Chapter 128: The Crimson Lightning Tribulation (Part II)

Boom!

A crimson bolt of lightning, thick as a man’s thigh, struck that pale, exposed body without a moment’s hesitation. Another flash of light erupted, causing the pale figure to tremble violently, leaving a certain part of him swaying uncontrollably.

"Uh..."

Seeing this, the crowd collectively turned to stone. They stared, stunned, at the upright, charred hair, the pitch-black face, the trembling pale body, and the flickering crimson lightning.

"Ah!"

Finally, someone snapped out of it. A chorus of girlish screams rose one after another. Countless blushing, delicate figures turned and fled in a panic, yet the bizarre image remained burned into their minds. Every time they thought of that swaying "certain part," they could not help but blush and feel their hearts race.

The screams awakened the dumbfounded men. They exchanged glances, each reading the same thought in the other’s eyes: in the future, when undergoing the lightning tribulation, one must find a deserted place. Otherwise, the loss of face would be truly catastrophic.

Crackle!

Ignoring the stunned crowd, the lightning tribulation in the sky continued to gather strength. A sixth bolt, just as thick as the last but significantly brighter, descended, slamming fiercely into Hanrod, who was just regaining control of his body.

"Ah!"

With a roar toward the heavens, Hanrod’s eyes turned blood-red. Ignoring his stark nakedness, he actually prepared to launch himself upward, ready to meet the crimson lightning head-on.

Crackle, pop...

The crimson lightning seemed to be deliberately spiteful. It gave him no chance to display his magnificent physique; just as he was about to strike, the red bolt accelerated, slamming into him and pinning him to the spot.

The flickering crimson lightning, the upright hair, the charcoal-like face, the pale, trembling body, and that swaying "something"—the repetitive scene played out once more.

"Ah!"

Amidst the tremors, Hanrod’s body gave a violent jolt. With a roar, he shattered the clinging electricity and regained command of his own body.

A cyan robe appeared miraculously in his hand. He draped it over his shoulders, concealing his sturdy frame, and glared coldly at the gathering crimson tribulation in the sky, the rage in his eyes threatening to erupt at any moment.

"Gulp!"

With the pale, youthful, and seductive body finally hidden from view, Elijah swallowed hard, calmed his mind, and looked up at the gathering lightning.

Everything that had happened so far was merely a warm-up. The final three bolts were the main event. Not only were they immensely powerful—difficult for even a newly ascended seventh-tier expert to resist—but they were also saturated with rich elemental energy from heaven and earth.

Each time a bolt was withstood, the rich elemental energy within it would be absorbed by the one undergoing the tribulation. Once refined, the practitioner’s strength would leap to a new level within a short time, with absolutely no side effects.

"Seventh-tier!"

Beatrix, Chelsea, Karl, and the others exchanged glances. They saw envy in each other’s eyes, but even more, they saw a burning fighting spirit. They each possessed their own pride.

Rumble—

The crimson lightning did not keep them waiting long. Accompanied by a thunderous boom, a lifelike crimson snake, composed entirely of electricity, shot out, its red tongue flickering as it struck toward Hanrod.

"Wind Wolf!"

A low roar echoed in Hanrod’s heart. The battle aura within him surged along a mysterious path. A gale rose from nowhere, swirling around him as the longsword in his hand danced in a complex, rhythmic pattern.

"Go!"

Amidst the wind, his robes fluttered, revealing glimpses of his pale skin. With his eyes glowing with fierce intensity, Hanrod watched the incoming snake and unleashed a final strike into the void.

Awooo—

A wolf’s howl eerily pierced the air. A pale cyan, somewhat ethereal giant wolf emerged, stepping through the air as it lunged toward the crimson snake.

Hiss!

The crimson snake let out a proud hiss, accelerated, and transformed into a red streak of lightning, colliding instantly with the wind wolf.

Boom!

Awooo—

The ethereal cyan wolf was instantly swallowed by the red lightning, its form flickering as if it were about to be extinguished.

"Explode!"

A flash of sharp light crossed his eyes. Hanrod spoke coldly and swung his sword, which was glowing with a rich cyan hue. The giant wolf in mid-air let out a heroic, mournful cry, its body swelling suddenly before detonating.

Boom—

As the violent cyan light faded, the scene was revealed: Hanrod stood tall with a blackened face, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. The scattered strands of crimson lightning were drawn back into his body like birds returning to their nests.

Within moments, Hanrod broke through to the seventh tier. His previously unstable aura settled, and his strength had clearly increased—a fact evident in his eyes, which were now brighter and filled with a piercing, restless light.

Rumble...

The crimson lightning in the sky flickered once more. Three crimson snakes shot out. Hanrod felt no fear; his battle aura began to circulate along the mysterious path, and his sword began to dance again.

Awooo—

In a short time, the vanished cyan giant wolf reappeared, its pale body more solid and its ferocity even greater.

With a flick of his sword, the giant wolf lunged at the three incoming snakes. Hanrod did not remain idle; his sword moved rapidly, and within moments, a second cyan giant wolf appeared.

Awooo—

Two giant wolves attacked the three snakes simultaneously. Hanrod, wielding his glowing sword, joined the fray, channeling battle aura into the wolves while observing the battle, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a fatal blow.

Boom!

Crackle, pop...

After failing to secure a victory and finding their forms dimming, the crimson snakes exploded simultaneously. Caught off guard, Hanrod was instantly engulfed by the dazzling red lightning.

"Explode!"

Without hesitation, Hanrod unleashed his power. Both giant wolves detonated at once. The already chaotic elemental energy became even more turbulent. Protected by a cyan shield, Hanrod held his ground, using his sword to fend off the shockwaves.

***

In the sixth-tier alchemy room, Wang Luo watched the dozen or so liquid spheres in the furnace. He carefully controlled them, guiding them to draw closer until they merged in pairs.

Seven-Star Pill—the highest-grade pill Wang Luo could refine. For someone at the peak of the sixth tier breaking through to the seventh, taking this pill could increase the odds of success, providing a vital edge. For Wang Luo, who was anxious to reach the seventh tier, it was the perfect choice.

However, the Seven-Star Pill was of such a high grade that it not only required various rare herbs but also involved an incredibly complex refining process. Alchemists below the seventh tier found it nearly impossible to produce, as the mental energy required to refine a Seven-Star Pill was beyond what a sixth-tier mage could provide.