The tribulation energy around the future Leylah stuck closely to her body. It is akin to a tumor that could not be easily removed. It stuck closely to her being, halting her ascension towards True Immortal Realm. Even when she was reduced into a mere future projection, it never stopped. The identity of being the first to fall—because of Shi Tian's existence atop that—formed a special status.
'A ruined future is not what I want.'
Shi Tian walked slowly towards her. His feet stepped on the void, causing white ripples to appear underneath. The sword in his hand remains pointed to the ground. He walked, step-by-step, towards her.
Bam-!
Crack-!
A 'pressure' came down on him. It was not simple gravity, but a pulling force originating from the future Leylah. His golden eyes flashed. Myriad Spontaneity revealed a terrifying 'black sphere' surrounding her. It acted like a black hole and a white hole combined. It pulled him downwards, and at the same time, it pushed him upwards. His true body was placed into a grinder that sought to tear and grind him to mush!
Cracks emerged on his flawless skin. The daoist robes he wore let out a glimmer of light, only to dim at the next moment. It slowly disintegrated into cosmic dust. His body leaked golden blood from its cracks. The purple scales of light attached to his skin cracked once more as it gradually faded. The intensity of the tribulation's field was something a Void Refinement Realm Star Lord cannot withstand at all.
Hum-!
The overflowing medicinal essence inside Shi Tian erupted at this moment. Time was reversed as the golden cracks in his body receded. His collapsing body was restored in an instant. The only thing that wasn't restored was his clothes. Shi Tian paid it no heed.
'Fifteen steps.'
Gritting his teeth, he continued stepping forward. Cracks grew in his body at the second step, with blood spilling at the third. When it was the fourth step, half of his body exploded into a blood mist.
Shi Tian's internal organs possessed the texture of a crystalline substance. His jade bones were translucent to the eyes—like the most peerless jades one could find in the world. Each drop of his golden blood contained enough power to create a world. It wasn't an exaggeration that a Star Lord's body could revitalize dying worlds.
This overwhelming power, capable of reshaping star sectors in an instant, seemed like a toddler against the tribulation's might. It was a power only a true Venerable could unleash. The difference of a major realm in essence, power, and status could not be bridged by anything. If else, one look would have sufficed for a Dao Integration Realm Venerable to kill a Void Refinement Realm Star Lord.
Fortunately, its focus remained on the future Leylah. Everything Shi Tian faced up until now was its unintentional targeting—its residual power, per se. That was the only reason he was still standing now.
Bzzt-!
The 'Overturning Netherworld Pill' erupted once again. A portion of its power leaked out to the void, escaping his grasp. Another portion was utilized by his body. His broken bones and organs regrew. It wasn't long before half of his body was returned to a pristine state.
'I need to withstand it all..!'
Shi Tian's mind started to take a toll. The Small Universe he maintained around himself became unstable for a moment. He placed all his efforts in maintaining it, for without its power, his body would have scattered long ago. The eighth-grade pill's power will lose its guide.
Tap-!
Ripple-!
The fifth step heralded his upper body's explosion. Then came the sixth with only his head remaining intact. The seventh resulted in a complete body explosion. When Shi Tian's body was restored, his grip over his sword tightened. Golden blood flowed to its handle, and then to its guard. It didn't take long before drops of blood trickled down to the tip of its blade.
His mind bore a heavy burden of sustaining the Small Universe at all times. It kept every part of his true body at arms' reach, allowing for complete recovery. Shi Tian could no longer spare his power on manipulating other artifacts.
Using peak seventh-grade artifacts would not help at all. On the other hand, he could not properly unleash the power of eighth-grade Dao Treasures, more so at his current state. As for taking another Dao Pill, it would lead to instant death. He could barely control one Dao Pill. Adding another one would lead to everything going out of control.
The only thing he could rely on was the eighth-grade Dao Pill he consumed, the Nine Dragons Primordial Universe Body, his three Venerated Daos, his eighth-level Tao Heart, his other high-grade Tao Body…
And the 80% authority over the Path of Remembrance.
'..!'
A thought flashed in his mind.
'The power of an Aeon…'
His other high-grade Tao Body, the Ten Lights Immortal Physique, possessed a function similar to the empowerment of the Nine Dragons Primordial Universe Body's dragon phantom. However, its main difference lay in the utilization of ten elements for creation and destruction. It is the Tao Body most suited for the ultimate-grade Five Elements Yin-Yang Spirit Root.
Using it would increase the power of his Small Universe as well as the recovery of his true body and mind—the answer to his predicament now. The only downside is its duration of thirty seconds.
'If I use that moment to obtain the remaining authority of Remembrance…''
He did not hesitate any longer.
Hum-!
Within his body, ten rays of light emerged. Five of them formed a vibrant pair; another a dull pair. Yin and yang was applied onto the most fundamental five elements, taking Shi Tian's power further.
Three lotuses appeared atop his head. Their petals showed different colors as countless Daos flashed onto them. The blooming of the three Dao Lotuses signified All Creation's authority over the countless other Daos!
Step.
Ripple-!
Unlike before, the eighth step did not cause his true body to explode. His body did not sustain golden cracks. The fading purple scales came back to life, regaining their former brilliance. The power of his two high-grade Tao Bodies surged with unprecedented power.
Shi Tian completed the ninth to the eleventh step without a hitch. Only after the eleventh did his body show visible signs of injuries. Nevertheless, his mind had long departed from his current situation.
In his eyes, the world turned into a fragmented mirror world. Beyond the translucent black sphere, white dust came out of the future Leylah. Shi Tian traced over them with his fingertips.
The moment he did so, unfamiliar memories emerged onto his mind.
'These are her memories…'