Chapter 23: Remnant's Will
Wei Shiyan was calm.
Calm not because the situation was without danger, but because he could not feel the overwhelming presence of the Heavenly Dao. If the true Heavenly Dao had descended, his soul would have reacted instantly. His soul always resonated with its existence, as if it were tied to some supreme link in an eternal contract. But now, there was only silence in the depths of his soul, an eerie and tranquil silence that gave him the answer he sought.
What he faced now was not the true Heavenly Dao.
It was only a remnant—a will of destruction, something the Heavenly Dao had unconsciously left behind, operating purely on instinct. Wei Shiyan understood this truth the moment he stilled his heart. He had long learned from his soul that even the most casual movement of the Heavenly Dao carried a fragment of sentience, and those fragments could act as if they had lives of their own.
That was what he now faced.
A shadow, a fragment, a lingering echo of destruction.
Wei Shiyan exhaled slowly, bracing himself.
If it was truly just a remnant will, then he had no reason to cower. Instead of retreating, he chose to meet it head-on, even if the path ahead was seared by lightning and fire.
Without erecting any defense, without weaving any protective barriers, he stood tall.
The first arc of tribulation lightning fell.
He remembered something absurd at that moment and muttered, "Wait… I didn't bring spare clothes."
The thought was fleeting, swallowed by the roar of thunder that engulfed him completely.
The strike tore into him mercilessly, his flesh splitting open, blood streaking down his body in chaotic rivulets. Every nerve screamed. His muscles quivered under the unbearable impact, and for a moment, he felt as though he might simply be erased from existence.
But amid the agony, something miraculous occurred.
The thunder tempered him.
Every strike refined his body, every bolt of destructive force burned away weakness and reforged his foundation. His insane recovery ability surged forth, knitting torn flesh, repairing ruptured veins, and smoothing away shattered bones. What should have killed him instead became a brutal baptism.
After an unknowable passage of time, the tribulation's ferocity began to subside.
The world grew still.
Wei Shiyan staggered forward, his breaths ragged, but when he looked down, his body bore no wounds. His flesh gleamed faintly, like polished jade. His strength had grown, his constitution had hardened. He had endured the remnant will's assault.
But his clothes—those had not survived.
Looking down at his naked body, he sighed. "Truly… stupid."
It was one thing to meet thunder head-on. It was another to forget something as basic as spare robes. Unless he wanted to walk around conjuring a spiritual light as an illusion of clothing, he would have to find a replacement.
Fortunately, he remembered his newly created vault within his soul space. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he entered that vault, scanning its contents until he found what he needed. Among the treasures and loot he had taken, he located several sets of spare robes. Selecting a set of pitch-black robes, he drew them forth and quickly clad himself.
The moment the fabric settled against his skin, he felt refreshed, his composure restored.
Now properly attired, Wei Shiyan allowed his soul power to surge outward.
The force that erupted from him enveloped the entire area. It was vast and devouring, like an ancient cosmic black hole, a terrifying pull that dragged in every lingering trace of fire and tribulation lightning. The destructive elements were consumed in an instant, funneled directly into his body.
Seconds later, his body trembled.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Bolts of chaotic lightning and fiery essence burst out of him, roaring like untamed beasts. His meridians shuddered, his dantian expanded, and his very bones hummed with strange resonance. Then, from the depths of his soul, memory threads surged forth.
Memory threads:-
Like voice echoing within him:
"Nine Chaos Tribulation Lightning Physique—acquired."
Another followed:
"Blazing Eternal Fire Physique—acquired."
The names resounded like proclamations, vibrating through his marrow and reverberating in the vastness of his soul sea. His body had not only endured the trial—it had transformed.
But before he could even process this newfound strength, another memory thread exploded unexpectedly within him.
Its message was clear:
"Integrating physiques."
Wei Shiyan froze, then braced himself immediately. His muscles tensed, his stance firmed, and he prepared for unbearable pain. If two physiques truly sought integration, the always makes him wish for hell. "ohh my dear uncle shura how I miss you "
because the process could shatter both body and soul.
Seconds passed.
Minutes trickled by.
But the anticipated agony never arrived.
Instead, a gentle warmth spread through him, suffusing his body in a tide of comfort. It was as though molten gold flowed in his veins, as though a divine spring had washed away fatigue and replaced it with limitless vigor.
His flesh was already frighteningly resilient, but now it became something more. Wei Shiyan realized with awe that even divine weapons wielded by lower immortals might fail to harm him. His physique had reached an entirely new level of toughness.
Curious, he began to test his new power.
First, he operated the Nine Chaos Tribulation Lightning Physique in isolation.
Immediately, an aura burst forth—overbearing, imperial, domineering. It swept through the surroundings, suppressing the air itself. The natural currents of wind and spirit energy reversed under the oppressive force, as if bowing to a sovereign.
Nine-colored lightning crackled to life across his body, dancing along his skin with terrifying beauty. Thunder boomed in the skies, called forth by his mere existence. From the void itself, it seemed as though celestial thunder gods had awakened, roaring in unison.
The domain of lightning stretched outward, and a moment later, the heavens responded.
Darkness spread across the sky.
Clouds churned violently, filling with lightning currents that tore jagged scars across the heavens. The world itself seemed to tremble beneath the might of his physique.
Wei Shiyan's eyes glimmered with satisfaction.
Then, turning inward once more, he prepared to test the other half of his transformation—his fire.
He drew upon the Blazing Eternal Fire Physique, feeling the dormant flames stir within him.
And in that instant—
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The world shifted again.
A wave of heat surged up, and fire law began to answer his call.
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To be continued…