The Thunder Spirit, resembling an insect, was as long as a chopstick. At a glance, it could easily be mistaken for a snake. The one nearby was a deep crimson, its entire body forged like blood-red immortal metal, exuding an aura of icy, unyielding hardness.
Shi Hao didn’t recognize this creature, but he could sense that this insect was dangerous—far from ordinary.
Otherwise, when the heavenly tribulation struck it, it would have been instantly reduced to bloody chunks. Yet here it was, glaring coldly at him. This was a truly terrifying being.
“How dare it!”
Shi Hao’s breathing grew ragged, his heart filled with shock and fury. This was beyond sinister—someone had unleashed this bizarre creature during his tribulation, attempting to harm him. The malice behind this was palpable.
The sea of thunder churned, bolts of lightning striking one after another. The deafening noise made it impossible for ordinary people to see through the chaos, let alone discern what was happening near the Thunder Pool.
The arcs of electricity were blindingly intense, so much so that even opening one’s heavenly eye would cause stinging pain.
Yet, this didn’t stop people from realizing something was wrong. Shi Hao was clearly in trouble.
“What’s happening? Why does Shi Hao seem so enraged?”
People were puzzled, mainly because the Thunder Spirit was so small and could transform into a crimson bolt of lightning, blending into the surroundings and making it hard to detect.
At this moment, it reared its head like a venomous serpent, baring razor-sharp fangs. Lightning flickered in its eyes as it devoured the very bolts around it.
The heavenly tribulation couldn’t harm it—it fed on the lightning, insatiably greedy.
But what it coveted most was the ancient pool near Shi Hao. As a Thunder Spirit, it knew that the Thunder Pool held the greatest fortune.
“Whoosh!”
The crimson Thunder Spirit moved, launching a ruthless and decisive attack straight at Shi Hao.
Originally, its body had been a dull red, like unremarkable metal. But now, as it struck, everything changed.
It blazed brilliantly, like a divine ruby, dripping with crimson radiance. Thousands of scarlet rays erupted from it, so intense that its entire body straightened like an immortal spear the length of a chopstick, shooting toward Shi Hao with lightning speed!
“Swish!”
It was too fast. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through the void, arriving at the Thunder Pool’s edge, aiming straight for Shi Hao’s brow—a single strike to kill, piercing his forehead and extinguishing his soul.
Clearly, this Thunder Spirit was brutal, its killing methods simple and direct.
Shi Hao remained cold. His reflexes were unmatched. Raising his hand, he channeled the Indestructible Scripture, his two fingers glowing faint gold like dragon-shears, clamping down on the Thunder Spirit.
But something else was faster. From the heavens, a bolt of lightning descended—not particularly thick, but terrifying nonetheless, wreathed in chaotic energy and crimson light.
“Clang!”
Sparks flew as the lightning struck the creature, causing its rigid body to tremble and flip backward, no longer resembling a blood-red immortal spear.
The Thunder Spirit hissed in shock. Lightning was its element—heavenly tribulation shouldn’t harm it. Yet now, its body dripped blood. It had been wounded.
The Thunder Pool was untouchable!
“Whoosh!”
The next moment, the crimson Thunder Spirit lunged again, still aiming for the Thunder Pool, intent on stealing the tribulation liquid and killing Shi Hao.
“Clang!”
Another bolt, this time silver-white and infused with even more chaotic energy, struck the Thunder Spirit, sending it tumbling. Blood splattered as its divine hide cracked and blackened.
It was horrified. Never before had it suffered such losses in a heavenly tribulation.
This was unthinkable. No matter how it tried, it couldn’t approach the Thunder Pool. Even if Shi Hao didn’t act, it was barred from entering.
“What is that thing? It can move freely through lightning, resisting the world’s strongest tribulation? How astonishing! Is this some monstrous being trying to rival Shi Hao?”
Finally, people noticed the anomaly—the small, elusive creature. Was it alive, or a manifestation of lightning? It seemed intent on competing with Shi Hao for the Thunder Pool.
“Boom!”
From the sky, bolt after bolt of lightning struck the Thunder Spirit. It had been marked, now under relentless assault.
Shi Hao had already completed his tribulation, harvesting its rewards. The heavens had acknowledged him.
But the Thunder Spirit had intruded, attempting to steal the Thunder Pool. Naturally, it faced divine retribution—the tribulation sought to annihilate this trespasser.
Now, the Thunder Spirit panicked. This heavenly punishment could wound it, making it bleed. If this continued, it would die here.
In the distance, Wang Xi’s uncle watched, dumbstruck. Even a Thunder Spirit had failed to assassinate Shi Hao?
Moreover, from the Thunder Spirit’s reaction, he realized just how terrifying this tribulation was. If even the Thunder Spirit couldn’t endure it, yet Shi Hao had survived…
How monstrous was his lightning resistance? It surpassed even the Thunder Spirit’s!
“No justice in this world! Why didn’t it just strike him dead?” Wang Xi’s uncle muttered.
“I, too, wish he’d perish here,” Jin Zhan’s granduncle nodded.
But fate had other plans. Shi Hao now stood, stepping out of the Thunder Pool, advancing toward the Thunder Spirit.
He was intrigued. No one understood the tribulation’s might better than him. Yet this serpent-like creature had withstood it, still alive.
“Swish!”
Seeing Shi Hao leave the Thunder Pool, the Thunder Spirit’s eyes gleamed with malice. Without the pool’s protection, it could kill him. Transforming into a blood-spear once more, it shot forward.
“Clang!”
It collided with Shi Hao’s palm, the impact deafening, like two divine metals clashing. Shi Hao was stunned—this insect was stronger than he’d imagined.
The Thunder Spirit, however, was dazed. It had always been indestructible, yet now it reeled from the collision, disoriented.
Shi Hao’s gaze turned icy. Empowered by the Indestructible Scripture, his right hand shot out like a dragon’s claw, seizing forward.
The crimson Thunder Spirit screeched in fury, summoning its kin for aid.
But Shi Hao was beyond anger. He wanted this creature dead, treating it not as an insect but a true adversary, attacking with full force.
Amidst a shower of sparks, Shi Hao struck relentlessly, finally subduing the creature. His hands, like scissors, nearly severed it in two.
In the distance, the Wang Clan members stood petrified. How monstrous was this youth? A Thunder Spirit, subdued so easily?
The Wang Clan’s elders knew the effort poured into raising this Thunder Spirit—an abomination of nature. Yet now, it was a captive.
This Thunder Spirit hadn’t just stolen one person’s fortune. To evolve, it needed tribulations, needed the Thunder Pool’s liquid!
In the past, it had plundered others’ dao fruits.
Now, with Shi Hao undergoing a grand tribulation, poised to ascend to the Severing Realm, the Thunder Spirit sought to steal his destiny, allowing the three divine insects to advance instead.
“No! The Thunder Spirit cannot fall into his hands!” The Wang Clan gnashed their teeth. Thunder Spirits were beyond rare—perhaps only three existed in the world. Priceless!
If nurtured, they’d become invincible beings—future Emperors among insects.
The crimson Thunder Spirit in Shi Hao’s grasp shrieked, thrashing violently.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, world-shaking lightning erupted. In the distance, two figures—one gold, one silver—appeared, leading an army of lightning-born creatures, charging toward Shi Hao.
The crowd was stunned. Two more monstrous insects had arrived, commanding the tribulation’s lightning army to attack.
Some still didn’t realize these were living creatures, not mere lightning manifestations. Few recognized them as Thunder Spirits!
Many sensed disaster looming.
“Boom!”
Shi Hao surged forward, unrestrained. Now at his peak, he feared no remnants of the tribulation. He’d fought his way up from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, battling these lightning-born foes.
Without the Imperial Clans joining forces, this tribulation was no threat.
“You two, come here! Escape? Not a chance!” Shi Hao roared.
He struck swiftly, cornering the two Thunder Spirits. Despite their army, they suffered under his assault, fleeing in disarray.
“Perfect. Lead the way!” Shi Hao sneered.
Riding the lightning, he pursued. No matter how fast the two divine insects fled, they couldn’t shake him.
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, the two vanished, teleporting through space. Their abilities were formidable.
“Escape? Impossible!”
Shi Hao’s senses were razor-sharp. He’d locked onto the Thunder Spirits, especially since the one in his grip shared a peculiar resonance with the other two, its gaze frequently darting in a certain direction.
“Boom!”
Bathed in lightning, Shi Hao traversed miles in a single step, appearing before Wang Xi, Jin Zhan, and their group.
“Shi Hao, what do you want?” Wang Xi demanded.
“Move!” Shi Hao’s voice was icy. He ignored her, his gaze fixed on the elder beside her—the two Thunder Spirits were hidden on him.
“Outrageous!” Jin Zhan stepped forward, his palm shrouded in white mist, ready to strike.
“Scram, or I’ll kill you where you stand!” Shi Hao’s tone was murderous.
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