Chapter 106: The Heavens Mourn

The sky darkened abruptly, as if a veil had been drawn over the sun. Thick, crimson clouds rolled in, their edges tinged with an ominous glow. The air grew heavy, oppressive, and filled with an inexplicable sadness, as though the heavens themselves were grieving. A deep, resonant anger seemed to emanate from the clouds, a primal fury that sent shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned cultivators gathered outside the Obsidian Waterfall Gate.

Then, it began to rain. But this was no ordinary rain—it was a downpour of blood-red droplets that fell from the sky like tears. The crimson rain splattered against the ground, staining the earth and pooling in small, shimmering puddles. The Obsidian Waterfall Gate, a towering structure of black stone and ancient runes, shuddered violently as the rain cascaded over its surface, the red liquid running down its sides like rivers of blood.

Elder Gao Yundian of Thunderclap City frowned deeply, his weathered face creased with unease. He raised a hand, catching a few droplets of the red rain in his palm. The liquid felt warm, almost alive, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. His heart began to pound in his chest, a primal instinct warning him of something terrible. "What is this? Why is this happening?" he muttered, his voice low but tinged with alarm.

Zhen Chen, standing nearby, took a step back, his usually calm demeanor shattered. His eyes widened in shock, fear, and dread as he stared at the blood-red rain. "The heavens mourn their loss," he said, his voice trembling. "As they weep tears of blood."

Lin Moyi, who had been deep in conversation with Zhen Chen, swallowed hard. His sharp instincts and years of experience told him exactly what this meant. His gut churned with a mixture of dread and grim realization. "This is bad," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His prediction, the one he had shared with Zhen Chen earlier, was coming true.

Jiang Feng, the young man he had brought to the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, must have begun killing the geniuses of the lower realm. Reverse cultivation was a path that defied the natural order, a taboo that even the heavens could not tolerate. And now, the heavens were mourning.

The other elders and leaders of the various cities exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale and their expressions grim. The blood rain was a sign, a warning from the heavens themselves. It was a phenomenon that had been recorded in ancient texts but had not been seen in several millennium. It was said that such an event occurred only when the balance of the world was disrupted, when the natural order was defied in the most egregious way.

Elder Lie Huoyan of Mist Ridge City, his usually confident demeanor shaken, turned to Zhen Chen and Lin Moyi. "What does this mean? What is happening inside the realm?" he demanded, his voice sharp with urgency as he noticed the twos unusual behavior.

Lin Moyi hesitated, his mind racing. He knew the truth, but speaking it aloud would only spread panic. Still, he could not lie. "It means," he said slowly, his voice heavy with regret, "that someone inside the realm has defied the heavens. Someone has taken a path that even the heavens cannot tolerate. And now, the heavens are weeping."

The words hung in the air, their weight pressing down on everyone present. The blood rain continued to fall, the crimson droplets splashing against the ground and the Obsidian Waterfall Gate. The atmosphere was thick with tension, fear, and a sense of impending doom.

Zhen Chen clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had always known that Jiang Feng was different, that his path was one of defiance and rebellion. But he had never imagined it would come to this. The heavens themselves were mourning, and that could only mean one thing: Jiang Feng had begun to walk the path of reverse cultivation in earnest. He was challenging the natural order, and the heavens were responding.

Lin Moyi's expression was grim as he stared at the blood-red rain. He had warned Zhen Chen about this possibility, that those around Jiang Feng would be pulled into the twisting ropes of karma, that if their and Jiang Feng's fate wasn't strong enough they would all die. But even he had not expected it to happen so soon. Reverse cultivation was a path fraught with danger, not just for the cultivator but for the world itself. And now, the heavens were taking notice.

The other elders began to murmur among themselves, their voices filled with uncertainty. The blood rain was a sign of something far greater than any of them could comprehend. It was a warning, a plea from the heavens to restore balance. But how could they intervene? The Obsidian Waterfall Realm was sealed, and no one could enter or leave until the trial was complete.

As the blood rain continued to fall, the atmosphere grew heavier, more oppressive. The heavens were weeping, and their tears were a reminder of the consequences of defying the natural order. For those gathered outside the gate, there was nothing they could do but wait and hope—hope that the damage could be contained, hope that the heavens' wrath would not extend beyond the realm.

But deep down, they all knew the truth. The heavens were not just mourning; they were preparing to act. And when they did, the consequences would be catastrophic.

As the blood rain fell, the Obsidian Woodlands stirred with a chaotic, energy like a curse setup on the land. The crimson droplets seemed to seep into the very earth, awakening a ferocious madness in the demonic beasts that roamed the land. Their eyes, once glimmering with a semblance of intelligence, now burned a deep, unnatural red. Rationality was lost, replaced by a mindless, destructive rage. The forest trembled as the beasts began to move, their roars echoing through the trees like a harbinger of doom.

A pack of Twilight Fangs, wolf-like demonic beasts at the late stage of the Essence Condensation realm, emerged from the shadows of the forest. Their sleek, black fur glistened with the blood rain, and their razor-sharp fangs dripped with venom. Each beast was the size of a horse, their muscular bodies built for speed and destruction. Their eyes, now a burning crimson, glowed like embers in the darkness as they let out a collective howl that sent shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned cultivators. The pack moved as one, their movements synchronized and deadly.

They tore through the underbrush, their claws ripping apart anything in their path. Trees splintered and fell as the Twilight Fangs surged toward the Obsidian Waterfall Gate, their howls growing louder with each passing moment. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the air was filled with the scent of blood and fear.

High above the forest, a massive figure took to the sky. The Crimson Skywing, a mid Golden Core stage demonic beast, spread its vast, blood-red wings and let out a piercing screech. Its body was covered in shimmering, scale-like feathers that glistened in the dim light, and its talons were as long as swords, capable of tearing through stone and steel with ease. Its eyes, now a deep, glowing red, burned with a mindless fury as it soared through the crimson clouds.

The Crimson Skywing was a predator of the skies, its presence alone enough to strike fear into the hearts of those below. With a powerful beat of its wings, it shot toward the Obsidian Waterfall Gate, its screech echoing across the land. The blood rain seemed to part around it, as if even the heavens recognized its power.

Deep within the forest, the ground began to shake as a massive figure emerged from the shadows. The Ironclad Colossus, a towering demonic beast at the peak of the Golden Core stage, was a sight to behold. Its body was covered in thick, metallic plates that gleamed in the dim light, and its massive fists were capable of crushing boulders with ease. Its eyes, now a deep, glowing red, burned with a mindless rage as it let out a deafening roar.

The Ironclad Colossus moved with a slow, deliberate pace, each step causing the ground to tremble. Trees were uprooted and crushed beneath its feet as it made its way toward the Obsidian Waterfall Gate. Its sheer size and strength made it a force to be reckoned with, and its presence alone was enough to send smaller beasts fleeing in terror.

In the depths of a nearby swamp, the water began to churn as a massive figure rose from the murky depths. The Venomous Serpent Queen, a late Golden Core stage demonic beast, was a creature of nightmares. Her body was covered in shimmering, emerald-green scales, and her eyes, now a deep, glowing red, burned with a mindless fury. Her fangs dripped with venom, and her massive coils could crush even the strongest of cultivators.

The Venomous Serpent Queen let out a hiss that sent ripples across the water as she slithered toward the Obsidian Waterfall Gate. Her movements were swift and graceful, her massive body cutting through the swamp with ease. The air around her was thick with the scent of poison, and the ground sizzled where her venom dripped.

As the blood rain continued to fall, the Obsidian Woodlands became a battlefield. The demonic beasts, driven mad by the crimson droplets, surged toward the Obsidian Waterfall Gate with a single-minded purpose. The Obsidian Fangs howled as they tore through the forest, their eyes glowing with a mindless rage. The Crimson Skywing soared through the sky, its screech echoing across the land. The Ironclad Colossus and the Venomous Serpent Queen moved with a terrifying determination, their presence enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned cultivators.

The elders and leaders gathered outside the gate watched in horror as the beasts approached. The blood rain was a sign of the heavens' wrath, and the demonic beasts were its harbingers. The Obsidian Waterfall Gate, once a symbol of opportunity and power, now stood as the focal point of an impending catastrophe. Zhen Chen and Lin Moyi exchanged grim glances. They knew what this meant. The heavens were not just mourning; they were unleashing their fury. And if the demonic beasts reached the gate, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"The gate must hold," Lin Moyi said, his voice heavy with urgency. "If those beasts break through, it won't just be the realm that suffers. The entire Obsidian Woodlands will be consumed by chaos."

Zhen Chen nodded, his expression grim. "We must prepare for the worst. The heavens have spoken, and their wrath is upon us."

As the demonic beasts drew closer, the air grew thicker with tension. The blood rain continued to fall, a constant reminder of the heavens' grief and anger. The battle for the Obsidian Waterfall Gate was about to begin, and the stakes had never been higher.