novelraw Chapter 818 - 817 - Physique Tribulation
Chapter 818 - 817 - Physique Tribulation
Lind was shocked to learn that weaving had more flexibility than he had ever believed possible. He also learned he could not replicate what the xiezhi could do at all. It was fascinating but it was a very busy month at the wrecked place.
The little aether child let the xiezhi near her but only as beasts. The wolf too finally got close but she let no one humanoid near her.
He had learned that before the Cataclysm, there were only a few places that still manifested aether children and beasts, usually with very thin Qi.
Elementals were far more numerous but hunted just as much as other races by humans and Fiends.
It made Lind feel ambiguous about the Cataclysm a bit, but only by a bit.
Gel's condition was complicated on several levels. She had been studying all he had on himself from Kal's training and progress but it was all moot in a sense because she was already at the Sky Realm.
The Honor Master, the oldest xiezhi of the Shadowflame Clan, did not know what was going to happen when the Pledge Blood was removed. It could be done as if the recipient became unjust, it would leave on its own.
It made him realize Gel had walked a razor's edge all of her life more than he had realized.
She has been so diligent per the training of her family. If she did true injustice, she would lose the protection that had been given to her. Cruelty did not require injustice.
"What has happened to those that break the Pledge without knowing?" Lind's question burned in him. Gel had been a baby and had no idea exactly how her physique was being suppressed. Ignorance made it less likely for the secret to be discovered after all.
"I do not have an explicit example for our clan, but I know Star Clan would invoke a punishment that burned out the cultivation of violators. However, they usually were called to arbitrate whereas this one was to pay back a debt." The Honor Master still sat as the other 3 Heaven Realms prepared the ritual to lift their blood from Gel.
"So she would simply no longer be suppressed?" The old man nodded. Lind looked at the children sitting around him. They rarely spoke but did not seem to be unhappy.
"What will happen to them?" The Honor Master smiled at his question.
"They were offered to us but we take care of them. Now that the Starbreaker Empire is gone, they are free to cultivate as they wish." Lind nodded at that but felt it oddly cruel that before they were not allowed to cultivate. His displeasure must have been apparent.
"It is better than being left to die in the empire. Resources are not infinite, thus raising Demon Soul Realm children is the best course. They will only live a century or so, but it is better than the horrific struggle of trying to only live for a thousand years at my realm." Lind's eyes narrowed at that.
Only a thousand years? A Heaven Realm?
His eyes glowed and the frown deepened. While his harmony had repaired the body, it had not added to his vitality. The imperfect foundations consumed far more potential and vitality that he was used to.
It made him consider something.
"Gel, how long is a Nightfall Realm supposed to live?" She seemed surprised by his question.
"If they are lucky, maybe 800 years." Her foundation was far better as all the demons were but it seemed he had overlooked something. Those lifespans were far too short! A Sky Realm cultivator should have 2000 years or maybe a bit more.
A Heaven Realm should enjoy close to 5000!
He pushed it aside as the other xiezhi signaled they were ready.
"Now, young lady, the triangle at the heart of the formation is where you need to lay down. It will hurt, not terribly so, but once the Pledge is lifted, your physique will definitely assert itself. Lord Frey will have to take it from there." Gel looked nervous as the old man spoke, but she understood better what Lind was doing.
So long as she restricted a part of herself, even with her rebuilt cultivation, she would never be able to become an Immortal if she ever got the chance to. The physique requirements could not be suppressed like the rest of it.
An Immortal must comprehend all of themselves to truly ascend.
Hope had bloomed in her heart and she wanted to try.
"Master Frey, even if this fails, I accept it. I want to see what I can become." He nodded at her words and walked with her to the center.
The pattern carved into the dirt and stone was interesting but unlike anything Annabelle had ever shown him, it felt dangerous. It was like he was looking at something secret to how the world really worked.
It felt similar to when he grasped Celestial Qi in the Repository. There was something fundamental about it that he was not ready for or perhaps was never meant to know.
"Gel, I am not sure all I can do for you, but I will not let you face it alone." She smiled up at him, the first he had really seen outside of playing with Hope before.
She laid down and closed her eyes. He turned and went back to the Honor Master, who was now standing at the edge of the massive circle. Lind noted the other 3 were at equal positions around the circle as well.
The Sky Realms that came with them were arranged around the 4 of them like support personnel.
The demon children remained by the stone chairs he had created.
"Once we begin, it will not stop until all the Pledge Blood is gone. No matter what happens, do not interfere until the glow of the array fades." Lind nodded.
He was stunned when each of the 4 cut their hands. The blood was darker than he expected but definitely still red. He wondered why that was, but the array lit up in crimson light.
Gel became uncomfortable immediately but Lind was distracted from that as his head shot up. The instant they began, he felt a twinge from above.
It was weak, but building power. It felt both odd and familiar at the same time. His face scrunched up as he tried to identify it but then black clouds began to gather!
Tribulation! It was a tribulation but not any he had ever encountered before.
He also felt a direct pressure on his own senses. A warning not to interfere.
A crimson cloud began to condense above Gel as she twisted her body in more discomfort but did not leave the border of the triangle. Finally, the cloud became solid and glowed with sigils in a complicated pattern connected to her.
"Release!" The old man's voice was far more profound at that moment and the thin traces broke, dispersing the blood with it. It was only at that moment they all felt the tribulation building above.
Before anyone could react, Lind used his Qi to snatch all the xiezhi to his side. Not an instant later, a strange bolt of crimson lightning struck Gel!
It was not like normal tribulation lightning. Lind did not equate that weak bolt to the same crimson bolt other Immortals faced. Besides, she was only a tier 4 Sky Realm.
Only death would come from such a massive step, yet it continued.
Her screams were apparent but she was now standing! Her robes were broken by new appendages he recognized. The wings, horns, tail, and nearly impossibly long limbs revealed the Akashic Bloodline Physique in full.
The pressure increased from above and Lind finally grasped it.
"Heaven is testing her physique by tribulation!" The Honor Master and others were in shock. None had ever heard of such a thing but Lind understood. "Sky Realm. She became a Sky realm without facing that part of her tribulations! It is coming now!"
He wondered at the differences but it was all a guess. He had faced similar tribulations at the Gold and Diamond Tier for his professions as they were a part of him followed by similar ones at the Sky Realm.
His own 6 elemental tribulations and progenitor tribulations were faced at each level as well. Gel had missed it all as part of the Pledge.
He had never considered that!
The power built as a 5th crimson bolt came smashing down but he noticed there were traces of black in it.
The aura on Gel was also getting chaotic.
She was losing herself to the powerful instincts of the physique. Scales covered Lind's body before he shot forward. Heaven became angered but no trace of Laws nor Qi left his body. He just needed to hedge his bets with armor.
Gel's eyes held no reason but a wicked smile spread as her newly clawed hands swung out. The xiezhie watch on in horror as she easily sliced up Lind's skin! How could a Sky Realm have such power?!
Now, 2 figures danced in the tribulation lightning that became terrifying with each successive bolt.
Eight bolts had fallen and Lind was covered in blood and rags but he never stopped. Gel was laughing in joy as she fought. She actually seemed more alive than ever before.
"Having fun are we? Well, you should know I learned from some of the most tricky fighters alive!" Lind went in to throw a fist but when Gel tried to block he instead caught the 9th bolt and channeled it through his body into her!
They were connected as his fist slammed into her with the full power of the tribulation and his own body!
Blood flew from his body but he did not fall! Gel screamed in pain unlike any time before, but clarity came back to her eyes.
The tribulation rumbled but then slowly dispersed. Gel had reverted to her previous form, yet she felt far more powerful than before. She was also nearly nude thanks to the tribulation, her transformation, and finally the battle with Lind.
She showed no shame as she stood before the clearly exhausted Lind.
"How do you feel?" She looked at him and a gentle smile crossed her face.
"Free! I feel so much better." It was as if a spell broke as she took in both their conditions and she finally blushed. He smiled before collapsing!
Lind's last vision was of Gel rushing to catch him before blackness closed in. Due to that, me hissed the golden bolt of lightning that flashed before a small young girl caught him and was gently patting his head.
The aether child had come out!