107: Chapter 17 The Great Sage's Essence Blood Emerges!

Within the Sea of Thunder.

"Boss, what do we do now...?"

Zhou Qi asked while struggling to fend off the increasingly violent lightning around him, panting heavily.

As they ventured deeper into the Sea of Thunder, the environment had become increasingly hostile.

Not only had the power of the thunderbolts multiplied, but even the very air was filled with a suffocating, terrifying pressure.

For the two of them, whose physical bodies hadn't yet reached such an abnormal level of resilience, this was sheer torture.

Ning Yuan glanced back at them, a bright smile spreading across his face.

"What else can we do? Of course, we head to the center of the Sea of Thunder and seize that drop of great sage essence blood!"

"We've come all this way; we can't just return empty-handed, can we?"

With that, his steps never faltering, he continued pressing forward into the depths.

However, as the distance closed, the thunderous visions around them grew even more terrifying.

In the sky, the purple thunderclouds had turned into a profound black, with countless thick, black thunder-dragons churning and roaring within the clouds. Each one that descended could blast a bottomless chasm into the sea's surface!

On the sea's surface, thunderous waves surged to the heavens, each crest containing destructive power capable of tearing apart the body of an ordinary Transcendent Warrior!

"Ah! I can't take it anymore!"

Lu Sheng let out a miserable cry. The defensive treasure armor on his body, capable of withstanding attacks from the Flying Heaven Realm, actually began to crack under the erosion of this thunderous might!

Zhou Qi's face was also pale, his entire body trembling, clearly having reached his limit.

This had already exceeded the limits their physical bodies could endure!

Seeing this, Ning Yuan's brow furrowed slightly.

With a thought, the vision of the immortal ancient star within him trembled faintly. An intangible force field instantly expanded, enveloping the two and shielding them, blocking the majority of the thunderous pressure.

Only then did the two of them heave a long sigh of relief, collapsing onto the ground to sit, gasping for air as if they had just escaped the jaws of death.

"Boss... don't worry about us anymore."

Zhou Qi hung his head somewhat shamefully.

"We're too weak. If we keep following, we'll only hold you back."

Lu Sheng also wore a resolute expression. "Yeah, boss. We've already gotten an enormous advantage by following you this far! One shouldn't be too greedy! We'll wait for you here on the periphery, maybe scavenge some scraps while we wait for your triumphant return!"

Although they also wished to witness the glory of the great sage essence blood, they understood priorities.

With two burdens like them in tow, Ning Yuan would definitely be hampered in a struggle of that level, and might even miss his chance at the opportunity!

Looking at the sincere expressions in their eyes, Ning Yuan felt a touch of warmth in his heart.

These two underlings, though usually a bit unreliable, were quite loyal when it counted.

He thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well."

"The path ahead is indeed not easy. It's actually safer for you to stay here."

"Just move around in this vicinity, don't go too far. If you encounter danger, just use my name... oh wait, no, if you encounter danger, just run!"

After giving a few instructions, Ning Yuan hesitated no longer.

"Then I'll take my leave first!"

Boom!

His figure shot forward like lightning, instantly piercing through the curtain of thunder ahead, transforming into a streak of golden light as he charged alone toward the deepest part of the Sea of Thunder!

...

Freed from the two deadweights, Ning Yuan's speed skyrocketed once more.

He weaved freely through the Sea of Thunder, like a swimming dragon returning to the ocean, unconstrained and at liberty.

Those black thunderbolts, enough to give even Flying Heaven Realm experts a headache, struck his body not only without causing the slightest harm but were greedily absorbed by his flesh, becoming nourishment to temper his physique!

"Incredible!"

Ning Yuan couldn't help but let out a long roar.

This feeling of rebirth amidst destruction was truly marvelous!

Just as he was reveling in the thrill of this high-speed rush...

Suddenly!

A violent wave of combat fluctuations erupted from ahead!

Moreover, those two auras...

Felt strangely familiar to him!

"Hmm? What's this..."

Ning Yuan raised an eyebrow, instantly slowing his speed and silently drawing closer.

Peering through the layers of thunderous curtains, he saw the scene within.

Immediately, his expression turned odd.

On a relatively calm patch of sea surface, two stunningly beautiful figures were locked in fierce combat!

One wore a moon-white long dress, her aura as cool and ethereal as an immortal. A starlight longsword danced in her hand, scattering a sky full of stellar radiance, dreamlike and illusory!

The other was dressed in youthful attire, with delicate, handsome features. A crescent moon hung high behind her, and each punch she threw carried terrifying power capable of shattering mountains!

It was none other than Ling Wanhe and Jiang Mingyue!

"Damn! Why are these two fighting?"

Ning Yuan was torn between laughter and exasperation.

Looking at the spectacle, though it seemed quite lively with various visions clashing and grandmomentum,

a closer look revealed that neither was using truly lethal moves. It seemed more like... a spar?

"Stop! Stop it!"

Ning Yuan's figure flashed, instantly appearing between the two. With both hands, he effortlessly intercepted their attacks.

"We're all on the same side, why fight? Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"

Seeing Ning Yuan arrive, both women snorted coldly in unison, withdrawing their attacks and stepping back, turning their heads away from each other.

Truthfully, they had met here by chance.

There was no deep-seated hatred between them, just a bit of mutual dislike at most.

Especially Jiang Mingyue. The thought of being caught by Ling Wanhe with the "cross-dressing" secret because of that broken mirror still rankled.

Add to that the fact that both were proud and arrogant by nature, and upon meeting, they naturally couldn't resist testing each other.

"Hmph! I merely wanted to offer some pointers to someone's flashy but useless moves!"

Jiang Mingyue raised her head haughtily, a look of disdain on her face.

Not to be outdone, Ling Wanhe covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Oh? Is that so? Then I wonder who it was that nearly had their hair shaved off by my Starlight Sword Qi just now?"

Ning Yuan shook his head helplessly, about to play peacemaker and properly persuade the two.

Right at that moment!

Rumble!!

In the distance, roughly several hundred miles away in the core region of the Sea of Thunder, an unprecedented, terrifying wave of energy suddenly erupted!

An immense, blood-red pillar of thunder shot into the sky without warning, piercing straight through the firmament!

That thunder pillar seemed to contain a certain supreme will. The mere aftershocks it emitted instantly caused the Sea of Thunder for a thousand miles around to boil!

Even the blood and Qi within Ning Yuan's body grew uncontrollably restless at this moment, roaring witheager!

"This is..."

The three of them froze simultaneously, then their eyes all blazed withThe light of surprise!

"The great sage essence blood!"

"It has emerged!"