‘Rumble’

The rumbling sounds from the heavens became louder and louder as though the first lightning strike might descend any time now.

‘Swoosh’

Within no time, a light strike came out of the tribulation cloud and directly landed on the shadow dragon.

‘Roar’

The shadow dragon roared in pain; however, it still looked active and the dragon scales in the place where the first lightning strike landed were broken as flesh could be seen.

There was no blood coming from it as the flesh was charred black closing the wound.

….

As the shadow dragon was undergoing the lightning tribulation in the Silverstone town, the entire Barren firmament once again fell into a heated discussion.

‘Isn’t that a tribulation cloud?’

‘What? A tribulation cloud? Stop joking.’

‘Idiot, when the older generation says that is a tribulation cloud, then you have to listen.’

‘Grandpa, stop hitting me. Didn’t you say that until now, there was not a single lightning tribulation event that happened in the Barren firmament? Then how do you know it is a tribulation cloud?’

‘Yes, grandpa. Maybe, there will be a thunderstorm today.’

In some random place, an old man was excited to see the tribulation cloud in the sky as he informed his two grandsons who were just 10 this year.

However, the two little kids were not believing their grandpa and even used the logic that their grandfather said to them once.

‘Don’t believe what others say unless they witnessed it with their own eyes’

Nevertheless, what they got next was a thorough beating from their grandfather who made them admit that they were in the wrong.

‘We are in the wrong, grandpa.’

With swollen faces, they nodded their heads.

‘That’s how you have to be when you are in front of your grandfather.’

With a magnanimous smile on his face, the old man nodded his head as he gave them two green coloured fruits, which were excitedly taken by the little boys.

In the entire firmament, everyone was able to see the tribulation cloud in the sky, a few of them concluded it was a thunderstorm, another few didn’t bother to waste their time as that cloud was not going to feed them or make them strong.

However, a majority of the inhabitants of the Barren firmament were almost sure that it was a tribulation cloud and someone was undergoing the lightning tribulations right now. 

So, they rushed in that direction to see who was undergoing the lightning tribulation.

Because, they knew that as long as whoever was undergoing the lightning tribulation successfully overcame it, they would become a top expert in the Barren firmament.

So, how could they not try their best to show up when such an event was going on.

“Old minister, prepare the fastest flying spirit beast mount as soon as possible. We need to see who it is that was undergoing the lightning tribulation and make sure to kill him.”

Even the self-proclaimed king of the Barren firmament, Astron Crestlance was attracted by the lightning tribulation.

However, unlike the others in the Barren firmament, he was not planning to visit that place just to congratulate; instead, he was going to either involve in the lightning tribulation or kill the person who was undergoing the lightning tribulation.

“Yes, your majesty.”

The old minister knew how much of a threat it would be if someone successfully undergoes the lightning tribulation.

So, he didn’t waste any time in preparing the fastest flying spirit beast mount.

“Royal general.”

As the old minister was busy preparing a flying spirit beast, King Aston summoned the royal general who manages all the armies of the royal family.

“I am here, your majesty.”

In the next moment, an old man appeared behind King Aston, who greeted King Aston by placing his hand on his heart.

“How can someone undergo the lightning tribulation right under my nose? What are the spies stationed in every city, town and village doing?”

King Aston nodded his head at the old man and seriously asked a few questions in a hurry.

Since the flying spirit beast might be prepared at any moment now, King Aston wanted to get as many answers as possible from the royal general of the Crestlance family.

“Your majesty, there was no information from the spies regarding anyone nearing the Heavenly rank. But, they were personally trained by the old minister himself. So they can’t be lazy or betray the royal family.”

“Also, there is a huge possibility that one of the spirit beasts in the depths of the Myriad primordial forest might be undergoing the lightning tribulation.”

The royal general became anxious before it was his work to inform King Astron regarding anyone reaching tier 5 higher rank in any profession.

So, if someone is going to break into the Heavenly rank, then it would be his fault. So, he tried his best to explain the other possibilities.

Since they have human spies in almost all cities, towns and villages, that was the only excuse that the royal general could think of right now.

“You might be right but that still doesn’t change the fact that once that spirit beast completes the lightning tribulations, it naturally becomes the King of this firmament.”

King Aston was never this anxious because once a Heavenly ranked being born in this firmament, he would be blessed by the heavens and could directly become the King of the firmament.

King Aston was making sure that no one reaches tier 5 higher rank in their profession. He either kills them or makes them swear their loyalty to him.

“Your majesty, if that happens…”

Roya general became anxious too when he heard King Aston’s words.

“That’s right! The Crestlance family will no longer become a sovereign family and forever remain as a duke family.”

King Aston was dreaming of becoming the King of this Barren firmament from the moment his talent was tested when he was 10 years old. So, he was not going to waste his three decades of hard work just like that.

*****

Bonus chapters will be released for featured gifts.