Chapter 209: Chapter 206: Perilous Tribulation
"What’s happening?"
"Why is there such a massive black cloud?"
More than half of the Fire Cloud Sect was shrouded by the roiling dark clouds. Countless disciples watched on in unease.
Within the black clouds, Thunderbolts surged like slithering Thunder Pythons. The sight was terrifying.
Everyone felt a suffocating pressure, an instinctual fear.
"It’s a Celestial Tribulation! Everyone, fall back!"
A Primordial Spirit voice transmission quickly spread throughout the entire Fire Cloud Sect. In an instant, as if a great explosion had gone off, the Fire Cloud Sect erupted into chaos.
Celestial Tribulation.
For many Martial Artists, those were two very distant words.
A Martial Artist only needed to face a Celestial Tribulation after reaching the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm.
What was a Celestial Tribulation?
It was a test imposed upon Martial Artists by the heavens. A Martial Artist’s Cultivation of Martial Arts was inherently a path that defied the heavens. Once they reached a certain height, they would have to face a Celestial Tribulation.
For any Martial Artist, the term "Celestial Tribulation" was a heavy one.
Throughout history, countless Martial Artists had died under the Celestial Tribulation, their bodies turned to ash and their Dao extinguished.
"Hurry up and go!"
"Faster, faster, faster! All living beings within the range of the Celestial Tribulation will be attacked indiscriminately! If we’re too slow getting out, we’re dead!"
At that moment, the countless disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect wished they could grow two more legs as they desperately fled from under the black clouds.
The Celestial Tribulation targets the Tribulation Crosser. Originally, the only one who needed to undergo the tribulation was Ning Jiang.
However, if other living beings were present within the range of his tribulation, they too would suffer its attacks.
This could be considered a form of protection the Celestial Tribulation afforded the Tribulation Crosser.
When a person was undergoing their tribulation, it was easy for others to get close and launch a sneak attack. With this rule in place, such a situation could be avoided.
Now, Ning Jiang had chosen the Fire Cloud Sect as the location for his tribulation, forcing its members to endure it with him.
"Run, run, run!"
As a cultivator at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, Cai Lin had lost all will to fight. He fled into the distance at his top speed.
Once the Celestial Tribulation began, his life would also be in danger.
This was because the power of the Celestial Tribulation changed according to a person’s Cultivation.
He was at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, so he would have to withstand a tribulation at the power level of the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm. If a Celestial Martial Realm King were here, they would have to withstand a Celestial Martial Realm Level tribulation.
Moreover, by being caught in someone else’s Celestial Tribulation, the power of the attacks they received would be doubled.
’I’m almost out!’
Cai Lin was incredibly fast. Within a few breaths, he had flown to the edge of the black cloud and was about to break free.
BANG—
But his body slammed into an invisible barrier of light and was thrown back.
"No! Let me out!"
Cai Lin roared, frantically attacking the light barrier.
Outside the barrier, many Elders cried out, "We must act quickly and rescue Elder Cai Lin!"
"It’s too late. From the moment the Celestial Tribulation formed this celestial canopy, the tribulation has already begun." A sighing voice sounded, its owner’s sleeves fluttering in the wind.
"Sect Leader, what about Elder Cai Lin?"
"He can only rely on himself."
The Fire Cloud Sect Leader shook his head, powerless to help.
In this situation, it wouldn’t matter even if a Celestial Martial Realm King arrived, let alone him.
The Celestial Tribulation was an evolution of the Rules of Heaven and Earth; it could not be resisted by human strength.
The celestial canopy formed by the tribulation would envelop all living beings within, also ensuring that the Tribulation Crosser could not escape.
Once you begin the tribulation, you must see it through. Escape is not an option.
"Sect Leader, save us!"
Within the range of the Celestial Tribulation, there was still a portion of Fire Cloud Sect disciples who hadn’t escaped fast enough, accounting for one-tenth of the sect’s total population.
As a Middle Grade Sect, the Fire Cloud Sect had over ten thousand disciples. One-tenth of that was more than a thousand people.
More than a thousand people, including Grand Elder Cai Lin, were all locked within the range of the Celestial Tribulation by the celestial canopy.
"Damnable."
The other members of the Fire Cloud Sect who had managed to escape had furious expressions. They all knew that once the Celestial Tribulation began, almost no one inside would survive.
"Meng Daoyi, you bastard! How did my Fire Cloud Sect offend you that you would plot against us like this?"
Grand Elder Cai Lin let out a furious roar, utterly shocked and enraged.
"How did you offend me? A month ago, weren’t you going to drag me back to the Fire Cloud Sect for interrogation? Have you forgotten so soon?" From beneath the black and white mask, Ning Jiang’s voice slowly drifted out.
"It’s you!"
Cai Lin’s pupils instantly widened.
KABOOM—
Just as he realized Ning Jiang’s identity, a tremendous roar echoed from the sky. In an instant, the world lit up as streaks of Thunderbolt descended.
Each bolt of Thunderbolt targeted a single person caught within the tribulation.
The one targeted by the thickest bolt of Thunderbolt was naturally Cai Lin. He was at the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm, so the power of the Celestial Tribulation he had to withstand was even stronger than Ning Jiang’s.
"Slash."
The moment the Thunderbolt fell, Ning Jiang had no time to worry about anything else.
He focused his mind and concentrated on his tribulation. The Ice Soul Sword left its sheath, and he slashed out with it.
A golden Sword Aura soared into the sky and collided with the Thunderbolt in mid-air.
BANG...
The Sword Aura shattered. The Thunderbolt, reduced by about half, continued to descend.
At the speed of the Thunderbolt, Ning Jiang had no time to launch a second strike.
The remaining Thunderbolt struck him squarely.
"Exhilarating."
Ning Jiang laughed heartily. He wasn’t seriously injured; after all, he had refined the Great Sun Glazed Golden Body, and his physique was extraordinary. It would have been strange if he couldn’t even withstand the first bolt of Thunderbolt.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE!
The sound of thunder boomed as streaks of blue Thunderbolt rained down.
The Thunder Power was Supreme Yang and Firm. Each bolt contained terrifying destructive force and was the bane of all evil things.
’The tenth bolt.’
After the tenth bolt of Thunderbolt was shattered, Ning Jiang’s body was slammed downward by its force.
’The power is getting stronger and stronger.’
A grave look appeared in Ning Jiang’s eyes. The power of a Celestial Tribulation grew stronger the further it progressed; the initial bolts were mere child’s play.
"AHH!"
Screams echoed all around. Ning Jiang could withstand the tenth bolt of Thunderbolt, but most of the Fire Cloud Sect disciples could not.
After the ten bolts of Thunderbolt had fallen, one-third of the Fire Cloud Sect disciples were already dead.
Retracting his gaze, Ning Jiang refocused on his own Celestial Tribulation.
KABOOM.
The eleventh bolt of Thunderbolt was thicker and faster than the previous ones. It descended like a Thunder Spear, carrying out heavenly justice, punishing evil, and promoting good.
"Slaying Heaven and Earth."
He unleashed the second stance of the Great Sun Sword Technique, Slaying Heaven and Earth. It only managed to dissipate a portion of the Thunderbolt, and the rest still slammed into his body.
ZZZT...
Arcs of lightning danced across his body. His hair was singed by the Thunder Tribulation, and every inch of his skin felt a sharp, cutting pain, along with a numbing sensation.
The Thunder Power could paralyze a person.
’Looks like I have no choice but to manifest my Great Sun Dharma Body.’
He let out a soft breath. As the twelfth bolt of Thunderbolt descended, Ning Jiang’s blood surged, golden light erupted, and the Great Sun Dharma Body manifested to protect him.
With the Great Sun Dharma Body protecting him, the pressure he was under immediately lessened a great deal.
KABOOM!
When the twentieth bolt of Thunderbolt arrived, Ning Jiang’s body was knocked a hundred zhang downward. The Great Sun Dharma Body enveloping him even developed some cracks, almost shattering from the impact.
’This power is too intense.’
Ning Jiang frowned. His Great Sun Dharma Body and Ice Soul Sword combined had still left him in such a sorry state.
The Thunder Tribulation triggered by the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill was just too absurd.
’Generally speaking, a person undergoing their first tribulation should face thirty-six bolts of thunder, corresponding to the number of a Grand Circulation. That means there are sixteen bolts left.’
Ning Jiang made a judgment in his heart. The situation to come was not looking optimistic.
’Just twenty bolts of Thunderbolt were powerful enough to crack my Great Sun Dharma Body. How much stronger will the next ones be?’
Taking a deep breath, Ning Jiang’s gaze became resolute.
’Whether I pass this Thunder Tribulation and emerge transformed, or die and have my Dao extinguished, it all comes down to today!’
KABOOM!
The twenty-first bolt of Thunderbolt fell. This one was as thick as a water bucket.
"Aurora!"
The third stance of the Great Sun Sword Technique, Aurora, bloomed.
BANG.
Ning Jiang was sent flying back dozens of zhang. His three-headed, six-armed Dharma Body lost an arm to the blast.
The twenty-second bolt, the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth...
"Fight, fight, fight!"
Ning Jiang’s eyes blazed, his will to fight soaring to the heavens.
To battle the Celestial Tribulation, for a man to fight against the heavens—the joy was endless!
"Great Sun Demon Slaying Fist."
"Vajra’s Fury."
"Great Sun Divine Shield."
"Great Sun Divine Spear."
Ning Jiang’s long hair whipped about as he held nothing back, unleashing every technique he had to fight the Celestial Tribulation with all his might.
PFFT.
He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Ning Jiang’s Great Sun Dharma Body had finally reached its limit and shattered with a boom.
That was already the thirtieth bolt of Thunderbolt.
’Six bolts of Thunderbolt left!’ A bitter smile touched the corner of Ning Jiang’s mouth. ’If I hadn’t managed to refine the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body, I would truly be in danger today.’
"Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body, manifest!"
Black light erupted from within Ning Jiang’s body. With an earth-shattering cry, the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body emerged, enveloping him completely.
The thirty-first bolt of Thunderbolt descended. Within the originally blue lightning, hints of purple had actually appeared.
"Slash."
Instead of retreating, Ning Jiang advanced, soaring into the sky. His wings, like two Celestial Blades slicing through the universe, met the Thunderbolt head-on.
BANG!
The Thunderbolt shattered. The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Dharma Body had gained the upper hand.
The power of this Dharma Body was far greater than the Great Sun Dharma Body.
The thirty-second, thirty-third, thirty-fourth.
The power of the subsequent bolts of Thunderbolt gradually increased. Each one was capable of obliterating a Spirit Realm Powerhouse without a trace.
After Ning Jiang split one bolt with his wing, it landed on a mountain in the Fire Cloud Sect below. A mountain several hundred zhang high was actually turned to dust by the Thunder Power.
By this point, all the Fire Cloud Sect disciples had been annihilated. Only Grand Elder Cai Lin was left, struggling to hold on.
However, Cai Lin was in terrible shape. His hair was disheveled, and he was bleeding from his Seven Apertures.
"Damnit, I must survive!" Cai Lin roared.
KABOOM.
The thirty-fifth bolt of Thunderbolt descended. More than half of it had turned purple, and it was fast and ferocious, cleaving through everything.
’Danger!’
Ning Jiang’s heart skipped a beat as he scented the aura of danger.
SWOOSH.
He transformed into a streak of black light and flew away on his wings.
