Chapter 1051: The Great Dao is Completed, The State of Mahayana
Editor: Henyee Translations

Without a moment to rejoice, Jiang Chengxuan’s consciousness was abruptly pulled back into the cave abode. At this moment, his perception of the world had radically transformed. If previously he had felt like a sailor adrift at sea, now, within the Floodgate Realm, he was like a fish in water.

Every thread of energy in the void was distinctly perceivable to him; every force of Dao could be effortlessly manifested and manipulated.

“Perhaps, this is what it feels like to be a child of the cultivation world…” Jiang Chengxuan mused, his eyes sparkling with insight.

“However, there is one last challenge.”

With his newfound realm of Mahayana, Jiang Chengxuan sensed a surge of ferocity in the air. Mysterious red lightning flickered in and out of existence in the void, unmistakably signaling the imminent arrival of his human tribulation.

Although he had secured the world’s mark, the final admonishment and warning from the cosmos were still due to arrive.

Indeed, this red lightning had first manifested during his forceful breakthrough in the seventh-level of Heavenly Calculation Technique within the Immortal cave abode. Back then, it was obscured by the Karma of an earth Immortal, preventing the tribulation from descending.

At that time, Jiang Chengxuan could not detect its presence through his aura alone. But now, even before the tribulation had begun, he was already able to predict its arrival. Such was the difference between the realms of Mahayana and Dao Mastery.

Facing the impending tribulation, Jiang Chengxuan remained composed. He glanced around the cave. Shen Ruyan was still deep in cultivation, and no preparations had been made in the cave abode to defend against the tribulation, thus it was not suitable as the site for his ordeal.

Previously, his Shifu, Qin Shenwu, had faced great danger during his tribulation, only surviving with the aid of a natural array’s power, and subsequently achieving Mahayana.

However, that natural formation had shattered in the Immortal cave abode while defending against the Seven Kills Array. Jiang Chengxuan could not afford to rely on it again for his tribulation.

Moreover, he had a premonition that the tribulation he was about to face would likely be far more terrifying than what Qin Shenwu had encountered, possibly bringing disaster to the entire Haoran Sect.

Fortunately, Jiang Chengxuan had already prepared a location for the tribulation. Without further hesitation, he manifested his Dao power and drew a circular gateway in the void.

A profound and chaotic gate appeared before him, leading to a place beyond this domain. Even having achieved the realm of Mahayana, Jiang Chengxuan was still capable of traversing the outer realms on his own, and that location was precisely where he had planned to face his tribulation.

There, he would not have to worry about the destructive power of the tribulation, and no one would be able to locate and disturb him.

His enemies were numerous—not only various demonic cults but also righteous sects like the Qiankun Hall could complicate his tribulation.

Thunder rumbled in the void as if dragons were roaring.

Knowing that there was no time to waste, Jiang Chengxuan stepped through the gate without hesitation.

The boundless outer world unfolded before him as the gate behind him slowly closed. In this vast domain, only Jiang Chengxuan’s presence remained.

He swiftly adjusted himself to his peak condition amidst the surrounding chaos. Streaks of red lightning began to flash more visibly.

Bits of red lightning flickered and spread, and in an instant, as Jiang Chengxuan opened his eyes, he found himself trapped within a massive cage constructed of red lightning.

The aura of the red lightning was terrifyingly violent, preventing even the chaotic essence from penetrating.

An incredibly bizarre scene unfolded. Instead of striking immediately, the red lightning explosively entwined and slowly formed a shape.

It was a figure identical to Jiang Chengxuan himself—or rather, a red lightning avatar of him.

Facing Jiang Chengxuan, the duplicate wore a sinister smile, and in the next moment, it unleashed a blast of Dao power strikingly similar to his, hurtling towards him.

This scene caused Jiang Chengxuan’s heart to tremble. This bizarre red tribulation could not only mimic his power and aura but his fighting style as well.

Battling an opponent who fully understood his own tactics was a rare and daunting experience for Jiang Chengxuan.

As the two exchanged blows, the thunder of their battle caused realms to collapse, creating voids of nothingness.

Facing an adversary capable of perfectly anticipating his moves, Jiang Chengxuan found the battle exceedingly difficult.

The opponent not only possessed an additional kind of power but was also intimately familiar with his combat style.

Every move Jiang Chengxuan made was preemptively countered, all his strategies thwarted.

It felt as though he was fighting an opponent capable of reading his mind.

The battle continued to the point where stars were destroyed and universes collapsed. Even when driven to the brink, Jiang Chengxuan sustained severe injuries and nearly perished.

However, at the last moment, he completely abandoned all his past techniques and merged all his moves and powers into a seamless whole, achieving a state of absolute freedom and mastery.

At the brink of death, he managed to disrupt the red lightning avatar’s mimicry, overcoming his past self, and annihilating all the red lightning.

Through destruction came creation. As the last traces of red lightning dissipated into the void, the entire outer realm fell back into darkness.

Only fragments of destroyed worlds and terrifying voids remained as evidence of the cataclysm.

At this moment, Jiang Chengxuan sat meditating in the void, radiating an aura of profound freedom. His Dharmic power, Dao rule, and realm had all reached Mahayana.

After a millennium, Jiang Chengxuan’s path had finally reached its culmination.