The Soul-Nourishing Tree within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea instantly activated. Having long since grown into a towering giant tree, it spread open, extending billions of emerald-green branches that rushed out of his Soul Sea and interwove around it, instantly forming a massive green defensive net that tightly protected Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea.
“Something's off—the might of these thunderbolts is too horrifying and has exceeded what you can withstand. I suspect something strange is afoot, and I sense you are already in danger. It's best to quickly end this Lightning Tribulation,” Hun Lao said to Ye Yunfei.
“I've already been restraining my aura and performing a secret art to sever the connection with the tribulation and end it. But even now, I can't break the link. The thunderbolts and tribulation clouds have locked onto me and relentlessly pursue me,” Ye Yunfei replied with a bitter laugh.
The moment Ye Yunfei was first wounded, he had realized the situation was abnormal and immediately executed a technique to suppress his aura and sever the connection. However, he found it impossible to escape the tribulation clouds and bolts above him—they chased him ceaselessly.
“It seems there's a consciousness concealed within the vast tribulation clouds above, permeated with a dense aura of thunder and lightning. Could it be a Thunder Spirit creature? Hun Lao, in your racial memories, are there any Thunder-related beings?” Ye Yunfei's Third Eye in his brow had been studying and analyzing the terrifying thunder and darkly oppressive clouds overhead. He faintly sensed a will locking onto him, launching attacks.
“Thunder-related beings?” Hun Lao paused momentarily after hearing Ye Yunfei's words, then immediately began searching his racial memories for relevant information.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei was struck repeatedly by the thunderbolts, his body flung violently backward each time. His injuries grew increasingly severe, with countless large and small wounds covering his body. Some were deep enough to reveal bone, or even his blood-drenched internal organs.
What was even more terrifying was that these wounds were entwined with profound Thunder Laws, which infiltrated deep into his flesh, bones, and even every cell, constantly eroding his body's vitality and hindering its self-repair. Consequently, it was difficult for those wounds to fully heal in a short time.
“Could there truly be a rule like ‘Heaven Envies Genius,’ targeting you now? Is that why your Lightning Tribulation has changed so drastically?” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but speculate.
“Seriously? Does such a rule really exist?” Hu Miao exclaimed in surprise.
“It doesn’t feel like some unseen rule attacking me, but rather a living being—and this being seems Thunder-related, as I sense a dense aura of thunder and lightning within its will. Rules, whatever their form, should be lifeless, yet I can feel a semblance of vitality in this will targeting me,” Ye Yunfei's Third Eye had been steadily analyzing the phenomenon. Though he hadn't seen the whole picture, he had vaguely gleaned certain details.
“A will with vital life force targeting you? Possibly a Thunder-related being, but to suppress you so powerfully, injuring you in such a short time—perhaps only a Chaos God-level expert could achieve this. Could a Chaos God be hidden within the tribulation to attack you? If so, we should flee immediately. We aren’t yet a match for a Chaos God—if we don’t run, our lives are forfeit,” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm grew anxious after hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
Boom! At that moment, Ye Yunfei was struck simultaneously by hundreds of thick thunderbolts and flung far away.
However, the tribulation clouds above his head and the roiling lightning followed his body with astonishing speed as it tumbled through the void, ensuring he remained within their scope.
“No good! Young Master Ye indeed seems to be in danger. We must step in,” several nearby Hunyuan Sect Sovereign Gods perceived something amiss and shouted urgently, intending to intervene.
“Everyone, thank you for your concern, but under no circumstances should you act, or the consequences could be worse!” Ye Yunfei hastily called out upon seeing their intent.
He knew the Hunyuan Sect Sovereign Gods couldn't actually aid him—if they tried, the terrifying thunder might turn upon them, likely obliterating scores in an instant.
“Seniors, lead the army away from here at once! A mishap has occurred during my tribulation, and the power now rivals that of a Chaos God! You cannot help. Depart quickly—I'll find a way to escape!” Ye Yunfei urgently sent a Sound Transmission to the Eighth Level Sovereign Gods of the Hunyuan Sect.
He knew these Eighth Level Sovereign Gods couldn't assist either; his own body possessed far greater endurance. If even he couldn't withstand, they stood even less chance. Forcing their aid would lead to heavy casualties, potentially bringing disaster upon the Hunyuan Sect forces.
As he spoke, the tribulation above intensified, thunderbolts expanding and amplifying. Limitless radiance engulfed everything, destructive and grand, vast and seemingly unstoppable. Layer upon layer of heavenly retribution cascaded down, devastating the spatial realm.
The scene was chilling and hair-raising, as if the entire void faced apocalyptic ruin, with all creation poised for annihilation.
With a roar, Ye Yunfei retrieved dozens of jade bottles and swallowed all the divine pills within in one breath.
These pills were specially crafted by him to enhance his physique, though he typically consumed them sparingly to gradually strengthen his body. But now he swallowed them in bulk without hesitation.
Rumble...
Terrifying medicinal energy erupted within Ye Yunfei's body instantly, causing it to swell like a balloon. Simultaneously, the potent drug-laden energy hastened the healing of his wounds, battling against the invasive Thunder Laws that permeated deep into his flesh.
Ye Yunfei unleashed various techniques and secret arts to confront the ceaselessly striking lightning. He activated scores of artifacts, levitating them overhead as shields, even periodically unleashing batches of puppets to intercept the deadly bolts. Though these puppets were reduced to ashes within moments, Ye Yunfei carried hundreds of thousands of them—their tough bodies managing to hold off attacks for fleeting instants, providing temporary relief.
“Young Master Ye, the power of your thunder has indeed reached the level of a Chaos God? How can that be? You're currently breaking through to Fourth Level Sovereign God—how could you face a Chaos God-level tribulation?” the Eighth Level Sovereign Gods of Hunyuan Sect were astounded upon receiving Ye Yunfei's transmission.
“Seniors, swiftly withdraw with the army. The scope and ferocity of my tribulation is continually intensifying—delaying further could imperil the forces. You cannot help me—depart now, and I shall find a way to evade this calamity. Staying might even burden me with unwanted consequences and hinder my effort,” Ye Yunfei insisted.
“Very... well then. Young Master Ye, we shall first retreat with the army,” the Hunyuan Sect Eighth Level Sovereign Gods hesitated before reluctantly agreeing.
They immediately commanded all Hunyuan Sect Sovereign Gods to rapidly organize forces and evacuate posthaste.
Soon, the Hunyuan Sect army surged forward like tidal waves, swiftly departing into the distant void.
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei's heavenly retribution turned even more dreadful. The vast void wailed under torrents of thunder, seas of lightning engulfing all, filling the view with dense thickets of colossal lightning. The entire region became a kingdom of lightning, with nothing visible aside from the ceaseless radiant arcs.
Trapped within this terrifying thunderous realm, Ye Yunfei was battered relentlessly, tossed and repelled. His wounds accumulated, and even his Soul Sea began to suffer incursions of thunderous energy.
The Soul-Nourishing Tree extended all its branches and roots, forcibly refining these invasive energies. Simultaneously, Ye Yunfei's two soul bodies and sixty Soul Power planets unleashed expansive torrents of Soul Power to counter the encroaching thunder.
Inside his Soul Sea, he had activated over a hundred Soul Power-type artifacts to protect his two soul bodies and Soul Sea.
“Your hour of death has come!” Suddenly, amid the roiling lightning seas, a voice rang out—majestic and sacred.
Then Ye Yunfei beheld an incandescent figure too dazzling to behold clearly, slowly emerging within the sea of thunder.
Seemingly composed of countless interwoven lightning strands, its form trembled unstable, continuously twisting and distorting.
“Who... are you?” Ye Yunfei asked the brilliant apparition.
“I am the embodiment of thunder and lightning's will, here to judge you on behalf of Heaven's Dao. I declare your tribulation has failed—you are unworthy to break through. Moreover, due to your numerous slaughters, your path strewn with mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and your heavy burden of blood debt, I hereby sentence you to death on behalf of Heaven's Dao. Your execution shall be carried out by thunder.” The luminous figure spoke coldly.