Chapter 294: All Forces Converge, The Tribulation Begins

"Judging by the position of the Jie Yun, it seems to be near the Tian Ji Lou?" The Black Robe Man darted through alleyways and shadows, his movements swift and silent. His mind calculated the spatial coordinates with precision. Within moments, he confirmed it—Jie Yun was exactly where he’d been secretly monitoring for days: the very location of the Tian Ji Lou.

"The Tian Ji Lou has a Unique Treasure emerging? No wonder their divination arts are said to be formidable."

Though the city was vast, the Black Robe Man moved with such speed that he reached the vicinity of the Tian Ji Lou in no time. Yet he did not press forward. Instead, he found a deep shadow, suppressed every trace of his aura, and lay in wait.

A true disciple of the Dark Path, his concealment techniques were flawless—so refined that even a Xian Tian Jing Qiang Zhe would struggle to detect him. But he could not hide from the Heavenly and Earthly Laws. And Jie Yun, a phenomenon born from the laws themselves, was especially sensitive to demonic energies.

If he drew too close, Jie Yun might strike him first—before anyone else.

Thus, the wisest course was to wait until the tribulation passed, then sneak in to claim whatever advantage he could.

Just as he settled into his hiding spot, several powerful auras swept past him. Glancing over, he recognized them—those persistent, long-winded Daoists with cowlicks who’d been tailing him since the beginning.

Now, however, they were utterly distracted by the spectacle above. Their attention was fixed on the sky, unaware of the Black Robe Man lurking in the dark.

He remained still, perfectly still, his breath silent.

Not long after, more groups passed by—each one radiating immense cultivation, their presence unmistakably formidable. None were weaklings. After all, even though Jie Yun hadn’t fully formed yet, the danger it exuded was already overwhelming. Ordinary martial artists could not withstand its pressure; they’d be crushed simply by proximity.

Then, a procession of monks passed by. The Black Robe Man felt a subtle tremor in his chest.

As a disciple of the Dark Path, he despised Buddhist monks above all else.

Seeing so many powerful figures gathering here, he tightened his vigilance further, burying his presence even deeper.

He resolved: unless an unparalleled opportunity arose, he would not move. With so many masters present, exposure meant death—even with his escape techniques, survival was uncertain.

"Amituofo," said the Xuan Ming He Shang at the front of the Tian Ji Lou, his tone humble. "Master Yang Ming Dao Ren, my knowledge is shallow. Might I ask—what is that above us? Could it be the legendary Jie Yun?"

"Hmph. Don’t play the innocent fool, Xuan Ming monk," retorted Yang Ming Dao Ren coldly. "With the resources of Xuan Kong Shan, you can’t possibly not recognize what that is. Are you scheming again?"

The other monks glared, furious at the insult. But the Xuan Ming He Shang remained calm, smiling faintly without offense.

Yang Ming Dao Ren felt a flicker of unease. This old monk was too patient, too calculating—his mind impenetrable. Yet, even more than his distrust of the monk, Yang Ming Dao Ren feared the Jie Yun itself.

Jie Yun’s appearance always signaled the birth of something extraordinary—either a supreme cultivator breaking through, or a Unique Treasure or celestial treasure emerging.

But the world was still recovering from Qi Fu Su. There was no way a cultivator capable of triggering such a phenomenon could have arisen so soon. As for treasures, they required centuries of cultivation to form—impossible to appear now.

The most likely explanation? A Unique Treasure was about to emerge.

After all, the world was ancient. Long before the current cultivation era, the Tian Ji Lou already existed. Who knew what secrets lay buried beneath its foundations?

If such a treasure truly lay beneath, its emergence was plausible.

But what did it portend? And if it fell into the hands of Xuan Kong Shan’s monks?

The thought chilled Yang Ming Dao Ren. His guard tightened. He watched the Xuan Ming He Shang’s group with renewed suspicion.

If a Unique Treasure was indeed emerging, it didn’t matter who claimed it—just not Xuan Kong Shan.

"Senior Brother," said a disciple of the Yun Shui Mi Jing, eyes wide with awe, "our scriptures record that Jie Yun’s appearance often heralds a Unique Treasure. If we seize it, our sect’s strength will surge!"

"Stay calm," replied the Senior Brother, his expression grim. "This Jie Yun’s emergence is too unusual. I fear something ominous may be at play. We’ve already gathered enough Glowing Light. Our goal has been achieved. Let us wait and see—no need to rush."

He felt a strange premonition. This Jie Yun was not just a treasure’s birth cry. But the area was already saturated with Jie Qi. No one dared use Spirit Soul Power to probe—risking being struck by a lightning bolt that would erase their soul.

So they waited. Only when the Jie Yun faded would the truth be revealed.

"Chen Lao Qian Bei," came a voice from the courtyard, "what’s happening inside? Where is Lu Xiao Langjun?"

As external powers converged on the Tian Ji Lou, the small courtyard was in chaos.

Moments earlier, Lu Qing had entered deep cultivation, refining his Benyuan Qi. At first, all was well. But as time passed, the danger radiating from him grew stronger—unbearable.

Yet he remained locked in his trance, oblivious to the world.

Unable to bear it, Old Doctor led Xiao Yan and Xiao Li out of the room and into the courtyard.

As they stepped outside, they froze.

A gray cloud had formed in the sky above the courtyard, dark and ominous, swallowing the light.

"A Qing is still inside, not yet awake," Old Doctor said, voice tight with worry. "Master, what is that cloud? Is it targeting A Qing?"

The Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou stared upward, his face unreadable. After a long silence, he recalled something—something ancient.

His eyes widened.

"Quick! Chen Ye, get everyone out! That’s Jie Yun! If we don’t leave now, we won’t have time!"

He lunged forward, seizing Ma Gu and Wei Zian by the shoulders, dragging them out. At the same time, he roared, "All Tian Ji Lou disciples—immediately evacuate! No delay!"

Old Doctor understood. He didn’t hesitate. He pulled Xiao Yan and Hu Ze Zhi after him, fleeing outward. Lin Zhi Rui followed without question.

Within the Tian Ji Lou, the Zhu Lou’s command was sacred law. No one disobeyed. In moments, every disciple had fled the sect.

The Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou led them all to the towering pagoda, half a li away—high above the courtyard, offering a clear view of the scene below.

"Master," Lin Zhi Rui asked, staring at the sky, "you said that gray cloud is Jie Yun?"

The cloud above the courtyard pulsed, darkening further, its pressure now so intense it made the heart tremble.

"Yes," the Zhu Lou replied, voice trembling with awe. "That is Jie Yun—the kind said to appear only in the ancient times. I’ve only read fragments about it in our sect’s most secret scrolls. I never thought I’d see it with my own eyes."

"Legends say that when Jie Yun appears, something beyond reason is about to be born. The Heavenly and Earthly Laws react, and tribulation descends. Only after passing the trial can the extraordinary being emerge."

"Could this Jie Yun be meant for Lu Xiao Langjun?" Lin Zhi Rui asked.

"I don’t know," the Zhu Lou said, shaking his head. But in his heart, he was certain. It was almost certainly for Lu Qing.

And now he understood why Lu Qing had always been so mysterious, so terrifyingly powerful. Though still only Hou Tian Jing, he had fought Xian Tian cultivators, even besting Xian Tian Jing Mastery.

His strength had become so great it could provoke the Heavenly and Earthly Laws themselves.

Old Doctor had the same thought. "Master, how do we pass this tribulation?"

"I don’t know," the Zhu Lou admitted. "Our records are sparse. Jie Yun was rare even in the Qi-rich ancient times. Perhaps only the Four Secret Places hold detailed knowledge."

Old Doctor turned toward the courtyard, worry etched on his face. Though he trusted his disciple, facing a heavenly tribulation? No one could say for sure.

Ma Gu and the others shared the same dread. They stared at the cloud, feeling its crushing pressure. They knew they couldn’t help.

Only Xiao Yan remained, clutching the still-unconscious Xiao Li, her eyes fierce with resolve.

She believed in her brother. He had promised—never again would he leave her alone.

"Master!" Lin Zhi Rui suddenly exclaimed. "The Jie Yun—it’s changing!"

All eyes snapped upward.

The gray cloud had deepened, nearly black. Faint lightning flickered within, like veins of storm fire.

And in that moment, within the hidden room, Lu Qing—still seated in meditation—opened his eyes.

Awe filled his gaze. "No wonder this is the opportunity after Qi Fu Su. The Benyuan Qi carries a Dao Resonance—echoes of the world’s origin, the essence of all things. Even with my Abilities, I’ve only grasped a fraction. But even so, the gain is immense. If I could master it fully… I can’t even imagine."

He was still lost in revelation when he sensed a terrifying pressure building above.

He tensed, Spirit Soul Power spreading outward, sensing the Heavenly and Earthly Laws.

Instantly, he understood.

This is the Heavenly Tribulation. My accumulation is so great, far beyond what a Hou Tian Jing should possess. The laws are reacting—sending a test.

He remembered the heritage of the Lihuo Sect.

He knew exactly what was happening.

And now he understood why his earlier attempts to break through to Xian Tian Jing had failed.

His cultivation had outpaced the evolution of the Heavenly and Earthly Laws. The world couldn’t accept his breakthrough. So he remained trapped—capable of drawing Qi into his body, cultivating Zhen Qi, yet still bound as Hou Tian Jing.

In short: his growth had surpassed the world’s pace.

Now, the laws had finally triggered a response.

Lu Qing relaxed. A smile spread across his face.

"Thunder? Let’s see if you’re as fearsome as the legends claim."

He unleashed his spirit. His aura flared, surging outward.

Spirit Soul Power erupted from his Brow Qi Cavity, resonating with the laws of Heaven and Earth. The air trembled.

In his Dantian Qi Hai, a vortex formed—sucking in the surrounding Heavenly and Earthly Qi, devouring it like a dragon swallowing water.

This was his second attempt to break through to Xian Tian Jing.

The Jie Yun above responded instantly.

It began to spin slowly. At its center, a brilliant light凝聚, pulsing.

Then—without warning—the sky split.

A thunderclap. A blinding white lightning bolt struck downward.

Boom!

The roof of Lu Qing’s house shattered. Walls exploded outward. The entire structure vanished.

And in the center, Lu Qing—struck directly—was thrown to the ground.

When the smoke cleared, only ruins remained.

And there, seated amid the wreckage, was Lu Qing—burnt black, his flesh torn in places, limbs cracked, his appearance horrific.

"Lu Qing brother!"

"Brother!"

"Young Master Lu!"

"Lu Xiao Langjun!"

From the heights, the watchers gasped in horror.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end