Chapter 15: Qi Yan Faces Only a Dead End

“Fu Guang?”

Master Guiyuan was astonished. “That sword is Fu Guang?!”

“Yes, it’s Fu Guang,” Yun Zhao said anxiously. “But I can’t control it. Sect Leader, could you please—”

Her words caught in her throat, for Fu Guang was not aiming at Qi Yan at all; its target was the heavenly thunder.

Yin Xue was stealthily absorbing the thunder’s power inside Qi Yan’s storage pouch, refining its blade. Unintentionally, a grimy sword intercepted the thunder’s force.

Could Yin Xue tolerate this?

It immediately rushed out of the pouch and collided with Fu Guang, causing it to stagger.

“This is my master’s thunder tribulation! You, a nameless sword, get lost!”

Emitting a buzzing warning, Yin Xue was ignored by Fu Guang, which continued to absorb the thunder’s power as if no one else existed.

Soon, Fu Guang had absorbed more than half of the first heavenly thunder.

Yin Xue grew anxious, pushing Fu Guang aside and quickly absorbing the remaining energy itself.

Qi Yan, waiting for the thunder to strike, remained silent.

Yun Zhao and the onlookers were speechless.

Chief Jin Feng swallowed nervously. “Sect Leader, should we intervene?”

Master Guiyuan pondered briefly. “Not yet. Prepare yourselves, but hold off unless absolutely necessary. If he can’t endure, we’ll step in.”

Chief Jin Feng nodded. “Alright, I’ll lead. Sect Leader, the sect tournament is coming soon; you shouldn’t intervene then.”

“Old Lu, you as well.”

Lu Mingdao smiled. “Understood.”

Being an alchemist with cultivation far below others, and tasked to escort disciples for the tournament alongside the Sect Leader, he would not overextend himself.

After a moment’s hesitation, he discreetly sent a message to Yun Zhao.

Feeling the communication talisman vibrate inside her pouch, Yun Zhao sent her spirit to probe it.

After a while, she said, “Sect Leader, chiefs, please don’t trouble yourselves unless absolutely necessary. The sect tournament is more important. I have given Qi Yan a defensive spiritual artifact; he should withstand it.”

Chief Jin Feng disagreed. “Zhao Zhao, what are you saying? The tournament and Qi Yan are both important. It’s just a matter of withstanding the thunder; it’s not like we can’t handle it.”

“Don’t interrupt. Step back; be careful not to be affected by the thunder’s power.”

Saying so, he pulled Yun Zhao and the others back.

Yun Zhao wanted to protest, but Lu Mingdao patted her shoulder. “Listen to Senior Jin.”

Lu Mingdao subtly shook his head, and Yun Zhao fell silent.

While they spoke, Fu Guang and Yin Xue greedily devoured the thunder’s energy, leaving Qi Yan to absorb only the faintest traces.

Fortunately, the two swords were somewhat considerate—each time they seized thunder energy, they deliberately left a portion for Qi Yan to gradually acclimate to the thunder’s might.

Lu Mingdao nodded with satisfaction. “Zhao Zhao, it seems your two spirit swords are about to manifest sword spirits.”

Seeing Qi Yan so composed, Yun Zhao relaxed and asked with curiosity, “Senior, how can you tell?”

Lu Mingdao pointed at the two swords. “Ordinary spirit swords fear heavenly thunder and avoid it. Yours, however, suppress their fear of the thunder’s pressure and actively absorb the thunder to temper their blades. They must have summoned sword spirits.”

“What do sword spirits look like? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one.”

Chief Jin Feng took over. “Sword spirits aren’t unusual, but most come from sword cultivators. Our Qingyun Sect mostly trains spirit cultivators, and since you rarely go out to gain experience, you naturally haven’t seen any.”

“By the way,” Chief Jin Feng shifted the topic, “Sect Leader, I recall Zhi Yuan’s sword is close to producing a sword spirit as well?”

Lu Mingdao said, “Zhi Yuan’s strength is evident. It’s probably just a matter of days.”

Master Guiyuan chuckled. “He still has a way to go. If he can manifest a sword spirit before the sect tournament, that would be impressive.”

As they spoke, Fu Guang and Yin Xue together absorbed seven strikes of heavenly thunder. When the eighth was about to form, the two swords... vanished!

They had eaten their fill; why not escape? Did they want to be struck dead by the thunder?

The two swords flew simultaneously into Yun Zhao’s arms, who held them tightly as they both feigned death.

“Hey, hey,” Yun Zhao shook them. “There’s still one more strike! Finish absorbing it before playing dead!”

More absorption meant less pressure for Qi Yan.

The crucial strike was the ninth—it was key for Qi Yan’s breakthrough to forming the core.

But the swords refused: “We’re full; time to sleep!”

Yun Zhao’s face darkened.

Chief Jin Feng was eager to act. “Sect Leader, shall I intercept this strike? Qi Yan can focus on the final one in peace.”

Master Guiyuan stopped him. “Wait. Let him try on his own.”

Without Fu Guang and Yin Xue shielding him, the thunder suddenly struck Qi Yan.

Those two swords were truly shameless—they could block any strike before; now without them, the thunder concentrated the energy from the first seven strikes into the eighth, striking Qi Yan with full force—

After a deafening roar, dust swirled around Qi Yan, centering on him and sweeping the area.

Thanks to the spiritual barrier, once the dust settled, Yun Zhao hurried to check on Qi Yan.

Fortunately, only his clothes were torn; he was unharmed.

Chief Jin Feng’s admiration grew deeper. Clenching his fist, his eyes gleamed with determination.

Qi Yan frantically channeled the thunder’s power within him. The fierce force surged through his meridians, nearly tearing him apart!

“Ha—”

Feeling the sharp pain, Qi Yan looked up at the thunder and beckoned silently: continue.

He never expected the thunder’s power to be so strong—able to forge his meridians and strengthen his body far beyond what he could achieve by training himself.

In his previous life, he never faced a thunder tribulation upon ascending; the world regarded him as a favored child of the heavens, spared even the weakest thunder tribulation.

But that meant his spirit and spiritual power grew stronger while his body lagged behind, forcing him to find ways to temper his physique on his own.

The time and effort required were immense—nothing compared to enduring momentary pain.

Now, struck by thunder, he realized he was not the heavens’ favored one but its enemy!

Seeing Qi Yan unharmed and even daring to challenge it, the thunder seemed enraged. The ninth strike descended with destructive pressure as though intending to annihilate the entire world!

The disciples hiding on each peak trembled. Good heavens, who on earth was enduring this tribulation?

With the thunder’s strike imminent, who could survive?

At the main peak, Song Zhiyuan looked toward the summit of Qingyun Peak, his eyes cold and unfathomable.

“Senior Brother, I’m scared.”

Xue Huairui’s trembling voice came from beside him. Song Zhiyuan’s expression shifted rapidly as he looked up and offered her a comforting smile.

“Don’t be afraid, Xiao Rui,” Song Zhiyuan said, putting an arm around her shoulders. “Senior Brother is here.”

Xue Huairui softly murmured “Mm” and leaned against Song Zhiyuan, her expression uneasy as she watched the dark clouds above.

Song Zhiyuan’s hand patted her shoulder intermittently to soothe her. Out of sight of others, he forced a stiff smile.

Though he didn’t know how Qi Yan had offended the thunder to invite such a calamity, he knew this—

Under this tribulation, Qi Yan faced only one path: death!