BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Thunderous booms echoed down from above as lightning began to snake through the ever thicker clouds that gathered at an unnatural speed. Within seconds, the entire sky was covered with blackened clouds, bathing the sect in a near nighttime darkness.
The clouds spread for a hundred miles in each direction, and made it appear as if a storm of judgement was descending upon the sect.
Everyone within the Bloodfiend Sect, no matter who they were or what they were doing immediately felt the heavenly pressure of the tribulation clouds pressing down upon them. It was as if the apocalypse had come for the sect.
Everyone flooded to the streets and looked at the black clouds high above, as lightning continuously struck out within the clouds, occasionally showering the sect below with flashes of light.
"What the hell is going on?" many disciples asked, both scared and confused at what was happening.
"Those are tribulation clouds," the more experienced Elders commented. They had all seen tribulation clouds, either from their own tribulations, or from other Elders breaking through.
"However, I have never seen anything like this before," an Elder exclaimed. "These are less tribulation clouds, and more clouds bringing the wrath of heavenly judgement. Just what the hell is happening."
Back at the formation circles, John continued to push the cultivation of his body dantian over the edge towards the Meridian Forging Realm.
When his body had broken through to the Core Formation Realm back in the ancient temple, he had felt the tribulation clouds back then, searching for his location. He didn't know if the temple was somehow shrouding him, or if the clouds just couldn't find him yet, but he knew they were there for him.
Not only that, but he knew they would find him when he broke through the Meridian Forging Realm, and would strike down on him with absolute power and fury.
John watched Allfiend slowly back away from him as he continued to look up towards the sky, before John too looked up to the sky. Lightning continuously snaked through the clouds, nearly racing down to the ground below but stopping just before doing so, as if they couldn't find what they wanted to strike just yet.
John narrowed his eyes as he stared at the clouds above, as his suspicions were confirmed. Both in the timing, and the nature of the tribulation.
'I had a feeling this would happen. In fact, I was almost certain of it, and it seems as though I was right. Tribulation will rain down on me when my body cultivation breaks through to the Meridian Forging Realm, and not only that, but it will be unlike any tribulation I've ever heard of.'
Allfiend, and the Elder's as well, all couldn't help but stare non-stop at the clouds above, stunned expressions plastered on each and every one of their faces.
"What the hell is going on?" one of the Elder's exclaimed in shock and confusion.
"It's the boy, the tribulation clouds are centered on the boy!" another exclaimed.
"Impossible. Tribulation clouds only appear when one breaks through to the Heaven Tribulation Realm. How could a Meridian Forging ascension trigger heavenly tribulation?" another replied, his voice full of panic and uncertainty.
"We can all clearly tell it's centered on the boy, the main question is why is this tribulation so powerful?" another Elder commented. "Every tribulation, while shockingly powerful, leaves a thread of hope for the one ascending, as the tribulation is not meant to kill outright, but test the cultivator. If they are deemed worthy of being blessed by the heavens, the heavenly tribulation serves as a means to bathe their bodies in the heavenly laws, which not only heals them after the tribulation, but also helps them ascend closer to the heavens…"
The Elder paused for a moment.
"However, there are no blessings in this tribulation lightning. No healing properties. No path for survival. There is only death for the one who undergoes this tribulation. It's as if the heavens wants nothing more than to snuff out the life of that boy, giving him no hope of survival," the Elder explained.
"Good," a different Elder commented as he heard this. "Although it's a shame Chase will not inherit his body, at least we'll be rid of this headache in the future," the Elder continued as he stuck up his nose at John.
"Indeed. Watching this boy die miserably will be quite entertaining," another replied smugly.
"Have you all gone stupid?" Allfiend suddenly barked at the Elders angrily. "If this boy undergoes a tribulation of this magnitude in the center of the sect, what do you think will happen to the sect?"
The faces of all the Elder's lit up in shock as they realized what Allfiend was saying. If John truly underwent such a tribulation within the sect, a great portion of it would be ruined. They were currently in quite an important part of the sect, and its destruction would cost them dearly.
"Then what are we waiting for? If we take his life, this all ends," Elder Praxx suddenly shouted as he dashed forward towards John. "Since I was the one to bring him this far, it's only natural that I'm the one to end his life."
His power flared out, revealing his might as a peak Heaven Tribulation Elder. In fact, he was actually a Half-Step Dao Transformation expert, revealing that he was incredibly powerful. He was still incredibly hateful of John, as he was the one to slay his previous disciple, Damon. However, Allfiend's plans took precedence, and so he did not make any hasty actions when he found out the truth just the day prior.
"Elder Praxx, stay your hand!" Allfiend called out, but it was too late.
Elder Praxx was directly before John, ready to land the final blow. John smiled as he watched Elder Praxx approach, and the last bit of Meridian Forging blood essence he had at his disposal was finally absorbed. He had been saving the blood essence of the three Meridian Forging experts he had slain months earlier for just this moment.
Boom!
An explosive sound echoed out from within John's body as his cultivation was finally pushed over the edge, placing his body cultivation firmly in the Meridian Forging Realm. As if they had finally found their prey, the lightning snaking through the clouds above stopped for the briefest of moments, before a horrifying bolt of lightning came exploding down on John below.
Just as it was about to reach John, the tribulation lightning noticed Elder Praxx, and his interference in this tribulation. Even in normal tribulations, tribulation lightning would strike any who would interfere.
Many still chose to do so, and would shield a portion of the lightning from the one ascending, assuring that they broke through to the Heaven Tribulation Realm. Doing so would not fully baptize the tribulator in tribulation lightning, making them weaker than those who fully ascended on their own power.
However, such things were done by strong Elders or parents who knew without interference, their sons, daughters, or disciples breaking through would die without some aid. The lesser future talent was worth it if their offspring survived. Their immense strength allowed them to withstand the might of the heaven tribulation, giving it a strong but manageable reputation.
However, this lightning was different. There was only destruction, and it would not allow anyone or anything to interfere with its main purpose of slaying John. It could not tell the difference between those helping John and those trying to kill him, but only that they were near him, which it assumed was to aid him.
John knew this more than anyone, as he was the center of the tribulation, and could feel its purpose press down on him.
He smiled sinisterly at Elder Praxx who was nearly upon him, and that smile sent a shiver down the Elder's spine.
"Goodbye Elder Praxx. Tell Damon I said hi!"
BOOM!
The tribulation lightning bolt, which split in two, rained down on John and Elder Praxx. A deafening clap of thunder exploded out, and the explosion of lightning knocked everyone off their feet as the lighting radiated outwards. The ears of all those nearby rang for quite some time, before they slowly clamored to their feet to inspect the damage.
Their eyes all opened in shock at the sight before them.
A charred pile of flesh, barely recognizable as a human, was smoldering on the half-destroyed formation platform. Before that charred pile of flesh stood John, whose flesh was ever so slightly charred. Smoke drifted off his damaged robes, while a sinisterly wicked smile entered the eyes of all who looked at him.
"Don't worry. There's plenty of tribulation lightning to go around for the rest of you!"