Quest Maker: 379

Title: Tribulation Galore (1)

"Now I have to ask. Why are you being targeted by the gods, too?" Ja Sun appears outside the defenses of the Island and questions Xunji.

Just because he is confident in his abilities does not mean he will underestimate the gods. Besides, he strengthened the array with his own divine intent to snuff out the last bit of control Poseidon had over the island and its riches.

Now, he needed to stay away from the island to keep the tribulation from destroying it.

Glancing in Ja Sun's direction, Qian Xunji narrows his eyes in contemplation.

A tribulation is brewing above them. The kind beyond the usual strength.

Top Ten Tribulations.

It is merely a title. In reality, when the tribulation is considered as 'Top Ten', it is created by the direct interference of the gods. Last time, Ah Yin faced one such menace but the magnitude of this tribulation seems greater.

By several times, at least.

Seeing that Qian Xunji is not willing to satiate his curiosity, Ja Sun changes the subject, "How many gods do you think will try us?"

"I already sense several divinities through the curtain of existence," Qian Xunji replies, "You do the rest of the math."

While Ja Sun cannot sense the divine beyond mortal curtains of existence if they don't make a move like Xunji can, he guessed things correctly.

This tribulation is not an individual effort but a combined front.

A combined show of force against a mortal... and an incomplete god.

The duo, on the other hand, did not know whether to feel flattered or indignant. Yet, both of them seem to be in the same tune at the moment and choose to enjoy the former feeling since things have already gotten this way.

To be precise, they both knew their actions would set them against the multitude of gods. It was either today or tomorrow.

The dark clouds continue to swirl and expand. The tremendous divine pressure from heaven itself targeted Ja Sun and Qian Xunji, under the ministration of the gods.

Most likely, through the use of their god tablets.

This means that wherever Ja Sun and Xunji might decide to 'hide', they cannot escape the tribulation. Not even King's Lair would be able to hold away tribulations without attracting even more furious attacks from heaven itself.

Heaven is alive.

And right now, it is slightly roused due to so many gods acting at once.

Everyone on the Sea God Island, protected by the Divine Grace Array knelt on the ground. Individual wails of prayer and forgiveness for things they did not even commit echo from the island as the rest of the Titled Douluo protectors carried the unconscious Bo Saixi to the central plaza.

Dread is a sensation shared by everyone who stares at the dark central depths around which the cloud swirls. Several overlords spread around in the ocean dive further into the sea. Near the island, a school of demonic sharks that patrol around the island hides within the underwater caverns of the island as one particularly large shark feeling more than nervous and jittery cast another glance in the direction of the brewing tribulation before accepting her helplessness and hiding alongside her brethren.

On the Douluo Continent, Tang Hao looks at the sky with a grave expression like everyone else. His elder brother and father are no exceptions but unlike them, Tang Hao quietly returns to his workshop.

"What are you doing?" Tang Peng glances at his youngest son.

"What else? We either live whatever this is or we die! That Damn Lightning Dragon got to venture into the sea but failed. Brother Taiyin's sent to another continent to conquer bits and pieces of it...

While I am stuck here to forge and learn that stupid language!"

"Arrays," Tang Xiao corrects him with a sigh.

Qian Xunji has placed special efforts on the three of them. The Blood God has been rather unmoved by the fact that their sister is with Ja Sun.

Being the mad lad he has always been, Tang Hao simply questions Xunji when he was called to have a task assigned to him.

And the answer was equally simple.

— What I plan to do with Ja Sun is between him and me. If others interfere, it's their will. And you are powerless to do anything about it. Start working on the arrays and your forge. If you cannot break through into Rank 90 yet, improve in other manners. It's the least you can do for your pregnant fiancee in these uncertain times.—

After Clear Sky Clan dealt with some scheming foxes who wanted to lay ruin to them... they have been enjoying a period of peace. The fact that Dugu Bo is their External Elder gives them a better standing compared to other clans once again.

But...

The gaping pit left by the disappearance of the Giant's Forest still continues to remind them of just what kind of situation they are truly in.

A pregnant Dai Mu calls out to Tang Hao, "Brother Hao... wait..." Her face is flushed and beads of sweat collect over her forehead. A chambermaid quickly follows after Dai Mu as the former princess of the Star Luo Empire smiles brightly through pain and exhaustion, "Brother Hao, our child—"

As Clear Sky Clan is set abuzz by the news despite the tremendous tribulation charging, on the other side of the continent in the Star Luo Palace, Dai Laohu sets his quill on the desk and lets out a contented sigh.

After Blood God's ascension, Imperial Rule ceased to exist.

Instead, Dai Laohu is now one of Qian Xunji's many retainers as the god would overlook the development of the continent. Not only that, Laohu is still the clan head of the Imperial White Tiger Clan.

These two positions were supposed to be filled by his son but...

He has been asked to travel to another continent that Blood God discovered alongside a team of Titled Douluos and other spirit masters. Surprisingly, all of them are set under Dai Taiyin's command under the assumption of reasonable expectations from the imperial talent.

Silently, Laohu looks out of his window and gazes at the apocalyptic sight.

"What do you think, Yin?" He questions his wife, Zhu Yin, who shakes her head quietly and sighs. While Laohu still looks young and robust, Zhu Ning's coat of dark and glossy hair now flicker with odd grey strands that she does not care enough to color. Still, her round face barely looks aged.

There is a reason why her hair is allowed to slowly whiten.

*Click*

Two little children burst into the room with loud cries.

Both of them possess equally blonde manes of the male members of the clan as one of them rushes to Laohu and the other one jumps in Yin's embrace.

"Grandpa! It's so scary outside!"

"Uwaaah! Granny! I'm scared!"

While the older brother still holds back his tears, the younger one cries in his grandmother's arms.

Dai Taiyin is accompanied by his wife, Zhu Ning, without a shadow of a doubt. They both are warriors and they are stronger together due to their Spirit Fusion. This also meant that the real test in Xunji's demand for the two to set out for the other continent was to leave their sons behind for the time being, making Laohu and Yin their current guardians.

But unlike most grandfathers, Laohu merely smiles softly yet he offers no words of comfort. Neither does Yin. As hard as it may feel for them to do the same to their grandchildren... they must raise them the same as they did with their own sons.

This time, however, they had another relative, too, whose news reached the former Imperial Palace quickly.

"Mu'er is going to give birth?" Laohu perks up and flourishes his hand with a smile.

Finally, a piece of good news.

"Boys, let's go and meet your young cousin!"

Arguably... Dai Laohu looked more excited for his daughter's son. He could dote on him. Again, as cold as it may feel... they have gone through this tradition for thousands of years and it is what allowed them to remain in power even now!

---

Between two realms exist a plane of division. For instance, between the mortal and divine realms, there exists a plane of existence where the divine can descend to interact with the mortal plane briefly.

Similarly, a mortal ascends to this plane to complete their godly tribulation and become a god. This is a plane Ja Sun is informed of and where Qian Xunji entered to complete his tribulation.

However, just like in the mortal plane where things are set in stone, the divine plane is not any different. It is an existence that accommodates divine beings, so, even the divinity finds it hard to change things there easily.

In layman's terms, Divine Gods may as well be spirit masters in the divine realm all over again.

Things, however, differ in this buffer plane of existence.

Here, gods can have their own realities manifest.

Within Asura's reality, the once-feared world of crimson and red is now replaced by a peaceful amber sky dotted with blood-red clouds, and an expansive ocean. On a small island whose surface is no larger than a simple Inn's room, a white-haired youth continues to hold a fishing pole and leans back on his chair with a gentle smile.

"This is your responsibility, too," It's not Poseidon that visited Asura but a god of a similar standing as Asura.

"As the God of Slaughter... and Order, is it not in your ambition to take care of Blood God and that Beast? Blood God aims to implode the Divine Realm with many, many gods. The Divine Core cannot handle such burdens. Meanwhile, that otherworldly beast has perverted his cultivation and aims to achieve something we all dread. To become a God as an otherworldly beast is in no one's best interest. Especially when the said otherworldly demon has... the paradoxical concept of equality."

Asura quietly listens to the devilishly handsome man who stood beside him. His dark purple locks slip out of his hooded black robe trimmed with purple-gold threads while only his pale chin and sharp lips can be viewed by others.

"How little do you think of my vow?" Asura muses after a while, "When I bisected the River of Time alongside the Supreme Dragon, I vowed to let go of my sword. It's that sacrifice that gave me the strength to commit such feats of strength."

"You still have your God Tablet. Invoke the Tribulation of Order if not Slaughter," The figure suggests.

"And betray my own comprehension of Order and Slaughter?" Asura chuckles, "Would you do that, Hui Mie?"

"Hui Mie... I haven't heard someone call me that for ages..." The figure lets out a muted sigh before speaking, "But I would. I am doing it right now. As one of the three enforcers, it is my duty to protect the Divine Realm. Because..."

"If you don't, heaven can replace us just as easily," Asura completes his words, "We have attained the realm of Supreme Grandmaster in our respective laws so we can live in our laws itself, but it would be a hassle to stave off heaven's intent of balancing everything. Even now, I believe, the tribulation's strength is being adjusted. Its method is being restructured in a way that Blood God and Ja Sun have a way out as slim as those chances are."

"Unless you utilize your strength, too. We can collectively influence Heaven with Creation, Destruction... and Order."

"Why..." Hui Mie questions softly, "What happened that day with you, Supreme Dragon King, and Evil Sage? Why did you really give up your weapon? What... happened to Evil Sage then?"

The Supreme God of Death and Destruction whispers, "She was not forced out of this realm alongside other mages. What did you REALLY do that day?"

A quiet look of admiration flickers in Asura's eyes.

"It's an unending path," Asura focuses on his fishing pole, "Mortal plane is in a lower dimension. The divine plane is in a higher dimension of reality. Heaven exists at an even higher plane of reality. Maybe there is something beyond heaven, too."

"So, you would neither invoke your divine right nor would you explain what transpired that day," Hui Mie sighs.

Asura does not answer him and instead cautions him, "I warned Poseidon once, I shall warn you again. Don't stir the Sage. He came in peace. Let him be at peace."

"He openly challenged your divine intent in the mortal plane even when you did not show any malice," Hui Mie retorts.

"And? How did that really affect me in any manner? If a child throws a tantrum, am I supposed to kill him for his ignorance?" Asura smiles back.

"He is no longer ignorant. He understands the consequences of his actions yet he continues forth to see the world his way."

Asura hums, "He truly does understand the consequences of his actions. He has peeked into the past. He has broken a divine law that I created. Just for that transgression, I will make one move," looking at Hui Mie with his kind blood-red eyes, Asura smiles, "Destruction and Life goes hand in hand, you understand this more than most. I hope... you understand the consequences of your actions, too. Troublesome are not those that are hard to kill..."

Looking at his fishing pole, Asura lets out a quiet chuckle, "In my experience, troublesome are those that don't fear death as a punishment but rather find divine opportunities even in them."

Hui Mie's expression under the hood of his cloak shifts subtly. He knows of three such individuals. One, of course, is the Sage. The other, who returned from his death by their Evil 'guest', is the Prince. Finally, the third one..." Hui Mie recalls the peerless figure who disappeared once Asura dealt with the Supreme Dragon God— The Evil Sage.

"Hmm?"

Hui Mie frowns and even Asura flicks his fishing pole. The sea reflects the image of a peak of a mountain where multiple wet nurses helped a blonde woman during her childbirth.

"Another one..." Hui Mie groans while Asura shrugs.

"Why did you not close off all the exits?" Hui Mie gazes at Asura as he replies, "This soul isn't otherworldly... it's just from a parallel verse under our divine realm."

"Ah... but still... to have a reincarnator just when our tribulation takes place..." Hui Mie sighs and turns to leave.

"Hui Mie... Posiedon likes to make things personal. But, since we all have achieved our positions by stepping on a mountain of corpses... I don't care for grudges. I will advise you again. Merely act in your rights justly. Don't make it personal. The other party's issue is with Posiedon and that emerged because Ja Sun merely wanted to grow if things are looked at the larger picture. But Posiedon made it personal.

Similarly, Blood God's ambition is not a personal affront against the divine as Toxin would like us to believe. So... don't let it get personal in any manner. Because the other party might just be more devious than you."

Hui Mie looks thoughtful and lets out a nasal grunt of agreement as he walks away before phasing out of this reality.

---

*Crackle*

Purple Lightning crackles from within the abyss forming in the sky. The pressure on the very mortal plane of existence intensifies further.

Everyone aside from four individuals on the plane of reality feels something heavy press upon their chests. It matters not if they are weak or strong. Under this pressure...

Everyone but those four is equal.

Thus, everyone feels equally suffocated. Yet, stronger men and women can bear the pressure better. Those with greater will who wish to protect someone or something— like a mother protecting her child— fare better, too.

Of these four, two float midair near each other.

"All this farce can end if you hand me my God Tablet. Being here, I can cut off half the strength of the tribulation alone," Qian Xunji glances at Ja Sun.

With his scorpion tail curling in excitement, Ja Sun's six eyes narrow as the seventh one in the center of his forehead snaps open, "Let's not be hasty and cut our fun in half, Blood God," he chuckles, "Don't you want to use the full extent of your abilities?"

Qian Xunji narrows his eyes and then 'advises,' "You could use that domain and see if things can get better."

"I want fun, but I won't just poke the bear if there are no benefits," He laughs.

'So... he knows,' Xunji narrows his eyes.

Using a domain in tribulation would be akin to challenging heaven itself.

Tribulations are an act of Heaven, not gods. Gods can only influence it. In a manner of speaking, coax it. If Ja Sun uses any domain... he will be facing a torrent of tribulations all alone!

But how can he do that?

He has started to open up to his family and share some bits with them... so it would be wrong of him no share disasters with his enemies, too!

*Boom*

A low grumble echoes from the abyss in the sky and a lone ray of light briefly streams down on the two. This pillar of light may look 'thin' to viewers from the continent but it easily covered Ja Sun and Xunji alongside the Sea God Island.

In the duo's senses, a gentle, motherly voice echoes.

"It does not have to end like this," she informs gently, "I hold the authority to hold this off but the rest wish concrete proof, that you, Blood God Qian Xunji will not threaten the peace of Divine Realm and ascend. And, if you, Beast Sage Ja Sun, hand over Blood God's God Tablet and let go of Poseidon's following."

Qian Xunji and Ja Sun look at each other.

'Asking me to give up on my goals after all this...'

'Asking me to let go of my wealth...'

They stare into the light. For a moment, both of them gaze at a beautiful brown-haired woman with verdant green eyes. A faint golden halo flickers above her head while her curvaceous body exudes a sense of vitality far exceeding Bi Ji. Her gaze reveals her sincerity. She truly is giving them a way out.

But...

Cultivators and Gods are nothing but defiers.

""I refuse.""

***

Alternate Title: Tribulation Buddy; Let's Threeway This Tribulation!; Not the Top Ten Tribulation but... Ten Tribulations!; Childbirth; Xunji's Pragmatic Rule; Dai Taiyin's Shipped Off; The Woes of Tradition; Don't Make it Personal; Right of Order; The Divine Mystery; Another Otherworldly?; Promise of One Move; Four Unequal Beings; I Refuse.