Chapter 266

Chapter 266: All Out

The City Lord gazed at the Water Screen. This single path to life was not easy to find. Otherwise, after so long, even a peerless genius like You Lan would not still be cutting source threads one by one. The five elements held a subtle balance, and they also pushed against each other. Between balance and struggle, only one tiny point was the chance to win. [Li, are you just testing yourself, or do you already have a sure plan?] Light flashed in the City Lord’s eyes.

On the golden altar, all five tribulations fell at once. On Li Shuang’s altar, the five gathered like a Mortal Realm hell. The bystanders were stunned. Someone breathed: “Is Li going to face all five tribulations at once?” Another shook his head and said: “Impossible. Someone once thought he was clever and tried that dumb idea. With the five elements complete, the power grew into something terrifying. He fell off the altar in an instant and got kicked out.” A third whispered: “But Li didn’t fall right away.” Someone else explained: “It’s night, and her spirit is more solid than most. Lasting a bit longer is normal.” Yet another said: “But she can’t hold on forever.”

Inside the crushing circle of five tribulations, Li Shuang was not doing well. Without the help of the Lunar Star, she would already have lost her mind. Even with it, she might not last long. But this time was different. She had three pieces of thunder marrow on her. She had no plan to beg the City Lord for help. These three pieces had an extra effect. That day, the City Lord had said they could keep her spirit clear. Unless someone’s spirit was far stronger than hers, she would never lose control of her own mind. This add on seemed small, but now it was the key reason she dared take this risk.

Spirit clear. These two words mattered more than ever. Under the squeeze of the five elements, normal people cannot last; once they lose control of their spirit, they fall off the altar on their own. In such pain, a cultivator can hardly stay fully calm to search for the one line of life. But she had three pieces of thunder marrow guarding her. The pain would not fade, yet at least she could be sure she would stay awake. As long as she stayed awake, she could find that single chance.

Her eyes turned cold as she recalled what the Heaven and Earth Furnace had given her: the Five Elements Source Threads spread across the boundless world, and the five both feed and fight. If she could find the one point and cut with all her strength, then metal’s sharp edge would pierce wood’s core, wood’s life would ignite fire’s spark, fire’s heat would burn away earth’s shell, and earth’s weight would cut off water’s flow. She would only need to put in one strike. The five would tear apart on their own. The Five Elements Source Threads would snap at once. Now she had to find that one point. Where was it?

The Five Element Tribulation surged. Her spirit was squeezed harder and harder. Moonlight poured down. The thunder marrow flashed and saved her last thread of clarity. [Hurry. Look. Think. Where is that point?] She drove her spirit to the limit. Everything on the altar showed up in perfect detail inside her sea of consciousness. The five disasters had twisted into one knot. She needed the single node. It was like five balls of tangled yarn: cut the right knot, and the problem falls apart.

The longer the tribulation lasted, the stronger it grew. At first she could still stand, but her body slowly hunched. The pressure made her feel torn from head to toe. The pain could drive anyone crazy. The tribulation wound tighter and tighter. Her altar felt caught in a giant whirlpool. Her sea of consciousness was pressed to the point of collapse. Yet her spirit stayed strangely clear. She could not tell if that was good or bad. Anyone else would already have been sent out of the Golden Soul Altar. But Li Shuang could not even pass out. Each time she neared the edge of breaking, a cool power rose from her chest, and her drifting mind snapped clear again and again. In such pain, all her senses were magnified many times.

[Supreme Unfeeling Art, run at full power.] [Power of Moonlight, draw to the limit.] The Azure Lotus shone brighter and brighter. Her altar was hidden inside chaos. Onlookers craned their necks and saw only strange lights. They could not see what was happening within.

In the Sword Dao Space, Li Li seemed to feel Li Shuang’s great pain. She bit down, then forced herself out of the Sword Dao Space. The Sword Spirit appeared on the altar. Li Shuang’s face changed and she said quickly, “Li Li, go back!” The tribulation was far too strong. Li Li was still a spirit body and might not bear such pressure. Li Li bit her lip and said softly, “Sister Li Shuang, I think I can help you.” Li Shuang hurried to reply, “Li Li, don’t make trouble. I can handle this myself.” Suddenly, Li Li turned into a streak of light and rushed into Li Shuang’s sea of consciousness.

Li Shuang’s expression changed at once. The moment Li Li entered, she merged into the heart of the Azure Lotus. In a flash, sword patterns spread across the lotus. Li Li’s young voice rang out: “Let the sword be our bond, and let our spirits shine together.” A violet halo pulsed. The tie between Li Li and Li Shuang deepened. In that instant, Li Shuang’s spirit briefly rose to the Integration Stage. Her face grew solemn. The fusion would not last long. Good thing she had found the point.

Li Shuang raised her head toward the sky. There, at a spot that looked empty, lay the key that tugged at all five powers. So there would be no more delay. The Black Abyss Sword let out a sharp cry and hacked up toward the heavens. Li Shuang struck with everything she had. That one slash used up all her strength. She had no defense left at all.

A storm of sword rain, roaring fire, bone chilling water, twisting vines, and splitting boulders rushed at her in the same instant. She did not dodge. She fixed her eyes on the sky. Right as the Five Element Tribulation was about to swallow her, five gold-cracking booms rang out in a row. All visions vanished. Five beams of light poured upward like a river flipping back to the stars.

People blinked and looked toward Li Shuang’s altar. Someone muttered: “Wh what just happened?” In front of the Water Screen, everyone was completely stunned.