Chapter 335 Catastrophe
"Since everyone has arrived, I shall lead the charge first."
Seeing that all present had gathered, Zhan Xiong Tian wasted no time. His pháp lực surged, his aged face rapidly shedding its years as an invisible aura ascended into the heavens. He produced a broad-backed saber from somewhere unknown.
Saber light billowed along the blade, and saber energy shot skyward, as if intending to cleave the entire sky in two. Though the saber light was not aimed at them, those nearby felt as if their backs were constantly pricked, a chill rising from their hearts.
As Xiong Ba Tian moved, the others also sprang into action.
Hua Yang Liu, Xiong Li Ren, Lu Bei Hai, and Liu Xuan Zong, as previously arranged, positioned themselves in four directions, shielding Xiong Ba Tian at the center.
And then, Liu Nan Feng and his four companions formed a protective circle around these four.
Finally, Lu Cai Wei, like a celestial maiden descending, danced above and around everyone. Wherever she passed, the individuals felt their spirits invigorated and their pháp lực flowing more smoothly.
It was at this moment that catastrophe descended from the heavens, the first tribulation being the lightning tribulation.
The lightning tribulation was the most spectacular of calamities. The sky was filled with lightning that seemed to possess life, extending thick, serpentine lightning whips to lash at everyone.
Accompanied by a deafening roar, the lightning whips seemed to tear through the air, striking the bodies of the individuals. Everyone exerted their skills to resist, but even so, each strike left them scorched.
However, this was not the greatest harm. For along with the lightning, a surge of internal electricity arose, interacting with the heavenly lightning. For a moment, it sent everyone into a fluster. Those with slightly weaker strength would likely have been finished then and there.
Fortunately, everyone possessed considerable strength, and their physiques were more robust than one another. They quickly regained their composure.
In fact, Liu Nan Feng's physique might have been the weakest among them, yet his defense was the most effortless. This was because he transformed into a lightning form. If you can't beat them, join them. In this manner, the pervasive lightning tribulation not only caused him no harm but instead replenished his energy, making him feel ever more vital.
Under the bombardment of lightning, although everyone was initially somewhat disoriented, they soon cooperated, becoming increasingly at ease.
And at the very center, Zhan Xiong Tian, with the others shielding him from the lightning, was able to disregard the onslaught and focus entirely on breaking through the Heavenly Gate.
The catastrophe seemed to possess a will of its own. Seeing that the lightning disaster was ineffective, it gradually receded. Soon, the entire sky turned fiery red, and countless heavenly fires rained down.
The moment the heavenly fires began to fall, Liu Nan Feng instantly transformed into a fire body, merging with the descending heavenly fires, leaving everyone stunned.
This is cheating!
Zhan Dun Dun, standing nearby, had already suffered scorching from the lightning, and now, before the heavenly fires had even touched him, his fur was beginning to curl.
But this was not the worst. The most severe issue was that everyone felt a surge of inner fire, and all the past grievances they had suffered surfaced in their minds, vivid and clear as if happening before their eyes. A surge of anger rose from their hearts, instantly seizing their minds.
This discomfort even afflicted Liu Nan Feng, who had transformed into a being of flame.
However, except for the younger individuals, the others were experienced and strong-willed. Even when their inner anger was stirred, they quickly suppressed it, their minds clearing.
But Liu Nan Feng, Zhan Dun Dun, Ao Hai Ping, and Ao Jiang Yue were far behind.
Liu Nan Feng and Zhan Dun Dun were young and had less experience.
As for the Ao siblings, they were innately noble and powerful. Despite enduring countless years, their lives had been smooth sailing, and they had rarely faced setbacks. They possessed immense strength but their minds remained rather weak.
Thus, the four of them, consumed by surging anger and desire, instantly lost their reason. As their formation began to falter, Lu Cai Wei let out a soft hum. Everyone felt their hearts tremor, a cool sensation rising from their brows, instantly clearing their minds and dispelling their anger.
With their minds cleared, everyone once again scrambled to resist the heavenly fires. Liu Nan Feng, however, was not afraid of the burning damage these flames caused. His attention was entirely focused on the information contained within these heavenly fires.
The information of flames, in essence, was not fundamentally different; only the temperature varied. This was Liu Nan Feng's prior understanding of fire.
But upon encountering the information of heavenly fire, Liu Nan Feng realized that, in essence, they were not the same thing at all.
Although they appeared similar externally, the complexity of their information far surpassed any he had encountered before.
However, there was no ample time now for him to analyze this information. He could only copy it for later study.
This fire was truly formidable. Besides igniting inner fires in people's hearts, its temperature was also extremely terrifying. Without touching the body, it could naturally radiate heat. Once it adhered, it was like a parasite, unwilling to cease until the person was reduced to ashes.
The only recourse was to immediately excise the affected flesh and bone.
The four of Hua Yang Liu, using various methods, managed to fend off the majority of the heavenly fires. However, the remaining residual fires still kept Zhan Dun Dun and the others in a frantic state. Dun Dun's roots transformed into their original form, his body covered in scorched pits, causing him immense pain. Fortunately, Lu Cai Wei provided timely assistance, and Zhan Guo Liang stood by to support him, allowing them to persevere.
As for Ao Hai Ping and Ao Jiang Yue, a curtain of water rose above their heads, shielding them from most of the heavenly fires. This was likely a treasure from the Dragon Palace.
The four of Hua Yang Liu were also in a sorry state, their bodies bearing numerous burns from the heavenly fires. However, they had all reached the point of regenerating from a drop of blood, and their injuries quickly healed, though their clothes were tattered.
Because of their protection, Zhan Xiong Tian, who was at the center ceaselessly striving towards the Heavenly Gate, suffered the least harm.
After the heavenly fires subsided, a heavy rain began to fall from the sky. Wherever the downpour passed, all things dissolved.
The four of Hua Yang Liu dared not be careless and no longer attempted to withstand it with their bodies. They all deployed their magical treasures.
Above Hua Yang Liu's head appeared a willow leaf, as large as an umbrella, sheltering her perfectly. However, under the relentless downpour, the once vibrant green willow leaf turned withered and gray.
Lu Bei Hai unfurled a tiger skin over his head, protecting him from the rain. As the raindrops fell, the originally black tiger skin became mottled.
Xiong Li Ren was enveloped in a golden bell. With each falling raindrop, ripples would spread across the bell, and its color would subtly darken.
Liu Xuan Zong, however, was the most at ease among the four. He transformed into a giant python, not only shielding Zhan Xiong Tian beneath him but also constantly flicking his massive tail to strike at the falling raindrops. These raindrops could not inflict the slightest damage upon him, thereby significantly easing the pressure on everyone.
Following the rain, a gust of wind blew from the Heavenly Gate. As it swept over them, everyone felt their bones grow weak, a chilling sensation seeping into their marrow, their thoughts seemingly frozen.
This wind, though seemingly gentle, was insidious and pervasive, possessing immense power. It left everyone with weak limbs and dissolving pháp lực.
Except for Liu Nan Feng, all others revealed their true forms, their attempts to storm the heavenly palace on the verge of failure.
"How can this be?" Everyone was greatly astonished.
Because, based on their observations of previous experts storming the Heavenly Gate, their current endeavor should not have ended in failure.
They wondered if the catastrophe had intensified due to the excessive number of individuals breaking through the Heavenly Gate, or if their presence in greater numbers had caused the catastrophe to become even more potent.
Seeing the situation, Liu Nan Feng no longer dared to hold back. He lightly tapped his foot and ascended into the air, surpassing Zhan Xiong Tian and moving to the front of the group.
He then drew a small circle in the air with his palm. Next, he formed an 'eight' shape with his thumbs and index fingers, clasped the edge of the circle, rotated it, flattened it, and gently pulled outwards. The circle instantly expanded, enveloping the entire team.
The divine wind blowing from the Heavenly Gate vanished instantly, as it was immediately redirected upon passing through the circle.
The moment Liu Nan Feng let out a sigh of relief, his vision blurred, and he found himself by the riverbank.