Elder Shadow question was right to the point. I understood his concern, the discussion I'd had with Patriarch Umbra and him in that tearoom had discussed my involvement in Four Elements. That involvement was predicated on my breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm and claiming that parcel of land that they thought was involved in smuggling.
I should have braved my tribulation by now, but I had been afraid. Some of that fear and the reason for the delay had been the attack on my parents' home. That attack had been a large reason I'd vacillated, and even if that was only part of the reason, it was endemic of those contributing factors that led to my underlying concern.
"I couldn't risk it," I said frankly, "without you at Flowing Water Sect to protect me, I didn't trust that I wouldn't be interrupted or attacked while I was deeply engaged dealing with the events of the tribulation. I didn't think I could withstand the barrage of lightning that would open up my Dharmic Body and physical attacks by Braun and his ilk."
There was no point bandying my words. He had asked, and I had come to know him well enough that he wouldn't appreciate any attempt to sugarcoat the truth. I refused to pretend my cultivation would not have been in jeopardy if I had attempted my tribulation and Elder An or his people had interfered.
Tribulations were a highly personal metaphysical event. The Heavens personalized them to each individual, testing, and giving an opportunity for each aspirant to prevail. The process was much more than simply surviving the lightning blasts that an outside observer could see. The barrage of lightning was more symbol, a weather phenomenon that proved that the Heavens had acknowledged your effort and were willing to test you.
But the lightning was only part of the process. It was the internal test where the real danger lay. People often say that when you are about to die, your life flashes before your eyes. That didn't happen for me when I entered the capsule at Digi-verse, but the Heavenly tribulation was comparable.
The lightning wasn't entirely incidental, each strike did serve the purpose of tempering and forging a Dharmic Body that would allow you to confront the true test, surviving and embracing memories that would test your character.
The Heavens would show you your mistakes, as well as what might have been if you had made other choices. The road not taken, could be eliminating or crippling. I was hoping that I, like Robert Frost who had penned those words so long ago, had made the right choices and those choices had made all the difference.
How your life could have unfolded if you had made a different choice, for some, the regret or pain they experience when confronted with Truth was more than they could face. Those that are unable to accept that Truth would invariably fail. Perhaps not during one of the early tribulations, but as they progress along the path of cultivation, those truths only became more profound, more immediate.
A cultivator that cannot accept their past actions and mistakes, and learn from them, are doomed to failure. The Heavens intensifying the lightning strikes until, eventually; they pierce the foundation that has been painstakingly built, and the Dharmic Body was destroyed.
"As I thought," Elder Shadow allowed. "And unfortunately, you weren't wrong. Elders Tye and Cix would have tried to protect you, we'd discussed that eventuality before the tournament, but you may be right that those in the faction that wanted to see you fail may have acted.
"But those concerns have no place here, I will guard and make sure no one interferes with your tribulation. And if that was the only reason you delayed the test of Heaven's tribulation, then it is time.
"Come," he commanded. "I will show you to Four Elements tribulation field."
"Today?" I squeaked resolutely refusing to acknowledge the panic his offer instilled.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
"There is no better time. The Sect is in chaos as members are still settling in, people uncertain of where to be or what to do. And it seems some Elders are upending young cultivator's hopes and plans. That is only going to lead to more confusion," he warned.
Not really leaving me any real choice but to follow, he began walking, and I was forced to follow obediently. I will admit to my fears, any cultivator who said otherwise when facing possible death was a liar. We were facing the unknown, and more than a certain amount of trepidation about facing Heaven's test should be expected.
I wasn't too worried about surviving the lightning strikes; I had mastered control of that element, the power of lightning had slowly become mine to command, so I should be immune. The lightning would temper and forge me, but unless tribulation's lighting was not that elemental force, I was familiar with and could control, it could do little damage to my physical body.
Still, I was worried about my unique circumstances. Would my tribulation have me facing Truth about both of my lives?
"I'm sure you've noticed by now, the unique harmony of the air, water, fire, and earth elements that permeates the area," Elder Shadow began, filling the silence and focusing my attention so that I couldn't wallow in my thoughts or be crippled by my fears before the tribulation even began.
"This convergence of balance is unique in the entire Cai'Li empire. No other Sect can boast of such uniformity and affinity. It is the reason Emperor Halycon was willing to invest so much of the resources of the empire into establishing the Four Elements Sect.
"Even those individuals that find themselves aligned with the truly esoteric elements. Those aligned with space, time, or void will be able to enjoy the benefits here, where that congruence exists.
"The truth, you will find, is that every cultivator resonates with every element. The affinities that we claim to align with, are those elements that we embrace easily.
"But think.
"You can control lightning, even though your elemental affinities are water and air.
"How?" He demanded. "You have touched on the elements of lighting, fog, and ice. Why?
"Because, no matter how small the resonance with lightning may have been, it already existed within you," he said answering his own question. "You control water, air, fog, ice, and lightning. But buried within you are the other elements, those that lie dormant.
"All of the other elements, that you will gain affinity with. To ascend and gain Heaven's Realm, every cultivator needs to be able to touch void, space, and time.
"You simply woke what lay dormant when you gained control of lightning, ice, and fog.
"Each cultivator only needs to turn inwards to find proof. How else could your inner sea exist?" He questioned. "We create an inner world that mirrors reality. A world contained within the void of our soul. A world that is created using Laws that constrain and explain every element."
"The inner sea is real? Not a metaphysical representation, an illusion powered by my Dharmic body?" I asked in confusion.
"It is real. A place held safe within the vastness of the void. Your soul is tethered to both your body and this astral space. A cord of spiritual energy, that you channel Qi through to give form to the world you are creating.
"This inner world grows as you direct, even if that direction is unconscious. It would more correctly to label your inner sea, your soul world. It is there your Dharmic body resides, and if the astral cord that tethers your body to this world is broken, that world dies.
"You would die soon after, unable to survive without a Soul. But that astral cord is resilient, as strong as your meridian channels, and protected by the same facets of gem that protect your Dantian. The lightning that your body must endure during your tribulation, is a lie. The Heaven's use the lightning to test your inner sea, and the strength of your astral cord.
"The reason you can keep your companion safe within that inner world is further proof that you have created a pocket world, a dimension of the soul, space, time, and void. A world that makes it possible to transfer the body physical of your companion between this world and the inner would you have created.
"For those that can't withstand lightning's rage of tribulation within their soul world, the astral cord snaps, their Dharmic body dissipates, and their physical body is left a fried husk. Death is a real possibility for every cultivator, Heaven's test can be cruel, but it is always fair. There is no way to call in favors or circumvent the will of Heaven with bribery or cajolery.
"If you survive, it is because of your will, your talents, and your desire to continue to walk the cultivator's path.
"Here," he said our walk having meandered through halls, outdoors, and around a discrete path, we arrived as he led me to an area blackened earth, scorched with lightning's fury. "This is the area the Sect has designated for Heaven's test."
"Take a seat, enter meditation, and make your intent known."