Everyone's attention was fixed on the most fearsome lightning strike. With their target masked by the spectacle, those Patriarchs quietly made their move, confident that no one would notice.
Each of them harbored the same thought. While pretending to watch, they subtly observed Song Wanníng and the elders, waiting for the perfect moment to sabotage the tribulation.
Seeing that everyone's focus was on the final divine thunder, a flicker of malice flashed through their eyes.
They moved ever so slightly, retrieving carefully prepared tools from their storage rings.
In the next instant, they struck in secret.
But before they could even fully move their fingers, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended. Unprepared, they were slammed downward like broken kites.
Boom—
They crashed into the ground with a heavy thud. The sheer pressure crushed them to their knees, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't open their clenched hands.
Panic surged in their hearts. Their eyes darted wildly, trying to lift their heads, but it felt like a giant hand was pressing them down, locking their necks in place.
The crowd of onlookers fell into silence. Confused gazes turned toward the Patriarchs.
"What are they doing?"
"Yeah, what's with the sudden kneeling? Looks so weird…"
"No way. Are they seriously bowing to the Song Patriarch already? Trying to cozy up this early?"
"Damn, these guys are quick. He hasn't even finished the tribulation yet!"
"Looks like the last bolt won't be a problem for Song Qingyun after all!"
Disciples and cultivators who couldn't sense the terrifying pressure were baffled. They watched with curiosity and confusion.
The random chatter made those kneeling Patriarchs inwardly curse like mad.
Cozy up? Cozy your ass!
They weren't kneeling willingly. They couldn't even lift their heads. It was humiliating beyond belief.
Who was it?
Who the hell had just interfered from the shadows?
Flushed red from exertion and shame, the Patriarchs struggled to resist. But Song Wanníng and the three elders didn't even spare them a glance. All their focus was locked onto Song Qingyun as he braved the tribulation.
The final bolt had fully engulfed his figure. No one could tell what was happening within the storm.
Song Wanníng clenched her fists tightly. Despite everything, she was nervous.
Facing the tribulation was a solitary path. No one could help him now.
"Please, hold on..."
The elders were sweating bullets. They had noticed the attempted sabotage moments ago. Had Song Wanníng not stopped them, they would've already rushed forward and fought those schemers on the spot.
Those bastards really were shameless.
The crowd waited anxiously as the thunderclouds slowly dissipated.
But Song Qingyun's silhouette was nowhere to be seen in the sky.
Everyone held their breath.
A few eyes lit up in the crowd.
Did he fail?
Expressions changed subtly. Necks craned to catch a better look.
Then, in the distance, radiant clouds of light began to gather.
Song Qingyun had succeeded.
The crowd erupted into murmurs, voices rising with disbelief and excitement.
The Patriarchs on the ground saw the glow and went pale. Their fists clenched tightly.
He actually survived.
The Song family now had two Divine Transformation cultivators. That meant they had officially met the threshold to become a top-tier family.
And yet, just as despair set in, something even worse happened.
Song Wanníng and the elders descended slowly and landed right in front of them.
"Oh? What's this? Our Patriarchs are kneeling in joy for my father? You're all really too kind," Song Wanníng said sweetly, tilting her head as if genuinely touched.
The elders behind her wore stormy expressions, glaring daggers at the kneeling men.
The Patriarchs felt a chill run through their hearts. They decided on the spot to deny everything. After all, they hadn't technically succeeded in doing anything.
Just as one opened his mouth to protest, Song Wanníng's aura exploded outward again, slamming down on them like a mountain. They were stunned.
Even the elders behind her stared in shock.
"You… you… you… you're in Divine Transformation?" The Meng Patriarch stammered, his pupils trembling.
This wasn't the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator. It was unmistakably Divine Transformation.
Their hearts sank.
So the Song family had already possessed two Divine Transformation cultivators. Meanwhile, they had been foolish enough to try sabotage. What a joke.
Fortunately, they hadn't acted fast enough. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to crawl away from the fallout.
"Oh no, did I forget to mention that? I thought I'd already told you," Song Wanníng said, covering her mouth with exaggerated surprise.
The expression on her face was so smug that their own faces flushed with humiliation.
They all knew she was mocking them. But what could they do?
They'd been played like fools. And they couldn't say a word about it.
"Oh right, what are you all holding in your hands?" Song Wanníng asked with a sudden smile, making their hearts lurch.
What else could it be?
Obviously tools meant to interfere with the tribulation. But if she noticed, they'd be in serious trouble.
They were still scrambling to come up with a believable excuse when she added, "Ah, you must be presenting a congratulatory gift to my father, right? mReally, there's no need to be so formal. All this kneeling and gift-giving—it's too much!"
Song Wanníng retracted her pressure and pretended to help them up with a smile.
Their bodies moved on instinct, rising to their feet, drenched in cold sweat.
"Yes, yes, a gift. Just a small congratulation," one of them quickly blurted.
In that moment, whatever they had been holding turned from sabotage tools into "gifts."
Not only had they been utterly humiliated, they now had to fork over precious items too. It was infuriating.
But Song Wanníng wasn't finished.
"With such distinguished guests, I'm sure the gifts are extremely valuable. I'll thank you on behalf of my father. But no need to prepare anything for me. We're all one big family here, no need to be so polite. Wouldn't you agree?"
Her smile bloomed like a peony—radiant and dazzling.
The Patriarchs: "?!?!?!?!"
Grinding their teeth, they each produced another gift. Their hearts bled as they handed them over.
When did Song Wanníng become so cunning?
She used to be direct, someone who didn't know how to play games like this!
"Haha, thank you all. I told you not to be so formal!" Song Wanníng beamed even brighter, her expression positively glowing.
If she exposed their plot, they'd just deny everything. So why not bleed them dry now and repay the debt later?
"Since you insist, I won't refuse. I'll gladly accept these."
She swiftly tucked the treasures away while still smiling.
Behind her, the elders had finally snapped out of their shock. Watching her work, they couldn't help but laugh.
Especially seeing those Patriarchs holding back their rage, faces twitching but unable to say a word—what a satisfying sight.
Around them, the watching cultivators were equally stunned. Eyes filled with awe and disbelief turned to Song Wanníng.
More than a few people immediately sent word back to their families.
The Song family now had two Divine Transformation cultivators.
The Song family's era had begun.