Setelah Zhou Jie dari Sekte Ayakan Hitam mencapai tahap Pembentukan Inti berkat Geiser Dao Kuno, badai panjang melanda para Cultivator tahap Pembentukan Fondasi di Wilayah Selatan.
Badai itu menyapu sekte-sekte besar dan klan-klan, membuat semua murid tahap Pembentukan Fondasi bergegas ke wilayah barat Southern Domain.
Kini, wilayah barat yang sebelumnya nyaris tak berpenghuni dengan cepat menjadi tempat berkumpulnya para Terpilih. Tentu saja, gesekan segera pecah. Selama berbulan-bulan, pertempuran tak terhitung jumlahnya terjadi. Siapa pun yang keluar sebagai pemenang dalam pertempuran semacam itu akan langsung menjadi terkenal.
Konvensi spontan seperti ini jarang terjadi di Southern Domain. Jarang ada pertemuan para Terpilih sebanyak ini, semuanya berkumpul di satu tempat dan bersaing untuk supremasi.
Namun, itulah yang sedang terjadi sekarang, berkat kemunculan Geiser Dao Kuno!
Geiser tersebut meletus setiap bulan. Selain itu, ruang untuk mengamatinya secara tepat sangat terbatas. Oleh karena itu, pertarungan sihir sering kali meletus.
Pada bulan kedua setelah kemunculan Geiser Dao Kuno, Murid Konklaf Xu Qing dari Sekte Ayakan Hitam mengalahkan Anak Dao Klan Li, Li Daoyi [1], yang mengguncang seluruh wilayah barat.
Sebelum pertarungan, sedikit orang yang mengenal nama Xu Qing. Namun setelahnya, namanya tersebar luas.
Pada bulan keempat, Anak Dao Klan Wang, yaitu Wang Lihai yang dikabarkan telah meninggal bertahun-tahun lalu, bersama Han Shandao [2], salah satu dari Tujuh Putra Sekte Pedang Sunyi, keduanya memperoleh pencerahan dari Geiser Dao Kuno. Meskipun mereka tidak mengalami terobosan, dasar kultivasi mereka tumbuh signifikan. Menurut rumor, keduanya menerima pencerahan mengenai suatu teknik sihir tertentu.
Pada bulan kelima, Anak Dao Klan Song, Song Yunshu [3], bertarung melawan Chen Fan, putra lain dari Sekte Pedang Sunyi. Pada akhirnya, kekuatan mereka seimbang; namun, karena pertarungan tersebut, reputasi Chen Fan meningkat pesat.
Selama bulan yang sama, Anak Dao Klan Iblis Darah, Li Shiqi [4], bertarung melawan pahlawan wanita Shan Ling [5] dari Sekte Pedang Sunyi. Ledakan akibat pertarungan memenuhi area tersebut, dan tidak berakhir dengan kemenangan atau kekalahan, melainkan dengan kedua belah pihak memperoleh pencerahan dari Geiser Dao.
Pada bulan keenam, gesekan muncul antara Anak Dao Sekte Embun Beku Emas dan Wang Youcai [6], Terpilih dari Sekte Iblis Darah. Pertarungan berdarah terjadi, di mana lengan Anak Dao tersebut terputus. Hal ini mengirimkan gelombang keterkejutan dahsyat ke seluruh Southern Domain.
Selama bulan yang sama, Wang Tengfei, Terpilih dari Klan Wang dan adik laki-laki Wang Lihai, juga mencapai pencerahan. Ia berhasil melakukan terobosan pada dasar kultivasinya, mencapai lingkaran besar tahap Pembentukan Fondasi. Ini juga menyebabkan kegemparan cukup besar.
Dengan mengamati tableau di dalam geiser yang meletus, dan mendapatkan kekuatan dari pencerahan tersebut, seseorang bisa mendapatkan sesuatu dari ketiadaan, serta meningkatkan dasar kultivasi tanpa menggunakan pil obat apa pun. Itu adalah kesempatan keberuntungan luar biasa bagi siapa pun di tahap Pembentukan Fondasi di Southern Domain.
Karena Geiser Dao, mungkin saja tiba-tiba menembus dari tahap Pembentukan Fondasi ke tahap Pembentukan Inti. Satu-satunya hal yang lebih menakjubkan lagi adalah menembus dari tahap Pembentukan Inti ke tahap Jiwa Lahir. Dapat dibayangkan perjuangan yang akan dihasilkan oleh hal semacam itu.
Dalam sekejap mata, wilayah barat Southern Domain jatuh ke dalam kekacauan. Hanya Sekte Violet Fate yang tidak mengirim murid mana pun ke Geiser Dao. Banyak spekulasi tentang hal ini, dan kebanyakan orang sampai pada kesimpulan bahwa itu ada hubungannya dengan insiden sebelumnya di Tanah Hitam.
Wilayah barat Southern Domain dengan cepat menjadi fokus semua perhatian. Tidak jauh dari lokasi Geiser Dao, Meng Hao duduk bersila dalam meditasi.
Tubuhnya kembali layu seperti mayat. Namun, kekuatan hidup yang tak terbatas ada jauh di dalam dirinya. Suara detak jantungnya mulai berbunyi, semakin keras dan semakin keras.
Tiang Dao kedelapannya kini sudah lebih dari sembilan puluh persen selesai. Titik kritis telah tiba, dan ia telah mengonsumsi sekitar tujuh puluh hingga delapan puluh persen dari pil-pil obatnya. Saat ini, lebih dari seratus botol pil kosong berserakan di dalam Gua Abadi.
Waktu berlalu perlahan. Segera, setengah bulan telah lewat. Di luar Gua Abadi, awan hitam memenuhi langit, dan hujan tipis turun. Tirai hujan membuat dunia luar berkabut. Tiba-tiba, suasana hujan yang damai itu pecah ketika dua berkas cahaya prismatik menembus masuk ke area tersebut.
Dua Cultivator muda mendekat, terkunci dalam pertarungan sihir. Satu berasal dari Sekte Pedang Sunyi, yang lain dari Sekte Iblis Darah. Suara gemuruh yang disebabkan oleh teknik sihir mereka bergema terus-menerus. Kedua Cultivator ini terkenal di dunia; mereka adalah Terpilih dari sekte masing-masing. Dan kini mereka berada di wilayah barat, terlibat dalam pertarungan sengit.
Gemuruh bergema, dan teknik sihir yang mengejutkan digunakan. Mereka menyerang maju, mengguncang lingkungan sekitarnya. Tanpa mereka sadari, mereka mendekati gunung terpencil milik Meng Hao. Sekilas, jelas terlihat bahwa efek dari teknik sihir mereka merambat menuju gunungnya.
Sebuah ledakan besar terdengar, dan di dalam Gua Abadi, Meng Hao, dengan tubuhnya yang layu bagai mayat, tiba-tiba membuka matanya. Matanya berkilat bagaikan petir.
Saat terbuka, tatapannya memancar keluar, dipenuhi cahaya yang kuat dan cemerlang. Itu sangat mengejutkan, sehingga gunung itu sendiri mulai bergetar. Bahkan hujan yang turun di luar mulai bergetar.
Beberapa saat lalu, kedua Cultivator yang bertarung hanya khawatir satu sama lain. Namun tiba-tiba, rambut mereka berdiri, seolah-olah karena insting. Rasa bahaya yang tak terlukiskan naik, dan ekspresi wajah mereka langsung berubah. Dasar kultivasi mereka tiba-tiba tertekan, tubuh mereka mulai berkedut, dan kulit kepala mereka mati rasa. Mereka merasa seolah kematian itu sendiri menatap mereka dari atas, membuat jantung mereka berdebar kencang.
Bibir Meng Hao yang keriput tiba-tiba terbuka. Ketika ia mulai berbicara, suaranya agak lemah, tetapi langsung naik ke tingkat kegilaan, sebuah raungan mengejutkan yang mengisi dunia di luar Gua Abadi. Raungan itu menghantam telinga kedua Cultivator lebih keras daripada guntur. Raungan itu berubah menjadi seluruh dunia mereka, menelan mereka, seolah-olah itu adalah satu-satunya suara di dunia.
"PERGI!"
PERGI...
...RGII...
...rgii...
...
Gema itu bergema bolak-balik di wilayah lima kilometer di sekitarnya, dengan gunung tunggal itu sebagai pusatnya. Tampaknya area ini adalah zona terlarang.
Pikiran kedua Cultivator itu terguncang, dan mereka segera batuk darah seteguk penuh. Dasar kultivasi mereka berada di tahap akhir Pembentukan Fondasi; namun, di bawah suara yang baru saja mereka dengar, mereka tampak cukup lemah untuk tumbang dalam satu pukulan. Wajah pucat, kulit kepala mati rasa, ekspresi keterkejutan dan panik, mereka mundur dengan kecepatan tertinggi, menggunakan seluruh kekuatan yang mereka miliki. Baru setelah mereka melarikan diri sejauh lima puluh kilometer, mereka akhirnya menoleh ke belakang.
Hujan turun di sekitar mereka. Beberapa saat lalu mereka berada dalam pertarungan hidup dan mati. Namun, saat ini, tampaknya tidak ada dari mereka yang ingin bertarung. Mereka saling memandang, dan keduanya merasa baru saja menghindari bencana.
"Siapa... tadi itu?"
"Semua pahlawan Southern Domain telah datang ke wilayah barat, banyak sekali Anak Dao dan Terpilih. Aku tidak yakin siapa orang ini, tapi perasaan yang dia berikan bahkan lebih mengerikan daripada perasaan yang kudapat dari Kakak Senior Shan Ling atau Kakak Senior Han Shandao dari Sekte Pedang Sunyiku!"
"Sama juga. Bahkan menghadapi Kakak Senior Li tidak akan semenakutkan ini. Aku merasa seperti manusia biasa...."
Melihat betapa terguncangnya mereka berdua, mereka diam-diam berbalik dan melesat pergi, masing-masing ke arah yang berbeda.
Tiga hari setelah mereka pergi, Meng Hao duduk di dalam Gua Abadi. Tiba-tiba, cahaya violet naik dari tubuhnya. Cahaya itu tidak menyebar keluar dari Gua Abadi, yang telah disegel sepenuhnya. Namun, cahaya itu membuat seluruh dunia di dalam Gua Abadi berubah menjadi violet.
Cahaya itu bertahan selama beberapa jam, kemudian perlahan mulai memudar. Di sana duduklah Meng Hao; ia tidak bergerak selama hampir setengah tahun.
Ia tidak lagi terlihat layu dan lemah; ia telah pulih sepenuhnya. Matanya terpejam. Namun, kekuatan ledakan tampaknya semakin menguat di dalam dirinya.
Ia tidak bergerak, tetapi melihatnya, Anda akan mendapat kesan bahwa ia bergerak dengan cara yang akan mengguncang langit dan bumi.
Chapter 264: A Shout Like a Clap of Thunder
After Zhou Jie of the Black Sieve Sect reached Core Formation because of the ancient Dao Geyser, a long-lasting storm wind kicked up among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Southern Domain.
It swept across the great Sects and Clans, causing all disciples of the Foundation Establishment stage to rush to the western region of the Southern Domain.
Now, the western region, which previously contained hardly the trace of a person, quickly became a convergence of Chosen. Of course, friction immediately broke out. For months, there were countless battles. Whoever came out on the top of such battles would instantly become famous.
Spontaneous conventions such as this rarely occurred in the Southern Domain. It was not often for there to be such an assemblage of Chosen, all gathered together in one place and contending for supremacy.
That was exactly what was happening now, though, thanks to the appearance of the ancient Dao Geyser!
The geyser erupted on a monthly basis. Furthermore, there was limited space in which to properly observe it. As such, it was common for magical battle to erupt.
In the second month after the appearance of the ancient Dao Geyser, Conclave Disciple Xu Qing of the Black Sieve Sect defeated Li Clan Dao Child Li Daoyi [1], which rocked the entire western region.
Before the battle, few knew the name of Xu Qing. Afterwards, though, it spread far and wide.
In the fourth month, Dao Child of the Wang Clan, the one who had been rumored to have died all those years ago, Wang Lihai, along with Han Shandao [2. Han Shandao’s name in Chinese is 韩山道 hán shān dào - Han is a common surname. Shan means “mountain.” Dao means “way” or “path.” Same characters as “the Dao.”], one of the Seven Sons of the Solitary Sword Sect, both gained the enlightenment of the ancient Dao Geyser. Although they didn’t have breakthroughs, their Cultivation bases experienced significant growth. According to the rumor, both of them received enlightenment regarding a certain magical technique.
In the fifth month, Dao Child of the Song Clan, Song Yunshu [3. Song Yunshu was introduced when Meng Hao went to the Song Clan], battled Chen Fan, another of the Seven Sons of the Solitary Sword Clan. In the end, they were evenly matched; however, because of the battle, Chen Fan’s reputation grew rapidly.
During the same month, Dao Child of the Blood Demon Clan, Li Shiqi [4. Meng Hao fought Li Shiqi right after he escaped from the Black Sieve Sect with Ultimate Vexation. He thought she was a guy at first], fought heroine Shan Ling [4. Shan Ling was introduced in chapter 180. Actually the chapter was named after her] of the Solitary Sword Sect. The explosions caused by the battle filled the area, and did not end with victory or defeat, but rather, with both parties gaining the enlightenment of the Dao Geyser.
In the sixth month, friction arose between the Golden Frost Sect’s Dao Child, and Wang Youcai [5], Chosen of the Blood Demon Sect. A bloody battle was fought, during which the Dao Child’s arm was severed. This sent mighty waves of astonishment throughout the Southern Domain.
During the same month, Wang Tengfei, Chosen of the Wang Clan and younger brother of Wang Lihai, also achieved enlightenment. He made a breakthrough in his Cultivation base, reaching the great circle of Foundation Establishment. This also caused quite a stir.
By observing the tableau within the erupting geyser, and gaining the power of the enlightenment, one could gain something from nothing, and cause the Cultivation base to grow, without the use of any medicinal pills. It was an opportunity for incredible luck for anyone in the Foundation Establishment stage in the Southern Domain.
Because of the Dao Geyser, it was possible to suddenly break through from Foundation Establishment into Core Formation. The only thing that would be more incredible would be to break through from Core Formation into the Nascent Soul stage. One could imagine the struggles that would result from something like that.
In the blink of an eye, the western region of the Southern Domain was thrown into turmoil. It was only the Violet Fate Sect who didn’t dispatch any disciples to the Dao Geyser. There were many speculations about this, and most people came to the conclusion that it had something to do with the previous incident with the Black Lands.
The western region of the Southern Domain quickly became the focus of all attention. Not very far off from the location of the Dao Geyser, Meng Hao sat cross-legged in meditation.
His body was once again as withered as a corpse’s. However boundless life force existed deep inside him. The sound of his heartbeat began to ring out, louder and louder.
His eighth Dao Pillar was now more than ninety percent complete. The critical juncture had arrived, and he had consumed roughly seventy to eighty percent of his medicinal pills. At the moment, over a hundred empty pill bottles were strewn about the Immortal’s Cave.
Time slowly passed. Soon, half a month had gone by. Outside the Immortal’s Cave, black clouds filled the sky, and a thin rain fell down. The curtains of rain made the outside world hazy. Suddenly, the peaceful rainy atmosphere was broken as two prismatic beams of light shot into the area.
Two young Cultivators approached, locked in magical combat. One was from the Solitary Sword Sect, another was from the Blood Demon Sect. The booming sounds caused by their magical techniques echoed out constantly. Both of these Cultivators were well-known in the world; they were Chosen of their respective Sects. And now here they were in the western region, fighting a bitter battle.
Booms echoed out, and shocking magical techniques were employed. They charged along, attacking, rocking the surroundings. Unbeknownst to them, they were nearing Meng Hao’s isolated mountain. At a glance, it was obvious that the effects of their magical techniques were rippling out toward his mountain.
A massive boom sounded out, and within the Immortal’s Cave, Meng Hao, his body withered like a corpse, suddenly opened his eyes. They flashed like lightning.
The instant they opened, his gaze blasted out, filled with a powerful, brilliant light. It was shocking, so much so that the mountain itself began to shake. Even the falling rain outside began to vibrate.
Moments ago, the two fighting Cultivators had only been worried about each other. All of a sudden, though, their hair stood on end, seemingly out of instinct. An indescribable sense of danger rose up, and their facial expressions immediately changed. Their Cultivation bases were suddenly suppressed, their bodies began to twitch, and their scalps grew numb. They felt as if death itself were staring down upon them, causing their hearts to pound.
Meng Hao’s shrivelled lips suddenly opened. When he began to speak, the sound was a bit weak, but it instantly rose to frenzied heights, a shocking roar which filled the world outside the Immortal’s cave. It slammed into the ears of the two Cultivators louder than thunder. It turned into their whole world, engulfing them, as if it were the only sound in the world.
“SCREW OFF!”
SCREW OFF...
...OFF....
...off....
...
The booming echoed back and forth in the surrounding five kilometer region, the lone mountain being the centre of it. It seemed this area was a forbidden zone.
The two Cultivator’s minds reeled, and they immediately coughed up mouthfuls of blood. Their Cultivation bases were in the late Foundation Establishment stage; however, beneath the voice they had just heard, they seemed weak enough to fall at a single blow. Faces pale, scalps numb, expressions that of astonishment and panic, they retreated at top speed, using all the strength they possessed. It wasn’t until they had fled fifty kilometres away that they finally looked back.
The rain fell down around them. Moments ago they had been in a life-and-death battle. However, at the moment, neither of them seemed to be in the mood for fighting. They glanced at each other, and they both seemed to feel they had just barely avoided a disaster.
“Who... was that?”
“All the heroes of the Southern Domain have come to the western region, a multitude of Dao Children and Chosen. I’m not sure who this guy is, but the feeling he gives is even more terrifying than the feeling I get from Elder Sister Shan Ling or Elder Brother Han Shandao of my Solitary Sword Sect!”
“Same here. Even facing up against Elder Sister Li wouldn’t be as frightening. I felt like I was a mortal....”
Seeing how they were both so shaken, they silently turned and sped off, each in a different direction.
Three days after they left, Meng Hao sat in the Immortal’s Cave. Suddenly, a violet light rose up from his body. It didn’t spread out of the Immortal’s Cave, which had been thoroughly sealed. However, the light caused the entire world of the Immortal’s Cave to turn violet.
The glow lasted for several hours, then slowly began to fade. There sat Meng Hao; he hadn’t moved for nearly half a year.
He no longer looked withered and weak; he was completely recovered. His eyes were closed. However, an explosive power seemed to be growing stronger within him.
He didn’t move, but looking at him, you would get the feeling that he was moving in a way that would shake the heavens and earth.
Li Daoyi is the Dao Child Meng Hao fought in the Blood Immortal Legacy tournamentHan Shandao’s name in Chinese is 韩山道 hán shān dào - Han is a common surname. Shan means “mountain.” Dao means “way” or “path.” Same characters as “the Dao.”Song Yunshu was introduced when Meng Hao went to the Song ClanMeng Hao fought Li Shiqi right after he escaped from the Black Sieve Sect with Ultimate Vexation. He thought she was a guy at firstWang Youcai was one of the group originally taken by Xu Qing to the Reliance Sect
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