Chapter 365: Heaven's Punishment

The Black Lotus Dharma Idol couldn't hold on. After enduring several bolts of lightning, it instantly shriveled and vanished. Its scattered metal lotus petals, startled, retracted like a turtle's head, and the entire artifact shrank back into a palm-sized black lotus.

It was almost swept away by the strong winds, but Shi Chun, reluctant to lose it, quickly snatched it back.

He was truly stunned, frantically looking around. "What the heck? Why am I being struck by lightning repeatedly? Have I done too many bad deeds?"

He had no idea what was happening. Li Hongjiu's attacks were so subtle that those struck by lightning didn't even realize they were being attacked.

Shi Chun's condition, however, was relatively good. You Mu, clutching the Six Golden Wheels merged into a crescent, and Xu Anchang, tightly holding the Boundless Banner, had their faces blackened as if by smoke and were almost smoking. They were also nearly swept away by the strong winds, drifting erratically towards the ground, uncertain whether they were floating or plummeting.

Whether they were drifting or falling no longer mattered. The critical point was that the lightning was too sinister and utterly terrifying; even with a hundred times more courage, they wouldn't dare to fly into the sky again.

Shi Chun, looking back, immediately dove after them. He wasn't rushing to save the individuals, but was mainly concerned about the two magical artifacts they held, especially the incredibly powerful Boundless Banner, which also contained two other artifacts.

Under the brilliant lightning, the condition of the three was crystal clear: two were blackened by the lightning, while Shi Chun appeared largely unaffected.

A hint of surprise flickered in Li Hongjiu's eyes. *He was hit by so many lightning bolts and is fine?*

However, to the Yanbao Sect disciples behind him, Shi Chun and his two companions had indeed been struck down by lightning. The disciples' faces were filled with awe and excitement. Their martial uncle's ability to conjure wind and clouds with a wave of his hand and unleash bolts of lightning with a mere flick of his finger was truly astonishing.

Guang Haoyou's face also showed pride. He had believed his martial uncle when he said not a single one would escape, but he genuinely hadn't anticipated such a stunning display—the ability to control heavenly lightning with a mere flick of a finger.

They earnestly wished all the other sects could witness this scene, to see the grandeur of their Yanbao Sect expert's power. Alas, all the other sects had already fled past them.

They even considered calling out to the other sects to come and witness it, but they also knew that Li Hongjiu disliked such ostentatious displays and certainly wouldn't want them to publicize this.

Moreover, the other sects were now too busy fending for themselves and likely had no inclination to concern themselves with them.

Various rumbling sounds of battle had already begun. Due to Li Hongjiu's intervention, the sects were unable to escape in time on their wind scales and were forced to engage in combat with the besieging monsters of diverse colors and forms.

There were too many monsters, and it was unclear what they were. They weren't fire spirits; when defeated, they either turned to ash or burst into fiery plasma.

Everywhere, monsters were spewing distorted flames amidst the strong winds. For disciples who cultivated fire-attribute techniques, this wasn't a significant problem, beyond adding some visual flair and atmosphere.

The crucial point was that it instilled a tremendous sense of panic in everyone. The grim precedent of the grotesque bats was still vivid in their minds, so how could they not be afraid?

All the sects instantly resisted with all their might, holding nothing back. They unleashed various magical artifacts to obliterate the monsters, unwilling to let them get close.

It was arguably the most comprehensive display of magical artifacts by all the sects. There was no alternative; they were fighting for their lives, and for a time, artifacts filled the sky.

As various monsters surged forward, Shi Chun's group was no exception.

You Mu, blackened and with torn clothes, endured the searing pain on his skin as if burned. He once again activated the Six Golden Wheels, which swirled around him, unleashing sparks, flames, and fiery plasma.

Xu Anchang, equally disheveled, dared not be negligent. He swung the Boundless Banner, and the charging monsters vanished with a single sweep; he didn't kill them, but rather absorbed as many as appeared.

Only Shi Chun stood there, gazing up at the sky. His right eye's special ability, which had just ceased, was reactivated. He looked above the wind column, towards the source of the lightning, hoping to discern something with his right eye. The previous lightning strikes had been too peculiar. *Am I the only one who's done bad deeds and deserves to be struck by heavenly lightning? Why is it specifically targeting me?*

Only by understanding the mystery could he find a weakness to escape.

Xu Anchang and You Mu, busy dealing with the surrounding monsters, voluntarily protected him. Occasionally, they would glance at him, and seeing him perfectly clean and unharmed, they were puzzled. *We're all from the demonic path, so why does the lightning strike only us and not him?*

Facing the surging tide of bizarre monsters, the Yanbao Sect was not spared. The chasm carved out by the previous battle in front of them was also flooded with a massive tide of monsters, which began crawling up the cliff face towards them, making the ground beneath their feet tremble.

"Prepare!" Guang Haoyou shouted, revealing his own magical artifact: a dark red, thorny long whip.

Li Hongjiu looked back at the disciples preparing their weapons and quipped, "I suggest you put away your weapons."

Guang Haoyou, who had been watching the rumbling monsters ascend the cliff, looked up sharply upon hearing this and asked, "Why?"

Li Hongjiu quipped, "I'm afraid you won't be able to account for yourselves to the sect when you return."

As he spoke, he glanced at the imminent threat below. His two fingers, which had been cutting through the wind, suddenly flipped upward, palms facing up, and slowly, unhurriedly, began to rise.

Although the disciples didn't understand his words, they realized their martial uncle was about to act again. They were soon captivated by the signs of clouds gathering above them. Streaks of wandering electric arcs began to grow agitated, and the entire sky gradually filled with them.

The situation was bizarre, resembling a sky full of thunderclouds. Even members of the other sects, exhausted from fighting, couldn't help but steal glances at the sky, utterly shaken by a sight they had never witnessed before.

Upon witnessing this, Guang Haoyou quickly put away his weapon and immediately gestured to his fellow disciples to do the same.

Everyone trusted that their martial uncle's words were not meant to harm them.

However, the immediate threat was indeed before them. A monstrous ox-headed, clawed beast, the size of a small mountain and wreathed in green flames, leaped forward, opening its fanged maw, and roared as it lunged to bite Li Hongjiu, who stood directly in its path.

As the Yanbao Sect disciples were greatly alarmed, Li Hongjiu's two fingers, which he had subtly raised to his chest, suddenly flipped, and he unleashed a decisive palm chop.

*Boom!* A colossal, serpent-like bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the monster precisely as it was about to bite him. Instantly, the monster collapsed into a grotesque ruin, disintegrating into ash and smoke. It didn't even have time to scream before dissolving into countless sparks carried away by the wind, without even touching a single hair on Li Hongjiu.

Before the Yanbao Sect disciples could recover from their astonishment, countless monsters surged out from below the cliff in a spectacular display. The oppressive presence was enough to deter most people, with even the bravest taking at least one step back.

Only Li Hongjiu remained standing there, unmoving.

At that moment, countless flashes of light erupted in the sky. Although many monsters charged up, just as many bolts of lightning descended from above, striking the surging monsters fiercely.

Countless roars also came from behind them. The Yanbao Sect disciples turned their heads and discovered that countless bolts of lightning were not only descending in front of them but simultaneously from all directions.

At this moment, everyone witnessed a scene they would never forget: a forest of lightning connecting heaven and earth. Their hair seemed to stand on end as if pulled by an irresistible force, their scalps tingling. The sight was utterly breathtaking.

Countless bolts of lightning continuously descended, densely crisscrossing, ceaselessly striking and obliterating every monster until it exploded.

It seemed like a sudden heavenly judgment, mercilessly slaughtering the monsters of this world, preventing them from causing chaos.

"Ah, my banner..." Amidst the roaring, Xu Anchang let out a pained cry.

A sudden bolt of lightning struck the swaying Boundless Banner in his hand, forcing him to release it. Fearing the treasure would be swept away by the strong winds, he cast a spell to grasp it remotely. However, the heavenly lightning was merciless, striking the Boundless Banner with one bolt after another.

The panicking You Mu was no better off; his Six Golden Wheels were also nearly struck away. He used a remote spell to hold them, watching helplessly as the lightning hammered his magical artifact.

This scene stunned Shi Chun. He dared not lend a hand and could only watch helplessly.

The lightning was not only targeting those two magical artifacts.

"My sword..." Gu Lianni also gasped, as her 'Azure Soul Refined Rainbow Sword,' which she had released and was remotely grasping, was also being repeatedly hammered by the lightning.

It wasn't just her; every magical artifact displayed by anyone was facing heavenly judgment.

Even though they were repeatedly struck by lightning, they refused to abandon their treasures, fearing they would be swept away by the strong winds.

The monsters obliterated by the lightning, however, were not so fortunate. After exploding, they were all carried away by the strong winds, countless sparks blown away and swept into the sky, creating a magnificent sight intertwined with the lightning forest—a scene unimaginable even in dreams.

The constantly twisting lightning seemed to dance across this world, twisting in a frenzied celebration.

The Yanbao Sect disciples' awestruck gazes gradually returned to Li Hongjiu. Looking at their junior martial uncle amidst the electric light, they all felt as if they were gazing up at a deity.

Li Hongjiu slowly pushed his arms out to the sides. Immediately, the area of the lightning forest rapidly spread in all directions, and the range of countless lightning strikes also quickly expanded.

The monsters, which had been continuously surging from all directions, had now halted at the edge of the lightning forest, seemingly intimidated by this heavenly might. Upon seeing the area of destruction expand, these fearless monsters finally grew afraid, turning around and fleeing in a chaotic stampede.

They arrived quickly and departed just as swiftly.

After dispatching these uninvited guests, the lightning forest rapidly shrank, clearing out the remaining monsters.

Li Hongjiu's gaze remained fixed on the masked figure. It was difficult for him not to notice the person, as everyone else's weapons had been knocked from their hands, yet the masked figure still held a gleaming knife, looking around as if seeking someone to attack, making him exceptionally conspicuous.

So Li Hongjiu's fingers twitched slightly, and several more lightning bolts struck the masked figure in quick succession from the air.

Shi Chun wanted to dodge, but his cultivation wasn't advanced enough for his speed to surpass lightning. Unluckily, he simply endured several more strikes, which made him want to donate goods and perform good deeds to accumulate virtue once he got out.

Unable to dodge, he could only brace himself and endure. He had to use the Demon Bathing Technique to resist. It wasn't a problem to withstand it; he had gained experience. The lightning striking him seemed to have no effect on him; it appeared to be absorbed by the Azure Wave energy on his body.

Every time he was struck by lightning, his magic essence seemed quite agitated, as if experiencing a sense of pleasure.

He didn't know whether he should be happy, but he couldn't feel happy. *Why does this lightning only strike me and not You Mu or Xu Anchang beside me?*

*Is it because those two guys look more pathetic, and I'm better looking?*

However, the lightning soon ceased.

Xu Anchang snatched back his Boundless Banner and immediately tried to control it with a spell again, only to mutter, "It's over, it's over, it's useless..."

You Mu, who retrieved his Six Golden Wheels, wore an equally despondent expression after examining them.

Seeing their plight, Shi Chun also summoned his 'Black Lotus' again, attempting to control it with a spell. However, the artifact was unresponsive, having become a mere lump of metal.

It wasn't just them; at this moment, almost all the sects were enveloped in a cloud of despair, with many even wailing in agony.

Gu Lianni, holding her 'Azure Soul Refined Rainbow Sword' in both hands, was in the same state. After muttering a few disheartened words, she looked up at the sky.

All the magical artifacts displayed by the various sects to deal with the monsters had essentially been rendered useless by the recent colossal lightning strike.

Seeing this situation, the Yanbao Sect group meekly looked at their martial uncle, abandoning any desire to show off the Yanbao Sect's abilities. They pretended it had nothing to do with them and finally understood what their martial uncle meant when he told them to put away their weapons.

Shi Chun, cursing under his breath, hadn't forgotten to flee. With their magical artifacts rendered useless, they couldn't intimidate the forces of the other sects. If they didn't escape now, were they just waiting for death?

He now regretted it again, regretting not having killed Wu Shanshan in time.

But there was no medicine for regret in the world, and moreover, Li Hongjiu had already set his sights on him.

Seeing him signal You Mu and Xu Anchang to flee, Li Hongjiu flicked his sleeves and declared, "You wait here; I'll go deal with him personally."

The disciples were surprised. *Is Martial Uncle going to fight personally? Is it worth it? With Martial Uncle's ability, it's just a matter of wiggling a finger.*

Little did they know that it was precisely because a mere flick of a finger wouldn't solve the problem that Li Hongjiu decided to act personally.