C135
Ying Zhi remarked, "Typically, the Tribulation Crossing Stage involves anywhere from one to nine bolts of lightning. Considering the scale of Mr. Qin's preparations, I fear the actual number may well surpass that."
Hee Yan conjectured, "Given the extent of Instructor Qin's Tribulation Crossing, it's definitely more than nine bolts. The exact count is tough to pin down, though."
"The Mahayana Stage Tribulation Crossing ranges from just 18 to 27 bolts."
"We'll just have to watch and see; it's too early to make any calls."
Qin Buyi came to a halt in the sectors designated for high-ranked instructors No. 7 and No. 8, announcing to all present, "I'd ask everyone to please keep a safe distance. Let's avoid any accidental injuries during the Tribulation."
Upon hearing his words, the faculty and students of the College of Ming Dynasty withdrew several dozen miles further than the already safe margin.
Hee Yan summoned the spiritual energy within him to create a transparent shield, safeguarding the onlookers from the College of Ming Dynasty as they observed the Tribulation Crossing.
The Tribulation clouds overhead continued to gather, emitting a deep, thunderous rumble.
Roughly fifteen minutes later, the first lightning bolt struck.
A massive green lightning column burst forth from the Tribulation clouds, targeting Qin Buyi below.
Qin Buyi extended his Divine Consciousness to gauge the intensity of the green lightning column. It wasn't particularly strong, merely at the level of the early phase of the Tribulation Crossing Stage.
Without flinching, Qin Buyi stood his ground as the lightning column hit him.
"Boom!"
The impact echoed loudly.
The force of the thunder surged into Qin Buyi's body, causing a tingling sensation to spread within.
His body shook slightly as his golden blood began to boil, unleashing a potent suction force.
The thunder's energy coursed through him, drawn into his golden blood.
Once the golden blood had fully assimilated the thunder's energy, it slowly started generating new golden blood cells.
During his ordeal with the dual extremes of Ice and Fire, Qin Buyi had been left with only a third of his blood. Now, replenished by the thunder's power, his golden blood was gradually restored, and the feeling of weakness inside him began to fade.
Qin Buyi hadn't anticipated that his golden blood could absorb the thunder's power for self-replenishment. A glint of delight flickered in his eyes.
He had initially intended to redeem his scarce points for some medicinal herbs to replenish his Qi and blood, but it turned out to be unnecessary.
The unexpected savings in points delighted Qin Buyi immensely.
"Bring it on!"
An exhilarated Qin Buyi challenged the Tribulation Crossing with a shout.
"Boom!"
The Tribulation Cloud seemed to take offense at Qin Buyi's taunt, responding with a thunderous roar.
"Boom!"
A second bolt of tribulation lightning burst forth from the cloud, hurtling towards Qin Buyi.
"Boom!"
Hot on its heels, the third bolt of tribulation lightning descended.
Both bolts possessed only the strength typical of the early stages of Tribulation Crossing. With a light tap of his feet, Qin Buyi soared up to meet the twin bolts of lightning.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
They struck him squarely, but the tingling sensation from the lightning's power was fleeting, quickly vanishing.
The potent draw of his golden blood absorbed the energy from both bolts completely.
The production of golden blood within him accelerated, and his sense of weakness swiftly diminished.
After scanning with his Divine Consciousness, Qin Buyi estimated that about ten more tribulations of this caliber would be enough.
Then, his golden blood would be fully restored, and his combat strength would surge to its peak.
"Exhilarating! Haha!" Qin Buyi bellowed with glee at the Tribulation Clouds.
The clouds churned tumultuously, with flashes of azure lightning streaking through them.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The fourth, fifth, and sixth tribulations thundered down simultaneously.
Three columns of azure lightning bore down with relentless force upon Qin Buyi.
"Two early-stage and one mid-stage tribulation..." Qin Buyi observed, sizing up the trio of tribulations.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
The three bolts of tribulation lightning struck him, their energy just beginning to penetrate his body.
Before any action could be taken, the golden blood's allure whisked it away, instantly absorbed.
After unleashing seven successive bolts, the Tribulation Clouds above ceased their tumult and settled into a hush, seemingly gathering strength for the next onslaught of lightning.
The onlookers, noting the pause in the Tribulation Crossings, murmured among themselves, "Seven in a row, and Instructor Qin Buyi stands unfazed. How fierce!"
"The might of these Tribulations is overwhelming. Even at this distance, I can feel the asphyxiating force."
"Had it been me, I doubt I'd stand a chance against even one bolt, let alone seven."
"Is this the gap between us and a true genius?"
To Qin Buyi, the seven bolts of lightning were trivial, but to everyone else present, they were the stuff of nightmares.
Typically, those at the Tribulation Crossing Stage hover at the threshold between the Combination Stage and the Tribulation Crossing Stage.
But Qin Buyi's tribulation began with the full intensity of the early Tribulation Crossing Stage, with the seventh bolt reaching mid-stage levels.
Apart from Qin Buyi, who seemed to shrug off the tribulation's ferocity, everyone else was left speechless and shivering with dread.
Bao Shui, Yu Jin, Ying Le, and the other senior mentors convened. Yu Jin turned to Bao Shui and inquired, "Bao Shui, how many bolts did you face during your tribulation?"
With a hint of pride, Bao Shui responded, "Nine."
He then sighed, adding, "By the ninth bolt, it was truly a matter of life and death."
Yu Jin then directed his question to Ying Le, "And you, Mentor Ying Le?"
After a brief pause, Ying Le admitted, "I faced eight bolts during my tribulation, not quite on par with Mentor Bao Shui."
Before Yu Jin could question Ye Hui and Wang Dan, they both chimed in:
"Seven." "Seven."
Yu Jin, gazing at the vast expanse of Tribulation Clouds, pondered aloud, "How many bolts do you suppose Mr. Qin will face?"
Bao Shui, somewhat unsure, ventured, "My guess would be around twenty. That's about the number you'd expect for a Mahayana Stage tribulation."
Ying Le remarked, "It's tough to pin down, but one thing is certain—it's not like anything we've experienced."
Ye Hui and Wang Dan were too stunned to reply. They had taken pride in their own survival through seven Tribulation Crossings, a feat that set them apart within the College of Ming Dynasty.
Yet witnessing Qin Buyi effortlessly navigate the same number of crossings in just the initial round, they were forced to confront a humbling truth: what they had considered their ultimate achievement was merely another's starting line.
"I've lived quite a while," Ye Hui said, his voice trailing off, "and never knew Tribulation Crossings came in rounds."
The sentiment resonated with the other four; their crossings had been singular events, while Qin Buyi's unfolded in successive rounds.
As half a day slipped by, the second round of Tribulation Crossing, brewing within the storm clouds, descended.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
From the tumultuous clouds emerged two Thunder Dragons, each as powerful as those from the Middle Period of Tribulation Crossing.
The Thunder Dragons lunged, jaws wide, aiming for Qin Buyi.
Qin Buyi extended his arms, seizing one Thunder Dragon by the neck.
Despite its frenzied thrashing, the Thunder Dragon was immobilized in Qin Buyi's grip.
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
With a forceful squeeze, Qin Buyi shattered the neck of the Thunder Dragon, its essence dissolving into pure lightning energy that dispersed into the cosmos.
