Chapter 866: Grudges

The aftershocks alone were enough to make everyone's faces turn pale. Without hesitation, they prepared to abandon the crystal stele and flee the area. However, the situation was far worse than they had imagined.

The cold energy surged back, meeting the lightning head-on. The two forces collided, producing a thunderous roar and a sizzling sound, like steam being evaporated. For a moment, the cold energy appeared to hold back the lightning. However, anyone at the point of impact would have seen the cold energy being consumed at an astonishing rate.

High above, seeing the torrent of lightning, those individuals burst into hearty laughter, venting their frustration. But when they saw the Sky-Cold Gale Formation resisting the Lightning Summoning Art, their anger surged anew. At the middle-aged man's command, they once again cast their secret arts, conjuring even more lightning.

"Boom!"

The lightning condensed into massive bolts, descending from the sky as if carrying the power to annihilate the world. This was clearly not easy for them either. Those with lower cultivation levels swayed precariously, and even the strongest middle-aged man's face turned pale.

Compared to them, Qin Sang and the others were in a far more dire state. They had believed the Sky-Cold Gale Formation would buy them enough time to escape. However, the reality was far more brutal; the cold energy only weakened the lightning's power but couldn't stop it, allowing the lightning to pierce right through.

A large hole was forcibly torn through the Sky-Cold Gale Formation. The crystal stele vibrated wildly, and cracks appeared at its base, rapidly spreading upwards.

"The Sky-Cold Gale Formation is about to be destroyed!"

Qin Sang was shocked and terrified. The lightning's power was horrific; it had destroyed the grand formation and still raged menacingly, making one's scalp tingle. This terrifying power, usually only wielded by Nascent Soul Ancestors, was now being unleashed by a group of cultivators who were merely at the Core Formation stage.

Their vision was engulfed by the lightning; nothing could be seen. But Qin Sang could clearly sense the supreme yang and unyielding power descending from above, carrying immense destructive force, annihilating all attempts at resistance.

"Crack!"

The crystal stele shattered with a resounding crack. The cold mist dispersed in all directions. Qin Sang's body trembled. The Sky-Cold Gale Formation was destroyed!

Although Qin Sang had been on guard the moment those figures appeared, he hadn't anticipated such a rapid turn of events, nor such a fierce attack from opponents still so far away. Not only Qin Sang, but no one else had anticipated this; it was simply unheard of. No one could have imagined these individuals possessing such formidable divine abilities.

Fortunately, Qin Sang had kept part of his attention on the Nine Dragons Heaven Carriage Talisman. Immediately, sword light and a dragon shadow intertwined around him, and he dashed out of the island at top speed, fleeing the lightning's radius. The others, unwilling to be left behind, also reacted swiftly.

Due to the crystal stele's position, the five individuals were scattered in different directions, forcing them to flee in separate ways. Only Chu Heng remained motionless, a hint of despair in his eyes. Although his cultivation was high, his forte lay in array formations and restrictions; his escape arts and combat dao arts were mediocre. In this situation, he had no room to utilize his strengths. Unable to escape, he could only resist with all his might, hoping for a sliver of survival.

The most remarkable performance came from Ma Debao. This individual was always shrewd, and like Qin Sang, he had grown wary the moment the opponents appeared. Sensing trouble, he immediately summoned his magic treasure, the Five Severing Peaks Whip. A rapid series of "crack-crack-crack" sounds from the whip followed, as its vibrating shadow generated a peculiar ripple. Using this force, Ma Debao's body suddenly shot forward.

Qiu Ji and Luo Kun had somehow linked up and planned to resist together. Among the five, Qin Sang's escape art was the fastest, yet he still couldn't evade the lightning's impact. His figure flickered, then he abruptly stopped. The lightning was already upon him. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as a burst of golden light suddenly erupted from his body. At the center of the golden light was a suit of golden armor, the Golden Radiance Armor.

This magic treasure had protected Qin Sang numerous times since he acquired it. Despite being a low-grade magic treasure, its extremely sturdy spiritual materials meant it still didn't appear weak. The Golden Radiance Armor had been damaged in the Seven Kills Hall and was later repaired by Qin Sang. Leveraging his understanding of artifact refining, he incorporated new spiritual materials during the repair, enhancing its defensive power even further than before.

"Boom!"

The lightning descended. The Golden Radiance Armor's power completely enveloped Qin Sang. Qin Sang felt a tremendous force strike his body, grunted, and was sent flying. At the same time, he heard a crisp cracking sound and was horrified to discover that the Golden Radiance Armor itself had cracked. This magic treasure had only been repaired a few years ago and was now damaged again.

No, wait! It wasn't just damage. In an instant, countless cracks spread across the entire armor. This valuable armor, which had served him faithfully for decades, was on the verge of being destroyed!

The Golden Radiance Armor's sacrifice was not in vain. Qin Sang clearly felt that most of the lightning's power had been fended off by the armor. The most dangerous moment had passed! Unexpectedly, before Qin Sang could feel relieved, the residual power seeped in through the armor's cracks. The lightning struck him, infiltrating his body, and a tingling sensation immediately spread throughout his limbs.

Qin Sang's body stiffened, and his heart pounded with urgency. Although this lightning power was easy to dispel and wouldn't cause significant damage, it still affected his movements and reactions. But then he felt a wave of relief as the tingling sensation vanished. He realized the Heavenly Eye Butterfly was gracefully dancing in his Qi Sea, using its lightning-controlling divine ability to devour the invading lightning. Compared to the lightning overhead, the flashes on the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's wings seemed so delicate. However, most of this lightning had first been weakened by the Sky-Cold Gale Formation, then blocked by the Golden Radiance Armor. By the time it passed through Qin Sang's protective true essence and infiltrated his body, it was already very weak and easily consumed by the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.

"Good!"

Qin Sang was overjoyed, secretly praising his natal insect Gu, then once again cast his escape art without looking back. He had already sensed a familiar, exceptionally violent aura behind him—it was the Kui Dragon!

The Kui Dragon, which had been close to death, was released from the spiritual array at the last moment. Moreover, it was not afraid of the Lightning Summoning Art at all; it sought revenge! Chu Heng desperately fought to survive under the Lightning Summoning Art, enduring the most ferocious wave. Unaware of the approaching danger, he was bitten in half by the Kui Dragon without any resistance.

Qiu Ji and Luo Kun, having joined forces, were in a much better state than Chu Heng. They sensed the Kui Dragon's sneak attack but were horrified to find themselves paralyzed by the lightning's power, their true essence stagnant, and their reactions slower than before. They resisted desperately, but the Kui Dragon, now frenzied, disregarded its own injuries and devoured both of them one after another.

Ma Debao had fled a distance second only to Qin Sang. He also noticed the Kui Dragon's sudden rampage, and though his condition was far worse than Qin Sang's, he still vigorously swung his Five Severing Peaks Whip, fighting desperately for survival.

Although the Kui Dragon was severely injured, it was still not to be underestimated. Its companions were either dead or wounded, and the strongest, a young man named Fang, had an unknown fate. And in the distance, those mysterious figures still watched with predatory eyes. Qin Sang had no desire to look back and rushed headlong out of the island.

Just then, a startled and enraged shout came from ahead: "Golden Radiance Armor! You killed my junior brother!"