However, Cole don't have the intention to manage the wine making himself. He leave all the process and authority on Elder Win. The only thing he want is the proper result. Instead, he gave a command to all of his contracted creature to cooperate with the Elder to all of the things that he want.

For instance, should the latter request for Amber Honey, the Golden Bee hive should give him an appropriate amount. They don't have to give him a brewed honey that was important in the hive but those that can be given out.

As for Cole, he focus on preparing himself on his Heavenly Tribulation.

He watch the tribulation his Divine-Rank contracted beasts face and not only they were deadly, the tribulation lightning also contain a powerful special attribute that naturally oppose their own affinity.

This put Cole in dilemma. After all, with his Martial Spirit and Special Physique of Immortal Regal Phoenix, his current potential was also considered as True-Rank. He already expect that the tribulation he will summon is more powerful and deadly than those who was summoned by Groot and even Coal.

Furthermore, the perfect affinity of Life Path given to him by his Martial Spirit and Special Physique convince him that he'll also attract a special lightning. Perhaps those elements that specially counter Life like Death, Curse and might even be lightning that contains the rotting Corpse Energy.

When he thought of this, Cole made a decision that he'll put Blue on stand-by and could help him should an unwanted situation arises.

Besides, if he truly summon a special lightning in his tribulation, he truly need Blue's presence since he won't let that chance to slip for Blue to acquire another kind of special lightning. Furthermore, the summoned tribulation cloud should not be wasted and should be absorbed by Blue's growth-type weapon.

Days pass peacefully in the Towering Tree City and surrounding villages but that was only at the internal part of the territory.

On the outside, specifically on the border of his land, the number of people substantially increased. And it wasn't just a simple group of people; they were a group composed of 75% Core Formation-Stage, 20% Nascent Soul-Stage and 5% Void Sensing-Stage cultivators!

The sudden increment of number of experts in the border only start several days after the two people from Greenbark Clan leave the premise of Rising Phoenix Spirit Tree Nation territory. There is a high chance that the information they acquire leads to the sudden increase of greedy wolves that eyes his secret technique for assisting Heavenly Tribulation.

If Cole didn't know any better, perhaps those people already know that he don't have any secret technique but more like he has an special beast that absorb the domineering tribulation lightning.

It takes Cole several more days before he came up with possible answer about the turn of events.

That is because after investigating the forces that blots the border as well as an information from Mikoes, all of the forces that gathers in his border were those independent sects and hidden clans.

Basically, all the forces that blots the border were forces that wasn't under the jurisdiction of Heavenly Flame Empire.

It looks like Greenbark Clan really sell the information regarding Blue on the Heavenly Flame Empire and the latter truly covets his secret. However, it was also apparent that they were wary of the contract the recently deceased puppet Emperor signed with him.

Otherwise, no matter how high the promise of Rising Phoenix Spirit Tree Nation, the empire won't hesitate to use its full force to eradicate his faction and forcefully acquire Blue.

With the wariness in the contract, the Heavenly Flame Empire resort on using a borrowed knife to acquire the special beast. It was apparent that the hegemony force was intimidated with the contract they sign.

Not even after the puppet Emperor that sign the contract with Cole die makes the latter disregard the possible consequences.

The different forces that camp in the border were apparently here for Blue, which the Heavenly Flame Empire release the information of.

However, after acquiring Blue, those forces should also consider after they acquire the special beast. After all, the one that'll acquire Blue would definitely face the same situation as Rising Phoenix Spirit Tree Nation.

With that theory, it was apparent that the forces that gather in the border don't have the qualification or ability to hold the special beast. They were either trying to gain something even the scraps from the powerful forces or they have the intention to catch Blue and make a connection with the Heavenly Flame Empire.

After all, forces were treacherous on their own. They definitely identify the intention of the latter force. However, the special beasts were more than enough to ensure the prosperity of faction. They should be also trying to identify another secret of the rising faction and try to take it on themselves.

All in all, Cole could expect that the moment arises, those forces would attack his faction like a hungry pack of wolves with no intention of leaving even a single piece of crumbs.

Cole considered himself as merciful person than being merciless. However, he won't hold back and he's more than willing to be merciless to his enemies.

Specially now that under the focused nourishment of Nine-World Elven Ancestral Tree, the whole Elm Tribe have evolved into their ancient form of bloodline, courtesy of being under the very progenitor of Elven Race.

Unlike Ygdrassil, Patriarch Mayana and the whole Elm Tribe were not restricted with his soul contract with their progenitor tree. With their ancient bloodline and rich environment of the first out of nine world of Nine-World Elven Ancestral Tree, their growth could only be described as meteoric rise.

Patriarch Mayana, specifically as an example, were already on the verge of breaking through to Mortal Emperor-Stage and it won't be long before she made a breakthrough to Sainthood Realm.

With steeled mind, Cole already made a decision that should those forces made a move to his territory, he won't show any sign if mercy, even if he become the public enemy of the whole Azure Territory.

After all, if he don't have the power to protect what he has and what he care, those person would also show no mercy and would devour him even to the last dregs.

The growing threat in the border were currently on its phase of increasing their power and number. But while they were accumulating their forces, Cole was also increasing his power.

For instance, the no more than twenty current member of external force defense were always challenging the dungeon.

The several weeks of constant dungeon diving made them have a general cultivation of Nascent Soul-Stage base. More than half of them were already on the peak of Nascent Soul-Stage and their current focus was to comprehend their [Concept] until they acquire their qualification to make a breakthrough to Void Sensing-Stage.

With the promise of the dungeon, this small group of experts have long been become a loyalist to Cole and the Rising Phoenix Spirit Tree Nation, especially those rouge cultivators with no connection and future.

There were also some members of three main family among the small group of expert. Probably a seed planted by those families to acquire information according to the city lord. There were some that was planted in order to climb the hierarchy ladder and give authorities to their respective family.

Unfortunately for the three family, the seed they planted become a loyal subordinate under Cole and have become a perfect tool for him to control those family. After all, the seed they planted grow from mere early-level Mana Gathering-Stage or even Body Tempering-Stage cultivator but become a Nascent Soul-Stage super expert in short amount of time. In no time, they become a pillar of their respective family but unfortunately, their loyalty ultimately lie to Cole more than their blood.

That is to say, currently, the whole Towering Tree City were under Cole's full control.

The supervision of the external force defense were under Fernan but Cole visit them to inform them that their might be a big battle that their nation would face.

For the meantime, Cole don't have the intention to rely on them but he also won't leave them in important matters. If a battle do erupt, they were expected to play their responsibility but their main task is to clean the smallfries.

He also gave them a small deal. If they're willing to pay their contribution points, they can exchange for [Concept Fruit] which would make them instantly comprehend their appropriate [Concept] so as to increase their overall power. If they didn't have enough contribution points, they could loan it and pay for it gradually in the future.

Afterwards, every single member of the said department loan for one. After all, with their speed of improvement, it won't be long before they reach the peak of their cultivation and would need and use it in the near future.

Even the member of three main family don't dream before that they could reach Nascent Soul-Stage much less transcend tribulation and become a Void Sensing-Stage expert.

However, the dungeon gave them an absolute chance to reach higher levels and they don't have to worry about Heavenly Tribulation since their faction have a miraculous solution for that, albeit it would need a corresponding amount of contribution points.

Cole all gave those who want the chance. After all, in the end, all the possible outcome will be beneficial to him and his faction. No matter what the outcome is, his own benefits were already secure.

The possible war and the exchange of [Path Fruit] was the only thing that Cole personally say at the whole external defense group. As for the important and miscellaneous things, he only say it to Fernand and he'll be the one who will delegate it.

He also meet Fernando as the internal management group will be responsible for order and stabilize the state of the city. After all, unlike the external defense group who was privileged on dungeon diving, this group of people rely on their own cultivation and resources. Their improvement is more even slower than snail to the point that the other group have already become a dragons while they still remain a worm.

Cole don't have the intention of forgetting about them but it was unfortunate but he was extremely occupied in the last few weeks that he don't have a time to solidify and perfect the system of Bureau of Internal Security and Urban Management, specifically on the matter of their resources and its distribution.

As for their leader, Fernando, was also occupied on diving the dungeon along with the other that reach the Void Sensing-Stage. In fact, even Cole was included in this group since his current prowess were more than enough to face Tier-5 creatures, and even higher since he was a beast tamer.

All in all, the current Bureau of Internal Security and Urban Management currently have the lowest improvement of all. Currently, unlike the Bureau of External Defense who was currently full of Nascent Soul-Stage experts, the current internal security bureau still have Mana Gathering-Stage cultivator in their numbers.

Cole made sure that Fernando could control his group should a war do erupt. With their strength, they were not expected to contribute in martial force but they need to ensure the pacify the chaos and protect the commoners. It'll be a bad thing if the one that hurts the commoners were the member of this department and not because of invaders.

With the expectation of coming war, Cole ensure to make the necessary arrangements he thinks has important.

Several days later, he finally made it decision to summon his own Heavenly Tribulation.

The first thing he did in that very day was to send his frail mother and pregnant sister inside the [Inner World]. He can afford to lose the life of other commoners but not his own family. He still want to live a lifetime with them.

Blue was beside him, accompanying him.

Others like Celia, Virgo, Bell, Pis-ces, Hunter, Lucky and even including the newly born basically a baby Richie the Gold Duck, were stationed inside and outside the city. Although he was willing to lose a life of commoner, he will still ensure that it was on the premise of all of his capability. He will try to protect them as long as he could.

As for the surrounding villages, since he don't want to cause a chaos or public disturbance because of possible war, they were still clueless. Instead, Cole ask the Golden Queen Bee to send a group of Golden Bees in those villages and protects them should some uncouth cultivators try to hurt them despite being defenseless.

And as another layer of protection, he even send a copy produced by the original Undying Faith Phoenix Parasol Tree Guardian Flag to each of the villages. The faith of those villagers stored in that copied flag will protect them should the protection of Golden Bee group fail.

There were also Silent Furnace, the artifact spirit that already cover the populated areas of Rising Phoenix Spirit Tree Nation.

It could be said that in the possible war, Cole prepare all out, specially on protecting the innocent citizens.

At the middle of his march towards the tribulation mountain, Silent Furnace suddenly inform him about several figures that was trying to follow. They were extremely skilled in hiding their presence and it was apparent that they were a skillful assassins but it was unfortunate that they were currently stepping on the land covered by Divine-Rank Artifact. The stealth figures also possess a powerful cultivation and the weakest of them were a Fourth-Level Void Sensing-Stage expert.

Unlike the first wave of assassins, Cole didn't ask to catch the current figures and send them to Bloody Servant. Instead, he let those figures follow him. After all, it wasn't a secret anymore that those that intend to go towards the bare mountain means that another person would try to face their tribulation and overcome it.

With hidden company, Cole arrived at the specific mountain that can be basically called as Blue's private spot.

With the past several days that he spend preparing himself, Cole only use several seconds as buffer time before he release the full power of his current comprehended [Concept] that was already at the peak and only need a specific push before it could erupt with greater power.

There were two types of [Concept] Cole has which was naturally comprehended because of his innate abilities.

One of it were life-type, comprehended because of his Immortal Regal Phoenix Martial Spirit and Special Constitution. The second one were light-type, a [Concept] he manage to comprehend because of his Soul Incarnation State' Tree of Light.

The one he release an aura is his life-type [Concept] as compare to his light-type affinity, the former were more used and utilized by him.

As a powerful pressure from the world pressing on him and black clouds gather in the sky, so thick that you won't be able to feel the presence of sun at all, Cole gave the his life-type [Concept] a last glance through System Panel.

Concept : Miracle of Life (0.99%) • Increase all effects and damage of life affinity skills and abilities by 99%. • (Breath of Life) Breath a breath of life to inanimate object so as to stimulate its potential to awaken its awareness. The greater the history, fate and faith of the object, the greater the chance of creating its embryonic soul. • (Seed of Life) Condense a Seed full of Life that could promote the growth of new life or replenish a wilting life. • (Faith of Life) A life born from your breath holds a intricately and profound connection to you. Their veneration and faith could do wonders in strengthening your cultivation.

It was only then Cole learn that different when watching from distance, there were actually a special phenomenon where a powerful pressure would press down when facing the Heavenly Tribulation. But fortunately, despite producing a pressured atmosphere, there was no detrimental effect on him.

Instead, the pressure were like a mark of the Heaven to him, that the Heavenly Tribulation would ensure to strike him even if he try to run from its area of effect. Cole don't have the intention to run so this wasn't important to him. It was more like of another information for him.

For Cole who face powerful beasts and spirits from constant dungeon dive that could release a powerful intimidating pressure courtesy of their bloodline, the pressure of the sky were nothing to him.

Instead, he even raise his head and watch the forming cluster of clouds in the sky and as he expected, the lightning that flash and gather on it are not blue in color. The occasional lightning that was flashing on the tribulation clouds were more like a transparent murky purple color.

The aura of the lightning in the tribulation cloud is not unfamiliar to Cole as it resembles the aura and appearance of the ghost that was currently living near Groot!

It was a yin-attributed lightning!

The lightning gather in the dark cloud in the sky, accumulating both its quality and quantity. It managed to gather an appropriate amount that his Heavenly Eyes manage to identify the special lightning!

Spectral Yin Lightning [Monarch-Rank] A special lightning formed under the accumulation of both yin, ghost and lightning energy. The corrosive nature of yin and ghost energy were further amplified by the properties of lightning, making the special lightning extremely beneficial for yin creatures but extremely dangerous for creatures with flesh and life-force.

Just he expected, the tribulation lightning of his Heavenly Tribulation were something that oppose his own attribute. It was easy to tell that the so called Spectral Yin Lightning were something that specializes in corroding flesh and life-force!

As the tribulation lightning accumulates, Cole gradually feel a foreboding feeling deep inside him. His instincts tell him that what about to come were something dangerous even for him.

But strangely enough, Cole don't feel threatened by the accumulating force high in the dark clouds in the sky. It was as though his body, instinct and mind know and confident that what about to come might be able to hurt him but not enough to kill him.

And something that won't be able to kill him won't ever be able to kill him.

With that in mind, Cole wait for the tribulation lightning to fall, strike and if it would be able to temper his body.

But while Cole suddenly found peace and confidence, the several figures that was following him vanish all at once once they were subjected by the foreboding pressure of the Heavenly Tribulation.

They were extremely afraid!

They were all a Void Sensing-Stage expert and they all face and successfully overcome their own Heavenly Tribulation but their's were more like an easy mode while what they just experience were something that was bound to kill a cultivator!

Its more like an absolute death sentence!

Hence, even though they were given an extremely important task, they immediately leave the area of Heavenly Tribulation lest they also attract its ire and get targeted by it!

But their retreat is not without good news. With their own judgement, they believe that the City Lord of Towering Tree City won't be able to survive that Heavenly Tribulation at all!

Not even a genius every thousands of years would be able to survive that heavenly phenomenon!

As long as they convey this information to their group, the assassins believe that their sect would also think the same as them. He believes that as long as the Heavenly Tribulation pass, their own group would take the lead and acquire the biggest part of the pie available for taking!

Their own sects won't be able to sit still if they don't manage to learn the secret of meteoric rise of newly established faction which manage to produce several Void Sensing-Stage or equivalent experts in expanse of several months!

It didn't take long after the assassins left and powerful thunderclap reverberates in the area, signifying the start of strikes of Heavenly lightning.

With their strength, it was easy for the assassins to easily leave the area of Heavenly Tribulation. When they look back, they saw an unknown, almost transparent lightning that scream danger strike someone in certain spot. Not only the nearby assassins but even those that saw the special lightning outside of the border of the Towering Tree City can't help but feel fear and dread as they watch the ongoing Heavenly Tribulation.

Those that already overcome their Heavenly Tribulation can't help but remember the experience while those that need to face it were filled with dread and foreboding. Those who identify themselves as mediocre cultivators already felt early signs of helplessness. If they face that kind of power, they don't have a chance to survive from that. It looks like without a strong reason other than putting their lives on the line, they would stay as Nascent Soul-Stage cultivators for the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, Cole was proving to be having a hard time enduring the first strike of Spectral Yin Lightning.

After watching several creatures facing their tribulation, Cole already concluded that the power of Heavenly lightning will become more powerful than the last and the first strike is the weakest and should be the easiest one to endure.

Hence, in the very first strike of the Heavenly Tribulation, Cole decided to receive the first strike without putting out any kind of defense or movement of resistance. He receive the first lightning strike with just his physical body.

Obviously, he didn't die from the experience but he do experience another inhumane pain but for him who experience of becoming crook, almost meat paste after receiving a casual attack from Sainthood Realm expert, the pain he felt from lightning strike is only so-so. It was endurable.

Only, the thing that gave him a headache were the yin and ghost attribute properties of the Spectral Yin Lightning.

The moment he got struck by the heavenly lightning, the invasive electrical current of the lightning instantly invade his body and it brought the corroding effect of the lightning.

Therefore, what actually Cole is trying to resist was the fact that his body were being corroded, decayed and wilted starting from his extremely fragile internal body parts.

But his own body won't back down without a fight. The moment the Spectral Yin Lightning start to corrode his internal body, a rich life-force explode from his inside which revitalize his dying body.

The natural instinct of his body, along with the aid from the Immortal Regal Phoenix bloodline, Cole didn't have to worry about dying from Spectral Yin Lightning.

However, the said tribulation lightning contains an unknown force or power that even the Immortal Regal Phoenix is having a hard time to resist and purify. It was the aid of this certain force that greatly helps the Spectral Yin Lightning to survive and continue to invade his body.

But strangely enough, deep within his mind, or perhaps this was the thing called natural instinct, Cole don't want to fully purify the certain force that makes it hard for his body. He was confident that as long as he use his [Immortal Purity True Phoenix Flame] to its extreme mode of purification as well as sacrificing a portion of his blood, the unknown force would be easily eliminated.

His conflicting situation makes its extremely hard and confusing for Cole. However, he choose to follow his so called natural instinct that should came from Immortal Regal Phoenix bloodline.

Since it looks like the Heaven didn't seem him as abnormal as Coal who have a Devil Dragon Bloodline, his tribulation only contains a total of three lightning strikes.

His resistance to lightning, even including the Heavenly Lightning, were extremely high because of the [Concept] he inherits from Blue through [Soul Fruit]. Pair it with powerful recovery ability, Cole manage to endure the three lightning strike with just his physique. But he wasn't leave unscathed.

After the third strike of the Heavenly Tribulation and the pressure that subject him vanish and the dark cloud in the sky started to diminish, Cole's current state could only be described in one word—battered.

His usual snowy white skin were like a dried piece of charcoal, black and burnt. His hair that was usually flowing like river water and as silky and smooth as healthy bird feather currently looks like the hair of evil old witch.

His pristine white robe were also not spared from the damage. The robe could now only be described as rag and its part and pieces were scattered in the area.

However, despite his current situation, there was a big smile on Cole's face.

That was because at that very moment, he feel the wall that limits his growth vanish at once! And in the next instant, his Nascent Soul-Stage cultivation easily cross the hurdle and reach the Void Sensing-Stage!

But before he could celebrate, his smile vanish as two things suddenly happen.

The first one was that he activate a certain effect of one of his Immortal Regal Phoenix's Martial Spirit ability!

The other one is that a Tier-5 bird beast appear in the sky with a person riding on its head screaming, "Surrender the special beast to Beast Taking Sect!"

...

[Edit : Unfortunately, Wattpad only support 200 chapters per book. If you want to read the story continuation, kindly visit the author's account and look for published work bearing the same name.

Thank you for reading and supporting my story!

-carl_sheen]