[Shen = God]
...............
For Yi Tianxing (易天行), this year is crucial.He focuses on solidifying his foundation thoroughly. The livelihood of the people has fully recovered to its peak. Large numbers of floating trains crisscross the void daily, connecting immortal cities and traveling into the wilds. Numerous bounty hunters take these trains to the wilderness to hunt down ferocious beasts and hostile alien tribes. The Great Yi Realm is now as stable as a mountain.
However, the atmosphere throughout the world grows increasingly oppressive. Even ordinary people can feel an intangible pressure—as if a storm is about to break. This feels like the eerie calm before a raging tempest.
Reports indicate that sea beasts have exploded in number, an overwhelming and terrifying quantity filling the surface and depths of the oceans. Despite bounty hunters constantly hunting them, their population continues to surge uncontrollably. The signs of a beast tide gathering become clearer and clearer—perhaps it will break out at any moment.
Inside the Imperial Palace:
Yi Tianxing sits in meditation in a quiet chamber.
He reflects: "One thousand five hundred years of Dao cultivation has finally reached perfection. The foundation is stable, and my primordial spirit (Yuanshen) has been tempered to the utmost. It is time to undergo the Three Calamities and break through."
Since surviving the Thunder Calamity years ago, Yi Tianxing's cultivation level has surpassed 1500 years, but he deliberately slowed his breakthrough to refine and polish his Dao cultivation repeatedly, reaching a truly perfect state. The Heavenly Dao's seal also suppressed his advancement—after all, the seal only allows advancement to the True Spirit realm, so progressing too quickly would be unwise. But at this point, when no further progress is possible, he must break through naturally.
He releases his aura, fully manifesting his 1500-year cultivation. The Heavenly Dao senses it instantly.
From the sole of his foot—at the Yongquan acupoint—a flame suddenly bursts forth. It's not heavenly fire or mortal fire, but Yin Fire—a sinister and mysterious flame representing the first of the Three Calamities: Fire Calamity.
Unlike Yang Fire (heavenly or mortal fire), Yin Fire is soft yet invasive, fueled by life force and Yin Qi inside the body. It burns the life energy from within, permeating blood and flesh, even burning bone into softness. The pain is indescribable, attacking both body and spirit.
Yi Tianxing, however, is a powerful body cultivator. His flesh and bones are like metal and iron, intertwined with divine law chains, with a density so extreme that even Yin Fire struggles to harm him. The biggest challenge is his primordial spirit (Yuanshen). Yin Qi inside his body acts like fuel to the Yin Fire; if it is not extinguished, the fire grows stronger.
This stage tests the Yuanshen itself. The cultivation process for the Yuanshen realm involves purging Yin Qi and moving toward pure Yang, which is how one naturally transforms into the Yangshen (Yang God) Realm. The destruction of Yin Qi by Yin Fire is actually beneficial—once the Yin Qi is gone, the fire subsides. The key is enduring the immense pain.
Yi Tianxing could have avoided the Three Calamities using his secret methods, but this time he chose to face it head-on, believing the trials will strengthen his body and cultivation foundation. The pain is hellish and continuous, testing his willpower to the extreme.
After Three Days:
On the third night, Yi Tianxing's body, once decayed like rotting wood, suddenly bursts with powerful vitality, regaining its luster with layers of divine light. Law chains flicker through his flesh and blood, and he utters:"When my fate is mine to control, I shall plant a golden lotus in the fire."
His primordial spirit has completely transformed. Inside the Divine Sea, the Heavenly Emperor Dragon Diagram shows a spirit identical to Yi Tianxing standing majestically, suppressing the four poles of the world.
The spirit has no trace of Yin Qi, and above his head float three lotus flowers, representing the pinnacle of the Yuanshen realm: Three Flowers Gathering at the Top (三花聚顶).
The three lotuses represent Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, constantly shifting in a cosmic pattern. Each lotus contains countless mysterious runes and supreme divine powers — Dao Fruits and his innate divine abilities.
One lotus holds the Emperor Dao Divine Ability — Golden Mouth Jade Words (金口玉言), which wields overwhelming power, where spoken words can command heaven and earth.
The other two lotuses each contain a powerful innate divine ability, the details of which only Yi Tianxing knows.
He reflects:"The Three Flowers Gathering at the Top and their divine powers will be my trump cards, capable of overturning all. Passing the Three Calamities has increased my Dao cultivation to 1800 years. After a period of settling, I will naturally transform into the Yangshen Realm."
His Divine Sea expands again, the Heavenly Emperor Dragon Diagram indistinguishable from a true divine map.
Transformation into Yangshen Realm:
Crossing the Three Calamities marks no barrier now between Yuanshen and Yangshen realms. He can feel pure Yang energy surging into his Yuanshen, accelerating transformation. The process takes only days.
After three days of transformation, radiant divine light bursts forth from his spirit, illuminating his entire body like crystal. The light spreads outward, piercing walls and dark night, bathing the Great Yi Imperial City and beyond in brilliant Yang energy.
People witnessing the light are amazed:
"Yangshen! Someone has ascended to Yangshen Realm!"
"This pure Yang light is overwhelming and majestic, impossible to resist."
"Could it be the Emperor Yi himself? To have broken through so fast—only twelve years since the Great World Fusion!"
The speed of Yi Tianxing's cultivation defies belief—it's like riding a rocket to the top.