The demise of the Blood Star sent but a ripple through the Allied Starfields, its remote location ensuring that its fate remained a secret for ages.

Grasping the Blood Pavilion, Wang Lin began to shrink as he flew, eventually returning to the form of a normal cultivator. The Blood Pavilion, sealed and similarly reduced in size, was swallowed whole, cradled within his spiritual power. This strange artifact intrigued him, and Wang Lin resolved to study it closely.

He sought refuge on a sixth-grade cultivation star, concealing himself within its depths. From his secluded haven, the faint connection to his Avatar solidified into a stable link.

While his actions had drawn the attention of some powerful cultivators, none suspected the involvement of an Ancient God, beings relegated to a distant and almost mythical past.

Meanwhile, within the Lei Zhi Immortal Realm of the Luo Tian Starfield, a fragmented landmass drifted aimlessly through the void. Around this shard, clouds coalesced with unnatural speed, crackling with lightning and punctuated by distant rumbles.

A bolt of lightning, unleashed from the turbulent clouds, crashed upon the fragmented land. The ensuing blast sent tendrils of energy coursing through the shattered earth, unerringly seeking out the unconscious form of Wang Lin buried deep within. The lightning plunged into his body, causing him to shudder violently.

Again and again, the lightning converged, striking the land with earth-shattering force, causing the fragmented landmass to further crumble at its edges.

The Blood Ancestor, his crimson eyes fixed upon the distant shard, felt the presence of his severed blood-body lying deep within. He could distinctly sense the celestial energy contained within being rapidly devoured. This involuntary aid to his enemy’s growth drove him to the brink of madness. Never had he unwittingly nurtured the very being he sought to destroy.

Yet, he dared not approach. He eyed the swirling clouds above with caution, sensing the growing power they concealed.

“This…this is Tribulation Lightning!” the Blood Ancestor snarled. “To think that this wretch can draw down such power! The celestial might that descended upon the Demon Spirit Land must have been drawn by this very man!”

“Very well,” he sneered. “Let the Tribulation grow stronger. I will not be so foolish as to offer aid. I shall simply wait and watch as he is cleaved to pieces! A fitting end, indeed!” He glared at the fragmented land, his eyes burning with hatred.

The shard, now heavily shrouded in clouds, seemed to be tethered to a single spot. More and more clouds gathered, until the sky was a maelstrom of celestial energy. Soon after, another bolt of lightning descended, shaking the earth once more.

This continued for a month. The sky was an endless tempest of lightning, and the Blood Ancestor could see no end to the clouds.

He retreated, wary of the power within, yet filled with a grim delight. “Let it grow! Let the clouds devour him whole!” he muttered, his eyes glinting with malice.

In a matter of days, the clouds filled the void above, below, and all around the shard. It was as if the world itself had become one vast, swirling storm.

The stage was set. The Tribulation was nigh.

Countless bolts of lightning erupted from the clouds, pounding the fragmented land without mercy. They came not only from above, but from every direction, enveloping the shattered earth in a cage of celestial fury.

Deafening roars echoed through the void as the land began to buckle and break beneath the relentless assault. Lightning bolts snaked through the crumbling earth, seeking out the slumbering Wang Lin.

Each strike sent tremors through his body as the unleashed energy rampaged within. Xu Liguo, terrified, cowered deep within his sword, the lightning threatening to shatter his very soul.

Within Wang Lin’s body, the power of the mysterious ancient, and the Blood Ancestor’s severed blood-body, were locked in a desperate struggle. Normally, this process would take eons, but the constant barrage of lightning accelerated the conflict.

Wang Lin’s dormant power surged to life, invigorated by the onslaught. The Tribulation, rather than harming him, was proving to be an unexpected boon. If he were conscious, he could guide the energy, reaping even greater rewards.

Upon the fragmented land, the lightning fell without cease, as if the shard had been cast into a celestial forge to be refined by the fires of the heavens. Such a refining was almost unheard of in the modern cultivation world, as no earthly substance could withstand such intense bombardment.

Yet this land was no ordinary material. It was a remnant of the Lei Zhi Immortal Realm, forged over countless years under the constant barrage of immortal lightning. Though broken and scarred, it was still a part of the Immortal Realm.

As the lightning rained down, the shard’s edges crumbled, yet its core grew stronger, more resolute. The shard was undergoing a metamorphosis, transforming into a treasure of unimaginable power.

This treasure was no mere trinket, but a fragment of the Immortal Realm itself! And, more importantly, it was being forged not by man, but by the very heavens themselves! The Blood Ancestor was beginning to realize this, and his breath hitched in his throat. There were few treasures in this world that could stir his interest, but as he watched the fragmented land transform into a weapon of untold might, his heart leaped with avarice.

“The wheel of fate turns!” he exclaimed. “I have suffered greatly, but this Immortal Realm fragment, refined by the heavens, will hold power beyond comprehension. It will radiate the essence of the true Immortal Realm. This treasure…it is meant for me!” His eyes gleamed with avarice.

The lightning continued to fall, but then, with a sudden silence, the storm ceased. The clouds churned and roiled, undergoing a dramatic transformation. From their depths emerged a single bolt of black lightning, the true essence of the Tribulation, the ultimate test.

It coalesced swiftly, and aimed directly at the heart of the fragmented land.

And at that very moment, deep within the heart of the shard, Wang Lin opened his eyes!