Time flew like an arrow. In the blink of an eye, the final minute of their punishment was almost upon them.
Zhao Yuan, Luo Bai, and the others all looked delighted, secretly rejoicing. We've finally almost made it through!
As long as they endured these last heart-stopping sixty seconds, they could safely complete this grueling ordeal.
But just then, something unexpected happened!
The previously calm sky suddenly churned with wind and clouds. Overhead, the thunderclouds began roiling violently, restless as though driven by some mysterious force.
Then dazzling bolts of lightning poured down from the clouds with astonishing force, their sheer number enough to leave anyone speechless-there were several times more than before!
The savage bolts resembled ferocious beasts, baring their fangs and claws as they lunged downward. Wherever they passed, even the air seemed to tear apart with piercing roars.
Caught completely off guard, Zhao Yuan, Luo Bai, and the others suffered devastating blows in an instant. They fell to the ground amid repeated screams, their lives seemingly hanging by a thread.
"Yuan'er!"
Seeing his beloved grandson in danger, Zhao Fei burned with anxiety and could not help crying out.
He desperately wanted to fly forward at once and use every means at his disposal to rescue him. But reason told him the allotted time had not yet expired. Acting rashly would not only break the rules but might also draw the flames onto himself, forcing him to undergo punishment again.
Beside him, Steward Jin watched everything unfold without expression. When her gaze swept over Luo Bai, who lay dying atop the formation cage, a barely perceptible trace of something unusual flashed through her eyes.
Beyond that, however, she showed little anxiety or tension. Instead, she seemed detached, like an outsider watching coldly from the sidelines.
Despite their