Chapter 2163: Six Nine Thunder Tribulation

He leaped into the air. High above, a massive dark cloud appeared. Gale-force winds swept across the island, making the doors and windows of the palaces and pavilions rattle and emit dull thuds.

The entire Nine-Dragon Island was enveloped in a heavy silence, much like a hot summer day in June just before a torrential downpour.

The dark cloud suddenly churned violently, revealing thick, elongated silver lightning snakes that flashed and intertwined, flickering in and out of sight within the cloud.

"All clan members below the Spirit Transformation stage, retreat as far as possible," Wang Changsheng said in a deep voice. He had reviewed the experiences of Zhenhai Palace's predecessors who attempted to reach the Void Refinement stage. He knew that the scale of the lightning tribulation varied from person to person, and some cultivators, with their immense magical powers, attracted more powerful lightning tribulations, the aftermath of which could easily kill cultivators below the Spirit Transformation stage.

Sun Yuejiao directed the clan members to retreat far away. Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingcheng observed from a distance, hoping to gain insights for future reference.

A deafening roar of thunder erupted. The dark cloud suddenly spawned countless silver lightning snakes, then abruptly split into six. Six thunderclouds floated high in the sky.

"The Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation!" Wang Ruyan's expression turned serious. Advancing to the Spirit Transformation stage involved the Five-Nine Lightning Tribulation, while advancing to the Void Refinement stage involved the Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation. Although literally just one more round of tribulation, the power of the Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation far surpassed that of the Five-Nine, not even comparable, and it was even possible for other types of lightning power to appear.

It was rumored that when Heavenly Venerate Xuanling attempted to reach the Void Refinement stage, he attracted a wisp of Nine Heavens Divine Lightning, which nearly killed him.

Attracting Nine Heavens Divine Lightning was also a form of recognition from the Heavenly Dao for a cultivator. Surviving the tribulation meant a complete transformation; however, if one perished under the lightning tribulation, there was naturally nothing more to say.

Wang Changsheng flicked his sleeve, and a shimmering yellow formation disc appeared in his hand. He cast several incantations into it. Immediately, countless yellow mists surged from the ground, forming a sea of yellow fog that enveloped Qinglian Peak, concealing Wang Changsheng as well.

A rumbling thunderclap sounded. A thick silver bolt of lightning shot out, resembling a silver lightning python over ten zhang long, carrying an aura of destruction as it flew towards Qinglian Peak.

The silver lightning plunged into the sea of yellow fog, reducing its volume by one-fifth.

Soon, the second bolt of tribulation lightning struck with even greater force, dissipating one-third of the yellow fog sea.

The third and fourth bolts of tribulation lightning struck, leaving little of the yellow fog sea remaining.

Wang Changsheng stood suspended in the air, his expression grim. Several fine cracks appeared on the yellow formation disc in his hand.

With a raised hand, a shimmering blue shield flew out. He cast an incantation into it, and the blue shield instantly expanded.

The fifth bolt of tribulation lightning struck the blue shield, instantly exploding upon impact. The shield's spiritual glow dimmed slightly.

The sixth, seventh, and eighth bolts of tribulation lightning fell consecutively. The blue shield's surface grew dim and bore dozens of fine cracks.

The thundercloud churned violently, and a thick bolt of lightning power shot out, striking down heavily like a massive hammer.

The lightning glow was blinding, forcing Wang Ruyan and Wang Qingcheng to squint their eyes.

When the ninth bolt of tribulation lightning struck, the blue shield's surface was covered in hundreds of cracks, like shattered pottery. It appeared on the verge of becoming useless.

The first round of lightning tribulation had already destroyed a fifth-tier formation and rendered a low-grade Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure useless. This was just the first round; the power of the subsequent five rounds would be even greater.

When Wang Changsheng had attempted to reach the Spirit Transformation stage, he had easily fended off the first round of lightning tribulation with his treasures.

Wang Changsheng finally understood why advancing to the Void Refinement stage was so difficult. For rogue cultivators or those with limited wealth, even attempting to reach the Void Refinement stage was incredibly challenging, let alone having enough treasures to withstand the tribulation. This also indicated the immense power of a major heavenly tribulation.

Fortunately, he had obtained multiple Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasures from the Mysterious Spirit Cave. Furthermore, Wang Ruyan had given him the Two-Sided Umbrella.

The second round of lightning tribulation began. An even thicker bolt of lightning power struck down, and the blue shield shattered like paper, disintegrating into countless tiny splinters.

Wang Changsheng hastily brought out two pale green spirit beads. He tossed them into the air and cast an incantation. The two green beads immediately glowed brilliantly, emitting a large expanse of green radiance that enveloped Wang Changsheng.

A set of defensive Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasures had a combined defensive capability far greater than the sum of its parts. It should be able to block this round of lightning tribulation.

As Wang Changsheng expected, the two green spirit beads blocked the second round of lightning tribulation, though several fine cracks appeared on their surfaces.

During the third round of lightning tribulation, after blocking three bolts of heavenly lightning, the two green spirit beads shattered into countless tiny fragments.

Wang Ruyan's expression grew tense. This was only the third round of lightning tribulation, with three more rounds still to come.

Wang Changsheng's face became grim. The power of the lightning tribulation far exceeded his imagination. Although he still had many treasures, with the tribulation's might, they wouldn't last much longer.

He took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and a small black and white umbrella flew out. It spun once, emitting a large expanse of black and white radiance that enveloped his entire body.

The Two-Sided Umbrella could weaken the attacks of lightning-based Dao spells. Its effect in resisting the lightning tribulation should be even better.

The fourth bolt of heavenly lightning power struck the Two-Sided Umbrella, vanishing as if mud thrown into the sea.

The remaining five bolts of heavenly lightning were no exception. Wang Changsheng let out a sigh of relief.

A rumbling thunderclap sounded, and the fourth round of lightning tribulation descended, its power even greater than the third.

Wang Changsheng frantically infused his vast magical power into the Two-Sided Umbrella. The umbrella immediately glowed brilliantly, but as bolt after bolt of heavenly lightning struck, its spiritual light dimmed.

When the fourth round of lightning tribulation ended, the Two-Sided Umbrella's spiritual light was dim. Its surface had several small holes, and its ribs bore a few fine cracks.

Any other low-grade Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasure would have been rendered useless by then.

A thunderclap sounded, and a bolt of heavenly lightning tore through the sky and space. It carried an aura of destruction as it struck the Two-Sided Umbrella.

The Two-Sided Umbrella instantly shattered into pieces, completely ruined.

Wang Changsheng, having anticipated this, flicked his sleeve. Eighteen Sea-Calming Pearls flew out, each receiving an incantation. The eighteen pearls immediately glowed with dazzling blue light, unleashing countless torrents of seawater that formed a vast, azure sea.

Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on the surface of the sea. The seawater churned violently, forming thick, blue water curtains.

A continuous roar echoed as bolts of heavenly lightning struck down one after another.

The eighteen Sea-Calming Pearls displayed astonishing defense, blocking the fifth round of lightning tribulation.

Only one thundercloud remained high in the sky. Wang Ruyan's heart was in her throat.

The sky lit up with a brilliant silver lightning glow. A thick silver bolt of lightning streaked across the firmament, resembling a silver lightning sword, slashing towards Wang Changsheng.

With a tremendous roar, five blue water curtains were shattered by the silver lightning sword. Two fine cracks appeared on the surface of each of the eighteen Sea-Calming Pearls.

Wang Changsheng's expression was tense as he watched bolt after bolt of heavenly lightning fall, and the cracks on the Sea-Calming Pearls' surfaces multiply.

If his Natal Spirit Treasure were destroyed, even if he didn't regress to the Spirit Transformation stage, he would suffer severe damage to his vital energy.

The sixth bolt of heavenly lightning struck, completely shattering all eighteen blue water curtains. The eighteen Sea-Calming Pearls flew backward, their spiritual light dim, each bearing over a dozen fine cracks, severely damaged.

Wang Changsheng knew clearly that he would have to face the remaining three bolts of heavenly lightning on his own.

It wasn't that he had no other treasures, but rather that his magical power couldn't sustain him for much longer; that was the key point. It was already impressive that he had managed to control Sky-Reaching Spirit Treasures to defend for so long.

If having enough treasures alone allowed one to advance to the Void Refinement stage, Zhenhai Palace would have cultivated a large number of Void Refinement cultivators long ago. No matter how many treasures one possessed, without sufficient magical power to sustain them, how could one prevail?

A deafening thunderclap sounded, and an incomparably thick silver lightning python flew out from the thundercloud, heading straight for Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng's body glowed with dazzling blue light. He moved his arms, smashing them towards the silver lightning python.

With a tremendous crash, the silver lightning python was shattered by his strike. Countless silver electric arcs surged towards his body.

Wang Changsheng felt his body go numb, followed by waves of sharp pain. His skin tore open, revealing thick, long streaks of blood. This was due to his exceptionally strong physical body; an ordinary Void Refinement cultivator would have been instantly reduced to ashes.

The thundercloud churned violently, suddenly turning blue, as blue lightning snakes emerged one after another.

"Aqua Divine Lightning!" Wang Ruyan exclaimed, her heart in her throat.

Only two bolts of heavenly lightning remained, yet Aqua Divine Lightning had appeared. Aqua Divine Lightning was one of the Five-Element Divine Thunders, possessing immense power. The Qilin Turtle, for instance, had mastered this very lightning power.