Way of the Knights

Chapter 418 - Physique And Clouds

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Raven's breakthrough this lasted for a full three days. 

During his time inside the cocoon, Raven wasn't aware of any changes that are happening around him. He entered a special state of complete emptiness. He had no thoughts, no memories, no desires, he couldn't even remember what his name is or the basic functions of breathing. 

Spending time inside the cocoon, Raven's body slowly formed. The first to be created was his soul. After going through another round of reconstruction, his soul emitted a pure and dazzling brilliance. The aura it emanated felt holy and lofty, completely untouchable and inviolable.

Next was his physical body. Strands of Cosmic Energy condensed and formed a cell, which then rapidly divided until his entire physical body manifested. Because of the sheer purity of Cosmic Energy, every single cell on Raven's body was baptized and transformed into the limits of perfection that he could currently possess. 

His blood was too potent that it emits faint brilliance, his bones were almost crystalized, allowing him to erupt with a shocking force which seeming impossible for his size. His veins and blood-vessels were translucent and flexible. His energy network seems to have been made out of crystals, they were tough and wide, capable of withstanding the intensity and might of Cosmic Energy.

Each of his muscles were tight and compact, it was as if he was carved by a divine sculptor. His jaw line was strong, his brows were sharp, his eyelashes could make most women envious, as well as his deep, aqua-marine colored hair. 

If one studied Raven's physique closely, they would encounter a stunning realization that each pore on his body contained Law Diagrams. Each of these law diagrams were akin to lotuses slowly blooming and revolving, emitting endless possibilities and profundities. 

All sorts of mystical and profound Law Diagrams were present on each piece of his body. Forming a unique physique that would make numerous people green from envy. It had to be known that these law diagrams will eventually dissolve and turn into profound insights that would help Raven's progress smoother in the future.

An individual's Champion's Physique signifies one's foundations. The better physique one has, the smoother their progress would be in the future. To others, this stage is the start of the watershed. Most Knights either purposefully slowed down in this stage or permanently stopped here. Those who slowed down, will try to enhance their Law Insights as much as possible before breaking through, that way, when the times comes for them to condense a physique, it would be of much better quality. 

For those who were trapped here, they were divided into two groups: those who accepted their fates, and those who are unwilling. The ones who accepted their fates would either live as a hermit in peace and pass away in meditation or they would roamed the world and do what their heart desires. 

Those who were unwilling, would either continue walking down their path and hope for more opportunities or would start cultivating from scratch once more. 

It could also be said that one's potential and talent would be represented by the grade of Champion's Physique they have. 

*Crack* *Crack!*

Ear-splitting cracks sounded from the surface of the cocoon. As soon as the sound died down, it was followed by an earth-shattering explosion. 

A dazzling brilliance permeated within the sphere of Equinox Waters. A might swirl formed with Raven's body at its center. Everything within the cocoon and the cocoon itself was absorbed by Raven's body. Strangely enough, not a drop of Equinox Waters were absorbed by this swirl. 

Then, a simple yet elegant skintight robes of black golden silk formed and hugged Raven's strong body. This robes are made out of laws itself, they are formed by Raven's insights alone and it could repair itself as long as Raven wills it. 

Raven's eyes then snapped open. His eyes were like torches of light for a brief moment before they recovered their usual golden colored pupils. 

He then felt something propelling his body forwards, causing him to be ejected from the Equinox Water Sphere. His foot gently made contact with the ground and as soon as it did, a grand and majestic image of a divine lotus bloomed with him on the center. 

Raven's body were then covered with a solemn and dignified brilliance of a violet-golden halo, representing the undisputed and fabled Perfected Deity Champion's Physique. 

Anyone who realized that they managed to condense such a powerful physique, would surely feel an immense joy from the bottom of their hearts. This is understandable since those who could condense such physique are extremely rare. Only one out of ten million people would succeed on doing so.

Yet Raven didn't feel any sort of jubilance as of the moment. He was eerily calm and even indifferent, it was almost as if he wasn't surprised nor happy about this at all. 

After a moment of silence, Raven let out a sigh. His gaze were then directed towards the sky above him. Surprisingly, a strange development was happening within the clouds. 

"A Perfected Deity Champion's Physique isn't so easy to achieve. Not only does one need vast accumulation and great lucky chances, one also has to be prepared. This sort of physique angers the envious Heavens, therefore it will send a mighty tribulation to those who manage to succeed."

*Tzzt!* *Tzzt!*

As if confirming his words, the skies instantly darkened and ominous clouds formed above him. Snakes of multi-colored lightning hissed and slithered within the clouds, it seems that each of their movement were provoking and threatening Raven to despair. 

However, Raven wasn't even moved nor afraid of this at all. Aside from his solemn expression, Raven didn't feel any nervousness at all. His back remained straight, his hands were clasped behind him as a golden wheel silently emerged behind him. 

*Tzzt!* *Tzzt!*

As if angered by his lack of fear, the tribulation clouds emitted yet another threatening hisses, but Raven remained unmoved. He calmly gazed at the tribulation clouds and waited it's descent. 

*Boom!!!*

An arm thick lightning bolt unceremoniously descended without any warnings. Even the first bolt of lightning was already terrifying enough that it could instantly kill any Silver Knights, yet as a response, Raven casually send out a palm to meet it. 

This seemingly simple wave of Raven's hand, in truth, contains potent amount of Destruction Energy. As his bare palm met the terrifying lightning bolt, instead of Raven being electrocuted, it was the lightning bolt that was destroyed instead, not even a spark of it remained. 

What Raven utilized just now, is the profound concept of Breaking stemming from his Destruction Laws. Upon reaching the acme of this concept, it allows him to break down the very structure of anything he touches, which precisely what happened to the lightning bolt instead. Of course it does have it's own limitations, being Raven's current strength. However in time, as Raven grows stronger, then he would be able to do this to almost everything. 

"What a mystical place. It is actually capable of sending down Heavenly Tribulation. This means that this place has its own Heavenly Laws as well, and from observations, it doesn't seem to be any less than powerful than the Heavenly Laws of the Divine Realm."

Heavenly Tribulations consisted nine sets of lightning strikes with each bolt stronger than the last. Each set lasts for a total of nine lightning strikes and the kind of lightning changes in every sets. The first set contains the base form of lightning which contained Lightning Laws. As the process went on, the lightning sent down by the tribulation will get fiercer and stronger. 

Raven's casual defense against these lightning strikes remained the same up until the fourth set. As soon as first bolt of fifth set descended, Raven could already feel the terrifying might exceeding the limits which his bare hand could endure, therefore he didn't hesitate to use the Archaic Thousand Armed Wheel behind him to defend. 

One invisible palm formed in front of Raven, protecting him from the frightening assaults of lightning bolts. The ferocity of lightning laws are in full display right now. Not only were each of the bolts reached a kid's waist in width, the lightning laws fueling it were becoming more and more aggressive. 

Even though Raven was defending himself right now, he could still feel the numbing sensation creeping all over his body. In truth, the residual impacts of these lightning strikes could already cause a moral's eardrums to explode. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't even be able to defend against such might, if they were on Raven's current state, then they would've undoubtedly die by now. 

Halfway through the 5th set, Raven already added another palm from his wheel to defend himself. Another palm was added upon the start of the 6th set and another one descended halfway through the 6th set. This cycle went on and on until the final set emerged. 

The final set of tribulation clouds contained black lightning with reddish glow. Even just the sight of this caused all of Raven's being to feel threatened. Without holding anything back, he employed every method he got in order to endure the final set. 

Even with all of this, Raven still suffered from injuries but its still on the lighter side.. He only sighed in relief as soon as he saw the Tribulation Clouds dissipating.