After casting the final spell to activate the formation and telling Ke Xialing how to control it through a Divine Sense transmission, he flashed away from the small hill at top speed.
In an instant, he appeared in the air more than a hundred li away.
Then, watching Ke Xialing in the distance, he began patrolling a hundred-li perimeter to guard her.
Soon, the tribulation clouds in the sky finished gathering. The densely packed bolts of tribulation lightning merged one by one, forming a gigantic lightning dragon that swam through the air.
The lightning dragon turned into white light and struck down at Ke Xialing, who sat cross-legged atop the small hill.
Seeing the tribulation lightning strike straight down, Ke Xialing sent the Immortal Sword she had long held ready soaring into the sky to meet it.
A single strike scattered the first bolt of tribulation lightning. Struck by the Flying Sword, it dissolved into specks of light that vanished into the air.
While the next bolt was still brewing, Ke Xialing hurried to replenish her spent immortal power, preparing to meet its attack.
Soon, the second bolt of tribulation lightning formed in the sky and hurtled downward.
This bolt was more than twice as powerful as the first.
First, the Flying Sword Ke Xialing sent out weakened its force. Then it struck the defensive array and was easily blocked.
The tribulation lightning turned into specks of light that sank into Ke Xialing's body, transforming it.
Though each successive bolt of tribulation lightning was stronger than the last, her ample preparations allowed Ke Xialing to transcend her tribulation successfully and formally enter the heavenly immortal realm.
From outside, Li Dalong watched bolt after bolt of tribulation lightning descend from overhead, bombarding the hill where Ke Xialing sat.
Toward the end