God Of Immortals

Chapter 49: A Path To Zhuji [IX]

Raging cloud started to gather overhead and spiralled with thundering sounds. There would be five elemental strikes of the heavenly tribulations at the Zhuji stage. The first four elemental strikes would be each of the four nature's basic elements. Fire, water, air and terra. The fifth one was the combination of all these four elements and lightning.

The cloud started to gather in strength.

Throughout the sect premises, the gathering cloud could be seen. Cultivators started to gather to observe. Disciples gathered together in groups. Masters observed from their hills. Even the eyes of the grandmaster observed. The only exceptions were the grand patriarch and the ancestor who were meditating in seclusion.

"Heavenly tribulations."

"At the bamboo forest?"

"Is it a disciple?"

"A disciple? At the bamboo forest? I don't think so."

"A disciple would have used the Heavenly Cliff Fall."

"Maybe an elder."

"Mhm, must be an elder."

"Can't be an elder. Elders use the God-Shield valley."

The disciples were speculating as they gathered and continued watching from afar. Some of the masters also gathered near the bamboo area to observe.

The raging cloud reached its crescendo and a pillar of fire in the form of a giant spear descended from it, striking Jufeng's orb of soul. The more powerful a soul was, the more powerful the elemental strikes. From womb till then, Jufeng's soul had been acquiring so much energy that his soul had formed a massive condensing orb of liquid light. After the fire struck his soul, the highly searing and burning flame spread around his soul making him scream in complete agony before it slowly dissipated.

The second element, water, struck him with great force, enveloping his soul in a mighty grip. Unable to breath, he felt his soul neared the combustion point before the element slowly disappeared. It was followed by the third, air, and the fourth, terra. After the fourth, the raging cloud started gathering strength for the last time, the cloud was booming with thunderous sounds before it released a lightning that combined all the previous four elements. The shockwave from the lightning made his mortal body collapsed while his soul continued to battle the all encompassing lightning in his dantian.

"Five elemental strikes?" 

"At the bamboo forest?" 

"A Ningchi cultivator?" 

"One who just became a full premier."

"Had to be one of the new outer disciples."

"Surely a new disciple."

"That was strange."

"I wonder whose disciple that could be."

"It's a pity we couldn't see through the walls of heavenly tribulations."

"We'll find out soon enough."

The cloud cleared after the last lightning and the nimbus descended on Jufeng's body after his soul had successfully passed the heavenly tribulations. The nimbus entered his soul making it transformed into a true premier soul. The Zhuji stage. Even his aura had become manifested.

Regaining a little of himself, he was full of unctrollable joy as he lay exhausted on the floor. He never knew the trial would be that powerful. According to the words of his mother and grandparents, the Zhuji tribulations was supposed to be minor. The one he just experienced wasn't minor at all, but thankfully, he had survived it. Nevertheless, he thanked everybody he knows, everybody in his life, for seeing him through.

Slowly, Ju Feng stood up and stared in the direction of the hillocks. He knew the whole sect would have noticed his heavenly tribulations, and the elders could be watching too. Thus, he decided not to use the swift spine technique, but the flash steps when he was leaving the forest. As he was using the flash steps to return to his hillock, he saw the elders who had come to checkbthe happenings, and stopped.

"Hey you! Are you the one that attracted the tribulations?" 

Asked one of the elders.

"Yes elders, I'm the one." 

Jufeng replied, bowing very low.

"Heavens tears! Why did you use the forest instead of the Cliff Falls?"

"Even if you don't care about your own survival, what about other's safety?"

"As heavenly tribulations are deadly to the cultivator who incited it, so also are they dangerous to to any other cultivators caught in its surroundings." 

"Forgive me elderly masters, I only used the place that came into my mind. Please forgive me."

"Hm."

"Are you a new inner disciple?"

"Yes elders, I was accepted from the outer section today, sir."

"And you've already undergone the tribulations the same day?" 

"How can that even be?"

Elder Zhou Lin, who had been watching from the side with great pride, cleared his throat and looked at the other elders. He had said it before that house of lightning wasn't inferior to any other house. His new disciple just proved lightning had its own days.

"Fellow elders, this is my new disciple, Ju Feng."

"Ah, I remembered him now."

"Yes, me too. Truly impressive of him."

"It looks as if you have yourself a new genius, Zhou Lin."

"Indeed, Zhou Lin. I can't wait to see how he measures against other geniuses too."

"Fellow elders, I believe we are done here. Zhou Lin, we'll take our leave now."

"Enjoy yourself, young Ju Feng. We hope we'll be seeing you in good health later."

The elders departed and left Zhou Lin alone with his disciple. Slowly, the two of them walked back towards the hill range. Zhou Lin looked at his new disciple and nodded in satisfaction.

"You've had a long day Ju Feng. Go and have a rest. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Yes, master."

Finding himself alone, Jufeng sighed and used the flash steps to arrive at his cave. The extent of his exhaustion was now kicking in. He quickly ate some turtle meat before collapsing on the bamboo bed. He needed to rest properly for the following day. He would be meeting the rest of the lightning disciples. Definitely, it was going to be a long day.

He closed his eyes in sleep and began to dream.