Tribulation

"Misunderstanding? Humph!"

Zijin frowned, let out a cold sneer, and his golden pupils were filled with icy intent as he stared intently at the leopard opposite him, his tone furious.

"I witnessed you stealing my lightning -Lightning-Avoiding Fruit; there's no misunderstanding here."

The Leopard Woman opposite her felt a chilling pressure as she was swept by her icy gaze. Her limbs trembled slightly involuntarily, and fear rose in her heart. Her voice was filled with apprehension.

"You're saying this Lightning-Avoiding Fruit is yours?"

The Leopard Woman subconsciously looked down at the glistening Lightning-Avoiding Fruit in her palm.

If she remembered correctly, she had snatched the Lightning-Avoiding Fruit from that human boy, so how did it become the possession of this Magic Beast in front of her?

Etc!

At that moment, the Leopard Woman seemed to realize something.

"That human kid seems to have said he contracted a Magic Beast of the same level as himself."

The Leopard Woman stared wide-eyed at the Zijin.

Could it be...?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Even Magic Beast like himself, whose bloodline wasn't pure, looked down on humans like that, feeling that signing a contract with them was an insult.

How could this Magic Beast, whose bloodline was many times purer than his own, possibly form a contract with such a weak human?

But...

If this is true, then everything that is happening now makes sense.

The human was holding the Lightning-Avoiding Fruit for his contracted Magic Beast.

The reason this Lightning Tribulation was so terrifying was because the one undergoing the tribulation was a pure-blooded Magic Beast.

The sudden appearance of this Magic Beast, claiming to have witnessed it stealing her Lightning-Avoiding Fruit, was because she had just been in that human's Contract Space.

The human brought the Lightning-Avoiding Fruit to this place to undergo tribulation with his Contract Beast.

It's all clear now... I understand everything...

But the Leopard Woman wasn't happy; a forced, unpleasant smile appeared on her enormous face.

"Your Highness, you truly didn't know this Lightning-Avoiding Fruit belonged to you. Ignorance is no excuse; please, spare me."

The Leopard Woman pressed her head to the ground, pleading with a begging expression.

"Let you go? You stole my Lightning-Avoiding Fruit and even threatened to eat my lord. If I let you go, what will become of my dignity?"

Zijin's words undoubtedly acknowledged her relationship with Xiao Fan.

The Leopard Woman's hopes have finally been dashed!

"Damn humans, why didn't you say you had a powerful backer earlier!"

If I had known he had such a contracted Magic Beast, I would have stayed far away from him long ago.

Boom--

A deafening roar echoed through the heavens and earth, making people's eardrums buzz.

High in the sky, the terrifying lightning bolt had completed its final energy gathering.

Lightning crackled and electric snakes danced wildly, their sharp edges pressing down as if about to strike down on him at any moment, filling the air with a suffocating pressure.

Zijin looked up and gazed quietly, his expression calm and composed.

In her human form, she cannot withstand the Lightning Tribulation; she can only do so by reverting to her original form.

The Leopard Woman was now even more terrified!

She was so close to the Zijin, if even a trace of the Lightning Tribulation's power fell on her, she could be struck and reduced to ashes!

She no longer cared about being afraid, and in the instant Zijin looked up, she threw the Lightning-Avoiding Fruit in her hand at her.

"May Your Highness successfully overcome your tribulation! This humble beast shall take its leave!"

Leopard Woman was certain that if she dared to take the Lightning-Avoiding Fruit with her, Zijin would never let her go.

After saying that, the Leopard Woman ran off into the distance with all her might.

Zijin ignored the Leopard Woman.

A clown, he can't escape.

The first Lightning Tribulation was already upon her, and the overwhelming pressure of the Thunder was overwhelming. She dared not relax in the slightest and her entire mind was on high alert.

Zijin quickly turned to look at Xiao Fan and shouted, "Jiu Chen, quickly help me restore my original form!"

"Clear."

Xiao Fan's expression was solemn. The moment he responded, he dropped all his defenses and released himself to let the Zijin absorb his energy.

As energy continued to flow in, the Zijin body began to grow larger.

Xiao Fan remained calm as he watched the blue bar continue to drop.

His current mana pool is far greater than what he had back in the days of City of Kings.

"All the treatments we gave the team these past few days have finally paid off."

Xiao Fan sighed silently to himself.

When his mana bar was reduced to one-third, Zijin had already reverted to his original form.

A majestic and enormous purple divine bird soared into the sky, spreading its wings and its body blotting out the sun, completely obscuring the vast expanse of the heavens.

It's huge! It's really huge!

The Zijin is now larger than it was during the time of the City of Kings, not to mention compared to the Myriad Phenomena Tower.

Xiao Fan was secretly alarmed.

"What kind of bird is that? It grows so fast!"

This was still Zijin's growth period; he couldn't believe how terrifying Zijin's body would be in its adult and mature stages.

High in the sky, Zijin's eyes were completely different from his usual innocent and adorable gaze.

At this moment, her expression was clear and solemn, her feathers were surrounded by Zijin divine light, and her entire body was enveloped by the vast and powerful bloodline of an ancient beast.

Xiao Fan was fully prepared to protect his territory, and he began his Profession.

Although he knew that his healing abilities were nothing compared to the terrifying Lightning Tribulation, he would heal as much as he could.

He formed Life Bond with Zijin, their fortunes intertwined, sharing both glory and ruin.

Although he cannot take the ninefold Lightning Tribulation for her today, he can stand behind Zijin and provide her with help at the crucial moment.

Boom--!

Another deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth.

At the same time, the first thick, silvery-white divine lightning bolt, carrying the power to destroy everything, fell straight down towards the top of Zijin's head.

The lightning flashed brilliantly, illuminating the entire dark world.

"Good timing!"

Zijin looked up, his eyes showing no fear whatsoever, but rather a sense of eager anticipation.

The stronger the Lightning Tribulation, the more it represents her future potential.

Zijin was somewhat looking forward to seeing how far she could go in the future.

They will become the strongest in the history of the Spirit Sparrow!

Thinking of this, Zijin took the initiative to meet the divine thunder.

Facing the oppressive might of the heavens, her purple feathers seemed to flow with blood, the most primal bloodline imprint of an ancient divine beast.

Stimulated by the might of the Lightning Tribulation, they all awakened and blossomed.

In the blink of an eye, the Zijin and the divine thunder collided violently in mid-air.

A devastating shockwave swept across the land, leaving the surrounding earth Zong Heng ravines, sending rocks flying and billowing dust billowing into the sky.

The body is tempered by Lightning Tribulation, and the meridians are cleansed by Thunder.

This is a trial given to them by Heaven, and also a supreme opportunity for ancient beasts to break through their realm and Purification their bloodline.

"Zijin, how are you?!"

Protected by the massive Zijin body, Xiao Fan was completely unaffected by the divine lightning.

As the first divine lightning bolt struck, he began to continuously heal Zijin.

"I'm fine, I feel pretty good."

Zijin slightly excited voice came from above.

The first bolt of divine lightning wasn't very powerful; she weathered it without even needing to eat Lightning-Avoiding Fruit.

Hearing Zijin speak, Xiao Fan felt relieved, but just then, a scream came from afar.