Reentering the Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower

A gentle Annihilation Dawn enveloped Qin Yu, who sat regally in the center, the Annihilation Wheel Soul Diagram slowly emerging behind him. In his arms, Yan Yue nestled against him, her expression Wenwan and serene. The two shared a period of absolute tranquility.

Qin Yu looked down at Yan Yue, his eyes gentle as water, and asked softly:

"Yue'er, I remember you've had your Fate Soul Beast for a long time... but we've been acting together for so long, and apart from those few flashes during the previous battle, it has never truly manifested. Why don't you ever summon it?"

Yan Yue's memories were stirred by his words. She raised her eyes and smiled gently, her voice soft and gentle, carrying a tenderness like starlight.

"Hmm... My Fate Soul Beast is named -- Absolute Abyss Dawn Phoenix."

As she said this, she gently reached out and touched the surface of her mind, and a faint divine image appeared within her sea of consciousness:

It was a pure white soul phoenix, its body seemingly woven from the light of dawn and the illusory shadows of the Annihilation Abyss, without any physical form, yet it seemed to evoke the cries of Annihilation.

Yan Yue recounted in detail:

"Dawn Phoenix Form: Dawn White, formless, resembling a phoenix and light, dwelling at the very end of the Annihilation Abyss."

Soul Sound Characteristics: A single cry shatters the silent realm, a single display of true world-destroying power.

Body structure: The tail feathers are the feathers of annihilation, and the pupils are the light of the first dawn.

The method of breath: Its birth is like stillness, thus silencing the sounds of all spirits; its movement is like the startled dawn, thus breaking the chains of cause and effect.

"But..." Yan Yue sighed softly, gazing at the illusory figure, "I haven't truly completed the reconstruction of my dream with Dawn Phoenix yet."

Qin Yu was slightly taken aback. "Dream reconstruction?"

Yan Yue nodded and explained gently:

"The Absolute Abyss Dawn Phoenix does not belong to this real dimension; it originates from the deepest recesses of my Fate Soul's Reflecting Dawn Soul Dream. Only after I have undergone true spiritual Soul Pact and the baptism of the Dawn Wheel can I completely break through the barrier between dream and reality. Otherwise, unless life encounters a truly desperate situation, it will not tear itself apart from the dream realm to come forth..."

"Therefore, I cannot summon it easily, not because I don't want to, but because I am not strong enough."

She lowered her head and spoke softly, a hint of quiet self-reproach in her eyes.

After hearing this, Qin Yu didn't say much, but instead reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, saying firmly, word by word:

"Yue'er, you have become powerful enough to make the world tremble. And that Dawn Phoenix... one day, it will not appear because of a crisis, but because your will itself is its summons."

Yan Yue paused for a moment, then smiled, a smile that held both tenderness and conviction.

Just as the two embraced in silence, a strange, faint light suddenly appeared in Yan Yue's sea of consciousness, and a distant phoenix cry echoed from the depths of the illusory realm, like the dawn piercing through the eternal night—

"Dawn Phoenix... has responded to you..." Qin Yu whispered.

Yan Yue nodded and said slowly, "Perhaps, the reconstruction of my dream with her is nearing completion..."

Moonlight spilled into the courtyard of the Conradiance Halls in the Radiant Palace Eastern Region, a gentle Qingfeng rustling through the golden leaves and flowers, creating soft shadows. At this moment, only Qin Yu and Yan Yue were in the courtyard, sitting quietly in the stone pavilion. A pot of tea was warm and fragrant, and the rising mist seemed to isolate them from the world, creating a world just for the two of them.

Yan Yue leaned lightly on Qin Yu's shoulder, gazing at the star-studded sky, and murmured softly:

"I wonder... how are Sister Ruishan and Sister Qingwan doing in the Annihilation Abyss Epoch?"

Her voice was gentle, yet it couldn't hide the longing in her heart.

After hearing this, Qin Yu gently grasped her hand, his voice steady:

"Don't worry, Yue'er, I've personally arranged everything in the Ancient Soul-Annihilating Forest."

His gaze drifted to the distant sky, a faint light flickering within his mind, memories resurfacing—

"The Annihilation Crown Emperor An All Daos Lost, and those three mid-stage Dark Beings of the No Consciousness Realm, are now guarding the core life domain of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch through the 'Epoch Heart Oath'."

"In addition, my Yingling constantly maintains the main control logic of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch. Once there is any interference from external enemies or annihilation omens, I can detect it immediately, no matter who touches it."

Yan Yue nodded gently, a tender look in her eyes. "You always think of everything so thoroughly for them."

Qin Yu smiled, looked up at the star lanterns hanging with night dew in the courtyard, and suddenly his tone became slightly serious:

"Only..."

"Our current situation has entered its most dangerous phase."

He continued in a low voice, a sharp glint in his eyes:

"Although the Nightmare God Clan has been destroyed, the Returning Consciousness Clan and the True Word Extremity Hall have begun to stir, and undercurrents are also surging within the Yu Clan."

"This Source of Epochless... is now filled with prying eyes."

Upon Yan Yue's eyes narrowed, but she did not show any panic. Instead, she slowly said:

"Now that you have broken through their deepest trap, the poison has not yet been completely eradicated... The more they fear you, the more they fear your continued growth."

But I am with you.

Her words were soft, yet every sentence was firm and resounding.

Qin Yu gripped her hand tightly, his gaze clear and bright:

"This time, I will not let anyone write our ending in the name of fate."

"All those who spy—I will personally erase their pens."

The night continued to flow, and two figures sat quietly facing each other in the courtyard, their hearts reflecting starlight, light and abyss merging.

The world belonging to Qin Yu and Yan Yue is peaceful and profound at this moment...

In the depths of the Southern Region of the Annihilation Abyss Epoch, a thunderous bamboo forest slumbers amidst Eternal Silence storm.

This place is called "Jiezhujian", which is the place where Qin Yu arranged for Yingling to be reconstructed in Yanyuanji, and is specially provided for "thunder magic life source people" to comprehend the Dao and break through the realm.

The sky was as black as ink, and the sea of clouds surged; billions of purple lightning bolts, like divine dragons, roamed the sky, making the entire world seem like a burning lightning domain.

At this moment, deep within the bamboo forest, a figure sat cross-legged on the Silent Lightning Platform—it was Zhou Yu.

He was dressed in a dark purple robe with flowing gold, his divine sense was like a mirror, his soul like a monument, and the lightning veins around his body slowly pulsated with layers of "Nine Abyss Reincarnation Electric Breath".

Beneath the ground, streaks of lightning-inscribed runes automatically appeared, resembling an ancient book of divine lightning, dating back to the distant past.

"Boom--!"

Suddenly, the clouds overhead churned, and a bolt of lightning spun into the center of the sky.

A life-giving force of thunder descended from the sky, purple lightning pierced through his soul, and the power of thunder was forcibly poured into Zhou Yu's body.

The entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch seemed to be shaken by this bolt of lightning, with space collapsing and reconstructing itself several times. Yingling controlled the sky curtain, immediately activating the six layers of lightning-patterned protective barrier.

"Thump--!"

Zhou Yu suddenly opened his eyes, and two "Silent Lightning Crest" appeared in his pupils like cracked mirrors. The thunderous sound was like an emperor's roar, shattering the void outside the bamboo forest.

In an instant, eight halos of Silent Lightning appeared around him, resembling eight "Lightning Abyss Sacrificial Wheel," circling around him.

Within his sea of consciousness, the ninth bolt of lightning slowly condensed in the core of his divine soul, and an unactivated Heavenly Tribulation pattern slowly unfolded.

Suddenly, thunder roared, and an ancient thunderous voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth:

"The final tribulation of the Nine Abyss, the forbidden life broken through consciousness."

The next instant, the entire Silent Lightning Domain seemed to be bound by the "Law of Eternal Restriction." Zhou Yu slowly rose, his divine soul surging with thunder, and he spoke out loudly:

"I, Zhou Yu, have fully awakened—the Ninth Form of the Nine Abyss Silent Lightning Canon."

Final Tribulation: The One Restriction of the Nine Abysses!

Nine pillars of purple abyss lightning descended from the void around Zhou Yu, piercing through heaven and earth, forcibly imprisoning space, as if the entire Annihilation Abyss Epoch was covered by a "Thunderous Heavenly Map" in that instant;

Based on the "Nine Abyss Lightning Curse," it dissolves the enemy's concept of destiny with every breath;

By erasing the concept of enemy existence, the cause and effect of destiny, and the judgment of lightning, "Life is worthless."

"In this world... no one can stand against my infamous reputation."

Zhou Yu whispered, and lightning gathered into nine divine rings in his palm. With a slow clench, the entire Thunder Gorge instantly fell Annihilation, and all the lightning energy condensed into his body.

He lightly stepped onto the bamboo platform and gazed towards the eastern horizon where the Thunder Sea lay.

"It's time to return to the 'Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower'."

"Destroy the remaining eight floors of the tower... leave not a single one, crush them all."

Spirit Firmament Master - Far Northern Realm, at the end of the Abyss of Lightning Annihilation.

In the forbidden zone of Thunder Realm, inaccessible to ordinary people, stands an ancient, colossal tower reaching to the heavens and the earth—its name is:

Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower

This is no ordinary building, but rather—the remnant of the Annihilation Realm Thunder Lord, beyond the scope of historical records, and is known as:

"Ninefold Fate Thunder, Thirteen Tribulation Patterns, One Tower Sealing the Heavens".

This tower once devoured the souls of 100,000 Thunder Clan Soul Master, and its core was forged with the life Fate-Cause of thirteen eras of Silent Lightning. For countless eras, no one has been able to break even half of it.

Now, this tower has once again welcomed its returnee.

Zhou Yu stepped inside, and lightning flashed!

Before them stood a colossal, purple-red tower, hundreds of millions of feet tall, its entire body forged from "Silent Lightning Crystal Copper." It was covered with ancient tribulation runes, life-destroying inscriptions, and forbidden laws of the Lightning Ancestor, nested layer upon layer, forming the Ninefold Tribulation Disc, a mystery that even the Heavenly Dao could not unravel.

The entire tower seemed to exist outside of three-dimensional spacetime; each level distorted its dimensional structure, and the top disappeared beyond the Spirit Firmament Sky. Lightning pillars and star patterns intersected, seemingly connecting to some "unattributable source of Dao Source."

Every breath, a ball of world-destroying lightning would spiral out from outside the tower, transforming into a "thunder dragon and serpent" that roared around the tower before being drawn back into its body by the thirteen layers of tower patterns.

From a distance, the Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower...

It resembles an eternal pillar guarding the tomb of Thor.

Every inch of the tower bears the inscription. "Those who enter will perish in the tribulation of lightning."

Zhou Yu stood before the Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower, with the Nine Abyss Silent Lightning slowly emerging behind him, and thunder patterns and incantations automatically appearing in the sky.

Suddenly, the entire ancient pagoda seemed to sense his return—

"Buzz!!!"

A thunderclap shattered the layers of clouds, the main pagoda of the Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower slowly rotated, lightning chains descended to the ground, and heavenly sounds reverberated!

Everyone in the entire Spirit Firmament seemed to be shaken.

Zhou Yu slightly raised her head, her eyes flashing with lightning, and uttered four words:

"Returning to the Tower from the Nine Abyss."

With each step, accompanied by the Nine Abyss Wheel of Lightning, he entered.

The tower gate slowly opened before him.

The first layer is broken.

The second level is where the battle begins.

Thunderclouds surged, and the sky turned as black as ink. Deep within the Spirit Firmament Great Realm, the Heavenly Thunder Tower had stood for tens of thousands of years— the Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower, suppressing the most ancient cause and effect of thunder in the era.

Standing alone beneath the tower, Zhou Yu held the Nether Lightning Imperial Surge Sword, the power of the Nine Abyss Silent Lightning swirling within his body. He had successfully comprehended the ninth form, [One Restriction of the Nine Abysses], and now, he stepped into the second level.

Second Layer Unlocked: Lightning Prison Soul Torture

The tower gates closed, and all was silent. The surroundings suddenly transformed into a Netherworld Lightning Prison, with thousands of lightning chains hanging from the air, each one engraved with runes of cause and effect.

Zhou Yu felt as if his soul had been pierced by ten thousand bolts of lightning, and his body felt as if it were carrying an immense weight.

"Those who step into the second level must use their True Soul to withstand the thunder, burn away their past lives and deaths, and prove the true nature of the Thunder Dao."

--This is the introductory trial of the Heavenly Tribulation Profound Lightning Scripture.

A flash of purple light appeared in his eyes as he released the "Three Tribulations: Profound Lightning Avatar," creating three lightning clones to protect his soul and share the pressure of the Lightning Prison's soul-shaking force.

The next moment, the Lord of Lightning Prison manifested from the void—

Lightning Prison Soul Master - Soul-Annihilating Binder

Standing nine zhang tall, its entire body ablaze with gray lightning, it wielded chain-like blades in both hands, a [Soul-Annihilating Binder] formed from the condensed will of heavenly lightning. It possessed no consciousness, only one goal—to completely "lock" Zhou Yu's soul.

"Well done." Zhou Yu's expression was cold and stern, with lightning patterns flashing around him.

He slashed out with his sword—

Fifth Tribulation - Abyss Breath Realm Lightning

Thousands of sword lightning formed a closed lightning domain, trapping the Lightning Prison Soul Master within it. The void continuously exploded, and the lightning breath was incessant, completely sealing off his movement.

The Lightning Prison Soul Master roared, swung his chains, and shattered the Lightning Prison barrier.

Zhou Yu retreated, then suddenly launched an attack:

Six Tribulations - Reverse Soul Lightning Bind

This technique gathers the lightning of the Nine Abyss as a lock, reversing the flow of its soul and consciousness, causing "every attack" to backfire on itself.

In an instant, the Soul-Annihilating Binder let out a painful roar, his sea of consciousness shattering.

Zhou Yu did not stop there. He raised his hand and pointed his sword at the sky again, and lightning suddenly appeared:

Seven Tribulations - The Ultimate Silence Heavenly Blast

"Thunder gathers from the Nine Abyss, and at the extreme of thunder, all is still—annihilation!"

A bolt of purple-gold lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, tearing open the curtain of the Lightning Prison and crashing down from the top of the tower, annihilating the Lightning Prison Soul Master's body and soul at the same time!

After the Annihilation, the Lightning Prison collapsed.

Second level - Successfully cleared

In the void, a crystal of heavenly lightning slowly drifted down, covered with dense lightning patterns—this was the [Profound Tribulation Lightning Seal], a key medium for refining the third level of the trial.

Zhou Yu stored it between his eyebrows, and the Nether Lightning Imperial Surge Sword.

"This is just the beginning."

Without pausing, he turned and strode towards the third level of the Ancient Thunder Tribulation Tower.