"Let's test the Thunder Beast's talent for controlling lightning."
Ye Yunfei had originally planned to deploy the Five Elements Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation to engage the enemy, but his gaze suddenly swept over the Thunder Beast that was absorbing lightning energy on the low hill, causing a thought to stir within him.
At that moment, the Thunder Beast was on the low hill, lifting its head to swallow the bolts of lightning and electric snakes that continuously struck down.
As it devoured more and more lightning energy, the aura emanating from the Thunder Beast was steadily rising!
A Lightning Gathering Formation was arranged upon this low hill. Over years of accumulation, vast amounts of lightning energy had gathered. From the mass of dark clouds above the hill, thick bolts of electricity continuously cascaded down.
Ye Yunfei focused his mind and activated the formula of the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel.
Roar…
The Thunder Beast suddenly turned around and opened its mouth to spray.
Crack! Crack!
Two successive bolts of lightning, thick as an adult's arm, shot violently from its maw, carrying earth-shattering electrical energy toward Wu Yang's twin halberds.
Clang! Clang!
The two dazzling lightning bolts slammed into the pair of golden war halberds with ferocious force, producing clear metallic clashes.
"That beast is formidable! Why would it obey Ye Yunfei's commands?"
Wu Yang couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
When Wu Yang had arrived, the Thunder Beast was already standing on the low hill absorbing lightning energy, so he had no idea that Ye Yunfei had summoned this creature. He mistakenly assumed it was like the other five demonic beasts, intending to participate in the fight for the treasure tree.
"Not bad."
Ye Yunfei was quite satisfied with the Thunder Beast's lightning talent.
This place held abundant lightning energy, giving the Thunder Beast a geographical advantage. It could freely exhibit its lightning talent without worrying about exhausting its energy supply.
Crack! Crack...
The next instant, the Thunder Beast opened its maw again and spewed out wave after wave of ferocious lightning bolts, tearing through the sky as they bombarded Wu Yang.
A total of over a dozen lightning strikes, each one containing terrifying destructive power!
Alarmed, Wu Yang treated this as a grave threat. Spiritual power surged wildly from within his body, empowering his twin halberds as he swung them with all his might to block the incoming lightning.
Clang! Clang…
Clear metallic clangs rang out repeatedly.
Wu Yang was forced to retreat step by step!
"Damn it! This beast can control lightning; it's too much to handle!"
Wu Yang was both startled and enraged.
Crack! Crack…
At that moment, the Thunder Beast opened its mouth once more and spewed another dozen lightning bolts, slashing toward Wu Yang.
The Thunder Beast had absorbed vast amounts of lightning energy earlier; its fighting strength was now at its peak!
"Damnable beast!"
Wu Yang was furious to the extreme, yet helpless. The offensive power of those lightning strikes was simply too strong. He was forced to retreat continuously.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Ye Yunfei suddenly activated the Heavenly Soul Sword, sending it into Wu Yang's Soul Sea.
Ah…
Wu Yang screamed in agony, his face twisted in pain.
Swoosh!
A streak of black light abruptly appeared behind Wu Yang's head, shooting toward the back of his skull.
It was the Dark Thorn!
Ah!
Under the combined assault of over a dozen lightning bolts, the Heavenly Soul Sword, and the Dark Thorn, Wu Yang was momentarily flustered and extremely hard-pressed.
Boom…
Amidst his frantic struggle, Wu Yang's body was struck by a lightning bolt.
Instantly, Wu Yang was sent flying sideways like a broken scarecrow.
Half his body was charred black like coal, steaming and exuding the mouth-watering aroma of roast meat.
Sss…!
The surrounding Wu Clan and Sun-Moon Sect disciples, as well as the five demonic beasts, all drew sharp breaths.
The combat prowess displayed by the Thunder Beast was simply terrifying!
"Very good."
Ye Yunfei was extremely satisfied with the Thunder Beast's innate talent for lightning control.
"Since that's the case, I'll let the Thunder Beast handle them while I go collect the Black Geng Thunder Wood and the Profound Magnetic Mountain.
Those two treasures are more important.
After securing them, I can then fight them at my leisure."
Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
The Black Geng Thunder Wood and the Profound Magnetic Mountain were far too precious. Ye Yunfei was determined to obtain them!
Thus, Ye Yunfei flashed forward, charging toward the low hill.
"He's trying to take the treasure tree!"
Han Yucheng shouted loudly.
With a wave of his hand, Han Yucheng led the Sun-Moon Sect disciples in a charge up the hill.
Roar! Roar…
The five demonic beasts also roared furiously, throwing themselves toward the low hill.
The fruit of this Black Geng Thunder Wood was immensely important to them; consuming it could improve their bloodline.
For demonic beasts, the quality of their bloodline was crucial, determining the highest level they could achieve in the future.
Boom!
The lightning-wreathed leopard was the fastest. It streaked through the air like a bolt of lightning, swift as sparks from a flint, instantly reaching the low hill.
The golden eagle swooped down from the air, its powerful talons reaching toward the Black Geng Thunder Wood.
The red tiger, the white snake, and the black dog also rushed onto the low hill with ferocious momentum.
The combat strength of these five demonic beasts was exceptionally formidable, causing the space to rumble loudly as they charged.
"Forward!
Work together to seize that treasure tree!"
At this moment, Wu Yang also scrambled to his feet awkwardly. He took a Grade-Three Dao Pill and consumed it, then waved his hand to lead the Wu Clan disciples in an all-out charge up the hill.
For a brief moment, the five demonic beasts, along with the Sun-Moon Sect and Wu Clan disciples, all stormed the low hill, each rushing at full speed toward the Black Geng Thunder Wood at the peak.
The leopard's speed was the greatest. It seemed to possess some ability to control lightning, its body wreathed in dazzling bolts that allowed it to move like a flash.
Boom!
The leopard drew closer and closer to the Black Geng Thunder Wood. Suddenly, its four paws pressed forcefully against the ground, and its massive body leaped into the air, shooting toward the treasure tree with astonishing speed.
Crack! Crack…
The Thunder Beast opened its mouth and spewed over a dozen thick bolts of lightning toward the leopard.
Startled and furious, the leopard hastily retreated and dodged.
Boom! Boom…
Although the leopard was fast, the lightning bolts were faster. A few of them struck its body, immediately exploding and drawing sprays of blood—it was injured.
Boom! Boom…
The golden eagle was also about to reach the Black Geng Thunder Wood, but two or three lightning bolts struck it, causing it to somersault several times mid-air.
Roar…
The Thunder Beast took a step forward. Its dual pupils looked down upon the demonic beasts and human warriors rushing up the hill. A terrifying aura akin to heavenly might emanated from its dragon-body-human-head form.
Legend said that the Thunder Beast was an ancient divine beast that existed since the formation of heaven and earth from primal chaos, naturally possessing heaven-defying talent to control thunder and lightning.
Although the Thunder Beast currently before them was simulated by the Nine Palaces Totem Wheel and possessed only a sliver of a true Thunder Beast's might, it was still terrifying to the extreme!
Moreover, the abundant lightning energy present here was immensely advantageous for it—this was practically its main battleground!
Boom! Boom…
The Thunder Beast stepped on empty air, its body ablaze with electrical radiance. It opened its mouth and spat. Thick bolts of lightning fell like rain, continuously assaulting the five demonic beasts, the Sun-Moon Sect disciples, and the Wu Clan disciples.
Even while spewing lightning, the Thunder Beast continued to absorb the surrounding lightning energy from the world.
Specifically, more than half of the thunderbolts and electric snakes constantly falling from the dark cloud mass above the low hill were absorbed by the Thunder Beast's body.
"Damn it!
Where does this beast come from that it can actually control lightning?!"
The human warriors faced the endless stream of falling lightning, each growing frantic and furious.
"Could it be the legendary divine beast, the Thunder Beast?" someone speculated.
"Impossible!
If it truly were a Thunder Beast divine beast, merely releasing a hint of its might would probably annihilate us all.
A real divine beast is said to be able to destroy a world with ease!" another retorted.
Roar! Roar…
The five demonic beasts roared incessantly at the unending stream of thunderbolts, yet for the time being, they couldn't break through the Thunder Beast's onslaught.
At that moment, Ye Yunfei had already arrived at the peak and stood before the Black Geng Thunder Wood, reaching out to grab it.
Crack! Crack…
The Black Geng Thunder Wood seemed to possess its own awareness, realizing a living being intended to seize it. The half-meter-tall pitch-black tree actually shot out ferocious, dazzling lightning snakes that struck toward Ye Yunfei.
Waves of transparent Thunder Law also emerged, like invisible divine chains winding towards Ye Yunfei's hand, seeking to hinder his movement.
"Hahaha…
A mere tree dares to try to stop me?"
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but laugh.
Boom…
Ye Yunfei employed his physical body divine ability. His entire arm instantly magnified by more than a hundred times, turning into a giant's hand that grasped the Black Geng Thunder Wood in one motion.
The lightning snakes and Thunder Law released by the Black Geng Thunder Wood couldn't harm his arm in the slightest!
Because Ye Yunfei and the Thunder Beast were essentially a single entity!
The Thunder Beast was simulated by Ye Yunfei's technique, equivalent to a clone of Ye Yunfei.
If the Thunder Beast could control lightning, Ye Yunfei's main body naturally would not fear it either!
Boom…
The Black Geng Thunder Wood released torrents of lightning energy, trying to shake off Ye Yunfei's grip.
"Get up now!"
At that moment, Ye Yunfei unleashed all his physical power and all his spiritual energy, pouring the vast power into his palm as he clutched the Black Geng Thunder Wood and forcefully attempted to uproot it.
"Stop!"
Down below, Wu Yang and Han Yucheng saw Ye Yunfei reaching for the Black Geng Thunder Wood. Panicked and enraged, they both roared simultaneously.
Roar! Roar…
The five demonic beasts also roared in unison, enduring the continuous cascade of thunderbolts as they charged ferociously toward Ye Yunfei.
The Thunder Beast took a great stride forward. While continuing to spew out countless lightning bolts, its massive body also crashed towards the onrushing demonic beasts and human warriors!
The divine beast Thunder Beast not only excelled at controlling lightning; its physical strength was also extraordinarily powerful!