Chapter 1184: Inverted Thunder Tribulation? The Destroyed Sin Hall

"Is this Zui Yi Dian? It's truly magnificent!"

Leng Qi, the sect master of Da Xuan Tian Zong in Dong Tian Wang Cheng, stopped in his tracks and gazed up at the grand gates of Zui Yi Dian, feeling a mix of awe and emotion.

It was incredibly imposing! Never mind the Tian Kong Zhi Cheng itself.

In this giant city, there stood such a towering and majestic ancient palace, evoking endless fantasies.

"Leng Sect Master, don't let your guard down. This place is full of Sheng Jie. It might not be a spot for Feng Sheng Dao Ji, but rather our burial ground."

Xiu Mingyue, the pavilion master of Gui Yin Ge, wore a veil of blue gauze and held her Zi Qin in her arms. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the Sheng Jie overhead, tinged with worry.

"Hah, we're officially registered in the Sheng Shen Dian Tang, and that's how we entered the Tian Kong Zhi Cheng. If something goes wrong, we can still seek their help. What's there to fear?"

"But can you even find anyone from the Sheng Shen Dian Tang?"

"This giant kingdom is vast; we can't find them now, but my sect has reached Tai Xu, and my cultivation has advanced significantly. What do I have to fear?" Leng Qi laughed heartily.

The opportunities in Tian Kong Zhi Cheng had broken through his decades-long bottleneck, allowing him to progress even after Tai Xu.

Now, with the strength of Da Xuan Tian Zong, including the Tai Xu great elder Ding Kui, they could dominate Dong Tian Wang Cheng.

What's more...

"We might not find aid from the Sheng Shen Dian Tang elsewhere, but Zui Yi Dian definitely has it!"

Leng Qi swept his gaze over the Sheng Jie in the sky, suppressing the greed in his eyes.

Who wouldn't want to Feng Sheng?

With such a huge commotion at Zui Yi Dian, people from the Sheng Shen Dian Tang must be involved.

And he was acting under the banner of justice. As long as he went over and lent a hand, he could surely get a share.

"Let's go in. Since we're here, we might as well settle in."

Leng Qi glanced sideways at Xiu Mingyue and sneered, "If you're scared, Pavilion Master Xiu, you can stop right now. I can go alone."

Xiu Mingyue said nothing. She watched as Leng Qi stepped forward to push the door, then hesitated before following.

In this Tian Kong Zhi Cheng, Tai Xu was as common as dirt compared to Sheng Shen mainland.

Going alone would easily invite trouble. Though Leng Qi was arrogant, he had the strength to back it up.

As fellow natives of Dong Tian Wang Cheng, Xiu Mingyue had collaborated with Leng Qi before, though she simply disliked the man.

But now, she had no other choice.

"Think of it as having someone to watch my back..." With that thought, Xiu Mingyue gripped her Zi Qin tighter and caught up with Leng Qi.

The two arrived at the palace gates.

Leng Qi might have seemed defiant, but he remained cautious.

Even as he pushed the door, he enveloped himself in a layer of Ling Yuan for protection.

"Be careful." Xiu Mingyue couldn't help but remind him.

"Pushing a door— what's the worst that could happen?" Leng Qi chuckled, exerting force to swing open the towering gates of Zui Yi Dian with a bang. "See? Nothing happened."

"At this rate, the Sheng Jie will strike you first!" Xiu Mingyue snapped back.

Leng Qi burst into laughter and stepped into the misty space inside. "That would mean I'm about to Feng Sheng. Then, even you'd have to look up to me, ha ha ha... Uh?"

His laughter cut off abruptly!

Leng Qi's heart skipped a beat, his pupils shrank, as he sensed an extremely violent energy surging toward him from within Zui Yi Dian.

Pushing a door— did it have to react this way?

Was this really one of the nine great forbidden zones of Tian Kong Zhi Cheng?

"Something's happening!" Xiu Mingyue quickly retreated, not daring to follow.

"What's there to fear?" Leng Qi had been on guard, but upon hearing her, he raised an eyebrow and retorted sharply.

From his position, separated by layers of space, he couldn't fully gauge the strength of the energy storm inside that was rejecting him.

But it was just pushing a door— could the forbidden zone's backlash really destroy a Tai Xu?

"Boundary domain!"

With a wave of his hand, Leng Qi summoned his boundary domain to shield himself.

The space in front of Zui Yi Dian's gates suddenly cracked inch by inch— and this was merely the prelude to the storm's arrival.

"Be careful!" Xiu Mingyue burst back even further.

She sensed something— Sheng Li?

That couldn't be. No matter how reckless Leng Qi was, he had only pushed the door. Why such a reaction?

"Truly Sheng Li?"

"And not just one level of Sheng-grade fluctuations?" Leng Qi was even more stunned.

At this point, he wanted to retreat, but it was too late! The storm tore through space, carrying Sheng Li fluctuations.

Following closely, four or five kinds of frenzied Sheng-grade forces intertwined and surged forth.

In an instant, they blasted Leng Qi away completely!

A thunderous boom echoed.

Zui Yi Dian swelled violently, and from its dome, a colossal energy pillar shot skyward, akin to a thunder tribulation.

This pillar was enormous! Even the shockwaves from its surroundings were impossible to resist.

"Crack!"

Leng Qi tried to change tactics, but the chill in the storm's aftermath hit him, freezing him into an ice sculpture with a snap.

Xiu Mingyue, who had retreated early, didn't fare much better. She was struck by the Sheng-grade forces during her withdrawal and turned into another ice sculpture.

"Sizzle."

White flames ignited within the ice layers encasing them both.

Their bodies, Qi Seas, Dao principles... excruciating pain assaulted them from all sides, like a torturous lingchi execution tormenting every conscious mind.

"Mmmph!"

Leng Qi wanted to roar, to vent, but his body was completely frozen.

He couldn't break free from this Sheng-grade force for the moment and could only muster a few muffled groans.

Whoosh... The storm raged on!

Leng Qi watched in horror as a silver-white sword light suddenly swept out from the ruined Zui Yi Dian.

That sword light slashed across his body in a flash...

The ice layer that even he couldn't break was as fragile as paper, instantly drawing blood.

And the blood quickly evaporated and froze in the air.

"Ah!"

Leng Qi roared in agony, unbearable torment overwhelming him.

He finally shattered the ice and turned to flee. Zui Yi Dian was no place for humans!

Just pushing the door had made the palace go berserk, as if it had been violated. If he actually entered, he'd be torn to shreds!

But his plan was futile...

As soon as Leng Qi lifted his foot, his body was frozen again by the violent cold flames.

In that frozen state, he struggled to turn his head and looked back in terror.

Boom!

Zui Yi Dian's "repulsive counterattack" wasn't just one wave— it came in waves!

Another explosion rocked the ancient palace, swelling even more.

This time, the energy storm was even more insane, blasting the gates and plaques to pieces.

From the shattered space, endless white flames, cold fires, and sword lights surged out...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The sword lights were no longer just one.

Thousands upon thousands of silver whites rampaged, piercing through Leng Qi's ice sculpture in an instant.

"Ahhh!"

Screams echoed across the area.

Yet, this didn't stop Zui Yi Dian's massive explosion.

As Leng Qi had thought, these booms were just the beginning.

When the palace's explosion fully formed and the surging energies could no longer be contained, they erupted from the dome, the gates, and all sides...

Boom! Boom, boom, boom!

Boom, boom, boom, boom...

At that moment, everyone on the entire void island could see and hear the anomaly at Zui Yi Dian from afar.

They were used to Sheng Jie descending there from the sky.

But this time, it was completely different.

"Sheng Jie, but also shooting upward from below into the sky?"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Wave after wave of explosive energy ripped through space, forming mushroom clouds that soared into the heavens.

Apart from not taking the form of thunder, its wild nature was no different from Sheng Jie.

In Jue Jin Huo Yu.

Sizzle...

Lava bubbled and burst, and Bai Ai sprang out from it, his upper body muscular and toned. He turned his head in utter shock toward a certain direction.

That place looked like the world had been turned upside down, dreamlike and illusory.

Sheng Jie fell from the sky, vanished into the unknown, and then tribulation pillars shot upward, merging into the heavens.

It cycled endlessly, as if it wouldn't stop until that forbidden zone was obliterated.

"Master! Master! We can't keep soaking! We really can't enjoy this anymore!"

"I've sensed the aura of Jin Zhao Bai Yan. It must be Xu Xiao Shou! He's definitely in trouble!"

Bai Ai was extremely anxious, shouting loudly.

After waiting with no response, he dove back into the volcanic lava, leaving two white feet dangling.

Soon, he pulled out a man bare from the waist up.

"Master!" Bai Ai exclaimed.

Mu Lin's eyelids twitched, as if his pleasant dream had been interrupted. He spat out a lava bubble irritably and cursed:

"Are you stupid? After holding the Sheng Gong authority for so many years, have you burned your brain?"

"Xu Xiao Shou is just at Zong Shi level! How high is that?"

"When you were at Zong Shi, could you create an attack like that? I can't even do it now!"

It was like a bucket of cold water on Bai Ai, calming him instantly.

He glanced back at the distant lightning pillar rising from the ground, his lips twitching as he asked, "Then, Master, why is there an aura of Jin Zhao Bai Yan from that place?"

"Did I say you're stupid, and you really are?" Mu Lin wiped his face, lava sliding from his brow bone smoothly into his eye socket.

He sank deeper, his shoulders submerging, and let out a contented groan before continuing:

"Why is there an aura of the Jin Zhao lineage here?"

"Why can we make such rapid cultivation progress just by soaking in a bath?"

"Didn't you sense the aura of Jin Zhao's heart?"

"This is clearly a blessed land created by some people on the inner island, and the attacks there must be from someone on the inner island too."

Mu Lin waved it off with a scoff: "No big issue. We don't need to worry."

"Inner island?" Bai Ai raised an eyebrow, feeling closer than ever to the secrets of Xu Kong Dao's inner island.

"Could it be fake? If that explosion was really something Xu Xiao Shou could pull off, what would be the point of you going now?"

"If Xu Xiao Shou is that strong and still in trouble, you couldn't help."

"If he can strike like that, your going wouldn't make much difference."

"So, as I say, relax, and like your master, sink in and break through to Tai Xu first."

Mu Lin finished and closed his eyes, even submerging his head into the lava, leaving only a few bubbles breaking on the surface.

Bai Ai fell silent watching this.

No doubt about it— his master was addicted to bathing! Indulgence leads to neglect... and even his master wasn't immune.

It was rare to see a place that captivated his master so much. He used to be so serious.

"Tai Xu, huh..." Bai Ai glanced back at the explosive pillar in the distance, then at the clothes on the volcanic rock, furrowing his brow in thought.

"Doing this... no! Doing nothing feels wrong, right?"

"But..."

He looked at his master, now completely submerged in the lava.

Before long, Bai Ai's brow relaxed, as if some knot had untied, and his mind cleared.

"Heh."

"But it feels so good."

With a splash, Bai Ai leaned back and plunged in.

His entire upper body sank into the lava, leaving only two white feet paddling above before quickly retracting, like hiding under blankets in winter, into the lava's protective layer.

From then on, the lava's surface appeared empty.

"Mmm~"

"Master, stop making sounds!"

"If it feels good, you have to let it out... How many chances do we get in life to feel this great? Might as well enjoy it now."

"That makes sense? Ohh~"

"Shut up! How gross!"

"Uh?"

In Zui Yi Dian.

A scruffy middle-aged swordsman with only eight fingers and a scar on his neck stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of arrogance as he hovered alone.

He stepped on a Mo Shen great spear, his gaze sweeping disdainfully over the dark giant labyrinth.

In this desolate place, the middle-aged swordsman immersed himself in the profound realm he had created.

Sometimes he chuckled softly, sometimes sneered coldly...

Sometimes he stroked his chin thoughtfully, sometimes shook his head...

He narrowed his eyes, radiating an aura of detachment that warned others to stay away, as if he were on the verge of ascending.

Finally, when this aura and realm peaked,

The swordsman opened his eyes wide, a flash of sword light vanishing in the darkness, and burst into song, his voice resounding:

"First nine, traversing Kong Dong, laughing as I knock on heaven's gate."

"The immortals wish to guide me, but my path is muddled!"

With a hearty shout, the middle-aged swordsman pointed two fingers together, striding forward on the Mo Shen great spear and slashing diagonally, as if cutting down an invisible foe.

His voice shifted from high-pitched to restrained, delivered with emotion:

"One thought can make a saint, one thought divides heaven and earth."

"In this mortal world, why bow to immortals?"

As the last note faded, the swordsman let out a long "Ah," spreading his arms with an expression of utter contentment.

"When will I reach my teacher's level... Hmm?"

His reflection was cut short as violent fluctuations erupted in the distance.

The next second, a massive boom exploded, and destructive energy surged forth.

A frenzy of energy, mixed with four or five kinds of Sheng-grade forces, instantly swept the swordsman off the Mo Shen great spear, slamming him against the labyrinth wall with a thud.

"I... Pfft!"

Xiao Kong Dong scrambled up in panic, spitting blood, and quickly formed seals in terror.

"Wu Jian Technique, conceal!"

Boom, boom, boom!

Sure enough, following were the Three Days Freeze Tribulation, Jin Zhao Bai Yan, and even familiar sword intent energy.

These rampaging explosive forces bombarded him.

"What's going on?"

"Even I can't withstand this?"

Xiao Kong Dong's forehead veins bulged as he felt his body about to be blasted out of the Wu Jian Technique. He grabbed the Mo Shen great spear.

"Space-time leap... Leap! Leap! Leap!"

In an avalanche, running with the snow means certain death.

But if you're fast enough... the disaster will always lag behind!

Chased by the violent energy, Xiao Kong Dong burst out of Zui Yi Dian and activated Wu Jian Technique mid-air.

Only then could he endure the explosive aftermath without harm.

"What happened?"

"That direction— is it Zhen Huang Dian? Is there a war at Zhen Huang Dian?"

"This explosive energy feels familiar— Jin Zhao power, sword intent... Isn't that Xu Xiao Shou?"

Xiao Kong Dong froze. "Xu Xiao Shou is causing destruction again! When did he pull off something this big?"

Hovering in the void outside Zui Yi Dian, staring at the completely shattered grand palace, Xiao Kong Dong fell into thought.

"He's risking his life. Attacking like this will definitely attract the forbidden zone and get targeted by the Xu Kong Dao spirit!"

Has Xu Xiao Shou's death countdown been lifted, only for him to stir up trouble like this... or did he encounter danger and was forced to counterattack?

As the storm neared its end,

Xiao Kong Dong dispelled Wu Jian Technique and pulled five tokens from his pocket, his brow furrowed.

Good thing he had foresight and exchanged for many exemption tokens, with some left over.

Going to Zhen Huang Dian now, that place probably wouldn't even have a palace left, let little tokens to exchange.

"You!"

Suddenly, a shocked, halting voice came from below.

Xiao Kong Dong looked down to see a man and a woman, both Tai Xu.

But clearly, this pair couldn't handle Xu Xiao Shou's explosive energy— their bodies were shattered.

Fortunately, they were far enough to only catch the aftermath. If they'd been at the center...

Xiao Kong Dong shuddered. Even a Ban Sheng might struggle to survive that strike.

"You are...!?" Leng Qi looked up at the man standing on the Mo Shen great spear, his face shocked.

Eight fingers, a scar on the neck... As someone from the eastern domain, how could he not recognize this legendary figure?

Xiao Kong Dong, seeing the expressions below, clasped his hands behind his back, lifted his chin, and said indifferently, "Speak my name, and I'll grant you life."

Leng Qi's temple twitched, his face darkening.

What a lunatic...

Another impostor!

Yet another fool tarnishing the reputation of the Eighth Sword Immortal. He'd seen plenty.

But after being blasted, Leng Qi didn't dare act cocky and respectfully said, "Eighth... Eighth Zun An?"

"Hmm."

Xiao Kong Dong nodded slightly, a faint smile on his lips as he gazed into the distance, his eyes distant, leaving the two below with only his aloof back.

One, two, three...

Silently counting to three in his mind, Xiao Kong Dong's eyes flashed with sword intent, and Huan Jian Technique formed.

Sword intents filled the air, turning into endless cherry blossoms that gently fell.

The ruined ground of Zui Yi Dian suddenly became breathtakingly beautiful, drawing one into a trance.

The sword intents wrapped around the wounds on Leng Qi and Xiu Mingyue transformed into cherry blossoms and vanished.

Sensing their shock, Xiao Kong Dong glanced down with a smile, his figure fading into a stream of cherry blossoms, merging back into Zui Yi Dian.

"Stay away from this palace, and your lives will be spared!"

Leng Qi trembled violently, staring at the flashy departing swordsman, his mind blank.

"Sword intent..."

"This explosion— it was him!"

"He's the real deal! The true Eighth Sword Immortal!"

Xiu Mingyue's pupils dilated as well. She glanced incredulously at the storm-ridden gates of Zui Yi Dian and swallowed hard.

"We can't go there."

"Inside is a war for the Eighth Sword Immortal, for peak Tai Xu or even Ban Sheng!"