Chapter 6: Speaking of Calamity, Encountering a Spiritual Root

The reason Red Cloud collected this entire fragment of Buzhou Mountain into his own Da Luo Cave Heaven was that he had just witnessed an utterly incredible scene: when the true spirit of the Primordial Gourd Vine once again scattered into seven-colored light and dissipated, only to be devoured by the gaping maw of an invisible great hand, a single emerald leaf suddenly pierced through the void of chaos, shattering the teeth in that mouth with a crisp crack. Teeth fell to the ground in a clatter, forcing the great hand to flee in panic. The remnant spirit of the gourd vine, in its terror, rushed headlong into the red gourd. Upon reflection, this must have been due to an unusual spiritual nature, which actively sought out Red Cloud and fell into his hands.

After the leaf pierced the great hand, it vanished into this fragment of Buzhou Mountain. With several Da Luo present, Red Cloud could not act openly and could only devise a way to collect the entire fragment into his cave heaven. As for the origins of the leaf and the invisible hand, he could only hope to investigate them in the future.

After Red Cloud and Zhen Yuanzi had obtained such fortunes, they no longer sought treasures or spiritual objects with purpose. Both were accomplished Da Luo, well aware that blessings and misfortune often follow one another: to endlessly exploit one's own luck, no matter how imperishable, is to invite exhaustion. The two strolled and conversed in Buzhou Mountain, agreeing to meet again before the second lecture at the Purple Cloud Palace, then each returned home to their own seclusion and pursuit of the Dao.

Red Cloud closed his eyes, watching Zhen Yuanzi depart into the distance. Sensing the grandeur of Buzhou Mountain, he raised a hand and lightly stroked the mountainside, carefully feeling the currents of energy within. As Buzhou Mountain was the transformed spine of Pangu after the creation of heaven and earth, he knew there must be tremendous secrets hidden within.

As he pondered in silence, a faint aura appeared in the distance, startling him from his reverie. This was no aura of spiritual treasure or root, but akin to the invisible giant hand he had seen before. It brimmed with the essence of tribulation, carrying a chaotic resonance; though markedly different from before, the origin was the same, yet the lineage distinct. It was a presence above even Da Luo, but unlike that which the Primordial Gourd Vine had encountered.

Red Cloud felt an immense pressure. Though such beings left no mark in his mind's vision, he could still discern their identity. They were tribulations—calamities! The sage in the Purple Cloud Palace had yet to expound on the concept of quasi-saints, so these 'entities' had long existed, simply beyond his prior perception and vision.

In the primordial world, all things save the lofty saints were subject to calamity.

Calamities varied in strength and scale; for Red Cloud, only tribulations of measure and immeasurable tribulations could affect him now. Within a measured tribulation, fate is obscured, the Dao is shrouded, fortune and misfortune become indistinguishable—even a Da Luo Golden Immortal, imperishable through myriad tribulations, might lose their undying soul. In an immeasurable tribulation, destiny is utterly veiled; beneath the saints, all are as ants, and even Da Luo Golden Immortals may perish through a single misstep.

Many cultivators and mighty beings might deduce and avoid their fates, turning misfortune to fortune and escaping calamity. Yet, in Red Cloud's vision, these tribulations had taken form, chaotic and twisted, lurking furtively in the corners, watching for the slightest slip in order to pounce and devour.

Until one is swallowed whole by a great tribulation, leaving no trace of karma or existence behind.

At first, Red Cloud could not fathom these incarnate 'calamities' and wished only to be wary and keep his distance. But upon reflection, a thought stirred in his mind. Just as before, when the tribulation of the Primordial Gourd Vine coincided with the assembly of seven great beings—matching the number of gourds upon the vine—perhaps he and the others had unwittingly aided the tribulation.

Thus, curiosity took hold, and he flew toward the fragment of Buzhou Mountain where he sensed the presence.

How intricate this maze formation is—it is likely not inferior to the Eight Spirits Pursuing Souls Red Cloud Grand Array in my abode.

Upon touching the formation, Red Cloud felt himself enveloped in a sea of mist. Even when he extended his divine sense, he could not find the edges. The mastery of this array shamed his own skill; though the formation revealed only its trapping aspect, had it unleashed its killing might, he might have suffered greatly and been forced to withdraw in disgrace.

Yet Red Cloud, as the first cloud of the primordial world, since his birth held seven or eight parts of the Dao of Clouds if there were ten, and could manipulate all clouds and mists of heaven and earth with ease.

Let me show my skill!

He flicked his sleeve, sending two streams of red mist swirling outward. The mist merged into the formation, circulating bit by bit, growing increasingly profound from obscurity.

If this array were fully activated, it would rival a Da Luo Golden Immortal unleashing their full Dao. As the mist he sent spread and mingled with the formation, Red Cloud was ever more impressed by its extraordinary nature.

He could sense the array’s condition—a hint of exhaustion lingering within. Using only his own knowledge of formations, he could now break it with ease.

But it was odd indeed: Why was there no spirit guarding such a grand formation?

No matter, best to master and unravel the array before pondering further.

With this thought, Red Cloud arched his brow in anticipation. He was curious what might lie hidden within this formation.

Is this all?

As his thoughts grew clearer, and realizing the array was nearly undone by his hands, a faint smile played on his lips. He was eager to see what could have trapped him here for eight centuries.

Carefully tracing the sense of calamity he had detected, he ventured deeper. Having deciphered most of the formation, with clouds and mist accompanying his every step, he advanced effortlessly.

After traveling some nine hundred thousand miles, at last he beheld a cold pool wreathed in immortal light.

Upon a black stone at the pool’s edge lay a three-foot azure serpent, grievously wounded and near death. Seeing Red Cloud approach, it struggled to rise but failed, only managing to glare at him with venomous eyes.

“Do not be alarmed, friend. This ancestor is the kindest soul in the land—no harm meant to you,” Red Cloud said with a broad smile, sensing the serpent’s hostility, while his attention was wholly fixed on the cold pool.

Though all seemed withered, a lush green vibrancy pervaded; though deathly still, vigorous life abounded. The slender bamboo branches and leaves exuded sorrow yet stood tall and solitary, lonely amidst desolation.

This energy, this Dao presence…

It could be nothing else but the first bamboo of heaven and earth—the Bitter Bamboo, one of the ten great primordial spiritual roots!

Though he had never seen it before, Red Cloud’s knowledge left him in no doubt.

Now, he pondered how best to claim the Bitter Bamboo for himself.