?
"What is that above the forbidden ground? Clouds...?" Just as the two elders in front of the forbidden ground of the Hollow Thunder Family turned their attention back towards the forbidden ground while curious about what the old master might be up to, one of the two could not help noticing the increasingly large and dark clouds that had started to gather in the air above the forbidden ground.
"That is weird, with the formation in place around this entire place, there should be no way for clouds to form above the forbidden ground… Unless…"
"Hm? Do you know something?"
"Yes, the only way for clouds to form above the forbidden ground where the old master is located, is if the clouds are tribulation clouds, as there is no way for the formation to prevent something like tribulation clouds from entering… But… For a tribulation cloud to be forming above the forbidden ground just after the old master went into secluded cultivation-"
"Soul Ascension Realm Tribulation!" Not able to stop himself from exclaiming this out loud as he realized what his friend meant, the elder looked up towards the tribulation cloud above the forbidden ground that was slowly increasing in size and strength with each passing second, as a sense of fear slowly welled up inside of him.
Breaking through to the Soul Ascension Realm was something that was filled with danger, and one could lose one's life to the terrifying tribulation at any moment. The elder understood this very well and was not the slightest bit happy or filled with joy after realizing what they meant. Instead, the only thing left was fear.
Fear of what might happen if the old master failed to overcome the tribulation. Leaving the Hollow Thunder Family without the protection of a powerful Peak Domain Lord Realm Expert.
Even if the Hollow Thunder Family still had other powerful Domain Lord Realm Experts, the second strongest in the Hollow Thunder Family, the Grand Elder, was only at the Peak of the Eighth Stage of the Domain Lord Realm Far from strong enough to ensure the safety of the Hollow Thunder Family and the territory under their control… And that was not to mention the fact that they were currently at war with the major sects and the kingdoms behind them!
"Calm down, what would the old master say if he knew what you were thinking? The old master isn't dead yet. Stop acting like he is! For now, we should seal this place off and ensure no one can disturb the old master during his breakthrough to the Soul Ascension Realm!" Seeing the fearful expression on the face of his friend and equal, the other elder present could not help rolling his eyes as he said this before taking out a small jade talisman that acted as an access point to the massive formation enveloping the forbidden ground-
Fwoosh-!
Instantly sealing off the entire place from the outside world so that no one would be able to interfere with the old master's breakthrough.
"This- I'm sorry, I have just been a bit too tense as of late due to what happened over the past few days…" Feeling a sense of embarrassment overwhelm him as he realized just how pathetic his behavior just now had been, the elder in question could not help wanting to find a hole to jump into.
If the old master learnt about how he, a Sixth Stage Domain Lord Realm Expert, had acted just now, he was certain that he would be lucky if he got sent to protect one of the mining territories next to one of the dangerous locations outside the capital city…
"No problem, I will open a passage in the formation for you to go through and inform the rest of the family that the activation of the formation is nothing to worry about, as for why it activated… You can just say that the old master is in the process of testing and strengthening the formation to ensure that it's prepared in case the major sects and the kingdoms behind them decide to launch an attack while he is not around." Knowing that his friend was not in the best state of mind following the old master suddenly beginning his breakthrough to the Soul Ascension Realm, the other elder opened a passage in the formation before allowing his friend to leave the forbidden ground.
Understanding very well that there was no need for this, as they could just use a communication talisman to do it instead of showing up personally.
…
At the same time that the tribulation clouds appeared above the forbidden ground of the Hollow Thunder Family, the old ancestor of the imperial family who was busy looking through a stack of ancient scroll turned in the direction of the Hollow Thunder Family as both his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh? That old man from the Hollow Thunder Family is attempting to break through to the Soul Ascension Realm? How interesting… If he succeeds, I will send that brat out to settle the matter with them and the major sects." Muttering this to himself as he watched the formation around the forbidden ground activate in an attempt to conceal the cloud tribulation before anyone had the chance to notice it, the old ancestor turned his attention back towards the large number of ancient scrolls in front of him.
Hiding something happening inside the capital city from him was impossible with the strength of the Hollow Thunder Family. Not to mention, even after they activated the formation to hide the forbidden ground from view, the old ancestor of the imperial family still had the ability to easily see through the formation with his strength. At most the formation would prevent someone who was in the First or Second Tribulation Realm from peeking inside…
As for preventing the rise of a new Soul Ascension Realm Expert that might turn into a possible enemy? The old ancestor of the imperial family didn't really care too much about this with his current strength. The only thing that worried him was the possibility of the more powerful experts from the three religions that existed at the true core of the Ewaria Continent.
Even if his knowledge of how strong the true experts from these religions were, he still understood that they were far stronger than the ones currently present in the Sky Empire, that much he had learnt after two of them had tried to kill him not too long ago…
Hm? Looks like that brat is here because he noticed something. At least he is not that useless of a son…
"Come in." Noticing a familiar presence at the entrance to his room, the old ancestor called out-
Bang!
"Father! Did you notice the powerful fluctuation just now!? It felt like someone unfamiliar, and the strength should be in the Soul Ascension Realm!"
And not a second later, a middle-aged man with an excited expression unbefitting of his age rushed into the room.
"Calm down, it was just that old man from the Hollow Thunder Family beginning the first tribulation. Nothing to fuss over. You are the current emperor of the Sky Empire; you should act like it. Not some brat still wet behind the ears." Feeling a sense of displeasure after seeing his son, the current emperor of the Sky Empire, barreling into the room like some child, the old ancestor could not help scolding him while his aura flared up for a moment.
"Sorry father…"
"Just keep your attitude in mind… Hah… This brat, always so troublesome… If there is nothing more, you can leave." Shaking his head before turning his attention back towards the ancient texts, the old ancestor waved his hand towards the door. Signaling for the emperor to leave now that he had found an answer to the thing he had come for.
"Father… There is something else I wanted to ask you about…" Knowing his father very well, the emperor could not help showing a slightly nervous expression on his face as he said this.
"… What?" Knowing that whatever his son was about to ask would end up making him angry, the old ancestor tried his best to remain calm as he once again turned away from the ancient texts and looked towards his son.
"You see… As you know, I plan to appoint a successor to take the role of emperor soon, but I can't choose which of my children should be the one to take the position after me. My Seventh Daughter? My Seventeenth Son? Or maybe even my Second Son? I really can't choose one and hope father would be able to help me out."
"…"
"F-father…?" Noticing something was wrong after getting no response from his father, the emperor suddenly felt a chill run down his spine as a killing intent far more terrifying than anything he had ever experienced before engulfed him. Making him truly experience the difference in power between himself and the origin of the killing intent, his father.