Chapter 112: Why do I feel like I’m the male lead in a horror movie?

In the Illusory Netherworld, a bird’s-eye view reveals a blood-red array that meanders through the entire world, operating at a languid pace.

This ominous formation belongs to the Order of the Wandering Oracles. Within the array, nearly a hundred thousand ferocious beasts lie prostrate, their souls being gradually siphoned away like tendrils of green smoke by the very machinations of this dark array.

Standing atop a lofty platform is a woman, dressed in a white gown, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Dalina. She is Diana, Dalina’s sister. Flute in hand, she surveys her domain with an enigmatic air.

Alongside her stand other authoritative figures of the Order of the Wandering Oracles: the Sect Leader and two senior hall masters, known respectively as the Asura Hall Master and the Rakshasa Hall Master.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the force of the Thunder Tribulation reverberated so powerfully that even the Illusory Netherworld began to tremble.

The Sect Leader of the Order of the Wandering Oracles abruptly turned his head, his eyebrows knitting together, and said, "What’s happening outside?"

Squinting her eyes, Diana responded, "Judging by the sound, it’s undoubtedly a Thunder Tribulation. Someone is undergoing it just beyond the Illusory Netherworld."

At this revelation, both the Asura and Rakshasa Hall Masters gasped in disbelief. "Who dares to be so audacious!"

The Sect Leader, pivoting back to face the array, solemnly ordered, "The operation of the array must remain flawless. Rakshasa, Asura, go see what’s happening. If you find any issue, immediately close the gates to the Illusory Netherworld!"

"Understood," they both said, their fists clasped before them as they turned to leave.

The Sect Leader then looked at Diana, who stood resplendent in her white robe. "Diana, the resurrection of our ancestors depends on you. You’re the only one in our sect capable of controlling this fiendish array. Don’t let down the expectations the sect has of you."

Diana softly replied, "Yes, Sect Leader."

Simultaneously, in the outside world, under the devastating blows of the Thunder Tribulation, the entire settlement of the Order of the Wandering Oracles had been reduced to scorched earth.

The current count of lightning strikes: thirty-one.

Alexander had borne the brunt of all thirty-one strikes, escaping unscathed only due to the spiritual energy gathered on his body’s surface from the six types of pills he had ingested within the massive cauldron.

This spiritual energy had buffered him against the brunt of the damage. Yet, he was still undergoing the highest tier of Thunder Tribulation. These thirty-one strikes had already drained him of his accumulated spiritual power.

And worse still, fifty more were to come, each more fearsome than the last.

All around him lay corpses, charred on the outside, victims of the same Thunder Tribulation ordeal. Alexander hovered above the scorched earth, his eyes closed.

Crack! Crack!

Bolts of lightning continued to strike him. Just then, he felt a ripple of spiritual energy emanating from the distance. His ears were instantly filled with a system alert.

Ding! "Scan detected. Two level-200 cultivators located two kilometers from the host. Coordinates locked. Targets are suspected leaders of the Order of the Wandering Oracles."

Lifting his head and braving the lightning still striking him, Alexander took to the sky, flying directly toward the two cultivators.

After consuming the Sage Pill, his heart had become as steadfast as iron, devoid of any emotional distraction. In this state, he would eliminate any threat without hesitation.

Simultaneously, at the entrance of the Illusory Netherworld, Rakshasa and Asura stepped out of the light screen. They looked in the direction of their sect’s settlement, where thunderbolts continued to rain down. Their brows furrowed instantly.

"Someone is really undergoing a tribulation, and it’s happening right over our settlement. Could it be that the person undergoing the tribulation aims to destroy our sect with it?" Rakshasa questioned.

Asura narrowed his eyes and said, "If that’s indeed the case, I fear all our people have already perished. Let’s go take a look, but stay away from the lightning at all costs. The consequences could be unthinkable."

Nodding in agreement, both immediately took flight, headed toward the Thunder Tribulation.

However, not long after taking off, they saw the storm clouds in the sky starting to move. Astonishingly, the myriad of lightning bolts began heading their way at an unimaginable speed.

The next instant, they saw a man enveloped in a violet glow approaching them at supersonic speed.

"Holy shit!" Both yelled out in alarm.

Asura nearly fell out of the sky.

"Are you kidding me? Who the hell can fly around like that while undergoing a Thunder Tribulation? Isn’t he afraid of making one wrong move and getting struck dead by lightning?"

Both were thrown into a state of disarray. Normally, their minds would never be so unsettled, but this was a Thunder Tribulation we’re talking about. A single misstep could lead to certain death!

"What do we do?! What do we do? He’s coming!"

"What do we do? Run!"

Both screamed, instantly turning around and flying at top speed back toward the Illusory Netherworld.

Meanwhile, everyone at the military base was equally stunned.

"Look! The storm clouds are moving! They’re moving fast!"

"Holy cow! Who’s that guy glowing violet? He’s so powerful! He’s actually daring to fly around under the Thunder Tribulation!"

"This guy is hardcore! Absolutely hardcore!"

Minutes later, Asura and Rakshasa, gasping for breath, landed at the gates of the Illusory Netherworld. Full of panic, they dashed up to the gate and yelled at the disciples, who looked bewildered.

"What are you standing there for? Didn’t you see the Thunder Tribulation coming? Close the gates of the Illusory Netherworld NOW!"

Both roared and hastily entered the Illusory Netherworld.

The disciples of the Order of the Wandering Oracles glanced at the increasingly darkening sky and heard the approaching rumble of thunder. Panic-stricken, they too rushed into the gate.

"Quick! Activate the grand array! Close the gates!"

The grand doors, composed of a luminous screen, of the Illusory Netherworld began to close immediately.

Five meters.

Two meters.

One meter.

The gap between the gates grew narrower, and a collective sigh of relief echoed as hearts stopped racing.

Phew—

Asura and Rakshasa exhaled, wiping the sweat from their foreheads. "That was terrifying. But now that the Illusory Netherworld is sealed, we’re safe. Even the Thunder Tribulation shouldn’t be able to break through our barriers here." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

However, the very next moment, just as the gates of the Illusory Netherworld were about to close, a sudden resounding noise broke the silence. A golden greatsword wedged itself between the closing gates, sending sparks flying.

"OH MY GOD!" Everyone screamed.

The next moment, a hand shot through the narrowing gap, and they found themselves staring into a pair of cold, murderous eyes beyond the gates.

"Good Lord!" Terrified shouts filled the air. This unexpected turn of events nearly drove them to madness.

Pale and retreating step-by-step, everyone was fixed on the merciless figure trying to squeeze through the gate.

Rakshasa trembled, "Why do I feel like I’m the male lead in a horror movie?!"

"No! This can’t happen!" Asura roared, "We absolutely cannot let him in! If he gets in, we’re all doomed!"

Gripping his sword, he dashed forward. The surrounding disciples gritted their teeth, suppressing their inner terror, and followed him to block the gate.

But just as they neared the gateway, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Alexander, who was stuck between the gates.

Boom!

Accompanied by a thunderous boom, the disciples of the Order of the Wandering Oracles were engulfed by the stray arcs of lightning that oozed through the narrowing gap.

"No! This is bad!"

Their eyes widened in horror as they watched electricity dance across their bodies. They felt as though they had been locked onto by an overwhelming will— the will of the heavenly dao, the will of the Thunder Tribulation.

Once contaminated by the tribulation, they would face its terrible might just as the person undergoing the tribulation, unless that person successfully passed it. There would be no other way to remove the lock.

The clouds above grew denser. As the tribulation-tainted beings were inside the Illusory Netherworld, bolts of fierce lightning, like wild beasts, continuously struck the barriers of this miniature world.

Boom!

Boom!

The Illusory Netherworld was directly riven by the Thunder Tribulation, revealing its barriers in the real world. Multiple lightning bolts fell, and almost immediately, tiny cracks began to appear in the barriers.

Within the Illusory Netherworld, Diana and the Sect Leader felt the entire realm quake.

"This is bad!" The Sect Leader, his face twisted in horror, looked up at the emerging cracks in the sky above.

In an abrupt pivot, his gaze transcended tens of kilometers to fall upon the gates of the Illusory Netherworld.

"You... you..." He roared, launching into the sky and rushing toward that direction. "What kind of monster have you brought upon us?!"

With another resounding clang, the gates of the Illusory Netherworld finally slammed shut. Alexander, enduring the wrath of the Thunder Tribulation, squeezed himself bit by bit into this microcosm.