Chapter 114

Chapter 114: Tribulation Lightning Shatters the Array

Yun Xi’s eyes flashed sharply, and she quickly transmitted her thoughts: “Dian Dian, are you ready?”

Dian Dian frantically absorbed spiritual energy until its tiny body had nearly swollen up. Shifting its round little form uncomfortably, it replied: “Master, I think I’m ready.”

“Good. Prepare yourself, I’ll bring you out the instant the time is right.”

“Yes, Master.”

Yun Xi believed summoning a Heavenly Lightning Tribulation to destroy the Nine Wheel Sacrificial Array might just work.

Previously, she’d been uncertain because this was an isolated space, and she wasn’t sure if the tribulation could be drawn here. But City Lord Li’s attacks had exposed flaws—openings she could exploit. She was now certain that once Dian Dian appeared, the tribulation would surely follow.

However, she still worried Dian Dian might be struck dead, so she kept a third-grade defensive array disc ready in hand.

Another pair of mid-grade spirit stones crumbled to dust in Yun Xi’s hands. Like her, all the cultivators still alive were desperately using their spirit stones to stay alive.

Zhou Lang Chen tried swinging his sword again, but the blade’s light dissipated before reaching the array, devoured by its overwhelming force. His complexion worsened as he spat out another mouthful of blood, clearly aggravating old wounds.

Mu Ning Zhu gripped her spirit stones tightly, frustration clearly etched across her heroic face.

At that very moment, another golden sword flew toward Li Cang Yuan. Yet now Li Cang Yuan, supported by the array, had reached the pinnacle of Golden Core Late Stage. Casually raising a jade flute, he blocked the incoming attack.

In that exact instant when the golden sword appeared, Yun Xi swiftly tugged Dian Dian from her space.

“Dian Dian, it’s your turn now!”

Her command instantly reached Dian Dian’s mind.

The moment Dian Dian emerged, it sensed the tribulation lock onto itself. Although faint, the feeling was unmistakable—this Heavenly Tribulation was absolutely meant for it.

“Master, Dian Dian has been targeted by the Heavenly Tribulation. Please be ready!”

“Understood.”

The sudden twist occurred quickly and violently. Just as Li Cang Yuan blocked the golden sword, a bolt of violet lightning pierced into the isolated space. It struck Li Cang Yuan first, passed through him into the crystal coffin, and then spread throughout the formation itself.

Only the faintest spark of lightning landed on Dian Dian. Yun Xi hadn’t even had the chance to activate her defensive array.

“Master, why is the tribulation lightning so weak?” Dian Dian asked in disbelief.

“It’s not weak,” Yun Xi corrected, “It’s just that Li Cang Yuan and the Nine Wheel Sacrificial Array absorbed most of its power. The next strike won’t be as easy—don’t get careless.”

Zhou Lang Chen quickly grasped Yun Xi’s plan and shouted: “Everyone, don’t lose hope! Tribulation lightning has entered the array—it will surely break this evil formation!”

As if to confirm Zhou Lang Chen’s words, the next violet lightning bolt fell immediately, thicker and more powerful, resembling a Nascent Soul-level tribulation rather than a second-tier one.

Yun Xi instantly activated her White Magnolia hairpin. If not now, then when?

Li Cang Yuan was thrown violently to the ground, stunned by the sudden tribulation lightning.

City Lord Li seemed to understand as well, immediately forming another golden sword to pierce the hidden space again. The lightning responded instantly, directly targeting the crystal coffin at the array’s core.

“No!” Li Cang Yuan screamed, pale-faced and horrified.

The crystal coffin shattered, the body inside tumbling out. Ignoring his cultivation dropping back to Golden Core stage, Li Cang Yuan leaped forward desperately, catching Qiu Shui’s corpse.

Yet the violet lightning continued, indiscriminately striking every cultivator present. Fortunately, everyone was prepared enough to endure it.

Dian Dian wasn’t so lucky this time, its snow-white fur charred black.

“Ouch! Dian Dian hurts!”

“Hang in there, Dian Dian! You’re about to awaken your Treasure-Seeking bloodline. This is just a second-tier tribulation—you’ll definitely make it through!”

Yun Xi swiftly encouraged Dian Dian, though privately she had her doubts. To ensure Dian Dian’s safety, she activated the third-grade array disc, sheltering the little mouse inside.

Dian Dian knew the danger clearly. Curling tightly around a spirit stone, it desperately absorbed spiritual energy to ease the pain.

Li Cang Yuan, still clutching Qiu Shui’s corpse, was in miserable shape from the lightning strikes. He tried shielding her body, but now the cultivators who had found their culprit wouldn’t let him escape, immediately bombarding him with attacks.

Everyone had realized by now that the Heavenly Tribulation was targeting Dian Dian’s second-tier breakthrough, so they wisely began moving as far from the area as possible.

Yet the Nine Wheel Sacrificial Array still restricted their movements. Though slow, their attacks toward Li Cang Yuan never ceased.

Mu Ning Zhu led Qin Tong Shuang away from Yun Xi; unable to help, they could only protect themselves.

Yun Xi also struggled to escape the tribulation’s epicenter, unwilling to become lightning’s collateral damage.

Chaos filled the space, yet City Lord Li continued breaking down the hidden barrier. With each of his attacks, lightning descended even faster, three thick violet bolts in rapid succession. Yun Xi felt her scalp tingle in fear and hurriedly quickened her steps.

The three consecutive lightning bolts destabilized the Nine Wheel Array significantly, weakening its crimson glow.

City Lord Li attacked once more, directly smashing an array disc. Instantly, the entire space began trembling. The restless tribulation seemed to lose patience, sending down four successive bolts, swiftly brewing the second wave.

Those four lightning bolts brutally shattered four smaller arrays, sharply decreasing the formation’s pull.

Sensing the weakened suction, Yun Xi instantly activated Thousand Shadows Riding the Wind technique, leaving a shadow in her original spot as she darted away.

The other cultivators quickly escaped the City Lord’s residence, determined to avoid more lightning.

As space continued to tremble, Yun Xi suddenly felt herself breaking through a thin membrane. The next moment, she glimpsed the dark tribulation clouds gathered ominously over the City Lord’s mansion.

“We got out!”

“We’re really outside!”

“Don’t celebrate too soon—that evil array is still active!”

“Wait, four smaller formations have vanished!”

“Fellow Daoist Zhu, what happened?”

“The tribulation lightning destroyed four smaller formations, allowing us to break free. Now it’s up to that little mouse whether it can withstand the remaining tribulation.”

Standing safely beyond the tribulation clouds, Yun Xi anxiously watched Dian Dian.

Dian Dian trembled fiercely under the lightning’s relentless assault, now completely blackened, smoke wafting from its tiny body.

On the other side, Li Cang Yuan was finally rescued by City Lord Li. Although furious, none of the cultivators dared confront the Nascent Soul-level true lord.

The tribulation clouds finished their preparations and then mercilessly unleashed the final lightning barrage. Yun Xi clenched her fists anxiously.

The descending lightning obliterated the Nine Wheel Sacrificial Array first, then struck the third-grade defensive array disc. The disc held strong for five breaths, absorbing part of the force, before finally shattering. The remaining lightning crashed fiercely onto Dian Dian.

“Dian Dian, hold on!”

The instant the Nine Wheel Sacrificial Array collapsed, every cultivator immediately began sending distress messages—determined not to let this offense go unanswered.