As the seventh wave of the [Heavens Tribulation] subsided, it left a bloodied and close to unconscious Bai Qi on the charred and cracked thousands of years granite.
These last seven bolts of lighting were far more destructive than even the previous six waves combined, and Bai Qi grew panicked as he felt his condition.
Not a single inch of his body was unharmed, and every muscle, tendon, and even bone felt as crushed. But restoring the body wasn't so challenging, and the cause for Bai Qi's panic was the internal and spiritual damage the [Tribulation] inflicted on him.
He could hardly feel his circulation system, and the meridians he concentrated on showed cracks. Bai Qi's dantian wasn't in the best form either, with him unable to sense neither his [Qi Pool] nor his [Void Pool]. And if that was not enough, both his consciousness and soul showed damage as well.
*Cough* *Cough*
As he coughed, he felt the taste of blood, and every inch of his body responded in pain. Still, Bai Qi paid attention to neither, trying to force himself to stay awake and search for a way to salvage his cultivation. And it was the utmost to do so indeed as he felt how his cultivation was slowly beginning to wane.
But suddenly, something happened. From the verge of despair, Bai Qi's expression abruptly turned into one of joy. And he laughed as if he went crazy.
But Bai Qi did not go crazy, not at all. And it was proved only a few breaths later, as the darkened heavens released another bolt of lighting. This time it was a single bolt, dark purple and releasing a pressure that made even the mile-away companions of his instinctively retreat.
"Damn, give me *Cough* at least a *Cough* moment!" He shouted in a fit of coughing, rolling a few feet to the side, where at some point appeared a small puddle of purplish liquid.
*Splash*
Unable to control most of his body, Bai Qi rolled into it.
*CRASH*
And right as he did, the enormous and abnormal crimson bolt of lightning landed on him, obscuring his body and everything around it in mauve-colored light.
***
*Swoosh* *Swoosh*
"Ssstop! Damn!" Kass Shaa'r exclaimed as he missed the moment the two Bai sisters darted off. And unable to catch them, he found himself following after, not before hissing, "You all ssstay here for now!"
*Swoosh*
But neither he nor the [White Tiger] sisters managed to approach more than half a mile, an increasing pressure forcing them to stop.
"What the hell is happening?!" Bai Ze roared as she found herself unable to move a single foot.
"Wait, I can sense him again!" Bai Rui was about to follow with a similar roar, but it turned into a surprised shout.
"This pressure smells like him." Kass Shaa'r mentioned as he examined, sniffed, and even tried to force back the pressure with his aura.
{For the heavens, you three, get back! And better, open more distance! The [Heavenly Tribulation] is just about to start!} Suddenly, Bai Qi's voice resounded in their minds, and while shocked, they followed his words right away.
***
While the dark blotch on the skies was beginning to fade, Bai Qi wasn't mistaken about a [Tribulation] start. In fact, everything until that moment, even the purplish bolt at the end, had been not part of Bai Qi's [Heavenly Tribulation] called by his breakthrough.
It had been a [Tribulation], but not of Bai Qi the sage.
It had been for Bai Qi, the [Master of Everything, Ruler of Nothing] set cultivator.
Bai Qi never believed in fate or destiny. It wasn't because he doubted their existence, as he was sure they did exist. Neither it was because he considered himself above them. It was a far simpler reason Bai Qi believed that while they do exist, it's one choice to be influenced by them or not.
Still, he had to admit that sometimes it wasn't one's choice. After all, what he considered a whim of the heavens turned out to be something far above that. Indeed, if he got the set just because of dumb luck, and his subsequent escape and forced revival could be said to be a coincidence, then how to call what just happened? A [Tribulation] occurred, and it had neither the objective of killing nor testing him.
What he assumed to be the cursed seven times seven lightning [Heavenly Tribulation] was not meant to kill or wound him, but the opposite. It was hard to notice as it ravaged his body, consciousness, and soul. But when he looked into his dantian and found a small amount of liquid lightning, he understood everything. The pure, liquid essence of heavenly lightning was the rarest of the cultivation resources that one could ever hope to find.
Materializing, during one of a million lightning tribulations, the essence would converge with the cultivator, and if the latter did not die, none would be able to retrieve it. A single drop was enough to heal and improve one's cultivation, while three would allow a cultivator to advance his cultivation.
An advance both level-wise and quality-wise, by strengthening each meridian, pathway, and other connection of one's body.
It was almost unheard for three or four drops to appear, but eighteen drops inside one's dantian and a puddle with dozens of them in a slightly diluted state nearby?
Even the amount was enough to understand that it wasn't a standard [Tribulation], but Bai Qi was sure of it because of a different reason. Because of the words that appeared into his mind, coming from somewhere deep within. {Accept the lightning baptism, oh [Ruler].}
And Bai Qi accepted, even if it was at the last moment and with him having to strain himself even as to roll a couple of feet.
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The purple-colored bolt that struck Bai Qi as soon as he understood also served a purpose. Its meaning was to help him absorb the otherwise impossible amount of essence.
And the authentic [Heavenly Tribulation], one caused by his over-realm power and breakthrough, followed right after it. But with Bai Qi's body being truly reborn, the [Pressure of the Qi] Tribulation that would otherwise squash him and make him fight for his life passed unnoticed. Probably it only helped him in place of hurting him at all.
***
When Bai Qi used the link to connect with the [White Tiger] sisters and called everyone back, they expected anything. After all, his presence had faded, reappeared, and even disappeared entirely several times. And when he contacted them, neither the Beastmen nor the human part of Bai Qi's companions could recognize his presence.
But when the six Beastmen, three human cultivators, and the two girls approached, they were astonished at what they saw.
Bai Qi floated above the ground, his robes in tatters and showing blood, but unwounded. Around him, forming something like a ring, floated a mix of demonic essence, black flames, and lightning wisps.
His slightly tanned skin was now not darker than the snow-white mixed in his black hair. And while his body looked more or less the same, every muscle was now clearly defined, and he had not a single scar or blemish. Something in his face also suffered a change, but none of them could point it out. Still, as they looked at the familiar face, neither of his companions could say it was the same one from before.
Bai Qi's cultivation was also unexpected, as in place of the 1st level Warrior Lord they expected to see, they saw a 3rd level one. And over that, it was a peak 3rd level one!
But probably what took everyone aback was the air he released. Bai Qi had always stood out of the rest, but now! Bai Qi felt like a true ruler, one truly above everyone else. Even the [White Tiger] bloodline of Bai Rui and Bai Ze grew agitated as they found themselves partially subdued!
"Hmm, wait a moment." Bai Qi looked at the shocked faces in front and muttered before his presence changed to something more usual for them. Then, he landed on the ground and, after a brief moment of being obscured by an aura barrier, reappeared in fresh robes looking as if nothing had happened.
Bai Qi certainly suffered enormous changes to every part, both inner and outer. His body, soul, consciousness, cultivation, and everything else had improved. But most importantly, they have at last merged into a single being. Previously, Bai Qi thought he had fused his original self into Wu Guang's body perfectly, but now, he knew he was mistaken.
Obviously, such benefits came with a price, but Bai Qi would never share them with the others. After all, what would they think and feel if they found out that his lifespan had decreased by almost nine-tenths? And that all further increases would be worth just a tenth, at least until, if he ever reached, the Astral Realm?
A couple of restraints were also part of the overall price, not of his enhancement but from the [Master of Everything, Ruler of Nothing] Warrior Lord requirements. Still, they were almost moderate, and Bai Qi found no issue with them. After all, what if he had to obtain ten, twenty, or thirty times the qi and insights that any other cultivator required? The matter that only insights he earned with his current self were slightly unfortunate, as he had planned to use his memories. But as Bai Qi would gain insights from advancing his mastery in any path, it felt manageable.
"Well, I know that all this is surprising, but maybe some congratulations are in order?" Bai Qi's worldview also felt changed, the one of the True Immortal now held back by his new ambition of a ruler. And so, he considered that it was time for a fresh start.
Before, he had supposed that [Master of Everything, Ruler of Nothing] meant to obtain mastery in different paths but not gain ownership of anything. But now, he knew he mistook the latter half. [Ruler of Nothing] wasn't a state he had to aspire to, but the state he was starting as!
"Ah, yes, congratulations." Slightly taken aback by Bai Qi's words, everyone except the [White Tiger] sisters, who were still calming down their blood, said.
"Thank you." Bai Qi playfully smiled before suddenly asking, "I take that all of you are ready to go and look at the [Void Palace], am I right?"
"Huh? Right now?"
"Don't you need to stabilize?"
"Are you sure?"
"Should you not rest for a day first?"
A barrage of questions was his answer, but Bai Qi only shrugged as he shook his head to the ones about resting and waiting.
"Right now, the best way to stabilize will be a fight, and I think that we may get one or two up there." Bai Qi explained while he motioned upwards as if to the peak of the almost eight-mile cliff.
"If you think so. But, what do we do about..." Bai Rui's voice trailed off, but it wasn't hard to understand who she meant.
"I trust that you six can protect them while I establish contact with the Palace. It's fairly easier for a human to pass unnoticed after all." Bai Qi slightly smiled as he revealed that he did not plan to allow the Beastmen to accompany him at first.
"I see, so you want to hog all the fun as always." Zhua pouted.
"You will kill yourself, but do whatever you want." Bai Rui followed.
"You aren't going without me!" Bai Ze directly challenged.
"Are you sssure?" Kass Shaa'r usually agreed with anything Bai Qi decided, but even he asked in confirmation.
"We can protect the girls even if we all move together." Heise Zhao offered.
Bai Qi nodded to the man-lynx words. "Indeed, but if you go, I have no chance for a risky movement or fight. And that's the opposite of what I want and need." He added as everyone looked at him. He knew he was acting in a self-centered manner, but he did not want to repeat the previous conduct that led him into doubting his actions. Thus, if he wished to do something, he would do it.
***
In the end, pouting and scowling, the Beastmen agreed. As for Ye Su and Fan Jia, Bai Qi specifically asked them if they wanted to risk or they preferred to stay back. And while Ye Su did want to go, she was doubtful, and Bai Qi decided to offer her an easy way out.
"As we may require to sky-walk, I think it would be safer for you to stay back at first."
"If you think so, then yes. I would hate to become a hindrance." And as expected, Ye Su immediately took it.
Fan Jia had zero doubts, and Bai Qi felt that she would find an exit to most of what they could encounter, and so he only nodded to her acceptance.
"As for you..." Bai Qi's eyes turned towards Ma Su, and she felt a cold shiver noticing the dark flames dancing in his eyes. But he continued in an easygoing manner as his eyes returned to normal, "Don't fear, I have no intention to make you do anything. In fact, you are free to leave right now."
"Huh?" Not only Ma Su, but a few others skeptically looked at Bai Qi as his words registered.
"I am actually surprised you did not attempt to run off yet. After all, I doubt that a Warrior King missed that my consciousness strand dispersed during the [Heavenly Tribulation]." Bai Qi explained with a grin that turned wider as the six Beastmen went on guard.
"I..." Ma Su did not check, and it was her miss indeed. But even now that she knew, she had no idea what to do.
"If you don't want to flee, you can go along. No strings attached." Bai Qi shrugged, and after surrounding the two small girls with his aura, he motioned for the others to follow and jumped.
"Are you sure that it's safe to leave her? What if she goes with her boss? Or attacks us from behind? Or..?" Both Kass Shaa'r and Heise Zhao quickly closed on the deliberately slowly ascending Bai Qi and asked.
"Considering she's following after us while looking as she has no plan, who knows?" Bai Qi smiled, but before the Beastmen preemptively attacked as they were planning to, he sent everyone except the girls and Ma Su a qi transmission, {Leave her be. I am not planning on keeping her under contract as it impacts my consciousness, so right now, it's the safest time to check what she will do.}
{You have changed.} Bai Rui noted via the link.
{I have merely returned to what any cultivator should, being ambitious and greedy.} Bai Qi knew that his changes would impact all of his current relationships, but he did not feel any need to hide his thoughts from the pair of sisters.
And his thoughts were truly different from before, as Bai Qi had never, previously, thought of actually gathering many followers, merely a few people to help his journey. But now? He felt that while he would leave this plane, he would require far more than a few people in the next one. After all, if [Ruler of Nothing] was the starting state, then his objective wasn't solely cultivation, but also setting a true base somewhere.