CHAPTER 271: TRIBULATION [2]

After completing it’s analysis, the low-level clerk came to a conclusion.

The soul was indeed experiencing life and death cycles multiple times, yet it never entered the Underworld’s registry.

Brows furrowing, the clerk muttered, "What the... is this an expert trying to bypass the system again?"

The clerk leaned forward, excitement sparking in its dull eyes.

But then, just as suddenly as it had started, the anomaly stabilized.

The clerk slumped back in its chair with a sigh.

"Tsk... just another being having a fortuitous encounter," the clerk grumbled, clicking its tongue in disappointment.

It had been hyped for nothing.

Because the clerk was ready to slap on some arrogant expert, who tried to reincarnate without paperwork.

***

The sky rumbled, deep and oppressive.

At first, only faint white thunderbolts flickered among the clouds, their light pure and clean.

But soon, the heavens darkened further, arcs of lightning began to flash in every conceivable color, each one representing a Core Grade.

Red, violet, blue, green, orange, even the elusive colorless flashes that came and went like ghostly afterimages, each bolt arrived and vanished, painting the sky in a terrifying kaleidoscope.

Then, all at once, the storm settled.

Only golden lightning remained.

CRACKLE!

SLIZZ! SLIZZ!

CRACKLE!

The sound shook the world. The pressure alone made even space distort around the Elemental Heaven Peak.

Yu Xuan looked up, his eye twitched.

"...Seriously?" he muttered.

Deciding not to destroy the entire courtyard, he lifted himself into the air, rising slowly.

The moment he did, the heavens seemed to take offense.

The dark clouds thickened even more, rolling in like a living tide.

Yu Xuan’s expression twitched harder.

’Is Heaven... taking me too seriously right now?’

He wanted to yell, If you’re going to make it this dramatic, at least give me a divine treasure afterward!

But before he could even think it too loudly—

RUMBLE!!!

RUMBLE!!!

The skies exploded with renewed fury.

Every color of lightning returned in full force, streaking across the heavens, illuminating the entire realm in brilliance.

Yu Xuan’s expression went blank.

He inhaled slowly, exhaled deeply, and muttered under his breath, "Can’t we at least decide on one color?"

The heavens answered.

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

The clouds swelled to monstrous proportions, expanding far beyond the Main Elemental Heaven Peak, blotting out the sun across an entire region.

Down below, disciples in nearby towns stopped cultivating.

There were up early to take their daily dose of Vitamin Y.

Apparently a tribulation blocked their Yang source.

"W-What kind of tribulation is that?!"

Back at the peak, the Elemental Heaven Peak Master raised her head, her eyes narrowing.

With a single thought, her divine sense spread like wildfire, sending a command to everyone watching.

Moments later, the first presence arrived.

A ripple in space, and an elderly man appeared beside her, his beard swaying like drifting clouds.

It was Elder Kun, one of the senior elders of the peak.

He turned his gaze toward the sky, toward Yu Xuan and a spark of curiosity danced in his eyes.

Then another figure materialised.

It was Peak Master of Yin-Yang Peak, robed in swirling black and white patterns that balanced perfectly.

He was also the master of Panda Po.

Next came a figure of flowing water, her form elegant, her aura serene. Every droplet that made up her body glimmered.

It was Daoist Waterfall, the Peak Master of Water Peak, who Yu Xuan labeled as the math equation, LHS = RHS.

Her expression was cool, tranquil as the surface of a still lake.

Then with a thunderous roar another person arrived.

A man cloaked in lightning appeared.

Daoist Thunder Jr. has arrived!

Because where there is thunder, so is he.

Then arrived Daoist Timeless, who appeared next in a swirl of shifting sands and fading echoes.

His every movement seemed to occur both before and after itself.

And then, the atmosphere changed.

Because an unexpected figure arrived.

It was the Grand Elder of the sect, and master of Long Anming.

Seeing her arrival, everyone, cupped their fists, in respect.

Even the Elemental Heaven Peak Master.

And then, the air trembled again.

An old woman appeared next, leaning on a plain cane that appeared ordinary.

Her expression was serene.

It was none other than the Chaos Heaven Peak Master, the master of Lingluo herself.

The moment she arrived, the gathered experts all bowed, including the Grand Elder.

Normally, a Peak Master’s status was below that of a Grand Elder — but not this woman.

There were two exceptions in the entire sect: the Chaos Heaven Peak Master and the Celestial Heaven Peak Master.

Because, Both had existed since the founding of the sect.

Both were ancient monsters who had never once changed their titles.

The old woman’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Hm. This tribulation sure is quite catchy, don’t you think, little girl?"

The Elemental Heaven Peak Master’s eyebrow twitched violently.

She hated when this old women called her that.

Then suddenly.

An old man appeared, his face wrapped in a strange cloth, concealing all features but a pair of eyes that seemed to hold secrets of Heaven within.

He looked toward the heavens.

His voice was deep, distant, and cryptic.

"The Heavens are angry... but I am fine."

And then, without another word, he vanished, as abruptly as he appeared.

Silence fell.

Then—

RUMBLE!!! RUMBLE!!!

The skies roared again, louder and more violent than before.

The lightning density multiplied above Yu Xuan’s head.

The tribulation grew so fierce that it exceeded the threshold of Core Formation Tribulation.

The Chaos Heaven Peak Master narrowed her eyes, her gaze lingering at the spot where the old man had stood moments ago.

"...That old fool," she muttered softly.

"Why did he interfere?"

The Elemental Heaven Peak Master’s expression slightly darkened. Because that old man had really come, the situation now had become quite serious.

But she didn’t understand, when did these two develop a connection.

’It seems I really need to know what my disciple is doing...’ she thought, sighing.

This was no longer just a Core Formation Tribulation.

Someone had now really provoked Heaven itself.