The Dawn of the New World

By being a vessel for the World Spirit Sokol was able to understand many things that other people might have a hard time coming to terms with. Things that were not meant to be understood by ordinary people, like the Heavenly Tribulation.

In essence, Heavenly Tribulation was both a test and a punishment from the heavens for breaking the chains of mortality and taking the first real step into the world of cultivation.

One could only hope to 'endure' its terrible power by betting their own life against it. It was a sacred bond between man and heavenly will that must never be sullied by any other.

And the heavenly thunder that fell from the firmament was the culmination of all that a cultivator had achieved in their life and only by pushing themselves past their limits would one have a chance to survive.

Yes, "survival" was the best-case scenario and Sokol knew that better than most.

So his state of utter befuddlement was more than understandable when he saw Hao Xuan holding back the bolt of lightning that should have undoubtedly taken his life.

He wasn't submissively bearing with it but actively contesting against it, contesting against the very Will of the Heavens.

But it was by no means an easy task.

Hao Xuan's entire right arm had been charred black leaving burn marks that were slowly stretching across the rest of his body. His eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets as he tried his best to pull the lightning away.

It was the single most burdensome thing he had ever tried to lift. The force behind that lighting bolt was not something he could hope to explain and simply holding it in place was the most he could do.

At that last moment he had moved instinctively without even realizing what he was doing and by the time he came to it was already too late. The net had been cast.

Baleful thunder echoed overhead somehow sounding more enraged than ever before. Hao Xuan felt the force behind the lighting double as it tore open most of his flesh and evaporated every drop of blood before it could even reach the ground.

He could feel his entire skeleton creak under the ever-increasing pressure. It felt like the sky itself was trying to smother him into nothingness.

At wit's end, Hao Xuan could not even think properly leaving him no other option but to go with the most simple and brutal option he could think of. Using every iota of remaining strength he yanked the lighting and threw it to the side.

"AAARGH!"

The lighting shot forward with much the same terrifying speed and power rending everything in its path to shreds before finally colliding with the only object left, the black pearl.

It came into contact with the pearl but surprisingly nothing happened right off the bat as it completely disappeared inside the glossy surface. But a moment later spider cracks began appearing all along the sides until they completely shattered into countless pieces each of which exploded separately.

*KA-*

Tens of thousands of small shards exploding simultaneously created an overwhelming sound wave that was unlike anything Hao Xuan had heard before. A circular wave of unrelenting force was created from the point of impact that began expanding outwards.

At the same time the sky roared with thunderous peals as the next lightning bolt began to fall down.

*RUUUUMBLE*

But Hao Xuan was now fully spent. He had no energy left be it spiritual or physical to contest against either of them so all he could manage to do in that final moment was turn around and embrace Sokol before they hit so at the very least he would be protected from the initial impact.

But just as he was about to close his eyes he noticed something in the distance. Two figures standing at the edge of the pit surrounded by wisps of white and golden light.

The light brightened for an instant before completely disappearing along with his first Mind Palace that was trying to come into being.

And then just as quickly he heard a loud buzzing sound as the same figures appeared around him while chanting some magical spells and throwing out strange talismans.

The talismans activated to create a perfect four-meter square of blinding light covering all of them from every direction.

All of this happened within the blink of an eye before even the shockwave created by the black pearl reached them.

*-BOOOOOOOOOM*

Since the Mind Palace had been sealed the heavenly tribulation came to an abrupt end but there was nothing stopping the force from the exploding pearl which was far more frightening than what any of them could have expected.

It looked like a small nuclear bomb had gone off as everything within five miles was immediately evaporated. The square created from the talisman held up initially but began to crack soon after, requiring both Han Rong and Zou Huan to pour every last drop of spiritual energy into it.