nownovels Chapter 24: Summoning Heavenly Lightning!
Chapter 24: Summoning Heavenly Lightning!
"You scoundrels! Look here!"
Xuan Tianyi's roar wasn't loud on the chaotic battlefield, but it was like ice water thrown into boiling oil.
It instantly attracted most of the attention, especially the crimson eyes of the tyrannical Soul-Eating Rat Demon.
However, at this moment, Xuan Tianyi's consciousness had completely sunk into the depths of his sea of consciousness, ignoring the noise from the outside world.
The surging medicinal power of the three "Rejuvenation Pills" surged through his meridians like three raging fire dragons.
It brings a tearing, throbbing pain and a burning sensation, but it also forcibly reignites the nearly depleted blood and energy, pushing it to a dangerous peak.
The mental energy was highly stimulated and concentrated under the influence of the drug, and even a faint stinging sensation was felt.
All of this was directed by him without hesitation, like a flood bursting its banks, towards the ancient and mysterious Thunder Seed Jade Token deep within his sea of consciousness.
At the same time, what surged in was also the wisp of "true meaning of spring thunder" that he had begun to comprehend and that resonated faintly with the jade token.
"Buzz—!"
At the very moment when Qi, Blood, Spirit, and True Intent simultaneously touched the Jade Token—
The Thunder Jade Token, which had been dormant for a long time, suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light!
On the jade surface, the ancient runes that were originally dim, blurry and difficult to recognize suddenly lit up as if they had been infused with life, flickering and flowing like breathing!
An indescribable aura, seemingly originating from the beginning of heaven and earth and controlling the creation and destruction of thunder, spread out from Xuan Tianyi's center!
This aura wasn't particularly powerful, yet it carried an essential pressure that transcended all living beings.
Like a slumbering ancient thunder god, after countless years, it slightly lifted its eyelids.
Wang, the adjutant, and several guards who were closest to the scene were the first to be hit.
Suddenly, I felt my heart clench, as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, and my breathing became difficult.
An overwhelming sense of awe and fear, stemming from a life-or-death instinct, surged uncontrollably into my heart, my knees went weak, and I almost knelt down on the spot!
They stared in horror at Xuan Tianyi, only to find that the young man had no dazzling light around him.
But that invisible, soul-chilling majesty is absolutely genuine!
At the center of the battlefield, Liu Ruyan, who was fiercely fighting the Rat Demon, and Yan Jun, who was being held back by two black-clad evil men, also sensed something and paused in their movements, looking towards Xuan Tianyi with surprise and uncertainty.
The Soul-Eating Rat Demons, which were the first to be affected, reacted the most violently!
For the first time, a clear and overwhelming fear appeared in its crimson, crazed pupils!
It is an extreme fear of the power of heaven and earth, and of the most yang and most powerful thunder, that originates from the depths of one's bloodline and is engraved in the very essence of one's soul!
As a monster born from sinister and secret methods and growing by devouring souls,
Thunder, especially thunder imbued with divine power, is its absolute nemesis!
"Squeak—?!"
The rat demon let out a sharp, distorted howl, its lunge at Liu Ruyan abruptly halting.
Its massive body trembled involuntarily, and the dense black and red evil energy around it surged and dissipated violently like boiling water.
It stared intently at Xuan Tianyi, especially at the seemingly empty void in front of him, and a frantic alarm wailed from the depths of its soul—danger!
Extremely dangerous!
escape!
We must escape immediately!
However, in that split second when the rat demon was intimidated by the aura of the jade token, lost its composure, and its attack stalled—
Liu Ruyan seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Although she didn't know what Xuan Tianyi was doing, the ancient and majestic aura that suddenly rose from the young man made her heart tremble.
And the rat demon's obvious fear reaction made her instantly realize that this was the only chance, and perhaps the last chance!
Her hidden injuries erupted, her star power became disordered, and her physical strength was almost exhausted... If she continued to fight, she would surely die.
Only by giving it our all and fighting for our lives can we secure a glimmer of hope for that boy, and for ourselves!
A resolute glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.
She forcefully suppressed her churning blood and qi, ignoring the excruciating pain that felt like her meridians were breaking apart inch by inch.
He poured all the remaining star power, blood energy, and even a trace of his natal energy, along with the aloof and cold Star Moon Sword Intent, into the longsword in his hand without reservation.
"Buzz—!"
The longsword emitted a clear and resonant sword cry, and the starlight on its blade was more dazzling than ever before, as if it had drawn down a galaxy from the night sky.
Liu Ruyan merged with her sword, transforming into a dazzling shooting star burning with life and soul.
Trailing a long, dreamlike starlight tail, it deliberately crashed into the Soul-Devouring Rat Demon, whose aura was unstable and who was gripped by fear!
This sword strike is called—
"The Demise of the Star!"
This is a desperate sword strike, an ultimate blow that abandons all defense and is infused with all strength, will, and life essence!
Wherever the sword light passed, space seemed to slightly distort and collapse, exuding a chilling aura of annihilation and end.
Like a star, burning with its last brilliance, it resolutely crashes into its doom.
"roar!!"
The Soul-Eating Rat Demon sensed the terrifying threat contained in this sword strike.
Forcefully breaking free from the fear of divine might, it let out a roar of rage and terror.
In the face of life and death, it also unleashed its ferocity, ignoring the terrifying aura emanating from Xuan Tianyi's side.
His body surged wildly with malevolent energy, coalescing in front of him into a thick, black-red shield of evil energy covered with distorted faces.
At the same time, sharp claws intertwined, fiercely grabbing at that dazzling meteor!
"boom!!!!!"
The next moment, the meteor collided fiercely with the evil shield and claws!
An indescribable roar erupted, as if two meteors were colliding in the night sky!
Blinding starlight intertwined, devoured, and annihilated with a dark red, malevolent light.
It formed a destructive energy sphere with a diameter of over twenty feet, which then suddenly expanded and exploded!
The violent, unparalleled energy shockwave spread wildly in a ring-like pattern in all directions.
Wherever it passed, the ground was lifted up layer by layer, and the hard rocks crumbled and melted like tofu;
The black-clad villains and patrol soldiers who were slightly closer were vaporized by the terrifying energy shockwave before they could even scream, leaving no trace of their bodies!
Those further away were thrown out like leaves in a storm, their bones broken and tendons snapped.
Even Yan Jun, a master of the Star Sea Realm, was forced to retreat repeatedly by this terrifying explosion.
The giant sword pierced the ground, carving a deep trench, before he could barely steady himself, his face filled with horror and worry.
The light lasted for several breaths before slowly dissipating.
At the epicenter of the explosion, a massive, charred crater appeared, over ten zhang in diameter and several chi deep. The soil and sand around the crater had a glassy, crystalline appearance, and wisps of smoke were rising from it.
On one side of the giant pit, Liu Ruyan knelt on one knee, barely supporting her body with her longsword so as not to fall.
His face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, and bright red blood kept spilling from the corner of his mouth.
His chest was stained red, and his breath was extremely weak, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
That sword strike had almost drained all her strength, making her already serious internal injuries even worse.
On the other side of the giant pit, the Soul-Eating Rat Demon looked even more miserable.
Its shield of malevolent energy had long since vanished, and its two thick forelimbs, which had been crossed in front of it, were now charred black.
The skin was torn open, revealing twisted bones inside, emitting a burnt stench.
The most terrifying part was its chest, which was struck head-on by the "Annihilation Starfall," leaving a charred hole as thick as a bucket, completely exposed from front to back.
The flesh at the edges was carbonized, and black blood gushed out like a fountain, with the broken internal organs vaguely visible.
"Heh...heh..."
The Rat Demon let out a wheezing sound like a broken bellows, its crimson eyes dimmed considerably, filled with pain and rage.
It struggled, swaying as it tried to stand, but the horrific wound in its chest had severely damaged its body structure.
Each movement caused him to spit out black blood, and his aura weakened at a visible speed, clearly indicating that he was at his last gasp.
Both sides suffer heavy losses!
However, the Soul-Eating Rat Demon, a monster cultivated by evil magic, possesses a vitality far beyond human imagination.
Despite its severe injury, it suddenly raised its ferocious head, facing the high-hanging blood moon.
It emitted a sharp, high-pitched whistle, filled with an eerie rhythm and a summoning power!
"Squeak squeak squeak squeak—!!!"
The whistling sound, like invisible ripples, instantly spread throughout the entire camp and into the surrounding dark forests.
Suddenly, a chilling scene unfolded.
Around the camp, in the darkness, in the ruins, those carrion-venomous groundhogs that had been frantically attacking the surviving refugees and soldiers...
Regardless of size or injury, they all seemed to have simultaneously received a supreme command.
They all stopped attacking, turned around, and their small, bloodshot eyes were filled only with frenzied greed and obedience.
Like a black tide, they surged in from all directions, recklessly rushing towards the heavily wounded Soul-Eating Rat Demon!
Then, to everyone's utter horror, these putrid groundhogs scrambled up the rat demon's massive body.
The rat demon opened its blood-red maw and swallowed the poisonous rats that rushed to its mouth as if they were beans!
The sounds of chewing, bones cracking, and teeth-grinding swallowing mingled together.
The eerie writhing of flesh and blood at the rat demon's wounds created a hellish scene.
With each batch of poisonous rats it swallowed, the terrifying wound on the rat demon's chest would visibly wriggle and shrink. Although it couldn't heal immediately, the injury was noticeably relieved.
The dark, sinister black and red blood patterns that had faded around his body slowly began to glow again.
It emitted an unsettling light, and the sluggish atmosphere began to stop falling and showed signs of slow recovery!
It devours its own kind, forcibly plundering the life essence and evil power of these low-level rat beasts to repair itself and restore its power!
"Oh no! It's devouring its own kind to recover!"
Yan Jun cleaved away the last black-clad villain who fearlessly charged forward with a single sword strike, and when he turned around and saw this scene, his expression changed drastically!
He wanted to rush over and stop them, but the aftershocks of the explosion and the long battle had exhausted him greatly, and he was also seriously injured, which slowed him down.
"Hehehe... Die! We must all die! Fresh... blood food!"
The Soul-Eating Rat Demon emitted a muffled yet cruel and murderous laugh.
He swayed and regained his footing. Although he was still weak, the fierce light in his bloodshot rat-like eyes burned brightly once more.
It locked its gaze on Liu Ruyan, who was closest to it, utterly powerless, and even struggling to stand.
A monstrous claw, barely gathering a trace of evil power, slammed down towards Liu Ruyan's head with an aura of crushing everything!
Although the movements were slow, the killing intent was chilling. Under the shadow of the claw wind, Liu Ruyan didn't even have the strength to lift a finger.
In his clear, cold eyes, the ever-growing shadow of death was reflected, a trace of regret and a trace of relief flashed by, and finally transformed into complete calm and resolute determination.
She has done her best and has a clear conscience.
"You beast! Stop right there!"
Yan Jun's eyes were bloodshot with rage, and he let out a heart-wrenching roar. Ignoring his own injuries, he forcefully activated the secret technique.
His star power erupted like burning flames, and the greatsword in his hand flew out, transforming into a blood-red meteor that shot towards the Rat Demon's head with all his might!
This was his last and strongest long-range attack!
"Bang!!!"
The Soul-Eating Rat Demon's tail, which resembled an iron whip covered in bone spurs, lashed out with a piercing sound as it struck the side of the blood-red greatsword.
The bone spikes at the tail shattered and flew everywhere under the immense force of the impact, but the greatsword was also knocked off course.
It flew past the Rat Demon's scalp and crashed into the ground beside it, creating a huge crater and sending dust flying.
The rat demon swayed slightly, and its giant claw that was about to strike Liu Ruyan only paused for a moment, but its momentum did not diminish!
Just when everyone thought Liu Ruyan was doomed and was filled with a desperate, heartbroken cry—
"Buzz—!"
A deep, ancient hum, seemingly traversing endless time and space and coming from the heavens, suddenly resounded deep within everyone's soul!
In the center of the battlefield, the void in front of Xuan Tianyi suddenly began to fluctuate and distort violently!
A single, dazzling ray of light, purely composed of finely interwoven lightning bolts, was born from nothingness.
The light rapidly stretched, extended, and outlined, eventually transforming into a massive, illusory beam.
The ancient "edict" runes, so complex and profound that they could not be described in words, floated three feet above Xuan Tianyi's head!
The runes were neither metal nor stone; they were entirely composed of bluish-white lightning.
Every stroke and line seems to contain the profound truth of the birth and death of thunder in the universe, exuding a majestic power that makes people dare not look directly at it!
The moment the rune appeared, it became the absolute center of this world.
It exudes a chilling will to wield punishment and cleanse evil!
It was Xuan Tianyi who used all his blood, spirit, and the true meaning of Spring Thunder as a guide, disregarding everything to communicate with and stimulate the ancient imprint deep within the Zhen Gua Jade Token, forcibly projecting out the Zhen Gua Pivot and the Thunder Token Phantom!
Although it was far from being a fraction of the true might of Heaven, it had already stirred a resonance with a trace of the power of thunder in the dark!
The moment the edict appeared, the world changed!
"call--!!!"
Without warning, a sudden gust of wind arose in the camp, whipping up sand and dust that made it impossible for people to open their eyes.
But this wind was no ordinary wind; it was a turbulent current containing violent stellar energy!
Within a radius of several hundred feet, the celestial and stellar energy seemed to receive a supreme summons, becoming incredibly violent and chaotic.
Then, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, they frantically converged towards the suspended phantom of the thunderous edict!
A visible vortex of star energy was formed, and at the center of the vortex was the decree!
High in the sky, even the eerie blood moon seemed to dim for a moment.
Thick, leaden clouds, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, surged forth like a surging, inky tide.
At an astonishing speed, they converged and spun directly above the camp, forming a pitch-black vortex with a diameter of over a hundred feet in the blink of an eye!
At the center of the vortex, a low, oppressive rumble of thunder rolled in from afar, as if thousands of heavenly soldiers were beating war drums behind the clouds.
Blinding, heart-pounding, blazing white lightning flashed, intertwined, and gestated wildly deep within the vortex.
An aura of destruction, like an invisible curtain, enveloped the entire center of the battlefield, pressing down on everyone's hearts with a suffocating weight.
Vast, majestic, supremely masculine, and acting as the embodiment of divine justice, the mighty power of Heaven, like an ancient giant awakened, overlooks the myriad beings below.
All beasts bow their heads, and all evil spirits flee!
The surviving, venomous ground rats that were frantically swarming towards the rat demon were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer under the immense might of the heavens.
He instantly collapsed to the ground, defecating and urinating, trembling, not daring to utter even a squeak, only instinctive fear from the deepest part of his blood.
The Soul-Devouring Rat Demon, which was about to deliver a fatal blow to Liu Ruyan, froze in mid-air with its giant claw!
No, its entire massive body trembled violently as if frozen, yet it could not move an inch!
The crimson, savage eyes reflected the ever-brighter, thicker white lightning bolts high in the sky.
It reflected the illusory image of the thunderous edict that made its very soul wail and crumble.
Originating from its bloodline and the instincts of evil, the ultimate fear of thunder and lightning overwhelmed and froze it like a tidal wave.
"No... Heavenly... Heavenly lightning... No... This is impossible!!"
It let out a desperate and distorted roar, its voice warped by extreme fear.
"What...what are you?! An ant...how dare you summon the wrath of heaven?!"
It wanted to escape, desperately wanted to escape, but the overwhelming power of the heavens had already locked onto it.
The evil aura surrounding him, under the suppression of that majestic heavenly might, melted away like ice and snow under the scorching sun, making a hissing sound as it rapidly dissipated.
Like an insect pinned in amber, it has an incredibly difficult time even moving its eyeballs.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden and unusual celestial phenomenon.
Whether it was the patrol soldiers, the surviving refugees, or even the two seriously wounded black-clad thugs, they all seemed to be frozen in place.
Staring blankly at the swirling thunderclouds in the sky and the illusory yet infinitely majestic thunderous decree above Xuan Tianyi's head, his mind went blank, and he lost the ability to think.
Yan Jun opened his mouth wide, but no sound came out.
Liu Ruyan leaned on her sword for support, barely managing to lift her head. Her clear, cold eyes reflected the lightning and the blood-soaked figure of the young man standing tall, seemingly communicating with the will of heaven.
Her eyes were filled with unprecedented shock, bewilderment, and a hint of...thrill that she herself was unaware of.
However, Xuan Tianyi, the protagonist in everyone's eyes, was in extremely bad shape at the moment.
Blood kept seeping from his seven orifices, a terrible backlash caused by forcibly drawing upon power far exceeding his own level.
His body was like a broken piece of porcelain, covered with fine cracks, as if it would collapse completely at any moment.
The mind felt as if it were being pierced by thousands of steel needles, the pain was excruciating, the vision blurred intermittently, and the consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse.
But he remained ramrod straight, his bloodied fingers trembling, yet his expression unwavering, fixed on the swirling thunderclouds in the sky.
Facing the Soul-Devouring Rat Demon locked by the might of Heaven, he used his last ounce of strength to hoarsely chant the ancient incantation that communicated with the power of thunder in the darkness:
"The Zhen hexagram is the pivotal point; the thunderous command summons it!"
His voice was hoarse, yet it carried an undeniable resolve.
"The mighty power of Heaven, cleansed by thunder!"
With each word he uttered, more blood gushed from his mouth, and his face grew paler, but the light in his eyes burned fiercely.
"I hereby command—the evil—to vanquish—the demon—!!!"
The last four words, like a thunderclap, carried his entire will, blood, and spirit.
And that "true meaning of spring thunder" that resonated with the jade token suddenly erupted!
"Snap—!!!!"
His response was a deafening thunderclap that seemed to tear the entire sky apart!
At the center of the thundercloud vortex, the blazing white light shone to its extreme, illuminating the dim world with a ghastly white glow!
A bolt of blazing white lightning, as thick as a bucket, condensed to the point of being almost tangible, and so dazzling that it was impossible to look directly at it.
Like a spear of judgment thrown down by the gods of the heavens, or a whip of law lashed out in the wrath of the heavens;
Tearing through thick, dark clouds, piercing the heavens and earth, at a speed beyond thought, beyond the reach of light.
It struck precisely at the Star Sea Realm Soul-Devouring Rat Demon, which stood frozen in place and was suppressed by the heavenly might!
Between heaven and earth, everything was ablaze with white light, with only lightning illuminating the world!
"Awoooo ...
The Soul-Eating Rat Demon let out a shrill, inhuman howl, filled with extreme pain and despair.
It was instantly and completely swallowed up by the blazing white lightning that contained endless destructive and purifying power!
"laugh--!!!"
A series of teeth-grinding sounds, like hot oil being poured onto snow, rang out.
Under that overwhelming divine might, the dense black and red evil energy surrounding the Rat Demon was like fresh snow exposed to the scorching sun, unable to offer even the slightest resistance.
It instantly melts and vaporizes, making a "sizzling" sound, emitting thick black smoke, and emitting a pungent, burnt smell.
Under the raging onslaught of the blazing white lightning, that enormous and resilient body was like a wax figure under the scorching sun, rapidly carbonizing, charring, and cracking!
Skin, flesh, and bones were all destroyed and annihilated from the smallest structure by that extremely yang and powerful thunderous force!
The lightning lasted for a full three breaths.
As the all-purifying, blazing white lightning slowly dissipated, the air was filled with the pungent smell of ozone mixed with burnt flesh and blood.
The towering, menacing Spirit-Devouring Rat Demon, standing a full ten feet tall, had vanished without a trace.
All that remained was a small pool of charred, smoky ashes, resembling a human figure.
A night wind carrying sparks blew by, and the ashes scattered like sandcastles, merging into the scorched earth without a trace.
That incredibly resilient monster, which even Star Sea Realm experts found troublesome,
Under the blazing thunder, they were instantly reduced to ashes and annihilated, without even leaving behind a complete scream.
The only thing visible was the large, charred pit on the ground, several meters in diameter and about a foot deep, with edges that had a glassy texture.
The lingering, chilling echoes of destructive thunder in the air silently testified to the terror of that attack.
The world was utterly silent.
Only the slowly rotating, dissipating thunderclouds high in the sky emitted a low, fading rumble.
It was as if the gods had withdrawn their gaze after completing their punishment.
Click.
A soft, crisp sound, like porcelain shattering, broke the suffocating silence.
The intricate and profound "Thunder Command" phantom, composed of lightning and hovering above Xuan Tianyi's head, seemed to have exhausted its last bit of power.
The light quickly dimmed, the rune structure disintegrated inch by inch, turning into tiny specks of blue lightning that flickered a few times before completely dissipating into the air.
Almost at the same time—
"puff--!"
Xuan Tianyi's body trembled violently, as if he had been struck by an invisible hammer, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of dark red blood mixed with fragments of internal organs.
Blood splattered onto the charred ground in front of him, making a hissing sound.
On his face, arms, and all exposed skin, countless fine, bloody cuts instantly ripped open.
His entire body was like a broken piece of porcelain that had been pieced back together, instantly turning into a blood-soaked figure.
Forcibly using the meager cultivation level of the third stage of Body Tempering, at the cost of burning one's own blood, spirit, and even overdrawing potential and life essence.
The ancient imprint within the Zhen trigram jade token resonated with a mysterious thunderous authority, summoning heavenly lightning...
This is a price that someone of his level cannot afford!
The illusory power brought by the pill had already been exhausted the moment the lightning order took shape, and now the backlash swept over his entire body like a tsunami.
The excruciating pain felt like his meridians were rupturing inch by inch; the body felt as if it were being hollowed out and then stuffed with shards of ice; and his mind felt like it was being torn apart by thousands of red-hot steel needles...
The accumulation of various pains was like dragging him into an inescapable hell.
Even more terrifying was the feeling of weakness and emptiness that originated from the very source of life, which quickly overwhelmed him like icy seawater.
That's a sign that the foundation is damaged and the potential has been overdrawn.
My vision was completely shrouded in darkness and blood, and all I could hear was the rushing blood and the roar of my own heart pounding.
Xuan Tianyi felt his consciousness was like a candle flickering in the wind, rapidly fading away.
The body lost all support and slumped backward.
[The primordial imprint of the "Zhen Hexagram, Initial Nine" is forcibly activated, projecting the illusory image of the "Thunder Command," communicating with heaven and earth, and summoning heavenly thunder. The life essence is severely overdrawn, the foundation is damaged, and the spirit is injured.]
[Slaying the "Soul-Devouring Rat Demon" (mid-stage Star Sea Realm, containing a trace of evil god bloodline), plundering 2720 Life Source Points.]
[Warning: Overexertion can lead to the initial signs of "Taoist injury." This manifests as: depletion of Qi and blood, weakened meridians, listlessness, and decreased potential.]
It requires a large amount of high-purity energy (such as life points) or special rare and precious materials to slowly recover.
Forced cultivation or further severe injury could lead to permanent damage to one's foundation and the end of one's cultivation path.