Veil of the Shattered Heavens

The forest campsite was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Surrounding the small tent where Mei Xue slept was a blood-red barrier, pulsating faintly with a protective aura. This barrier had been erected by Xuan Li, a safeguard against any lurking dangers in the wild.

But the silence was shattered by the aftermath of a massive explosion in the distance. A powerful shockwave rolled across the forest, colliding against the barrier with a deafening sound. The protective shield absorbed the energy, rippling with crimson light, but the impact was so great that a heavy, reverberating hum escaped from it, causing vibrations that startled Mei Xue awake.

Her eyes shot open, and she muttered groggily, "What was that earth-shattering sound? Did a monster appear near the campsite? Xuan Li... he's probably dealing with it. I have to help!"

She scrambled out of the tent, heart racing, only to find the campsite eerily undisturbed. There were no signs of a battle—no scorch marks, no trampled foliage, and, most concerningly, no trace of Xuan Li. Her sharp senses, honed as a Level 1 warrior, picked up a faint abnormality in the atmosphere to the east. Narrowing her eyes, she thought, Something happened in that direction... something big.

Just as she prepared to rush toward the disturbance, a shadow emerged from the treeline, bathed in a faint crimson glow. Mei Xue instinctively assumed a defensive stance, her body crackling with thunder energy.

"Calm down, Mei Xue. It's me," a familiar voice said.

The shadow resolved into Xuan Li, who stepped forward with his usual calm demeanor. In his hand was a gem, radiating a faint crimson light. Mei Xue let out a breath of relief, lowering her guard. Her thoughts betrayed her calm exterior. Why am I so relieved that he's okay? But more importantly, what is going on here?

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and concern.

Xuan Li's expression remained blank as he replied, "Oh, I just heard some noise and followed it. I found two mid-Level 1 monsters fighting. They were weak, so I took them down. I managed to get this in the process." He held up the crimson gem.

Her gaze lingered on the gem, a valuable core infused with thunder energy. She thought, He can just casually get something so rare... and now he's offering it to me?

Xuan Li extended the gem toward her, saying, "This core has thunder abilities. If you absorb it, you'll likely break through your current level."

Mei Xue hesitated, staring at the gem in disbelief. "I... I can't take something so valuable," she protested. "You're already helping me return home and taking care of me. I can't shamelessly accept this."

Xuan Li raised an eyebrow. "Is this gem really that valuable? It's useless to me." Without waiting for further argument, he tossed the gem into her hands. "Consider it scrap, then. Do whatever you want with it—absorb it, sell it, or destroy it. It makes no difference to me."

Mei Xue reluctantly accepted the gem, her fingers curling around it. Why does he act so distant, as if none of this matters? And why does it irritate me so much?

Sitting outside the tent, she stared at the gem glowing faintly in her palm. This is priceless for any Level 1 warrior... and yet he tossed it away like it was nothing. Still, if I don't use this chance to break through, I may never catch up to him.

Resolving herself, Mei Xue sat cross-legged, placing the gem in front of her. Its crimson light flared as sparks of thunder energy leaped from its surface. Closing her eyes, she began refining the energy. The gem hovered before her, releasing crimson lightning that surged into her body.

Nearby, Xuan Li observed her with a faint smile. Then, he returned to his own cultivation. Stretching out his hand, he condensed cosmic energy into an unstable sphere, its fluctuations causing the air to tremble. His master's voice echoed in his mind.

"Disciple, you've succeeded in controlling and condensing cosmic energy, but mastering it fully is key to your next breakthrough."

Xuan Li nodded, dispelling the energy ball before returning to his meditation.

As dawn broke, the tranquil sky above darkened. Heavy clouds gathered, swirling ominously. Mei Xue, still refining the thunder energy, suddenly opened her eyes. Crimson lightning erupted from her body, crackling through the air with deafening force. Her eyes glowed with thunder energy as her aura surged.

Xuan Li emerged from his tent, frowning as he observed the ominous clouds overhead. His master's voice sounded again in his mind.

"Disciple, why is this happening?"

Xuan Li sighed. "Master, you aren't from this dimension, so you wouldn't know. This is a Heavenly Tribulation. It's a trial sent by the heavens whenever someone breaks through a major level. Small breakthroughs don't usually trigger it, but..." His gaze fell on Mei Xue. "She broke through several small levels at once, advancing directly to the mid-stage of Level 1. That's why the tribulation has descended."

His master hummed thoughtfully. "So, this heaven's origin demands a test of strength for advancement..."

Suddenly, a thunderous crack split the sky as lightning gathered, forming a massive bolt that descended upon Mei Xue. The ground trembled as she resisted the strike, her body crackling with energy. A second bolt followed, stronger than the first, testing her limits.

Xuan Li's eyes narrowed as he noticed something amiss. This shouldn't be this strong for a mid-stage breakthrough. Something's wrong.

His master's voice cut through his thoughts. "Disciple, as i told you earler this heaven's origin rejects your existence. By interfering in this girl's life, it has marked her as your ally. This punishment is for her association with you."

Anger boiled within Xuan Li, an inferno of emotion that ignited the depths of his being. Dark black flames surged inside him, spiraling chaotically as they began to take shape—a form unknown, ancient, and filled with an oppressive majesty. His cosmic aura erupted, causing the ground beneath him to tremble as the very air around him warped with raw power, his voice low and laced with wrath. "You abandoned me..." he muttered, his words carrying an edge sharper than the fiercest blade. "But targeting an innocent just because she dared to stand near me? Because she was caught in my shadow? I won't allow it."

Xuan Li clenched his fists. mutter "Heaven, if you truly dare to punish her for my existence... then prepare to face the wrath of the one you once forsook."His voice carried a chilling resolve as he stepped forward, the storm overhead roaring in response. The heavens seemed to tremble under his defiance.