Bringing too many people would only create chaos, making it easier for others to slip in unnoticed. If someone took advantage of the confusion to pull some underhanded trick, it would be a loss rather than a gain.
"In a moment, the three of you will come with me to provide protection. The rest of the elders will remain behind to guard the family."
Just as she gave the command, a figure soared into the sky from the rear courtyard. It was Song Qingyun.
Song Qingyun was cloaked in swirling spiritual energy. His aura was unstable, and the moment he appeared, Heaven's Will locked onto him.
Dark clouds surged in from the distance, thick and fast. Song Qingyun's heart sank as he looked down below.
"Father, the place to undergo the tribulation is already prepared. Head there first!"
"Alright!"
Song Qingyun didn't waste time asking more questions. He sped off in the direction Song Wanníng had indicated.
The Divine Transformation Tribulation was ferocious. If he delayed any longer, it might damage the family's protective array.
His figure streaked through the sky like a comet, and moments later, he arrived at the mountains outside the city.
The tribulation cloud had nearly caught up. The sky darkened as thunder rumbled and lightning cracked. The oppressive pressure made it hard for anyone nearby to breathe.
Many cultivators who spotted the heavenly tribulation gathered at the city gates, pointing toward the figure suspended high in the sky.
"Isn't that the Patriarch of the Song family? He's about to break through to Divine Transformation?"
"Damn, does that mean the Song family will soon have two Divine Transformation cultivators?"
"That's incredible! They're about to become a top-tier clan!"
"Tch, who knows if he'll even survive the tribulation. Let's not start calling them a top-tier clan just yet…"
Crossing a heavenly tribulation was a deadly threshold. Countless cultivators had perished beneath the wrath of Heaven. Who could guarantee Song Qingyun would succeed?
Many eyes gleamed with malicious intent. Some silently prayed for him to fail.
Song Wanníng led her group through the air, passing swiftly overhead. Just then, she heard someone below sneer, "I say that Song Patriarch is doomed to die under the tribulation. The Song family will be leaderless soon enough!"
Her expression darkened immediately. She glanced down.
The speaker was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He had red lips and white teeth, but a filthy mouth.
He was the manager of a shop in the city—one affiliated with a rival family.
No wonder he was hoping for Song Qingyun to fall.
A cold light flickered in Song Wanníng's eyes. She didn't utter a single word. She simply struck.
Boom—
With an explosive sound, the Foundation Establishment cultivator was reduced to a cloud of blood. He was obliterated in an instant.
Those standing nearby were splattered with blood, frozen in place with horror on their faces.
The surrounding cultivators, who had still been whispering just moments ago, fell into dead silence. They stared blankly at the dissipating mist of gore.
That was a Foundation Establishment cultivator...
Gone with a single palm?
Everyone swallowed hard. The look in their eyes as they turned to Song Wanníng was filled with dread.
That strength...
Was terrifying beyond belief.
Still, considering what the man had just said—provoking Heaven itself—no one felt sorry for him. Even those who sympathized could only light a candle for his soul in silence.
One careless sentence had gotten him killed, and no one dared to speak up on his behalf.
The crowd finally quieted down. Regardless of what thoughts churned in their minds, no one dared to voice them.
Song Wanníng swept her cold gaze across the crowd. Everyone flinched and lowered their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.
She withdrew her gaze, her face icy and unreadable.
That display had been intentional. A warning to all those harboring twisted thoughts.
If anyone dared to make trouble at this critical juncture, she would show no mercy—no matter who it was.
Beside her, the three elders stood midair in a tight formation, grim-faced. Despite their composure, they couldn't hide their astonishment.
Song Wanníng's strength… seemed inconsistent with the cultivation base she revealed on the surface.
They exchanged looks, then silently buried their suspicions for now.
As the clouds grew thicker, lightning gathered above like a net about to fall.
Boom—
A thunderclap split the air. The heavenly tribulation descended.
It was a standard Divine Transformation tribulation.
Song Wanníng quietly let out a breath of relief. It seemed the Song family, at least for now, hadn't drawn the wrath of Heaven… except for her.
The tribulation cloud swallowed Song Qingyun in an instant.
By then, several sects and families had arrived in the city via teleportation arrays, gathering at the city gate.
When they saw who the tribulation was targeting, surprise flickered across their faces.
After all, as a Patriarch, Song Qingyun likely had little time to cultivate. Throughout history, few Patriarchs had ever reached Divine Transformation.
Jealousy stirred in the hearts of many family heads and elders.
They exchanged glances, their thoughts aligned without a word. Some even began contemplating sabotage. But under a heavenly tribulation, one false move could easily backfire. Unless they were certain, none dared to act rashly.
Instead, they approached with polite smiles, offering hollow congratulations while trying to probe for weaknesses.
"Congratulations, congratulations! The Song family is about to welcome its second Divine Transformation expert!"
"A most joyous occasion indeed!"
Several Patriarchs surrounded Song Wanníng and her group, their faces all carrying courteous smiles.
Their families were located closest to the Song family, which was why they had arrived so quickly. Others were likely still observing from afar.
In the world of cultivation, clans were everywhere. There were many large families, countless mid-tier and minor ones.
But only three top-tier families existed across the entire cultivation world.
This was because the peak strength of a top-tier family could rival that of a super sect.
Until now, Song Wanníng had been content to maintain her clan's position among the major families. But now they were rising above the pack—and that was something others couldn't tolerate.
"We're happy for you too," Song Wanníng replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Her words made the other Patriarchs frown internally, though they didn't show it. Experienced old foxes, they maintained their smiles while continuing their small talk.
"Not long ago, during the beast tide, I saw Patriarch Song, and there was no sign of a breakthrough. This is quite the surprise! Truly enviable!"
The Meng family Patriarch chuckled while subtly eyeing the lightning crashing down from the sky.
He was already calculating how he might make a move without being discovered by Song Wanníng and her people.
Murderous intent glimmered faintly in Song Wanníng's eyes, though her lips curved into a small smile.
"It's actually quite a coincidence. During the beast tide, my father stumbled across a demon beast's inner core…"
She answered calmly, hiding nothing.
The response was unexpected. A flicker of envy flashed through the Patriarchs' eyes. An inner core capable of helping someone ascend to Divine Transformation had to be at least fifth-rank…
And yet Song Qingyun had just happened to find it?
"Patriarch Song has some incredible luck."
The Meng Patriarch chuckled, though inside he was mocking Song Wanníng for being a fool. Asking her anything got a direct answer. No tact at all.
The group exchanged glances and subtle hand signals.
While the Meng Patriarch distracted Song Wanníng and the elders with conversation, the other three quietly searched for an opportunity, setting their sights on Song Qingyun.
If he died under the lightning tribulation, the Song family wouldn't just fail to rise—they would be forced into decline.
But with Song Wanníng and several elders nearby, they had to be extremely cautious. They couldn't afford to leave any evidence.
Boom—
One bolt after another came crashing down.
Song Qingyun, relying entirely on his own strength, endured each strike, his body battered and bloody as he remained suspended midair.
The final bolt descended, thick with killing intent and twice as powerful as the ones before it.
Its terrifying might made everyone hold their breath.
The eyes of the watching Patriarchs lit up.
This was their chance.