Chapter 2913: Soul-Destroying Divine Thunder

Generally, high-level cultivators undergoing major heavenly tribulations are accompanied by protectors. These protectors maintain a distance from the tribulation taker to prevent an increase in the tribulation's power.

Yifeng's expression was grim. The Lizard race, with its ancient heritage, possessed eight pages of the Heavenly Void Jade Book. One page of this book contained a secret technique known as the 'Tribulation Response Grand Art.'

This secret technique allows a high-level cultivator's major heavenly tribulation to arrive a millennium earlier. Void Refinement, Body Integration, and Mahayana cultivators can also employ it. However, under normal circumstances, no one would choose to use this technique to accelerate their tribulation, as everyone desires to delay it.

If the major heavenly tribulation arrives early, its power is not diminished; however, if it's delayed, its power increases. Consequently, this secret technique offers limited utility.

Among the five Body Integration cultivators, two were about to undergo their fifth major heavenly tribulation, and three their sixth. Their simultaneous tribulation would considerably amplify its power, and with Yan Que's presence, the tribulation's might would be even greater.

Of course, if Yan Que hadn't been confined by the Profound Yellow Immortal Locking Talisman, he would have escaped, and the tribulation takers would have long been struck dead. The tribulation takers couldn't drag the lightning tribulation with them to pursue Yan Que; if Yan Que had killed them, the major heavenly tribulation would have simply dissipated.

The yellow jade pillars beneath the five Body Integration cultivators pulsed with intense spiritual light, and five dense yellow light screens instantly appeared, enveloping them.

The Qian Earth Spirit Sealing Restriction, an extremely potent defensive formation, ensured that if the tribulation takers were not protected and died, the lightning tribulation would simply vanish.

The golden scythe struck the yellow light screens, producing muffled thuds. The screens trembled slightly but remained entirely intact.

Yifeng and fifteen other Body Integration cultivators controlled the formation, assisting their clansmen in combating Yan Que.

Rumbling thunder echoed from high above, and six thick silver lightning bolts descended, aiming directly at Yan Que and the five cultivators.

As Yan Que was within the tribulation range, the Heavenly Dao showed him no mercy.

The humanoid phantom above Yan Que's head opened its mouth and spewed a beam of red light, intercepting the descending silver lightning.

The five silver lightning bolts struck the five yellow light screens respectively, creating a muffled impact, yet the screens remained completely still.

Countless red runes emerged on Yan Que's body, his veins bulging with visible blood vessels beneath his skin. The humanoid phantom then merged with him.

Void Refinement, Body Integration, and Mahayana cultivators all possess Dharma forms. The more refined a Dharma form is, the greater its power. While Void Refinement cultivators expend considerable magic power to control their Dharma forms, Body Integration cultivators find it easier and have a wider spellcasting range. Mahayana cultivators control them with even greater ease, possessing an even wider spellcasting range and increased power. Furthermore, a Mahayana cultivator's Dharma form can merge with the caster, thereby significantly enhancing the Mahayana cultivator's strength.

Merging the Dharma form with oneself can be used for both combat and tribulation, but it consumes a significant amount of magic power. Consequently, Mahayana cultivators generally do not readily merge with their Dharma forms.

After his Dharma form merged with him, Yan Que gripped the nine yellow chains with both hands. With a mighty pull, the ground shook violently, and tiny cracks appeared on the chains' surface.

The incessant roar of thunder filled the air as lightning tribulations descended, transforming an area of ten thousand li into a sea of lightning. Any lightning tribulation that approached within a hundred zhang of Yan Que was instantly shattered by his two golden scythes.

Even the Flesh and Blood Spirit Puppet's attacks were ineffective against Yan Que. As its third eye projected a yellow light that neared Yan Que within a hundred zhang, a wave of red light swept forth, blocking the yellow beam.

Continuous explosions rocked the area, causing the void to vibrate and distort. Thick, long cracks appeared, spreading for hundreds of li like a spiderweb.

Yifeng's expression was grim. After all, Yan Que was a Mahayana cultivator, and the Profound Yellow Immortal Locking Talisman had little power remaining. It was utterly impossible to trap Yan Que until he completed his major heavenly tribulation.

He hadn't even hoped to kill Yan Que; that was unrealistic. The major heavenly tribulation was merely a distraction; their true killing move had yet to be unleashed!

Yifeng looked towards a gaunt, black-robed old man and instructed, "Yi Lei, it's your turn."

"Rest assured, Clan Leader!" Yi Lei replied. "It is my honor to contribute to the clan. Besides, I won't survive the next major heavenly tribulation anyway."

Yi Lei said in a deep voice as the lightning glow on his body surged, transforming him into a silver light that vanished instantly.

The next moment, he reappeared behind Yan Que, having used the Thunder Escape Art.

With a flick of his right hand, a thick black lightning bolt shot forth, directly targeting Yan Que.

Yan Que reacted swiftly. The flames around him surged, forming a red wall of fire for protection. Simultaneously, runes flashed on his body, and a dense red battle armor emerged, enveloping him completely.

The black lightning struck the red battle armor with a muffled thud, then penetrated into Yan Que's body.

Yan Que let out a painful cry, feeling as though his divine soul was tearing apart.

This was the Soul Extinguishing Divine Lightning. The Lizard race had used a seventh-tier Lightning Attracting Pearl to set up a grand formation. When a Body Integration cultivator failed to reach the Mahayana stage and perished, the formation was used to draw forth a bolt of Soul Extinguishing Divine Lightning, which Yi Lei subsequently refined.

The Soul Extinguishing Divine Lightning specifically targeted divine souls. This particular bolt could severely wound a Body Integration cultivator; though it couldn't critically injure a Mahayana cultivator, merely wounding one was already a remarkable feat.

If several more bolts of Soul Extinguishing Divine Lightning could be collected, it might be possible to critically injure a Mahayana cultivator. Unfortunately, this divine lightning was extremely difficult to acquire; the Lizard race had obtained this single bolt only through a fortunate coincidence.

The two golden scythes flew over, shredding Yi Lei to pieces, and his essence soul was unable to escape.

The lightning tribulation intensified, and the five yellow light screens flickered precariously, appearing as if they could dissipate at any moment.

The two golden scythes glowed with amplified spiritual light, their blade energies extending over a hundred zhang as they slashed towards the five Body Integration cultivators.

A chorus of miserable screams followed as the five yellow light screens could no longer withstand the assault and shattered completely. The five Body Integration cultivators were instantly cleaved into a rain of blood by the two golden scythes, their essence souls utterly destroyed.

With the death of the tribulation takers, the major heavenly tribulation concluded. The thunderclouds dispersed, and the sky became clear once more.

A vast expanse of crimson flames erupted from Yan Que's body. With a movement of his arms, the nine yellow chains successively snapped, disintegrating into specks of spiritual light.

The Profound Yellow Immortal Locking Talisman had very little power left, otherwise Yan Que would not have escaped so quickly.

The moment Yan Que broke free, a flurry of five-colored staff shadows descended from the sky, striking him.

Yan Que was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string.

His gaze was grim, and his face was contorted with killing intent.

The Lizard race possessed so many techniques, and they had managed to injure his divine soul.

Yan Que's merge with his Dharma form had severely depleted his magic power.

He seemed to sense something, and looking towards the distant void, he loudly shouted, "Old Devil Lin, since you're here, why do you not dare to show yourself?"

He opened his mouth and spewed a beam of red light, which vanished into the void.

Hundreds of li away, a red light illuminated the void, striking a particular spot.

A blue light flashed, and Heavenly River Sword Venerable appeared, his expression cold. With a flick of his right hand, a sharp blue sword light flew out, shattering the red light.

Upon seeing Heavenly River Sword Venerable, Yifeng's face darkened with extreme wariness.

"You've advanced to the mid-stage!"

Yan Que's expression changed drastically. His body glowed intensely, transforming into nine clusters of crimson flames that shot off in different directions at incredible speed.

The Nine Flames Spirit Division Grand Art!

Heavenly River Sword Venerable swung his right hand towards the void, causing it to vibrate and distort. A misty blue Sky-Shattering Sword Light swept forth, heading directly for the Flesh and Blood Spirit Puppet.

Wherever the Sky-Shattering Sword Light passed, the void ripped open, as if the entire sky had been cleaved in two.

The Flesh and Blood Spirit Puppet showed no fear, swinging its long staff to meet the attack.

With a tremendous bang, the Sky-Shattering Sword Light was shattered by the staff, and the Flesh and Blood Spirit Puppet was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.

Yifeng and the others' hearts sank to rock bottom, their expressions filled with tension.

"Interesting!"

Heavenly River Sword Venerable chuckled softly, then transformed into a long blue rainbow and pursued Yan Que.

The Essence Fire Race had two Mahayana cultivators, and Yan Que's divine soul was injured. If they could kill Yan Que, it would be immensely beneficial.

The Lizard race had displayed numerous techniques, and Yan Que had suffered a minor setback. Heavenly River Sword Venerable decided to focus on Yan Que for now, leaving the Lizard race aside.