In the past, when Wan Lei was cultivating his Natal Thunder Element, the little yellow dog had said that this was his last resort. If his injuries were severe and his cultivation was depleted, he would self-detonate his Natal Thunder Element, consuming his own life force to unleash power.

It was a gamble: either the enemy died, or he died.

Now, Wan Lei was also gambling. Either he would die, or he would endure this wave of the beast tide.

The little yellow dog and Fang Xiaoyu had been closely observing Wan Lei's condition, knowing he was already at the end of his rope.

But at this moment, Wan Lei suddenly burst into radiance, and powerful energy fluctuations reappeared within his body.

"He... broke through?"

"Impossible. There isn't enough energy. Even if he broke through a realm, his cultivation wouldn't advance. That's..."

As the little yellow dog spoke, its eyes widened in horror, "Wan Lei, you self-detonated your Natal Thunder Element?! Are you trying to die?!"

Indeed, Wan Lei was facing a situation of insufficient energy. If we talk about energy, there was an endless sea of lightning outside. Even if Wan Lei absorbed it desperately, he wouldn't be able to absorb it all.

But he was now inside the great formation. The energy had long been absorbed. The formation itself, relying solely on absorbing energy from the outside, was struggling just to maintain itself. How could it possibly provide him with energy?

It was impossible to open the formation to let the outside energy in.

Therefore, Wan Lei could only gamble his life, self-detonate his Natal Thunder Element, and consume his life force to sustain the formation.

Fang Xiaoyu was not clear about the Natal Thunder Element, but seeing the sudden surge of energy within Wan Lei and hearing the little yellow dog's words, she understood it was a life-saving secret technique.

She wouldn't say foolish things like, "Wan Lei, stop and rest for a while."

She knew Wan Lei wouldn't give up; if he did, they would all die.

She also wouldn't say, "If we die, we die together."

If Wan Lei couldn't hold on, they would still die together.

Such words were merely sentimental and utterly useless.

Fang Xiaoyu had always been someone who believed her fate was her own to control. This time, she decided to do something.

She dropped her laser gun, flew to Wan Lei's side, embraced him, and began to transfer her own spiritual energy to him.

Wan Lei did not refuse, nor did he say any boastful words like, "Go, I can handle this alone." He desperately needed energy. If he couldn't hold on, everyone would die.

Fang Xiaoyu's energy was abundant, but even so, it was only from one person. It couldn't withstand such depletion. When Wan Lei felt Fang Xiaoyu's transferred energy dwindling, he pushed her away.

"Go."

"I still have secret techniques I can use."

"You have no spiritual energy left, and your defenses are weak. You can't withstand the formation's damage."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Fang Xiaoyu tried to embrace Wan Lei again, but Wan Lei no longer spoke. Instead, he manipulated the formation, extending a section to envelop himself.

"Open the formation and let me in, you scoundrel!"

Fang Xiaoyu pounded furiously at the formation surrounding Wan Lei, roaring with all her might.

Wan Lei remained deaf to her pleas. If she couldn't endure, he would have to rely on himself.

Beneath the armor, Wan Lei's body was rapidly withering, much like the last time he desperately supplied lightning power to Fang Xiaoyu. His life force was being consumed.

However, this time there was no reversal of fortune; he had no energy left to absorb.

Wan Lei persevered for another hour until...

His body became skin and bones, a large patch of his hair fell out, and his entire body was devoid of any blood color.

"Wan Lei, the beast tide is almost over. You can see the distant edge."

The little yellow dog's voice reached Wan Lei's ears.

Wan Lei struggled to lift his head and looked west. The distant edge of the beast tide had indeed appeared.

This was a glimmer of hope, a dawn of victory.

But... his life force was almost completely depleted. He might not survive until then.

He found it difficult even to fly now.

"Thunder Armor, help me fly and push me to the formation."

"You're dying."

The usually taciturn Thunder Armor spirit spoke.

"You don't need to worry about me. Push me up. I have the Thunder Body and can still withstand damage. I can stabilize the formation."

"...Alright."

The Thunder Armor, carrying Wan Lei, flew upwards and positioned itself on the formation.

Boom,

Boom,

Boom!!

The lightning beasts outside were still fiercely assaulting the formation. Wan Lei had no energy left. His wings had retracted into the dim energy rings. His Thunder Element was shattered, his dantian was dried up, and he himself was emaciated to the bone.

He was truly at his limit.

But even at his limit, he had to hold on. He had to guard the formation.

Inside the formation lay his beloved, and the hope for them to leave the Thunder Sea – the inheritance of the formation.

He could abandon neither.

The edge of the beast tide drew closer, but Wan Lei's injuries worsened.

Cracks appeared in his dantian. His body began to fissure. He had no more blood to shed.

"Hold on... hold on..."

Wan Lei's consciousness was starting to blur. He wanted to bite his tongue to stay conscious, but the pain was insignificant compared to the agony of his body cracking.

He was now relying entirely on sheer will and conviction to endure.

He didn't know how much longer he could hold on, but he knew it was close... very close...

The beast tide was almost over...

He... was almost dead...

Every second felt like an eternity.

After an unknown period, the formation finally stopped vibrating and being struck. He heard the little yellow dog's joyous cry.

"The thunder beast tide has passed!"

Upon hearing this, Wan Lei's blurred consciousness could no longer hold on, and he immediately fainted.

His body began to fall. Before losing consciousness, his mind gave an order to the Boundless Primordial Formation.

"Open the formation and let the energy in."

"Wan Lei!"

Fang Xiaoyu immediately flew over and caught Wan Lei as he plummeted.

"Quick, put him on the ground."

The little yellow dog sprinted over.

"What's wrong with him?"

Fang Xiaoyu was filled with anxiety and tried to examine Wan Lei's injuries but was blocked by the Thunder Armor.

The little yellow dog jumped onto Wan Lei's chest and tapped on his faceplate with its paw.

"Thunder Armor, retract yourself. We need to examine Wan Lei's injuries."

The Thunder Armor automatically retracted into Wan Lei's body.

Before, with the Thunder Armor enclosing him, it was impossible to tell. Now, with the Thunder Armor gone, the sight that met Fang Xiaoyu's eyes made her gasp.

Wan Lei was skeletal, his robes now appearing extremely loose.

His body was covered in dry, cracked fissures. The most severe one was on his abdomen, almost splitting him in half.

"How did you endure this..."

Fang Xiaoyu, tears welling in her eyes, murmured.

"He's dying."

The little yellow dog examined Wan Lei's injuries.

"His dantian is cracked, with not a trace of energy inside. His meridians are all severed, his life force is almost gone, completely drained by the self-detonated Natal Thunder Element. His divine sense is severely depleted, and his soul is unconscious.

These cracks on his body... his Thunder Body has shattered.

With injuries like these, it's a miracle he's still alive. The hope for recovery is slim."