Chapter 724: The Spirit Tribulation
Earth Sovereigns are immensely powerful beings, and their emergence inevitably provokes the wrath of the heavens, resulting in a devastating trial known as the Spirit Tribulation. Feared among the Great Thousand World's Ninth Grade Sovereigns, the Spirit Tribulation is a deadly challenge that has obliterated countless prodigies throughout history.
Xiao Ze recalled what he knew about the Spirit Tribulation. While breaking the Sovereign Sea into countless miniature seas represents a cultivator's progress in spiritual power, the Spirit Tribulation is aimed at elevating the Sovereign Body. Overcoming it allows the Sovereign Body to transform into a Sovereign Avatar, enhancing its connection with the world.
This connection is why Earth Sovereigns are capable of speaking things into existence their Sovereign Avatars are deeply intertwined with the fabric of the heavens and earth.
As Xiao Ze reflected, the sky above darkened abruptly, and the spiritual energy in the air grew wild and turbulent. High above, boundless spiritual energy materialized out of thin air, gradually condensing into colorful clouds.
Without hesitation, Xiao Ze summoned his Sovereign Body. Though it wasn't one of the fabled Ninety Nine Sovereign Bodies, he was confident in its strength.
Standing over a thousand feet tall, Xiao Ze's Sovereign Body exuded a pure golden hue, as if made of solidified sunlight. It radiated a brilliance so intense it resembled a miniature sun. Xiao Ze leaped lightly onto its shoulder, surveying the skies.
Mandala's gaze was drawn to the golden figure, her golden eyes filled with curiosity. Despite her vast experience, even she couldn't identify the origins of Xiao Ze's unique Sovereign Body.
"Though it's not one of the Ninety Nine Sovereign Bodies," she murmured, "its aura is on par with some ranked in the top fifty."
This realization startled her. The Ninety Nine Sovereign Bodies were renowned throughout the Great Thousand World, and even the weakest among them was exceptional. Sovereigns without these bodies could only manifest ordinary ones formed from their own spiritual energy.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ze examined his Sovereign Body, a small smile playing on his lips.
"I'm looking forward to this tribulation," he muttered. "Let's see how strong it really is."
As if responding to his anticipation, the spiritual clouds above thickened, spreading across tens of thousands of miles. Within them, vibrant lightning danced, emanating a bone deep sense of dread.
Mandala watched the skies with a growing unease.
"Xiao Ze, be careful," she warned. "Something's off about this tribulation. Spirit Tribulations consist of nine strikes, each stronger than the last. But this first strike already rivals the power of the final ones in mine!"
Though years had passed since Mandala overcame her own Spirit Tribulation, the harrowing memories remained vivid. The tribulation's ferocity left an indelible mark on anyone who faced it.
She frowned as the pressure in the air intensified.
"This can't be normal," she muttered. "Even for someone from a lower realm, their tribulation shouldn't be this overwhelming. Could it be… his Sovereign Body?"
The thought sent her mind racing. A Spirit Tribulation's strength depended on the Sovereign Body it targeted. If Xiao Ze's tribulation was this ferocious, it implied that his Sovereign Body was extraordinary possibly among the top tiers.
But such strength… Could it truly rival the top ten of the Ninety Nine Sovereign Bodies?
Mandala didn't dare entertain the possibility that it could rival the top five. Those Sovereign Bodies were the legendary Primal Bodies, capable of aweing even the most powerful Earth Sovereigns.
Xiao Ze, now fully aware of the tribulation's abnormality, felt a mix of caution and curiosity.
"Is it because my Sovereign Body is formed from the Origin Tree? Or is it my unique cultivation system that provokes a stronger response from the Great Thousand World?"
His musings were interrupted as the first strike of the Spirit Tribulation descended.
A brilliant, multicolored lightning bolt tore through the heavens, its sheer presence shattering the space around it into shards of void.
Mandala's golden eyes widened.
The dazzling lightning illuminated the shattered void, its scattered fragments reflecting its radiance like stars in a dark galaxy. Yet beneath its beauty lurked a destruction so intense that even Mandala felt a faint sting in her own body.
Facing the devastating lightning, Xiao Ze felt a chilling premonition. He acted without hesitation, unleashing his Sovereign Body's ultimate power: Sovereign Divine Abilities.
The Origin Tree, having fully harmonized with his spiritual energy, not only created Xiao Ze's Sovereign Body but also endowed it with extraordinary abilities.
With a series of seals formed in perfect synchronicity, Xiao Ze's Sovereign Body activated its power.
From within the Origin Tree's vast space, a single branch trembled the one representing the Calamity Poison Body.
"Sovereign Divine Ability: The Three Calamities of Misfortune – Wind Calamity!"
Xiao Ze's voice echoed as his Sovereign Body's eyes glowed with a blend of purple and green. It opened its mouth, exhaling a streak of ethereal wind imbued with both colors.
The first strand of wind soared upward, meeting the descending lightning bolt head on. The second enveloped Xiao Ze, forming a protective barrier.
The calamity winds represented both the disaster and the means to avoid it.
The two forces collided in the sky, generating a storm of unimaginable power. The wind sought to dissolve the lightning, while the lightning aimed to obliterate the wind.
The clash created ripples of destruction, tearing the sky apart. Even the faintest traces of energy radiating from the collision shredded the surrounding space into void.
Xiao Ze frowned, sensing the struggle.
Without hesitation, he directed the protective wind to join the assault. The two strands combined, creating a complete manifestation of the Wind Calamity.
The merged force overwhelmed the vibrant lightning, finally extinguishing it in a blaze of light.
As the skies calmed, Xiao Ze exhaled, his Sovereign Body standing firm. But his expression remained grim.
"This was only the first strike," he muttered.
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