Song Wanníng rode the lingering force of impact and was flung out of the massive crater. She shot through the air without so much as a glance back at Feng Yao.
Feng Yao nearly exploded with rage.
Boom!
Another divine thunderbolt tore down from the heavens. The eight trigram pattern reemerged in her body, flaring defiantly as it clashed head-on with the heavenly lightning once more.
But this time, Song Wanníng could feel it. The trigram's light had faded slightly.
This wouldn't do.
She had to find another way.
Her eyes sharpened, mind racing for a solution.
Then, with another deafening crack, divine lightning struck again, slamming her back down. As she plummeted, her gaze swept downward—and caught sight of two very familiar figures.
Them?!
Her head snapped up, lips curling into a mocking sneer as she glared at the sky.
"Come on, is that all you've got?"
She laughed wildly. "What, scared to go harder?"
Spitting upward, she cursed, "Pathetic!"
The divine lightning faltered for a split second. Then the sky darkened further, pressure intensifying. This time, multiple bolts cracked through the clouds at once, all aiming directly for her.
Heaven wanted her dead. Completely, utterly wiped out.
The sheer force was terrifying.
Everyone below, humans and beasts alike, felt a chill crawl up their spines.
But Song Wanníng only grinned wider.
Without warning, her figure blurred and darted toward the mountains below.
At that moment, Bai Yang and Ye Chuxue were crouched behind a massive boulder, trying to hide themselves with an array formation. They had originally planned to take shelter in a cave, but all the nearby demon beasts had returned to their dens, forcing them to make do behind the stone.
Before they even realized the danger, a figure dropped from the sky and—left and right—grabbed them by the collars.
In less than a breath, they were dragged into the air.
"Ahhh!" Ye Chuxue screamed.
Bai Yang turned pale, face contorting in shock.
They tried to struggle, but couldn't move a finger. A terrifying pressure pinned them in place.
And then they saw it.
The divine lightning was coming. Straight at them.
This was it.
They were going to die.
Why them? What had they done to deserve this? Why had this demon cultivator dragged them into her tribulation?
"Hahahaha!"
Song Wanníng's laughter rang through the sky, wild and unrestrained. She shouted into the storm, "Come on! Strike us down!"
Just a meter before the lightning could hit the three of them, it twisted midair and slammed into the giant crater instead.
Boom!
"Ahhhhh—!"
Feng Yao's agonized scream echoed through the valley.
Then, silence.
The pit where he had fallen was now a scorched, smoking void. That barrage of lightning had nearly razed half the mountain. Countless demon beasts fled in panic. Though they hadn't been the primary target, many were struck and burned alive by the thunderous wrath of heaven.
It was a massacre.
Song Wanníng's lips curled once more, her grin growing more savage. The violent energy swirling inside her surged, and the demonic qi around her thickened.
Still gripping the two terrified disciples, she shouted provocations at the sky.
Come on.
Kill us all.
Take your so-called chosen children down with me. Let's die together.
Her eyes burned with madness. In her heart, she screamed again and again, daring the heavens to strike.
Heaven felt her challenge. Furious, it responded with a final wave of divine lightning, hurling it straight at her.
Song Wanníng smirked and lifted the two disciples high above her head.
Boom!
The bolts descended, but once again twisted away at the last second. They struck the crater instead, leaving her untouched. Even now, heaven couldn't bring itself to destroy its own favored children.
She had gambled—and won.
"Hahaha!"
She let out a victorious laugh, then tossed the two disciples down like trash into the pit below.
The wrath of the heavens faded.
And, following the laws of the world, heavenly rain fell upon the mountain. Misty light washed over the charred landscape, bringing new life to what had been destroyed.
Song Wanníng hovered high above, bathed in that holy radiance. Her aura shifted again. She had stepped into Divine Transformation.
In that moment, she could see every corner of the mountain.
She could even hear it breathe.
Divine Transformation, the realm where one begins to glimpse the laws of heaven. She lowered her gaze, hiding the ambition in her eyes. With a faint glance around, she shot downward—and vanished.
The tribulation had ended. The dark clouds slowly scattered. Sunlight returned to the land. The suffocating pressure that had blanketed everyone lifted at last. Cultivators all over the region scrambled to their feet, still trembling with lingering fear.
"That demon cultivator... just how strong is she? To trigger a tribulation like that?"
"If someone like that is active in this region, it's a serious problem. We need to discuss this, immediately."
"Hurry. Send word to the other sects. We must convene."
"Where did she go? No one knows her whereabouts?"
"That was terrifying. I really thought we were dead…"
...
Though the tribulation had ended long ago, the border region remained silent. Not even the demon beasts dared show their faces again.
"Ugh…"
Ye Chuxue slowly regained consciousness, body aching as if every bone had been broken and reassembled. Groggy at first, she jolted upright as a sense of dread returned.
"Senior Brother Bai Yang! Wake up!" She staggered over to his side and shook him hard, hands trembling uncontrollably.
Bai Yang stirred, face contorted with pain. A moment later, he coughed up blood and clutched his chest. His old wounds had been torn open again, and now fresh ones layered on top.
"You okay?" Ye Chuxue anxiously pulled out a healing pill and shoved it into his mouth. Her face was pale, eyes wide with worry and rage.
"That damned demon... using us to block her tribulation? Thank the heavens we survived. Otherwise…"
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She hadn't even reached the stage of facing a tribulation herself, but now she already feared it.
Bai Yang looked just as shaken. Jaw clenched, fists tight, his eyes filled with hatred. Whoever that demon was, once he found out, he swore he'd make her pay. Supporting each other, the two of them struggled to stand. As they prepared to leave, something nearby caught their attention.
A corpse.
It looked like a demon beast… or what was left of one.
Only a blackened skeleton remained. The flesh and fur had long been turned to ash.
Ye Chuxue walked over, hoping to find a demon core.
But the moment she touched the remains, the bones crumbled into dust and scattered on the wind.
"Ah… no core."
Disappointed, she turned away.
Activating their flying artifacts, she and Bai Yang rose into the air and left.
That great demon beast… had died without ever finding its destined mate.
In the end, it became the only true victim of this tribulation.
...
Elsewhere, the sects had gathered to discuss the matter of the demon cultivator and her tribulation. Since Wentian Sect was located at the center of the region, the meeting was held there.
Tension filled the air.
Just then, Song Wanníng barged in, her presence overwhelming as she strode directly toward the Sect Master of Wentian.
The moment he saw her, the Sect Master's heart sank. Guilt surged through him. He quickly averted his gaze, refusing to meet her eyes.
But Song Wanníng didn't hesitate. Her voice rang out across the hall.
"Sect Master! My eldest disciple, Bai Yang, went missing and nearly died, and you never even told me! Why?!"
===
Who else was laughing together with Wanníng in this chapter?? Me!! Me!!! Me!!! (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ ‥…━━━★"