Chapter 1401: Saints Have No Calamity

Upon hearing Chen Mobai's choice, Immortal Lord Wuwei retracted the jade slip into his palm, nodded, and said with a smile, "Since you have such ambition, I naturally won't stand in your way. However, life is but once. If you can't endure the Nine-fold Heavenly Tribulation, feel free to call out. I will immediately throw the Heavenly Emperor's decree to you. Once you take it, your spiritual consciousness can refine it instantly, and it will protect you, allowing you to escape the tribulation and immediately ascend."

Before he finished speaking, Chen Mobai had already extended his hand, cradling the Hunyuan Bell above his head in his palm.

Infused with the power of the Great Dao of Void, the Hunyuan Bell emitted even more brilliant five-colored ripples, suppressing the formless yet real streams of primordial magnetic force around them, which were powerful enough to tear and distort space.

Clang, clang, clang!

With three deep tolls of the bell, the Primordial Magnetic Tribulation layer could no longer impede his progress; it was completely opened.

Feeling the insurmountable chasm that had once been impossible to cross, now so easily traversed by itself, the spirit of the Hunyuan Bell couldn't help but feel a moment of bewilderment.

This time, I can finally keep up with my master and ascend to the Immortal Realm!

At that instant, the spirit of the Hunyuan Bell felt the gloom that had shrouded its heart for thousands of years completely dissipate. Already at the peak of the sixth rank, it vaguely perceived the point where its four Great Daos converged.

It had an intuition that by occupying and aligning with that point, it could break through its bottleneck and advance to a higher level.

Unfortunately, this point vanished in an instant.

However, the spirit of the Hunyuan Bell did not lose heart. The first time is always the hardest. Since it could see it once, it would surely see it again in the future, perhaps even countless times.

Furthermore, merely seeing it was just the threshold. The truly difficult part lay in taking that step, occupying that point, enduring the impact of the entire Great Dao, and becoming its master.

After all, the Hunyuan Bell had only recently reached the peak of the sixth rank. It felt that after ascending to the Immortal Realm with Chen Mobai, it could wait a few hundred or even a thousand years to consider this matter again.

For now, the most important task was to protect Chen Mobai as he passed through the Nine-fold Heavenly Tribulation.

Meanwhile, Chen Mobai, carrying the Hunyuan Bell, stepped into the Starlight Tribulation.

The surrounding distorted and indistinct space vanished, replaced by a vast starry sea overhead. The only constant was the elusive Lingkong Immortal Realm, still beyond the heavens, at the far end of the starry expanse.

And behind him, Immortal Lord Wuwei still stood on the white jade staircase.

As the melodious bell chimed, billions of stars adorned the firmament, radiating various colors of light. The moment they sensed Chen Mobai, dazzling beams of starlight erupted in response, each containing stellar power capable of piercing the void.

The Hunyuan Bell's chimes grew more rapid, and its five-colored ripples began to dissipate under the starlight.

Witnessing this scene, Chen Mobai's pupils constricted.

At his current cultivation level, he naturally realized that the billions of stars in the firmament above were the manifestation of a complete seventh-rank Zhou Tian He Luo Star Battle Formation.

Is this tribulation not meant for Void Refinement cultivators to pass?

Amidst Chen Mobai's shock, the Hunyuan Bell was already operating at full power. Concurrently, he activated the Turtle Treasure, planning to unleash the imprint left by the Grand Void Measuring Heaven Ruler in his palm if things became dire.

After all, once he reached the Lingkong Immortal Realm, he would meet True Lord Taixu. If the latter acknowledged him as a junior brother, he could then request another imprint. If not, it would be better to use this power not originally his own beforehand.

It was a pity that Immortal Lord Wuwei was accompanying him; otherwise, Chen Mobai would have even considered using the Turtle Treasure to return to the Purple Clouds Universe.

Boom!

As beams of starlight struck the five-colored ripples emanating from the Hunyuan Bell, Chen Mobai was pleasantly surprised to discover that the power of these stellar divine lights did not reach the seventh-rank level.

This makes sense.

If it were truly a seventh-rank Stellar Great Dao bombardment, Chen Mobai couldn't fathom how predecessors like True Monarch Yiyuan had passed through it.

Nevertheless, with billions of starlight beams falling, the Hunyuan Bell continued to vibrate intensely, and even tiny particles of light began to burst from its body.

"Master, I feel these star lights are helping to temper my true form..."

At this moment, the spirit of the Hunyuan Bell conveyed its feelings to Chen Mobai. Although it was currently at the peak of the sixth rank, its inherent foundation was somewhat lacking because True Monarch Yiyuan had not used sixth-rank materials initially. Even though it had been continuously upgraded with high-grade spiritual materials and had even refined the bones of the Primordial Black Dragon after falling into Chen Mobai's hands, the various materials had not yet fully integrated.

However, under the bombardment of billions of starlight beams, the Hunyuan Bell felt that all the high-grade spiritual materials it had refined were beginning to integrate and arrange themselves in an orderly fashion, framed by the power of its four Great Daos.

In his state of shared perception, Chen Mobai immediately noticed this process.

This orderliness was as if artificial post-natal traces were being gradually eliminated, making the Hunyuan Bell almost primordial.

Is this how artifacts of enlightenment ascend?

At this moment, Chen Mobai's *Can Tong Qi* broke through its limitations, revealing the truth of seventh-rank artifact refining.

Understanding this, Chen Mobai gradually released the Hunyuan Bell's defenses, allowing the starlight to fall directly onto its body. This direct contact caused the Hunyuan Bell's spirit to cry out in pain repeatedly, yet it made its Great Dao and true form more orderly, undergoing an indescribable transformation.

Seeing this, Immortal Lord Wuwei nodded gently.

This eighth layer of heavenly tribulation, while appearing to be the Great Dao of Stars, was in essence the Great Dao of "Order."

Only Void Refinement cultivators who could comprehend order from it were what the Heavenly Court truly needed.

For the Heavenly Court was, by its very nature, the executing body of order and laws in this world.

After understanding this, Chen Mobai looked at the constantly trembling Hunyuan Bell, a hint of hesitation on his face. Ultimately, he decided the opportunity was too rare to miss, so he extended a finger to touch the surrounding starlight.

In an instant, the starlight pierced through Chen Mobai's finger bone.

Amidst the excruciating pain, Chen Mobai discovered that the void spirit patterns on his finger bone lit up. Upon combining with the starlight, he saw the truth hidden within the firmament.

It was order.

And this was the fundamental basis of the world's existence.

All Three Thousand Great Daos operated according to order.

The void was no different.

In his sudden realization, Chen Mobai continued to use the Great Dao of Order to comprehend deeper levels of the Great Dao of Void.

Although he had already become void himself after merging with the Turtle Treasure, he was merely void. Of the Three Thousand Great Daos attached to the void, he could only perceive glimpses of those he had personally comprehended.

However, under the influence of order, Chen Mobai gradually extended his perception, piercing through the mist shrouding the other Great Daos, and glimpsed a corner of a scene he had seen before.

The Great Daos intersected like a vast net, and on this net, the nodes resembled flickering lamps.

Under the Great Dao of Order, Chen Mobai also discovered something even deeper.

In this net, some lines were broken.

Just as Chen Mobai wanted to observe more closely, he found that the broken lines disappeared. His vision was then filled by the golden lamp representing his own Great Dao of Sacred Virtue, and opposite it, the stone lotus hidden in the pitch-black void.

This scene reminded Chen Mobai of the World-Destroying Millstone that had escaped from his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness long ago.

It seemed there was no adverse effect.

As Chen Mobai was thinking this, an impassioned bell chime echoed in his ear, pulling him back to the Starlight Tribulation.

"Order must be observed, but prolonged immersion can lead to being bound by it. Young friend, it's almost time for you to face the final layer of heavenly tribulation."

Seeing Chen Mobai open his eyes, Immortal Lord Wuwei offered a reminder.

"So, Senior, you cannot leave this white jade staircase!"

Chen Mobai turned his head to look at Immortal Lord Wuwei, who had stood on the white jade staircase ever since his appearance, never descending. A look of sudden realization appeared on Chen Mobai's face.

When he had just perceived the operational order of this world, Chen Mobai discovered that although the Nine-fold Heavenly Tribulation was said to be the boundary between the Sky River Realm and the Lingkong Immortal Realm, it still lay within the Great Dao rules of the Sky River Realm.

This meant that if Immortal Lord Wuwei displayed power beyond its limits, it would also trigger the ascension spiritual light.

Hearing Chen Mobai's words, Immortal Lord Wuwei couldn't help but show a look of surprise, clearly not expecting the latter to comprehend order to such an extent.

"This is the Jade Staircase of Myriad Luo. The Heavenly Emperor decreed that standing upon it is equivalent to being within the Heavenly Court's territory."

Immortal Lord Wuwei did not conceal anything, pointing to the white jade staircase beneath his feet and explaining its principle.

"Then, if Senior stands upon it, can you travel to the Sky River Realm?"

Chen Mobai thought of the most crucial point and couldn't help but ask again.

"Even the Heavenly Emperor must adhere to the Great Dao's order and cannot act as he pleases."

Immortal Lord Wuwei shook his head, indicating this was impossible.

This implied it wasn't impossible in principle.

Chen Mobai secretly mused.

However, he immediately recalled True Lord Taixu leaving behind the Ascension Platform and similar creations—these were shortcuts carved out of order through great divine power.

In other words, as long as one possessed strength as formidable as True Lord Taixu's, order could also be altered.

The Heavenly Emperor's inability to act entirely as he pleased simply meant he wasn't strong enough.

Having understood this, Chen Mobai no longer lingered in the Starlight Tribulation. Carrying the Hunyuan Bell, which was now almost the color of the starry river after its starlight baptism, he stepped into the final layer.

This tribulation was the ultimate test for ascending cultivators.

The Five Decays of Heaven and Man!

The moment Chen Mobai stepped in, he saw the Hunyuan Bell begin to dim, its spirit continuously dissipating. The lustrous bell body turned dull gray, as if covered in a thick layer of dust.

As for the Nine-Fire Blazing Dragon Pure Yang Grand Immortal Robe worn by Chen Mobai, the nine fire dragons it manifested extinguished one by one. Eventually, even the fiery red patterns on the immortal robe began to crack and turn to ash.

"You must be careful. These Five Decays of Heaven and Man target essence, qi, spirit, dao, and mind. Only beings who overcome these five great decays, pure and unblemished, clear and lucid, can perfectly align with the Great Dao, thereby taking the step of Dao Integration and becoming a Dao Master. I have seen many promising talents wither and perish in this very tribulation."

As Immortal Lord Wuwei spoke, he already held the Heavenly Emperor's decree, ready to cast it out the moment Chen Mobai showed any signs of outward decay.

"I see. Indeed, this is the most terrifying tribulation for Void Refinement cultivators."

Chen Mobai nodded, understanding that this was the final tribulation at the culmination of cultivation in this world.

After overcoming this tribulation, only the step of Dao Integration remained.

At that point, there would be no such specific heavenly tribulation.

However, if one's fortune and virtue were insufficient, human tribulations would still arise.

Chen Mobai quickly recalled the two major dragon clans and the Heavenly Sea Jellyfish Palace he had offended back in the Sky River Realm.

There were also unresolved entanglements with the Myriad Spirits Sect, the Purple Cloud Celestial Palace, and others.

It seemed that if he truly wished to integrate with the Dao here, he would first need to resolve these karmic ties.

Thinking this, Chen Mobai, under Immortal Lord Wuwei's wide-eyed, disbelieving gaze, retrieved the dimmed Hunyuan Bell into his personal domain. Step by step, he flew towards the end of the Nine-fold Heavenly Tribulation, confronting the Five Decays of Heaven and Man.

Immortal Lord Wuwei watched as the decay tribulation energy, which had previously reduced many spiritual elites and prodigies to ashes, was utterly unable to penetrate Chen Mobai when it struck him.

It was as if clumps of hazy gray mist, upon hitting Chen Mobai, scattered into piles of tribulation ash, merely corroding and staining the Nine-Fire Blazing Dragon Pure Yang Grand Immortal Robe he wore.

After an unknown period, Chen Mobai had reached the end of the Nine-fold Heavenly Tribulation. He looked up at the white jade staircase that extended from the deepest part of the clouds, spanned across the vast starry river, and descended before him.

A faint click sounded.

It was Immortal Lord Wuwei maneuvering the Jade Staircase of Myriad Luo beneath his feet to connect with the white jade staircase in front of Chen Mobai.

Clearly, Immortal Lord Wuwei's Jade Staircase of Myriad Luo was the final section of this staircase.

"How did you pass the Five Decays of Heaven and Man?"

Immortal Lord Wuwei asked, somewhat shocked, as he gazed at Chen Mobai, whose face showed no change, not even a single white hair.

"A Saint faces no tribulation!"

In response, Chen Mobai uttered these words.

At this moment, Immortal Lord Wuwei recalled the information about Chen Mobai that Immortal Lord Wuchen had mentioned when they were in contact.

"You actually chose to step into the Great Dao of Sacred Virtue!"

Immortal Lord Wuwei murmured to himself, his face filled with disbelief.

Although he knew that the Millennial Saint oversaw enlightenment and would not set thresholds for later cultivators comprehending the Great Dao of Sacred Virtue, even so, because the Dao already had a master, any successor would need to expend a hundred times the effort to achieve anything.

Under these circumstances, no cultivator in the Sky River Realm would choose to force their way into comprehending the Great Dao of Sacred Virtue against such odds.

After all, this Great Dao already had a master, preventing further progress. Moreover, a hundredfold effort might not yield as much progress as a related acquired Great Dao of Sacred Virtue.

With such talent, cultivating any acquired Great Dao related to Sacred Virtue would offer a high chance of achieving seventh-rank Dao Integration.

"During my Void Refinement stage, I did consider a fallback if I couldn't enter it. However, perhaps it was the Saint's compassion, but I felt no difficulty whatsoever in stepping into the Great Dao of Sacred Virtue; it happened quite naturally."

As Chen Mobai spoke, immortal light radiated from his entire body. He collected the damaged Nine-Fire Blazing Dragon Pure Yang Grand Immortal Robe into his personal domain and changed into a new set of clothes.