Generally speaking, anyone who dared watch a Golden Core cultivator's Heavenly Tribulation from nearby was at least a ruthless figure among Golden Core cultivators.
But faced with this kind of Exotic Thunder Tribulation, even those ruthless figures had withdrawn much farther away.
In particular, to get a clearer view of the surrounding situation, aside from Wang Li and his senior sister, all the other cultivators relied on flight treasures to remain airborne.
In fact, up to this point, no one had really noticed the two of them.
Especially now that the cold tide had formed a thick fog. Since they had not brought out any protective Dharma treasures, it was even less likely that anyone would notice their presence.
With a muffled pop and a dull hum, Old Ancestor Tong Hui's other two Dharma treasures nearly simultaneously failed under the impact of the power and collapsed.
As their last remaining power was squeezed dry, the already damaged purple bellyband burned into flakes of snow-white ash. The ancient white jade coin in Old Ancestor Tong Hui's hand, warm and lustrous in color, was not destroyed after a dull tremor, but it no longer gave off that hazy white radiance.
The instant the hazy white light barrier around him vanished, Old Ancestor Tong Hui gritted his teeth and flicked the sleeve of his left robe, sending more than a hundred crimson-gold talismans flying out.
These talismans were Lightning-Draw Talismans he had refined and accumulated over the past century. Though they were single-use consumable Dharma tools, the spiritual materials needed to make them were exceedingly precious. According to his original plan, they were meant for the third layer of tribulation lightning.
But he could not worry about that now. Since an Exotic Thunder Tribulation like this had appeared right from the start for reasons unknown, who knew what kind of tribulation lightning the second layer would bring? He could only hold out for as long as he could.
The Lightning-Draw Talismans specially prepared for this Heavenly Tribulation made an extraordinary entrance. Each crimson-gold talisman instantly let out a thunderous roar, transforming into a crimson-gold dragon shadow that charged toward the dense golden tribulation clouds above, carrying a somewhat heaven-defying, I-alone-am-supreme aura.
Streams of slender Ice Soul Heavenly Thunder, small yet containing terrifying power, were drawn in by these crimson-gold dragon shadows. Like countless tender roots growing from the void, they continuously bound themselves around the dragon shadows. As the dragon shadows rushed into the golden tribulation clouds, astonishing cold spread through the clouds, while the chill around the barren mountains below instantly became less intense than before.
"These Lightning-Draw Talismans were likely refined using True Dragon blood. This Old Ancestor Tong Hui truly is extraordinary!"
True Person Baixi's expression became even graver. How could he have known that Old Ancestor Tong Hui had already used the treasures originally meant to deal with the third layer of tribulation lightning? He only felt that Old Ancestor Tong Hui's move was outrageously lavish.
"What is going on now?"
Old Ancestor Tong Hui had only just bought himself a little time to think. He rapidly reviewed every Dharma treasure in his possession and brought out a set of fishbone Dharma Swords that he felt were still suitable for the moment. Yet just as the one hundred and eight pale-yellow fishbone Dharma Swords floated around him, before they could truly form a sword formation, he suddenly discovered that the chill within the tribulation clouds was still dissipating rapidly. The strange milky-white tribulation lightning had already grown noticeably sparse.
Aside from him, Wang Li, who was closest to the center of the Heavenly Tribulation, also sensed this abnormality at once. He immediately turned to the female cultivator beside him. "Senior Sister, something seems wrong. Why does the first layer of tribulation lightning seem like it's about to end already? Why did it last such a short time?"
The female cultivator transmitted, "Mm."
"What does 'mm' mean?" Wang Li looked at her speechlessly. "Senior Sister, I feel like I can't even communicate with you normally anymore."
The female cultivator said, "That is perfectly normal. I am a mushroom right now."
Wang Li: "..."
"What kind of thing is this?" Old Ancestor Tong Hui stared at the tribulation clouds in the sky, deeply conflicted.
In just those few breaths, the Ice Soul Heavenly Thunder in the sky had nearly vanished completely. Yet the bottom of the golden tribulation clouds had instead turned crimson, as if firelight were about to surge out from their base.
The one hundred and eight pale-yellow fishbone Dharma Swords had already begun slowly turning light blue, their stored power starting to be released. Yet he was hesitating instead.
He was perhaps the first cultivator in the history of the Lesser Jade Continent to still have time to hesitate while undergoing a Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation.
Could the first layer truly have passed already?
Was the second layer of tribulation lightning about to begin now?
And what kind of tribulation lightning was this second layer going to be? Should he release these fishbone Dharma Swords or not?
Boom!
A deafening clap of thunder suddenly rang out.
"What kind of Exotic Tribulation Lightning is this now?"
The cultivators watching the tribulation all shuddered inwardly. Clearly, the second layer of tribulation lightning had truly arrived. The Ice Soul Heavenly Thunder containing astonishing cold had completely vanished, and what now poured out of the tribulation clouds were strands of Blood-red Tribulation Lightning, seemingly tangible.
This second layer of tribulation lightning appeared even stranger than the first. Leaving aside the fact that the thunder had sounded only once, after these solid tribulation lightning bolts, as vivid as red coral, drilled out from the base of the tribulation clouds, they did not fall directly. Instead, they continuously gathered and joined together in the air.
"I...!"
Old Ancestor Tong Hui had never even seen this kind of tribulation lightning in the records. He was truly speechless. Since he had no idea what kind of tribulation lightning it was anyway, he simply steeled his heart and pointed a finger, releasing all the fishbone Dharma Swords surrounding him.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Amid countless cracking sounds, these several-foot-long fishbone Dharma Swords turned completely azure the instant their power was activated, each enveloped in an exceedingly resilient layer of Watery Light.
These Dharma Swords frantically drew water vapor from the surrounding air without cease. In an instant, an expanding, spinning white wave formed around every sword. At the same time, the Dharma Swords charged forward one after another like living creatures, continuously stabbing toward the densest concentration of Blood-red Tribulation Lightning.
Boom! Boom! Boom!...
The Dharma Swords wrapped in enormous waves collided with the Blood-red Tribulation Lightning in the sky. In an instant, it was as though raging rivers had spread across the heavens. Yet under the impact of those majestic waves, the Blood-red Tribulation Lightning remained immovable in the air, and as it continued to pile up, it faintly formed into lotus-like shapes.
"It has actually already become Form-Shaping Tribulation Lightning?"
Old Ancestor Tong Hui's face instantly turned ashen. He no longer tried to guess what kind of tribulation lightning this was. A Tainted Black Light streaked from his sleeve, instantly transforming into a large round-canopy umbrella that opened above his head.
The instant that Tainted Black Light appeared, Wang Li's eyes lit up.
His senior sister's voice transmission immediately rang in his ears. "Other than those fragments, it does not matter if we cannot obtain the other Dharma treasures. But we must get that Yin Thunder Umbrella."
Wang Li nodded instinctively.
In truth, even without her reminder, he understood that clearly.
Because that had been their purpose in coming here.
The aura of this Dharma treasure was so distinctive that there was no way he could fail to recognize it.
"The Yin Thunder Umbrella! That is a Universe-grade Spirit Treasure. So it truly is on Old Ancestor Tong Hui!"
The large round-canopy umbrella spun rapidly above Old Ancestor Tong Hui's head. Tainted black light poured down from it, and its exact appearance could not yet be seen clearly, but the gaze of the vast majority of people present had already been firmly drawn to it, growing hotter and hotter.
The round-canopy umbrella emanating Tainted Black Light continued to spin. The black light at the edge of its canopy gradually condensed into substance, and then lightning gradually began to shine through the black light.
This was no illusion.
In only an instant, countless harsh crackles sounded around the round-canopy umbrella that completely concealed Old Ancestor Tong Hui's figure, and an indescribable burnt stench filled the air.
Strands of lightning, like strange claws, continuously spread outward from the umbrella's edge.
Unlike ordinary lightning, the lightning unleashed from this round-canopy umbrella appeared somewhat sinister, and even seemed to contain a watery gleam.
But as the lightning spread, a terrifying pressure nearly capable of contending with tribulation lightning made even the Golden Core cultivators present feel their scalps tingle.
The sound of surging waves crashing against the shore in the sky also grew quieter.
The fishbone Dharma Swords that Old Ancestor Tong Hui had painstakingly refined soon could not hold on either. The watery radiance enveloping them did not vanish, but it was permeated by the red glow of the Blood-red Tribulation Lightning and turned red. Then the Vital Energy within the fishbone Dharma Swords began to fall into disorder and run wild.
The fishbone Dharma Swords, originally azure and crystal-clear, swiftly flew chaotically through the sky like leaking sheepskin rafts. Then vast amounts of powdery red smoke spewed from the ends of their hilts.
After flying through the air for roughly a dozen breaths, these Dharma Swords lost all their power, becoming transparent hollow shells before continuously falling into the barren mountains below and shattering to pieces.
There were so many cultivators watching the tribulation this time that it was somewhat strange, yet not a single one could tell what kind of tribulation lightning this was. They only felt their hearts go cold, for this tribulation lightning could actually directly corrode the foundation of Dharma treasures.
But at this moment, the atmosphere seemed to be off again.
The lightning unleashed by the Yin Thunder Umbrella bared its fangs and brandished its claws. That tainted black lightning even seemed as though it was about to invade the golden tribulation clouds above.
Those terrifying Blood-red Tribulation Lightning bolts had also begun to grow sparse.
"Does this mean the second layer of tribulation lightning is over?" Wang Li stared in astonishment.
"Mm." The female cultivator beside him finally moved this time and nodded.
Before you continue