The declaration of the Throne of Thunder shook the very foundations of what was once the Desolate Thunder Sect. The disciples, still on their knees, exchanged hesitant glances. Some were overwhelmed by fear, while others burned with the desire to prove themselves.
Shao Xian stood at the center of the grand hall, his presence alone more terrifying than any divine decree. The golden arcs of lightning flickered around his fingertips as if the heavens themselves acknowledged his supremacy.
His gaze swept over the assembled disciples. "Now, let us test your resolve."
With a wave of his hand, the very air within the hall trembled. The ancient formation embedded into the ground, a relic of the sect's founding, began to glow. Circles of lightning surged upward, forming an intricate web of energy.
The disciples instinctively recoiled.
Zhao Feng, now Grand Elder, remained still, watching with a sharp gaze. He had already sworn his loyalty, and he understood that Shao Xian was not a man who tolerated weakness.
Shao Xian's voice carried across the hall, calm yet merciless. "This formation is the Trial of the Storm, an ancient rite meant for those seeking to temper their bodies in the might of heavenly lightning. In the past, only the most talented of your sect could endure even a fraction of its power."
He raised his hand, and the lightning intensified. The air became thick with the scent of ozone, crackling with barely contained destruction.
"But today," he continued, "you will all enter it. Those who withstand it shall be reborn in power. Those who fail… will perish."
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. The Trial of the Storm was legendary—an ordeal only attempted by elite disciples after years of preparation. Now, Shao Xian was forcing all of them into it without warning.
Panic set in among the weaker disciples. A few immediately fell to the ground, bowing their heads.
"L-Lord Shao Xian, please spare us! We are not worthy!" one pleaded.
Shao Xian's gaze darkened. With a flick of his fingers, a golden bolt of lightning struck the disciple in the chest. His body convulsed violently before collapsing lifelessly.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
"There is no place for cowards in my domain," Shao Xian said coldly. "If you do not even dare to face death, you are unworthy of life."
A chilling silence followed. No one else dared to beg for mercy.
Zhao Feng stepped forward and cupped his fists. "My lord, shall I ensure all disciples enter the formation?"
Shao Xian nodded. "Do it."
At his command, the elders moved swiftly, dragging unwilling disciples into the formation's boundary. The stronger ones entered on their own, determination burning in their eyes.
The moment they stepped inside, the lightning struck.
Screams filled the air as arcs of energy danced across their bodies. Some fell instantly, their mortal bodies unable to withstand the divine punishment. Others gritted their teeth, their muscles locking as they endured.
Zhao Feng stood at the edge, watching as the weak perished and the strong endured.
Shao Xian observed with an indifferent gaze. "Pain is the first lesson of power. Those who cannot withstand it do not deserve to follow me."
As the minutes passed, only a handful remained standing within the storm. Their bodies trembled, their robes in tatters, but their eyes burned with newfound resolve.
Shao Xian smirked. "Good. You are the ones worthy of stepping forward."
He raised his hand, and the lightning ceased. The survivors collapsed to their knees, gasping for breath.
Zhao Feng stepped forward once more. "My lord, what shall be done with those who failed?"
Shao Xian turned his gaze toward the bodies littering the hall. "Burn them."
Without hesitation, Zhao Feng issued the order. The weaker elders hesitated for only a moment before complying. Flames roared to life, consuming the fallen.
Shao Xian looked back at the survivors. "You have passed the first test. From this moment on, you are no longer mere disciples—you are warriors of the Throne of Thunder."
A surge of energy swept through the hall as the survivors roared in unison, their voices filled with newfound strength.
Shao Xian turned, stepping toward the throne once more.