Chapter 23: The Panel, Evil Enchantment

This was mainly because, just moments ago, a lively serpent of tribulation energy had circled him several times before finally settling into his eyes. Not only that, upon carefully sensing the depths of his spiritual sea, he found that the small cauldron within, after being struck once by the other party with the Devouring Spirit Tribulation, had vanished, leaving behind only a panel.

Tribulation Lord Talent: Prison of All Heavens.
Tribulation Lord Realm: Late Peak Da Luo Golden Immortal.
Current Abilities Available: Will Projection, Spirit Treasure Projection / already used.
Host: Zhao Jingcheng.
Realm: Treasure Body Stage.
Requirement to Return to the Gate of All Heavens: Fulfill the host's obsession / unfulfilled.
Mission Requirement of the Gate of All Heavens: Capture the tribulation object of the Treasure Bottle Realm / unfulfilled.
Side Quest Requirement of the Gate of All Heavens: Resolve three life-and-death tribulations / unfulfilled.

Below this panel, there was a line of small characters that made Hongyun take a deep breath.

Current number of life-and-death tribulations resolved: 1
Tribulation Energy Points available: 117 (each resolved tribulation grants 100 points)
Claimable Reward: Indiscriminate enhancement of the Treasure Body Stage by one realm.

…

Hongyun could clearly sense that there seemed to be more content on the panel that was not yet revealed, but he was unable to view it. Staring at the panel for a while, he was lost in thought.

He was somewhat puzzled and surprised: Why had this panel not appeared when he was in the primordial world? Why was his mission here to capture tribulation objects? Why must he fulfill the host's obsession to return?

For a moment, he felt bewildered and out of sorts. Frankly speaking, he had never encountered such methods during his time in the primordial world.

But fortunately, in that dream, he had already learned many strange and wondrous things, and had developed some ability to adapt. He knew well that now was not the time for hesitation. After much consideration, he refrained from claiming the reward that would enhance his Treasure Body Stage by one realm.

After all, the panel stated that this was an indiscriminate opportunity—if he used it now, it would only advance him to the mid-stage of Treasure Body Realm. Such an improvement was not particularly significant. The greatest advantage would be the ability to store more baleful energy, and to keep more anomalies within his Treasure Body Pearl. These could be compensated for with time.

The most time-consuming aspect of the Treasure Body Stage was perfecting one's anomaly, refining it to the ideal, so that it would become the true anomaly of the Moon Surge Sect: “The moon surges like a great river flows.”

As for the Sunset Sect, which guarded the Sun-Moon Gorge alongside the Moon Surge Sect, their signature anomaly was: “The setting sun over the long river.”

The great sun remains unchanged through the ages, the moon waxes and wanes; each has its strengths and weaknesses. However, the two sects are far apart, and he had never encountered a disciple of the Sunset Sect.

Now, wounded as he was, he knew that after his fall into the Sun-Moon Gorge, the Moon Surge Sect would surely send someone to search for him. This place was not safe to linger.

Thinking this, Hongyun slowly entered a state of meditation and healing. Though he had not suffered external injuries from his fall, his internal organs were somewhat damaged. The baleful energy was inherently aggressive, ill-suited for healing, so he could only slowly nurture his recovery.

But as these thoughts crossed his mind, Hongyun paused, a fleeting idea sparking in his consciousness.

What could these tribulation points be used for?

With this question, he focused his mind and attempted to operate his attribute panel.

“Heal injuries.”

He murmured softly. The panel trembled slightly, and an awareness entered his mind.

To heal external wounds requires 3 tribulation points; to heal internal organ injuries requires 9 tribulation points. Use?

Hearing this prompt, Hongyun marveled at its peculiar nature and felt inspired. He unhesitatingly chose ‘yes.’

As the tribulation energy points on his panel faded, the number dropping to 105, Hongyun felt a warm sensation spread through his body. A flow of heat rose from his chest, steadily knitting together his wounds, restoring his internal injuries to normal.

…

Ten days later, Shuimen Town.

Hongyun, a crescent-bladed sword at his waist and clad in a loose black robe, sat quietly in a mechanical carriage, eyes closed in meditation.

He had not lingered in the Sun-Moon Gorge. After using his panel’s miraculous abilities to heal his wounds, he crossed the gorge and arrived in a remote town among the demon clans.

During this time he encountered a team of merchants of mixed demon-human blood. After demonstrating a hint of his ability, he was shown respect by the only half-demon of innate early stage in the caravan, who invited him to join.

The half-demon race had always struggled for survival, facing disdain not only from humans but also lacking respect among the demon clans, where the strong devour the weak. Though every millennium or so a brilliant individual would emerge among the half-demons, they were but a fleeting wave in the great sea, causing some stir yet never changing their fate of hardship.

Beneath the sunlight, Hongyun practiced his Treasure Body technique, pondering his next move.

Along the journey, he had caught wind of some rumors: the son of the Peng demon king had been slain by the Moon Surge Sect’s Elder Withered Moon, his body nailed to the Sun-Moon Gorge. Someone had leaked the news of Elder Withered Moon's demise, and now the Peng demon king had allied with the bear, tiger, and leopard demon kings to launch an assault on the Sun-Moon Gorge.

After all, among the demon clans, the ten demon kings and eight demon marshals were all of Nirvana realm or above. The mobilization of four such figures was a significant move.

Yet, none of this would truly upset the order, so long as the demon emperor did not leave his palace and the human leader did not step out of the Dry Baleful Hall. The Treasure Bottle Realm would remain stable.

Hongyun looked at the group of half-demon children playing and chasing one another, and could not help but feel a trace of melancholy.

The conflict between humans and demons is nearly impossible to reconcile. Such deep-seated hatred can only end with the extinction of one side.

When either the demon clan or the human clan finally disappears into the dust of history in the Treasure Bottle Realm, what fate awaits these half-demons?

With this thought, he closed his eyes, recalling that in the primordial world, there were at least ten million species, and at every moment, some faced extinction while others were born anew. What was there to mourn?

He mused thus, and subconsciously sensed something. His brows furrowed as he opened his eyes, only to see the caravan’s sole innate half-demon standing respectfully not far away, bowing deeply.

“I… wish to ask Master Zhao to dispel the baleful confusion from our children.”