Chapter 104: The Great Path Leads to Qiao Yu’s Transcendence

The calamity of the celestial and demonic slaughter arrived a thousand years earlier than expected, casting unease on the new generation of cultivators like Qin Wu. They could vaguely sense a great catastrophe looming over them. Before such a cataclysm, their chances of survival were slim.

The murderous energy saturating the heavens and earth clouded the Dao fruit, preventing cultivators with shallow foundations from discerning the fate woven by the heavens. As the calamity advanced, all immortals would find themselves unable to calculate the celestial will, forced to face the tribulation obediently.

“After all, the matter is still early. Why worry so much?” Suddenly, auspicious clouds drifted gently, and Li Jingxun and Qing Lan descended. “The immediate priority is to dismantle the Blood Spirit Demon Pool.”

On their way, Li Jingxun and Qing Lan explained the situation clearly, which at last brought a faint smile to Qing Hong’s face.

“Indeed,” Qing Hong nodded, releasing the children he had saved along with Wang Wenbai. “Although the children are safe, Brother Liu’s Skyleaf Jade, which fell into the Blood Pool, must be retrieved.”

With an apologetic expression, Qing Hong addressed Liu Zimo. “Brother, rest assured. That is your treasure for overcoming the tribulation. If we fail to recover the Skyleaf Jade, I will compensate you with another precious artifact.”

“No need. Besides, that item can still sense its presence—it’s inside the Blood Pool.”

Wu He interjected, “But the Blood Sea Demon Pool is like a small sect’s sacred ground, suppressing all orthodox cultivation techniques. Without the Skyleaf Jade, how can we even enter the Blood Pool?”

“On that point, I have someone in mind who might assist,” Li Jingxun said to the group. “Later, Brother Qing Hong, please accompany me on a journey. As for Tai Xiao Palace, please coordinate with the Wu Wei Dao Sect to cleanse the city’s brothels and gambling dens—root out the demon sect’s spies.”

The six dispersed. Qing Hong and Li Jingxun traveled a thousand miles to a riverbank.

The water was clear and babbling. There, a burly man was single-handedly constructing a bridge.

“Is this person a cultivator?” Qing Hong felt something amiss. “No, this is not pure celestial energy but closely tied to the realm of Qi refiners.”

“This man is a solitary cultivator, still short of reaching Dao fruit,” Li Jingxun explained. “His strength is considerable, and the immortal bridge he builds can span the River of Filth.”

Qing Hong concealed his fingers within his sleeve, calculating the man’s background.

This man was Qiao Yuan, originally a craftsman in the mortal realm who, through chance, inherited the legacy of an immortal estate. Since then, he traveled far and wide, building bridges for the common people, benefiting all living beings.

Suddenly, a spark flickered within the Nine Cloud Mystery Crystal Disk. Qing Hong contemplated silently, “Could his chance at enlightenment be right before us?”

He examined the solitary wooden bridge Qiao Yuan had made and grew interested. “As an ancient lineage cultivator, this is a favor to repay. It will be helpful to have an ally like him.”

Approaching with a smile, Qing Hong asked, “Brother, you build this bridge alone. Is it sturdy?”

Qiao Yuan, having just set the last wooden pile in the water, chuckled. “Young sir, rest assured. I have built bridges for many years, mastering this craft. If the bridge fails underfoot, I’ll lay myself across the river for you to cross.”

“That’s your word. If the bridge collapses later, don’t back down.”

Qiao Yuan clapped his hands, tidied his tools, and took a position at the far end, watching Qing Hong cross.

Qing Hong and Li Jingxun whispered between themselves and did not immediately cross but searched the surroundings for heavy objects to reinforce the bridge.

Li Jingxun went to a nearby mountain foothill. The verdant peaks were towering and majestic, with sheer cliffs and rugged ridges.

“This is the place,” Li Jingxun murmured, lightly touching the mountain names on her jade scroll with a vermilion brush.

“Spirit of the Azure Peak, essence of the Five Summits, heed my will and come forth!” A ray of spiritual light shot from the nearby mountains into the Dao virtue jade scroll. Pages glowed with the essence of mountain spirits, each mountain’s shadow exerting a gravitational force.

Meanwhile, Qing Hong moved toward a river mouth where waters from all directions converged. The river was a mix of clear and murky currents, waves rolling endlessly like galloping horses and fleeing deer, a majestic force overwhelming the heavens.

Qing Hong dropped the Jade Tide Pearl into the water, drawing the weight of the rivers from all eight directions, each exerting immense pressure.

Prepared, the two returned to the bridge.

Li Jingxun spoke softly, “Brother, once we step on this bridge, I fear it won’t hold.”

The burly man laughed heartily. “Miss, rest assured! Even if you bring the mountains and lakes upon me, you won’t crush this bridge.”

He said this just as Qing Hong took Li Jingxun’s hand and they slowly stepped onto the bridge.

With the first step, a thunderous crack resounded—one of the wooden piles beneath suddenly collapsed.

The pile was ancient ironwood, sinking with only a few bubbles before vanishing completely.

Qiao Yuan’s expression changed. “These two are no mortals! Have they come to cause trouble?”

His face filled with suspicion as the bridge swayed dangerously with each deliberate step the two took.

“Not good!” Without hesitation, Qiao Yuan leapt into the water, using his cultivation power to support the bridge, attempting to bear the weight.

Yet Li Jingxun summoned the essence of the Three Mountains, Qing Hong called upon the waters of the Eight Directions. Mountain spirits roared like tigers, water spirits surged like dragons, clashing fiercely, amplifying the pressure on the bridge.

“This is serious. These two are true cultivators of the Dao. Why do they want to harm me?” Qiao Yuan’s stubborn nature flared. After a century spent building 359 bridges for the people, he steeled his resolve and exerted all his power to counter the mountain and river forces.

Qing Hong held Li Jingxun’s hand; her skin was soft, fair, smooth as polished jade.

“Her features, her skin—she rivals the most beautiful women,” Qing Hong thought. Yet her face was too ordinary among the female immortals and witches he knew, even less striking than the Qiu Jinling sisters. In a crowd, she would be almost invisible.

They paused, then slowly continued toward the opposite bank. Beneath, Qiao Yuan’s energy waned, barely holding on.

“Brother, should we ease up a bit?” Li Jingxun sensed Qing Hong’s intent but knew Qiao Yuan could not bear unrelenting pressure.

“Not yet. The 99 times 81 steps must be completed,” Qing Hong explained while walking. “The number 9 returns to 1, the double-ninth, only by enduring these 99 tribulations can he become a true immortal.”

They had reached the 49th step.

At this moment, Qiao Yuan faltered again, his body trembling, struggling in the water. Yet his accumulated merits over the century, the blessings of the people, and the incense offerings lent him strength. A golden light shielded him, restoring his clarity. Across the land, bridges shimmered with radiant light, transforming into golden dragons flying to his side.

These bridges, scattered throughout the north and south, spanned mountains and rivers—iron bridges hung between peaks, stone bridges arched over lakes, wooden bridges leapt over torrents. Each was a labor of Qiao Yuan’s heart and soul. Their spirits merged into him, forming a faint Dao fruit illusion behind his back.

That was a celestial bridge linking heaven and earth, opening the meridians within him. Streams of primordial energy flooded his limbs and bones, converging into a profound Dao gateway, forging a golden immortal core.

“My Dao is complete!” The man, inspired, emitted a golden light from his forehead, merging with the bridge above.

With this, the total reached exactly 360 bridges—aligning with the cycle of the heavens—transforming into flowing light dancing around him.

Qing Hong and Li Jingxun continued step by step. The mountain and river forces, now shared among 360 bridges, weakened sufficiently to maintain the bridge’s stability.

After crossing the 81st step, Qiao Yuan succeeded, fully forming his human-immortal Dao fruit.

His Dao fruit was tied to the bridge, harmonizing the three talents of heaven, earth, and man.

Qiao Yuan used the bridge to prove his Dao, vowing to erect three bridges in the future to certify his earthly immortal Dao fruit.

Li Jingxun’s bright eyes sparkled. “Three pledges: one to heaven, to cultivate and deepen Dao fruit; one to earth, using heaven and earth as wood and stone, nature as chisel and axe, to add a naturally perfect great bridge to the cosmos; one to man, to continue accumulating merits by building bridges for the people’s welfare.”

“A deed of great resolve and courage,” Qing Hong praised, raising his gaze to the thunderclouds forming above Qiao Yuan.

With the attainment of human-immortal Dao fruit, the three calamities and tribulations would descend. Ancient Qi refiners’ tribulations were thrice as severe as those of ordinary immortals and demons.

Seeing the darkened sky swirling with wind and flame, Li Jingxun’s expression shifted slightly. “Isn’t this tribulation too overwhelming?”

“Whether it will truly fall is another matter,” Qing Hong mused, noticing the golden light of merit glowing from Qiao Yuan. These lights gathered the thoughts of living beings, helping to offset some of the tribulation.

Merit is a multifaceted concept.

First, clarity of mind is merit; realizing one’s true nature is virtue—this is self-cultivation’s merit.

Second, the gratitude of all living beings—a spiritual will similar to the incense of divine paths. Helping others, receiving thanks, being honored with longevity tablets—these form a protective spiritual force.

Third, merit in harmony with heaven’s will, following the celestial order and gaining the favor of heaven and earth, often manifested as the mysterious yellow energy.

“Qiao Yuan built his bridges without benefiting from heaven or earth. Yet, by creating these great bridges for the people’s comfort, and being worshipped as the Bridge Lord by some, his merit-will protects him as a deity, reducing his tribulation.”

Though lacking heavenly merit, his century of accumulated virtue was stronger than that of Qing Hong and Tu Shan, allowing him to pass the tribulation with ease.

At last, 360 golden dragons entered his body; a crackling sound erupted as his mortal flesh shed, transforming into a true immortal cultivation body.

A rainbow bridge flashed behind him, one end linked to his physical form, the other to the Dao fruit on the far shore—symbolizing the earthly immortal Dao fruit. When he could open this celestial-human bridge within, he would achieve earthly immortal Dao cultivation. This was the heavenly bridge in his Dao fruit pledge.

Qiao Yuan ascended, his entire aura transformed, floating before Qing Hong.

“Thank you, teacher, for your guidance,” he said respectfully after enlightenment, bowing deeply.

Qing Hong returned half a bow. “You are older, a peer among equals. Your patient accumulation for a century culminated in this moment. Even without me, you would have found your Dao.”

“But now that the killing tribulation has arisen, if you cannot swiftly ascend, you will inevitably be entangled by fate with the celestial and demonic,” Qing Hong warned. Having just become immortal, Qiao Yuan understood the cause and effect of the tribulation. Fortunately, he practiced the ancient method; otherwise, he would have perished in the slaughter.

“Moreover, I sense a connection between this great calamity and myself,” Qiao Yuan said. “Having become immortal, I can feel my death tribulation dissipate. What was once a death omen now transforms into a great opportunity.”

The two congratulated each other before returning to the matter at hand.

When asked to build bridges, Qiao Yuan agreed readily: “That is simple. You helped me achieve immortality; this humble task is nothing. I will follow you.” (To be continued.)