Surviving the Lightning Tribulation

Two flowers bloomed; each had its own tale.

Huang Batian returned to Huang Tieyi's side and saw that he had already finished absorbing his Seventh Soul Ring. His face filled with surprise. "That little brat absorbed a nearly hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring so quickly..."

Before Huang Batian could finish, all seven of Huang Tieyi's Soul Rings appeared and began revolving around him. They had originally been purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black. Now every one of them had changed color. White, cyan, silver, red, blue, gray, and yellow—seven different colors. Huang Batian stared in shock, unable to understand why his precious grandson's Soul Rings had suddenly changed like this.

Huang Batian was about to call out and try to wake Huang Tieyi from his cultivation when an invisible force dragged back the Crab-Claw Demon Spiders that were leaving with their spoils. The Soul Ring left by the dead Titan Giant Ape, which had yet to dissipate, was drawn over and absorbed by all seven of Huang Tieyi's Soul Rings at once. Once the Soul Ring was gone, the Soul Power still lingering in the Titan Giant Ape's body was devoured just as fiercely. Its mountain-sized corpse shriveled in an instant.

The Crab-Claw Demon Spiders were already upset, and the sight sent them into a fury. We were leaving for home, and you humans used some sorcery to drag us back! That Soul Ring was no use to us, so fine, take it. But now you're greedy enough to steal our meat? We risked our lives for it! How shameless can you be?

Huang Batian looked at the Crab-Claw Demon Spiders preparing to fight him to the death, then glanced wryly at Huang Tieyi, who was still cultivating. He activated his Martial Soul Avatar and launched a furious assault. The Soul Rings left by the dead spiders were absorbed into Huang Tieyi's now-white Soul Ring.

With the strength of a Titled Douluo, Huang Batian wiped out nearly a hundred ten-thousand-year Crab-Claw Demon Spiders in less than thirty minutes. He dismissed his Martial Soul Avatar and withdrew his Martial Soul, then saw that his precious grandson's First Soul Ring was still absorbing the Soul Rings the spiders had left behind.

Huang Batian had no idea what was happening, but Huang Tieyi seemed unharmed. Relieved, he sat down nearby.

Half a day passed. When Ling Yuan Douluo arrived with Bibi Dong, Huang Tieyi still had not woken. He remained immersed in cultivation.

"Elder Ling Yuan, where's Zhenyun?" Huang Batian asked, puzzled.

"He helped draw over the Soul Ring. His Soul Power and mental strength are both exhausted, so he's asleep," Elder Ling Yuan said calmly.

"Oh, as long as he's all right! Elder Ling Yuan, my grandson finished absorbing his Seventh Soul Ring ages ago..." Huang Batian recounted everything that had happened, then looked at Ling Yuan Douluo expectantly, hoping she could give him an answer. But when he saw her furrowed brow, he knew she could not.

Around midnight, the seven Soul Rings revolving around Huang Tieyi gradually changed color, returning to their usual arrangement of three purple and four black.

Huang Tieyi slowly woke. He stood and stretched his stiff body, then took a bottle of fruit juice from his Space Ring and drank it at his leisure.

"Brat, stop dawdling and explain yourself! You finished absorbing your Seventh Soul Ring, so why didn't you wake up? And all seven of your Soul Rings turned different colors just now. What was that about?" Huang Batian demanded irritably.

"Grandpa, what are you talking about? I don't understand! I know I absorbed my Seventh Soul Ring, but what do you mean my Soul Rings changed color?" Huang Tieyi asked, utterly bewildered.

"You don't know?" Huang Batian asked, studying him.

"Grandpa, I really don't!" Huang Tieyi said innocently. "After I finished absorbing my Seventh Soul Ring, I tried compressing my Soul Power, turning it from gas into liquid. That way, I could fit more Soul Power in my dantian."

"Compressing Soul Power? You certainly have ideas!" Ling Yuan Douluo said with a smile. "Did you read about forming a Soul Core in the golden-book section of the Library Pavilion and decide to try it?"

"Yes. Only Titled Douluo can compress their Soul Power into a Soul Core, but I understood the basic principle and thought I could liquefy my Soul Power first," Huang Tieyi explained.

"It's a good idea. Don't try it again..." Ling Yuan Douluo pointed toward the flashing lightning in the dark clouds gathering overhead. "Things like that can get you struck by lightning..."

"Grandson, you used to be my pride. Of course, you still are," Huang Batian said gravely. "But if you can't withstand this heavenly lightning, you'll be my disgrace from now on!"

With that, Huang Batian swiftly retreated, leaving Huang Tieyi dumbfounded. What's going on? It's only thunder. Why are you all running away?

"A Yi, there's a time for everything. You're trying to form a Soul Core at your current level, and heaven and earth won't allow it. You're on your own..." Lei Zhenyun's voice came from the distance.

"Oh, for heaven's sake! This isn't even my old world. Why is there still heavenly lightning at the Foundation Establishment Realm?" Only then did Huang Tieyi realize that the gathering clouds and flashing lightning were coming for him. He immediately steadied himself, preparing to take the strike head-on.

The first bolt fell soon after, as thick as an arm. Huang Tieyi immediately activated his First Soul Skill, Super Saiyan, followed by his Fourth Soul Skill, Tathagata Palm. A colossal hand of flame collided with the lightning, and the two canceled each other out in a powerful explosion. The shock wave snapped many of the surrounding trees.

Huang Tieyi quickly steadied himself and circulated the Soul Power within him, ready for the second bolt.

The second bolt seemed displeased by Huang Tieyi's calm expression. It started down as thick as a bucket, but halfway through its descent, another bolt poured into it. Now as thick as a water vat, it came crashing down.

Huang Tieyi clearly felt its destructive power. Still in his First Soul Skill's Super Saiyan state, he pointed a finger at the sky. Countless flying swords appeared. He pointed upward again, unleashing his Sixth Soul Skill, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect, and the swords surged toward the water-vat-thick bolt.

Huang Tieyi could tell his Sixth Soul Skill would not completely cancel out the lightning. He immediately brought his palms toward each other and began forming his Fifth Soul Skill, Big Ball Rasengan. As the last flying sword shattered against the bolt, he thrust the Big Ball Rasengan forward. "Take my Kamehameha..."

The lightning pierced the Big Ball Rasengan. Huang Tieyi activated Lingbo Micro-Step and dodged its path in an instant. The bolt struck the ground, tearing a huge fissure through it.

Shaken, Huang Tieyi collapsed into a sitting position nearby, his face pale.