Heaven's Way ran its constant course, and each coming and passing tribulation reflected a thread of heaven's secrets and the prevailing tide within it.
This time, that tide lay with all living beings between heaven and earth, and with the Providence of these geniuses.
If the Providence of all living beings under heaven amounted to ten parts, then the geniuses among them held eight.
Combined with the earlier sudden clarity of heaven's secrets, while the Great Dao instead withdrew into silence, it was not difficult to see that this prevailing tide had not been brought about by the Dao Lords above.
They had gathered these geniuses of the great era, born in answer to its fortune.
And naturally, they had to bear the consequences that Providence brought.
With the three mandates-Heavenly Mandate, heavenly timing, and Heaven's Will-all aligned, the present great tribulation had descended without warning.
"Elder Red Brow, though heaven's secrets point this way for our journey, how should we arrange things from here?"
An elder beside him spoke in confusion.
When faced with a great tribulation, those who made it through the tribulation cycle would all gain wondrous opportunities.
But far more would break their halberds within it and vanish into obscurity.
Elder Red Brow said, "Providence matters greatly in this tribulation. Yet when a tribulation comes, it usually brings both heart demons and external demons with it. Slaying heart demons and distancing oneself from external demons is the first priority."
Whatever the tribulation, keeping one's spirit platform clear was crucial.
"The Human Path opens this tribulation. The second priority is knowing what to do and what not to do."
Elder Red Brow spoke slowly. "I gleaned this through divination of heaven's secrets. Our disciples must remember: losing to another is no disgrace. Only by exercising restraint