Chapter 2261: Chance Encounter with Li Qinghuan, Wang Yingjie Sets Off for Home

In a desolate wilderness stood a steep, verdant mountain peak.

A massive thundercloud floated high in the sky, countless golden lightning bolts snaking ceaselessly through it, while fierce winds howled. Thick golden lightning bolts descended from the sky, striking the ground below. Dust and smoke billowed, and lightning flashed ceaselessly.

Wang Yingjie sat cross-legged on the ground, his face slightly pale. Every hundred years, he would face a lightning tribulation. The power of the tribulation grew stronger each time, causing Wang Yingjie immense suffering. Wang Yingjie was still only at the mid-stage of the Spirit Transformation realm, unable to undergo long periods of secluded cultivation. However, his profound magical power was the main reason he could withstand the lightning tribulation.

After a rumble of thunder resonated, the thundercloud violently churned, transforming into a golden lightning tiger over ten zhang long, which then pounced from high in the sky. Wang Yingjie's expression hardened. He flicked his sleeve, and a yellow light shot out, revealing a completely yellow hedgehog. Its body was covered in yellow scales, and it had a long tail. This was an Armored Dragon Beast, a low-grade Tier 5 spirit beast. Wang Yingjie had learned many beast-taming techniques from Wang Qingling and had subdued this beast.

He chanted a spell, and his body shone with brilliant spiritual light, merging with the Armored Dragon Beast. The Armored Dragon Beast's aura surged, and dazzling yellow light erupted from its body—the Spirit Attachment Art. The golden giant tiger collided with the Armored Dragon Beast, instantly exploding and transforming into a massive golden sun, which engulfed an area of over ten li.

After a while, the golden sun dissipated. The mountain peak had vanished, replaced by a gigantic pit tens of thousands of zhang in diameter. The Armored Dragon Beast lay in the pit, with numerous scales stripped off and its flesh mangled. With a flash of spiritual light, Wang Yingjie dispelled the Spirit Attachment Art. His body was covered in wounds and bleeding profusely, leaving him in a pathetic state.

A graceful figure descended from the sky, landing in front of Wang Yingjie. It was a graceful young woman in a red dress. The young woman in red had skin as white as snow, features as exquisite as a painting, and a beauty mark at the corner of her mouth. She was clearly a mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator. This was Liu Hongxue, who hailed from the Sky Blue Realm. An alchemist, she had also secretly crossed realms, ending up in this desolate wilderness severely injured. Fortunately, she encountered Wang Yingjie and was rescued by him.

She took out a light golden pill and handed it to Wang Yingjie. Wang Yingjie swallowed it without hesitation and began to circulate his energy to heal his injuries. They had been together for over two hundred years, supporting each other, which enabled them to survive. Liu Hongxue had crossed realms with three fellow sect members. The others had all perished in the spatial storm, and only she survived. However, if not for Wang Yingjie's rescue, she would have long ago fallen prey to demon beasts. There were many spirit herbs and fruits here; otherwise, Liu Hongxue would not have been able to refine healing pills.

After a short while, Wang Yingjie finished circulating his energy and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

"We must find a way to leave this accursed place," Wang Yingjie said gravely. "If we don't die from the lightning tribulations, we'll die from the demon beasts." There were many demon beasts here; Wang Yingjie had been injured multiple times by them, and if not for Liu Hongxue's care, he would have already died. It was the same for Liu Hongxue; she also needed time to recover after enduring a lightning tribulation, and without Wang Yingjie protecting her, she would have long ago perished. The two had shared hardships and had developed some affection for each other. However, being in such a perilous place, neither of them had the mind to think about romance.

"Who knows what this accursed place is?" Liu Hongxue sighed, her face full of worry. "It even has ten-thousand-year spirit herbs, and no shortage of powerful demon beasts."

Just then, a massive booming sound echoed, and the ground shook violently as huge crimson mushroom clouds appeared in the distance.

"Oh no, high-tier demon beasts are fighting again!" Wang Yingjie exclaimed, his face changing. "Run!"

Like fish caught in troubled waters, whenever they encountered high-tier demon beasts fighting, they would flee as far as possible to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Before they could flee, a gigantic crimson owl descended from the sky, crashing into the ground and creating a large crater. The crimson owl's left wing was bleeding profusely, and exposed bone was visible in several places on its body.