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Chapter 149: Aldrian’s First Heavenly Tribulation 2
BOOM!
The first lightning strike descended instantly, a swirling mix of black and white that moved like a dragon yet resembled an arrowhead. Aldrian summoned the full power of his domain, unwilling to underestimate the force behind this heavenly strike. Even though he felt invincible within his domain, he knew the heavens were always watching him. They must be aware of his capabilities, and this lightning strike reflected that understanding.
As the lightning bolt approached, Aldrian quickly constructed a dome shield covering the entire area using the energy from the surrounding region to block the initial strike. He formed this natural defense at his fastest speed, bracing himself for the impact.
CRASH!
The lightning struck the shield dome, sending tremors through the surrounding mountains. Even his entire domain felt a slight shake. Although the lightning retained its energy, it didn’t penetrate the shield deeply, creating only a hole in the dome. Aldrian wore a solemn expression; there was no sign of relaxation on his face.
"This strike just now? I doubt even a peak emperor could casually block it."
He had utilized the full power of his domain, yet he still felt the tremors from the strike. While the intensity was minimal compared to his domain’s overall strength, it was still excessive for the heavens to direct such a powerful lightning strike at him. They clearly knew how to play their part, sending him a challenge that acknowledged all of his abilities and potential.
This heavenly tribulation was no longer based on cultivation levels but rather on karma. The heavenly punishment is a type of tribulation rooted in karma, but those who prepare themselves still have a chance to survive the heavens’ onslaught. In Aldrian’s case, it’s not heavenly punishment but his karma stemmed from the connection he had with the heavens.
The heavens obviously knew all of his extraordinary abilities and even his past, tailoring a tribulation that would be impossible for anyone else to endure. No one on this continent could withstand such an attack. Even if a cultivator possessed a divine-grade artifact, the heavens would respond with an even more powerful strike, capable of shattering the artifact and complicating the tribulation further. Divine-grade artifacts were forbidden during tribulations for this very reason.
This battle was one of individual ability; the only factor at play was a person’s capability to endure the tribulation with their own strength.
As the clouds gathered for the second strike, having failed to penetrate Aldrian’s dome shield defenses, a wild thought crossed his mind. Ever since he sensed that this heavenly lightning had an intent not to harm him, he had been filled with curiosity. Why did the heavens possess such intent yet strike him with a force that could kill him if he didn’t have his domain ability? Now, as the tribulation taker, he had the opportunity to test something.
Of course, Aldrian wasn’t foolish enough to just barge into the heavenly lightning strike, but he wanted to try touching the heavenly lightning after it had worn down from hitting his defensive dome. A smile spread across his face as the second strike, slightly more powerful than the first, finally came down.
The lightning was still blocked by the energy shield, and his entire domain felt a tremor once more. People residing within his domain—from the secret realm in the Everlasting Silent Forest to the Ivory Empire and Demon territory—experienced a slight quake that felt like an earthquake. Most were confused about the source of the disturbance, unable to detect its origin, and simply dismissed it as a normal quake.
Only high-level cultivators could sense that something was amiss with the tremor, especially those with earth element affinities. They felt the ground tremble but struggled to pinpoint its source, leaving them perplexed. They couldn’t detect any plate movement causing the ground to shake, nor any energy disturbance around them, adding to their confusion.
The second lightning strike broke through the outer layer of the shield dome, its power now reduced to that of a peak king stage attack. Aldrian teleported in front of the lightning, his entire body coated in golden energy to protect himself not only from the lightning itself but also from its intense heat. Even from a distance, he could feel the heat radiating off the lightning.
Before the lightning disappeared, he moved swiftly and touched a strand of it. The moment his skin made contact, he felt his entire body electrified; every fiber of his being, even his soul, trembled heavily. Yet a smile remained on his face, as if he had lost his mind in the thrill of the moment.
At that moment, Aldrian felt a deeper connection to the heavens. Suddenly, in a fleeting instant, he experienced déjà vu. A vision flashed before him, showing himself in the same position, but this time he wasn’t just touching the lightning—he was allowing it to bathe his hand, as if he were playing with it.
He wanted to mimic what he had seen in that fleeting vision, but hesitation crept in. Even this brief touch had caused his entire body and soul to tremble, and a dizziness clouded his mind.
The second strike concluded, and the third strike was nearly ready. Aldrian steeled himself, determined to repeat his previous action. The third strike descended, slightly more powerful than the last. He couldn’t determine the exact realm of this lightning, but he knew that even a high emperor stage cultivator would not survive such a strike; it could easily cripple a peak emperor.
Despite the danger, he bravely reached out to touch the lightning once more. This time, he was more daring, inserting one of his index fingers into the swirling currents. His hand, protected by the golden energy, struggled to contain the lightning’s power. He felt his skin beginning to burn, yet he held on, driven by a desire to experience the heavenly lightning that instilled fear in so many.
He then caught another glimpse of a vision, finding himself seated cross-legged in the midst of the black clouds, as if meditating amidst the lightning. He didn’t know what kind of clouds they were, but he assumed they were part of the heavenly tribulation. When the third strike finished, he noticed a slight burn on the skin of his index finger. Instead of feeling deterred, his determination only grew; he believed this experience could provide new clues about his past.
He could also comprehend this lightning, which was advantageous as it would enhance his understanding of lightning laws. Until now, he had primarily focused on his space and gravity laws, rarely employing his other laws.
His past encounter with the assassins from the Thunderous Shadow Pavilion had given him some experience with lightning laws, but now, with the chance to deepen his comprehension, he wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away. After all, this was heavenly lightning—one of the instruments the heavens used to punish or baptize all beings.
The fourth strike descended like a slithering dragon, crashing into the defensive dome. With this strike, he was already halfway through the heavenly tribulation. Aldrian repeated his earlier action, reaching out once more.
The rain fell heavier with each strike, but his connection with the heavens grew stronger, allowing him to feel the true power contained within the stormy clouds.
The power that he cannot fully fathom yet because of how tremendous that power is, something that he has not reached yet. He could also sense the heavens’ intent more clearly, He could feel more of their sadness—something that still baffled him. However, he was not in a position to ask, "Why do you feel sad?" That would be crazy.
Now, he waited for the fifth strike, which he sensed was on an entirely different level. This strike could potentially kill even a peak emperor stage. Yet, despite the overwhelming pressure, Aldrian remained confident in his domain power, fully committing to his defensive stance.
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At Duke Badin’s basecamp, all the dwarves and any other living beings had already evacuated more than 1,000 kilometers away. Even though they were still under the dark sky, it was much better than being near ground zero of the lightning strike. The rain was pouring heavily, but they didn’t care about it anymore.
Duke Badin’s face was already pale with fright due to the pressure they could still feel—something he had never experienced in any heavenly tribulation he had ever witnessed. As for the two cloaked men, although the people here couldn’t see their faces, they could sense their fear, which was genuine, reflecting how these two men felt right now.
"Is that truly a heavenly tribulation? Or a heavenly punishment? I’ve never witnessed or felt such horrifying size and power from a heavenly tribulation!" the raspy-voiced man pondered, wondering who could trigger such overwhelming heavenly might, seemingly intent on annihilating everything beneath it.
