Ancestor Lu began to laugh. Having annihilated the Spiritual Crane Sect and the Endless Sect with Lang Xiong last time, Lang Xiong, though he didn’t say any words of thanks, was now showing his support through actions at this critical time.
Although the foundation of the Senluo Sect was profound and the support of Lang Xiong didn’t make much of a difference, this represented a further step in the relationship between the Senluo Sect and the Spirit Beast Clan, which was extremely beneficial to the sect.
The Ten Thousand Great Mountains were both part of the Senluo Sect and the Spirit Beast Clan, and this coexistence relationship became particularly important after the Senluo Sect completely occupied the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
In the sky, the terrifying clouds of tribulation were still brewing. Li Yuanba didn’t know how much longer they would continue to form, but the energy they had amassed so far filled him with a sense of terror.
As he was thinking, the hair on his body stood on end, and he tapped into the strength of the Great Elder level body refinement, turning his body completely jade-like.
This was his body’s instinctive self-protection response, triggered by sensing a danger beyond his imagination.
Ancestor Lu cast a surprised glance at Li Yuanba. He hadn’t expected Li Yuanba to have reached such a level in body refinement.
Even the previous Li Yuanba had surprised him. He had once joked about whether Li Yuanba intended to choose the path of body refinement, but he never imagined that Li Yuanba’s body refinement had reached the pinnacle of Golden Core, just one step away from the Nascent Soul Level.
"Don’t be nervous," Ancestor Lu said calmly.
As he spoke, a thick Heavenly Thunder gathered in the clouds above and struck down towards Elder Jian at the mountaintop.
"Sword, come!" Elder Jian, looking up at the Heavenly Thunder in the sky, laughed and waved his hand.
His lifebound flying sword suddenly grew larger, turning into a massive sword.
Elder Jian didn’t defend himself; with a swing of his hand, the giant sword met the Heavenly Thunder in the sky head-on.
The Heavenly Thunder struck the giant sword, causing it to emit a cry of distress and fall from the sky; then, the Heavenly Thunder continued down to hit his body.
His figure atop the mountain peak was sent flying violently, and he landed on the ground, creating a large crater.
"Master!" Li Yuanba cried out in alarm.
"Watch!" Ancestor Lu pressed one hand on Li Yuanba’s body, rendering him immobile. Even his Great Elder level body refinement abilities were as weak as an infant’s before Ancestor Lu.
Elder Jian had been struck by Heavenly Thunder, his lifebound flying sword damaged, and he had been sent flying, seemingly failing the tribulation.
However, the clouds of tribulation in the sky did not dissipate but continued to accumulate lightning.
After a few moments, Elder Jian slowly flew out from the crater. His robe was torn, his hair partly scorched, and his face was covered with dust.
Though he looked extremely disheveled, his eyes were still full of light.
Even though he had been struck by Heavenly Thunder and his lifebound flying sword was damaged, he was still a Sword Cultivator, a living sword himself.
He motioned toward his fallen lifebound flying sword; it rose from the ground and flew to him with unstable movements.
He slapped his chest, spraying a mouthful of essence blood onto the lifebound flying sword.
Nourished by the essence blood, the lifebound flying sword seemed to return to its condition before it was damaged.
Li Yuanba knew this was a secret technique from the "Sky-Surging Sword Intent Technique," which forcibly replenished the flying sword with essence blood for short-term use—not a true repair.
"Sword, come!" Elder Jian shouted again. He was not deterred by the first Heavenly Thunder strike; instead, his fighting spirit grew stronger.
This time the lifebound flying sword didn’t grow in size, but the Sword Intent on it was even sharper.
Another Heavenly Thunder, seemingly stronger than before, grew within the thunderclouds.
The Heavenly Thunder broke through the clouds and struck at Elder Jian, turning the sky and earth silver with its white brilliance.
The lifebound flying sword, unstoppable as ever, met the Heavenly Thunder without defense, attacking it head-on.
Meeting the Heavenly Thunder, the lifebound flying sword didn’t even cry out this time as it was sent flying as if it had lost its spirit.
The remaining force of the Heavenly Thunder struck Elder Jian, who was once again sent flying by the unavoidable bolt.
Li Yuanba’s worry deepened; he dared not use his Divine Thought, as it would affect Elder Jian’s tribulation.
Under normal circumstances, the Nascent Soul Tribulation was a solitary affair for the cultivator undergoing it. However, if someone interfered, the intensity of the tribulation would increase to match the power of a human, which is why powerful cultivators must protect those who undertake it. Not only are the cultivators weak during the tribulation, but if another cultivator had a death wish, they could definitely drag the tribulation-taker down to hell with them.
The Nascent Soul Tribulation was already difficult to endure, let alone with its power multiplied manifold—almost certainly a situation with little chance of survival.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths... until after six breaths, Elder Jian climbed out of the crater, staggering.
Yes, he climbed out. His body bore multiple injuries, his robe was completely destroyed, revealing his body and showing the extent of his wounds.
He had a charred hole in his shoulder so large that one could see through to the other side.
Part of his leg was missing, and no blood flowed because the amputated section had turned into black char from the thunder.
Elder Jian’s state was dire, but the aura emanating from him didn’t weaken; instead, it grew stronger.
His eyes blazed with a fighting spirit, and now he couldn’t control his lifebound flying sword, but he showed no signs of retreating.
"Sword, come!" he cried out once more.
His Nascent Soul emerged from his body, forming an ethereal giant sword above his head, facing the oppressive thunderclouds in the sky.