Flood: I, the Nine Turns of the Golden Pillar, all want to eat me! - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Heavenly Tribulation of Transformation, Father and Son’s Fate

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of years had passed.

Hundreds of years on Earth could bring countless changes. Yet, in the vast Floodplain, such a span was but a fleeting moment.

Immersed in cultivation, one lost all sense of time.

Inside the alchemy furnace, the Earth teenager had been refining the Transformation Immortal Decision, absorbing countless spirit medicines along with the medicinal properties of the pills. He had grown immensely, both in body and spirit.

At last, Zi Yun’s voice echoed in his mind. “It is nearly time. The pills should be ready soon, and you must prepare for your transformation.”

“Do not worry—I am ready to take human form,” the Earth teenager responded, though a trace of unease lingered. “However, can you be certain that Laozi will not intervene? If he finds an elixir capable of transformation intriguing and decides to detain me, that would be troublesome.”

Zi Yun’s tone carried confidence. “You may rest assured. Laozi will not stop you. You are an elixir incarnation, personally refined by him. Your transformation is akin to him creating a new life—thus, you share a father-son bond. Furthermore, you would be the first elixir in the Floodplain to take human form. Such an unprecedented event—Laozi will not obstruct it. On the contrary, I believe he will accept you as his disciple.”

“I will take your words as a good omen. I hope things proceed as you say.” Yet, despite his reassurance, the Earth teenager remained uneasy, fearing unforeseen chaos.

After his exchange with Zi Yun, several more years passed.

Finally, Tai Qing Laozi stepped into the Pill Lodge, ready to collect his refined elixirs. Alchemy was an arduous craft, consuming vast amounts of time and effort. Even after the refining process, the final warming of the pills alone took centuries.

Now, as the moment of collection arrived, the old Daoist approached the furnace.

“This batch took considerable effort,” he murmured, stroking his beard. “A Nine-Turn Elixir… How many will successfully form?”

With a flick of his dust whisk, the pill furnace trembled.

Buzz—

At once, numerous pills flew out of the furnace. However, many of them lacked vitality, floating unsteadily, their spiritual energy feeble and incomplete. Among them, not a single one had reached the ninth turn—at best, some had formed up to the fifth.

Tai Qing Laozi’s expression shifted slightly as confusion flickered in his eyes. “Strange… There were no errors in the refining process. Why, then, is the highest quality only a fifth-turn elixir? Something is not right…”

Puzzled, he searched the furnace—and found the Earth teenager.

The transformed elixir emanated an intense medicinal essence, its fragrance spreading throughout the Pill Lodge and even beyond, permeating the entirety of Kunlun’s blessed land. The moment the scent reached the surrounding flora, numerous flowers, plants, and trees visibly flourished, thriving under its influence.

Understanding dawned on Laozi’s face. His lips curved into a faint smile. “So that is what happened. I was wondering why the highest quality pills barely reached five turns… It was you.”

Realization struck—the essence meant for the other pills had been entirely consumed by this singular elixir, allowing it to evolve beyond conventional limits.

Laozi chuckled, extending his hand to retrieve the transformed pill. But before he could grasp it, the elixir floated into the air, arcs of lightning flickering around it.

Boom!

Rolling thunder erupted, spreading beyond Kunlun’s boundaries, as though heralding something—or issuing a warning.

Laozi’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. “A Heavenly Tribulation of Transformation?”

Moments later, Tongtian arrived, his speed unmatched. He frowned as he scanned the area. “Big Brother, what is happening? First, the overwhelming medicinal scent, and now a Heavenly Tribulation? Do not tell me you refined a heaven-defying elixir that has attracted divine punishment.”

Laozi did not conceal the truth. Raising his hand, he gestured toward the floating pill. “This elixir has reached the stage of transformation, and the tribulation has descended accordingly.”

“An elixir transforming into a living being?” Tongtian was astonished. “Impossible. I have never heard of such a thing.”

Yuanshi Tianzun soon followed, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation. “Our teacher once spoke of the Heavenly Dao’s imperfections. The tribulation is meant for those with extraordinary potential and profound karma. But an elixir attaining transformation… This is indeed strange.”

Tongtian nodded. “Within the Floodplain, all things possess spirits, making transformation possible. However, it is not easy. To take form, one must cultivate a complete soul and a foundation of spiritual energy. Even Big Brother’s refined pills, though capable of birthing spiritual awareness, are shallow in wisdom and incapable of transformation.”

He paused, his curiosity piqued. “To force an elixir into a human form, one would normally require an external transformation art, which would also hinder its cultivation path. And yet, this elixir has achieved it naturally. How fascinating.”

Laozi pondered briefly before speaking. “This elixir was crafted by my hand, and thus, it shares a bond with me akin to that of father and son. Its transformation… is a form of creation.”

Tongtian and Yuanshi exchanged glances before nodding, equally intrigued by the phenomenon.

Shortly thereafter, Laozi guided the Earth teenager—now fully transformed—toward the Kunlun Transition Grounds.

Above them, dark clouds gathered, crackling with flashes of lightning.

Standing beneath the storm, the Earth teenager exhaled in relief. He had successfully passed Laozi’s test. Now, all that remained was to overcome the tribulation.

Boom!

A thunderbolt tore across the sky, surging toward the floating elixir. The Earth teenager braced himself, then blinked in confusion.

Huh? It does not hurt?

He had long heard that enduring tribulation was excruciating. Yet, he felt no pain at all.

Zi Yun’s voice rang in his mind. “Of course, it does not hurt. You have absorbed vast medicinal properties. The Heavenly Tribulation is merely tempering your essence, refining away the impurities within your body.”

I see… That is good.

Realizing the benefits of the lightning, the Earth teenager eagerly rushed toward the storm, as though welcoming each strike.

Watching from afar, Tongtian marveled. “What a remarkable elixir… To face a Heavenly Tribulation without fear and instead confront it head-on. A fine spirit indeed.”

Yuanshi’s curiosity remained. “Big Brother… During the refining process, did you incorporate any special spirit medicines or treasures? Could that have caused this?”

Laozi frowned in thought. “The ingredients were precisely measured. Perhaps an error occurred when my attendant added the auxiliary herbs… I must investigate.”

After all, for an elixir to gain human form was no trivial matter. To Laozi, who had mastered the alchemical arts, this was akin to the creation of life itself.

At last, the tribulation concluded.

Thirty-six bolts of lightning had fallen, tempering the elixir to an extreme degree. What was once a fist-sized pill had shrunk to the size of a mere thumb, its fragrance purer than ever—so potent that merely inhaling it seemed to induce enlightenment.

As the final bolt dissipated, a seven-colored radiance descended, enveloping the elixir.

Crack… crack…

The sound of shattering echoed through the air. From the fading remnants of the tribulation, a small figure stepped forth.

It was a child, appearing no older than six, his features delicate and innocent. A soft medicinal aroma lingered around him, attracting nearby grasses and flowers, which swayed toward him as if in reverence.

At long last, the Earth teenager had taken human form.

He was small, yet filled with boundless excitement.

After all, he had crossed over into this world as a mere pill.

And now—at last—he had truly become alive.