Above the Snake Palace, a massive vortex appeared in the dark red sky. Streaks of lightning, like electric snakes, materialized out of thin air and were drawn into the vortex, gathering within it. In just a moment, the vortex transformed into a purple Tribulation Cloud Flower.
Thunderclaps echoed and lightning flashed. The bizarre phenomenon was bewildering. On She Mountain, the swarms of snakes let out low, uneasy hisses. A large wave of Snake Spirits and Demon Spirits gathered below the Snake Palace. The arrival of a Celestial Tribulation meant a good show was about to begin.
Whether they had already crossed a Celestial Tribulation or not, none of them would miss such a viewing opportunity.
Secretly, however, many of the Snake Spirits and Snake Demon Spirits were growing resentful. ’What a lawless Peacock! It truly has the heart of a lion to dare cross its tribulation atop the Snake Palace.’
’What a spectacle. What grandiosity.’
If the crowd of Demons didn’t know that the Immortal Spirit Peacock was the new Lord Snake King’s Battle Companion, someone would have long since stepped forward to berate it, or even attacked and knocked it out of the sky.
’Where does this Peacock’s behavior leave the dignity of the Snake Race?’
But resentment was just resentment. Since the Lord Snake King himself was condoning his Battle Companion’s unreasonable behavior, they could only suppress their anger and sulk.
Many of the snakes cursed in their hearts, hoping the bird would be struck dead by the Celestial Tribulation.
While the other Demons didn’t dare to speak out, the highly respected Elder Snake, who was half-human and half-snake, stepped forward. He spoke respectfully to Tu Xiao’an, "My Lord, please have your Battle Companion move to the open ground below to prepare for its tribulation. It cannot do so atop the Snake Palace. Otherwise, I fear our Snake Palace will be destroyed by this Celestial Tribulation!"
Tu Xiao’an looked up, counting the number of purple Tribulation Cloud Flowers in the dark red vortex. The quantity would determine the kind of tribulation Azure Owl was about to face. Hearing Elder Snake’s concern, he replied nonchalantly, "Elder Snake, you worry too much. With me here, I guarantee the Snake Palace will remain completely unscathed."
"My Lord, that is still unacceptable! The Snake Palace is the Divine Land for countless Snake Species. It is sacrosanct! How can we allow another species to cross its tribulation upon it? Even if it is your Battle Companion, my Lord, it is absolutely forbidden." Elder Snake wasn’t just pulling rank; the matter was simply too important.
’This is the Snake Palace of the Snake Race. What will it look like if you let a bird cross its tribulation on top of it?’
’Word would spread, and countless other races would laugh at us.’
Tu Xiao’an smiled faintly. His eyes, fixed on the Peacock, Azure Owl, atop the Snake Palace, were filled with adoration. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Elder Snake, say no more. My dear Azure Owl will cross its tribulation wherever it wants. Let me put it this way: even if it wanted to cross its tribulation on top of my head, I would allow it."
Azure Owl was the first High-Rank Battle Companion Tu Xiao’an had ever subdued, and his affection for it was plain to see.
His words left the Elder Snake, who had been about to say more, speechless. He could only sigh inwardly. ’This new Snake King is truly willful.’
’I’ve never seen anyone dote on their Battle Companion so much.’
Once this exception was made, it would be hard to refuse if other Snake Species wanted to cross their tribulations atop the Snake Palace in the future. ’If a mere Peacock Bird can do it, why can’t we, as members of the Snake Race?’
"Elder Snake, my allowing this isn’t solely out of favoritism for my Battle Companion. It’s mainly so that all the Snake Spirits on She Mountain can get a good look at this Celestial Tribulation and accumulate experience for when they face their own. You should know that being able to observe another creature crossing its tribulation is an incredibly rare experience."
The position of the Snake Palace allowed the countless Snake Species below to see everything just by looking up.
Elder Snake shuddered and lowered his head. "Your foresight is profound, my Lord. This old servant is no match."
In truth, this was all just nonsense spouted by Tu Xiao’an.
The vortex in the dark red sky seethed as Tribulation Cloud Flowers manifested one after another, looking alluringly beautiful. Tu Xiao’an was long past being surprised by such a scene; he was even quite familiar with it. After all, he could create such a phenomenon himself whenever he wished.
However, even if he perfectly replicated a Celestial Tribulation, releasing his own Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire, he could not ultimately represent the Heaven and Earth Law. It wouldn’t count.
In just a moment, eighteen purple Tribulation Cloud Flowers manifested and unfurled, signifying that Azure Owl would have to face the baptism of eighteen bolts of Celestial Thunder.
Next, terrifying, fire-like Extraterrestrial Meteorites formed within the massive vortex. They stood in rows, exactly eighteen of them, their imposing might utterly soul-shaking.
"This... This is actually the Thirty-Six Great Tribulation! My heavens..."
Clutching his Snake Staff, Elder Snake stared, dumbfounded. His respect for Tu Xiao’an, this new king, grew even deeper. It was one thing for the king himself to be a freak who survived a surefire-death Celestial Tribulation, but now even one of his Battle Companions was facing the Thirty-Six Great Tribulation.
The more outstanding one’s aptitude and the stronger one’s power, the more terrifyingly powerful the Celestial Tribulation would be. What did a Great Tribulation signify? In history, it was a trial reserved only for the top experts of a generation.
In the future, its lowest achievement would be reaching the Deep Mountain Great Demon Level. Legend had it that even the White Demon King had only faced the Forty-Eight Great Tribulation.
In contrast, when ordinary Demons crossed their tribulations, they usually faced the Four-Nine Minor Tribulation, and the vast majority of them were reduced to ash. The Four-Nine Celestial Tribulation consisted of only thirteen strikes of Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire combined.
Everyone knew that the more strikes of Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire, the more terrifying the tribulation, as the power of each successive strike increased.
Below the Snake Palace, the crowd of Snake Demons was utterly astonished. The more terrifying the Celestial Tribulation, the greater the prestige, but it also dramatically increased the chance of death.
But if it passed, it would be like a sparrow transforming into a Phoenix.
And for this Peacock facing the Thirty-Six Great Tribulation, passing a trial of this magnitude truly was a case of transforming into a Phoenix.
The prospect was dazzling.
"My dear Azure Owl is quite impressive. You’re making me proud." Looking at the Thirty-Six Great Tribulation, Tu Xiao’an felt not a shred of pity for his Azure Owl; on the contrary, he was delighted.
The greater the Celestial Tribulation, the greater Azure Owl’s potential.
If it had only been a Four-Nine Minor Tribulation, Tu Xiao’an would have been annoyed.
Besides, with him around, no Celestial Tribulation was too great a problem. If Azure Owl couldn’t handle it, Tu Xiao’an would step in to help it resist the thunder and fire.
However, he believed his Immortal Spirit Peacock wasn’t so useless.
Over the past two days, knowing his Battle Companions would be crossing their tribulations one after another, Tu Xiao’an had put them through some intensive training, mainly to get them accustomed to Celestial Power.
This was to strengthen their souls’ immunity to the Might of Heaven and Earth, so they wouldn’t end up with their souls collapsing under the pressure.
After two days, the Battle Companions about to face their tribulations were reasonably familiar with Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire. After all, who told them to have such a freakish master who could casually summon Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire?
It was like giving them an internship in advance.
"AOO..."
Golden Pupils let out a few cries toward Azure Owl on the peak of the Snake Palace, seemingly cheering it on. From the cat’s expression, it was itching to help Azure Owl cross the tribulation.
Tu Xiao’an picked up Golden Pupils and stroked its soft, tiger-striped fur. "You’ll be crossing your own tribulation in a couple of days. Don’t tell me you still won’t be able to speak human words after it’s over."
He was genuinely afraid that this super-strong cat was born mute.
The Three-headed Evil Snake was also at Tu Xiao’an’s feet, its three snake heads swaying as it stared intently at the Thirty-Six Great Tribulation above, eager for a taste of the action.
The snake, reeking of Evil Qi, made even Elder Snake stare at it for a few extra moments. The Snake Race had no shortage of multi-headed snakes, but he couldn’t recall a single one as terrifying as the one before him.
"Go for it, my dear Azure Owl!"
Tu Xiao’an looked very excited. Once his Peacock completed its tribulation, it could undergo Demon Transformation. The very thought of an Immortal Spirit Peacock’s Demon Transformation was enough to make his blood boil with excitement.
His Peacock Female Pet was almost ready.
At that moment, several Beauty Snakes attentively brought over an imposing grandmaster’s chair for Tu Xiao’an to sit on and watch. Then they set up a long table before him, laden with every kind of delicacy and fine wine imaginable.
’Haha, it’s great to be king.’
Tu Xiao’an plopped down, enjoying his VIP treatment as he watched the Thirty-Six Great Tribulation.
In the dark red sky above, the formation of Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire was complete. Suddenly, an immense oppressive might emanated from the tribulation clouds, pressing down upon the ground below. In an instant, the pressure in the space below intensified greatly. The countless Demons waiting to watch found it difficult to breathe. Those with low Cultivation were even trembling in terror.
One couldn’t watch a Great Tribulation just because one wanted to. You had to be able to withstand a certain amount of pressure. If you couldn’t handle it, you weren’t qualified to spectate.
’It’s starting.’
Tu Xiao’an’s expression turned serious. His Super Celestial Peacock was already transcendent before even reaching Rank 3. The more of a freak it was, the more "special attention" it would receive from the Heaven and Earth Law.
RUMBLE...
A tremendous clap of thunder erupted. A purple Tribulation Cloud Flower bloomed, bewitchingly lifelike. A thick, purple bolt of lightning, like a coiling Flood Dragon, shot out from the tribulation cloud. With indomitable momentum, it struck toward the Immortal Spirit Peacock on the peak of the Snake Palace, which was radiating a nine-colored Divine Light. As if it would slay gods and slaughter demons that stood in its way, the power of the very first bolt of Celestial Thunder was enough to make one’s heart tremble in fear.
In that moment, Azure Owl was holy and beautiful. Facing the Celestial Thunder, it showed no fear at all. A resounding phoenix cry echoed through the heavens and the earth as it opened its beautiful beak and...!
Under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, it swallowed the purple lightning in a single gulp! In an instant, the entire purple Flood Dragon of lightning was devoured by Azure Owl, and streaks of lightning-snakes flickered and glowed beneath its nine-colored feathers.
’This proud Azure Owl. It even has to copy its master and swallow lightning during its tribulation.’
Seeing this, Tu Xiao’an actually started to laugh. The Celestial Power contained in the first bolt of Celestial Thunder wasn’t very strong, so swallowing it was no big deal.
The subsequent bolts, however, would not be so easy to swallow.
After swallowing the Celestial Thunder, Azure Owl turned and glanced smugly down at Tu Xiao’an, as if to say, ’Aren’t I amazing? Hurry up and praise me!’
Tu Xiao’an gave it a thumbs-up as encouragement. Swallowing Celestial Thunder wasn’t something just anyone dared to do.
He dared to, and so did his Battle Companions. It was a kind of inherited, overbearing arrogance.
Tu Xiao’an and his Battle Companions weren’t surprised by this, but it astonished the Snake Demons below, whose faces filled with adoration.
They thought to themselves, ’The Lord’s Battle Companion truly is extraordinary. My word, what an amazing Peacock!’
Rolling thunder echoed from above as lightning-snakes flashed frantically. In an instant, the second Tribulation Cloud Flower bloomed. The Heaven and Earth Law seemed to have lost face after the first bolt was swallowed, and this time it seemed determined to get even, its momentum growing even greater.
The second bolt of Celestial Thunder descended. A bolt of lightning resembling a coiling Divine Dragon hurtled down from high above, striking directly at Azure Owl’s head.
"SCREEE—"
Another resounding phoenix cry shot toward the heavens. It opened its beak, and the crowd of snakes went wild.
The Celestial Thunder was swallowed again. This Peacock was insane.