Chapter 394: Exaggerated Tribulation

The sudden roar of thunder startled Ji Yuan, who had been immersed in the artistic conception of Dao. He abruptly looked up at the sky, knowing immediately what was happening without needing to perform any calculations.

"A lightning tribulation? How could this be..."

Ji Yuan stopped mid-sentence as a realization dawned on him. He looked down at the scroll of "Heaven and Earth Creation" on the desk, its ink still wet.

"Did the completion of this book really attract a lightning tribulation?"

Around him, dark winds gusted, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Ominous clouds gathered rapidly in the sky, transforming a clear day into a heavily overcast one in a short time.

'This is bad, I can't stay at Daliang Temple!'

From being startled awake by the thunder to realizing the gravity of the situation, only a breath or two had passed.

Although Daliang Temple had many eminent monks, most were ordinary mortals. Even the so-called eminent ones did not possess particularly high levels of cultivation or spiritual power. Ji Yuan knew there was no time to hesitate. He made a swift decision, ascending on the wind and clouds, and then, channeling all his spiritual energy, transformed into a streak of light and departed.

Most of the monks at Daliang Temple were in a state of panic. Many rushed out of their dwellings to look at the sky, witnessing the dense clouds, lightning, and thunder.

The abbot of Daliang Temple and several elder monks emerged from the monastic hall, shouting at the startled monks around them.

"Don't panic, don't panic! All monks of Daliang Temple, cease your clamor!"

"Monks of this temple, return to the monastic hall and the Buddha's hall to shelter from the rain. Recite the Sutra of the Immovable Wisdom King! We practice the Dharma in quiet meditation; the lightning tribulation will not befall us!"

Under the stern admonitions and calming words of the elder monks, some of the less composed monks finally settled down.

"CRACK... BOOM..."

"Ah..."

The thunder came too suddenly. Princess Chu Ruyan cried out in alarm, instinctively clinging to the female official beside her. The official and Monk Huitong also flinched at the sound, then instinctively looked up at the sky.

They saw dark clouds swirling like a vortex, gathering and spinning in the sky, with lightning flickering within them.

"Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh..."

A fierce gale swept through, nearly flattening the flowers and plants in the temple courtyard. Many people struggled to stand upright.

"A lightning tribulation! How can there be a lightning tribulation!?"

Monk Huitong cried out in shock, while the Princess could only stand steadily by leaning on the female official.

"Master Huitong, what exactly is happening?" Her words were swallowed by the strong winds. Huitong heard them, but before he could respond, he saw a white light ascend from the forbidden area of the temple, faintly revealing a figure flying upon the clouds.

Many of the monks at Daliang Temple, along with Chu Ruyan and the female official, saw the white light rise and vanish. It was at this moment, as the light ascended, that Ji Yuan's calm voice, though strained, reached the temple.

"Monks of Daliang Temple, do not be afraid. This lightning tribulation is directed at me, Ji Yuan. Once I leave, it will not affect Daliang Temple..."

The voice was calm yet vast, echoing through the entire Daliang Temple, its reverberations overpowering the sound of the thunder.

"That person is flying! Is that Sir Ji? Sir Ji can fly!?"

The female official watched in astonishment as the white light, carrying the figure on the clouds, sped away. In just an instant, the light had flashed across the temple sky and vanished, becoming a tiny speck before disappearing entirely.

Although the dark clouds above Daliang Temple had not dispersed, the swirling, gathering sensation was gone. Only a blanket of ordinary dark clouds remained, accompanied by an occasional rumble of thunder. The fierce winds had also significantly subsided, making it seem at most like a brief thundershower.

Only then did the atmosphere of panic within Daliang Temple begin to subside.

"BOOM..."

The thunder still rumbled, but it no longer carried the terrifying power that had caused such widespread alarm.

"Your Royal Highness, quickly follow this humble monk into the monastic hall. A heavy rain is about to fall!"

"Uh, yes, alright!"

"Master Huitong, that voice just now was Sir Ji's, wasn't it? Did he just transform into a streak of light and fly away?" the female official asked again, her voice slightly excited. She had heard Monk Huitong speak eloquently about deities, Buddhas, immortals, and saints before, but none of it had impacted her as much as Ji Yuan's flight.

"It was indeed Sir Ji. He flew away on the clouds, guiding the light of his magic. He clearly didn't want to bring trouble to Daliang Temple, but this lightning tribulation... Amitabha, may our Buddha protect him, uh..."

Monk Huitong suddenly trailed off. Sir Ji himself was an immortal who could sit and discuss the Dao with the Immovable Wisdom King of Buddhism. For Buddhist teachings to protect *him*...

'With Sir Ji's cultivation, the lightning tribulation shouldn't be able to harm him. But why would it even be drawn to him? Sir Ji is flawless and pure, how could...'

Monk Huitong suddenly looked towards the large tree in the distant forbidden area. Perhaps it wasn't Sir Ji himself who had attracted the tribulation!

"Master, what is a lightning tribulation?"

"Master Huitong, will Sir Ji be alright?"

"Master, can I learn to fly and teleport? Could you please introduce me to Sir Ji?"

The two women continuously peppered Huitong with questions.

"Amitabha, ladies, let's quickly go to the monastic hall to shelter from the rain. I will answer all your questions then!"

At this very moment, Ji Yuan's escape speed had reached its limit. Wherever he flew, dark clouds would gather overhead, as if following him—or rather, following the scroll in his hand.

With his spiritual eyes fully open, Ji Yuan scanned the vast land, avoiding areas with dense human activity. However, the lightning tribulation had come too swiftly, leaving him little time. He could only fly with all his might, going as far as possible.

Finally, Ji Yuan stopped above a rather desolate ridge in a large mountain range. Almost immediately after he halted, the dark clouds in that part of the sky rapidly expanded, countless lightning bolts coiling within them. The clouds continued to stretch, causing the sky to darken progressively.

A dozen breaths later, the surroundings were as dark as if night had just fallen.

"BOOM..."

A bolt of lightning struck a mountain peak, splitting a large tree upon it. The thick, flashing lightning illuminated the dark mountainside.

Ji Yuan landed on the mountain ridge and looked up at the sky. A massive vortex of dark clouds, filled with lightning, seemed to be pressing down relentlessly.

To be honest, even the current Ji Yuan felt a tremor of apprehension at this sight. However, simply abandoning "Heaven and Earth Creation" and fleeing was absolutely out of the question.

After deducing it, Ji Yuan hadn't even had a chance to read through the entire text coherently himself. If it were to be destroyed now, it would also destroy a part of his spiritual state, and there was no telling when he might be able to deduce it again.

'It's just a lightning tribulation, bring it on!'

But he couldn't and dared not put the scroll into his sleeve now, or else the lightning would truly strike him directly.

"CRACKLE... ZAP-BOOM..."

Before Ji Yuan's thoughts had even finished, the first bolt of lightning impatiently descended from the sky, bathing the entire mountain range in a stark, pale light.

"BOOM..."

"ZZZZZZZZAP... ZZZZZZAP..."

Ji Yuan pointed a single sword-finger towards the sky, lightning scattering all around him. Above him, a pair of large, reddish hands with palms facing upwards blocked the sky above Ji Yuan—it was the Golden Armored Warrior he had summoned in an instant.

"CRACKLE... SMASH... BOOM..."

The scattered lightning swept across the barren mountain ridge. Boulders exploded, withered trees were flung into the air, and scorch marks were left all over the ground.

All the electric currents seemed to be deflected around Ji Yuan's body as if encountering a thin film. The entire Golden Armored Warrior was entwined with lightning, and yellow earth spirits continuously gathered from beneath its feet to resist the thunder. Ji Yuan's spiritual energy flowed uninterruptedly, ensuring the warrior didn't run out of power.

This lightning was not fleeting; it poured down with divine might like a long river, and Ji Yuan gritted his teeth, holding on. It wasn't that he was finding it extremely difficult, but rather he was nervous.

Finally, that bolt of lightning passed. Those four or five breaths felt as long as four or five hours. Apart from the ground directly beneath Ji Yuan and the Golden Armored Warrior, most other areas had been scorched black.

"Hoo..."

Ji Yuan let out a slight breath of relief. He looked at the Golden Armored Warrior; the lightning still clung to its form, and wisps of smoke were beginning to rise from its spiritual body, clearly indicating it was nearing its limit.

Left with no choice, Ji Yuan waved his hand, recalling the Golden Armored Warrior. Even after it transformed back into a yellow paper figure, lightning still coiled around it, and Ji Yuan felt a stinging numbness when holding it.

Ji Yuan was well aware of the Golden Armored Warrior's physical prowess; if even the warrior couldn't withstand it, then although he wasn't sure how strong his own body was, he had no desire to test it.

But Ji Yuan didn't have time to ponder further.

"CRACK... BOOM..."

Another bolt of lightning struck. This time, a faint purple hue appeared within the electric light, descending with the force of a piercing spear of thunder, illuminating everything around it in that instant.

After another four or five breaths, this lightning bolt finally ceased. This time, Ji Yuan had summoned two Golden Armored Warriors, but both were shattered by the lightning. He himself experienced a jolt of electricity from the last vestiges of the thunder's power, and even his eyes stung.

"Hoo... hoo..."

Ji Yuan panted slightly to relieve the immense pressure. His spiritual energy consumption was still manageable, but the psychological burden was overwhelmingly heavy.

His gaze was fixed on the sky. The lightning above was accumulating at an astonishing speed; this time, it displayed a golden-purple glow, with streaks of lightning continuously converging towards the core of the clouds...

"By decree: Banish evil and bind demons!"

Ji Yuan roared, finally unleashing his ultimate weapon against the thunder. As the decree descended and the profound yellow energy coiled around it, a lightning incantation shot out from Ji Yuan's wide sleeve and soared directly towards the heavens.

A massive lightning spell manifested in the sky. At that very moment, the thunder struck again.

"CRACK... BOOM..."

WHOOSH...

The lightning descended like a celestial waterfall, continuously pouring onto the lightning incantation. The spell's light instantly turned purple and gold, and with each flicker, the runes became more dazzling and expanded steadily.

This isn't good, the lightning incantation is about to give out!

How many more breaths can it last? Two? Three?

Ji Yuan's heart bled. This lightning incantation was a treasure to him now, and if it were destroyed, he would be heartbroken. But no matter how much it pained him, he had to endure, otherwise he wouldn't survive this lightning tribulation!

Ji Yuan was certain that this tribulation wouldn't have too many bolts—at most, three, but they would be incredibly powerful. Otherwise, with this exaggerated increase in might, if there were six or seven, he would have no choice but to flee.

Finally, even with the profound yellow energy supporting it, the light of the lightning incantation itself reached a blinding intensity, signaling its imminent collapse. At this moment, three and a half breaths had passed.

With a thought, Ji Yuan instantly waved his sleeve, recalling the lightning incantation, whose runes already showed cracks. At the same moment, he gripped the hilt of the Green Vine Sword. On the scabbard, among the characters "Spiritual Vine Hides Boundless Sharpness," the light from the character "Hides" completely merged into the character "Sharpness."

"Don't underestimate me!"

Ji Yuan roared at the sky and drew his sword!

"ZING————"

The divine sword's power fully bloomed, its light shining as brightly as the lightning. The surroundings were illuminated to a blinding white, making it impossible to see anything else, or even one's own hand.

At that moment, the sword qi and light, with an unparalleled might, cut a crescent arc, splitting the pouring lightning in two. It then slashed upwards to the highest heavens, cleaving the tumultuous thunderclouds above as well.

"ZZZZZZZZAP... ZZZZZZAP..."

Even though the lightning had been cleaved, an endless torrent of it still flowed down the sword's hilt.

"Hmff..."

Ji Yuan groaned, enduring the pain. He clutched "Heaven and Earth Creation" tightly, continuously channeling spiritual energy to protect it. The boundless power of the lightning intentionally surged into Ji Yuan's left hand, intertwining with the magical light on the scroll.