Chapter 25 - First Heavenly Tribulation

The night deepened, stars sharp above the mountain peaks. Verdant Cloud Sect slept in dignified silence—except for the occasional snore from a drunken disciple who had tried and failed to keep up with Jiang Hao's drinking pace.On the balcony of his guest chamber, Jiang Hao leaned lazily against the railing, cup balanced between two fingers. The thunder in the distance rolled again, louder this time, and a faint purple glow crackled through the clouds.He sighed. "Really? Now? I'm on vacation. Can't Heaven clock in after breakfast like everyone else?"The clouds churned, alive with restless lightning.A soft voice broke the silence. "You sense it too?"Jiang Hao turned his head to see Mei Ling stepping onto the balcony. She was dressed simply in white night robes, her long hair loose, catching the moonlight. She held a small tray with a teapot and two cups.He blinked at her. "You… brought tea? At night?"Her lips curved faintly. "Someone has to keep you from drinking yourself to death, Senior Brother." She set the tray down. "Wine is for laughter. Tea is for quiet. Tonight feels like it needs both."Jiang Hao studied her for a moment, then gave a rare, soft smile. "You know… that might be the wisest thing anyone's said to me today."They poured tea. For a while, silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant thunder and the faint clink of porcelain cups. Mei Ling watched the storm uneasily."That isn't ordinary weather," she said at last."Nope." Jiang Hao sipped calmly. "Heaven's sharpening its knives. Probably thinks it can sneak one past me."Her brows furrowed. "Then why are you so calm?""Because…" He tilted his cup. "Tea tastes better when you're not panicking."She stared at him, then laughed softly, shaking her head. "Only you, Senior Brother."Farther down the corridor, Lin Xueyao had been pacing. She couldn't sleep—not with the humiliation of dinner still fresh in her mind. That idiot Jiang Hao had embarrassed her before a Sect Leader! And yet… Sect Leader Yun had laughed. Actually laughed.She clenched her fists. "Why does everything he says sound like nonsense, yet somehow people believe him?"Her steps brought her near Jiang Hao's chamber, and she froze when she heard voices. Curious—and perhaps a little irritated—she edged closer, peering around the corner just enough to glimpse the balcony.There they were. Mei Ling and Jiang Hao, sipping tea in the moonlight, close enough their sleeves brushed. Mei Ling was smiling, genuinely smiling, her face soft in a way Lin Xueyao had never seen before.Lin Xueyao's chest tightened. She didn't know why."Tch. Shameless," she muttered, though the bitterness in her tone betrayed her.The thunder cracked again, sharper this time. The clouds above were no longer drifting lazily; they had gathered directly over Verdant Cloud Sect's main peak, lightning lashing in restless arcs.Mei Ling set her cup down, worry creasing her brow. "Senior Brother, this isn't just for show. It's… watching us."Jiang Hao tilted his head back, meeting the heavens with bored eyes. "Well, tell it to take a number. My shift ended hours ago."Lightning flashed, almost as if in answer.The balcony floor trembled faintly, qi in the air thickening until the entire mountain seemed to hold its breath. Disciples stirred awake, rushing outside in confusion. From the far peaks, Verdant Cloud Sect elders rose into the night sky, alarm spreading."Tribulation clouds? Here?""Impossible! Who dares draw Heaven's wrath on our land?"Sect Leader Yun herself appeared in a swirl of green robes, her face set in alarm as she stared at the roiling sky.On the balcony, Jiang Hao sighed and stood, dusting off his robes. "Well. Guess it won't wait until morning."Mei Ling's eyes widened. "Senior Brother… don't tell me—"He raised a hand, and for a moment, the lazy smile slipped. His eyes sharpened, reflecting arcs of lightning. "Stay back, Mei Ling. This isn't for you."The storm above rumbled like a beast unchained.And for the first time in centuries, Heaven itself prepared to test the man who wanted nothing more than to sip wine and nap in peace.The heavens tore open.Thunder boomed like war drums, and the clouds above Verdant Cloud Sect blazed with lightning veins, each one brighter than fire. Disciples scrambled out of their beds, some half-dressed, others clutching swords, all staring in horror at the storm gathering directly over their sect.Sect Leader Yun Feiyan floated into the sky, her robes trailing like banners. Her voice carried through the mountain:"Who dares provoke Heavenly Tribulation here?! Step forward at once!"No answer came—until a faintly tipsy voice rose from a balcony below."Uh… sorry. That'd be me."Every head turned.Jiang Hao leaned casually on the railing, wine flask dangling from one hand. His hair ruffled in the storm winds, his robe loose at the collar. To the horrified disciples, he looked more like a lazy wanderer than a cultivator staring down divine wrath.Yun Feiyan's eyes narrowed. "You? Impossible. No aura strong enough to summon Tribulation lies within you—"Another thunderclap cut her off. Lightning coiled, and a spear of violet fire slammed downward.Gasps rang out."Senior Brother!" Mei Ling cried, rushing toward him—only for Jiang Hao to flick his fingers. A soft ripple of qi pushed her back gently, setting her behind him like a child carried by the tide."Stay put," he said, his voice oddly calm. "Tea gets cold when you run around too much."The lightning struck.It crashed into the balcony in a blaze of violet destruction—except it didn't. The moment it touched the wooden rail, Jiang Hao lifted his flask and tilted it, letting a single drop of wine fall into the air.The droplet shimmered, expanded into a veil of light, and swallowed the thunder whole. The storm's fury dissolved into harmless sparks that fizzled like fireflies before fading.Silence.Every disciple gawked. Elders froze in midair. Sect Leader Yun's eyes widened."…He blocked Heaven's strike with… wine?"Lin Xueyao, watching from the shadows of the corridor, nearly dropped her sword.Mei Ling pressed her hand to her lips, equal parts terrified and awed.Jiang Hao gave the flask a gentle shake. "Good thing it was a dry red. Lightning pairs terribly with white."The absurdity of the comment in the middle of divine tribulation made half the disciples choke.But Heaven wasn't done.The clouds boiled darker, angrier, thunder shrieking across the mountains. A second strike gathered, thicker, sharper, meant to erase existence.Jiang Hao tilted his head back, studying it like a bored scholar eyeing homework."Alright, alright. I get it. You want me to try harder."He rolled his shoulders, the loose robe slipping to reveal lean muscle, faintly glowing inscriptions etched into his skin like sleeping dragons. His aura flared for the first time—just a whisper of what lay beneath—and every cultivator present staggered under the pressure.Even Yun Feiyan gasped. "That's not… possible. That level of suppression—he's…"Before she could finish, the lightning roared down.This time, Jiang Hao didn't raise his flask. He simply lifted one finger and tapped the air.The thunderbolt shattered.Shards of divine energy scattered harmlessly into mist, cascading around him in a glow that made him look less like a man and more like an immortal descending from a painting.Gasps turned into stunned silence.Lin Xueyao's heart hammered in her chest. Who… is he really?Mei Ling's eyes glistened, awe mingling with fear and something deeper, more tender.Jiang Hao lowered his hand and muttered, "Can't a man enjoy his drink without Heaven throwing a tantrum?"The storm raged harder, but it was clear: the Heavenly Tribulation was losing patience. The clouds churned into a vortex, lightning condensing into a spear of annihilation, thick as a mountain and brighter than the sun.Disciples screamed. Even Verdant Cloud elders braced to flee.But Jiang Hao… yawned."Fine. Let's finish this before curfew."He lifted the flask again, tilted it back, and drained the last drop. The empty container glowed faintly in his hand. With a lazy flick, he tossed it into the sky.The flask expanded, transforming into a shimmering barrier of wine-imbued qi that arced upward. The colossal lightning spear descended, slamming into the barrier with the fury of heaven itself.The clash shook the mountains. Peaks cracked. Rivers boiled. Disciples fell to their knees, covering their heads.And then… silence.When the glow faded, the flask clinked softly as it returned to Jiang Hao's palm, perfectly intact.The tribulation clouds hesitated, shivered… and began to retreat.Heaven had tested him—and backed down.For a long moment, nobody spoke. The only sound was Jiang Hao patting the flask fondly."There, see? Nothing to worry about." He turned toward Mei Ling, who stared at him wide-eyed. "Now… where'd you set the tea? I need something to wash down that lightning."She laughed in disbelief, tears pricking her eyes. "Senior Brother… you're impossible."Lin Xueyao stepped out of the shadows, face pale, voice shaking. "Y-you… you've been hiding this power all along?"Jiang Hao blinked at her. Then shrugged. "Hiding? No. Just… not working overtime."By dawn, rumors had already begun spreading like wildfire.The disciples whispered of a man who drank wine while defying Heaven, who shattered thunder with his fingertip and mocked tribulation with a smirk.And though Jiang Hao tried to keep low profile, his name had already slipped free from the shadows.The world had noticed.