the implications of the Path of Qi are far too great…