Second Time

Chapter 35 - Grade Eight

"The arrays are all set up," Cai Fei reported.

"Thanks." Shao Yue rubbed Cai Fei's head. "Then, I'll leave it to you two."

"Don't worry," the elderly Master Mo said, stroking his beard. "We'll make sure nobody disturbs your tribulation."

Shao Yue bowed. "I'll be in your care."

The two array masters retreated to a safe distance. Shao Yue stood on top of a mountain a hundred kilometers away from the city. Several of layers of arrays had been set up around her, as she would be highly vulnerable during the tribulation.

Shao Yue sat down cross-legged and gathered qi while she waited for Hu'er to wake up.

An hour later, Hu'er's voice echoed in her mind. "I'm ready."

The fox demon appeared, sitting in the same position as Shao Yue, the two facing each other. They joined hands. Qi flowed from Shao Yue's body into Hu'er's.

Black clouds gathered above them, swirling faster and faster, centered on Hu'er.

Shao Yue gave a full eighty percent of her qi to Hu'er before retreating backwards a few dozen meters. Hu'er stood up and floated into the air, staring up at the vortex, her hair and tails flowing behind her.

Small crackles of electricity danced around in the clouds. The two women began chanting and making hand seals in unison. The electricity intensified and gathered in the center, creating a large glowing silver ball.

Without warning, a silver bolt of lightning as thick as an arm crashed down directly into Hu'er. Her shoulders shook, her muscles and jaw tensing. Before she could recover, another struck her, then another, until nine lightning bolts had assaulted her.

They had set up arrays to mask the sights and sound, but as the one in control of the arrays, Cai Fei could still see inside. Her eyes went as large as saucers. "This is what tribulations are like?!"

Master Mo shook his head. "This is only the beginning. There will be nine waves, each one stronger than the last."

"And she's expected to survive that?!"

"Indeed. The less help she receives, the greater her gains will be, but we need to be ready in case she asks for it. Pay close attention."

Cai Fei swallowed, turning her gaze back to the mountaintop. "Right."

As Master Mo said, each successive wave was even more intense. The lightning slowly changed from silver to gold.

After enduring six waves of lightning, Hu'er was in a frazzled state. The fur of her tails stood on end, her breathing ragged, her qi fluctuations unstable.

Shao Yue sent a telepathic message to the two array masters. "Activate the barrier!"

The two reacted instantly, pulling out a set of flags that they waved in a practised pattern. A dome of five-coloured light grew around the mountain top, covering Shao Yue and Hu'er.

Rather than bolts of lightning, the seventh wave consisted of dozens of balls of condensed lightning. They drifted down like snowflakes. They touched the barrier, then exploded, inundating it with a sea of blinding electricity.

The grade six array only held out for a few seconds before shattering. The flags in Cai Fei and Master Mo's hands burst into splinters. It absorbed forty percent of the lightning, but more importantly, bought precious time for Hu'er to regain her composure.

A determined light flashed through Hu'er's eyes as she steeled herself, the lightning pouring down like a waterfall.

"Two more!" Shao Yue called out.