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Chapter 148: Aldrian’s First Heavenly Tribulation 1
The one who undergoing the heavenly tribulation—commonly known as the tribulation taker— bears the full brunt of its immense pressure from the tribulation, it is entirely different for those merely watching from afar so this is a new experience for Aldrian.
Heavenly tribulations can occur for various reasons: a baptism upon reaching the Emperor stage, for comprehending something beyond one’s current level, or as punishment for the accumulation of bad karma.
The strength of a heavenly tribulation varies depending on the tribulation taker themselves. The stronger the cultivator, the stronger the tribulation. In cases where someone breaks a heavenly taboo, the tribulation will be tailored according to the gravity of the transgression.
In Aldrian’s case, his comprehension of something beyond what should be possible at his current level triggered this tribulation. The heavens are testing whether he is truly worthy of wielding such power. The pressure Aldrian feels is immense, yet he continues to smile as he gazes up at the swirling clouds, which have begun to show signs of an imminent lightning strike.
Amidst all of this, Aldrian feels a familiar connection to the tribulation clouds. It’s the same sensation he had when witnessing the Eternal Spirit’s Heavenly Tribulation—a feeling that the heavens don’t intend to harm him. It’s as though he can sense the heavens’ intent, though it’s only a subtle feeling in his heart. Yet, doubt lingers within him, as he can feel the might of the heavenly tribulation steadily increasing.
Aldrian prepared for whatever the heavens might throw his way, he waits. But after a few moments, there is still no lightning strike from the clouds. The lightning continues to coil through the sky with terrifying power. Initially, the lightning carried the force of a Duke stage strike—something impossible for a High Earl cultivator to withstand, as it would be tantamount to a death sentence. But the power continued to grow, and soon it reached the level of a Grand Duke strike.
Aldrian raised his eyebrows, staring at the absurd magnitude of the energy before him. If every heavenly tribulation wielded this level of power, no tribulation taker would survive once it was over. And yet, it didn’t stop there—the power surged even further, rising to the King stage. At this level, someone of Aldrian’s cultivation would have died countless times over.
The tribulation clouds now blanketed the entire mountain region, extending far beyond, visible even from Badin City. Those who spotted the ominous black clouds in the distance felt a chill, awed by the raw power of nature. The sight of the heavenly tribulation clouds was always something to behold, leaving a lasting impression.
Aldrian wore a puzzled expression as the lightning still refused to strike, while the power continued to build, reaching the Emperor stage.
"Is the heaven trying to kill me for good?" he thought. He couldn’t believe this was a typical occurrence—after all, he was only at the High Earl stage, if the heavens had no intent to harm him, then what was the meaning behind this overwhelming power?
The pressure around him had already become unbearable, but Aldrian managed to remain standing by using his golden energy and his control over gravity to alleviate the weight of the heavens’ might. Though the lightning’s strength continued to climb, his connection to the tribulation clouds persisted, growing even stronger.
The contradiction was baffling. On one hand, he felt the heavens had no desire to harm him, but on the other, the tribulation’s power far exceeded what he should be facing at his level. It felt more like a punishment meant for a sinner.
"Is it because I comprehended the death laws?" Aldrian thought, before dismissing the idea. "No, even if I did, it doesn’t make sense for the heavens to unreasonably raise the lightning’s strength to the peak of the Emperor stage while I’m still only at the High Earl stage."
The situation made no sense to him. He needed to understand what the heavens were truly intending with this tribulation.
He had already begun circulating his energy, preparing his defensive technique for the inevitable moment the lightning would strike. But even after the tribulation clouds reached the peak of Emperor stage power, and had spread out to cover nearly 90,000 kilometers—nearing Badin City—the strike still had not come. The size of the clouds was already many times larger than what he had witnessed during the Eternal Spirit’s heavenly tribulation.
At this point, the entire city of Badin could see the approaching tribulation clouds, though the tribulation taker remained unseen. Yet, the sheer aura and power emanating from the clouds filled the people with fear. Reverence for the heavens was deeply ingrained in their hearts from birth, and this reverence remained strong, even for cultivators.
Despite the cultivator’s goal of breaking through the limits of living beings and attaining immortality, none were free from the influence of the heavens.
"What kind of tribulation is this?"
"Is there a criminal trying to break through?"
Many wondered if, with such immense size and pressure, this tribulation was a heavenly punishment—a type of tribulation reserved for sinners. As heavenly punishment, its sole purpose was to strike down cultivators burdened with immense bad karma. Typically, when cultivators with significant bad karma attempted to reach the Emperor stage, they would face this kind of tribulation, a punishment for their atrocities.
Those who received a heavenly punishment had no choice but to defend against strikes meant to kill the tribulation taker. Their fate hung in the balance, determined by how they defended themselves. Some relied on external aids, such as artifacts or formations, but these also influenced the tribulation. If the external help was too strong, the tribulation would adjust its strength accordingly.
In Badin City, all eyes were fixed on the sky as the clouds finally reached them. The tense, gloomy atmosphere weighed heavily on the people, and they were stunned when a small drop of water fell from the sky.
Many continued to gaze upwards, puzzled by the sudden rainfall. Could this be a normal storm, not a heavenly tribulation? The pressure and aura of the heavens, however, told them otherwise—this was indeed a tribulation.
As the rain grew heavier, confusion spread among the people. They had never heard of a heavenly tribulation that brought rain. The sight of it left everyone—both mortals and cultivators—wondering what this bizarre phenomenon meant.
Aldrian, his body protected by his defensive techniques, was equally perplexed. But amidst the confusion, he sensed something deeper, something that only he could feel. Something that blew his mind.
"The heavens...the heavens are sad?"
He really didn’t understand how he could feel the sadness emanating from the heavens. Wasn’t it said that the heavens were devoid of feelings, their nature impartial? If that were true, then what was this? It was as if his heart and mind were connected to the very essence of the heavens. What did this mean? Such a connection shouldn’t be possible—
"Wait, it shouldn’t be possible for others, but if it is for me." He recalled the lines he had memorized. "I’m tied to the universe, and I’m tied to nature."
He also remembered the Heavenly Demon’s scripture, particularly one of its lines:
The way of the universe is the way of the heavens.
The way of nature is the way of the heavens.
Amidst the heavy rain, the strength of the lightning had already reached the very peak of the Emperor stage. Yet, Aldrian could sense the sadness of the heavens even more clearly. It was a strange feeling, as if his own heart were heavy with sadness. But he steadied his heart and determination, looking up at the sky. A smile crossed his face as he shouted,
"Oh, mighty heavens! I don’t know what kind of relationship we shared in the past, but allow me to experience the power of your heavenly might!"
As if in response to Aldrian’s request, the lightning crackled with a booming thunder, swirling more fiercely within the clouds. They were at the point where their power was gradually leaving the Emperor stage and slowly approaching the next level.
"Oh, heavens, help me by giving me the strength I need to overcome all the obstacles I will face in the future. With this tribulation, I will gain more power to aid me." n𝚘𝚟𝚙u𝚋.co𝚖
If he could pass this trial, he would unlock the abilities of the death laws.
"You are always watching me! Then help me discover my strength, to unveil my true self! Even if it kills me, I want to see the end of my own path!"
BOOM! The loud thunder reverberated across the surrounding region.
"BRING IT ON!"
BOOM!!
Finally, the first strike came crashing down toward Aldrian.
