Twin Tribulations

The bifeng wind lingered without abating. The dense wall of wind almost completely smothered the radiance of the spirit array. Just as Qin Sang was caught in doubtful suspense, Bai hurried over from another direction, his eyes grim as he pointed at the sky. "Something is wrong with the heavenly tribulation." Li Yufu also flew over in panic. "Martial Uncle, why hasn't Great-Grandmaster overcome the bifeng wind tribulation yet?" Following the direction Bai pointed, they turned their gazes to the center of the dark clouds overhead. Thunder was densely packed within the dark clouds, where countless arcs of lightning flickered, each as thick as a man's arm. The lightning transformed the dark clouds into a thundercloud, which was rapidly morphing into a tribulation cloud! Tribulation lightning was part of a heavenly tribulation, completely different from ordinary lightning, which was why cultivators feared it so deeply. Arcs of electricity converged, and the thundercloud swelled. Gradually, azure arcs of lightning began to appear within the thundercloud. At first, they were as thin as needle and thread, utterly inconspicuous. But soon, even the thick bolts of lightning transformed into azure. "Azure tribulation lightning!" Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly. When immortal cultivators underwent a tribulation, the lightning of the heavenly thunder tribulation was azure! Gazing at the azure tribulation lightning from afar, Qin Sang immediately felt his heart palpitate. Sensing the terrifying aura of destruction and a trace of the might of the Heavenly Dao, chills crept through his heart. In practicing the Thunder Command Art, he had lost count of how many times he had been struck by lightning, yet he had never felt such dread. Without a doubt, if anyone dared to practice the Thunder Command Art at this moment and draw tribulation lightning into their body, the only outcome would be turning to ashes. Nor could the Thunder Command Art possibly manipulate tribulation lightning. However, Bai was not pointing at the azure tribulation lightning. "Huh? Why is there a golden light?" Qin Sang finally noticed that deep within the tribulation cloud, a speck of golden light the size of a bean had appeared at some unknown moment. Though tiny, it stood out starkly against the azure tribulation cloud. At this moment, the bifeng wind swirling around Yunyouzi began to recede. The tribulation cloud fully coalesced. After enduring the bifeng wind tribulation, a tribulation-crosser had only a brief respite before the thunder tribulation immediately followed. Shockingly, the tribulation cloud was not purely azure! That speck of golden light grew larger and larger until it actually dyed half of the tribulation cloud gold! "A two-colored tribulation cloud!" Seeing this, Qin Sang's expression changed abruptly, and he cried out in shock. He hurriedly turned his head to look at Bai, only to see Bai staring fixedly at the tribulation cloud, brow furrowed in silence. Before this, Qin Sang had never heard of a two-colored tribulation cloud. An immortal cultivator's Nascent Soul Tribulation should only involve azure heavenly thunder. Yunyouzi was also an immortal cultivator, so why had a two-colored tribulation cloud appeared for his tribulation? *Rumble!* A tremendous roar shook heaven and earth. The tribulation cloud churned violently. The two colors of the tribulation cloud were distinctly divided. Arcs of azure and golden lightning danced restlessly within the cloud, while the surrounding dark clouds, battered by the terrifying heavenly might, were torn to shreds. The world brightened a bit as a result, yet Qin Sang's face was cast in deep gloom, a foreboding premonition suddenly seizing him. *Rumble, rumble...* A horrifying scene unfolded. Within the two-colored tribulation cloud, tribulation lightning was actually brewing in both colors at the same time. Seeing this, everyone's faces turned pale with shock. *Crack!* The vault of heaven trembled. Two bolts of tribulation lightning, sharp as swords, flashed down from the tribulation cloud, side by side in perfect parity, crashing together into the curtain of light conjured by the spirit array. The vision of Qin Sang and the others was overtaken by blinding azure and golden light, making it impossible to see the lightning bolts themselves. The instant they struck the array, the two bolts of tribulation lightning almost merged, their power swelling to an appalling extent that far exceeded ordinary tribulation lightning! The curtain of light abruptly dimmed. The various phantoms wheeling and soaring inside burst apart in an instant. Among the implements supporting the array, several precious mirrors shattered and spirit flags snapped under the shock. The tribulation lightning pierced the curtain of light, worn down by the spirit array. Yet this was merely the appetizer. As the first heavenly thunder fell, the entire expanse filled with deafening thunderclaps, and streaks of two-colored tribulation lightning shot forth from the cloud in rapid succession. The tribulation lightning was directed primarily at Yunyouzi, but the spiritual island was caught in the collateral damage. Already modest in size, its rocks and boulders were reduced to fine powder beneath the lightning, and even the solitary peak was sheared down by a layer. Wave after wave of tribulation lightning struck. The spirit array struggled to hold out, and the stray threads of lightning that penetrated within were blocked by a silvery-white orb. It was none other than Yunyouzi's treasure, the Flawless Pearl. But this respite was short-lived. After a brief pause, the tribulation lightning descended once more, its might even greater. "Come on then!" His silver hair whipping wildly, Yunyouzi looked like a madman as he roared toward the heavens. He hastily swallowed pills and brought out several magic treasures. The might of the tribulation lightning grew increasingly terrifying. Under the thick bolts of tribulation lightning, the luster of the spirit array dimmed, and its array implements were destroyed one after another, pushed past their absolute limit. This spirit array had originally been prepared to withstand the entire thunder tribulation, yet it was being destroyed so quickly! *Boom!* The spirit array was obliterated into nothingness alongside the lightning. In the distance, Qin Sang pushed his Heavenly Eye divine ability with all his might, yet he could only see the azure and golden thunderlight, completely unable to discern Yunyouzi's condition. Merely gazing at the tribulation lightning even made the Heavenly Eye Butterfly begin to feel uncomfortable. Seeing the light of the spirit array extinguish, Qin Sang lost any remaining shred of wishful thinking. His face was deathly pale as he looked up at the thundercloud. The tribulation cloud swirled restlessly, seemingly harboring an endless supply of thunderous power. *Boom! Boom!* Tribulation lightning struck down continuously. A wave of despair washed over Qin Sang. Had he been in Yunyouzi's place, he could never have survived such horrifying tribulation lightning either. Yet to everyone's astonishment, Yunyouzi had not perished; enduring wave after wave of tribulation lightning, he was still holding on! Hope rekindled in Qin Sang's heart, and his fists clenched tightly, cursing his inability to offer Yunyouzi any aid. At last, the tribulation cloud showed signs of shrinking. Li Yufu was overjoyed at the sight, but his expression immediately warped into terror. Just when it seemed the thunder tribulation was nearing its end, the two-colored tribulation cloud underwent yet another mutation. The two colors began to blend into each other, the azure and golden arcs of lightning intertwining until they truly fused into one. Qin Sang's heart sank straight to the bottom! *Boom!* The final heavenly tribulation descended upon the world. With the two kinds of tribulation lightning merged, a colossal bolt of azure-gold lightning resembling a heaven-propping greatsword broke free from the cloud. Carrying an aura of consummate violence and freighted with heavenly might, it flashed down toward the solitary peak! Even from such a distance, they could still feel the earth-shattering heavenly might of this lightning bolt, trembling in its wake. It was unimaginable what kind of destructive power Yunyouzi, who stood directly in its path, was facing. "Great-Grandmaster!" Li Yufu cried out, his face etched with grief. Qin Sang pressed his lips tightly together, drained of all color. He had never anticipated something like this would happen. Yunyouzi had made so many preparations; nothing should have gone wrong. Who could have foreseen that the might of his heavenly tribulation would far surpass that of other immortal cultivators, completely defying what a Nascent Soul Tribulation should be? Against such a horrific heavenly tribulation, Yunyouzi had managed to hold on for so long. Had it been an ordinary heavenly tribulation, he would have crossed it long ago. Why on earth had this happened? Yunyouzi had entrusted Li Yufu to him beforehand—it had not been a simple precaution. Could he have sensed something even back then? Qin Sang suddenly recalled a statement Yunyouzi had made back at Ziwei Palace: "In this humble Daoist's life, there are only two great tribulations. Aside from them, nothing else is worth worrying about. To me, forming a Nascent Soul is as easy as reaching into a pocket and taking something out!" The first tribulation was the trial of an incomplete soul, reborn through fire. Could the second tribulation be this very Nascent Soul Tribulation?!