A silvery orb hung in the lonely sky. A cool draught of air whipped over the waves.
The red flag fluttered as if a symbol for what was coming.
Ling Yun stood tall and proud on the highest peak of Turtle Island, observing the surveillance boats five hundred meters away. His eyes reflected calmness and even a hint of indifference.
He was dispassionate and calm, even when he was killing the Japanese.
Ling Yun viewed matters of this world simply. The Earth was just a planet with living organisms. A country was just a force, an organization. He wasn’t getting emotional over this.
Nothing was sacred if you were strong enough. The entire planet would tremble under your feet if you killed enough. What was a country or a territory?
Ling Yun only murdered people who blocked his way!
Ling Yun stroked Little White’s head with a meaningful smile. He pointed his chin into the distance at that charade in front of him. The Marine Police were taking photos and videos excitedly, and some of them were still saluting in his direction. “Little White, do you know what they are fighting for?” Ling Yun questioned.
Little White blinked obliviously, not understanding what Ling Yun was asking.
Ling Yun smiled and waved his right arm. “For resources!”
“Any living thing will compete for and monopolize resources if it makes their survival better and easier! It’s always the same, be it on a personal level or in some form of organization!”
Ling Yun summarized the true intention behind wars with one simple sentence.
For the survival of the individual, for the continuation of a race, for resources.
“This is the natural selection of the world, survival of the fittest. Us cultivating is also for the same reasons.” Ling Yun continued as he saw Little White’s thoughtful nod.
“However, cultivation goes against the natural laws of the Earth. We are fighting against the heavens! That is why the Tribulation Stage exists!
“Tribulation is actually a punishment for the practitioners set by the heavens. At the same time, it’s also a qualification test! Are we fit to live on this world as a higher being?”
Mortals would say that a nine-tailed celestial fox was a monster or a vixen. However, they would become a living person, not only in shape but also in form and essence.
In the end, was existence as a human of a higher order than a nine-tailed celestial fox? That was irrelevant. However, that was going against the heavens and hence the tribulation.
If Little White survived the tribulation, she would become human. If not, only death awaited her!
It was the same logic as a human becoming a deity. A deity could destroy the earth, he could move mountains and reclaim the seas with a lazy swing of his hand. He could have a human form, but it wasn’t fixed. He could live for thousands of years or even longer. Compared to deities, normal mortals were akin to ants.
Ling Yun failed at the terrifying Tribulation Stage in the Cultivation World. That was how he died there. He was lucky that a wisp of his primordial spirit escaped and was reborn on Earth.
D*mned heavens. They just want me dead! Ling Yun cursed secretly in his heart as he recalled his fury.
Tribulation was run of the mill for Ling Yun in the Cultivation World.
Ling Yun was different from the other practitioners, as his tribulations started from when he was in the foundational stages. He had to go through one tribulation with every minor realm he broke through. It was so common that he used it to strengthen his body and his primordial spirit instead!
A body and primordial spirit tempered by tribulations were definitely strong. It allowed him to be on par with practitioners three major realms higher than him. That was precisely why Ling Yun was crowned a super genius.
Ling Yun wasn’t prepared for the total of 999 tribulations that struck him in that fateful Tribulation Stage. He did everything he could but didn’t expect the Purple God of Thunder to descend down at the last moment. He smashed Ling Yun’s body into nothingness!
Ling Yun might have been defeated, but he died in glory. The Purple God of Thunder was a tribulation for immortals, not humans.
“You don’t want me to advance? You’re afraid that I’ll compete with you for resources? Fine, I’ll advance on this planet depleted of spiritual energy instead!”
Perseverance sparkled in Ling Yun’s eyes. His face filled with unyielding pride as he lifted his head to the sky!
In this endless galaxy, the universe was vast and mysterious. Who was it’s master?
The Tribulation Stage preceded the Period of Great Accomplishment. After the Period of Great Accomplishment would be the Ascend Heaven Period. Would that be the Deity Realm? Where was it? What kind of place was it?
That was one of the unsolved mysteries in Ling Yun’s heart.
After some time, Ling Yun lowered his head and leaned over. He took Little White into his embrace and said softly, “Little White, don’t be afraid. I’ll definitely help you pass your tribulation!”
Ling Yun’s tone was gentle, but it was firm and filled with confidence!
Little White snuggled into Ling Yun’s arms and rubbed her head affectionately on Ling Yun’s chest. Her natural fear of the tribulation evaporated all of a sudden.
The fishing boat was long gone, while the Huaxia surveillance boats were a distance away from Turtle Island. Only the remains of the Japanese patrol boats littered the sea surrounding Turtle Island.
“Come, let’s find a place to settle down.”
Ling Yun took a final glance at the six patrol boats before taking Little White to the southern part of Turtle Island.
Turtle Island had the shape of a sweet potato. It was 3.5km from east to west and 1.5km from north to south. The northern terrain was relatively flat, but the southern part was really steep. A mountain range traversed from east to west. The highest point was about four hundred meters above sea level, located somewhere in the middle.
Ling Yun came down from this point. He found a steep cliff and flew there directly after some observations.
The invincible Devil’s Blade came in handy at this time. Ling Yun used it to dig a cave big enough to hold two people. The cave had a diameter of two meters and was ten meters deep. That would do as a temporary shelter for Little White and himself.
It was more than forty meters above sea level. There were sturdy rocks on top of them, which would provide shelter from the rain.
Ling Yun blocked the hole with two huge rocks, leaving a small gap big enough for one person to pass through. He then asked Little White to cast a simple illusion at the entrance. It became indiscernible from its surroundings.
“Hehe, this is the first cave abode I excavated in this world…”
Ling Yun brought out four Night-Luminescent Pearls and placed one of them in each corner of the cave. He then used the Devil’s Blade to cut out a stone bench and a stone table. Ling Yun turned and gave Little White a boyish grin.
Little White looked back at Ling Yun bashfully, almost human.
Ling Yun began to bring out food and fresh water from the spatial ring. “Come, we have worked hard for so long. You should be tired. Let’s have dinner and take a rest. We’ll leave the rest until tomorrow.” Ling Yun motioned for Little White to get closer.
They were enjoying themselves thoroughly on this deserted island!
Everything was in order. Tang Meng actually prepared a box of Maotai for Ling Yun! However, Ling Yun was practical.
The space in the spatial ring was limited. He prioritized food and water over the Maotai.
Ling Yun allowed Little White to cultivate without restraint after dinner. That was the whole intention of coming to a deserted island. There were a lot of people waiting for him at home, so the faster they overcome the tribulation, the better.
Ling Yun also started to meditate and cultivate his Yin-Yang harmony balance. He had to replenish his True Qi.
After that was done, Ling Yun notified Little White that he would be heading out and left the cave.
There was no movement other than the sound of the whistling wind and waves hitting the reef.
He went around the island in a flash and finally came to the pinnacle of the island. He peered into the distance.
Not one of the six patrol boats remained.
“That’s weird, neither the Japanese warships nor the Navy from the United States are here. They should be here already…”
Ling Yun frowned and muttered under his breath.
“That’s fine too. Only death awaits them if they come anyway…” Ling Yun remarked contemptuously. He didn’t give it any further thought and returned to the cave abode.
He currently occupied the island. Anyone who found trouble with him before Little White overcame her tribulation successfully would be butchered.
Ling Yun returned to the cave and took everything out from his spatial ring. He then returned to where he parked the speedboat and filled the spatial ring to the brim with food and water. After, he returned to the cave abode and retrieved everything from the ring.
Ling Yun was finally at ease. He flew out of the cave once again and began cultivating his Stellar Condensation Technique at a place with a higher altitude.
The long night past just like that.
