Chapter 0414 – Heavenly Tribulation
This voice did not only echo within the core space and above the Destiny Pool, it also directly reverberated across the entire skies of Xuanhuang Town. In the void, it resonated with every citizen, carrying a mysterious rhythm—ancient and vast.
In the town, the people grew solemn.
They all looked up to the sky with anticipation.
"It has begun," said Master Lu slowly as he raised his eyes.
"This is the rite of proclamation to the heavens," Huang Chengyan focused all his attention.
They had experienced it once before, when the village was promoted to a township. They knew very well what this meant—the promotion was about to commence.
"The first promotion was the carp leaping over the dragon gate. Upon a successful leap, it transformed into a fish-dragon with dragon bloodline, becoming a dragonkin. Will the dragon gate appear again this time? Must it leap again to complete the transformation?"
Jia Xu looked toward the void, thoughtful.
This was his first time witnessing such a scene. He had only heard about it from Huang Chengyan and the others.
RUMBLE!!
At that moment, as soon as Yi Tianxing's voice fell within the core space, he immediately sensed an invisible will descend over the entire space. Not only did it permeate the core zone, but in an instant, it enveloped all of Xuanhuang Town. Nearly every citizen could clearly feel an overwhelming pressure sweeping over them like a tidal wave. Overhead in the void, it seemed as if a pair of invisible eyes was gazing down from above.
They were looking down at Xuanhuang Town from the heavens.
Although this will had not yet materialized, every living being could clearly sense it.
Suddenly, without warning, a mass of dark clouds began to gather in the sky.
Within the clouds, bolts of lightning streaked across, thunder rumbling ominously. The aura of the thunder was far stronger than usual.
"It's a tribulation cloud. A heavenly tribulation. So this time, the promotion comes with a heavenly trial," Master Lu exclaimed with a change in his expression.
"A heavenly tribulation. So going from town to city requires enduring a heavenly tribulation. Is the one undergoing it... the spirit of destiny?"
The Young Lord of Emptiness stood within Xuanhuang Town, gazing up at the tribulation clouds above. A strong sense of danger flooded his soul—as if being locked onto by a natural predator. It was the feeling of being inescapably doomed.
The sensation made one's hair stand on end.
ROAR!!
At that moment, the fish-dragon in the Destiny Pool suddenly let out a roar akin to a dragon's cry. It transformed into a beam of golden light and shot into the sky.
Leaving the core space, it appeared high above Xuanhuang Town.
Countless clouds churned in the void as vast destiny energy gathered into a sea of golden clouds. Within them, a gigantic fish-dragon appeared, swimming in and out of the clouds. It shimmered with dazzling golden light. Though the scales glowed brilliantly, they were fish scales—not yet true dragon scales. The creature possessed only a diluted dragon bloodline, still bearing the characteristics of a fish.
Now, the fish-dragon hovered in the void, gazing up at the clouds of tribulation.
In its eyes was reverence—and excitement. There was a strong urge to test itself. It clearly sensed that this heavenly tribulation was directed at it. If it could overcome it, its bloodline would undergo a massive transformation, becoming vastly more powerful.
This was just like leaping the dragon gate again—a test from the heavens. Once it began, there could be no retreat. Either succeed, or be utterly annihilated. There was no third outcome. If it failed, its path of destiny cultivation would essentially be over. Even if it wasn't completely destroyed, starting over would require endless time and effort to rebuild from scratch.
RUMBLE!!
CRACK!!
Suddenly, lightning clashed violently within the clouds. Without warning, a bolt of tribulation lightning slashed down from the sky like a silver ribbon, striking fiercely toward the fish-dragon.
The power within this lightning was so terrifying that even a cultivator at the Life Aperture realm would be obliterated instantly.
BOOM!!
The tribulation lightning struck the fish-dragon squarely. Dodging was impossible—the moment the lightning formed, it locked onto its target. No matter where it fled, the lightning would still find its mark.
The fish-dragon did not try to evade. Instead, it surged upward with a powerful battle spirit, meeting the lightning head-on, as if defying the will of heaven.
The terrifying bolt exploded on impact, transforming into a blinding sea of white lightning. Countless scales were blown off under its onslaught, aiming to shatter the fish-dragon entirely.
But the fish-dragon endured, glowing with brilliant golden light, coiled in the void as it withstood the blow.
At the same time, waves of destiny power surged into its body like a tide, rapidly healing its injuries.
"He made it! It didn't die!"
The townsfolk watched in delight.
However, the tribulation clouds above didn't dissipate.
CRACK!!
A second lightning bolt followed, striking the fish-dragon without mercy. This time, not only were more scales shattered, but its form began to fragment slightly.
Fortunately, it recovered almost instantly.
Immense destiny power poured in, swiftly healing the wounds. It swam in the sky, more tangible than ever.
Yet, its body had shrunk slightly.
RUMBLE!!
The third bolt descended—more violent than the last.
Once again, it failed to destroy the fish-dragon. Though its form collapsed under the strike, it recovered and shrank once more. Yet the golden light around it grew stronger and more intense.
The spirit of destiny was intimately tied to the Destiny Pool. As long as destiny remained, unless it was annihilated in a single instant, even a fragment could regenerate.
Bolt after bolt rained down from the heavens.
The fish-dragon continued charging into them without fear.
Even facing tribulation, it showed no hesitation. It fought back, even against the heavens.
"It has an incredible fighting spirit. Most cultivators facing heavenly tribulation only try to dodge and endure, but this fish-dragon is actually launching counterattacks. Its willpower is like that of the fiercest battle saints."
Witnesses were shocked.
In cultivation, willpower was paramount. Only with a firm will could one reach the peak.
RUMBLE!!
Unknowingly, the ninth bolt was upon them.
"This is the ninth bolt. Normally, heavenly tribulations end at nine. If it can endure this one, the promotion will be complete," Master Lu said excitedly.
"But this one is much more dangerous than the others," Jia Xu said solemnly.
The sky churned. The oppressive weight of the tribulation clouds made it feel as if the world might freeze. All life held its breath beneath their weight.
"Father, is this what it's like when a spirit of destiny ascends? It's terrifying! Will our Baiyang Village's spirit have to face something like this too?"
In town, the Bai father and daughter stood together, fear on their faces.
"I'm not sure. According to rumor, going from village to township requires the spirit of destiny to leap the dragon gate—but no heavenly tribulation. This may only happen when going from town to city."
Bai Yang looked to the sky, grim.
Compared to the fish-dragon, Baiyang Village's spirit was pitifully weak.
Spirits of destiny were born from accumulated fortune. Without enough destiny, how could a powerful spirit form? Cultivating one to the fish-dragon's level might take countless years.
He had to admit—the tribulation terrified him.
Not everyone had the fortune to draw on such vast power to heal instantly after every strike. Only immense destiny could weather a heavenly tribulation.
"The ninth bolt will be far stronger than the previous eight. I never expected the heavenly trial to be so brutal," Yi Tianxing murmured as he watched the sky.
This was the tribulation of the spirit of destiny. He could not interfere. Only the spirit itself could endure it. If it failed, it would be utterly destroyed. No one could step in. If the spirit couldn't handle it, that meant its destiny wasn't sufficient—its foundation too shallow.
CRACK!!
From the thick clouds, a blinding bolt of lightning formed into a dazzling white lightning orb, drawing a brilliant arc as it descended upon the fish-dragon.
It carried no discernible pressure—yet it was not slow.
It was moving so fast it bent space, leaving afterimages in its wake.
Lightning condensed into an orb—a far more terrifying form. If its power detonated, it would be enough to obliterate the world.
BOOM!!
The fish-dragon roared, lunging toward the orb in a final attempt to destroy it.
But the moment it rose, the orb struck.
Lightning burst forth, flooding the sky, forming a terrifying sea of lightning.
Countless eyes watched as the golden fish-dragon was blown apart, its body shattered into dust by the ninth bolt. Its spirit of destiny was completely annihilated.
The scene was utterly devastating.
"What?!"
"How could this happen?!"
"The spirit of destiny was destroyed! How is that possible?!"
"It's over. With the spirit destroyed... does that mean the promotion failed? How could this be?!"