Shi Lang and the allied forces returned to their homes quickly after the battle finished. The heavenly tribulation destroyed the demon planet, and the allied forces ensured that none of the remnants of the demonic energy survived.
The five centurion beasts took away the remnant bones and did not tell anyone of the people anything. The people asked how shall they guard those bones when they all passed away, and the elders told them to wait for a message. The day they were about to die, they would call for the other old relics to replace them if the practitioners did not manage to advance.
The people were worried, and Shi Lang vouched that the elders would live a steady life for fifty years. If they managed to conserve their spirit energy to the optimal state, the time would extend to a century.
The Terrans and the other civilizations returned from the exodus solar system. However, they established long-range teleport arrays on both planets to facilitate travel. The Exodus planet was developed as a training ground for newbies, and the zones were distributed according to their cultivation level.
Shi Lang did not spend time with all this and left the decision to his family. Amelia had not yet resolved the knots in her heart, and Shi Lang was running out of time. During the battle with Zavir, the terran had absorbed a lot of spiritual energy, and the comprehension of his dao had given him a rare opportunity to condense his bridge of immortality and ascend the realm.
The terran did not say anything at home. Amelia did not miss the changes in his behavior. She talked to the family members and convinced them all to bid their farewell to him. Shi Lang did not know what to say to them. Amelia said, “You thought we all would become your anchor?”
Shi Lang looked at his family and, shaking his head, said, “I never thought you all would become my anchor. However, this acceptance you show makes things difficult for me. I have no idea how to express my emotions. I never thought that the day of departure would arrive this soon.”
Amelia nodded and said, “It’s alright, go ahead. We will follow you.”
The following day, many people came over to meet Shi Lang. They wished him luck and prayed for his wellness. The terran finished saying his goodbyes to everyone he connected with and then moved to an isolated area.
The federation had evacuated plots where the cultivators went to face the heavenly tribulations. Shi Lang was given a place with the widest area, and hundreds of isolation arrays surrounded the region. These arrays were not only to prevent the cultivator from getting disturbed by any external sources but also to keep the impact of the tribulation contained within the barrier.𝐎𝐕𝑙xt.𝗇𝓔t
The terran general sat in the middle of the wide patch of grass. He was floating in the void with his eyes closed and his hands resting on his knees. He was not absorbing the spiritual energy but was using the laws of his dao path into motion. These laws would condense, and then they will form the bridge of immortality.
It would not be a quick study for him to condense the laws. Shi Lang was patient and did not rush the process, but a decade passed. However, one day the climate changed abruptly. Shi Lang opened his eyes and stood up in the void. His bridge of immortality was complete, and he was ready to face the tribulation.
Shi Lang stood up and sensed a few gazes landing on him. He turned around and waved at the people. He spotted Shi Tao holding a little girl’s hand and waving at him with a few signals.
Shi Lang smiled brightly and waved back. The isolation barrier prevented telepathic communication too.
…
Outside the barrier, Shi Tao, Amelia, and Shi Lang’s parents were present. They were alerted the moment the climate changed. The little girl said, “Maa, did he see me?”
Shi Tao smiled and said, “Yes, he did.”
The little girl pouted and replied, “But why can’t I see him?”
Amelia gently patted the girl’s head and said, “You will see him as soon as he finishes his tribulation.”
The girl nodded grumpily.
…
Shi Lang looked at the sky filled with dark clouds and smiled. He removed the sword from his space ring, and Raksha’s figure condensed. She stretched her limbs and said, “You took your sweet time, Lang.”
The terran smiled and said, “Well, crossing a bridge must be done carefully.”
Raksha nodded and said, “How do you feel? Will you be able to survive?”
Shi Lang shrugged and replied, “I survived the first time.”
The sword spirit chuckled and said, “Well, here it comes.”
The lightning bolt shot down from the clouds, and the void trembled. The bolt hit Shi Lang straight on his forehead, and he took ten steps back. His clothes were gone, and his body was shivering. Raksha raised her brow and said, “It seems like you are not gonna have fun.”
Shi Lang recovered and glared at her when the second lightning bolt shot down straight on his forehead. This time, the power was double the first one. The impact sent out visible shockwaves. Thankfully the barrier was at work, or the people near the impact zone would have died.
The impact of the lightning bolt sent Shi Lang to the ground on his butt. Raksha flickered from the spot and moved outside the isolation barrier. Amelia greeted her with a bow, and the lady waved. The family knew of her status and greeted her with due respect.
However, they could not hide their worried expression behind fake smiles, and Raksha said, “Don’t worry, he will be fine.”
The little girl asked, “How do you know he will be fine?”
With a smile, Raksha spotted the girl and asked, “Would you look at that? Someone has become a parent.”
Shi Tao said, “Ling, she is senior Raksha.”
The girl opened her eyes wide and asked, “She is the sword spirit?”
The people smiled, and Raksha asked, “Amelia, this child?”
The lady nodded and said, “She is a child conceived by artificial incubation. The father of the child is randomly selected from the federal populace.”
The sword spirit nodded and said, “Train her well. She will make a name for herself.”
Their words were a blessing they all craved for.
…
Shi Lang faces the lightning bolts coming after him with all their strength inside the boundary. The family watched Shi Lang get injured and heal himself. The last bolt left a hundred-meter-long crater and a charred body on the ground. The terran was just a few shreds of flesh and a set of bones.
However, the remaining internal organs were working, and Shi Lang had enough vitality to last till the dark clouds faded, and he was showered with heavenly grace. The golden light pierced the cloud, and Shi Lang began to heal.
In the sky, a rainbow appeared, and Raksha said, “He passed. The heavenly lights are the indication of ascension.”
The people cheered. This event was even telecast throughout the alliance. Shi Lang was the key card, and his ascension will inspire future generations.
As his wounds were healing, the isolation barriers vanished, and the family got closer to him. The process did not last long, but as soon as this was finished, a portal appeared in the sky. Shi Lang greeted and said farewell to his tearing family.
In the end, Shi Lang crouched in front of the little girl. The two people looked at each other trying to figure things out. Shi Lang spread his arms and the little girl plunged into them. Shi Lang did not say much, but the two seemed to have a bond that was beyond words.
Shi Lang pecked her forehead and said, “I will leave you with all my knowledge and skills to you. Use this knowledge to do good and grow strong. Okay?”
The little girl nodded and Shi Lang channeled his memories and cultivation information through the spirit induction. Raksha watched this from the side but she said, “Lang, we do not have much time.”
Shi Lang nodded and after bidding the people farewell. He held Rakshas hand and then they charged toward the portal in the void. The people waved at them with moist eyes. Some were in doubt about ever reaching that level, while some had decided to pursue the path of cultivation with utmost dedication and sincerity.
…
Shi Lang was about to enter the portal when he vanished from his spot and hugged Amelia. The lady embraced him and said, “Go. I will be right behind you.”
Shi Lang could not do anything but kiss the lady in his arms before he appeared in front of the portal and said, “I will wait for you.”
That said, Shi Lang and Raksha entered the closing portal. They were sucked inside a dark tunnel and their bodies were being wrung. The sword was placed back inside the space ring. Before long, the Terran spotted a white glowing gate and said, “Finally, I made it.”