Chapter 161: Killing Ye Fan And Enduring Heavenly Tribulation
“Trying to run away already, Ye Fan?” he taunted, his voice dripping with amusement. “I wouldn’t want to miss the grand finale, would I?”
Ye Fan’s heart hammered against his ribs. It was then he realized Wang Li had anticipated this. That invisible barrier was likely a portable array, activated discreetly to prevent his escape.
He gritted his teeth and raised his sword, preparing to face the inevitable clash. The battle resumed, a desperate struggle against an energized enemy. However, without the vastness of the open area to maneuver, Ye Fan felt trapped, his attacks becoming predictable.
The metallic clang of swords echoed repeatedly through the decimated battlefield. With each clash, Ye Fan felt his grip loosen, his once-pristine sword nicked and dented against the relentless force of Wang Li’s weapon, imbued with the combined power of Yin and Yang.
The inevitable finally occurred. With a deafening screech, Ye Fan’s sword shattered, falling into glittering shards at his feet. Panic surged through him as he realized his only defense lay shattered on the ground. He watched in horror as Wang Li closed the distance, his own sword glowing with an unearthly light.
“This ends today, Ye Fan,” Wang Li snarled, his voice devoid of all mercy. “Prepare to meet your maker!”
Just as Wang Li’s blade was about to cleave through Ye Fan’s throat, a sudden shift in the atmosphere jolted everyone on the battlefield. The clear blue sky above them vanished, replaced by an ominous canopy of swirling black clouds. Bolts of crimson lightning, thick as a man’s arm, crackled and pulsed within the storm, radiating an aura of raw power and impending destruction.
A collective gasp tore through the battlefield. It was a Heavenly Tribulation, a terrifying phenomenon reserved for those attempting to ascend to the Soul Integration Realm. But this was impossible! Neither Ye Fan nor Wang Li were on the cusp of such a breakthrough!
Wang Li, momentarily stunned, stared at the ominous storm above. This wasn’t natural. This was Heavenly Tribulation, a terrifying phenomenon reserved for those who dared defy the natural order by defying fate. And here it was, seemingly summoned to intervene and save Ye Fan’s life.
Fury coursed through him. He wouldn’t let this divine intervention stop him. Not now, not when victory was in his grasp. With a ferocious roar, Wang Li ignored the crackling lightning arcing towards him. He raised his weapon, unwavering, his intent clear – to finish what he started.
The crimson lightning descended, aiming for Wang Li, who stood resolute, his face etched with grim determination. His blade still aimed at Ye Fan’s exposed throat, prepared to strike even if it meant defying the Heavens themselves.
A sickening crunch echoed through the battlefield as Wang Li’s blade met its mark. Ye Fan’s eyes widened in disbelief as the metal sliced through flesh and bone, separating his head from his body in a single, brutal motion. Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, painting the ground around them.
Just as Wang Li withdrew his weapon, a deafening roar tore through the newly formed silence. The crimson lightning, thick and pulsating with raw power, slammed into him. He roared in defiance, the impact sending him flying through the air like a ragdoll.
Wang Li crashed into the ground with a bone-jarring thud. His vision swam, the metallic tang of blood filling his mouth. A searing pain erupted from within, a symphony of agony orchestrated by the Heavenly Tribulation. He felt his ribs crack, organs shift, and muscles tear under the onslaught.
Instinctively, he summoned every ounce of Yin and Yang energy at his disposal, weaving them into a series of intricate shields. These barriers, shimmering with a kaleidoscope of light, managed to deflect some of the lightning’s fury, but the impact was still agonizing.
When the lightning finally subsided, leaving behind an acrid stench of burnt ozone, Wang Li lay sprawled on the ground, a broken doll. Blood gushed from numerous wounds, and his ragged breaths were testament to the internal storm raging within him.
Despite the overwhelming pain, a small smile played on his lips. He had done it. He had slain Ye Fan.
As his vision blurred, he cast a glance towards the remaining battles. The Wyvern Lord lay lifeless, felled by Palace Mistress Jiu Lan’s final, potent attack. The remaining Wyverns, enraged by their leader’s demise, flew into a frenzy. But their rampage was short-lived, as the skilled disciples of the Jade Lotus Palace, led by their beautiful masters, dispatched them with ruthless efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Nine-Tailed Fox, facing the powerful Jiu Lan and a battlefield tilted in their favor, had ordered a tactical retreat for her Fox Clan. It wasn’t just the Fox Clan that ran away as the remaining disciples of the Iron Hammer Sect scurried away, a wave of relief washed over the beautiful disciples of the Jade Lotus Palace.
Only the Wyvern followers, consumed by grief and vengeance, attacked with renewed vigor. However, their anger was a double-edged sword, leading to sloppy maneuvers and predictable movements. The Jade Lotus Palace disciples, honed through countless drills and skirmishes, made short work of the enraged creatures.
The battlefield finally quieted, save for the whimpers of dying beasts. Palace Mistress Jiu Lan, having sustained significant injuries during the fight, maintained her imposing aura for a few moments before her eyelids fluttered and her body went limp. The strain of the Jade Lotus Blossoming technique, coupled with the intensity of the battle, had finally taken its toll.
Wang Li, barely conscious, witnessed the entire scene. With agonizing slowness, he willed his body to move, dragging himself inch by agonizing inch towards the unconscious Palace Mistress. It took him an eternity to reach his destination, collapsing mere inches from her outstretched form.
He reached out, his hand trembling, and brushed it against the back of her right hand. His touch was cool against her heated skin. Right now, he had two choices – absorb her Yin energy to stimulate his own Yang energy and heal himself quickly, or infuse his own Yang energy into her body to stimulate her Yin energy and facilitate her recovery.
The choice, however, was a no-brainer. He would infuse her with his own Yang energy.
It wasn’t just about healing her quickly, though that was a factor. The real reason was far more cunning. As his Yang energy flowed into her body, stimulating her Yin energy reserves, a subtle connection would be formed.
Her dantian, the core of her cultivation, would become familiar with his energy, unconsciously craving it.
This would create a powerful attraction, a bond that went beyond mere gratitude. She would find his aura more pleasing, her body subconsciously yearning for the Yang energy he possessed.
It was a subtle form of seduction, a clever manipulation that could work wonders when dealing with a powerful and independent woman like Palace Mistress Jiu Lan.
A low groan escaped his lips as the transfer of energy began. It was a draining process, but a necessary one. He would endure the pain, for the potential reward was far too tempting to ignore.
As the minutes ticked by, sweat beaded on his forehead, his body feeling like a battlefield itself. Yet, a sense of satisfaction bloomed within him. He was not just healing, he was playing a dangerous game, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
Time seemed to blur as Wang Li pushed himself to his limits. He watched from the corner of his eye as a faint tinge of pink returned to Palace Mistress Jiu Lan’s cheeks.
Her breathing, shallow and labored at first, slowly began to even out. A small smile played on her unconscious lips, as if she was experiencing a pleasant dream.
A triumphant grin spread across Wang Li’s face, even as exhaustion threatened to claim him. His gamble was paying off.
He had defeated his enemy, earned the respect of the Jade Lotus Palace, and most importantly, started a subtle seduction of a powerful and alluring woman. Now, all he needed was for Palace Mistress Jiu Lan to awaken.
And when she did, he would be there, the one who had saved her life, the source of the energy that had revitalized her.
The battle was over, but the real game had just begun.
The battlefield, once a scene of chaotic combat, became eerily quiet. The remaining disciples of the Jade Lotus Palace, their jade green robes shimmering in the fading sunlight, surveyed the aftermath with a mixture of relief and exhaustion. The air still crackled with the lingering energy of the battle, a testament to the ferocious clash that had just unfolded.
Among the fallen lay the mangled bodies of the Wyverns, their once-proud figures reduced to mere carcasses. The remaining Jade Lotus Palace disciples, many of them young women with determination etched on their faces, carefully cleaned the battlefield, a grim yet necessary task.
Elder Zhu Xingyu, her silver hair pulled back in a tight bun, approached the spot where Wang Li lay sprawled beside the unconscious Palace Mistress Jiu Lan. Her brow furrowed in concern. “What should we do with him?” she asked, her voice crisp and authoritative.
