Ren Xiaoyao's gaze was intense, fixed on the fallen Taotie Ancestor. Although this earth-shattering battle had temporarily come to an end, the tension in his heart had not eased in the slightest. He knew that this moment of peace was merely the calm before the storm, and what followed would be even more troublesome and unpredictable crises.
At this moment, the colossal body of the Taotie Ancestor, resembling a towering mountain, lay across this war-torn land, devoid of any life. Yet, within its body, the Demon Core, containing boundless Demon Power, emitted an eerie and captivating light. That light was profound and mysterious, like a mystical summons from the Depths of Chaos, standing out starkly against the backdrop of ruins and the battlefield thick with the stench of blood and gunpowder, as if silently proclaiming the immense power it had borne for millennia.
A resolute glint flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes. In an instant, the spiritual energy around him surged like a raging tsunami, circulating wildly with overwhelming force. In his palm, the spiritual energy rapidly converged, forming a deep and powerful vortex. Within that vortex lay Powerful Suction capable of devouring everything, like a small Black Hole. He suddenly reached out, grabbing at the corpse of the Taotie Ancestor from afar. With this grab, a powerful suction force instantly erupted from the vortex, like an invisible yet infinitely powerful giant hand, directly extracting the Demon Core from the Taotie Ancestor's body.
The moment the Demon Core was in his hands, a violent and pure power, like an Ancient Ferocious Beasts breaking free from its cage, surged into his meridians without any Primordial Chaos. This power condensed all the essence of the Taotie Ancestor's cultivation over millions of years, carrying with it the unique wildness and Chaos Aura of an ancient demon Demon Beast, so dense it was almost tangible. That aura was like a primordial ocean before its creation, each surging wave carrying a vast power capable of completely destroying and disrupting the order of the world, rampaging and churning within his body, attempting to turn his entire body into a chaotic wasteland.
Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth, his cheeks bulging from the effort, veins popping on his forehead. He circulated his spiritual energy with all his might, carefully guiding this external, violent power, attempting to slowly circulate it within his meridians, trying to assimilate it and make it part of his own power. However, the power contained in the Demon Core was simply too great. As soon as it entered his body, it was like a wild horse that had broken free, or a raging bull, rampaging through his originally relatively resilient meridians. Wherever it went, the meridians seemed to be frantically cut by sharp weapons, emitting a sizzling sound as if they were about to burst completely at any moment.
Ren Xiaoyao felt as if his entire body was being torn apart by a thousand knives. The excruciating pain, penetrating to the bone and piercing his heart, caused his body to tremble uncontrollably. Beads of sweat, as large as beans, rolled incessantly from his forehead, quickly soaking his already disheveled hair, which was covered in dust and blood. But in his eyes, there was a moving and unwavering light, like an inextinguishable torch in the cold night. With an iron will, he tenaciously maintained the clarity of his mind, constantly recalling the various methods of circulating spiritual energy he had mastered in his past cultivation. With superhuman perseverance, he continuously adjusted the trajectory of his spiritual energy circulation, engaging in a breathtaking and life-or-death struggle against this violent force.
Time flowed slowly amidst this tense and fierce confrontation. Ren Xiaoyao's spiritual energy, like sand in an hourglass, was rapidly depleting in this incredibly difficult battle. His face grew increasingly pale, devoid of color, as if a gentle breeze could knock him over. However, to his relief, the originally wild and unruly power of the Demon Core began to gradually tamer under his relentless efforts. Like a wild beast tamed by a master, it slowly began to obey his commands, gradually merging with his own spiritual energy.
He could clearly feel his strength increasing at an astonishing rate. His previously nearly depleted spiritual energy, like a trickle, was now surging through his meridians like a burst dam. Each smooth flow of spiritual energy seemed to infuse his body with new vitality, bringing a new surge of power. Every muscle in his body seemed to have been reforged, brimming with astonishing explosive power; every cell radiated unprecedented vitality, as if containing terrifying strength capable of splitting mountains and seas and changing the world. Moreover, he could even keenly perceive that his perception of his surroundings had become more acute than ever before. Every subtle flow of Spiritual Qi in the surrounding air, every delicate change in temperature and humidity, was magnified countless times in his consciousness, clearly presented in his perception, as if he had become one with this world.
However, fate always seems to like to bring unexpected twists and turns to people. Just when he was immersed in the joy brought by the rapid improvement of his strength, and before he could fully feel the transformation, the sky, which was already shattered and riddled with holes due to the previous fierce battle, suddenly changed. Only I saw a layer of dark clouds that were so thick that they seemed to be able to swallow everything, and quickly enveloped me at a staggering speed. The dark clouds were as black as ink, rolling and surging, as if there was an invisible hand hidden in the darkness, with the power to destroy the sky and the earth, and was crazily stirring up this vast world.
Streaks of purple lightning flickered within the thick, dark clouds, like ancient dragons lurking in the darkness, occasionally emitting deep, awe-inspiring roars. The sounds seemed to emanate from the deepest recesses of heaven and earth, the very core of the universe, carrying boundless majesty and a suffocating sense of oppression, as if the most severe judge of the world were proclaiming a terrible calamity capable of destroying everything that was about to descend. Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat; he knew perfectly well that this was the Heavenly Tribulation triggered by his absorption of the Taowu Demon Core, which had caused his strength to increase exponentially.
The power of the Heavenly Tribulation far exceeded the limits of what ordinary people could imagine. Each bolt of lightning contained terrifying power enough to instantly reduce the entire world to dust. Once struck, not only flesh and blood, but even an indestructible body forged from steel would be blasted into dust in an instant, leaving no trace. But Ren Xiaoyao, a warrior whose very bones exuded fearlessness and stubbornness, showed no sign of retreating. He stood proudly on this ravaged land, facing the rolling dark clouds that seemed to want to devour the entire world.
His clothes, tattered from the earth-shattering, awe-inspiring battle with the Taotie Ancestor, fluttered in the howling wind, like a worn-out yet steadfast battle flag. His eyes were filled with fearlessness and determination in the face of the unknown, his gaze like two sharp swords piercing through layers of dark clouds, as if declaring to the lofty World Laws that controlled the Heavenly Tribulation Power that he would have no fear and would fight to the very end. Standing there quietly, he gave the impression of being as unshakeable as a towering mountain.
The first bolt of lightning, finally descending from the sky with boundless power, was like an enormous purple pillar, carrying a World Creation force, striking directly at Ren Xiaoyao with unstoppable momentum. Wherever the lightning passed, the air was instantly ionized, crackling and popping, and a pungent odor quickly spread. Under the ravages of this powerful force, the surrounding space distorted slightly like fragile paper, rippling with eerie waves, as if even the dimensions of reality were beginning to shake under the power of this lightning.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed, and just as the lightning was about to strike him, his figure flashed like a ghost. He unleashed a refined Movement Method honed over many years, each movement precise and fluid, leaving a trail of illusory afterimages. This Movement Method seemed to merge with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, skillfully avoiding the direct attack of the lightning by utilizing the subtle changes in the surrounding airflow. However, the residual power of the lightning was still terrifying. The instant it grazed him, a wave of intense heat rushed towards him, instantly scorching his already tattered clothes, emitting wisps of black smoke. Under the dual erosion of the high temperature and powerful electric current, his skin developed fine yet shocking wounds, and crimson blood slowly seeped out, winding down his bronze skin and dripping onto the land ravaged by war and Heavenly Tribulation.
Ignoring his injuries, Ren Xiaoyao quickly adjusted his state, preparing to face the next bolt of lightning. He took a deep breath, circulating his spiritual Spiritual Qi, attempting to draw upon the chaotic surroundings to replenish his depleted reserves. At that moment, his mind raced, rapidly reviewing every detail of the previous battle: his insights into the use of spiritual energy during his confrontation with the Taotie Ancestor, his control over the rhythm of the fight, and the potential unleashed in dire circumstances—all these flashed before his eyes. He diligently searched for better ways to cope with the Heavenly Tribulation, his thoughts colliding and sparking flashes of inspiration.
Immediately following, a second bolt of lightning, carrying even greater power, struck. This time, as it fell, it suddenly split into several smaller but more swift Thunder Snake in mid-air. These Thunder Snake, baring their fangs and flashing with blinding lightning, attacked Ren Xiaoyao from different directions, attempting to block all his escape routes and form an impenetrable Net of Death. Seeing this, a resolute glint flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes. The longsword he had been gripping tightly was instantly infused with immense spiritual power, its blade radiating a dazzling light. He unleashed a set of exquisite sword techniques that incorporated his years of martial arts experience. The sword shadows danced rapidly before him, forming an impenetrable Sword Curtain. Each strike carried a sharp Sword Qi, colliding with the attacking Thunder Snake. Where sword and lightning collided, a series of crisp, deafening sounds rang out, scattering brilliant yet deadly sparks of spiritual power that shook the surrounding air.
The third bolt of lightning was exponentially more powerful, its size several times larger than the first two, resembling a purple mountain falling from the sky, crashing down with a terrifying aura capable of crushing the entire world. Ren Xiaoyao knew that the power of this lightning bolt far exceeded his ability to withstand it head-on, so he dared not be careless in the slightest. His spiritual energy surged wildly beneath his feet, leaving deep footprints in the ground, and he shot off to the side like a powerfully launched cannonball. The lightning slammed heavily into the spot where he had just stood, the enormous impact instantly creating a bottomless crater. The earth at the bottom of the crater melted rapidly under the high temperature and powerful energy of the lightning, turning into a churning, scorching lake of lava, emitting a pungent odor. The lava continued to surge and splash, like the earth's angry roar, mercilessly devouring everything around it.
In this life-or-death struggle against the Heavenly Tribulation tribulation, Ren Xiaoyao gradually entered a wondrous and ethereal state. He calmed his mind, discarding all external distractions, and immersed himself entirely in perceiving and understanding the power of nature. He was astonished to discover that these seemingly violent and chaotic thunderbolts contained, deep within, a mysterious and orderly power of rules—a primordial and pure force that existed since the Beginning of Heaven and Earth, one of the cornerstones of the entire world's order. Like a devout explorer, he carefully sensed the flow of this power, listened to its silent yet infinitely mysterious whispers, and attempted to understand the hidden Principle within, integrating them into his own spiritual energy system.
As his understanding of the Thunder Rule deepened, Ren Xiaoyao could clearly feel his combat power continuously increasing. He no longer merely passively dodged and resisted the attacks of thunder, but began to actively communicate and interact with the Thunder Force. When the fourth bolt of lightning struck, he no longer chose to simply dodge, but instead rapidly formed hand seals, and the spiritual energy around him surged wildly in a strange yet orderly way, forming a huge vortex of spiritual energy in front of him. Within this vortex, Purple Lightning similar to that in the sky flickered, like a miniature world of thunder. Ren Xiaoyao channeled his understanding of the Thunder Rule... His profound understanding was integrated into this vortex, giving it a powerful attraction and guiding force. The lightning struck, rushing straight into the vortex of spiritual energy. The originally violent and untamed power began to become orderly under the vortex's skillful guidance. A portion of the Thunder Force was cleverly absorbed by Ren Xiaoyao, transforming into part of his own spiritual energy to replenish the energy he had consumed in the battle; the other portion, under his control, was guided to spread outwards, impacting the surrounding space and triggering a strong and spectacular energy fluctuation that sent dust and gravel flying.
The fifth and sixth bolts of lightning roared in succession, but Ren Xiaoyao, with his increasingly profound understanding of the Thunder Rule and his ever-improving strength, successfully dealt with them one by one without serious injury. His figure flashed across the lightning-streaked sky, sometimes like a black lightning bolt, slashing at the lightning with his sword. Each strike carried the power of the lightning and his own sharp sword intent, skillfully deflecting the lightning's attacks. At other times, he used a shield formed from spiritual energy to defend himself. The shield shimmered with multicolored light under the impact of the lightning, enduring immense pressure yet remaining as solid as a rock. Every movement of his was a perfect combination of power and skill, as if he were dancing with the Heavenly Tribulation, each response like composing a stirring Battle Song. In this process, his eyes grew increasingly resolute, as if he had gradually found his own rhythm in this confrontation with the Heavenly Tribulation. He was no longer a weakling who could only passively defend against overwhelming power, but had begun to actively control the situation, engaging in an equal dialogue with the World Laws.
As the seventh bolt of lightning struck, its form underwent a bizarre transformation. It was no longer a simple pillar of lightning, but gradually transformed into an enormous thunder Thunder Beasts as it fell. This Thunder Beasts was crackling with blinding lightning, every hair seemingly formed from condensed lightning, standing on end and radiating immense power. It opened its blood-red maw, revealing sharp fangs, and let out a deafening roar, its voice containing boundless Thunder Force that distorted and warped the surrounding air. Each swing of its claws unleashed a dazzling arc of lightning, easily tearing space apart where it passed, revealing deep and terrifying Black Cracks, as if leading to another world filled with unknown dangers.
Seeing this, Ren Xiaoyao felt no fear, but rather a surge of intense fighting spirit. He roared, his voice echoing through the heavens and earth, and the light of his longsword instantly increased several times over, like a suddenly rising sun. He unleashed one of his most powerful sword techniques, a move that combined his ultimate understanding of the sword path with his profound application of the Thunder Rule. The longsword, carrying an indestructible and sharp sword Sword Qi, cleaved through the sky, piercing straight towards the Thunder Beasts's head. The Sword Qi collided with the Thunder Force emanating from the Thunder Beasts, and in an instant, it was as if a violent explosion had occurred between heaven and earth, producing a deafening roar that could eclipse everything. The powerful energy fluctuations spread wildly outwards from the point of impact, shaking the surrounding space into countless cracks, as if the entire structure of the world was beginning to crumble under the impact of this force.
As the eighth bolt of lightning struck, the dark clouds in the sky grew even thicker, like a giant black curtain that completely shrouded the world in darkness, devoid of any light. The color of the lightning also changed from its previous purple, eerily and terrifyingly, to a deep black, as if it were the power of death from the abyss of the universe. This bolt of lightning was extremely fast, almost impossible to detect with the naked eye, and in the blink of an eye, it arrived Ren Xiaoyao's head like a black meteor. In this critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao reacted swiftly. He gathered all his spiritual power into his feet without reservation, and the spiritual power beneath his feet shone brightly as he stomped the ground. With the force of his stomp, the ground shattered instantly, leaving a huge footprint. He himself shot into the sky like a launched super cannonball. Lightning grazed his feet, striking the ground and triggering an unprecedentedly massive explosion. The Energy Impact from the explosion, like a raging tsunami, instantly leveled the surrounding rolling mountains. The earth was mercilessly torn apart, leaving behind huge, deep ravines. Fiery magma gushed from these ravines like fountains, instantly forming a vast sea of fire that engulfed everything in its endless heat and destruction.
When the ninth and most powerful bolt of lightning struck, the entire world seemed to freeze in that instant. The power of this bolt surpassed the sum of all the previous bolts; its strength was enough to easily destroy a small world and rewrite the fate of a region. Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, as if inhaling all the surrounding air, his chest heaving violently. He gathered all his spiritual power in his hands with an almost frenzied intensity, forming a massive, dazzling Spiritual Energy Shield. Simultaneously, he poured all the Thunder Rule he had comprehended during his battle against the Heavenly Tribulation into this shield without reservation, instantly elevating its defensive capabilities to an unprecedentedly terrifying level. The shield's surface shimmered with multicolored light, a light that contained his ultimate pursuit of power and his unwavering will to fight, forming a stark and intense contrast with the inky black lightning—a final showdown between light and darkness.
Boom! The lightning slammed heavily onto the Spiritual Energy Shield. The deafening roar was like the collapse of heaven and earth, shaking the entire world. The immense impact caused Ren Xiaoyao's feet to sink deep into the ground instantly. The surrounding earth, under this force, was as if being kneaded by an invisible giant hand, shattering and deforming. Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled slightly, and a trickle of blood slowly seeped from the corner of his mouth, instantly dispersed by the howling wind. But in his eyes, an indomitable flame still burned, as if declaring to the most powerful force in the world that he would never be easily defeated, his belief as hard as steel, unshakable by any force.
In this fierce and brutal confrontation, time seemed to lose its meaning, falling into a near-frozen state. Ren Xiaoyao and the power of thunder were locked in a stalemate, neither able to gain the upper hand in the short term. However, Ren Xiaoyao was not content with merely resisting the attack of this thunderbolt. While enduring immense pressure, he fully utilized his profound understanding of the Thunder Rule, continuously absorbing the powerful energy contained within it and transforming it into a part of his own power. Under the continuous baptism of this powerful energy, his body underwent a series of subtle and astonishing changes.