Heavenly Tribulation, also known as (天劫 tiānjié), represents the celestial challenges that high-level cultivators must face as they progress on their path toward immortality. These tribulations occur because the path to ascension often conflicts with the perceived Will of Heaven. As cultivators absorb the world's Qi to strengthen themselves, and as they harvest natural treasures like spiritual herbs, Energy Stones, they disturb the balance of the world's aura. Excessive actions can thin the aura of the plane or world, prompting the Heavenly Dao to hinder or even attempt to eliminate these cultivators through Heavenly Tribulations. If a cultivator perishes during a tribulation, their stored Qi is released back into the world, nourishing the plane and restoring the balance they had disrupted.
Heavenly Tribulation consists of two main phases: the Thunder Tribulation (雷劫 léijié) and the Heart Demon Tribulation (心魔劫 xīnmó jié). These tribulations usually begin from the Foundation Building stage onward and occur during every major realm advancement. Each phase tests different aspects of the cultivator's strength and resolve.
1.1. Thunder Tribulation (雷劫 léijié)
The Thunder Tribulation is the first phase and is often the most physically taxing. The intensity, duration, and ferocity of the lightning strikes are directly proportional to the cultivator's innate talent and potential. Cultivators with exceptional abilities face more severe tribulations, with thunderclouds brewing for extended periods before unleashing their full force. These strikes are not just tests of physical resilience but judgments on the very existence of the cultivator. The presence of other powerful cultivators nearby can intensify the lightning strikes, as the Heavens aim to eliminate any interference with the tribulation's purpose. This is sometimes exploited by enemies to increase the difficulty of the tribulation for the cultivator undergoing it.
The thunderclouds' brewing time indicates how long they will be subjected to the thunder strikes. This usually also has a relation with the clouds and thunder color.
The color of the thunder indicates its destructive power. The darker the thunder, the more devastating its force. To unleash more devastating power, the thunderclouds will be brewing for extended periods before unleashing their full force.
For example, the brewing time can last up to 10 days and nights, with lightning strikes continuing for as long as a month and a half.
In extreme cases, a cultivator may face Heavenly Punishment (天罚 tiānfá) - pure black lightning that signifies an existence deemed unforgivable by the Heavenly Dao.
1.1.1. Heavenly Thunder (天雷, tiān léi)
The thunder that strikes during this tribulation is known as Heavenly Thunder (天雷, tiān léi). This thunder is infused with the power of the Heavenly Dao and is far more potent and destructive than any natural phenomenon. Heavenly Thunder is not only a physical force but also an ethereal one. It attacks the cultivator on multiple levels:
Meridian Damage: The thunder tears apart the cultivator's meridians, causing severe internal injuries that disrupt the flow of Qi.
Cellular Destruction: The Heavenly Thunder burns the cultivator's cells, causing excruciating pain and hindering regeneration.
Qi Stagnation: The powerful energy from the thunder forces the cultivator's Qi to stagnate, blocking their ability to channel their energy effectively.
1.1.2. Body Tempering with Heavenly Thunder
Some cultivators, particularly those who train both their bodies and their Qi, use the destructive power of Heavenly Thunder to their advantage. By enduring and absorbing the thunder, they can temper their bodies, making them tougher, more elastic, and capable of storing more Qi.
Tearing and Regenerating: The process of tearing apart and regenerating tissues strengthens the cultivator's body, making their organs, bones, and meridians more robust. This method is highly valued by martial arts practitioners and body cultivators who seek to enhance their physical resilience.
Thunder Refinement: Some cultivators go a step further, refining Heavenly Thunder and merging it with their spiritual Qi or cultivation base. This not only enhances their power but also imbues their qi or weapons with thunder attributes, making them more effective against evil or ghost cultivators.
Weapon Tempering: Cultivators may use the Heavenly Thunder to temper their weapons, granting them the power of thunder and making them highly destructive against enemies, especially those with evil alignments.
1.1.3. Heavenly Punishment (天罚 tiānfá)
Two main circumstances can trigger this:
The first type is cultivators with extraordinary potential, such as those with chaos spiritual roots or who practice both Dao/Immortal and Demon cultivation simultaneously, who may face Heavenly Punishment. The Heavenly Dao views these individuals as threats or "sinned" due to their capabilities.
The second type is cultivators who have committed heinous acts that severely harm the plane or world may also be targeted by Heavenly Punishment. Even those who have absorbed the sins of others inadvertently, such as through devouring fellow practitioners' powers, can be subjected to this fate.
1.2. Heart Demon Tribulation (心魔劫 xīnmó jié)
The second phase, the Heart Demon Tribulation, is a mental and spiritual trial. It tests the cultivator's Dao Heart by manifesting their deepest fears, doubts, obsession, guilt, other negative emotions, and inner demons as hallucinations or spiritual attacks.
This tribulation seeks to break the cultivator's will and corrupt their core
beliefs. Failure to overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation can result in Qi Deviation, Falling (落下) - the betrayal of one's Dao Heart, or even the cultivator's consciousness being overtaken by their heart demon.
1.3. Overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation
To survive the Heavenly Tribulation, cultivators must find ways to temper their bodies and neutralize the incoming lightning. Many cultivators allow the initial, weaker bolts to strike them directly, using weapons, talismans, or artifacts to blunt the force of the more powerful, later strikes. The ultimate challenge is enduring the final, most devastating strike, which is the culmination of the Heavenly Tribulation.
Should a cultivator succeed in overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation, they are rewarded with a spiritual rain (灵雨 líng yǔ) – a downpour of nourishing energies that heals the damage inflicted and even provides a boost to their cultivation base. This celestial blessing is a testament to the cultivator's hard-won victory. However, those who have faced the second type of Heavenly Punishment are denied this gift, as the Heavens have deemed them unworthy of such grace.
Fellow cultivators may gather around the tribulations site, hoping to get glimpse of the higher level of tribulation, having enlightenment, to size the spiritual rains, or belonging of fallen (if the cultivator who facing tribulation die in the process).
For this reason, cultivators often seeks the most secluded, safe, and serene locations to face their tribulations, avoiding distractions or interference. Sects and clans frequently maintained dedicated space where their members or disciples can undergo this critical trial in safety.
1.4. Consequences of Failing Heavenly Tribulation
Thunder Tribulation Failure:
Death (死亡, sǐwáng): If the cultivator cannot withstand the thunder, they die, and their absorbed Qi returns to the world.
Severe Injuries (重伤, zhòng shāng): Surviving cultivators may suffer injuries embedded with traces of Heavenly Thunder's power, making them exceptionally hard to heal. These wounds are usually internal, invisible to the naked eye but severely impair the cultivator's abilities.
Heart Demon Tribulation Failure:
Falling (落下, luòxià): This outcome leads to Qi Deviation, where the cultivator's Dao Heart is damaged, and they may lose control over their cultivation path.
Possession by Heart Demons (心魔附体, xīnmó fù tǐ): If their consciousness is overwhelmed, the cultivator risks losing their mind or becoming controlled by their inner demons.
Chance for Redemption:
As long as the cultivator survives, they can attempt to face the Heavenly Tribulation again in the future. The experience gained from failure can sometimes bolster their resolve and strength for the next attempt.