Ash cleared out everything inside the castle and discovered a very interesting point: the living environnt of the demigods was quite simple, even inferior to Shattered Lake Prison.
He couldn’t believe that demigods were all ascetic, not fond of enjoynt; the only reason could be the imnse survival pressure that left them no ti for material pleasures.
Yet "Wind Erosion" is a major power in Double Hell, with thirteen demigods and the Rain Demon Clan in control. Shouldn’t they be living with ease in Hell?
While Ash was contemplating, Death Mad suddenly pointed out a hidden compartnt behind the treasure chest: "You missed the most important treasure."
Ash opened the compartnt and found a black... sticker? in a silk box.
"It’s indeed this thing." Death Mad raised his eyebrows, "For demigods, this is indeed the most important item."
"What is it?"
"Tribulation."
Ash froze.
Death Mad explained, "Did Vishi tell you that demigods have to challenge themselves periodically?"
Ash nodded, "She said, demigods face it every three hundred days."
"It’s now 365 days; the interval between tribulations aligns with the world’s cycle. In her ti, a year was 300 days." Death Mad said, "For most demigods, tribulations are extrely perilous challenges, hence the saying ’yearly obstacle’.
Tribulations are often miracles from other demigods; those with five or more Prison Wings might even face tribulations at the Divine Lord level. To easily pass through tribulations, there are two ways: one is to abandon all Prison Wings; as long as you don’t steal knowledge from the Void Realm, the Void Realm won’t trouble you. The other way is consuming tribulation counts."
"Every ti a demigod passes a tribulation, a new tribulation count appears on their hand. Tribulation counts have multiple uses, but the main one is—"
Death Mad glanced at Ash, "Crossing Hell’s layers."
"For example, to move from the first layer of Hell to the second, you need to consu 2 tribulation counts. From the second to the third, it’s 3 counts, and so on."
"But conversely, returning from the fifth layer of Hell to the fourth requires just 4 tribulation counts. From second back to first, you need to consu 1 tribulation count."
"Simply put, you need to spend as many tribulation counts as the layer of Hell you wish to reach."
Ash pondered, "Theoretically speaking, as long as a demigod survives 14 years, they can reach the fifth layer of Hell?"
From the first to the fifth layer, consuming a total of 2 3 4 5=14 tribulation counts, since there’s a yearly tribulation, a demigod could gather enough in 14 years.
"Yes, but no one would squander them like that." Death Mad shook his head, "Because the second use of tribulation counts is to offset tribulations."
"A demigod with one Prison Wing can spend 3 tribulation counts to offset the next tribulation; two Prison Wings require 6 counts, three Prison Wings 9 counts, four Prison Wings 12 counts, five Prison Wings 15 counts."
"Demigods often experience low status or face insurmountable tribulations. Without tribulation counts to offset, their only path is death."
"Many demigods prefer to maintain one Prison Wing because it’s easier to consu counts to preserve life."
Ash understood. Tribulation counts are both Hell’s passport and grave inscription. The weaker the demigod, the easier it is to survive, but the closer they approach power, the more likely they’re crushed by tribulations.
"Demigods shouldn’t waste tribulation counts going to upper Hell, right?" Ash asked, "What’s in the upper layers of Hell?"
"More resources, and..." Death Mad exhaled a smoke ring, "Divine Beings are born in Hell; the fifth layer has the highest probability, the first almost none."
Ash knowingly nodded, looking at the tribulation count in the box, "How did this tribulation count co into being? Can demigods transfer tribulation counts?"
"Yes, but there’s a peculiar condition."
Death Mad raised his eyebrow, "Demigods can only rip off their final tribulation counts. If two Prison Wing demigods, they can rip off the last two counts; three Prison Wings can rip off the last three counts, and so on."
Only the final tribulation counts can be ripped off?
Ash listened with furrowed brows jumping—only gamblers driven mad by lack of money would rip off their final counts. Losing the final count ans at least three years without being able to offset tribulations, relying solely on their own strength.
"Among hard currency for demigod trade, Source Crystal is the least valuable, tribulation count the highest. If it’s multiple counts, the value rises exponentially." Death Mad raised three fingers, "Generally speaking, eight tribulation counts can buy a Divine Being."
Ash looked down at the tribulation counts in the box and asked, "How do you use it?"
"Stick it on the back of your hand." Death Mad replied.
Ash placed the dark sticker on the back of his hand and it imdiately transford into an eye-shaped pattern, with each print exuding colorful mist.
He examined it for a while before suddenly recalling, "The mark on Sword Maiden’s hand..."
"That’s a gift from The Gods of Four Pillars, helping them communicate with Guardian Spirits in Hell." Death Mad flicked the smoke ash, "It can be used as a tribulation count, but with the price of... doubling the difficulty of the next tribulation. Many demigods seek to trade with the Gods of Four Pillars despite the risk, but few survive."
Ash asked, "Speaking of Guardian Spirits, are their Guardian Spirits dead?"
Death Mad shook his head, "Of course not, their Guardian Spirits can fly, able to retreat quickly even in the first layer of Hell, unlike the Rain Demons who can only walk slowly on land and can’t escape at all."
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