Bi Fang also agreed with the Ancestor leaving and temporarily guarding Xiandu City.
Ancestor Chao Tian was aware of the troublesome matters of Sect Leader Chao Chao. After some thought, he nodded in agreement. Returning together would also allow him to supervise Sect Leader Chao.
Chao Xiangzi remained silent throughout, implicitly agreeing to his father's departure. His mother had a life of hardship, and her subsequent paranoia and madness were indeed caused by his father.
Jiu Yin and the others watched as Ancestor Chao Tian and Sect Leader Chao disappeared into the horizon. Only then did they turn their solemn gazes to the Guiche undergoing tribulation in the distance.
The situation called for attacking Guiche during the intervals of the heavenly tribulation to break its defenses. However, facing the dense lightning tribulation, how could they approach? Only by having one person endure the tribulation first could they buy a sliver of time.
"Sister, I have a method. We can set up a spirit gathering formation to attract the lightning tribulation, which will weaken it somewhat." Xiao Bai recalled her own tribulation, realizing how useful it could be.
"Yes, that's a good method," Feng Chu exclaimed, tapping his fan against his palm in approval.
"Xiao Bai's suggestion is a good one, but the lightning tribulation will still lock onto the person setting up the formation," Jiu Yin worried.
"I'll go. I'm skilled in formations, and when the lightning tribulation comes, I can take the tribulation myself. My cultivation can no longer be suppressed," Chao Xiangzi said.
"What a coincidence! My cultivation can no longer be suppressed either," Chao Yangzi declared.
"Me too!" Feng Chu chimed in.
Tian Ji and Zhong Tong exchanged glances. Being powerful was an advantage! They felt a pang of regret, thinking that if they had known about the fortunate encounters in Motu City, they would have gone together. It was a miscalculation.
It was finally decided that those whose cultivation was due for advancement would draw the lightning tribulation together to assist Xuanyuan Che. Those with lower cultivation levels would retreat into the spatial realm.
Xiao Bai and Qi Mo firmly refused to enter the spatial realm, and even Ji Wuye wished to stay.
Jiu Yin, annoyed, was about to send them in with a wave of her sleeve.
"Master, I am your mount. I will enhance your strength, and I will not hide behind you."
"Sister, me too. Our souls are bound, and when we combine our strength, we will be invincible!" Xiao Bai declared, full of fighting spirit.
Ji Wuye also resolutely refused to enter the spatial realm. He retreated with City Lord Bi to a safe area outside the lightning tribulation. His cultivation had not yet recovered to its peak, so he dared not challenge the heavenly might.
Jiu Yin had no choice. By this time, Guiche's golden body was nearing completion. Further delays were not an option.
Several people began their actions.
Chao Xiangzi and Feng Chu were responsible for setting up the formation. When the spirit gathering formation activated, it absorbed a large portion of the lightning tribulation.
Jiu Yin then summoned her Sky-Piercing Sword and stood on Qi Mo, who had transformed into a golden dragon. She channeled all her spiritual energy and unleashed her most powerful sword technique – Sky-Piercing Slash! If Jiu Yin had used only thirty percent of her cultivation against the Taiyi Sect disciples before, this sword strike utilized a hundred percent. Holding nothing back, she cleaved the lightning tribulation aimed at Guiche in half.
Simultaneously, on the other side, Chao Yangzi assisted Xuanyuan Che with his sword techniques. Xuanyuan Che moved with extreme speed, becoming a streak of light and charging directly towards Guiche.
From the moment Xuanyuan Che agreed to this task, he had disregarded his own life and death. He quickly formed hand seals, bit his tongue, and dripped blood into the center of the seals. Within a hundred meters of Guiche, he struck its vital spot.
Chao Yangzi swiftly used his spiritual energy to whip Xuanyuan Che backward, and Xuanyuan Che used the momentum to retreat.
In this flash of lightning, the bisected lightning tribulation crashed down, carrying the roar of Jiu Yin's provocation. The lightning, now twice as thick as before, slammed into Guiche.
With booming thunder, the lightning tribulation struck Guiche through the defenses broken by Xuanyuan's technique. The Nine-Headed Bird, upon regaining a sliver of consciousness, found its golden body almost complete with the tribulation's aid. Unwilling to suffer this blow, its domain field shattered, and the immense power of the lightning surged into its body, tearing its flesh and bleeding. Its nine heads wailed, and the heavens and earth changed color!
However, corroded by Xuanyuan's golden seal technique, it could not gather spiritual energy and could only passively accept the baptism of the lightning tribulation.
"Detestable ants, the Xuanyuan clan, you are not completely wiped out yet?" With the demise of Dongfang Taiyi, Guiche had recovered some consciousness. It regenerated like a severed head and, tempered by heavenly lightning, recalled past events. It was now furious. The Xuanyuan clan had been its eternal enemy since the divine war. Unexpectedly, at the brink of recovery in its crippled state, it was ambushed by the Xuanyuan clan again... It would not forget the Xuanyuan clan's bloodline aura carrying the scent of destruction.
Roar... the Nine-Headed Bird howled and chased after Xuanyuan Che. It ignored the bombardment of the heavenly tribulation, its sole thought now being to tear this ant to shreds, devour its divine soul, and ensure it never reincarnated.
Seeing Xuanyuan Che's peril, Jiu Yin immediately unleashed three consecutive sword strikes to halt Guiche's advance.
At this moment, the heavenly tribulation finally became ferocious. It was enraged by the provocation from mere ants. Several lightning bolts as thick as water buckets, crackling with electricity, struck directly at Jiu Yin, Chao Yangzi, and Xuanyuan Che.
The Golden Dragon protected its master, opening its massive maw and spewing a spherical lightning bolt to meet the attack head-on. The collision was earth-shattering! The power was felt for a thousand miles around. This was Qi Mo's full-powered strike.
Jiu Yin gained half a breath of time. She conjured a green vine, wrapped it around Xuanyuan Che, and flung him towards Bi Fang and Ji Wuye. Ji Wuye, a step faster than Bi Fang, caught Xuanyuan Che. Upon closer inspection, Xuanyuan Che's face was ashen, clearly indicating his spiritual energy was depleted and he had sustained internal injuries. Ji Wuye, unaware that he had used his spiritual energy to force out his heart's blood to his tongue, was greatly alarmed after examining him. Damaging the heart's blood was extremely draining of spiritual energy.
He quickly poured spiritual spring water into Xuanyuan Che to restore his energy.
Bi Fang, watching from the side, nearly salivated at the sight of the spiritual spring water Ji Wuye produced. This was truly a treasure! His injuries had not fully healed, and he could feel the potent spiritual energy and its healing properties from a few steps away. He was envious but too proud to beg for it.
Knowing Ji Wuye's character, he sensed City Lord Bi's actions. After a moment's thought, Ji Wuye tossed a palm-sized purple bamboo bottle to City Lord Bi.
"City Lord Bi, this is the spiritual liquid my sister gave me. There isn't much left. Seeing that you seem to have internal injuries, if you don't mind, I'll give it to you." After giving it to Bi Fang, Ji Wuye also took the opportunity to curry favor with Jiu Yin.
"I don't mind at all, I don't mind!" Bi Fang was overjoyed. This young man was excellent, truly excellent! He had a bright future!
Turning the focus back, Jiu Yin and Chao Yangzi were already engaged in a fierce battle with Guiche. Chao Xiangzi and Feng Chu had also utilized their formations and cultivation to initiate their engagement with the heavenly tribulation. No longer suppressing their cultivation, their spiritual energy surged, forcing Guiche to retreat repeatedly. Jiu Yin’s sword had even wounded one of Guiche’s wings. Xiao Bai also took the opportunity to exhale her foxfire, which could also counter Guiche's venom. The Qilin fought more valiantly, now coordinating perfectly with its master, Chao Yangzi. Guiche was battered and fell to the ground.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Qi Mo, who had been resisting the heavenly tribulation, was startled. "Master, my heavenly tribulation has arrived."
"Mine too!" Feng Chu declared elegantly, opening his fan and sending a tornado towards Guiche. With his suppressed cultivation released, he faintly stirred the heavenly dao's aura, and this world began to subtly reject him.
"Mine as well!" Chao Yangzi's clear voice rang out.
"I think mine too!" Chao Xiangzi's hesitant voice reached everyone's ears.
...
See you tomorrow!