158: Hidden Waterway and Thunder Dragon's Tribulation

Thunderstorm Sea Region, three thousand zhang underwater.

This is a dark world isolated from the rest of the world. Above is a violent lightning storm that makes the sea surface boil like water, while deep beneath the sea, though quiet, undercurrents surge, with countless currents capable of tearing steel weaving through the rocks.

A merchant ship wrapped in a specialized Formation, like a glowing swimming fish, carefully navigates through the intricate underground waterways.

At the bow, the single horn of a "Thunder-Guiding Whale" emits a soft purple light. Whenever an undercurrent containing the power of lightning strikes, the horn vibrates with a buzz, silently guiding that violent lightning power to both sides.

"What a fine treasure."

Zhou Wannian (Old Man Han) stood on the deck, looking at that horn with a hint of admiration in his eyes. Without this item, forcibly entering this lightning region would cost even a Late Stage Golden Core a layer of skin.

"Senior, the base of 'Thunderous Island' is just ahead."

Purple Spirit stood beside Zhou Wannian, pointing at a massive rock wall ahead that faintly emitted a golden light.

"The center of this island is hollow, leading directly to the seabed. That divine wood grows in the center of the 'Thunder Pool' inside the island, growing by absorbing the lightning of heaven and earth and the magnetic essence of the earth's core."

"Mhm."

Zhou Wannian released his Divine Sense.

Although the lightning-magnetic interference here was extremely strong, the Divine Sense of his First-Grade Golden Core was like mercury spilling onto the ground, still able to perceive the heart-palpitatingly terrifying fluctuations ahead.

That was pure power of destruction.

"Stop the ship."

Zhou Wannian suddenly raised his hand.

"What is it, Senior?" Fan Zuoqing (Sect Leader of the Wonderful Sound Sect) asked nervously.

"There are people ahead."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Zhou Wannian's mouth.

"It seems that your Wonderful Sound Sect isn't the only one who knows about this shortcut."

"Or... someone arrived before us and set a trap at the entrance."

Zhou Wannian turned his head to look at Tie Zhu and Li Feiyu behind him.

"Get ready to work."

"We won't go through the main entrance; we'll... dig a hole directly inside."

...Half an hour later.

Inside Thunderous Island, a massive underground cavern.

The scene here was spectacular to the extreme.

Above was a naturally occurring massive funnel opening, where golden wild lightning from the outside poured down, gathering into a purple pond a thousand zhang wide below—the [Ten-Thousand-Year Thunder Pool].

In the center of the Thunder Pool, there was a solitary stone island.

On the stone island grew a towering tree, its body seemingly cast in gold and its leaves carved like green jade.

[golden thunder divine wood].

The tree was a hundred zhang tall, with golden electric arcs (Evil-Warding Divine Thunder) dancing on every leaf. At the very top of the canopy hung three fist-sized fruits covered in lightning patterns—[Lightning Tribulation Fruits].

"So this is... the golden thunder divine wood!"

Hiding in the hole they had just dug on one side of the rock wall, Ling Yunxiao (though he wasn't there, Zhou Wannian treated Li Feiyu as his confidant for convenience)... no, it was Li Feiyu looking at that tree, his eyes full of shock.

"Don't stare at it, or you'll be blinded by the lightning."

Zhou Wannian pressed down on Li Feiyu's head, pulling him back into the cover.

His gaze did not look at the tree but instead toward the surroundings of the Thunder Pool.

There, the atmosphere was tense and fraught.

On the eastern side of the Thunder Pool, a giant beast a hundred zhang long, covered in silver-purple scales with a single golden horn on its head, was coiled.

[Thunder Flood Dragon].

Half-step Transformation (equivalent to the peak of the Early Stage Nascent Soul), and occupying the geographical advantage, its combat power was comparable to the Middle Stage Nascent Soul. It was deathly guarding that tree, letting out low growls at the intruders.

On the western and southern sides of the Thunder Pool, two groups of people stood respectively.

On the western side was a group of demonic Cultivators dressed in black robes and holding ten thousand souls banners. The leader was a sinister-looking old man emitting the stench of a rotting corpse—the eldest Disciple of Ancestral Master Zenith Yin, the Master of Wu Chou, a Nascent Soul Clone of [Zenith Yin Old Ancestor]!

On the southern side was a group of Cultivators dressed in blue and white Daoist robes, stepping on Flying Swords. Leading them was a middle-aged beautiful woman holding a water-blue plantain fan; she was an Elder of the [Myriad Laws Sect] from the Righteous Path alliance of the Chaotic Star Sea.

"Zenith Yin Old Demon, Myriad Laws Sect..."

Zhou Wannian crouched at the cave entrance and activated the "Star Concealment Formation," perfectly isolating everyone's aura.

"This is what they call 'wolves surrounding the prey'."

"Fortunately, we didn't enter through the main gate, or we'd be caught in the middle as cannon fodder right now."

...By the Thunder Pool.

Zenith Yin Old Ancestor's Clone let out a burst of cackling laughter.

"Fairy Yunhua, this Thunder Flood Dragon is about to transform with the help of the Lightning Tribulation Fruits. Once it swallows the fruit and triggers the Transformation Lightning Tribulation, none of us will be able to get the divine wood."

"How about we join forces to slaughter this beast first, then divide the treasures?"

The beautiful woman known as Fairy Yunhua snorted coldly: "Join forces with you, old demon? I'm afraid as soon as the beast is killed, you'll stab me in the back."

"Then we'll each rely on our own abilities!"

Zenith Yin Old Ancestor's face darkened, and he fiercely waved the ten thousand souls banner in his hand.

"Ten Thousand Souls Heaven-Devouring Formation! Rise!"

Wuwuwu—

Countless vengeful ghosts and souls rushed out of the banner, ignoring the lightning suppression above the Thunder Pool as they crazily pounced on the Thunder Flood Dragon. These vengeful ghosts had clearly undergone special refinement, as they could actually endure for a moment within the lightning.

"Roar!!!"

The Thunder Flood Dragon was enraged.

It opened its mouth and spat out a thick golden pillar of lightning that swept across.

Zizizi!

Tens of thousands of vengeful souls turned into green smoke under the lightning pillar. Evil-Warding Divine Thunder specifically countered demonic evils; this was simply a one-sided slaughter.

"Now is the time!"

A sharp light flashed in Fairy Yunhua's eyes.

Taking advantage of the gap in the Thunder Flood Dragon's breath, she fiercely fanned the plantain fan in her hand.

"Myriad Laws Return to One · Wind-Water Tornado!"

Boom!

A tornado composed of extremely compressed water spiritual power, like a drill bit, bypassed the Thunder Flood Dragon's front and went straight for its weakly defended belly (where the Yao Core was located).

"Despicable humans!"

The Thunder Flood Dragon spoke in human tongue, and its massive tail fiercely lashed out.

Pa!

The water tornado was shattered. But it was also knocked back dozens of zhang, crashing into the golden thunder divine wood and shaking the Lightning Tribulation Fruits on the tree until they were on the verge of falling.

"Opportunity!"

Zhou Wannian, hiding in the shadows, his eyes lit up.

But he didn't move.

Because the needle of the Heavenly Secret Dao Disk was still vibrating wildly, pointing toward great peril.

As expected.

The moment the Thunder Flood Dragon was knocked back.

It suddenly advanced instead of retreating, its massive head swinging around to bite toward one of the Lightning Tribulation Fruits on the canopy.

"It's going to swallow the fruit and forcibly undergo tribulation!" Zenith Yin Old Ancestor screamed, "Stop it quickly! If it draws down the heavenly lightning, this divine wood will be charred into charcoal!"

"Too late."

Zhou Wannian watched this scene and muttered under his breath.

Gulp.

The Thunder Flood Dragon swallowed a Lightning Tribulation Fruit in one gulp.

Rumble————————————!!!

Heaven and earth changed color.

The sky above the already violent Thunderstorm Sea Region instantly turned pitch black.

A heavenly might that made everyone present feel suffocated instantly locked onto the entire Thunderous Island.

[Transformation Yao Tribulation] + [Divine Wood Lightning Attraction] = [Nine-Nine World-Destroying Heavenly Tribulation].

"Run!!!"

Fairy Yunhua's face turned pale, and without a second thought, she turned and fled.

Zenith Yin Old Ancestor also let out a strange cry, putting away his ten thousand souls banner to flee.

Under a Heavenly Tribulation of this level, even those at the Nascent Soul Stage would have to kneel.

"Roar!!!"

A burst of blinding golden light erupted from the Thunder Flood Dragon after swallowing the fruit; its aura surged wildly, and its body began to painfully twist and transform.

The first heavenly lightning, like a golden heavenly sword, passed through the funnel opening and struck down fiercely.

Target: The Thunder Flood Dragon.

And... the golden thunder divine wood beneath it.

"It's over... the divine wood is going to be destroyed..." Purple Spirit watched this scene and closed her eyes in despair.

However.

At this world-destroying moment.

A green figure charged out against the flow of everyone fleeing.

"Wealth is found in danger."

"This heavenly lightning... I'll take it!"

Zhou Wannian was wrapped in a layer of purple-golden halo.

In his hand, he held up that pitch-black [star heavy ruler].

Behind him followed the [Star Lord] Clone with the Soul Transformation Stage Physical Body.

"Star Lord! Get up there!"

Zhou Wannian gave a loud shout.

The Star Lord Clone did not hesitate in the slightest, teleporting directly above the Thunder Flood Dragon's head.

It opened its arms, using its Physical Body to withstand that world-destroying heavenly lightning striking down!

Boom!!!!

Lightning light submerged the Star Lord.

But it did not shatter.

This Physical Body, refined through the "Star Soul Parasite Art" and originally having a Soul Transformation Stage foundation, actually managed to withstand this strike!

Although its whole body was charred black and emitting black smoke, it blocked it!

"Now is the time!"

Taking advantage of the moment when the heavenly lightning was blocked and the Thunder Flood Dragon was in the middle of a painful transformation.

Zhou Wannian activated the concealment Divine Ability of the [Formless Mask], coordinating it with a [Great Shifting Talisman].

Shua!

He instantly appeared on the canopy of the golden thunder divine wood.

The jade shovel he had prepared long ago waved rapidly.

"Collect!"

The remaining two Lightning Tribulation Fruits fell into the jade box.

"Collect again!"

The star heavy ruler in Zhou Wannian's hand transformed into a massive saw, fiercely sawing down at one of the thickest branches of the divine wood (where the essence of thirty thousand years resided).

Zizizi!

The golden thunder divine wood was incredibly hard, but before the heavy ruler mixed with taiyi star sand, it was still cut open like tofu.

Crack.

A main branch three zhang long and entirely golden was cut off.

"Success!"

Zhou Wannian grabbed the main branch and stuffed it into his Storage Pouch.

"Withdraw!"

He wasn't greedy enough to try and cut down the whole tree (which would lead to a life-and-death struggle with the Thunder Flood Dragon); instead, he stopped while he was ahead.

Just as he finished this series of actions.

The second heavenly lightning finished brewing.

Moreover, the Thunder Flood Dragon's golden vertical pupils, filled with tyranny and killing intent, were also deathly locked onto him.

"Roar—!!!"

"Fruit thief! Die!!!"

The Thunder Flood Dragon couldn't care less about its tribulation and spat out a breath of its innate core fire and lightning, blasting toward Zhou Wannian.

"Star Lord! Cover the retreat!"

Zhou Wannian once again used a Great Shifting Talisman.

Buzz.

His figure vanished from the spot.

The next moment, he appeared at the cave entrance a thousand zhang away.

"Go! Full speed evacuation!"

He grabbed Purple Spirit and Fan Zuoqing, threw them to Tie Zhu and Li Feiyu, and led the way into the underground waterway.

And behind them.

The interior of Thunderous Island completely turned into a lightning purgatory.

Zenith Yin Old Ancestor and Fairy Yunhua looked at the mysterious person who could still pull a tooth from the tiger's mouth in the face of disaster and even snatch away most of the opportunities, each one dumbfounded.

"Who... who was that?!"

"Using a Physical Body to resist heavenly lightning?! Is that a Soul Transformation Stage old monster?!"

"Run! The Thunder Flood Dragon has gone mad!"

...Inside the underground waterway.

The flying shuttle was like a startled loach, fleeing frantically through the torrents.

Behind them, the heart-wrenching roars of the Thunder Flood Dragon and the loud crashes of heavenly lightning striking the rock layers could still be faintly heard.

Inside the cabin.

Zhou Wannian slumped on the ground, gasping for air. That set of operations just now seemed smooth, but it was actually dancing on the edge of a blade; being even a moment slower would have meant being turned to ashes.

"Old Man Han... are you alright?" Li Feiyu asked nervously.

"I'm fine... that was exhilarating!"

Zhou Wannian wiped the black soot from his face and pulled out the three-zhang-long golden thunder divine wood and the two Lightning Tribulation Fruits from his Storage Pouch.

Golden light illuminated the entire cabin.

Purple Spirit and Fan Zuoqing looked at this scene, their eyes full of awe, even forgetting to breathe.

"Senior... you really are..." Purple Spirit didn't know what to say anymore.

"Enough talk."

Zhou Wannian threw them a Lightning Tribulation Fruit (though it pained him, a promise was a promise, and one fruit was enough for their needs, two would just be a medicinal catalyst).

"This is your reward."

"Additionally..."

Zhou Wannian stroked that golden thunder divine wood, a fanatical light flashing in his eyes.

"With this."

"The core of my [green bamboo bee cloud sword]... oh no, the [Great Geng Sword Formation], finally has a place."

"Seventy-two Flying Swords..."

"If they are all refined using golden thunder divine wood..."

"Those Nascent Soul Old Monsters of the Chaotic Star Sea will have to take a detour when they see me from now on."

The flying shuttle broke through the waves.

What Zhou Wannian didn't know was.

After he snatched away the divine wood and the fruits.

That Thunder Flood Dragon, which had failed its tribulation and was heavily injured, did not die.

Zenith Yin Old Ancestor, who had rushed back, took advantage of its weakness with the ten thousand souls banner and forcibly planted a slavery Restriction on it.

"Roar..."

The Thunder Flood Dragon let out a humiliated wail.

"Good... very good..."

Zenith Yin Old Ancestor looked at the empty canopy, his eyes full of resentment.

"Snatching this Old Ancestor's things and even causing this Old Ancestor to lose a Clone..."

"No matter who you are..."

"When the day the Void Heaven Palace opens comes..."

"This Old Ancestor will bring this Thunder Flood Dragon and tear you into ten thousand pieces!!!"