Chapter Seventeen: Triumph Over the Heavenly Tribulation

Boom... The ninth heavenly tribulation finally came crashing down. Why say "crashing"? Because, although this bolt of heavenly lightning was not fast, it gave the terrifying illusion of a great mountain plummeting from the sky, smashing ruthlessly toward Zhang Sanfeng. At this moment, Zhang Sanfeng was drenched in cold sweat. He knew with painful clarity that this heavenly lightning was not something he could withstand in his current state, even though he was at his peak. With no other choice, Zhang Sanfeng could only put his faith in Tang Yi, hoping that Tang Yi’s invention would truly work.

“Heh heh, I really am a jack-of-all-trades, able to anticipate even situations like this. Hmm, come to think of it, I haven’t used my precognition superpower in ages. I wonder what it’s like now after my upgrades. I should try it again sometime.” Tang Yi watched as Zhang Sanfeng took out the antimatter box he had given him.

Following Tang Yi’s instructions, Zhang Sanfeng pointed the box at the heavenly lightning and pressed the activation switch at its base. Instantly, the box flew up on its own, performing a dizzying series of transformations. With a series of clicks, it snapped into the shape of a satellite dish—an umbrella or bowl-like receiver. With a whoosh, it shot straight toward the lightning.

Strange noises echoed through the air—clacking, humming—as the heavenly lightning began to diminish, the oppressive sensation of a mountain descending growing lighter and lighter. When the tribulation finally dissipated, the antimatter box reverted to its original square form. The clouds of tribulation in the sky slowly scattered, and Zhang Sanfeng breathed a huge sigh of relief. He caught the antimatter box as it fell and carefully examined it, finding nothing unusual. He pressed the activation switch again, but nothing happened.

“The antimatter energy is spent, of course it won’t work anymore. Just keep it as a memento!” Tang Yi sent a message to Zhang Sanfeng when he saw what he was doing. “Hmm? What’s this? Hasn’t the tribulation ended? How odd! Why does something still feel off?” Tang Yi suddenly sensed another energy lingering above Zhang Sanfeng’s head.

Above Zhang Sanfeng, as the clouds of tribulation scattered, an invisible, colorless, soundless, and eerie bolt of lightning formed. The instant it appeared, it shot into Zhang Sanfeng’s body at the speed of light. Zhang Sanfeng shivered violently but then seemed perfectly normal again. Zhang Sanfeng himself was unaware of what had happened, and although Tang Yi found it strange, seeing Zhang Sanfeng unharmed, he paid it no further mind.

“Friend Tang, I owe you one for this! Without your box, I doubt I could have survived that tribulation,” Zhang Sanfeng said, gathering his belongings and striding over to Tang Yi.

“Heh heh, you said it yourself! Don’t try and renege on your debt—my memory is exceptionally sharp,” Tang Yi replied, packing up his own things and falling in step with Zhang Sanfeng as they walked and talked.

“Do you know who I am? You can rest assured, I am a man of my word—my promises are worth their weight in gold—”

“All right, all right, I believe you! You don’t need to keep repeating it. By the way, let me ask: did you sense anything odd when the clouds dispersed just now?” Tang Yi inquired.

“No, why do you ask?” Zhang Sanfeng replied, puzzled. “Oh, nothing, as long as you’re all right. Let’s hurry back,” Tang Yi said, and using his super ability to control the earth, he returned directly to the negotiation camp.

“Friend Tang, I never expected my movement technique at the Grand Completion stage to be so much slower than yours,” Zhang Sanfeng said a few minutes later, finally catching up to Tang Yi.

Tang Yi smiled, “Let’s not talk about that. Come, tonight I’ll treat you to a feast to celebrate your triumph over the tribulation.”

“Good, tonight we drink until we drop! Hahaha…” Zhang Sanfeng was in high spirits.

The next morning, the representatives of the Solar System and Pegasus System resumed their endless wrangling in the conference room. Tang Yi went to Zhang Sanfeng’s door and knocked—no response. He knocked harder, still no reply.

“Could something have happened?” A sense of foreboding gripped Tang Yi. He smashed the door open and was met with an unbelievable sight: Zhang Sanfeng was hanging upside down from the ceiling, one leg curled up, both arms outstretched, muttering gibberish with his mouth. He remained oblivious to Tang Yi’s noisy entrance.

“Hey, Zhang Sanfeng, what are you doing?” Tang Yi called to the dangling man. But Zhang Sanfeng paid him no mind, continuing his incessant muttering.

“Hey… I say, Brother Sanfeng, what technique is this? Hanging upside down, chanting scripture? I can’t make head or tail of it.” Tang Yi scrutinized him as Zhang Sanfeng gesticulated wildly, leaping up and down.

“Oogaa…” Suddenly, Zhang Sanfeng jerked violently as if possessed, then collapsed face down on the ground, motionless.

“Huh! Friend Tang, what are you doing in my room? Barging in without knocking is very rude. Don’t let it happen again!” Zhang Sanfeng stood up and, seeing Tang Yi staring at him, chided him.

“Hey, Zhang Sanfeng, what’s with all this drama? Switching faces so quickly—are you ill?” Tang Yi reached out the back of his hand to check Zhang Sanfeng’s forehead for fever.

“Get off! Who said you could touch my head? Anyway, what did you want with me?” Zhang Sanfeng brushed off Tang Yi’s hand.

“Nothing really, just came to call you for breakfast. Then I saw you acting crazy and forgot to tell you. Come on, let’s go.”

“Breakfast? I haven’t eaten breakfast in years…” Zhang Sanfeng said, walking over to a meditation cushion and sitting down cross-legged, palms pressed together, entering meditation.

“Hmph, suit yourself. I’ll go find Ruoxue.” Seeing this, Tang Yi ignored him and left.

At noon, Tang Yi and Hua Ruoxue were on their way to try a local delicacy when they passed by Zhang Sanfeng’s open door. Zhang Sanfeng was again muttering to himself while practicing boxing movements. “One, two, three, four, three times three is nine, say it or not, clear or unclear, what is this…” He kept chanting various things.

“Brother Tang, what is Senior Zhang reciting? I can't make any sense of it,” Hua Ruoxue asked.

“I don’t understand either. I think Zhang Sanfeng has gone mad. Let’s not bother him. He’ll be fine in a while—he might even come out and scold you!—” As Tang Yi spoke, Zhang Sanfeng suddenly shook himself awake, regaining his senses.

“Oh, it’s Miss Hua… and Friend Tang, why do you always enter without knocking? I told you, it’s very rude… Hey, what’s going on? I haven’t finished speaking and you’re already gone. Young people really lack patience.” Before Zhang Sanfeng could finish, Tang Yi hurriedly dragged Hua Ruoxue away, and Zhang Sanfeng returned to his meditation.