The first bolt struck.
Silver fire split the night, tearing through the Hall of Discipline's roof in a blinding flash. Stone exploded, dust and shards scattering. The barrier cracked like glass, disciples screaming as they shielded their eyes.
Within the storm, Li Xian stood unyielding. Crimson light pulsed from his veins, his body seared by lightning yet still upright, his laughter echoing louder than thunder.
"Is this all you have, Heaven?!"
The system screeched:
> [Heavenly Tribulation Strike: 1 survived.]
[Remaining lifespan: 10 hours.]
[Warning: Cellular collapse accelerating.]
His skin blistered, his robes charred, yet his aura grew sharper, darker, pulling everything around him into his orbit.
---
Su Yao staggered forward, the blast almost throwing her to the ground. Her jade hairpin cracked, her eyes wide with horror as she saw him—half-burned, chained no longer, yet standing tall against the heavens.
"Li Xian… you'll die!" she cried, voice breaking through the storm. "No mortal can survive this! Stop before you're erased completely!"
He turned to her, lightning illuminating his bloodied grin.
"Die? Perhaps. But if Heaven fears me enough to strike me down…" His voice dripped with defiance. "…then I am already greater than what they call mortal."
Her heart quivered violently. The vows of duty, of the sect, of Heaven's will—versus the vows whispered long ago, when they had dreamed together of a world of their own.
The system whispered like temptation:
> [Target Su Yao: Affection +10%. Seduction Progress – 95%.]
---
Mei Ling stood further back, eyes shining, her lips curved into a sharp, hungry smile. The storm's light reflected in her dark pupils as if she drank in every ounce of chaos.
"So beautiful," she whispered, her dagger pressed to her lips. "To spit in Heaven's face like this… I chose well."
---
Another bolt fell.
The ground erupted, the sect's barrier shattering fully. Disciples scattered in terror as flames consumed the courtyard. Elders leapt forward, forming seals, but even their combined strength faltered before the heavenly might.
The Sect Master's expression was grim. "That boy's body should already be ash… yet…" His gaze hardened as he saw the crimson figure still standing amidst the storm. "…he endures."
---
Li Xian dropped to one knee, blood spilling from his mouth, his body trembling under the weight. But his crimson eyes still blazed upward.
"Su Yao!" he shouted, his voice tearing through the thunder.
She gasped, heart clenching.
"Will you stand by Heaven… or by me?"
The world seemed to still. Lightning froze midair. Even the storm held its breath.
Her jade fingers shook, her lips parting, her eyes glistening with both fear and longing.
Zhao Feng, broken on the ground, croaked in desperation: "Yao… don't… don't betray the sect… don't betray… me…"
Her gaze faltered between the man writhing in despair and the man standing defiant against Heaven.
The system chimed sharply:
> [Target Su Yao: Choice Event triggered.]
[Progress may complete—or collapse.]
The storm roared again, lightning gathering into a spear brighter than the sun, poised to strike.
Li Xian spread his arms, crimson light blazing like wings of blood.
"Choose!"