Unshaken, Trials for the Godhead

Bolts of lightning flashed through the darkened sky and scorched the ground as thunder rumbled on, shaking the earth and wreaking havoc on its wake. In the midst of the chaos knelt a young man with his arms spread wide, receiving the baptism of the heavens.

Heavenly lightning tribulation... Who would have thought that after countless years of neglect the gods would reward the lower realm with such bounty?

Shiyan gritted his teeth as another bolt of lightning snaked down from the heavens and struck his battered body. This was his last chance, his final gamble. If he fails, he would lose everything.

Once hailed as the lower realm's number one genius, Shiyan was the epitome of strength. But the tallest tree always experiences the strongest winds. During his attempt at ascension, Shiyan was plotted against. His cultivation was crippled and in a blink of an eye the once revered expert turned into a discarded trash.

If such tragedy befell on someone else they would have gone insane and given up on life. But Shiyan's fortitude and character have always been a cut above the rest. Instead of succumbing to his wretched fate, Shiyan defied it. He carved another path for himself through sweat, tears and blood.

If he cannot cultivate his internal energy then he would refine his body. Shiyan's dantian was broken but his body was not. Although the chances of success were low at least it was not zero. And for Shiyan, the scant possibility was enough to propel him forward.

For years Shiyan trained tirelessly. He did not mind the contempt and mockery of the world. He immersed himself in training and single-mindedly ploughed forward towards a goal that only he could envision.

The path Shiyan chose to take was long and arduous but his dedication was in vain. Once again, Shiyan stood at the pinnacle of strength and proved himself worthy.

When the news of the godhead spread, Shiyan knew this was heaven's way of telling him to redeem himself. There was no doubt in his mind that the opportunity was for him and him alone.

Shiyan battled countless cultivators and ultimately won the privilege to inherit the godhead. But earning the privilege and actually inheriting the power of the gods were two separate matters and so the trial of the godhead began.

The trial of the godhead was the most unforgiving and ruthless ordeal Shiyan had to face. The godhead evoked his worst nightmares and uncovered the darkness within his soul. It tested not just the strength of his heart but also the flexibility of his mind. And when the last illusion broke, Shiyan did not sigh in relief or rejoiced at his good fortune. He looked at himself and thought he still had a lot to learn.

When another bolt of lightning struck Shiyan coughed out a mouthful of blood. Eleven strikes, he hazily thought. He endured eleven bolts of lightning and if he survives the next strike the power of the gods would be his.

Shiyan slowly raised his head when he felt the ominous aura brewing within the tempest above him. At the sight of the purple bolts of lightning, Shiyan hysterically laughed. He knew it would not be easy but this was something else, entirely.

Shiyan stood with unsteady legs and defiantly tilted his head towards the heavens. He would be damned if he faced the last tribulation cowering on his knees.

"Bring it on!" Shiyan bellowed boldly.

The heavens raged for the last time and when the purple bolt of lightning streaked down, the world stood still and plunged into silence.

The end… or is it?