Chapter 19: Defying the Heavens
"If the heavens reject me, then I shall carve my own path to divinity."
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Heavenly Cloud Sect Watches in Fear
The sky above the Black Mist Mountains had turned into a storm of chaos.
Golden lightning crackled, illuminating the shattered battlefield where Xiao Tian stood.
But his eyes were closed. His body floated motionless, engulfed in a golden glow.
He was unconscious—locked within the Divine Awakening Space.
Lin Qingxue clenched her sword, her heart pounding.
"What's happening to Sect Master?!"
Li Zhang wiped blood from his mouth. "This aura… it's even stronger than the Abyssal Emperor's!"
Feng Yu gritted his teeth. "This isn't normal tribulation lightning. The heavens aren't just testing him… they're trying to erase him!"
Above them—
BOOOOOM!
The first bolt of divine lightning descended, aiming straight for Xiao Tian's unconscious body!
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The Disciples' Desperate Defense
Without hesitation, Lin Qingxue moved.
She flashed forward, activating her Frost Domain, creating a wall of absolute ice to block the lightning.
But the moment the lightning struck—
CRACK!
The ice shattered instantly, sending Lin Qingxue flying backward.
Li Zhang caught her, his arms trembling from the impact. "Damn it! That was just the first bolt?!"
Above them, the clouds rumbled again.
The second bolt was already forming.
Feng Yu turned to the elders. "We have to protect Sect Master at all costs!"
The entire Heavenly Cloud Sect roared in agreement.
Even if they had to stand against the wrath of the heavens, they would not let their Sect Master fall.
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The Second Tribulation Bolt
BOOOOOOOM!
The second lightning bolt descended with ten times the force of the first.
This time, the entire sect moved together.
Lin Qingxue unleashed her Frost Lotus Technique.
Li Zhang activated his Berserker Bloodline, summoning a massive war shield.
Feng Yu combined fire and wind, creating a tornado of flames to deflect the strike.
But—
CRACK!
Despite their combined efforts, the divine lightning tore through their defenses, sending everyone crashing into the ground.
"AAARGH!" The disciples coughed up blood.
The elders trembled, unable to believe the sheer power behind the attack.
And in the center of the battlefield, Xiao Tian remained untouched—still locked in his awakening.
Feng Yu's eyes widened in horror. "This tribulation… it's going to keep going until it kills him!"
Above them—
The third bolt was forming.
This time, it wasn't just lightning. Golden flames burned within it, as if the heavens themselves had decided to erase Xiao Tian's existence completely.
Lin Qingxue's hands shook.
"If this one lands… we can't stop it."
The disciples looked up, terrified.
Was this… the end?
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A Divine Voice Echoes
Just as the third bolt was about to descend—
A deep, ancient voice echoed across the heavens.
"ENOUGH!"
The entire sky trembled.
A golden ripple of energy spread across the battlefield, freezing the divine lightning in place.
Everyone stared in shock.
Lin Qingxue's eyes widened. "Who… Who was that?"
A figure descended from the sky, clothed in brilliant white robes and surrounded by an aura of divinity.
An old man with long silver hair and a third eye glowing on his forehead stood before them.
"You dare to interfere with the Divine Tribulation?" The voice of the heavens roared in fury.
The old man smirked. "This mortal is under my protection now."
He turned toward Xiao Tian's unconscious form, his gaze filled with interest.
"Wake up, child. Your path is far from over."
The heavens rumbled in rage.
But deep within the Divine Awakening Space—
Xiao Tian's eyes snapped open.