156: What kind of cataclysmic event will Chapter 156 bring?

"My actions today are precisely for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty." Empress Wu smiled, raising a hand to point at the figure within the thunderous light. "What do you think of this 'National Father' I have found for the Great Zhou Dynasty?"

Li Hanyi: ...

Zhu Yuyan sighed inwardly: As expected, this woman is definitely not a good sort!

This is inviting a wolf into the house.

Empress Wu's interest in Su Rui was already glaringly obvious.

Being in the thick of it, she naturally understood how much attraction Su Rui held for women like them.

For those who have cultivated to their level of Realm, unless one settles for a weakling with only a handsome face, finding someone who truly fits one's heart is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

And a figure like Su Rui is undoubtedly a rare and excellent match.

Even Zhu Yuyan found it hard to be immune to such common desires, let alone Empress Wu?

Not only was his cultivation profound and mysterious, his status was also incomparably noble—the illustrious Empress of Great Zhou.

How easy was it to find someone who was both a match and stirred one's heart?

Now that she had developed such thoughts, it was hardly surprising.

Shangguan Waner gazed at the erect figure standing within the thunderous light, a trace of shyness quietly surfacing in the depths of her eyes.

She was extremely satisfied in her heart.

As Empress Wu's hidden prime minister, in charge of crucial state affairs, her actual status was akin to a close confidante.

But when it came down to it, she was still someone who served by her master's side; her status ultimately had its limits.

The gazes of Yin Luoxia and several other women towards Empress Wu already carried a hint of hostility.

Empress Wu sensed those looks but paid them no mind.

She never cared about how the world viewed her.

As for the marriage contract with Li Hanyi, she didn't take it to heart either.

After all, Su Rui was not someone she could easily control.

She didn't seek a formal title either; she only sought the direction of her heart.

In the end, she couldn't bring herself to abandon the Great Zhou Dynasty. If the other party insisted on not going, she could only let it be.

Thinking from another angle, it might be easier to resolve things by facing them openly.

"How is it possible you are completely unharmed?"

Di Shitian's voice, filled with shock and fury, abruptly shattered the momentary silence.

The series of thunder orbs he had summoned earlier to seal Su Rui's movements had completely failed.

Those thunderbolts had streaked like lightning. Many experts present had witnessed them whistling forth and then exploding violently—the aftershocks alone had caused distant powerhouses to vomit blood; those unfortunate enough to be struck directly were instantly torn apart, flesh and blood flying everywhere.

Such terrifying power was enough to make everyone tremble with fear.

Yet these violent thunder orbs striking Su Rui were like clay oxen entering the sea, not even raising a single ripple.

Not only did they not explode, they didn't even ruffle a corner of his robe.

This scene pierced deeply into everyone's hearts and completely shook Di Shitian's conviction.

That was one of his proudest killing moves, yet now it posed no threat to the enemy.

"Still haven't learned your lesson? That sword strike the day before yesterday couldn't harm you, so today you think I still can't hurt you?"

Amidst the rolling thunder, Su Rui's voice rang out clearly in everyone's ears.

Di Shitian's expression changed drastically, cursing his own miscalculation inwardly.

"Courtesy demands reciprocity. Since you are adept at using thunder, it so happens I recently comprehended a thunder technique as well—whether you can survive depends on your fortune."

Su Rui's tone was calm. Before his words faded, a blinding thunderous light erupted from within his body.

In an instant, his entire person seemed enveloped by a massive thunder orb.

Unlike Di Shitian's crude, domineering, and hard-to-control "Emperor's Heaven Mad Thunder," the electric arcs around Su Rui were like living things, moving in an orderly manner, flickering with a lively, spiritual life force.

"Thunder God Dharma Idol!"

With a low shout, the thunder orb suddenly expanded, actually devouring all the smaller thunder orbs Di Shitian had driven forth.

Immediately after, a towering figure materialized behind Su Rui. Though only its upper half appeared, it already exceeded a hundred zhang in height.

Sapphire-blue electric light flowed incessantly over its surface, coalescing into a lifelike suit of battle armor.

The giant's visage was clearly Su Rui himself.

Even more bizarrely, the Dharma Idol seemed to attract the power of heaven and earth. The churning thunderclouds in the sky all turned towards it, countless lightning bolts converging like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, rushing eagerly into its body.

As thunder energy poured in, the Dharma Idol became more solid, its features gradually clarifying, as if a True God were descending.

The entire arena fell silent.

What kind of technique was this?

It was definitely not something mundane martial arts could achieve!

If Di Shitian's thunder was merely something to be wary of, what Su Rui displayed now was something that made one's Soul tremble.

Everyone's minds were lost, their eyes fixed only on that heaven-reaching, earth-striding giant figure.

Even Di Shitian's eyes began to glaze over.

This scene awakened a deeply buried memory in his heart—in his childhood, he had once seen an ancient great deity perform thunder magic. How similar that imposing might was to this!

Only, the years were long, the memory already blurred...

Yet this scene before him actually caused that sealed picture to resurface.

His body trembled involuntarily.

"You... are you a descendant of the God Race?"

He did not voice this sentence, only muttered it to himself.

A moment later, he shook his head violently, his eyes regaining clarity: "Impossible! They cannot descend to this world... definitely not!"

But gazing at the Dharma Idol piercing heaven and earth, he couldn't convince himself.

Too similar... exactly the same.

On the battlefield, though the dense fog around them still hadn't dissipated,

the heavy thunderclouds in the sky and that colossal shadow like a deity's Incarnation were clearly visible even from several li away.

"Actually, I think Northern Li isn't that worth lingering for. Should we retreat?"

Shangguan Haitang's gaze was vacant as she suddenly blurted out.

Duan Tianya immediately nodded in agreement:

"You're right. Though Northern Li has some appeal, it's not worth risking our lives for."

What kind of place was this? Others practiced martial arts, but were they directly cultivating immortality here?

If they really took Northern Li, would the imperial court send troops or not?

What if they provoked such a person? What use would imperial authority be then? Such people wouldn't even give it a second glance.

On another side, Black and White Profound Blade's expression was solemn:

"Mission terminated. We'll return and seek the Prefect's instructions before deciding further."

Jing Ni, hearing this, was startled, then shook her head vigorously:

"I can wait a bit longer. After all, we haven't truly made our move yet."

This made Black and White Profound Blade slightly taken aback.

"Have you really thought this through? If the other party truly intends to take your life, you have no possibility of survival!"

"I know!"

Jing Ni's tone was resolute. Though she had heard the warning, she still insisted on carrying out the mission.

...

"I will report this matter to the Prefect."

Black and White Profound Blade's expression was grave, unease evident between his brows.

He always felt Jing Ni's behavior today was unusual, as if harboring some resolve he couldn't fathom.

Nearby, Shi Yao and Phantom Sound Workshop's Fanyin Heaven exchanged a glance, then silently turned and left without uttering a single word.

But the meaning was crystal clear—avoid it like the plague, fleeing was the best policy.

On the ramparts of Tianqi City, Emperor Mingde narrowed his eyes, gazing into the distant sky.

Even separated by such a distance, the ink-black churning thunderclouds and the figure beneath them that shook mountains and rivers were still clearly visible.

"What kind of technique is this? Can martial arts reach such a Realm? Could it be he has entered the Divine Roaming Profound Realm?"

His voice was full of shock and disbelief.

"Impossible.

The founding Old Ancestor of our Northern Li was of the Divine Roaming Realm, yet he never possessed such imposing might.

Could it be... this is transformed from Daoist Magic?"

"Your Majesty," Jin Xian, who had used the alias Fengxue Jian Shen Jingzhou while wandering the Jianghu, investigating many secrets before returning to serve the court and thus well-informed of inside matters, clasped his hands and responded, "Within Northern Li, the strongest in Daoist Magic is undoubtedly Qingcheng Mountain.

It is said that cultivating their Great Dragon Elephant Power and Taiyi Lion Technique to the Peak can connect with the Heavenly Dao.

But even so, it is absolutely impossible to trigger such heavenly and earthly phenomena.

What we see before us is already beyond human capability!"

Jin Wei suddenly spoke: "The Divine Roaming Realm can inherently stir celestial phenomena. Perhaps this person is currently unleashing some extreme Dao secret technique, hence such power."

Jin Xian nodded slightly: "That is indeed possible.

Only, if that is truly the case, then the grade of that secret technique is probably unprecedented."

Emperor Mingde sighed softly, his brows tightly furrowed.

Whatever the truth, an existence of this level was absolutely not something a mere Emperor like him could afford to provoke.

"Immediately bring me all intelligence on Qingyun Terrace, the more detailed the better."

He took one last look at the distant thunderous light, then turned and slowly descended the city wall with his entourage.

...

On Qingyun Terrace, within the palm of the Thunder God Dharma Idol, a giant sword condensed from thunder and lightning slowly took form, electric radiance overflowing, tearing through the sky.

Everyone watching from the surroundings gasped, their hearts trembling.

When this strike landed, what level of cataclysmic destruction would it be?

Could Di Shitian withstand it?

No—that was the first thought that flashed through his mind.

Escape—the instinctive reaction that followed immediately.

Before the thought even settled, his figure abruptly shot backward, covering hundreds of zhang in an instant.

"Still think you can leave?" Su Rui sneered, the thunder sword in his hand suddenly slashing down.

"Boom——!"

A thunderclap tore through the firmament, a violent thunderbolt sweeping out like an enraged Dragon.

Di Shitian only felt a tremendous force crashing towards him. His figure was forcibly pushed back to his original spot. Before he could steady himself, his face turned deathly pale.

On the path he had just retreated along, a massive trench a hundred zhang deep had appeared, scorched earth upturned, black smoke billowing, all the rocks reduced to powder.

If he hadn't turned back, he would have already been reduced to ashes by that sword slash.

"You go too far!" Di Shitian raised his head, glaring furiously at the towering Thunder God Dharma Idol, unable to conceal the fear in his eyes.

For the first time, the shadow of death loomed so palpably over his heart.

He knew, this time, the other party could truly kill him.

Even if he invoked the Seven Nothings Absolute State, it might not save his life.

The Seven Nothings Absolute State was indeed nearly invincible, immune to all attacks, with only one flaw: each time it dissipated and reformed, the process had to be continuous. The slightest delay would damage the Physical Body, even causing partial annihilation.

Previously, this flaw was inconsequential—enough distance bought enough time to create a space for survival.

But facing Su Rui, that bit of time and distance was utterly insignificant.

Was he to continuously perform the Seven Nothings Absolute State, clinging to life by fleeing?

Su Rui did not answer, responding only with action.

"Myriad Thunderbolts!"

The Thunder God Dharma Idol raised its giant palm. Countless thunder chains materialized from the Void Realm, entangling downward like a net, completely sealing Di Shitian.

Within a radius of several hundred zhang, the area instantly became a thunder prison.

Electric light surged like serpents, ceaselessly galloping. Between heaven and earth, only a blinding silvery-white remained.

Di Shitian's pupils contracted sharply. He hurriedly performed the Seven Nothings Absolute State, his form transforming into points of flowing light.

But before he could complete the transfer, a thunderbolt accurately struck down, shattering his newly coalesced body once more.

Even more terrifying, this sea of thunder seemed to chase after him relentlessly like a living thing.