The tribulation clouds

at the southern region capital, Williams Manor.

Inside her room Elizabeth was on her bed, sleeping soundly.. but her face was distorted, she was having a nightmare.

• a man appeared in her mind.. a handsome man with dark hair and dark pupils.. with slight brown skin. his hairs are shoulder-length messy like a mad man.

but his whole body emitting a faint dark aura.

she was lying on a dark surface.. she couldn't see anything but the man.. as handsome he is.. it didn't make her heart race.. something is that she felt fear.. with each step he took, she started to drag her feet back. she couldn't utter a word but her words stuck in her throat.

the man slowly approached her without any expression on his face.

"stop! go away.." she shouted as he slowly extended his arms on her shoulders.

she struggles as he tried to push her down, tearing down her top, he moved to her lips. slowly the distance neared, just an inch apart •

[•...• these points show dreams or nightmares.. okay.]

*snap* she woke sat up from the bed, looking at the window outside.

'haah.. not this again...' she rubbed her half-opened eyes. 'Ethan.. come back my boy.'

she thought as her sleep was ruined.

______

back at the cave...

"W-what? you... " Athena exclaimed as she noticed something.

"you are an ORC?" she said looking nervously at Ethan.

"NO! I am a pure-blooded elf," he said while not clearing the fact.

"b-but you have.. orc blood. are you a hybrid-"

Ethan interrupted her.

"N-no I am a pure-blooded elf, it's just I acquired an orc bloodline a while ago in an expedition." Ethan cleared himself.

now both Yaling and Athena looked nervous they were slowly backing away from him.

he smiled bitterly.

"Hey hey! I am still in my sense... it's not like I am going to..you know." Ethan said the duo backing away from him.

"y-yeah.. right hahaha.." Athena tried to cover up her nervousness.

it's not a secret that ORC'S are very lustful creatures.. they think from their dicks. it's not like she.. well, that being said Yaling was backing away, but reluctant with each step. like she was expecting.. something?

"sigh... don't worry I have well over control over my body..." they both sighed, Yaling was a little disappointed.

she remembered the kiss they shared at the inn.

"let's get out of here.." Athena said looking at them both.

"but you.. the chains are all over your body.. what should we do?" Yaling asked curiously. earlier Athena explained something about their conversation. just a brief introduction.

"don't worry my body stays here I am now Ethan's familiar, so I can just move my soul and consciousness inside Ethan's dantian space," said Athena.

"ehhhh.. really?" Yaling was surprised.

Ethan looked at Athena and nodded.

Athena smiled and sat down in a lotus position, still tied in the chains.

the moment she closed her eyes she used her spiritual sense, then extracted her soul from her body.

In a semi-transparent form with a foggy aura around, the soul rushed inside Ethan vanishing within.

Ethan felt a little chill down his spine. but soon accepted the soul comfortably.

Ethan anxiously called her, "Athena?.."

in response, Athena's voice rang out of his body, "hehe.. what is it?"

Looking at the scene Taking exclaimed, "oh.. that's amazing!"

Ethan didn't want to waste any time so he quickly prepared to leave.

but Athena stopped him. "wait!"

"what is it, Athena?" Ethan asked.

Athena said, "you were here for some treasures right?"

"yes..it's a treasure called 'supreme yang lotus' do you know something about it?"

Ethan thought as living in here for thousands of years she might've known something.

"well. I don't know, you can go over there there are some treasures in the rooms around," she said.

"Oh. Treasures? here?" Ethan Exclaimed.

as he faces a lot of beasts from before and the broken rooms and runes everywhere looking ancient. he had his guess about this place.

"yes..it's a 9th rank dungeon you know.." she said.

"rank?"

"ya boi, don't you even know dungeon ranks? okay, see. it's the difficulty and rewarding ranks. the greater the rank the dangerous it becomes and the greater the rewards you get from raiding it."

"ah. I see so it's a dungeon.. then-" he was now sure of the guess.

"that's right, I am the dungeon master of this dungeon," said Athena in a proud voice.

"that explains why we only faced some puny beasts in a high-ranked dungeon," said Yaling.

"now.. let's see," Ethan said as he went to get some treasures.

_________________

Under a big waterfall, someone sitting in the lotus position, looked very handsome, his facial features are distinguishable and had an attractive body. long golden hairs falling down to his waist.

his pointy ears are rather sensitive as nothing could escape from it.

Jim was feeling an overbearing feeling. it's like anytime soon he can initiate a breakthrough.

while an old man was sitting outside of the waterfall in a lotus position too, suddenly felt a surge of energy flowing in Jim's direction.

"looks like it's time.. hash! it's not even been a month how is this possible?"

Jim opened his eyes as the clouds around the whole are gathered over Jim.

"Jim looked at the cloud with a smirk."

*grrrr*

the clouds started to turn darker as the lightning followed.

*grr BOOM*

the first bolt of lightning landed on the water.

*thud BOOM*

another lightning bolt landed on Jim.

his clothes turned to ashes.

"unbelievable!!" the old man exclaimed. looking at the scene.

the young man in front of him facing the thunder tribulations with a smile?

is it a sauna?

this is a fucking thunder tribulation! the old ma cried in excitement.

this youth never disappoints him to give a surprise.

it hasn't even been a month and he had 3 breakthroughs?

even though the lightning is very violent and scattering around the ground he stood at the same pace, never did his smile fade.

"this youth is a monster!" that's the least he can say for the youth in front of him.

*dhrrr BOOM*

suddenly the 3rd lightning bolt landed. burning the remaining clothing making him fully naked.

but this time Jim frowned, 'what? what is this? this is just a 5th stage tribulation, what is happening?'

the thunderclouds became darker and darker. *shine* *BOOM* another lightning strike landed on the ground.

*neighhh..*

Looked at the lightning strike which took shape of a Rouncey. and charged at Jim.

Jim's expression turned solemn as he prepared to take the strike.

*clash*

Jim made a fist and threw a punch at it.

*BOOM* the horse silhouette dispersed and the raging clouds calmed down.

'phew, looks like it's ove-'

his thoughts got interrupted by a voice transmission. "it's not over yet, the clouds are raging"

just as he finished another 3 lightning bolts launched. the three lightning bolts turned rounceys and charged at him.

"young man here.. take this." the old man suddenly threw a sword at him.

Jim quickly grabbed the sword and mumbled "Sage Luo sword style, 5th form, Arc of terra."

the sword started to glow purple as soon as he finished, his eyes showed a slight excitement.

*slash* he slashed his sword horizontally, a glowing arc launched at a high speed.

*Boom*

the 3 rouncey collided with the arc and smoke filled the whole area, with a violent shock.

the old man took a deep breath waiting for the result.

the smoke dispersed leaving a smile on Jim's face.

the 3 rouncey had been defeated.

the thunder cloud quickly dispersed as it was scared of this youth.

"haah, haah... " Jim was catching his breath looking at the old man.

"young man you're amazing, I have to admit it. but I never faced any tribulation like this..."

the old man said.

"thank you, senior, here take your sword." he handed it over.

"hahaha... no need young man you can keep it, this fellow is more comfortable with you."

the old man laughed.

"then I won't be polite. thank you again." Jim cupped his fists.

"say, young man, you want to be my disciple?"

"huh?" Jim was dumbfounded, disciple? what could he teach him?

"I might not be the best, but I have hundreds of years of experience."

Jim who had learned swordsmanship under the sword Sage Luo, what can he learn from him? hundred of years? he personally taught swordsmanship for hundreds of years, just for fun.

"senior I ha-"

"I have a lot of resources too."

Jim was about to decline but stopped as he mentioned 'resources'. for cultivators, resources are necessary.

in this world, the resources are hard to obtain and too much time-consuming.

the resources he needs are basically the raw materials for pills or some good metals for forging.

now that he obtained a sword, a heavenly grade at that, he needs herbs and stuff for pill refining.

if the old man was being so generous, he should grab it just that.

but for a former Immortal deity, he can't just call any tom, Harry and dick master...

"sorry senior still I have to decline, I already have a master." Jim bowed.

"oh... how stupid I am, of course, such Excellency in sword must be taught by a master, I understand." the old man laughed awkwardly, then continued.

"can you tell me who is your master? I mean he must be a great figure if he can teach you to this extent at such a young age."