Chapter 156

The speed of the lightning was simply too fast, almost leaving Ye Qin with no ability to react.

The originally indestructible green scales suddenly burst with countless sparks.

Purple, green, and gold—several kinds of light intertwined together.

"Roar!"

The scales were violently lifted by the lightning, and a piercing pain surged toward Ye Qin, almost making him unable to bear it; his massive snake tail slammed hard against the ground, instantly kicking up dust and swirling yellow sand.

This lightning was not only aimed at his body, but also at his soul.

Ye Qin had not felt such pain for a long time; this familiar sensation seemed to let him return to the time of his first crossing.

Back then he was merely a small green snake, with no cultivation at all, also severely injured, and that feeling of being on the brink of death he never wanted to experience again, yet now Ye Qin felt it once more.

He could clearly smell the burnt odor coming from his body—that was the smell of flesh scorched by lightning.

Since embarking on cultivation, Ye Qin had been cautious and discreet, rarely revealing his true form to avoid human thermal weapons, so he had not suffered such severe injury; as his cultivation level and realm steadily increased, his bodily strength also continuously deepened.

Ordinary power could not harm him at all—let alone scales being split apart, even marks were rarely left behind; ordinary thermal weapons were likely already ineffective, and only heavy firepower could pose a threat to him.

But under the might of this heavenly tribulation, Ye Qin felt the threat of death!

The golden core within his body rapidly spun, continuously sending energy to his physique; a hazy mist slowly rose, wrapping around the injured area, which made him feel much better.

Though the torn skin and flesh still looked terrifying and ferocious, at least there was no more bleeding.

After barely enduring this bolt of lightning, Ye Qin hadn't even caught his breath when a low thunder rumbled faintly in the distance—the sky was already brewing the next tribulation lightning.

"Boom—"

The next second, giving Ye Qin no time to rest, a thick bolt of lightning descended from the heavens and struck him violently!

This time the power was even greater, as if countless steel needles were piercing his vital point.

Thunder exploded, striking the snake scales and exposing the bright red flesh beneath; the pain made Ye Qin almost roll back and forth on the ground.

His snake tail accidentally struck a nearby large tree, and a tree over a person's height actually snapped at the waist; even so, it did not relieve Ye Qin's pain.

This time even the power within his golden core lost its effect, blood flowed nonstop, and soon a small stream of bright red flowed across the ground.

"This heavenly tribulation is truly too formidable!"

Initially, each bolt of lightning fell with intervals, barely allowing Ye Qin to catch his breath; later, they became increasingly frequent, dense and numerous.

"This won't do; I must think of a way."

Ye Qin calmed his mind and heart, and a round, golden object floated out from within him, hovering above his head; golden light enveloped his entire body, like a golden bell cover, wrapping him within.

The tiger in the distance seemed stunned, eyes wide open, possibly unable to comprehend why, as an animal, Ye Qin would have such a thing.

This was Ye Qin's golden core; he hoped it could slightly help him bear the lightning's force, gaining just a moment of respite.

Unfortunately, he had no magical treasures or external cultivation aids on hand; otherwise, he could have used them to resist the heavenly tribulation.

Though it was clearly daytime, it felt like nighttime—the apocalyptic scene made people's hearts tremble with fear.

The place where Ye Qin stood seemed to have become an isolated island in a vast ocean, with only the light emanating from his golden core becoming a lighthouse in the darkness.

Boom!

Purple and golden light—two different kinds of light—collided in midair, producing a tremendous undulation that even made the air twist.

Invisible waves spread rapidly from Ye Qin as the center; all surrounding trees suffered, cracking with a sound and breaking instantly.

"Ow—"

The distant northeastern tiger was terrified, though it dared not rise, yet it wisely rolled sideways on the spot.

Thanks to Ye Qin being under the protection of his golden core, he was relatively unharmed, but this did not mean he could pass through the tribulation peacefully.

Dark clouds pressed further down, countless thunder dragons protruded their heads from the cracks, as if angry that Ye Qin dared to oppose them.

Lightning flashed and intertwined into an ocean of lightning, enveloping Ye Qin and swiftly launching a fierce assault.

One bolt after another of lightning struck down, as the giant beast continuously inhaled and exhaled lightning; heaven and earth had already become a sea of lightning.

Under such bombardment, the light of the golden core grew increasingly dim, yet it still struggled to hold on; Ye Qin continuously sent his spiritual energy into it, hoping to resist the lightning this way.

But alas, this was a bottomless pit; soon the heavenly and earthly qi within his body gradually grew thin.

At this moment Ye Qin had already reached a desperate situation, only hearing a faint sound.

His pupils suddenly constricted; on the originally indestructible golden core, a crack suddenly appeared, like a spiderweb, rapidly spreading outward.

"Not good! The golden core is about to shatter!"

Scarcely had the words been spoken when another tribulation lightning struck down.

Ye Qin hastily retracted his golden core, not even having time to check its condition; without the golden light shield's protection, lightning struck his body again with fierce force.

His body jerked, as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at his heart; that pain was almost impossible to describe in words.

As time went on, the lightning's power grew heavier; Ye Qin could barely support himself now, his mind became dazed and heavy, even numb, unable to feel pain.

Being able to endure until now was already no easy feat; it could be said he relied entirely on Ye Qin's will, yet he now felt somewhat weary.

"Could it be that my time has come, destined to fail the heavenly tribulation?"

Ye Qin felt somewhat unwilling; having come this far with great difficulty, how could he lightly give up!

Past scenes flashed like passing flowers, gradually becoming clear; Ye Qin seemed to become an onlooker, reviewing his journey so far.

First, crossing over while near death, facing a hellish beginning; then, enlightenment in a cave, thus stepping onto the path of cultivation—it could be said to be full of twists and turns, extraordinary.

Being able to attain his current cultivation level and realm was entirely due to his own exploration.

"Heaven and earth, the thief of all things; all things, the thief of man; man, the thief of all things—when the three thieves are proper, the three powers are at peace. Eat in season, the hundred bones are rectified; move the mechanism, myriad transformations are at peace. Man knows his spirit and thus it is spiritual; knows not why the non-spiritual is thus spiritual."

In the dark, that voice sounded again; Ye Qin's soul lightened, as if returning to when he was still a small snake.

Back then, why did he cultivate the Dao?

To survive.

Now, why does he cultivate the Dao again?

A nameless voice in his heart kept asking repeatedly.

Ye Qin's current state is very delicate, hovering between life and death, somewhat similar to the last time his lifespan was nearly exhausted when he comprehended the great barrier of life and death.

Only this time the situation is even more perilous, the thunder in the sky still rolling incessantly, while the green snake on the ground has become utterly still, eyes tightly shut, as if it has ceased breathing.

The wild wind howls, like sobbing, as if mourning his departure, heaven and earth plunged into chaotic darkness.

And in the next second, Ye Qin suddenly opens his eyes, the dark green light in his pupils slicing through the darkness, a surge of unprecedented vitality enveloping his entire body.

The deathly aura that had spread actually transformed in an instant into an endless stream of vital energy!

The mist scattered by the thunder gathers again, now mixed with a hint of unique luster, faintly forming a force in opposition to the thunder.

Life and death, though opposed, can also transform into each other—life arising from death—this is the principle Ye Qin previously grasped in comprehending life and death, now proving useful at this critical moment.

The cycle of life and death, fortune and misfortune interdependent—nothing in the universe has ever been in an absolute state.

The previously exhausted spiritual energy has actually become full again, continuously circulating through his meridians.

Earlier, Ye Qin's meridians had been nearly destroyed by the thunder; now, nourished by spiritual energy, they show a tendency to slowly heal.

The great serpent raises its head and stands firm between heaven and earth, though its body is covered in ferocious wounds, which instead add a touch of fierce vigor to its aura.

"I could reach today absolutely not by luck or chance; in my past life I was human, in this life a serpent, born to die and be reborn—how could I possibly halt here because of heavenly tribulation?"

The thunder serpent accompanies its hissing forked tongue, as if questioning heaven and earth!

Ye Qin's serpent body bearing a human soul, human wisdom combined with the innate spirituality of animals, evolved into an unparalleled sudden enlightenment talent, thereby forging a cultivation path uniquely his own.

The thunder serpent weaves through the clouds, gazing down at the great serpent, seemingly feeling provoked, baring fangs and claws as it lunges toward Ye Qin.

"Boom—"

Only a tremendous roar is heard, the earth trembling and mountains shaking; facing the thunder's might, Ye Qin shows no fear, calming his mind and breath, treating it as if unseen, entering a mysterious state.

He returns once more to that chaotic space, formless mist enveloping Ye Qin, golden light seeping through.

Meditative enlightenment!

Meanwhile, the external lightning grows ever more violent, the downpour finally arrives, large raindrops striking his body painfully, pattering as they fall to the mortal realm.

……

Compared to the wind and clouds surging in the capital, Wu Du's Longyuan Mountain side is instead peaceful and tranquil.

Having just experienced a rain, the sky is azure blue as if washed, like a transparent mirror, reflecting the verdant dark peaks below, the beautiful undulating mountain ranges, winding and coiling, resembling a giant dragon in deep slumber.

Within the mountains, spiritual energy is abundant, green trees form shade, like a paradise on earth.

If someone enters here, they will find that all the animals in the mountains do not disturb each other, but instead each maintains a strange posture, sitting cross-legged like humans.

These animals have always followed Ye Qin's instructions before his departure, diligently cultivating, guarding Longyuan Mountain.

The animals currently cultivating, as if sensing something, all open their eyes from meditation, their gazes falling to midair, their beastly pupils showing a hint of worry, scratching ears and cheeks, chirping out calls.

"Squeak—"

Ye Qin cultivates on Longyuan Mountain; the mountain animals are those he raised, long having established a weak connection with him; now they share a mutual understanding and also sense that Ye Qin is in danger.

In the mountain base's temple, the village elder is sincerely offering incense, only to hear a "pa-ta" sound—the previously proper incense and candles actually split in the middle, falling to the ground.

"Oh no, could the Mountain God have met with misfortune?"

The village elder's complexion suddenly changes, for he knows that broken incense and candles are never a good omen; since the temple's establishment, such a thing has never occurred.

Looking at the incense and candles on the ground, the village elder's eyelids twitch violently, an inexplicable feeling of anxiety arises.

He presses his eyelids, feeling somewhat unsettled, his gaze falling on the distant Longyuan Mountain; the mountain remains peaceful, with no abnormality reported.

Moreover, Longyuan Mountain is also tightly guarded by the villagers, making it impossible for outsiders to intrude.

The village elder again patrols the village, everything is calm and still, no suspicious persons; the villagers are busy with their own affairs, though their eyelids also twitch incessantly, their hearts pounding.

"Strange, why do I always feel as if something major is about to happen?"

"Could something have happened on the mountain?"

"Besides, no one has entered the mountain, and from the current situation, everything inside is still fine."

"It couldn't be that the Mountain God has encountered some trouble, could it?"

"Pah! You crow-mouth, the Mountain God is so powerful—how could anything happen to him?"

The villagers ponder endlessly, discussing half a day without reaching a conclusion, then again hear disturbances from the mountain, instantly muttering "not good," and all rush out to investigate.

They see, in Longyuan Mountain, numerous small beasts running out, all turning their heads toward the north, as if they have discovered something?

"North?"

"Could it really be the Mountain God?"

At the same time, Wu Du's Qingguan Temple.

Daoist Qingwei is lecturing the young Daoist on the content of the Dao De Jing, when suddenly a thunderclap explodes.

"Boom—"

Both are startled, instinctively looking left and right.

"Master, is the thunder a sign of rain? Our courtyard still has scriptures drying."

The two hurry outside, only to see the sky clear and bright, azure as if washed, not a single shadow of a cloud to be seen.

The young Daoist unconsciously scratches his head, "Strange, I clearly heard thunder—could I have misheard?"

Gazing at the sky, it indeed does not look like rain; master and disciple just prepare to return indoors, when they again hear thunder erupting from flat ground, yet cannot locate the source.

"How strange!"

Daoist Qingwei recalls the earlier thunder, feeling something is off, though he cannot specify what, only sensing an inexplicable palpitation, as if the entire temple has been locked onto by a powerful force.

Xiguangsi Temple.

In the solemn and reverent temple, low chanting and the sound of the wooden fish intertwine into an ancient melody, drifting above the temple.

The abbot and several other senior monks turn the prayer beads in their hands, reciting sutras with undivided attention.

On the offering table, a yellow talisman and the Heart Sutra are conspicuously placed.

"Rattle—"

However, at this moment, a sudden sound startled everyone; the abbot slowly opened his eyes and saw that a corner of the sutra had been blown by the wind, as if an invisible pair of large hands were constantly flipping through the sutra.

Yet upon looking around, the doors and windows were tightly shut—where was this wind coming from?!

Even that talisman was fluttering, as if it wanted to fly out of this place!

The monks were astonished, but the abbot's insight was extraordinary; he suddenly thought of something, his expression changed instantly, and he softly recited a Buddhist phrase: "Amitabha, a high cultivator may be undergoing an anomaly!"

Whether it was the Qingguan Temple or Xiguangsi, they were both puzzled by the abnormal situation occurring here, yet in the dark there was a faint connection that made them unconsciously turn their gaze toward the northern location...

There, it seemed, was a mysterious presence!

……

North, the capital.

The bustling city was like a slideshow, sometimes flickering then the whole city brightly lit, sometimes plunging the entire city into darkness, with only the sound of heavy rain.

Such thunderstorm weather is rare nationwide, especially this grand scale, which left many residents feeling uneasy.

In a residential area on the Fifth Ring Road, a little girl covered her ears, gazing at the rain-blurred scenery outside the window; her childish voice carried a hint of fear: "Mom, the thunder outside is so scary, the sky is about to be split apart by lightning."

The woman drew the curtains, stroked her head, and said, "It's fine, thunder is a normal phenomenon."

At this moment, the outside scene had turned pitch black; clearly it was daytime, yet every household had lit their lamps, but that little light compared to the gloomy sky seemed too insignificant, as if it might go out at any moment.

The newlywed couple next door also kept complaining; they had originally planned a honeymoon trip, but due to the thunderstorm weather, they could only temporarily give up.

"To encounter such ominous weather right after marriage is truly inauspicious."

The man beside her comforted: "It's fine, anyway just delay it a bit; I think this bad weather won't last too long."

Many people stayed home because of the thunderstorm; some unlucky ones, unable to leave in time, were even trapped in scenic areas.

One such travel blogger was in this situation, though his mindset was fine.

Seeing he couldn't leave for a while, he simply started a live stream; the audience was decent, and many netizens in the live room were joking around.

"Which scumbag is swearing an oath again?"

"This thunderstorm weather is truly rare—could it be that some Dao friend is undergoing tribulation?"

"The weather in Kyoto recently has been really strange."

"I live in the suburbs of Kyoto; the lightning there is too terrifying—I've never seen anything like this since I was young, it feels like the apocalypse is coming."

"You're not being too exaggerated, are you? Although lightning is quite strong, the apocalypse isn't that likely."

"Really, I have pictures as proof, and my area has already lost power—probably due to the lightning's influence; electricity won't be restored anytime soon."

Soon, netizens living near Kyoto's suburbs posted pictures they had taken.

Only then did people realize that, compared to the city's lightning, the suburbs' was practically an upgraded Plus version.

At this moment, all the power lines in Kyoto's suburbs were affected, and such weather makes it difficult for the power grid to send personnel for repairs.

But fortunately, the large-scale blackout was only in the suburbs' vicinity and had not yet reached the urban area.

Originally the sky was dark and oppressive, and with not even a hint of light, many suburban residents felt anxious and fearful, able only to pray in their hearts for the thunderstorm to end quickly.

In the face of nature's power, humans are truly insignificant.

But it seems Heaven did not hear their prayers; the lightning did not stop, instead showing a trend of intensifying.

The government has also issued relevant notices; relevant departments, according to their duties, are doing a good job in lightning and flood prevention emergency rescue work, maintaining a full wartime alert state, and will activate emergency plans when necessary, always putting people's lives and safety first.

The meteorological bureau is constantly monitoring the movement and condition of thunderclouds, and will notify all departments immediately if any abnormality occurs.

For places like hospitals, large generators must be equipped to prevent sudden power outages caused by lightning, and lightning protection and other defensive measures must be properly implemented.

Lightning rages, looking extremely perilous, but based on the current situation, no casualties have occurred so far; however, how things will develop afterward, no one can say for sure.

As the capital and political center, Kyoto has a typical warm-temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate.

Spring temperatures vary greatly, with large daily differences, making it prone to strong winds and sandstorms; summer is hot and rainy, a season when strong winds, heavy rainfall, and other convective weather frequently occur.

Even such thunderstorm weather is rare in summer, but now it is already late autumn, which by rights should be impossible; this abnormal situation inevitably draws the attention of certain special personnel.

A car drove along a small road and soon arrived near the suburbs; only to see a blond, blue-eyed man step out of the vehicle.

The man's name was Oliver; he had a stable job in Kyoto, bright and promising, but in reality he was a spy sent by the West, having lain low in this city for a long time.

Due to his work, any abnormality must be routinely reported; this time, upon noticing the abnormality of this thunderstorm weather, he did not hesitate and quickly reported it to his superiors.

Out of caution, his superiors had reason to suspect whether the cause of this abnormality was a secret weather weapon experiment by Daxia.

The so-called "weather weapon" refers to the use of modern scientific and technological means to artificially create earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy rain, floods, avalanches, extreme heat, mists, and other natural disasters, thereby altering the battlefield environment.

With the rapid development of science and meteorology, the technology of using man-made natural disasters as "geophysical environment" weapons has greatly improved and will undoubtedly play a huge role in future wars.

However, given current human scientific and technological capabilities, such high-tech means do not yet exist; it remains in the research and development stage.

This is also why foreign countries treat it as a major threat—although under normal circumstances, Daxia could not possibly possess such a level of weather weapon, not to mention Daxia, even all of humanity would find it unrealistic.

But just in case, they immediately ordered Oliver to rush over.

At this moment, his gaze fell upon a not-so-distant mountain.

Lightning flashed and danced; the entire mountain peak was within the coverage of the lightning sea, thunder rumbled continuously in the sky, and occasionally purple lightning struck down.

He carried the most advanced lightning protection equipment from M Country; if he acted carefully, there should be no problem.

But this weather is so rare that he had no confidence in his heart; yet with the mission at hand, he had no choice but to press forward.

"Already arrived at the anomaly site."

"Good! Be sure to investigate clearly whether Daxia is conducting weather weapon experiments."

After putting on his lightning protection gear, Oliver cautiously stepped into the forest.

In the distance, mountains lay dark as ink, like a ferocious beast opening its bloody maw wide, slowly swallowing Oliver's figure.

Oliver carefully observed his surroundings; from afar, the skies above the suburban areas were filled with gathering black clouds and flashing lightning, indeed looking frightening.

But upon entering, he found that the lightning striking the mountain peak was not actually heavy.

More accurately, these lightning bolts seemed to possess consciousness, all converging toward one place, with most falling in the southeast direction.

"Logically speaking, lightning strikes should be random; such dense concentration in one spot—could it really be that Daxia is experimenting with weather weapons?"

Oliver had doubts in his heart, so he approached the southeastern area with even greater caution, unknowingly arriving at the region where Ye Qin was undergoing the tribulation.

The moment he stepped in, an unprecedented palpitation surged in his chest, the hairs on his entire body stood on end, every pore frantically warning him—this was humanity's instinctive response to danger.

In the distance, something seemed to exist, just a little shy of being clearly visible.

He stared doubtfully into the distance, barely able to make out a patch of lightning surrounding that unknown thing.

"What on earth is this?"

Oliver gritted his teeth; if he truly discovered a weather weapon, his superiors would surely award him great merit, and thinking of the glory and wealth of his later years, he resolutely stepped forward—yet he did not know this was the most regrettable decision of his life.

Thunder and lightning filled the mountains and forests, and at the very center, where Ye Qin stood, it had become the hardest-hit zone.

Looking at the scene not far away, the Northeastern Tiger crouched in the grass, trembling, panic and fear causing its body to curl into a ball.

Suddenly, it seemed to sense something, its two ears twitching slightly.

Although the Northeastern Tiger was now extremely frightened, its bodily instincts remained, and it quickly detected movement behind it.

Could it be human footsteps?

Someone is approaching here!

As Oliver continued to advance, he finally saw the scene ahead clearly—his pupils contracted sharply, his eyes widened enormously, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

He had thought that mass was some kind of weapon, but upon seeing it clearly, he discovered it was actually a Green Snake!

If that were all, it wouldn't have shocked him so much; most importantly, beside the Green Snake lay a white bone over half a person's height!

Due to the tribulation, the primordial white bone was originally a spiritual-level object, but now it had been illuminated by the lightning!

The white bone sat cross-legged, bathed in lightning, purple arcs and sparks continuously erupting around it, each bone seeming to glow, as if a deity had descended.

On the white bone's palm rested a small, exquisite structure—this seemingly microscopic building remained unharmed under the lightning, filled with mystery.

This scene filled Oliver's eyes, yet it terrified him to the extreme.

Ask yourself: in the deep mountains, merely seeing a Green Snake would already be strange, yet beside it lay such a skeleton.

Oliver couldn't help but rub his eyes, still thinking he was hallucinating.

Probably because the white bone and Green Snake before him were too eye-catching, Oliver overlooked the patch of yellowish shadow in the grass not far away.

Lightning surrounded the white bone and Green Snake, continuously striking the bones and snake body, producing crackling sounds, as if forging some divine artifact.

When lightning discharges, it can generate impact voltages of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of volts; when strong lightning currents of several tens to thousands of amperes pass through a conductor, in an extremely short time they convert into vast amounts of thermal energy.

The heating energy at the lightning strike point is approximately 500–2000 joules, enough to melt steel with a volume of 50–200 cubic millimeters—this is why things struck by lightning become charcoal-like.

The Green Snake kept being struck by lightning; logically, it should have long turned into a dried snake husk, yet it remained astonishingly intact, and the white bone should have long since fallen apart.

Why is this lightning striking the Green Snake? Could it be that the lightning is all being drawn to it? And what is this white bone, after all?

Oliver's mind went blank, even forgetting his original mission.

Om!

The Green Snake seemed to sense his presence as well, slowly opening its eyes.

Emerald-like snake pupils, like an unfathomable dark abyss, radiated supreme majesty, pressing down with displeasure and anger at being disturbed.

In an instant, Oliver felt as if marked by the God of Death; unprecedented fear enveloped his entire body, as if the sky were about to collapse, his legs gave way, and he actually knelt on the ground.

Boom!

Only a tremendous roar was heard, purple lightning like an angry dragon roaring, sweeping toward Ye Qin, with Oliver nearby also caught in the aftermath.

He widened his eyes, veins bulging, gazing at the ravaging lightning dragon in the sky, his face a mix of terror and despair:

"Oh, God—no, don't!"

The lightning dragon's speed was truly too fast, its approach overwhelming, leaving no time to dodge; Oliver's prized advanced lightning protection equipment, at this moment, proved utterly useless.

Purple light instantly engulfed him, thunder rumbled on, drowning out his scream and the 'beep-beep' call from the communicator...

In the blink of an eye, beside Ye Qin lay a corpse charred by lightning, he slowly closed his eyes.

The tribulation had reached its final stage.

From the air came an inexplicable fluctuation, bringing a mysterious ancient aura, stirring up several waves, continuously lingering near the outskirts.

Lightning surrounded the Green Snake, its green scales now tinged with purple electric arcs, appearing both demonic and holy.

Upon closer inspection, these scales seemed to breathe, invisibly inhaling and exhaling lightning, gradually absorbing it.

The Dao is formless, giving birth to heaven and earth; the Dao is emotionless, governing sun and moon; the Dao is nameless, nurturing all things.

Lightning may seem fierce, but this is all an necessary path; without tribulation, Ye Qin's cultivation would be incomplete and he would not receive heaven and earth's recognition.

The way of heaven is like fine threads welcoming floating clouds; if one gazes into the abyss, the abyss can still be measured; welcoming floating clouds, one cannot know their limit.

As lightning continued to strike, the heavenly way seemed to finally grow somewhat weary, the speed of lightning strikes continually slowing, even its power diminishing, as if helpless against Ye Qin.

At this moment, Ye Qin's condition was no better—his flesh and blood churned, skin split and flesh torn, he lay nearly lifeless on the ground, with only half a breath left.

His state was even worse than when he first crossed over; his entire skeleton had been shattered by lightning, the slightest movement causing heart-rending agony.

Compared to his miserable condition, the primordial white bone appeared to be faring much better.

But if one looked closely, one would find that the originally smooth and flawless bone now bore many dense cracks, all caused by the recent heavenly thunder.

In contrast, the Shangqing Temple suffered the least impact, possibly because most of the lightning had been drawn to Ye Qin and the white bone.

Just as the lightning prepared to retreat, the great snake lying motionless on the ground suddenly flicked its tail.

The temple emitted a hazy, mysterious aura, as if time had stirred ripples.

Ye Qin suddenly opened his eyes, releasing all his mental power, wrapping the remaining lightning, and actually blocked its path.

The heavenly will contained in the remaining lightning had already become extremely sparse, leaving only remnants, but their power should not be underestimated.

Ye Qin just performed this operation, guiding these heavenly thunders into his own body; as his mental power permeated, a faint connection formed with the lightning in the dark, absorbing all the power contained within.

The previously fierce and clawing tribulation lightning had now become completely harmless, even docile.

Ye Qin's body had endured the most violent lightning, and was now incomparable to what it once was.

The purple scales on his forehead became increasingly dazzling, and even the lightning power surrounding the white bone grew more substantial.

If it were at the very beginning, Ye Qin daring to so boldly absorb the pressure contained within the Heavenly Tribulation would absolutely cause his body to explode and die.

But now the pressure has almost dissipated, and Ye Qin is about to undergo the tribulation, so naturally he no longer has such concerns.

Even though the power of the tribulation has diminished now, know that this is a tribulation, which can be said to be an unimaginable existence.

Moreover, such tribulations are not common, and adhering to the principle of absolute non-waste, Ye Qin again cleansed his body with thunder, continuously tempering his tendons and bones, raising his bodily hardness to another level.

The muffled rumbling in the sky grew heavier and heavier, yet there was no more lightning; if not for having exhausted his energy, the Heavenly Dao would surely still condense lightning to strike Ye Qin, to vent its hatred.

As the tribulation departed, the waves formed by converging spiritual power surged forth, enveloping Ye Qin entirely—this is Heaven's gift for his passing the tribulation.

The Qi of Heaven and Earth surged in, pouring into Ye Qin's body; the entire serpent felt as if soaked in a hot spring, filled with an indescribable sense of comfort.

The ferocious wounds on his body healed at a visible speed, the newly grown scales more emerald-green and translucent, truly a marvel of nature, indescribable in words.

There was still an itchy sensation on his forehead, as if something wanted to grow, possibly a second horn.

"Could it be that I must truly walk the path of transforming into a dragon?"

The golden core, which originally had cracks during the tribulation, also became fuller and rounder, showing no trace of damage, and within it he felt the power of thunder.

Most importantly, the surface of the golden core now bore several faintly visible purple patterns, mysterious and extraordinary.

Not only the golden core, but the primordial white bone also continuously underwent the baptism of Heaven and Earth's Qi; each bone emitted a jade-like white glow, and the original cracks had all vanished.

The ancient appearance of the Shangqing Observatory, after undergoing baptism, exuded an extraordinary aura; the simple, ancient atmosphere rushed forth, and within it lay a hint of Heavenly Dao's will, allowing it to achieve a sublimation.

For a moment, because Ye Qin successfully passed his tribulation, the Qi of Heaven and Earth gathered here, spiritual energy surging like mist and sea, nearly becoming substantial.

Thin clouds and mist enveloped the mountain peak, containing spiritual energy imperceptible to ordinary people; below, the verdant forest stretched like a sea, deep green and solemn, mist flowing between the mountains, with Ye Qin at the center forming a vortex that continuously spread outward, like a giant white cocoon, occasionally tracing specks of golden light.

"Roar!"

A sound like a faint hiss arose, deafening, shaking the soul.

Many people near the suburbs of the capital heard this commotion, like some creature's cry, yet in memory no animal could match it.

The nearest to this place were the forestry bureau and special police unit resting at the mountain base, and at this moment they also faintly heard this sound.

"How strange, what kind of cry is this?"

"Could it be that besides the Northeastern Tiger, there are other large ferocious beasts on the mountain?"

The people at the mountain base looked at each other, this cry was strange, indeed causing inexplicable fear.

Although the dark clouds had not completely dissipated, there was no more lightning, posing no great threat; after a moment's hesitation, the group decided to continue up the mountain to search.

And in some grass thicket in the mountains, a Northeastern Tiger covered in scars slowly opened its eyes.

Originally muddy beast eyes, now spiritual light flashed, filled with indescribable cunning, as if its spiritual apertures had been opened, it stared unblinking at the direction where Ye Qin was, full of gratitude and reverence.

The Northeastern Tiger had previously mistakenly entered Ye Qin's tribulation zone; though not directly struck by heavenly lightning, it was injured by the lightning's residual might, severely wounded and near death.

But it had fortunate circumstances, unlike Oliver who stayed too close to Ye Qin, leaving only a breath of life, it clung on until now.

Misfortune may hinge on fortune; it seems also a matter of fate.

Now that Ye Qin's tribulation has dispersed, Heaven sent down sweet rain; invisibly, the Northeastern Tiger both passed its tribulation and received a gift, by a twist of fate actually awakening its spiritual wisdom, granting it an unprecedented transformation.

Its wounds were slowly healing, its body overflowing with an extremely warm power; its muddled mind also became much clearer, as if suddenly understanding many things.

It faintly felt that its entire tiger life henceforth would undergo earth-shaking changes……

And all of this came from the 'Great King' not far away.

The Northeastern Tiger slowly rose, gazing toward where Ye Qin was; its beast eyes filled with devotion and respect, hind legs bent, it knelt on the ground, respectfully kowtowing.

At the same time, as the Qi of Heaven and Earth gathered more and more, the feedback of Heaven and Earth's power reached a certain limit; the hazy mist enveloping Ye Qin's body actually lifted him slowly upward, toward the horizon.

At this moment, Ye Qin felt himself as if a mythical creature.

Riding clouds and mist, ascending!

This is an extremely novel experience, never felt before; as Ye Qin's perspective rose, the scene below kept shrinking.

"Is this what flying feels like? It's truly wonderful, I don't know what realm could master the divine ability to fly through heaven and earth..."

Ye Qin controlled the clouds and mist, feeling as if he could truly fly, as if Heaven and Earth were within his grasp; actually, it was merely the Qi of Heaven and Earth supporting his body to float.

The ancients said, dragons summon clouds and bring rain; presumably this means controlling Heaven and Earth's Qi to form rain clouds, which then churn and bring rain?

Ye Qin believed his current actions were merely imitating mythological scenes, no different.

"Finally passed the tribulation, and also saw a vaster Heaven and Earth!"

Ye Qin murmured; this too is a gift after the tribulation, different from passing ordinary tribulations, one could say benefits abound.

Just then, someone approached from not far away—it was the search team re-entering the mountains.

Suddenly hearing a strange voice from afar, yet it rang in their ears; whether these people or Ye Qin, they were stunned.

The forestry bureau and special police below looked at each other, eyes full of suspicion, they had come tracking the tiger's trail.

Now that the thunder had dispersed, they dared to venture in; stepping here they felt inexplicably oppressed, the air seemed to hold an unspeakable sensation, pressing them so they could barely breathe.

However, just at that moment, it seemed a breeze swept past from above, accompanied by a low, solemn human voice.

But that voice was too fleeting, a flash and gone, they could not tell from which direction it came.

"Did you hear any sound just now?"

"It sounded like someone speaking? Saying they passed the tribulation successfully?"

"Didn't hear clearly, seemed far off, but seemed to mean that..."

"Is someone playing a prank?"

The forestry bureau and special police looked around; besides themselves, there was no one else nearby.

For a moment, everyone's expression was as if they had seen a ghost, suspecting they had just experienced auditory hallucinations, yet everyone had heard it.

Ye Qin looked down at the crowd; as he kept rising, those people seemed like tiny ants, soon turning into black dots, vanishing from his sight.

"Could it be that I can now speak?"

Unlike the earlier hissing sound, this time it was a real human voice.

Ye Qin was overjoyed; this tribulation could be said to have given him a qualitative leap—not only did his strength increase, he experienced the sensation of flying, and even gained the ability to speak in human language!

Although the Heavenly Tribulation had dissipated at this moment, the sky was shrouded in a hazy mist and had not cleared completely.

Layer upon layer of mountains stretched endlessly, yet the distant peaks retained only faint outlines, with the fog on the summits growing denser, brewing new mystery.

At the same time, nearby civilians, seeing the lightning cease, streamed out of their homes to stand at doorways or roadside, gazing into the distance.

Yet they discovered the distant mountains shrouded in thick fog, a sudden haze blanketing all the peaks, leaving only rough outlines, filled with an ineffable mystery.

"What was that screaming earlier? It sounded terrifying."

"I don't know why, but I suddenly feel extremely anxious, as if something major is about to happen."

"That noise must have come from the mountains in the suburbs—probably a fierce beast like a tiger. Didn't they issue a notice earlier, sealing off the mountains, saying a Siberian tiger had escaped from the zoo?"

"But it doesn't sound like a tiger's roar."

The residents who had come out of their houses chattered anxiously, all puzzled about the origin of the initial strange cry, when suddenly someone let out a startled shout, drawing everyone's attention.

"Hey, look up!"

(End of Chapter)