180: Chapter 179 The Seven Heroes of Apocalypse, and the Two Swordsmen Who Encountered Ghosts

Deep within the Lightning Pool.

The thick fog here was much thinner than in the outer regions, but the lightning within the mist was significantly denser.

At this moment, two figures were sitting cross-legged on a giant boulder that resembled a tortoise shell, with a pot of wine placed between them. The fragrance of the wine wafted through the air, looking completely out of place in this environment.

One of them had a burly physique and held a short blade in his hand, carefully wiping it with a piece of deerskin.

This person was none other than the eldest of the Seven Heroes of Tianqi, Song Tiansheng.

The other person appeared much leaner, but the sharp glints that flashed in his eyes from time to time easily gave the impression that he was a person of deep cunning. This was the second of the Seven Heroes of Tianqi, Sun Sheng.

Sun Sheng lifted his wine cup, took a gentle whiff of the aroma, and wore a look of contentment.

He gazed into the distance, where the entire sky had darkened. Massive pillars of lightning descended one after another, filling the entire area with lightning radiance.

"Big Brother, do you think anyone can really obtain that legendary thunder tribulation liquid from the Lightning Punishment Zone ahead?"

Sun Sheng downed the wine in his cup, then licked the droplets from his lips, a trace of desire flashing in his eyes.

Song Tiansheng stopped wiping his short blade, looked up at the region ravaged by lightning, and then shook his head.

"Hard to say."

"As far as I know, in the ten Lightning Pool Trials, the number of times anyone has obtained the thunder tribulation liquid can be counted on one's fingers. Most of the time, that Lightning Punishment Zone is a death trap. Those who enter have a nine-in-ten chance of dying, and few make it out alive, let alone obtaining the thunder tribulation liquid."

He lowered his head and continued wiping his short blade: "Although no one has been able to lay a finger on the thunder tribulation liquid in the previous nine times, we cannot guarantee that someone among our current batch won't be able to obtain it this time."

"It's a pity. If one could really obtain that thunder tribulation liquid, they would be able to take first place in this Lightning Pool Trial, be promoted to a Heaven-Class Disciple, and have a great chance of entering the Second Heaven of the Divine Palace!" Hearing this, a trace of greed flashed in Sun Sheng's eyes, but it quickly returned to normal.

He lifted his wine cup, about to say something more, when his expression suddenly tightened, and his gaze swept toward a patch of fog behind him.

A figure carrying an iron rod slowly walked out from that dense fog.

The person who arrived was none other than Tian Hong.

"Hmm!?"

Song Tiansheng raised an eyebrow, a smile appearing on his face: "Third Brother, you've come too?"

Sun Sheng poured a cup of wine and, with a wave of his hand, the cup flew steadily toward Tian Hong.

Tian Hong reached out to catch it and downed it in one gulp, but there was no smile on his face; instead, it was filled with gloom.

"Big Brother, Second Brother."

He nodded, which served as his greeting.

As the strongest among the Seven Heroes of Tianqi, Song Tiansheng saw at a glance that Tian Hong's state was wrong. Even if nothing could be seen on the surface, the fluctuations in his aura allowed him to judge that Tian Hong was likely slightly injured.

He put down the short blade in his hand and looked directly at Tian Hong: "Third Brother, judging by your appearance, are you injured?"

Tian Hong took a deep breath, then nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "I originally intended to deal with a newcomer from the Dongxuan Continent, but I ended up running into a tough nut to crack."

"Dongxuan Continent?"

Sun Sheng, who was to the side, raised his eyebrows, a look of surprise appearing on his face: "That continent with the most barren Spiritual Qi? What kind of expert could come from a place like that?"

Tian Hong said with a gloomy face: "Second Brother, I had the same thought as you before, but after meeting them, I discovered that the newcomers from there this time are not simple. Especially a bald donkey; although it seemed like we fought to a draw, I have a premonition that if it were a life-or-death struggle, that bald donkey might be able to slightly best me!"

After hearing this, Sun Sheng looked at Tian Hong in disbelief. After all, among the Seven Heroes of Tianqi, in terms of strength, the three of them who were in the Creation Realm were the strongest. But when it came to being unruly, Tian Hong was number one.

To be able to gain the recognition of his third brother, that bald donkey from the Dongxuan Continent was clearly not simple.

After a moment of silence, he stood up and stretched his muscles: "Let's go, Third Brother. Take me to find that bald donkey. With the two of us joining forces, are we afraid of him causing any trouble?"

As he spoke, he prepared to leave.

"You two, stop right there!"

Song Tiansheng suddenly spoke, calling out to Sun Sheng.

A bloody glint vaguely flashed in his eyes: "Hmph! Those people you are talking about will come here sooner or later."

He pointed to the region ahead ravaged by lightning: "Do not forget, in this Lightning Pool Trial, no matter how you travel, you will eventually arrive here. Because only by passing through the Lightning Punishment Zone ahead can one pass this Lightning Pool Trial."

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Tian Hong's face: "Big Brother means... we wait here?"

"Wait."

Song Tiansheng took out another piece of silk and continued wiping his short blade: "Waiting for the rabbit to hit the tree is always less strenuous than running around."

"Alright, since Big Brother has said so, Third Brother, let's just wait here!" Sun Sheng sat back down, poured a cup of wine, and downed it in one gulp.

Tian Hong nodded, said nothing more, and also found a place to sit cross-legged.

...

They didn't have to wait too long.

Less than an hour later, two sets of footsteps finally came from the thick fog.

The footsteps were very light, almost imperceptible. But given the cultivation levels of Song Tiansheng and the other two, as soon as the footsteps sounded, all three opened their eyes at the same time.

Two figures slowly walked out from the mist.

The person in front wore a gray monk's robe, with Buddhist light faintly circulating around his body; it was Venerable Miaodi.

The person beside him carried an iron sword on his back and wore an expression of vigilance; it was Jian Wuhen.

"Venerable One, you said that by walking this way, we would really be able to meet Brother Xia?" Jian Wuhen asked, looking around suspiciously as he walked.

But Venerable Miaodi did not answer Jian Wuhen's question; instead, his expression became somewhat grave. This was because he had vaguely discovered something wrong with this Lightning Pool Trial. That was that no matter where they walked, they seemed to eventually head in one direction.

As soon as the two walked out of the dense fog, their gazes suddenly froze.

On the giant boulder ahead, three figures were watching them coldly.

Especially when Jian Wuhen saw that figure carrying an iron rod, his Adam's apple involuntarily bobbed, and he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Tian Hong!

The Creation Realm existence who had pursued him before, only to be forced back by Venerable Miaodi!

Jian Wuhen secretly tugged on Venerable Miaodi's monk's robe.

Venerable Miaodi's expression did not change, but he shifted his footsteps half a step backward.

The two exchanged glances, with surprising tacit understanding, and slowly retreated.

However, just as they retreated two steps, a cold laugh came from ahead.

"Bald donkey, and you, you damn fellow, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon!"

Tian Hong stood up, held his iron rod horizontally, and the killing intent in his eyes surged. He didn't waste any words and directly smashed a rod strike toward the two of them!

"The people Third Brother mentioned are these two?"

Sun Sheng watched Tian Hong make his move, his eyes turning cold as his figure also vanished from where he stood.

The next moment, he had already blocked the retreat route of Venerable Miaodi and his companion, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes full of mockery.

"The two of you, don't even think about leaving today!"