Ascension of the immortal Asura

"What? You're about to undergo heavenly tribulation?" Adam asked, surprised to hear such a thing. "Didn't you just reach Half-Step Heaven Tribulation a few weeks ago, and now you're ready to break through? How does that make sense?"

"Not everyone cultivates as slow as you," Iris replied dismissively, "besides, some people don't even stop at the Half-Step Realm. They just break through in one shot, so compared to them, I'm not even that impressive."

The group all glanced at John upon Iris's words, as they all thought the same thing. If there was someone in the group capable of such a thing, it could only be John.

"What are you staring at me for?" John asked, but was only met with strange stares.

'How the hell does Iris's Heaven Tribulation end up with me being the focus?'

John could only shake his head at the attention his talent brought.

"Forget about me," John said to the three of them, "this is time for us to focus on Iris. Iris, how close are you to breaking through?"

A thoughtful expression appeared on Iris's face for a moment, before her gaze shifted to Chase.

"I'm quite close, maybe a few days to a week before I can push over the edge and start my tribulation…unless you can concoct a pill for me that could help speed up the process?" Iris asked Chase.

While waiting was normally the way to go, in order to break through naturally, time was of the essence in these lands. Waiting a full week to start her tribulation would stop the group's progress for a full week, which was something she was not willing to do.

"I could help," Chase happily replied, always eager to help when it came to his alchemy. "In fact, I recently started making some Heaven Ascension Pills, mostly to prepare for my own eventual breakthrough. Here, take as many as you need," he continued as a pill jar appeared in his hands.

Five glowing pills were contained within, which flickered blue light occasionally, like lightning was striking from within. The pills gave off an incredibly profound aura, and John felt his Qi start to circulate faster just from being around the pills.

"Heaven Ascension Pills? Why are these pills so much more profound than the other Heaven Ascension Pills I've seen before?" John asked. When compared to the Heaven Ascension Pill Elder Ragur took, these pills were far more profound.

"That's because even with the same type of pill, there are different grades. There's the Common Grade pill, which has over thirty percent impurities, up to the Divine Grade Pill, which has zero percent impurities. Although such a grade is purely myth, as it's impossible to have zero impurities," Chase explained.

"So what grade are these pills? And what are the pill grades? I've never looked into such a thing" Adam asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.

"First off, the pill grades are Common, Earth, Pristine, Heaven, Sublime, and finally Divine. The impurity thresholds for these grades are thirty percent, twenty percent, fifteen percent, ten percent, five percent, and lastly zero percent," Chase explained as if he were a teacher lecturing students. "As for this pill, it's a Earth Grade Heaven Ascension Pill, while the ones you saw before, as well as most of the pills you've encountered so far, have been in the Common Grade."

"So that's how it is," John replied as he understood the difference between the two pills. "The difference in impurities seems quite small though. Does it really make that big of a difference?"

"Of course it does," Chare replied quickly. "Not only do impurities take the place of the ingredients you want in the pills, they also are akin to poison within the body. While impurities won't kill you, they will actively work against the properties of the pills you consume, lowering their effect. Just a few percent difference can make all the difference."

John wanted to ask a bit more about the pill grades, but figured such a thing was best suited for some other time.

"If you take this pill, should it be enough for you to start your ascension soon?" John asked Iris, getting to the main topic once again.

A thoughtful expression appeared on her face once more, and after a moment of contemplation she nodded her head.

"I'll need about half a day to focus my body and mind for the tribulation ahead, but taking this pill should cut down the time to no more than half a day needed," Iris replied.

"Good, then start your preparations," John said to Iris.

"We're going to do the tribulation here?" Iris asked

"Why not. Its not as if we know of some better place to move towards for you to take your tribulation," John replied. "And don't worry about anyone else interfering. Kirri and I will act as your Dao Protector during your tribulation, so you can be at ease that no one will interfere."

While others interfering was not likely, as no one wanted to invoke the wrath of the heavens, it was still best to prepare for such a thing.

A smile appeared on Iris's face, comforted by John's words, before it was replaced with a look of seriousness as she started to take in the weight of the situation. With her talent, ascending past her tribulation was more than likely. However, heavenly tribulations had also resulted in the deaths of countless geniuses, as one's greater talent would invoke a stronger tribulation. If she was not careful enough, it was possible that she could perish in her tribulation.

John walked over and placed his hand reassuringly on her shoulder.

"Take your time, and ascend whenever you're ready," John said to her. "Don't worry about anything else."

Iris nodded her head, and walked a few dozen yards away. She sat down on the desert stand, assuming a meditative position. After calming herself for quite some time, Iris consumed one Heaven Ascension pill, and began to work towards the very peak of the realm, requiring only the last step to break through.

Flash!

Kirii suddenly appeared, his presence like a flicker of lightning as he left John's soul space.

"We'll be guarding Iris for some time," John said to Kirii, "make sure you let no one interfere!"

"Got it!" Kirii replied through their soul connection, eager to take part in something exciting like a Heaven Tribulation.

"You guys might want to move some distance away," John instructed Adam and Chase, who quickly obliged.

Black clouds started to slowly gather overhead over the next half-day, as if they were seeking out a target, but could not yet find it. The clouds continued to thicken, while John could feel Iris's cultivation rising to the very peak of her realm. Despite the gathering of clouds, no one had decided to interfere yet, although John kept his guard raised to the maximum.

Bang!

A deafening boom suddenly echoed out as lightning flickered within the blackened clouds above, appearing like the start of an apocalyptic storm.

John's eyes shifted upwards as he stared at the raging storm within the clouds. A familiar aura began to descend from the clouds from above, one that filled him with anger and disgust.

"The tribulation has started!"