Chapter 253: This... this is a dragon's tribulation!
"Already? That fast?"
Timothy quickly recalled the promise he made to the Shrine of the Oceanic Dragon when he took Azura away. He had vowed to help her reach Ocean's Gate within a year.
Although several months had passed in the blink of an eye, there was still plenty of time before the one-year deadline.
He hadn't expected Azura to make such rapid progress.
It seemed that, aside from Azura's extraordinary bloodline and talent, the Golden Scale Dragon Carp had indeed provided a massive boost to her growth.
"Yeah, I can feel it," Azura said, her small face showing a hint of worry she couldn't hide.
She had consumed thirteen Golden Scale Dragon Carp at once. While she enjoyed the delicious meal, the ancestral dragon bloodline was continuously flowing into her petite body.
It was refining and enhancing her bloodline, making the purity of the ancient dragon blood within her rise steadily.
This increase in her dragon bloodline had caused Azura's cultivation level to skyrocket, reaching a point of significant breakthrough.
Azura had always wanted to grow stronger, but she hadn't expected this day to come so soon.
For human prodigies, Ocean's Gate also came with the challenge of facing a lightning tribulation.
But the tribulation for humans was nowhere near as terrifying as it was for dragons.
Since ancient times, dragons had maintained their lofty status, but unlike humans, they didn't follow the natural cycles of the world.
While dragons were generally stronger than humans, reaching higher realms was incredibly difficult for them.
This was especially true for dragons with purer bloodlines.
The higher the concentration of ancestral dragon blood, the greater the potential of the dragon.
But the stronger the potential, the more powerful the tribulation they would face.
Even the Dragon Kings, the most exalted of all dragons, were left battered and bruised when facing their tribulations.
Especially for someone like Azura...
In the past ten thousand years, no dragon had consumed as many Golden Scale Dragon Carp as Azura had.
In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the purity of Azura's bloodline had surpassed that of any dragon in the last ten millennia.
Once her cultivation level fully matured, the heights Azura could reach would be far beyond what any other dragon could hope to achieve.
But when it came to facing the lightning tribulation, this advantage became a curse.
The sky above was filled with dark clouds, stacked so high it was impossible to see their peak. Thunder rumbled ominously from within.
It was as if a massive, terrifying beast was lurking in the clouds, waiting to strike.
The entire sky had turned pitch black, with endless storm clouds covering the heavens in every direction.
The tribulation Azura was about to face could very well be the strongest lightning tribulation any Dragon King had ever encountered!
If she could survive it, not only would she reach Ocean's Gate, but her future would be incredibly bright.
But if she failed, the consequences could be catastrophic—she might be reduced to nothing but ashes.
"What's going on? The sky... Is someone undergoing a tribulation?"
"No way, even if someone is, it shouldn't be this terrifying!"
The bizarre scene immediately caught the attention of countless people.
The area covered by the storm clouds was simply too vast, and the aura brewing within them was so terrifying that it sent shivers down their spines.
Not just in Sky Sanctuary, but even sects thousands of miles away could feel the oppressive energy.
Countless people looked up at the sky, their faces filled with shock and fear.
They had seen practitioners face tribulations before, but even the tribulation at Ocean's Gate wasn't anywhere near this level!
No one could figure out who or what could cause such a terrifying phenomenon.
While the human practitioners couldn't sense the specifics, the beast clans, the Sea Serpent tribe, the Sea Folk from the deep ocean, and the dragons all felt something familiar—and terrifying—in the air.
"This... this is a dragon's tribulation!"
Countless fish poked their heads out of the sea, and an endless number of Sea Folk transformed into human form, rising from the water.
As they gazed at the sky, they all felt a deep, primal fear and trembling from the very core of their being.
What kind of dragon, with such pure blood, could trigger a lightning tribulation of this magnitude?
Aside from the true dragons of the deep sea, no other creature could possibly cause such a phenomenon.
But with the dragon bloodline so diluted in this era, who could possibly summon such a grand spectacle?
"The southern seas... could it be?"
Soon, people began to recall Azura, who had successfully ascended to the position of Dragon King due to the purity of her bloodline.
But while Azura's bloodline was far purer than that of other dragons, it still couldn't compare to the ancient dragons. How could she possibly trigger such a terrifying tribulation?
Could it be... that Azura's Dragon King bloodline had been enhanced?
But the Golden Scale Dragon Carp was so rare and precious—how could she have possibly...
In no time, the Sea Folk, beast clans, Sea Serpent tribe, and especially the dragons from the deep sea, all began leading their strongest members toward Sky Sanctuary.
The clouds thickened, and a chilling wind howled through the air.
The oppressive atmosphere made it hard for anyone to shake off a sense of dread.
Under the darkened sky, Azura's small figure looked even more fragile.
Facing the towering storm clouds and the thunder rumbling within them, Azura tried her best to stay composed, but a trace of nervousness still flickered across her face.
Her tiny pink fists clenched slightly, and her eyes had a stiff, uneasy look.
"How are you feeling?"
A voice suddenly broke through Azura's tension.
She blinked, momentarily distracted, and turned to look at Timothy.
For some reason, with her attention diverted, she didn't feel quite as scared as before.
"Hmph, I'm the mighty Ocean Dragon King! Why would I be scared?" Azura huffed, trying her hardest to appear calm and composed.
By now, practitioners and members of various clans from all directions had begun to gather.
When they finally saw Azura standing atop the peak of Sky Sanctuary, their hearts surged with shock and disbelief.
They hadn't been wrong—the one who had summoned this tribulation was indeed Azura!
Countless eyes were now fixed on her.
Some were curious, some fearful, and others carried strange, unreadable expressions.
Whoosh.
Without thinking, Azura darted behind Timothy.
Since she wasn't tall enough, she grabbed onto the leg of his pants.
Her small fists were clenched tightly from nervousness, and her face was buried against Timothy's leg.
Timothy couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.
It seemed that, aside from the lightning tribulation, what really frightened Azura was the overwhelming crowd of people.
As expected, Azura's temperament, like her body, still had the innocence of a child.
"Don't worry. So what if they're watching?
This is the perfect chance to show everyone that you're the most pure-blooded Dragon King in the last ten thousand years, and that you can easily withstand the heavenly lightning that no other dragon dares to face."
Timothy smiled gently, placing his hand softly on top of Azura's head.