"What's going on? Why is the tribulation cloud descending on its own?"
"Isn't the tribulation cloud supposed to remain in the void, gathering tribulation energy to form thunderbolts for strikes? Why is it suddenly falling? Don't tell me something's going wrong…"
Even many great cultivators had never witnessed such a heavenly tribulation. It was an utterly unprecedented sight. So when the tribulation cloud began to descend, they all looked on in surprise and confusion, uncertain of how this tribulation was meant to unfold.
Roar!!
The six-clawed Azure Dragon, upon witnessing the descent, sensed danger—but did not retreat in the slightest. It knew well that this was a trial it had to endure for its transformation. There was no escape. The fighting spirit in its heart was ignited completely. With a thunderous dragon's roar, it opened its maw and swallowed the vast cloud of Auspicious Merit whole. Then, without hesitation, it charged straight into the falling tribulation cloud, its ferocious claws reaching forward as if to tear the cloud to shreds.
But the moment the tribulation cloud and the True Dragon of Fate collided, something strange occurred.
From within the vast tribulation cloud, countless runes began to flash. Suddenly, the entire cloud transformed into a massive volcano. Within it, seething magma surged and churned violently. The volcano was so enormous that even the True Dragon of Fate, over ten thousand zhang in length, was instantly engulfed and bound within it. The molten lava carried terrifying destructive force, wrapping around the dragon in a frenzy.
The volcano's destructive might seemed capable of melting and annihilating all things.
Even cultivators like Lü Chunyang turned pale. They could clearly feel that if they were bound by that volcano—even with Dao Platform Realm strength—they would be incinerated to ashes. Their bodies destroyed, their Dao erased.
The power was overwhelmingly brutal.
Worse still, the most terrifying moment of a volcano is the moment it erupts—when its power multiplies tenfold, a hundredfold.
Everyone could see the magma transforming into destructive force, wildly surging against the six-clawed dragon. Inside the lava, the dragon's howls echoed through the heavens. Its scales seemed to melt one by one, its flesh incinerated.
But at the same time as its destruction, the dragon also regenerated swiftly. Its wounds healed continuously.
During this endless cycle of annihilation and rebirth, one could clearly see golden color begin to spread from the dragon's horns across its head. Moreover, the parts of the body that had already turned gold were completely immune to the destructive lava. Instead, they glowed brilliantly within the molten flood.
The volcano continued to destroy, but with each cycle, the dragon's body shrank. This was the depletion of its very essence—its origin being ground down and consumed.
It was as if every second it was destroyed and reborn several times—sometimes more than ten times. The dragon's size visibly diminished.
Rumble!!
The magma surged endlessly, continuously dragging the dragon deeper. But the golden transformation progressed rapidly. Amid the destruction and rebirth, the dragon's entire head had turned golden. After that, the lava could no longer damage its skull. The True Dragon of Fate's body had shrunk by a thousand zhang during this ordeal. But most importantly, the head was preserved—and that was critical.
This volcano was like a colossal alchemy furnace, tempering and refining everything, destroying everything.
Even the Longevity Dao Sovereign and Yaochi looked on with grave expressions. They turned pale as they watched, their hearts filled with awe and dread.
"There's a change,"Lü Chunyang's eyes flashed as he spoke.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the volcano binding the dragon suddenly morphed again—without warning, it transformed into a terrifying tornado. The wind it carried could strip flesh and shred the soul.
"Natural Disaster – Tornado Storm!!"
The storm enveloped the dragon completely. Countless gales swirled within, turning into razor-sharp wind blades—sharper than any divine weapon. They slashed relentlessly, shredding the dragon's scales and skin. The destruction was no less than what the volcano had caused.
For a cultivator to be caught in such a storm would be catastrophic. Even a powerful being would be flayed alive—flesh and bone separated, disintegrated entirely.
Yet the True Dragon of Fate remained unbroken. Amid destruction, it regenerated again and again. The golden hue continued to spread from its head downward. Its flesh, bones, and scales all began transforming. Whatever was destroyed, it regenerated instantly. And what had completed the golden transformation was impervious—even the storm's sharpest blades couldn't harm it. Strikes on the golden surface only sparked radiant golden flashes.
"Natural Disaster – Lightning Storm!!"...
"Natural Disaster – Absolute Zero!!"...
"Natural Disaster – Dark Tide!!"...
In the eyes of countless citizens and cultivators, disasters continued to descend from the void one after another—each trying to obliterate the True Dragon of Fate, and each failing. They watched the dragon be destroyed again and again, and reborn just as many times. These were true natural disasters, infused with terrifying tribulation power—far more dreadful than anything seen in the natural world. They transcended reason.
But while tribulation was disaster, it was also creation. This was a body-tempering ordeal.
Everyone could see the dragon's original body of 12,000 zhang shrinking continuously. This was a purification, a refining of its bloodline. Under the baptism of tribulation, impurities were removed and its essence ascended to a higher tier. Old azure scales shattered in the storms, transforming mid-air into divine light, brilliant and radiant. At the same time, new golden scales grew in their place, gleaming with an eternal divine aura.
In total, nine natural disasters appeared.
When the ninth natural disaster ended, the once massive True Dragon of Fate had shrunk to just one hundred zhang in size.
Roar!!
The True Dragon let out a jubilant cry. Its body had completely transformed—entirely golden, like it had been forged from pure gold. Its aura was even more powerful than before. The immortal and indestructible essence it now emanated felt as if it had crossed from the illusory to the real—mysterious and profound.
The True Dragon of Fate had completed its transformation.
The six-clawed Azure Dragon had become a seven-clawed Golden Dragon!!
"It really was difficult. From over ten thousand zhang to just a hundred… if it hadn't reached that level of strength beforehand, it wouldn't even have been able to retain this much after the transformation. In fact, without enough power, the resulting True Spirit of Fate might not even reach a hundred zhang. The consumption of merit power was also immense."Yi Tianxing let out a long breath of relief. Completing the transformation was already the best possible outcome.
Still, the True Dragon of Fate's successful transformation was not solely due to its vast fortune power, but also due to its merit. One could now see the Auspicious Merit Cloud—previously swallowed—being expelled again. But this time, its size had shrunk by more than half. It had once covered the entire sky, and now spanned only a thousand zhang.
All the rebirths during the tribulations had been fueled by this merit power.
This kind of expenditure was permanent—it could not be recovered.
From now on, the only way to grow it again would be through slow accumulation over time.
That's why, without sufficient accumulation—without massive merit—even possessing immense fortune would not allow a complete transformation. This crucial truth had been unknown until now. But at this moment, it was displayed plainly before all the forces of the Eternal World.
"So it turns out that to ascend to a Sacred Court, you need not only fortune—but also merit."
"What a formidable Great Yi. To think they've built such vast reserves. Still, I suppose we owe them a debt for this. If the opportunity arises, we should repay it."
Countless rulers of fortune dynasties had this thought flash through their minds.
This is what it means to be a pioneer. With someone blazing the trail, those who come later can better prepare themselves. Yi Tianxing and Great Yi had paved the way, revealing the truth behind ascension. Unintentionally, they had earned a debt from all who would follow.
"The transformation is complete. The Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon—Great Yi Sacred Court—what a majestic sight."Xiaoyao Sanren smiled with admiration.
"Wonderful! The True Spirit of Fate has fully transformed—into a Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon!"
"It's magnificent. Golden fortune—that is the symbol of a Sacred Court! Has our Great Yi truly ascended to become a Sacred Court?"
Countless citizens watched, wide-eyed, never daring to look away from the dragon. The moment the transformation completed, their excitement was visible on every face. The most important part of the ascension was the True Spirit of Fate. Now that the dragon had transformed, the rest would follow naturally.
"With the True Spirit of Fate's transformation complete, Xuanhuang City—the capital of Great Yi—shall now be elevated to Sacred City."
Yi Tianxing declared without hesitation. The True Spirit of Fate and Xuanhuang Immortal City were one. Now that the spirit had broken through its shackles, the city too could ascend. Only with this would the transformation to Sacred Court be truly complete.
A Sacred Court must have a Sacred City.
In the path of a fortune dynasty, immortal cities were indispensable. They could not be overlooked. With the fortune dynasty ascending to Sacred Court, the immortal city must also ascend to Sacred City. Only then could it bear the Sacred Court's fortune.
And Xuanhuang City was no ordinary city. It was not only the capital, but also a supreme artifact—an Eternal Heaven Ark, a trinity fused into one ultimate immortal city.
"Master, in order for Xuanhuang Immortal City to ascend, a massive amount of Willing Power Pearls is required. Using them also needs your direct authorization."Ruyi Fairy's voice echoed in Yi Tianxing's mind.
Naturally, Heaven and Earth would support the city's ascension. But without enough Willing Power Pearls, the city's potential would be stunted.