The tranquil ambiance of the Long estate was broken only by the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind. outside the ancestral shrine hall, the family of three sat cross-legged, their eyes closed as they meditated.
Aiden sat at the center, exuding a calm yet commanding aura. To his right was his father, and to his left, was his younger sister. The family had embraced the Divine Dragon Sutra feeling like they had discovered a part of their existence that they did not even know they were missing. The waste accumulated in their bodies was slowly pushed out as sweat. The Dragon dew pill was useful to them but useless to Aiden who had experienced the painful baptism that reformed and fully purified his body.
Aiden silently meditated but still felt the bloodline connection as the dormant blood in his father and sister slowly activated he could not help thinking that his experience would have been better if he had the dragon dew pill.
Suddenly, the sky outside darkened, as if an ominous force was blotting out the sun. Clouds churned, thick and black, swirling with a power that made the air heavy. The temperature dropped sharply, and a crackle of energy rippled through the atmosphere.
Drake's eyes snapped open, his body tensing. "What is this?"
Aiden remained unmoving, his voice steady as he replied, "A tribulation. I've reached a critical stage in my breakthrough."
Alysa looked at him with wide eyes. "Are we in danger?"
The faintest smile touched Aiden's lips. "Not if you trust me. Use the lightning. Let it temper your body. The Divine Dragon Sutra will guide you."
Before they could respond, a deafening crack of thunder echoed across the sky. A brilliant flash of lightning struck down, shattering the air with force. It didn't aim for the earth—it sought them.
Drake and Alysa instinctively flinched, but Aiden remained unshaken. The lightning struck him directly, its energy exploding outward in a shockwave. The force enveloped the entire area, both Drake and Alysa were caught within its range.
"Focus!" Aiden spoke softly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Channel it through your body, purify your meridians. Don't resist it. Absorb it."
Drake gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his forehead as he fought to control the overwhelming surge of energy coursing through him. Beside him, Alysa clenched her fists, her determination shining despite the pain, they concentrated on the divine dragon sutra finally taming the rampaging energy
Meanwhile, Aiden faced the tribulation head-on. Each bolt of lightning struck his body, ensuring his family did not bear more than they could handle. His body, reformed in the mysterious pond, absorbed the divine energy like a whale out of the water, his very essence resonating with the power of the heavens.
The storm intensified, the lightning growing more furious. But Aiden stood tall, his voice calm as he continued to guide his family. "Feel the energy. Let it purify your bodies. This is an opportunity, not a threat."
Minutes felt like hours as the tribulation raged on. When the final bolt of lightning struck, a blinding column of light illuminated the entire estate. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the storm subsided.
The sky cleared, the oppressive weight lifted, and silence returned.
Drake opened his eyes first, his breath ragged but his expression triumphant. "I… I feel incredible," he said, his voice filled with awe.
Alysa followed, her eyes sparkling with newfound vitality. "It's like my body is lighter, stronger… everything feels different!"
Aiden exhaled slowly, his aura more powerful than ever. He looked at his father and sister, a rare softness in his gaze. "You've both grown stronger. The tribulation has tempered you, just as it was meant to."
As the family shared a moment of quiet celebration, a deep rumble shook the earth.
Alysa gasped. "What was that?"
The tremors grew stronger, and the entire estate seemed to sway. In the distance, mountains trembled, and trees swayed violently.
"It's not just here," Aiden said, his voice grim. "This is happening everywhere."
Drake's expression turned serious. "Everywhere?"
Aiden nodded. "The resurgence of spiritual energy… the tribulation wasn't just about me."
"Spiritual energy!" Drake exclaimed "A hundred years ago the same thing happened"
The world was about to experience changes again, a century ago the world experienced the resurgence of spiritual energy and caused wars as people competed for the resources that came with it. the scale this time was larger and one could not help but wonder how things would play out
Far to the north, the strongest earthquake yet erupted, sending shockwaves through the Arctic ice. The North Pole seemed to stir as if awakening from a long slumber.
And deep within the earth, streams of spiritual energy rose as the polar ice cracked. As the concentration of spiritual energy increased diverse spiritual plants began to grow and beasts began to mutate as their ancient bloodlines were awakened.