After a great roar, Li Yundong suddenly raised his hand, clutching a pale yellow paper talisman. The blood and vital energy within him surged, and this talisman, pulled by Li Yundong’s immense Golden Core vital energy, began to emit a faint white glow.
“Five Thunders Orthodox Talisman!!” Ziyuan gasped, recognizing the inscription in that instant! When the Golden Core appears, worldly ties are set; when the thunder first sounds, the truth is revealed! “So this prophecy was meant for this moment?” Ziyuan’s mind buzzed. Composing herself slightly, she couldn’t help but shout, “Li Yundong, cultivators must not strike mortals!”
Li Yundong turned his head in fury and roared back, “What damned rules!”
Ziyuan commanded, “For thousands of years, it has been the iron law of the cultivation world that practitioners cannot use spells against mortals! Those who violate it will face Heavenly Tribulation!”
Li Yundong couldn’t help but laugh bitterly: “Hahaha, the real villains aren’t subject to Heavenly Tribulation, but those who act on Heaven’s behalf must face it? What kind of damned rules are these!”
Though Ruan Hongling had previous grievances with Li Yundong, she couldn't help but advise him earnestly, “Heaven and Earth have their own ordained causality. If a cultivator harms a mortal with a spell, it invites Heavenly Tribulation, which will shatter their soul, leaving no chance for reincarnation!”
Ziyuan said gravely, “This iron law must not be broken by you. Stop this now!”
Li Yundong snapped back, “I’m not a cultivator, why should I care about these idiotic rules!”
Ziyuan retorted angrily, “You are the heir to the Golden Core lineage, just one step away from Foundation Establishment—how can you claim not to be a cultivator! Once you release that Five Thunders Orthodox Talisman in your hand, you immediately violate the Heavenly Edicts, which will cause immense shock and destruction to the cultivation world. As someone who cultivates, I absolutely cannot tolerate such a thing happening!”
Li Yundong exploded in rage, pointing at Ziyuan and cursing her fiercely: “You look like a fairy, but I never expected you to possess such a viper’s heart and cold-blooded nature! Why do you even cultivate? Just to become an immortal turtle?”
He then pointed at Ruan Hongling and railed against her: “And you! Instead of dealing with the scum of this mortal world, you focus on troubling me and Su Chan. Is this what you call a prestigious sect? Is this what you call righteous path practitioners!”
Li Yundong’s furious roar echoed around them like rolling thunder, shaking the hearts of everyone present.
“Cultivation, cultivation! What are you cultivating for? To witness such an atrocity and simply turn and walk away? What difference is there between you and beasts, or livestock!” Li Yundong spat viciously onto the ground. “I truly look down on you hypocrites! You constantly speak of rules and heavenly laws, but you only care about yourselves, terrified of being implicated! After a lifetime of seeking immortality, if you cannot uphold justice for the weak or act for Heaven in moments like this, what difference are you from turtles hiding in their shells?”
Ruan Hongling and Ziyuan were stunned by Li Yundong’s tirade. Especially Ziyuan, who possessed exceptional innate talent for cultivation. Though young, she held great prestige in the cultivation world; even sect masters would respectfully address her as ‘True Person Ziyuan’ when she traveled. She had never been berated so directly.
Yet, as Ziyuan tried to formulate a rebuttal, a profound tremor shook her core. Li Yundong’s words had unearthed a question that had long troubled her: what was the true purpose of cultivation? Was it merely for eternal life?
The more Li Yundong cursed, the angrier and more unrestrained he became. In his blinding fury, he roared: “And you still preach about stopping me! Touch your hearts—are they even warm? For women as beautiful as you, you possess such inherently cold natures! A beast like him—if Heaven won’t take him, I will!! If you dare not uphold justice for Heaven, then I, Li Yundong, will act on its behalf today, even if it means being utterly destroyed!”
As he spoke, Li Yundong’s aura suddenly erupted. The vast vital energy he had accumulated for a long time suddenly burst forth like a dam breaking open, roaring loudly as it rushed towards his head!
This torrent of energy, vast as a celestial river pouring down, like a surging flood, majestic and unstoppable, instantly coursed through every meridian in Li Yundong’s body!
All his essence, energy, and blood instantly gathered above his head, and the Qi of his internal Five Organs, drawn by the Golden Core vital energy, surged mightily towards his crown!
This was the manifestation of Qi Chong Huagai! Three Flowers Gather at the Crown!! Five Qi Returning to the Source!!!
As these several powerful streams of energy converged above his head, they impacted the Baihui acupoint, forcing it wide open. A plume of visible white vapor rose, coalescing instead of dissipating, soaring straight into the clouds—Qi Chong Niudou!
The Divine Thunder Talisman in Li Yundong’s hand sensed his potent Golden Core vital energy and violently ignited with a deafening boom. Countless runes and patterns flew out from the flames, swirling around the essence that shot toward the heavens from Li Yundong’s crown!
In that instant, the heavens and earth drastically changed color!
The sky gave a low hum and darkened as countless black clouds rapidly surged in from the horizon. In the blink of an eye, the clouds churned, oppressive and black like a collapsing celestial canopy, making visibility nearly zero!
“Rumble,” deep, muffled thunder rolled through the dark, heavy cloud layer—a sound that represented the supreme power of the cosmos, the embodiment of ultimate judgment and majesty!
He Shao stared blankly at the rolling clouds above, frozen for a moment, seemingly unable to believe that lightning would actually strike. Suddenly struck by fear, he lunged wildly toward Li Yundong: “Don’t kill me!”
Li Yundong kicked him away with a single motion, roaring in anger, “Too late!! A beast like you only knows regret now—can you bring the dead back to life?”
Saying this, Li Yundong pointed to the sky and shouted, his voice making all things in heaven and earth tremble: “Heavenly Thunder!”
“Boom Kacha!”
A bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the darkened sky, momentarily illuminating the dim world with blinding clarity. In the eyes of the onlookers, Li Yundong stood there, his hair standing on end, his expression furious yet majestic. A dazzling golden light radiated from his entire body, as if a Golden Armored Warrior sent down from the Heavenly Court was executing divine justice!
Li Yundong pointed at He Shao, who had collapsed limply on the ground, his voice like clashing thunder, he roared: “Slay the Evil!”
“Boom!”
A bolt of lightning instantly descended from the sky and swallowed He Shao whole!
In that second, the world seemed to erupt in unbearable brightness, forcing everyone to instinctively shut their eyes. They felt a sudden, intense heat wash over them, as if the very air was combusting!
After a long while, people opened their eyes. The sky had returned to its usual brightness. Wisps of green smoke rose from the large pit surrounding the area. Where He Shao had been, the lightning strike had carved a deep crater; his body and spirit were utterly annihilated, leaving no trace of bone or flesh!
It was as if this person had never existed; not even a speck of ash remained!
In that moment, silence descended. Ziyuan and Ruan Hongling looked at Li Yundong with an unreadable expression.
Ziyuan’s heart was a complex mess; she stared blankly at Li Yundong, unable to speak. Ruan Hongling, despite her deep-seated resentment towards Li Yundong due to their past conflict, could not help but feel a surge of respect!
How many practitioners were there in the world? Yet, not one dared to do what this man had just done!
But only the man before her dared to risk his life to eliminate evil and act for Heaven!
Ruan Hongling completely forgot her old grievances with Li Yundong, forgot the harsh words he had just hurled at her. Her heart swelled with both admiration and satisfaction; she desperately wanted to cheer loudly and shout: “What a hero, what courage!”
After unleashing the Divine Thunder Talisman, Li Yundong felt as if all his strength had instantly vanished. He stood still for a long time, stunned, as the anger and vital energy churning in his chest gradually subsided.
After quite some time, he finally turned around and saw the young girl watching him, tears streaming down her face.
Li Yundong managed a weak smile: “I always called you a troublemaker, but now look, I’ve stirred up a monumental disaster!”
As a cultivator, Su Chan knew too well the terrifying consequences of violating the Heavenly Edicts. Her heart filled with terror and fear, and she couldn't help but rush into Li Yundong’s arms, sobbing loudly: “No, no, you didn’t cause trouble—you acted for Heaven! Heaven will show mercy, Heaven will see!”
Li Yundong sneered coldly: “Heaven show mercy? Heaven see? If Heaven had eyes, it would have claimed that insane beast just now!”
Su Chan quickly covered Li Yundong’s mouth with her hand, whispering in fright, “Don’t say that, don’t say that!”
Li Yundong forced a smile: “Silly girl, husband and wife are birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly their separate ways! Remember what I told you before? If something happens, don’t worry about me—you must leave now. It’s better for one to die than two!”
As soon as Li Yundong finished speaking, Su Chan burst into loud sobs and hugged him tightly: “I won’t leave, I won’t leave! I can’t manage without you!”
Li Yundong gently stroked the soft black hair of the young girl, saying with deep affection, “Stop fussing, little one. Didn’t you live quite well and happily before you met me?”
Su Chan only shook her head repeatedly, tears rolling down her cheeks: “I can’t, I can’t manage without you!”
Li Yundong held Su Chan with one arm and sighed softly: “Why didn’t you try to persuade me just now? Perhaps, perhaps if you had urged me to stop, I wouldn’t have done it, and later I wouldn’t regret it or blame you?”
Su Chan raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and choked out: “I wanted to persuade you, but the moment I thought about you regretting it later, being unhappy or even blaming me for holding you back, it made my heart ache. You said you didn't want to see me constrained by rules in the future, and I don't want to see you looking gloomy and full of regret every day. So, I figured, if the Heavenly Tribulation comes, I'll sacrifice my life to die with you. Having spent so many happy days with you, dying is no great matter!”
Tears welled up in Li Yundong’s eyes. He looked up and let out a long sigh: “You are the only one who truly understands me! Others call you a demonic woman, a siren, but to me, you are the kindest and most considerate woman in this world! How could I, Li Yundong, be worthy of having a woman like you as my companion?”
As they spoke, the two exchanged a look, both smiling simultaneously, their shared affection so thick it seemed impervious to dissolution, as if even if the Heavenly Tribulation descended upon them the very next second, it would not matter.