The heavens rumbled with thunder, like a dragon weaving through the clouds, radiating an aura that sent chills down one's spine!
"It's... it's heavenly thunder again?!" Elder Ziyun and the others trembled at the familiar sight, their hearts pounding as they exclaimed, "So it's true—you can summon heavenly thunder!"
The other elders, sensing the terrifying aura of the thunder, were equally shocked and immediately shouted, "Quick! Stop it!"
The last time heavenly thunder struck, the Flying Sword Peak had suffered significant losses. But this was Tianheng Peak—the residence of the sect master and the sacred heart of the entire Qingyun Sect!
If this place were destroyed, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"Boom—!" The power of the thunder continued to rise. Even Qin Tianya, the sect master with his Dao Comprehension realm cultivation, finally reacted, his gaze solemnly fixed on the sky.
"You hold back the heavenly tribulation!" Qin Tianya roared, lunging toward Ye Chuan. The loss of the sect's divine treasure, the Heavenly Water Divine Mirror, was something he could never swallow!
With his full Dao Comprehension realm strength unleashed, Qin Tianya no longer dared to slash at Ye Chuan directly after the earlier lesson. Instead, he channeled his sword energy outward, shouting, "Qingyun Sword Qi!"
The strike was so fast that the surrounding air compressed, twisted, and even emitted a sharp screech. Unable to dodge in time, Ye Chuan was struck head-on by the sword energy!
Spiritual energy scattered like dust, but when it cleared, Ye Chuan remained standing in the same spot, unharmed.
"..." Seeing Qin Tianya's reluctance to engage him up close, Ye Chuan smirked mockingly. "Did you skip breakfast? You’d need at least a hundred strikes to break my defense."
"Arrogant brat! I’ll grant your wish!" Qin Tianya had never been mocked before, let alone by a junior.
Enraged, he swung his sword, splitting the blade’s shadow into hundreds of sword energies that rained down on Ye Chuan in an unrelenting barrage!
Explosions rang out continuously, and when the dust settled once more, Qin Tianya’s pupils shrank in disbelief. "How...?"
Ye Chuan reappeared, casually brushing off his sleeves, his grin widening. "Just kidding. A hundred strikes won’t cut it—you’d need ten thousand."
Qin Tianya wasn’t a fool. He glared coldly at Ye Chuan, weighing his options.
Close combat resulted in rebound damage, while long-range attacks were ineffective. Ye Chuan was like an impenetrable tortoise shell—biting down would only shatter his own teeth.
Then, with a deafening crack, the heavenly thunder descended like a blade cleaving the heavens!
"Qingyun Grand Formation, rise!" Qin Tianya had no choice but to activate the sect’s protective array. Under his command, the formation enveloped the entire sect like a massive shell!
The moment the thunder struck, the entire sect trembled violently!
"Such terrifying power!" Qin Tianya narrowed his eyes, recognizing that this wasn’t the heavenly tribulation of the Ascension realm—it was far weaker.
How had that bastard summoned heavenly thunder?
Could it be... a divine ability?
"Yes, it must be a divine ability to summon thunder tribulation... If I could obtain it..." Qin Tianya’s hesitation vanished. No matter what, Ye Chuan could not be allowed to leave!
"You won’t escape today!" After activating the sect’s grand formation, Qin Tianya shot toward Ye Chuan, bellowing, "Qingyun Sword Art!"
Hundreds of flying swords materialized with a metallic clang, hovering midair before locking onto Ye Chuan!
"Such enthusiasm!" Seeing the physical swords, Ye Chuan realized he couldn’t tank this attack.
Though his magic immunity was formidable, his physical resistance was only slightly above his peers. Even summoning armor wouldn’t withstand a full-force strike from a Dao Comprehension realm expert.
"In that case..." An idea struck him. "Let’s give it a try."
"Go!" Qin Tianya willed the swords forward, and they shot toward Ye Chuan like a deadly rain!
"Under the Qingyun Sword Art, this brat is doomed!" Many elders maintaining the formation inwardly concluded.
Even Zi Ning'er bit her lip, her expression conflicted before she silently turned away.
Facing the onslaught, Ye Chuan didn’t evade. Instead, to everyone’s shock, he slowly raised his hand—
In the next instant, the swords vanished without a trace!
"It worked..." Ye Chuan grinned, seeing the hundreds of swords now stored in his inventory. The slots were ample, and the timing perfect.
"Wha—?!" Qin Tianya, despite his vast experience, was stunned speechless. "Y-you... What kind of sorcery is this?!"
"Fourth-dimensional space, old man." Ye Chuan smirked, then suddenly teleported right in front of Qin Tianya again!
Remembering the last encounter, Qin Tianya’s chest throbbed in phantom pain. He dared not raise his sword, retreating frantically instead!
Once at a safe distance, Qin Tianya prepared to strike—only to find his hand empty.
He glanced down in disbelief. His weapon was gone!
Worse, a chilling breeze made him realize his clothes had vanished too!
"S-Sect Master, where are your robes?!"
"Outrageous! That bastard stole his clothes!"
"In broad daylight—what kind of witchcraft is this?!"
Qin Tianya’s face twisted in horror. He teleported beside an elder, yanking off the man’s outer robe to cover himself.
As the sect master, he couldn’t possibly fight bare-assed!
"Lei—Hao—!" Qin Tianya spat the name through gritted teeth, his Dao heart teetering on collapse.
What kind of monster was this? How could anyone be this infuriating?!
"Crack—!" A sudden splintering sound echoed as the grand formation, battered by the relentless heavenly thunder, began to fracture!
Furious at its inability to strike Ye Chuan, the thunderclouds roared like a stampede of horses. A pitch-black divine thunder, radiating apocalyptic power, crashed down!
"BOOM—!" The grand formation shattered. The shockwave obliterated the main hall, and the elders maintaining the formation coughed up blood from the backlash!
As the dark clouds dispersed, Ye Chuan felt his cultivation surge to new heights!
[You have reached the Early Golden Core realm.]
[You have reached the Mid Golden Core realm.]
[You have reached the Late Golden Core realm.]
[Status: Auto-cultivating. Time remaining until Golden Core Perfection: 100 days (affected by techniques, spiritual roots, physique, etc.)]
The Golden Core had formed!
The spiritual energy Ye Chuan had absorbed from the Sacred Pool propelled him two entire realms forward in one leap!