Chapter Nineteen: Witnessing the Cataclysm

It was the time of the Beginning of Spring, a season when blossoms should be in full bloom. Yet, in Yicheng, located on the southwestern border of Qingzhou, the weather had turned cold and rainy, causing temperatures to plunge abruptly.

Inside an inn along the main street of Yicheng, Lei Yan was practicing the Fire-Form Fist. Though the martial art itself was a common style, what made it special was the infusion of the “Dao”—the Way—of Fire. Sparks erupted from Lei Yan’s fists, crackling like dry wood catching flame.

Lei Yan was only just beginning to grasp the Way of Fire, having formed the initial shape of fire within his technique. Hence, he named this style Fire-Form Fist. Regardless of the martial art, once the Way was embedded within, it became incomparable to mere technique alone. Naturally, a first-rate style imbued with the same degree of the Way would be far stronger than a third-rate one. Similarly, if the techniques were identical but the depth of the Way differed, the one with the deeper essence of the Way would deliver a more powerful strike. Thus, the higher the realm and the deeper the understanding of the Way, the stronger the attack.

“Ha... ha...” Outside, the cold wind howled fiercely, while inside, the wind generated by his punches roared.

Suddenly, a spark of enlightenment seemed to strike Lei Yan. His punches grew faster and faster. The spiritual energy of fire from heaven and earth surged swiftly into his body, wild and unbridled like a runaway steed. After nine turbulent cycles within him, the fire spiritual energy transformed into true essence, settling calmly.

As Lei Yan’s fists quickened, more spiritual energy from heaven and earth gathered. Gradually, a dense, reddish mist-like fire spiritual energy enveloped him. As he continued practicing, the energy swirled within his body, rotating eighty-one times before finally coming to rest. This tempering transformed the true essence flowing inside him from a gaseous form into a more viscous, misty substance.

“So it is indeed true. Practicing this fist technique can also lead to enlightenment,” Lei Yan murmured with a sigh. That brief moment of insight during practice had propelled him to the mid-foundation-building stage.

“Rumble... rumble...” While Lei Yan was lost in thought, a thunderclap roared across the sky. A surge of oppressive energy flashed momentarily above Yicheng. Lei Yan’s heart skipped a beat. The pressure vanished so quickly that ordinary people might not have even sensed it. But as a cultivator with keen perception, Lei Yan detected it the instant it appeared—and sensed it heading beyond the city walls.

“Someone is undergoing a tribulation.” Lei Yan’s first thought was of a tribulation. Having experienced one himself, he was intimately familiar with this oppressive aura. Yet, he felt it was far stronger than the last one he had faced.

“Father! Father! Heavenly tribulation!” A little girl clad in a red leather jacket burst into Lei Yan’s room, crying out in alarm before throwing herself into his arms.

Lei Yan felt an inexplicable connection to this flower spirit. It was a strange sensation, as if the spirit carried his very bloodline. This bond made him unconsciously accept the nickname she had been given. Feeling the flower spirit trembling in his embrace, Lei Yan lifted her up gently. “Little Lan is scared.”

The spirit let out a soft cry, her bright red eyes glancing upward as if studying Lei Yan’s expression. Seeing no anger, she immediately buried her head back into his chest, a radiant smile spreading across her face.

Observing her behavior, Lei Yan found himself thinking that she was acting like a spoiled child, and he couldn’t help but smile. Just then, thunder rolled once more in the sky.

Hearing it again, Lei Yan felt the urge to go out and witness the tribulation. He lowered his head to the flower spirit and said, “Little Lan, I’m going out for a while. I’m counting on you to protect your mother, alright?” Qing Ling had yet to awaken, and since the flower spirit had already survived a heavenly tribulation, Lei Yan felt somewhat reassured to leave her in her care.

Without hesitation, the flower spirit nodded, lifted her head confidently, clenched her fist, and said, “Father, don’t worry.” Then she bounced off happily.

Lei Yan made his way to Ding Wei’s room, gave him instructions, then left the inn.

Stepping outside, Lei Yan looked up at the sky. Over Yicheng, the heavens were dark and gloomy, while beyond the city walls, the sky bore a deep crimson hue. That dark red sky carried with it a palpable celestial menace.

“That’s it,” Lei Yan said, his figure flashing like a gust of wind, dashing swiftly through the rain.

“Damn it. Who would come out in this cursed weather? It’s just us unlucky city guards who have to stand here,” one guard grumbled.

“Stop complaining. Tonight, let’s take the brothers to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion to relax and drink a pot of good wine,” another suggested.

Suddenly, a swift gust swept past them. Before the two guards could react, Lei Yan had already left Yicheng behind.

Beyond Yicheng lay the Fengming Mountains, a famous range known for its steep peaks and abundant beasts. The valleys constantly echoed with howling winds. Lei Yan did not know the mountain’s name, but the oppressive aura had come from one of those valleys.

As he moved forward, Lei Yan felt the pressure above drawing nearer. Ahead, a mountain cave appeared. Lei Yan charged straight toward it.

The cave was pitch black, utterly devoid of light. Fortunately, Lei Yan’s supernatural senses allowed him to perceive his surroundings. As he delved deeper, the cave’s diameter shrank, at its narrowest barely enough for a person to enter bent over. He crawled and twisted for nearly half a mile until the cave suddenly widened, and a glimmer of light appeared before his eyes.

The cave was merely a passage. Once outside, Lei Yan found himself in a vast meadow encircled by towering cliffs, stretching several miles in all directions. The sight was breathtaking and soothing. Using his supernatural senses, Lei Yan spotted a leopard standing proudly at the center of the meadow, its gaze fierce and unyielding.

This leopard was yellow and black with a single horn protruding from its head. The oppressive aura in the sky was focused squarely on it.

“A demonic beast,” Lei Yan murmured in surprise. He had initially assumed a person was undergoing the tribulation, but now he realized it was a beast.

Slowly, Lei Yan stepped out from the cave entrance. He dared not use his abilities to probe the tribulation, so he tried to get closer for a better view. Just as he found a spot nearby, his expression changed. Looking up, he saw two men riding flying swords racing toward him.

“There it is,” said a man clad in a blue robe, pointing at the horned leopard. He formed a hand seal and swooped down. Close behind him was another man in a purple robe.

“There’s someone here,” the man in blue said as he landed and spotted Lei Yan hiding nearby. Frowning slightly, he said to the man in purple, “Ziyue, deal with him.”