The lightning creature didn’t answer Zongzheng Liuning’s question at all.
After Zongzheng Liuning made his move against it, it was as if some restriction had been lifted. It began attacking Zongzheng Liuning wildly.
The nine-toothed rake in its hand seemed never to rest, striking at Zongzheng Liuning in an unending barrage, each blow landing on his Seal-Overthrowing Seal.
Each strike contained such immense power that not only did others find it unbearable, but it also caused Zongzheng Liuning to tremble uncontrollably.
Every hit from the lightning creature felt as if it were landing directly on his heart.
That terrifying force was just slightly beyond what Zongzheng Liuning could withstand.
With each blow he endured, he felt his body suffer a severe injury.
The sheer power tore the muscles in his body apart.
A few more hits like that, and his physical form would have been shattered completely.
Fortunately, Zongzheng Liuning had cultivated the Immortal Undying Art and had undergone several nirvanas.
So, even as his muscles tore, they rapidly healed.
No matter where an injury appeared on his body, it would quickly mend itself.
Because of this, however, he lost his ability to fight back against the lightning-born creature.
Once the creature launched its assault, it suppressed him completely.
Wave after wave of terrifying power crashed down on him, giving Zongzheng Liuning the feeling that if this continued, even if he wasn’t beaten to death outright, he would be pounded deep into the abyss.
So, deep down, he desperately wanted to change the situation, to fight back.
But wanting to fight back didn’t mean he could.
The lightning creature’s attack speed was simply too fast. It made Zongzheng Liuning feel like a nail, while the creature’s nine-toothed rake was like a hammer.
Hammer blow after hammer blow, as if determined to drive that nail all the way in.
Seeing this situation unfold, everyone grew tense.
At this rate, Zongzheng Liuning was undoubtedly in grave danger.
If things didn’t change, he would likely perish in this tribulation.
But looking at that terrifyingly powerful lightning creature, everyone lost confidence.
Just that overwhelming force alone was more than any of them could bear.
A single strike from it would probably be enough to obliterate their primordial spirits, wiping them from existence entirely.
The only one who might be able to contend with this lightning creature was probably the Dragon Girl Empress.
With her mastery of the Word Secret of Arrangement, the Dragon Girl Empress had a natural advantage in speed.
However, when someone is undergoing a tribulation, no outside help is allowed.
Otherwise, the power of the tribulation would change again.
Anyone who intruded upon another’s tribulation would likely die instantly under it.
So, seeing Zongzheng Liuning’s predicament, many faces turned pale.
“Is… is there really no way out?”
“Lord Zongzheng… he… he isn’t going to fail this tribulation, is he?”
“This… Lord Zongzheng’s tribulation is way too terrifying. He’s just going through the Sovereign realm trials, so why does it feel like heaven and earth are trying to completely annihilate him?!”
This feeling wasn’t unique to the others; Zongzheng Liuning felt it too.
At this moment, he simply couldn’t fight back. The only reason he was still standing was sheer endurance.
But the more he endured, the more he felt his entire body weakening.
If things continued this way, he would probably die directly under this tribulation.
So, inwardly, he cursed and grumbled.
“Damn heavens, don’t you dare give me a chance to turn things around. If you do give me a chance, I’ll definitely… worship you every single day!!”
Right then, Zongzheng Liuning felt he was nearing his limit.
The relentless force was making him feel like his capacity to endure had reached its peak.
His rate of recovery could no longer keep up with the rate he was being injured.
He even felt like he was completely spent, drained of all strength. A few more hits and he might die right here on the spot.
Everyone else could sense Zongzheng Liuning’s state, and it made their hearts clench with anxiety.
They were all subjects of the Divine Dragon Empire; none of them wanted to see Zongzheng Liuning die under this tribulation.
If Zongzheng Liuning perished here, it would be an immense blow to the Divine Dragon Imperial Family as well.
So, they prayed. They prayed that the tribulation would end soon, that the lightning creature would stop its attacks.
And then, as if the lightning creature in the Nine Heavens had truly heard everyone’s prayers…
After a few more strikes, it actually did stop.
This sight left everyone stunned.
And at that moment, the lightning-born creature spoke.
“You are quite remarkable, to have endured one hundred of my strikes!”
“You are worthy of knowing my title. My name is: Marshal Tianpeng!!”
Hearing this name announced, everyone felt a sense of unreality.
They hadn’t expected the lightning creature to speak voluntarily, nor that it held the rank of Marshal.
This filled them with even greater awe towards the heavenly tribulation.
If a Marshal existed in the Nine Heavens, then there must surely be even more powerful beings up there.
After all, in the Divine Dragon Empire, while Marshals were powerful, they weren’t the very pinnacle of strength.
Many people became intensely curious about the structure of the Heavenly Court. After Marshal Tianpeng spoke, their minds couldn’t help but wander, imagining all sorts of possibilities.
Even Zongzheng Liuning, in the aftermath of his narrow escape, found himself pondering whether the Heavenly Court contained even more terrifying entities.
Only one person reacted differently from everyone else.
That person was Ye Wushuang.
Ye Wushuang never expected that the lightning creature would suddenly stop and speak to Zongzheng Liuning again.
Even more unexpected was that the name the lightning creature announced was actually Marshal Tianpeng, a mythological figure he was familiar with from his past life.
This made his eyes widen in utter disbelief.
And just as the lightning creature was about to depart, just as the tribulation was about to dissipate, Ye Wushuang, almost subconsciously, rushed forward.
“Wait a moment!!”
Ye Wushuang shouted loudly, then charged directly into the midst of the tribulation clouds, drawing the attention of the tribulation in the Nine Heavens.
In that instant, Zongzheng Liuning’s face turned green.
He had originally thought his tribulation was over. He had survived it, and would soon receive the baptism following the tribulation, becoming a true Sovereign realm powerhouse.
He never expected Ye Wushuang to suddenly appear at this moment and once again attract the tribulation’s attention.
At the same time, Marshal Tianpeng, who had been about to leave, halted his steps.
The dark clouds in the Nine Heavens immediately became countless times more terrifying.
The overwhelmingly dreadful aura made Zongzheng Liuning couldn’t help but curse loudly.
“You traitorous disciple!! What do you think you’re doing?? Get the hell back here right now! What business do you have butting in?!”
Ye Wushuang’s appearance at this moment interrupted Zongzheng Liuning’s tribulation completion. He had directly replaced Zongzheng Liuning, becoming the primary target of the tribulation clouds above.
In that instant, the full terror of heaven and earth descended upon Ye Wushuang.
That kind of dreadful aura was a hundred times more intense than the oppressive force Zongzheng Liuning had faced during his tribulation just moments ago.
