Chapter 9: Troublesome Tribulation

After stepping through the Space Gate, I arrived at a High tower, where two people stood on. One of them is an older man, a tall and big figure with an imposing presence. He carries a variety of "carry-on" sabres from combat to interrogation formations, indicating his combat prowess. It is none other than the combat maniac from the Heavenly River's Su Clan, Su Clans Seven, a man best described as a modern-day mercenary with a manly, handsome appearance.

As I approach him, I couldn't help but notice his sharp black eyebrows, swept back dark white shoulder-length hair, chin stubble and several cross scars, giving him a rugged yet captivating look. He carries his Living Item, a Sabre, on his back, adding to his already impressive persona.

Seven is dressed in a brown leather leg harness and double shoulder harness, with a body-snug dark t-shirt and dark gray pants. He wears a pair of fingerless dark brown gloves and simple fit leather boots, completing his combat-ready attire. His overall demeanor exuded confidence, alertness, and readiness for any challenge.

Beside him stands a younger figure who appeared to be a high schooler. Despite her attractive looks, she exudes an air of insecurity about her appearance. It is none other than my 'little' cousin, Sixteen, who had clearly been influenced by her cultivation to appear much younger than she actually is. Her small build made her look more like a child than an adult, but I knew better than to underestimate her.

Not wanting to announce my presence, I swiftly utilize my space powers to merge with the surrounding space, making myself invisible to the others. I observe the scene from a distance, careful not to disturb the tense atmosphere.

It is clear that Sixteen is preparing herself to face the Third to Fourth Heavenly Tribulation, a crucial and dangerous phase in her cultivation journey. Despite her usual outgoing personality, she appears to be overwhelmed with nervousness and anxiety. I can sense the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, as she knows the outcome of this tribulation will determine her future growth and potential.

As the preparations for the Third to Fourth Heavenly Tribulation came to an end, the sky above them darkened, and tribulation clouds began to form, covering the entire area in a foreboding aura. The energy in the atmosphere changed, becoming increasingly volatile and intense.

Suddenly, bolts of lightning start to rain down from the clouds, striking Sixteen's petite body with tremendous force. The lightning bolts are like raging dragons, snaking their way around her, seemingly determined to consume her.

As she battles against the lightning, a deafening roar echoes across the land, as if the heavens themselves were trembling under the impact of the tribulation. The thunder is so loud that it felt like it could rupture one's eardrums. Even Shuhang who lives a city away can hear them.

The tribulation seems never-ending, as wave after wave of lightning continues to strike Sixteen's body. However, despite the tremendous pain and pressure, she remains steadfast, with her eyes fixed on the tribulation clouds, as she endures the ordeal with immense willpower and determination.

As Sixteen endures the relentless onslaught of the Third to Fourth Heavenly Tribulation, everyone around her watches in awe and trepidation. Her body was battered and bruised, but her will remains unbroken. Towards the end of the tribulation, when it seemed like she had succeeded, something unexpected happens.

Suddenly, the tribulation undergoes a strange transformation, as if it had been modernised. The clouds above churned and changed, taking on a new form. It was then that primitive people emerge from within the clouds, wearing animal skins and wielding primitive weapons, enhanced by the power of the tribulation itself.

The primitive people are unlike anything anyone has seen before during a tribulation. They are fierce, relentless, and became stronger with each passing moment. Their attacks are precise, and it was clear that they are determined to take down any practitioners who dared to oppose them.

As I watch Sixteen struggle in her Heavenly Tribulation, I can sense the changes in the tribulation cloud. This was the phenomenon I had been waiting for, the sign that the Heavens were losing their grip on their tribulations.

The fact that the tribulation had suddenly modernised confirmed my suspicions. It was a clear indication that the Heaven's Will had become weak and was losing control over the tribulations. It's just like in the original story, the Heavenly Way is incomplete, my presence in this world changed nothing in this regard.

This is a sure sign that the Wielder's collapse is imminent, and a new era is about to begin, an era that I am eagerly waiting for. My Era! In this new era, I will make sure that the Heavens will be renamed to Zenith Heaven.

Although it is painful to watch Sixteen suffer, I know that interfering would only make things worse. I have bullied the tribulation in the past, and any interference now would only invite Heavenly punishment. Although it would not harm me, but it could endanger Sixteen and Seven, as well as all the innocent civilians living in this city.

I notice the tribulation is too much for Sixteen to handle. Without thinking twice, I shout at Seven, "Hurry up! Try to disperse the Heavenly Tribulation! Quickly! Sixteen has no chance of succeeding!" My heart sinks as I see her struggling to survive.

At first, Seven seems confused about who I am and why I'm giving him instructions. But then he sees the desperation in my eyes and realizes what's happening. He quickly nods his head and tries to disperse the tribulation with a special tribulation formation that he prepared for this purpose in advance.

But it's too late!

Despite our best efforts, we're unable to save her from a final sneak attack. Sixteen sustains severe injuries, but she manages to survive in the end, on top of that it looks like that her injury is less severe than in the original novel.

After Sixteen's injury, she threw a tantrum and ran away, just like in the original timeline. It's understandable that she's frustrated and upset, but it's also concerning given the dangers of the cultivation world. After all, you never know when a maniacal Fat Ball might come and kill you!

Seven was understandably interested in stopping Sixteen, but he was also wary of me. As a stranger that he never saw before, that suddenly appeared out of nowhere and knew about Sixteen's situation, he had every right to be suspicious. I tried to explain that I was just passing by and happened to notice the unusual tribulation, but Seven remained cautious.

"Who are you?" Seven asks, eyeing me carefully.

I decided to introduce myself properly, hoping to gain Seven's trust. "My Dao name is Zenith Heaven Emperor. I am one of the two who recently got added into the Nine Provinces (1) Group by accident, and that's where I learned about the tribulation. I am also Sixteen's long-lost paternal cousin. My father's brother once joined the Heavenly River Su Clan a long time ago."

Seven's reaction was one of surprise, "Eh!? You are what!"

I quickly reassured him, "Yes, it's true. I only recently learned of my relation to Sixteen due to me performing some divination about what happened during the time I was gone, but I have been secretly keeping an eye on her progress ever since. That's also why I'm here in the first place."

Seven seemed to relax a bit, but he still proceeded to question me seriously. "Why didn't you intervene during the tribulation, the moment you knew it was going to be this difficult?"

I explained, "I knew that if I interfered, it would only make things worse, probably letting Heavenly Punishment descend due to the things I did in the past. Plus, I didn't want to attract any unwanted attention from the Current Heaven. Also I knew you had some formations prepared in case something goes wrong."

Seven nodded, understanding my reasoning. "I see. Well, I appreciate you letting us know about the tribulation. It's always good to have an additional helping hand."

We continued to talk for a while longer, discussing various topics related to cultivation and the Nine Provinces (1) Group. Although Seven remained cautious, he seemed to be warming up to me.

Later that day, I accompanied Seven to have some drinks while having a discussion about the dao, from which he tremendously benefited from and before we knew it the next day has already begun.