MTL NOVEL Chapter 6
Chapter 6: A Hard Slap to the Face: Enlightenment of the Heavenly Dao, the Imperial Path Unfolds
No matter how surprised everyone was, the celestial phenomenon continued and intensified, and Zhou Tong’s transformation had become a fact.
The sky grew dark, with rolling thunder and thick black clouds pressing down on the heavens, as if something was about to burst forth.
“This is… this is the Heavenly Dao Tribulation; his enlightenment has stirred the Heavenly Dao!”
The White Crane Fairy murmured, her voice filled with shock.
Mo Liushu shivered all over, staring intently ahead.
However, before she could speak, Jiang Yuyao and Ge Hongqiu had already broken their defenses.
“Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! What qualifications does Zhou Tong have? He’s just a worthless sycophant, the only one in the Jade Purity Sect who deserves to stir the Heavenly Dao is Junior Brother!”
Tang Qi said nothing but nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with their views.
Even the elders shared this opinion; how could someone who had just been crippled suddenly awaken the Heavenly Dao? It was simply nonsense!
“Crack!”
A thunderbolt resounded, infused with the power of tribulation, directly slapping everyone in the face.
Everyone stared blankly, frozen in disbelief, it truly was the Heavenly Dao Tribulation!
Suddenly, dazzling lightning erupted, its brilliance surging, producing rippling arcs that formed a map of the tribulation in mid-air.
That map trembled slightly and transformed into a vast galaxy, countless stars simultaneously falling, crashing into Zhou Tong.
Those with insight trembled; these weren’t ordinary stars but rather a manifestation of extremely concentrated spiritual energy, an unparalleled opportunity!
Under everyone’s gaze, Zhou Tong spread his arms and devoured the falling stars, drawing them into his body!
In an instant, his aura surged violently, and he transformed from a crippled mortal back into a cultivator, then ascended to the Peak of the Post-Heaven Realm.
This scene caused everyone to gasp in awe; the cultivation path was as difficult as ascending to heaven, each step requiring years of accumulation, yet Zhou Tong had crossed nine minor realms in an instant. This was simply against the heavens!
Could such an effect truly come from a single enlightenment?
In truth, no one understood what this enlightenment meant.
Zhou Tong’s mindset had achieved great perfection, from this moment on, he qualified to strive for the highest Imperial Realm.
This phenomenon was the Heavenly Dao’s acknowledgment of someone likely to become an emperor!
“What’s so surprising about it?”
Mo Liushu said disdainfully, drawing everyone’s attention.
“There are records in ancient texts that if a person burns their potential to the limit, they can temporarily elevate their realm and even deceive the Heavenly Dao into manifesting phenomena. However, the price of doing so is…”
“Exhaustion, turning to ashes!”
Someone could not help but exclaim, looking at Zhou Tong incredulously. Would this once arrogant genius truly ruin his future just to show off?
But aside from this possibility, it seemed there were no other explanations.
Seeing many people believe it, the sarcasm in Mo Liushu’s smile became more pronounced.
“You’ve made such an ugly choice just to slap my face, but unfortunately, I’ve seen through your schemes; your actions are nothing but a clown’s performance!”
“Master, this garbage’s potential is probably exhausted. Even if he kneels before you begging for mercy, would you even want him?” Ge Hongqiu said with a sneer.
“Hmph, no matter what, he and I have some predestined connection. If he can repent in time, I might give him some spirit herbs to prolong his life!”
In an instant, pity filled the eyes of the crowd as they looked at Zhou Tong.
Even the greatest genius could end up on a dead-end, fading away into obscurity. Throughout history, tragedies like Zhou Tong’s were as numerous as the stars.
“Boom!!”
Just as everyone was lamenting, an even greater phenomenon suddenly descended!
The sky was now glowing even brighter, the earth cracked open, and spiritual springs gushed forth, surrounded by blooming lotus flowers, embracing Zhou Tong at the center.
Hundreds of birds flapped their wings as they soared around him, while tigers and leopards crawled, kneeling before him, casting him as if he were a celestial king descending to Earth.
This was an unprecedented sight, leaving everyone in a daze. Was this truly enlightenment? It seemed more like an extraordinary figure had been reborn, occupying Zhou Tong’s body to live again!
At the same time, Zhou Tong’s realm surged once more, crossing into the Prenatal Realm, and ascending nine levels to reach the Peak of the Prenatal Realm!
This level of advancement could not merely be explained by burning potential; a mortal, even turned to ash, could not cross two major realms, let alone induce such an outrageous phenomenon!
“Birds honor the King, beasts reverently submit, as the celestial map devours the sun and moon, the spring wells up from the earth!”
Someone murmured, and everyone who heard it felt a chill.
This was clearly a verse from the “Map of Becoming an Emperor,” perfectly aligning with Zhou Tong’s revelation.
The implications contained within were chilling!
Could it be that Zhou Tong possessed the potential to become an emperor?
“What’s going on? This guy’s aura is clearly weak, yet from afar, I feel an urge to worship him?”
Someone wiped the cold sweat from their forehead and spoke quietly.
“Don’t say that; I feel the same urge. My knees seem uncontrollable; this isn’t right—did the Jade Purity Sect really let loose a true dragon?”
“Hehe… if it’s true, that would be interesting. That woman’s high and mighty demeanor is really annoying; I want to see her regretting it!”
“I think the best course of action right now is to quickly apologize to Zhou Tong and bring him back; that would solve all problems!”
Hearing these discussions, the elders in the hall broke into a cold sweat, silently staring at Mo Liushu, making her uneasy.
But soon, she revealed a nonchalant expression and coldly stated, “So what if a celestial phenomenon has manifested? A disgrace is still a disgrace; I definitely won’t let him come back. Furthermore, with such a low realm, not even a lowly servant disciple, who would take in this garbage?”
As soon as she said this, Tang Qi, who had been tense, finally broke into a smile. Mo Liushu was right; even if Zhou Tong could continue cultivating, what difference would it make? He was no longer worthy to be his rival.
The cultivation realms are, first the Post-Heaven Realm, then the Prenatal Realm, followed by the Soul Division Realm, the Soul Transformation Realm, and finally the Unity Heart-Mind Realm. These five realms are referred to as the Five Realms of Mortals.
Only by breaking through the Unity Heart-Mind Realm could one be considered to have undergone a complete transformation, reaching the transcendent realm.
Before being crippled, Zhou Tong was at the peak of the Unity Heart-Mind Realm, and Tang Qi had also reached the Unity Heart-Mind Realm. He believed that it wouldn’t be long before he would cross the Transcendent Divide.
At that time, he and Zhou Tong would become beings from two different worlds; with just a wave of his hand, he could crush the latter into dust!
But then, his smile suddenly froze.
Several figures exuding powerful auras descended from the sky and approached Zhou Tong.
Everyone couldn’t help but exclaim in recognition; these were all significant figures from various sects, including some hegemonic leaders at the level of the sect masters.
Clearly, these people had come to recruit Zhou Tong.
“Young friend, you are now free. Would you like to join our Qing Dan Sect?”
An elderly man stepped forward, his face kindly.
“Qing Dan Sect? My heavens!”
Many people wore expressions of shock. Though the Qing Dan Sect didn’t have an unrivaled powerhouse, it was a sect of alchemists, closely connected with numerous powerful beings, holding a high status.
If Zhou Tong joined them, he would unquestionably receive substantial support in spirit elixirs, and he could quickly recover to his peak.
And the Qing Dan Sect was also eyeing Zhou Tong’s potential, wanting to cultivate their own extraordinary powerhouse; it could be said that both parties were complementary.
“Young man, don’t listen to that old fool’s nonsense. They don’t understand cultivation at all—if you go with them, your talent will be wasted!”
A refined man stepped forward, and as soon as he appeared, the crowd felt like they had been struck by lightning.
“It’s him! The sect master of the Grand Clarity Sect, Ying Shaoxuan!”
Seeing this person, even Mo Liushu couldn’t maintain her composure. The Grand Clarity Sect, the Jade Purity Sect, and the Supreme Clarity Sect were known as the Three Great Sects, all top-tier sects of comparable strength.
As sect master of the Grand Clarity Sect, Ying Shaoxuan’s status was on par with that of the Jade Purity Sect’s sect master. Mo Liushu, upon seeing him, would have to pay her respects as a junior. That someone of his caliber would be interested in recruiting Zhou Tong completely surpassed her expectations.
“You want to take me as your disciple?” Zhou Tong looked at him and asked expressionlessly.
“Not at all; my master wants to take you as a disciple. If you agree, you will simply be my junior apprentice brother!”
When these words were spoken, it stunned everyone into a daze.
Ying Shaoxuan’s master… wasn’t that the former sect master of the Grand Clarity Sect, now the Senior Elder!
If Zhou Tong could become his disciple, he would directly be on the same level as Ying Shaoxuan; in the future, if Mo Liushu saw him, she would have to call him “Uncle Master!”
Thinking of this, her expression changed several times, and she suddenly stood up from her seat.
“Does the senior really intend to bring this disgrace into the Grand Clarity Sect?”
Through the Heavenly Dao Image, Mo Liushu bowed to Ying Shaoxuan and then asked stiffly.
“Do you have any objections? Or do you regret it and want to take him as a disciple again?”
Ying Shaoxuan squinted his eyes and laughed loudly.
“How could it be? I would never want such a disgrace again!” Mo Liushu quickly denied.
“Then just keep your mouth shut and watch quietly!”
Receiving such impolite treatment, Mo Liushu’s expression changed slightly, but she couldn’t retaliate. She could only smile and say, “I’m doing this for the sake of the Grand Clarity Sect. You don’t know; this disgrace has a Demon Seed inside him!”
“If you don’t believe it, you can verify it on the spot. If you take him back to the sect, it would be equivalent to bringing a demon spawn home; the consequences are unimaginable!”