"Stupid, idiot! What did you do?" Pef heard a faint voice screaming in his ear. Sounded like Lia, only Lia was not in this realm...

'What's going on?' he asked inward.

'You were in a coma. For two years.' the glove said in a stern tone.

'Let's fight something...' a fainter voice added.

Pef sighed and fell inward and looked around his inner world through an Avatar, finding his beach house invaded by a tall multi-colored tree and a flying sword with a single eye on the pommel.

In the copy ice castle, a thousand Avatars were straining themselves to refine a lamellar armor suit, pouring their qi and straining bits of their souls to attune the armor, with little effect.

'Is that really Lia, outside?' he asked just to be sure.

'Yes. And a few dozen more people who crossed from the Exitus Gate during your sleep. Even Wang' the glove whispered in his ear, seeming amused.

'What's with the tree?' Pef asked after that, as he stepped beside the newcomer creature on the beach. He didn't remember this being here, or how it got in.

The bamboo tree fluttered a little, its leaves dancing in invisible wind, even changing colors for some reason.

'It's like a letter of sorts. You just need to carry it to the General. Don't worry about it.' the glove said with a dismissive voice.

Pef sighed and poked the nearby floating Ruler, or at least its mental image that invaded his inner world. "You can speak now?"

'Let's fight again. It's fun!' the weapon replied in a childish voice.

"Sure. But after I eat my next pill. If it's ready." Pef muttered while taking out some Godwine to drink. Sadly, the Tier5 wine didn't give much insights anymore, and his energy was full anyways, after resting for years.

With some effort, he wished himself into the real body, and opened his eyes. Sleeping on his chest were his two daughters, Lily and Rose, both of them at Tier 2 already and probably with their first Dao already complete.

"I'm back. Report via qi link." Pef demanded as he caressed the girls on their heads.

The glove immediately began to parse the incoming transmissions, filtering the most important data on his retina.

It seemed his wives hadn't been lazy while he slept, and took over the training of the outer Legion. Millions of Monarchs and Saints had promoted in the Mausoleum, and the most able ones were gifted more Godwine to Ascend towards higher ranks. There were even a pair of Tier 3 Soldiers Ascended from the humans imported from the Fay.

Sadly, the Godwine had been depleted with such large numbers of Recruits, and pills and herbs would never be sufficient for a billion Soldiers.

Also, adamantite weapons were being produced en-masse now, with several Elder Gods able to refine the metal in their inner worlds. Also, there was a large influx of rare jade, beast bones and parts, plus spirit herbs and other cultivation aids coming from the Mausoleum with each batch of Recruits.

And in the Great War, the Ghouls and their Lich army had tried to push towards the Haze Gap, only to be beaten back with heavy losses. However, unlike other forces the Ghouls could simply bring back their fallen and try again, especially their lower level armies like animated skeletons, zombie corpses or golems and summons.

At the new Legion Anchorage in the Shambala system, millions of adamantite ships were being armed and prepared for their next deployments, with most the crews being drawn from former Shin Admiralty members.

Lastly, Wixtal and Cellia had hooked up and even got married, a feat which helped Cellia breakthrough into the 4th Tier and increase her Sword Dao as well.

'I have a mother now.' Pef muttered inward, unsure if to be glad or not.

'Reason can be very convincing. And I think she's experimenting some kind of gene-seed for future Cutting skills.' the glove explained with a level tone.

'Like me, huh?' Pef wondered inward, realizing there was little he could do against a fearsome Power Word weapon, even now.

The glove fell silent as Lia flashed into Pef's arms, glowing golden.

"Hey love. Missed me?"Pef asked awkwardly.

"Idiot! You worry me sick all the time. What is that green leaf in your head?" the Oracle asked with a frown, after examining Pef closely.

"Something for the General. It seems we'll need to breach the Gap ourselves." Pef answered with a tiny shrug.

All around, people made strange faces at the news, perhaps wondering about Pef's sanity. It was common knowledge already that an entire army had tried and failed, despite being lead by a Tier 8 and several Tier 7s.

Pef glanced around looking for Rejin, then scanned the entire universe to find him. He was not around. "Our Alchemist is still in the Pearl Sea?" he asked to make sure.

"Master! You're back!" Wong shouted as he approached at speed, only stopping when Pef held his head in a palm before he was barreled over by the charging disciple.

"Rejin is almost ready. A portal should appear when..." Lia explained softly, but still hugging Pef tightly.

"A portal should appear now, old badger." Pef growled in a low voice, and in a second a familiar violet portal formed to his side.

Before stepping through, Pef flicked a tiny blue pill into Wong's mouth. "Lazy disciple. Finish your Fire Dao soon, then go harvest the beast for blood. I want some decent wine."

Wong fell on his butt, and began Ascending forcefully towards Tier 6, while Lia threw him a glance filled with pity before stepping through the portal after Pef.

"Hubby, I made it!" Yue yelled and jumped into Pef's arms, already glowing golden as a certain sign of a Tier 7 Ascension. Her eyes remained the same indigo, and only a hint of violet marked the tips of her indigo hair.

"Good. We'll need your strength to breach the Haze Gap, my love." Pef whispered gently while patting her silky hair.

The spirit beast floating around grimaced as he heard Pef spout the words, probably suspecting it was his strength that Pef actually wanted to use for this feat.

The Taotie was of course, correct.

"Uhm. I'm not that strong, hubby. I think you're still stronger, even if you're not a Dian Deity yet." Yue murmured shyly, and shivered for a second as her senses discovered the hidden glove on Pef's right hand. Just as her beast Master said, the glove exuded a menacing aura, filled with deadly and murderous intent.

Pef simply smiled, and turned towards the Alchemist and the Universe Cauldron covered in green flames. "How long, Rejin?"

Still having his hands in arcane gestures, the Alchemist smiled benevolently then touched the rune-inscribed surface of the Cauldron, possibly checking the status of the pills inside.

"I will need some of your Blue Jade deflectors, young Soldier. All of them, to be safe." Rejin spoke in firm tone.

Pef blinked in surprise, then scratched at his cheek to confirm with his glove what he suspected.

'When the pills are finished, his Alchemy Dao will also reach the end. The tribulation will be spectacular, just like those from the Silent Monk. At least six bolts, I think' the glove explained in a giddy voice.

Pef smiled as well, since this was great news indeed. Not only would he get several Tier 7 pills, but his Alchemist friend will also Ascend into Tier 8.

"I can block a bolt for you, my friend. You'll have to deal with the rest yourself." Pef offered with a giant smile, and took out all remaining the Blue Jades he had inscribed with Godbeast blood.

A white cloud sprang into existence beside Rejin, and the Blade Fairy stepped through, holding out a dozen Blue Jade crystals. "I can block one strike as well, Rejin. And these blockers should help too."

As the white cloud scattered, millions of black clouds began to gather above the Cauldron, while sparks of blue and violet lightning marked the edges of the Cauldron's lid.

"You should block one as well, little Yue. There are things I cannot teach." the Taotie whispered towards his apprentice, while Rejin gulped a fistful of healing pills in his mouth.

Then, the lid of the Divine Cauldron flew up, and the black clouds above churned and crackled. The Heavenly Tribulation was about to arrive.