Chapter 32: The Heavens Strike—And the Forgotten Ones Rise
"If the heavens wish to strike me down, let them try. But I was never truly alone."
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The Judgment of the Heavens
BOOOOOOOM!
The skies above Xiao Tian tore open, revealing an endless sea of golden tribulation lightning.
This was no ordinary heavenly punishment.
This was Heaven's Final Judgment—a punishment reserved for beings that should not exist.
Cultivators from every corner of the world trembled as they gazed upon the storm.
Even ancient Saint-level powerhouses, who had long surpassed mortal limits, felt fear grip their souls.
"This is no mere tribulation… this is an execution."
Yet, at the center of it all—
Xiao Tian stood firm, his golden aura clashing against the heavens themselves.
He raised his hand, and his voice echoed across the world:
"Come then, heavens. Show me your worst."
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The Hidden Ones Awaken
But just as the first bolt of tribulation lightning descended—
Something changed.
A crimson barrier formed around Xiao Tian, intercepting the divine punishment.
BOOOOOOM!
The golden lightning shattered before it could reach him.
The world fell into shocked silence.
And then—
A voice echoed from the void.
Ancient. Powerful. Familiar.
"You have returned at last, my lord."
Xiao Tian's golden eyes widened.
From the shadows of space and time, figures emerged.
Clad in black and gold armor, their bodies radiating an aura far beyond anything in the mortal world.
Their leader, an old man with silver hair and three golden eyes, knelt before Xiao Tian.
"We have awaited your return for ten thousand years."
"The Forgotten Legion has never abandoned you."
The Celestial Court, watching from above, fell into chaos.
The Golden Emperor's lost army had returned.
And war was about to begin.