The Zhang family's supreme elder's eyes were bloodshot. "You're forcing my hand! Then we'll perish together!"
He unleashed all his cultivation, preparing to face the tribulation of the crossing-tribulation stage. The tribulation clouds, sensing other people below, seemed to thicken as they roiled. Ting Xue frowned. He hadn't expected this man to attempt his tribulation right here, knowing many of his clansmen were below.
Ting Xue, also a cultivator in the crossing-tribulation stage, feared that the Zhang family's supreme elder's actions would also trigger his tribulation lightning. If the tribulation clouds of two crossing-tribulation cultivators converged, neither of them would be able to escape the lightning's might.
Thus, he abandoned his attempt to stop the Zhang family's supreme elder and flew directly to Zi Che Shao Hao's side, preparing to take him and Lin Yan away from the tribulation clouds' range.
Zi Che Shao Hao understood that he couldn't withstand the tribulation lightning. He docilely allowed Ting Xue to carry him, but Lin Yan refused to leave.
"Go, the tribulation lightning of the crossing-tribulation stage is not something you can resist! That man has no chance of surviving the tribulation. He merely wants to drag us down with him. You cannot stay here."
"He won't let me go. If I flee, he will follow. You can't outrun him with us. So, you take Shao Hao and leave," Lin Yan shook her head, continuing to move towards the Zhang family's ancestral land.
She could already feel the existence of the formation disk. This array was useless to her.
"You are Shao Hao's future consort. How can I abandon you!"
"Shao Hao, you believe me, don't you?" Lin Yan looked at Zi Che Shao Hao, held by Ting Xue.
He was looking at Lin Yan with worry. He desperately wanted to say no, and even more so, he wanted to say that he wanted to stay with Lin Yan, even if it meant facing the tribulation lightning of the crossing-tribulation stage.
He also knew that Uncle Ting Xue would never let him stay in such a dangerous place.
"I have absolute confidence. You two, leave quickly!"
In the time it took to say these few sentences, the Zhang family's supreme elder was already close to Lin Yan. Ting Xue quickly intercepted him again, and Lin Yan seized the opportunity to enter the formation directly.
Seeing Lin Yan enter the formation, the Zhang family's supreme elder was stunned for a moment, then grew even angrier. Ting Xue did not pursue further. The first tribulation lightning was brewing, seemingly about to strike at any moment. A sense of foreboding filled his heart; if he stayed, his own tribulation lightning might also arrive.
He had no choice but to take Zi Che Shao Hao and leave.
"Shao Hao, I..." After taking Zi Che Shao Hao away, Ting Xue felt remorse and wanted to explain to him, but words failed him.
He didn't want to abandon Lin Yan, but in that situation, he had to make a choice.
"It's alright, Uncle Ting Xue. Yan Yan will be fine," Zi Che Shao Hao thought of Lin Yan's tribulation.
He knew that if Lin Yan had come for revenge, she must have had a plan. In this critical moment, he couldn't bear to do nothing.
He didn't blame Ting Xue for his choice, only himself. If only he were stronger.
He looked towards the place where the tribulation clouds were gathering, his eyes filled with self-reproach and worry.
Ting Xue, thinking Zi Che Shao Hao was merely comforting him and that he must also be heartbroken, waited with him, watching the tribulation clouds.
Upon entering the formation, Lin Yan was like a wolf entering a flock of sheep. She did not target the weak and elderly but instead sought out those with higher cultivation.
These people knew that something might be happening outside. However, upon hearing the supreme elder's voice, they felt reassured. In their hearts, the supreme elder was the Zhang family's shield, and with him present, everything would be alright.
Therefore, Lin Yan's entry caused some panic. The group scattered and fled, few daring to confront Lin Yan.
Lin Yan's heart was calm, only wishing to end this "slaughter" as quickly as possible. Yes, it was a "slaughter."
The first tribulation lightning struck. In his rage, the supreme elder endured it directly and then entered the formation.
The second tribulation lightning shattered the formation, exposing the entire ancestral land to the tribulation clouds.
The third and fourth strikes followed in succession. The supreme elder rushed towards Lin Yan, attempting to capture her, but Lin Yan skillfully dodged.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Yan would not have been able to dodge. The supreme elder, in his tribulation state, had lost his usual strength. The tribulation lightning struck one after another, battering the Zhang family's ancestral land into ruins.
Many Zhang family members were instantly turned to charcoal by the tribulation lightning's residual power, yet Lin Yan, at the center of the lightning, remained unharmed.
The Zhang family's supreme elder grew increasingly anxious and resentful. Hatred filled his mind. He chased Lin Yan, the crossing-tribulation stage tribulation lightning behind him.
Lin Yan continued to evade, and the tribulation lightning struck the Zhang family's supreme elder. Gradually, his speed in chasing Lin Yan slowed, and Lin Yan also slowed her pace.
Only then did he realize Lin Yan was toying with him. He couldn't comprehend why Lin Yan was completely unaffected by such powerful tribulation lightning.
Lin Yan saw no need to explain. She was satisfied with the effects of the tribulation lightning.
She actually didn't want to act herself. By her nature, she would only punish the main culprits. However, the emotions and memories of the original owner continuously influenced her.
Through lifetimes and cycles of despair, the original owner's hatred had become deeply ingrained in this body, allowing no room for sympathy or weakness.
Now, seeing the remaining Zhang family members perish under the tribulation lightning, leaving her no need to wrestle with her conscience, Lin Yan was very pleased.
However, the Zhang family's supreme elder was not satisfied. He chased Lin Yan like a madman. Realizing the tribulation lightning couldn't harm Lin Yan, he was willing to endure its damage to kill her.
But it was too late. The spiritual energy remaining in his body was insufficient to chase Lin Yan under the tribulation lightning.
Lin Yan weaved through the tribulation lightning like a swimming fish. The power of the tribulation lightning was neutralized by the golden light of merit on her body. Although she couldn't see her own merit, she could feel it being consumed.
However, the rate of consumption was far slower than the rate of accumulation.
Finally, after another tribulation lightning strike, the Zhang family's supreme elder completely lost the ability to act. With one more strike, he turned to dust and vanished from the face of the earth.
Lin Yan stood in place, watching the Zhang family's supreme elder, his face filled with unwillingness and malice, disappear. The dark clouds in her heart seemed to be pierced by a ray of sunlight, and the hatred within her body began to melt away like snow under the sun, bit by bit, until it vanished completely.
"Did you see? Tantai Wang Shu, I've avenged you. You can now reincarnate with peace of mind and embark on your new journey."