CHAPTER 290: CHAPTER 287: THE LATE RETRIBUTION_1

"A thunder tribulation? Has Huo Qubing broken through?"

The civil and military ministers, who were attending to their duties, all jolted to their feet. Upon hearing the thunder rumbling from the sky, they rushed into their courtyards to observe an Imperial Realm expert undergo their tribulation.

Within this heavenly tribulation lay the power of the Great Dao. Observing such a trial could offer tremendous benefits to a martial artist’s future cultivation.

BOOM!

An explosion echoed.

From within the clouds descended a heavenly thunderbolt resembling a silver dragon. It plunged downward, baring fangs and claws, imbued with the powers of destruction and annihilation.

Its terrifying might caused the heavens and earth to tremble.

Once struck, whatever it was, it would cease to exist.

"Is this the heavenly tribulation?"

Zhao Yun, Lv Bu, and others stared intently at the descending heavenly tribulation. Even from a significant distance, their hearts pounded, and their very souls trembled.

They had a premonition that even the slightest brush with the tribulation’s power could instantly obliterate them, body and soul.

"Shatter for me!"

Standing beneath the heavenly tribulation, Huo Qubing seemed incredibly tiny. He仰望苍穹, roaring with rage as boundless Spiritual Energy gathered at the tip of his spear, erupting in a blinding, blood-red light.

RUMBLE...

A blood-red Sword Qi soared into the sky, imbued with an indomitable and irresistible will, colliding head-on with the descending heavenly punishment.

Its razor-sharp aura swept across the firmament, instantly pulverizing the silver dragon, leaving not even dust behind.

BOOM!

Enraged, the heavenly punishment manifested as billowing dark clouds. Its boundless pressure stirred the Void, as if gestating an even more formidable heavenly punishment, one meant to obliterate Huo Qubing, this heaven-defying cultivator, into dust.

The Heavenly Tribulation consists of nine strikes!

Each successive strike is more powerful than the last. Without formidable combat power, it is difficult to endure all nine. Throughout history, countless experts have fallen under these heavenly tribulations.

"You must hold on!"

Qin Wudao and his officials watched Huo Qubing anxiously.

Only the one undergoing the tribulation could overcome it. Thus, all he could do was pray silently.

BOOM!

Heaven and earth flashed white!

A terrifying aura radiated from the clouds, suffusing them with a fiery red glow. All the dark clouds turned a burning crimson. It was as if the nine heavens themselves were ablaze, or like celestial fire descending upon the world—a truly spectacular sight.

The second heavenly thunderbolt: the Thunder of Blazing Punishment!

A colossal fire dragon suddenly plunged downward. The temperature in the Void rose sharply, incinerating Spiritual Energy and even space itself, leaving behind devastation that took ages to recover.

"Towards the Wolf I Stride!"

Huo Qubing, fearless as ever, his Blood Fiend Qi erupted. He thrust his spear with indomitable belief and pierced through the second heavenly thunderbolt.

Next, the third heavenly thunderbolt, the Heavenly Thunder of Drowning, descended. It surged forth, as if to cleanse the universe. Each droplet possessed the weight of a Wanjun, capable of obliterating all existence.

Huo Qubing took a deep breath, his spear moving like a dragon, and safely passed it with the force to reverse rivers and seas.

The fourth: the Heavenly Thunder of Ice...

The fifth: the Heavenly Thunder of Death...

The seventh: the Heavenly Thunder of Annihilation...

The eighth: the Heavenly Thunder of Soul Burial...

Huo Qubing breezed through eight consecutive heavenly thunderbolts, as if he were not facing the dreaded heavenly thunder, but mere ordinary lightning.

In the dark clouds, the ninth heavenly thunderbolt was brewing. Purple light flared, revealing world-ending power. The Void for ten thousand li around was sealed by the power of this heavenly punishment.

BOOM!

A purple heavenly bolt, hundreds of feet thick and miles long, plummeted. It struck with incredible speed, hitting Huo Qubing before he could react, a devastating blow that caught him utterly unprepared.

Huo Qubing’s body was flung backward, shattering the sealed Void beneath him into countless fragments.

The dark clouds gradually dissipated, and warm sunlight sprinkled upon the fractured Void!

"General Huo!"

"General Huo, are you alright!"

Qin Wudao, along with his ministers, rushed high into the air to find Huo Qubing, who was trapped within a rift in the Void.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I am fine!"

Huo Qubing stood up and saluted respectfully. Apart from a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, he was largely unharmed.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"From this day forward, the Great Qin Dynasty finally has an Imperial Realm expert!"

Qin Wudao announced loudly, his heart filled with excitement.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, General Huo!"

The civil and military officials saluted, equally overjoyed. The stronger the Great Qin Dynasty, the safer they were, and their own status and positions would be elevated accordingly.

The difference between a subject of an ordinary empire and one from a Royal Court was like heaven and earth.

Guo Jia stepped forward and said calmly, "Your Majesty, now that General Huo has broken through, can we implement the plan we formulated?"

This plan, named the ’Dongji Plan,’ was specifically designed to defeat the Azure Sea Ancient Court, facilitate the advancement of the Great Qin Divine Court, and establish dominance over the easternmost region of the East Border.

Qin Wudao’s smile faded. A potent killing intent surged from him as he said coldly, "Yes! The blood feud from two years ago can finally be avenged!"

Two years!

They had endured for two full years!

Two years ago, the Azure Sea Ancient Court invaded with their troops. They killed over nine million Great Qin soldiers, massacred tens of millions of our people, seized our lands, and plunged our nation into misery.

This vengeance, he had not forgotten!

And no one in the Great Qin Divine Court had forgotten either!

"Your Majesty, what has happened?" Huo Qubing had been in seclusion and was unaware of external events, so he asked curiously.

Zhuge Liang, waving his feather fan, explained somberly. As he recounted the atrocities committed by the Azure Sea Ancient Court, his voice turned icy cold.

Huo Qubing listened, then turned to leave, his voice filled with rage, "They court death! Your Majesty, this general shall depart immediately to annihilate the Azure Sea Ancient Court!"

Xiao He hastily interjected, calming Huo Qubing, "Stay your hand, General. The Azure Sea Ancient Court is of little concern. Our primary enemy is the Kylin Holy Land, so you must not reveal your new strength yet!"

Qin Wudao said in a deep voice, flying towards the Imperial Palace, the civil and military officials hurriedly following, "Let us return! We will discuss the mobilization plan in the Imperial Palace!"

That day, the Imperial Palace was filled with a soaring fighting spirit and palpable morale. Flashes of murderous intent occasionally flared, so intense they seemed to alter the very complexion of the heavens, making the skies appear turbulent and unpredictable.

「Two days later, the troops set out!」

To ensure victory in this battle, the Great Qin Divine Court mobilized all its national forces. These included the Azure Dragon Army, White Tiger Army, Vermilion Bird Army, Black Tortoise Army, Bei Wei Army, Fan Qiu Army, Chang Ban Army, Blood Fight Army, and Ding Yang Army, totaling 5.8 million troops in its main battle corps.

Additionally, forty-three local army corps, comprising a total of 12.9 million personnel, were mobilized!

This vast army assembled and marched towards the Great Wall, which was thousands of miles distant.

The seasoned General Zhao Yun was appointed Commander-in-Chief for this war, with Guo Jia as Chief Strategist.

Zhuge Liang remained in the Imperial Capital, overseeing logistics to ensure the army’s supply lines remained unbroken.

While all eyes were fixed on the impending war, none noticed that within the fragments of the Immortal Realm, a cluster of thunderclouds had gathered, unleashing startling thunder that shook the heavens!

An aura, far surpassing the peak of the Semi-Emperor realm, erupted from a sealed chamber!

Moreover, this aura was still undergoing a transformation, growing deeper and more profound.

Meanwhile, deep within the fragments of the Immortal Realm, powerful Martial Artists began to emerge, one after another, from three colossal Formations.