The remaining four thusians emptied vials of healing potion into their mouths. After Diana disappeared, they seemed a bit relieved. But their relief was short-lived. Rowena slowly floated toward them.
"Whatever problem you have with Ghost, it can wait till he finishes his heavenly tribulation," Rowena coldly said.
"But if you try anything funny, I will personally visit Thusia with the army of Skyhall. Do you understand?"
The thusians were stunned. They couldn't tell how Rowena managed to know they were coming from Thusia. The thusians were in a messy situation. On one hand, they were ordered to kill Ghost. On the other hand, they drew the attention of the Holy Maiden herself. The thusians didn't know the relationship between the Holy Maiden and Ghost. But judging by her tone and look, she wasn't kidding about visiting Thusia with her army. Finally, they just heaved a sigh and flew away from the area.
After their figures disappeared into the cloudy sky, Rowena flew toward Ghost. She was shocked by Ghost's cultivation speed. Even she was nowhere close to breaking through to the Half Immortal stage. Furthermore, Rowena wondered who the black-robed woman was and why she was helping Ghost. Their decision to wear black seemed more than just a coincidence to Rowena.
As Rowena flew toward Michael, she noticed more and more people appearing in the sky out of thin air. They all teleported from all parts of the world to witness the heavenly tribulation with their own eyes. Among the people, there were some familiar faces like Golden Valley Victoria, Morningstar Evan, elders of Aragoth, and surprisingly, her father Ethan himself.
"Father,"
Ethan's body jerked in surprise. He turned around to see Rowena floating toward him.
"What's my pretty girl doing here?" Ethan asked Rowena with a grin. Behind his grin, Rowena noticed a bit of concern.
"How'd you come here?" asked Rowena.
"Teleportation. How else? Olivia was kind enough to let us use the teleportation gate of Aragoth," Ethan looked at Olvia, who had just joined Gaya and Nightmare.
"Olivia? The same girl we looked for Noah?" asked Rowena as Ethan nodded.
"Don't you remember Noah broke the marriage? She was in love with someone else," said Ethan.
"So tell me, father, what are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I am here to see the heavenly tribulation just like everyone else,"
For some reason, Rowena felt like Ethan was only telling her a partial truth.
"Where is mother?" asked Rowena.
"Home,"
"Look who came down from her palace,"
Rowena and Ethan suddenly heard a playful voice. They turned around and saw Sabrina. She was with a couple of her friends. Just like everyone else, Holy Trident Academy sent their students and elders to witness the heavenly tribulation. Sabrina tightly hugged Rowena,
"Oh, I missed you so much," Sabrina squeezed Rowena. Afterward, she hugged Ethan. Her friends looked a bit nervous around Rowena because she was a pinnacle of existence, the holy maiden. They didn't know how to act before Rowena. Ignoring the nervous gazes, Rowena focused on Ghost. The sky above him turned almost pitch black. Webs of golden streaks of lightning formed in the black sky. Additionally, a mini tornado was slowly forming around Ghost. With each passing second, the storm grew bigger and more violent.
The heavenly tribulation affected the land beneath the holy church more. The Kingdom of Thera ordered the citizens to evacuate Yaseius, which was within the radius of the heavenly tribulation. The Guardian guild and the Holy church joined their forces to evacuate the citizens as well as cast a defense shield around the city. The king of Thera wasn't very happy with Michael starting his tribulation without informing them first.
Everyone who held ill feelings toward Ghost decided to form a plan to curry his favors. Of course, some believed and wished Michael would die struck by lightning, especially the elders of the three big sects. They feared if he became a Half Immortal, the influence of the Sun Rise sect would grow beyond limits.
Michael's allies like House Bradley, Kane Family, and Lord Information, were elated to see the heavenly tribulation. Once he had become the Half Immortal, they would have a powerful friend. Just this was enough for them to overcome their rivals in their respective fields.
Moreover, all the newspapers sent their best news reporters to Awor to cover the news of Michael's heavenly tribulation. It wouldn't be an understatement to say the current hot topic of the world was Michael.
***************************************
A day later, Maxim Barnes was shivering in anger. He banged the throne's hand with enough force to put a dent in the handle. The four thusians were on their knees. Their bodies trembled in fear.
"you incompetent fools. You could have ended his life then and there," Maxim Barnes completely lost his composure. When he heard Ghost had triggered a heavenly tribulation, his heart skipped a beat. Even with the Cosmic stream, Thusia did not have any Half Immortals. Instead. They had several Fusion stage cultivators. If those Fusion stage cultivators were anything like the incompetent fools before him, Maxim Barnes realized he's screwed.
"Father," Victoria came to Maxim's side
"We cannot blame them, father. No one could have guessed the Holy Maiden would be there,"
Her words made sense to Maxim. Still, Maxim couldn't believe they had missed such a great opportunity to kill Ghost. A single spell inside the heavenly tribulation range would have killed him instantly.
"His heavenly tribulation comes with a shackle father," said Victoria. Maxim Barnes slowly turned his head toward Victoria.
"If he survives the tribulation, that's a big if, he will have to join the council of immortals. He can't meddle in the affairs of mortals after that. But in case he doesn't join, we will call upon all our allies and end his pathetic life once and for all. This time, I will personally cleave his head off," Her eyes glimmered with killing intent.
Maxim Barnes thought about what Victoria had just said for a few moments. Suppose Ghost was just a Fusion stage warrior, there were several warriors in the Thusian army who could kill him without breaking a sweat, thanks to the Cosmic energy running through their veins. Since it wasn't the case anymore and Ghost could become a Half Immortal, Maxim Barnes needed some backup plans.
"Cancel all my meetings. I am going to the garden," MAxim Barnes rose from his throne. Hearing his words, Victoria creased her brows. She took a step forward, placing her hand on Maxim's shoulder.
"Father, are you sure? Is this the right time?" asked Victoria. The garden was none other than the sanctuary where the Cosmic stream is. The Thusians built a portal connecting the castle to the sanctuary, so whenever they wanted to use the Cosmic energy, they just needed to step into the portal.
"Do not question me," Maxim snarled.
Victoria quickly took a step back and bowed.
"Forgive me, my king,"
*****************************************
Meanwhile, Edith and Lailah stood on the castle balcony, watching the city below them. Despite the heavy snowfall, the villagers and soldiers moved like ants through the stone pavements. Many were gathering firewood to survive the cold nights while the soldiers pulled several giant war machines such as trebuchets, catapults, and cannons.
They weren't preparing for the battle against Ghost but to attack their nearby kingdoms. Maxim Barnes used fabricated maps to claim the nearby lands belonged to Thusia. When the nearby kingdoms refused to surrender the lands that rightfully belonged to them, he waged war against them. It was not the only tactic Maxim Barnes used to wage war but one of them.
Most of the soldiers and citizens didn't even know a bigger threat was on its way to Thusia. They didn't even know about Ghost's threat. Instead, the citizens were busy with their day-to-day life. After Thusia's initial overwhelming victory against the two kingdoms, the citizens believed no one in Ozer could rival them. The thusians weren't wrong. After stealing the Cosmic energy, Maxim Barnes built an elite unit of soldiers under General Booth's command. These elite soldiers were powered with Cosmic energy. As a result, they destroyed everyone who stood against Thusia. Maxim Barnes invested all the wealth from the conquered kingdoms in his army, making them overpowered. It wouldn't be an understatement to say Thusia had the deadliest army in Elon and Ozer.
But no matter how powerful their army was, they weren't a match for a Half Immortal.
"Lailah," Edith slowly stepped toward Lailah, who was calmly staring at the citizens from the balcony.
"You look worried," said Edith.
"I am,"
"You don't have to worry about me, Lailah," Edith gently placed her hand on Lailah's shoulder.
"I am not worried about you Edith,"
"Then?" Edith tilted her head.
"I am worried about them," Lailah's gaze swept across the kingdom and its citizens.
"Thusia defended against three kingdoms and conquered another three, all at the same time. I think they can survive against one man, Lailah,"
"Do you know what happened between the Barnes and Ghost, Edith?"
"Hmm," Edith nodded.
" Don't ask me about it, Lailah. I made a promise to Victoria-"
"I am not going to ask you, Edith," Lailah's words cut short Edith's words.
"But you know who's right and who's wrong. End of the day, we all have to reap what we sow," Lailah sighed. Just by looking into Edith's eyes, Lailah could tell Ghost's vengeance against them was justified. Besides, Lailah wasn't stupid. Two years ago, Maxim Barnes was just a Body Strengthening stage cultivator. Many ministers in Thusia forced him to marry Victoria to a prince and name an heir to the throne. But suddenly, he took a leap from the Body Strengthening stage to Fusion Stage. Not only Maxim but all of his closest allies got a sudden boost to their cultivation. It was obvious Maxim had stumbled upon something much more powerful, and it was somehow connected to Ghost.
"If you are his friend, you should worry about him more, Lailah. He is just one man. They are going to kill him,"
"Not if he reaches the Half Immortal stage,"
Lailah's words made Edith's heart skip a beat.
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