Having received her orders, Chun Hua slightly bowed to her master, He Delan, and left.

The entire tower was a formation construct. And corridors formed from tamed void were present in almost every location that one of its inhabitants would require. Thus, Chun Hua only had to take three steps and use two different void corridors to arrive at the tower's entrance.

While the meditation room had a better concentration of qi, Chun Hua did not want to miss the exact moment when He Delan lifted the seal, allowing her to exit. And so, she decided to continue her interrupted meditation session here, near the door.

The beings called [Astral Devourers], [Astral Scourges], or simply Scourges, were intrinsic of the [Astral Road]. Without body and close to no sentience, they roamed the currents of [Astral Qi] that formed because of the interaction between the [Astral Road] and the [Chaos Qi].

Attracted by the [Heavens and Earth] qi that cultivators used, Scourges were considered one of the dangers of the road. After all, their attraction wasn't anything but an attempt to devour the cultivator's qi. And being left without qi, there was no chance for survival in the airless, lightless, and formed of pressure [Astral Road].

But in truth, the [Astral Devourers] weren't evil. Their base existence did not understand the meaning of life or what danger they were to cultivators. Attracted by [Heavens and Earth] qi, they acted instinctively to get it, that's all.

Sometimes, when one of the myriads of planes connected to the [Astral Road] destabilized enough, a [Wild Portal] would appear. Some of these portals, or quasi Astral Gates, would close right away, while others would allow some lucky Scourges to enter the connected plane before they closed.

And inside a plane, an [Astral Devourer] would obtain a chance to connect with one of the lifeforms existing on it and, by doing this, be reborn as one of them. Sometimes it would be a type of beast. Sometimes it could be a more advanced race. And while rare, sometimes [Astral Scourges] assumed the form of a non-sentient lifeform, like a plant or a type of spiritual ore.

Chun Hua's case was even rarer, with her being apprehended right after appearing on the plane before she assumed any form. Mistaken for a Spiritual Being, or roaming Spirit, she had been captured and sealed by the foremost, and last, expert to explore the surroundings of the [Wild Gate]. A few dozens of years later, she was released, but she had lost the opportunity to complete her form.

Thankfully, the cultivator that released Chun Hua had both the knowledge and will to help an [Astral Devourer]. And while it wasn't something that he did without expecting anything, the young human had indeed granted her a body. Later, he even made it possible for Chun Hua to leave the plane, and while she wasn't sure of the meaning behind the feeling, she was grateful to him for that.

Still, whatever form, and however it was, was assumed by a Scourge, their cultivation was still far different from the standard one. While the reborn [Astral Devourers] did follow the laws of levels and realms, they did not meet any requirements or bottlenecks. They could, and most often than not would, advance simply by consuming enough [Heavens and Earth] qi.

In fact, if not for the planar limits and the common, for any Devourer, lack of ambition, the Scourges would easily reach the top-level of cultivation and stand above all.

Obviously, there was also the lack of most knowledge required to survive in the Jianghu as an added reason to the lack of expert [Astral Devourers], but, for Chun Hua at least, it had been solved by the same human that released her.

While Chun Hua did not know the actual reason behind such a thought, it still was her main drive for everything she had done in the [Void Palace].

Granted, she enjoyed her stay here, but it wasn't like she planned to stay here forever. Neither she desired to remain on this plane, and for that, she required Bai Qi to help her move forwards. After all, who but the one who released her would help her to move forward? Being aware, and ignoring the fact, that she was an [Astral Devourer]?

It was this drive, coupled with Bai Qi's words and memories about accepted geniuses, that made Chun Hua advance explosively but carefully at the same time. During the three months of her master's warp-up journey, she showed talent, crossing from the middle levels to the peak of the Soul realm. And from there, Chun Hua made a single breakthrough per month, almost as if it was a routine. Well, it was a routine for her indeed, as she was only required to absorb enough [Heavens and Earth] qi to jump between levels. On the other hand, thanks to Bai Qi again, she knew that levels did not mean anything without fighting prowess and so spent most of her time training in place of simply indulging her curiosity or laziness.

In any case, Chun Hua had attained the 6th level of the Sage realm a couple of weeks ago, and while it was early, she intended to prepare and achieve the 7th level in a few days.

Her thoughts may not be the most loyal towards the [Void Palace], but honestly, Chun Hua held no loyalty to it anyway. She did like He Delan and would help her with anything she could. Still, between her and Bai Qi, the choice was clear.

***

"Chun Hua?" Mao Lei cautiously asked. He had never seen Chun Hua grin, but she was doing it right now, and that only added to his usual hesitance when speaking to her.

"Hmm?" Chun Hua's face changed to her usual cold and unapproachable expression as she half-turned to look at her fellow disciple.

And then, the, by this point, standard exchange between them followed. Mao Lei asked, responded, and clamored for three people. All while Chun Hua responded with single words or even by simply humming something.

"Master asked you to scout outside?"

"Mmm."

"But it's dangerous!"

"Mmm."

"Aren't you scared? What if the attackers are around? What if you get into a fight? You may get wounded!"

"Nnn." Chun Hua shook her head to the three questions and responded with a glare to the claim.

"But the barrier does not prevent Yellow Realm cultivators from entering the Palace grounds! And the [Seven Souls Sect] brought over a hundred of them!" Mao Lei did not notice how he started shouting, feeling a mix of anxiety, dread, and even worry for Chun Hua.

"Only a hundred." Chun Hua responded with a shrug and even used three words to show she wasn't worried at all.

"Yes, a hundred! I know what you are thinking, that between the 38 towers and the main palace, the enemies will be spread thin. But still, what if they sense that it's our tower, the one to exit the void?!" Mao Lei screamed, and this time, his emotions overflowing.

"Mmm, worry not."

"But!"

"It's scouting, not fighting. I will retreat as soon as I need to." Chun Hua halted her usual manner and attempted to explain.

"Then, maybe I should go with you?"

"No." Chun Hua answered right away as a thought crossed her mind,

***

After refusing the offer of help, one that would have probably brought more problems than benefits, Chun Hua continued meditating until the moment she felt the seal wavering.

And with its final oscillation, she rushed towards the [Interdiction Corundrum] door and practically jumped outside.

"Activate" Still, she wasn't so dumb as to risk herself, and as she crossed the green-colored gemstone door, she immediately used a low-tier concealment talisman.

Chun Hua thought as she looked around and found no sign of any of the invaders. Then, choosing a different elevation that could be used to overlook the entire ravine, Chun Hua moved out.

She moved slowly but without taking extra precautions.

The heavens-sent lightning howled and roared ferociously as it descended on the standing Bai Qi.

*ROAR* *CRASH* *BOOM*

For the first seven bolts, Bai Qi neither moved nor showed any reaction. They landed on him, and the natural energies of the lightning crashed against both his aura and qi defenses, but they did not make either waver.

At the second group of seven, Bai Qi's expression turned surprised as he muttered, "All tribulations increase in power, but it depends on the total quantity and one's cultivation. Just at what level they regard me, and how much did the Heavens send against me?!"

His questioning was natural, as this second group was enough to peel off both of his innate protective measures, and he already sensed a third group gathering in the sky.

*Plop*

"Ughh!" Bai Qi groaned as he forced himself to stand up after falling to one knee after the third instance of seven, immediate bolts of lightning striking him. While their strength had not been enough to wound his body, one comparable to an advanced Warrior Lord, they still made him feel pain, and seemingly, it wasn't the last either.

*Thump* *Drip*

"Damn, I refuse to believe that I will be killed by a [Tribulation] before I even ascend to the Warrior Lord Realm!" Bai Qi roared and, again, forced his body to stand up. This fourth group carried increased strength, and while not enough to seriously wound him, it was enough to squash him against the ground under the accumulated pressure. And to make a few drops of blood drip from the corner of his mouth.

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

The fifth batch of seven bolts was on the verge of being truly dangerous, as Bai Qi fell on the ground after the first four, and the remaining three smashed him against the granite, furthering the injuries that he was beginning to receive.

"Damn! Don't tell me that it's the so-called jinxed seven times seven tribulation!!!"

Regretfully for Bai Qi, it wasn't even the so-called curse of the heavens, the seven batches of seven lightning flashes. It was something that he could not have expected. Something new, not present even in his esteemed scholar past life memories. After all, the true [Heavenly Tribulation] had not even started yet!

*CRASH* *Blergh*

The sixth batch was akin to a full-strength attack from an advanced, at least 7th level, Warrior Lord. The first of them, the bolts of lightning, was enough to crash Bai Qi against the charred stone, and the other six followed right away.

Skin tore, muscles charred, and bones cracked.

Still, his cultivation wasn't affected yet, and Bai Qi's willpower had always been one of a True Immortal. Thus, while it was painful and he groaned, sweated, and inwardly cursed, he still raised his battered and bloodied body.

"A seventh wave, huh? But why do I feel that it's yet to end?" After vomiting a mix of blood, gore, and impurities, Bai Qi questioned. The existence of impurities in his body was already surprising, but he had no time to think about that, feeling that the 7th wave was about to reach him.

*ROAR*

The seventh wave was indeed impressive as it was frightening. The heavens released a roar so hard that even the Beastmen, a mile away from the spot, shuddered in fear. The pressure released wasn't lacking either, as the 3rd and 4th level Saint Beasts felt dread because of it. The same thought crossed their minds, and only a timely grab by Kass Shaa'r prevented the Bai sisters from rushing back.

"If you go, it will only make it worssse. After all, if the heavensss are sssending that againsst the Ssssage realm Bai Qi, what will happen with you two there?!" Kass Shaa'r hissed, and the two [White Tiger] sisters shuddered before nodding, indicating that they would not try to approach.

"Does he follow any unique cultivation method? I have never seen such a [Tribulation]" Ma Su was probably the most knowledgeable of all the human cultivators present, and she asked the Beastmen, unable to find any answer herself.

"He never ssshared."

"He has never spoken about that."

"He tends to hide his methods."

"I think that yes, but..."

"Grrr, I think that yes as well. As otherwise, he would be unable to equal me during the sparrings."

A mix of answers followed, and Ma Su latched on the only one, Zhua's, that carried any sense but a simple no. "Wait, you mean he, as a peak Sage, equaled you, a 3rd level Saint Beast?!" Ma Su blurted out as her mind processed Zhua's words.

"It was before our respective breakthroughs. He was a couple of levels lower and I was on the 2nd level, but yes, he equaled me in speed, strength, and even stamina." Hoping that it would help, Zhua explained, followed by Bai Ze, who also explained that Bai Qi as a 4th level Sage had fought her, a 1st level Saint Beast, to a standstill as well.

"No wonder then..." Ma Su could only shake her head, while inwardly thinking that, probably, her thoughts about a change coming from being now a servant for this young Sage were correct. She could not help but think as she looked at the still dark skies, even after they released the 7th, most dreaded wave of lightning.

"What do you mean?" Fan Jia had been listening attentively, and she was the first one to ask.

"...Well, how to explain it." Ma Su muttered and then took a few moments, accompanied by the still growing pressure from the skies before continuing, "If he had a Warrior Lord realm prowess as a Sage, then he is truly breaking the laws of the heavens. And doing so always brings a [Tribulation]. Usually, it's nothing so extreme, but the prowess you tell me is far above the usual as well."

"His presence weakened, but he's still alive. Let's hope this will end soon so we can treat him!" Ye Su, Fan Jia, and even Heise Zhao conveyed identical words as a response, even though everyone with their own reasons.

For Ye Su, Bai Qi was a gateway to another world, one where she could be a respected, well-doing, and progressing cultivator.

For Fan Jia, Bai Qi was simply a person of interest. And this interest only increased now, as she found out that he was far stronger than he had shown before.

As for Heise Zhao, he was the only one of the three that had said the words of simple worry. He felt indebted to Bai Qi, and he truly wanted the human to survive his ordeal and continue growing stronger until he did not require Heise Zhao's protection.

But neither the Beastmen, nor the human part of the party, nor even Bai Qi himself knew that the forty-nine bolts were just a start...