Chapter 155: The Beginning Of Victoria’s Great Tribulation pt 2

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: The Beginning Of Victoria’s Great Tribulation pt 2

"General Quill has been cultivating in seclusion for days. Could she finally be attempting her breakthrough?"

"The tribulation required to enter the Divine Power Realm is incredibly dangerous. They say nine out of ten people fail to survive it. But General Quill is the pride of Valemont! I’m certain she’ll make it!"

"Good heavens! I can feel the pressure even from here. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be standing beneath those clouds!"

"Everyone, stay alert! Don’t allow anyone who isn’t authorized to approach General Quill’s secluded training grounds!"

The sudden appearance of the enormous storm sent the entire Extraordinary Division into an uproar. Heavenly Tribulations were rare.

Only a small number of martial artists encountered them when advancing from the Spirit Platform Realm to the Star Sea Realm, and those who attempted to enter the Divine Power Realm faced an even more terrifying ordeal.

For most people in the Division, this was their first opportunity to witness such a phenomenon at close range.

And the spectacle was far more frightening than they had imagined.

The sky looked as though it were about to collapse.

Dark clouds churned violently overhead, while enormous flashes of purple lightning illuminated their depths.

The atmosphere was so oppressive that even those watching from inside the building felt an instinctive urge to flee.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning appeared. It was as thick as a flowing stream, and its brilliant light turned the cloud covered city into something resembling broad daylight.

The thunderous explosion shook the surrounding area.

Martial artists with sufficiently sharp eyesight managed to catch a glimpse of a figure standing in the valley before she was swallowed by the enormous bolt of lightning.

The flash disappeared almost immediately.

But the landscape it left behind was unrecognizable. Trees, flowers, and thick vegetation had been reduced to ashes, exposing the layers of brown rock beneath them.

The ground itself had been blasted downward by more than three meters.

This was only the first strike. Compared with the tribulation lightning Xavier had once witnessed above himself, the bolt descending upon Victoria was more than twice as powerful.

That difference illustrated just how difficult it was to advance from the peak of the Star Sea Realm into the Divine Power Realm.

Fortunately, Victoria had spent years accumulating strength and preparing for this moment.

Although the first strike left her somewhat disheveled, she managed to withstand it without suffering serious injuries.

However, surviving the opening attack was only the beginning.

Roughly thirty seconds later, the second bolt finished gathering its power.

The lightning crashed down with even greater force.

The earth shook violently, and the Extraordinary Division building, despite being six or seven kilometers away, trembled under the impact.

This second strike was noticeably stronger than the first. When the light finally faded, the valley had become a deep crater.

Victoria’s figure remained standing in the middle of it, although her body swayed slightly.

Then came the third strike. The fourth. The fifth.

By the time the eighth bolt descended, the power of the tribulation had reached a terrifying level.

Inside the Extraordinary Division, the weaker martial artists could no longer withstand the pressure.

Several collapsed unconscious, while cracks began spreading across the building’s structure.

And the valley? It could no longer be called a valley. The surrounding hills had been flattened by the repeated lightning strikes.

The entire landscape had been reshaped into a devastated wasteland.

At the center of the destruction, Victoria was barely recognizable.

Blood covered her body, and her aura had weakened to the point where it seemed she might collapse at any moment.

Yet the tribulation still was not over. High above her, the dark clouds continued gathering energy.

The lightning that had previously appeared purple was now turning a much deeper shade.

Even from a distance, anyone could tell that the final strike would be far more destructive than the ones before it.

"This is the Nine Heavenly Tribulation!" someone suddenly exclaimed. "The final strike is supposed to be stronger than the combined power of the previous eight! General Quill is in serious danger!"

The classification of Heavenly Tribulations was already well established among martial artists.

The least difficult varieties were the Three Thunder Tribulation and the Six Thunder Tribulation.

Most people attempting to advance from the peak of the Star Sea Realm to the Divine Power Realm faced only three strikes.

Those with exceptional talent and potential might encounter six.

Beyond those were the more formidable tribulations, classified into groups of nine: the First Nine, Second Nine, Third Nine, and so on, all the way to the Seventh Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

Each higher classification represented a significantly greater challenge.

Even martial artists advancing from the Divine Power Realm to the Venerable Realm might encounter only the Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

As for tribulations involving twenty seven strikes or more, those were generally associated with Venerable Realm experts attempting to reach the Martial Saint Realm.

Victoria was facing the Nine Heavenly Tribulation. It was an extraordinary ordeal, and everyone watching understood what that meant.

"Why would General Quill have to face the Nine Heavenly Tribulation? This is terrible!"

"Is heaven jealous of her talent? Why else would it send down such a terrifying trial?"

"Look at her! She’s badly injured. How is she supposed to survive another strike?"

"There’s nothing we can do. No one is allowed to interfere with another person’s Heavenly Tribulation. She has to overcome it herself!"

"General Quill, please hold on! You can do this!"

The atmosphere inside the Division grew increasingly tense. Then someone noticed Victoria making a movement.

"Wait! Did she just swallow something?"

"It’s a pill!"

"But even a 6th-Grade Evergreen Pill might not be enough. The pressure of the Nine Heavenly Tribulation can severely restrict the effects of medicinal pills!"

Before anyone could speculate further, a fresh wave of energy began gathering inside the clouds.

"Look! The ninth strike is coming!"

For more than three minutes, the final bolt had been accumulating power.

Now, the dark purple lightning finally descended. The entire world seemed to shake.

An enormous expanse of ground surrounding Victoria was swallowed by blinding lightning.

The explosion was so powerful that the defensive formations installed throughout the Extraordinary Division activated automatically.

A massive golden barrier spread over the entire building, shielding it from the terrifying aftershock.

Dust and shattered rocks filled the air, making it impossible for the people watching to see what had happened inside the crater. Everyone held their breath.

Had Victoria survived? Or had the final strike ended her life? No one could tell.

Then, just as the anxiety reached its peak, a brilliant golden beam suddenly pierced through the darkness. It descended from the heavens and enveloped the devastated landscape.

Someone immediately recognized the phenomenon.

"She did it!" one person shouted. "That’s the golden light of sublimation! General Quill has successfully overcome the tribulation!"

"She’s entered the Divine Power Realm!"

"Hahaha! Wonderful! I knew she could do it!"

"General Quill has made history again! She’s truly the pride of Valemont!"

The Extraordinary Division erupted into cheers. Victoria was more than just a powerful martial artist to the people of the city.

She was a native talent whose achievements had brought pride to the entire region.

Her personal experiences and determination had also earned her widespread admiration.

Naturally, no one wanted to see her perish during the breakthrough.

Although the dust still obscured the crater, the golden pillar of light was unmistakable.

It appeared only when someone successfully survived a Heavenly Tribulation and underwent the resulting transformation.

Victoria had made it!

The entire Division was overcome with relief and excitement.

* * *

"Congratulations, General Quill!" one voice called.

"Congratulations, Master! You’ve finally entered the Divine Power Realm!"

About ten minutes later, the atmosphere in Samuel Bush’s office was filled with celebration.

Xavier, Mira, Samuel, and several other trusted individuals had gathered to welcome Victoria after her successful breakthrough.

Their little circle was an unusual one. Victoria and Mr. X both held extraordinary positions, while Samuel, as the head of the local Extraordinary Division, was among the few people with sufficient standing to interact closely with them.

Mira’s presence was an exception as well.

She was Victoria’s direct disciple and had developed a close relationship with Mr. X. Ordinary members of the Division would not have been permitted to join such a gathering.

"General Quill, reaching the Divine Power Realm is a tremendous achievement," Samuel said, speaking with heartfelt emotion.

"The higher ups will certainly entrust you with even greater responsibilities now. I’m genuinely happy for you!"

He was several years older than Victoria, yet his own cultivation remained at the peak of the Spirit Platform Realm.

Seeing her breakthrough made him reflect on the enormous differences that could exist between martial artists.

Some people spent their entire lives struggling to cross a particular threshold, while others seemed destined to reach heights beyond their peers.

Victoria had once again demonstrated just how exceptional she was.

She, too, was visibly excited by her success. However, rather than dwelling on her achievement, she turned toward Xavier.

"To be honest, I owe this breakthrough entirely to Mr. X’s help!" she said.