Nine continent-sized thunderclouds of pitch-black ink and blood-red lightning churned fifty miles above the [Galactic Flying Courtyard], blotting out the stars of Branch System #1 with a suffocating, mechanical malice.
Down in the kitchen scullery of the courtyard, captured Chief Envoy Gu Biao and Fleet Commander Gu Lie dropped their dish brushes with a clatter and dove headfirst under the heavy oak prep table. This pulled their frilly pink [Debtor Aprons] over their heads as their teeth chattered like woodpeckers.
“T-That’s not a normal Rank 9 Galactic Tribulation!” Chief Envoy Gu Biao shrieked from beneath the table, his old knees knocking together as he peeked out at the blood-red runes swirling inside the black clouds.
“When Patriarch Gu Tianba and Young Master Gu Wuji broke through to Rank 9, the sky sent auspicious golden lotus clouds to congratulate them! Why is the sky above Gu Changsheng’s house condensing Heavenly Script-Erasure Lightning?! That’s the legendary cosmic punishment reserved for taboo anomalies that the Heavenly Dao wants to wipe out of history—body, soul, and name!”
Up on the alchemy shed roof, Grandpa Yao peered through his brass crystal scope at the center of the first thundercloud—and gasped aloud.
Inside the churning black vortex of Cloud #1, the condensing bolt of crimson-black lightning wasn’t shaped like a dragon, a spear, or a sword.
