The single sentence from Li Yundong instantly caused Su Chan, Ziyuan, and Zhou Qin to involuntarily look up at the sky. What they saw was that the bright moon, once hanging high on the horizon, had vanished, replaced by a thick, oppressive blanket of dark clouds that had gathered unnoticed.

Within the clouds, flashes of lightning flickered, as if drawn by the immense golden-body power of Xu Ling, brewing a terrifying celestial thunder.

Cultivators are inherently massive energy bodies. Usually, they are extremely cautious, concealing their energy within meridians, five viscera, three Dantian, and their Inner Core, lest they attract the attention of the Heavenly Thunder.

But Xu Ling had now fully unleashed his golden-body power, making him look like a super-criminal, saturated with egregious offenses, swaggering right in front of a police station. If the Heavenly Thunder didn't notice him, that would be the true wonder.

However, the process from the brewing to the actual strike of this thunder typically required a considerable amount of time, as if the Heavens themselves were coldly observing the mortals, waiting to see if this individual truly intended to challenge divine might. If the person showed any sign of repentance, the thunder would gradually dissipate.

This was the very principle behind the saying that Heaven delights in preserving life.

Yet, Li Yundong did not want this thunder to dissipate; he intended to forcibly draw it down using his own strength, borrowing the thunder's might to contend with Xu Ling.

But Ziyuan knew that drawing down the Heavenly Thunder was an act fraught with extreme danger. A single misstep, and one could be instantly obliterated by the strike!

Ziyuan cried out, "Are you sure? Drawing down the Heavenly Thunder is no laughing matter. What if it misses? What if you can't control it and it strikes you? You must understand, this isn't thunder drawn by your own power—this is thunder summoned by the golden-body force! Its power far surpasses any you've summoned before! Can you control it?"

Li Yundong gritted his teeth. "If we don't try, that is truly a dead end!"

Zhou Qin suddenly spoke up. "Master, how about you keep him busy, and I'll snatch the Medicine King Cauldron while he’s distracted, then we leave. What do you think?"

Li Yundong immediately shook his head. "Stop joking! If Xu Ling received the news to rush here, what about those Golden Body masters who also heard the rumors? Earlier, I was foolishly hoping they hadn't arrived, but now—harrumph—I absolutely do not believe they aren't lurking nearby, watching us! The moment you make a move, I guarantee we won't escape even a few kilometers before they catch up. By then, even I won't be able to save you!"

Zhou Qin gasped, her eyes wide with terror as she scanned the surroundings. "Then what do we do? If there truly are other Golden Body masters, why aren't they attacking?"

Li Yundong’s face was grim as water. "I don't know! For now, we can only take it one step at a time! Let’s deal with Xu Ling first. You two protect me; I am going to draw the Heavenly Thunder!"

Saying this, Li Yundong quickly formed a hand seal and murmured in a low voice, "Divine might of thunder and lightning, pivot of Heaven and Earth, three realms and nine netherworlds, yield to my command!"

The moment Li Yundong finished speaking, a muffled boom echoed from his lower Dantian beneath his abdomen, as if lightning had first detonated inside his body. Immediately following this, in the span of a single breath, the sky responded with a thunderous crack, as if mirroring him!

Keleesi, sitting on the wooden stool nearby, watched Li Yundong with wide, slightly glazed eyes. Although she didn't know why the thunder was brewing, she vaguely sensed an incredibly terrifying power about to descend—a power that seemed intent on tearing the sky apart and shattering the earth!

Li Yundong was now wreathed in a white aura. With every breath in and out, it was as if wind and clouds swirled around him, an immense, ineffable power enveloping him!

This was exactly what was described in the Eight Section Brocade of Wang Shichen's Invocation: When Heaven and Earth receive this one Qi, a myriad of transformations occur. Man, being the spirit of all things, obtains this one Qi, capable of sensing Heaven and Earth, stirring ghosts and gods, and commanding the wind, clouds, rain, and thunder to reach everywhere!

Xu Ling also sensed a terrible power about to descend. He looked down and saw that Li Yundong was actually employing the Five Thunders Jade Method!

Although he was a Golden Body master, his heart jolted in alarm. Who is this brat apprenticed to? How can he possess such a powerful Buddhist hand seal, yet his Daoist lightning technique is equally formidable?

Xu Ling’s expression shifted. He roared, "You want to draw the Heavenly Thunder to strike me? Dream on!" With that, he beckoned the Medicine King Cauldron, preparing to flee with both the cauldron and the Earth Element Spirit Elixir.

Heavenly Thunder was the nemesis of all cultivators, and even a terrifying Golden Body master like Xu Ling was no exception.

But Li Yundong couldn't wait any longer. He suddenly pointed at Xu Ling and roared, his true essence surging forth. His Baihui acupoint atop his head opened wide, sending a beam of white energy straight toward the heavens!

Instantly, the sky boomed with a deafening sound. The Heavenly Thunder, drawn by Li Yundong's pull, surged forth like a flood released from a broken dam!

Li Yundong felt as if he were riding a monstrous beast; although he held the reins, he was being pulled by the colossal force, nearly losing control!

Yet, the only solace was that Xu Ling's golden body had not yet fully returned to him. This powerful energy entity acted like a massive magnet, instantly pulling the Heavenly Thunder toward him to strike.

Xu Ling turned ashen with horror, his form instantly engulfed by the thunder!

Su Chan, Ziyuan, and Zhou Qin watched the bolt strike Xu Ling’s Nascent Spirit with wild joy. But before they could cheer, they were horrified to discover that after that single bolt, Xu Ling was merely enveloped in a much dimmer golden light, yet he still stood firm as a mountain!

Xu Ling hadn't expected this strike to be nearly as terrifying as he had imagined. He felt a surge of elation at surviving the disaster and couldn't help but laugh maniacally. "The Heavenly Thunder is nothing more than this! It couldn't kill this old Daoist! Hahaha! If you have the guts, send another bolt!"

Su Chan and the others looked at Xu Ling with fear and despair. The young girl trembled, "Even the Heavenly Thunder can't kill him?"

Having guided the first bolt, Li Yundong, despite his robust aura, was already somewhat breathless. He spoke through gritted teeth, "Damn it, I was impatient! The thunder struck before its power reached its maximum potential!"

Zhou Qin asked with fearful eyes, "Can you draw down another strike?"

Ziyuan, experienced and knowledgeable, shook her head with a sense of resignation. She sighed quietly, whispering in despair, "It's useless. The Heavenly Thunder... it's not something you can just summon at will... Golden Body masters... they are too powerful. The thunder can't kill him!"

"Li Yundong is nearly at his limit. Although he hasn't used the Seven Treasures Spirit Fan, it won't be enough against this Golden Body master. His two most powerful techniques from both sects have already been used, yet they achieved nothing against Xu Ling."

I refuse to believe it! In his near-despair, Li Yundong refused to accept defeat. He gritted his teeth, formed another hand seal, and prepared to summon the thunder again.

But Xu Ling would never allow him to summon the thunder again. He pointed at Li Yundong and sneered, "You little brat, still trying to summon thunder? Be careful that I don't jump above your head and draw the thunder down to strike you too!"

This sentence immediately stunned Li Yundong, who was in the middle of his spell. His technique faltered, and he thought to himself: Even if I don't fear this thunder, what about Su Chan, Ziyuan, and Zhou Qin?

Seeing Li Yundong hesitate, as if intimidated by his words, Xu Ling burst into loud laughter. "Afraid now, are you? You're not bad, little brat. So young, yet you cultivate both Buddhism and Daoism, and you're this powerful! Remarkable. Even Wu Shouyang or Liu Huayang from the ancient union of Immortals and Buddhas weren't as formidable as you! Kid, I’ll give you one more chance: become my disciple, and I’ll give you a share of the Earth Element Spirit Elixir. How about that?"

Li Yundong spat disdainfully. "Kneel down now and call me Master, and I’ll rub a mud pill for you—how about that for a deal! But even if you were willing to kneel, I wouldn't accept you! You mass murderer, you are a disgrace to the Daoist path! Be careful, Heaven has eyes, and it will come to claim you!"

Xu Ling saw that Li Yundong refused to yield even when pushed to this desperate point, and he instantly exploded in rage, sneering, "Heaven has eyes? The Heavenly Thunder couldn't kill me, and you expect Heaven to open its eyes for you?"

The moment Xu Ling finished speaking, a massive crack echoed from the sky, followed by a terrifying peal of thunder.

This single explosion of thunder nearly deafened everyone!

Keleesi was shaken to the point of nearly fainting, her ears ringing almost deafeningly. She saw a massive bolt of lightning suddenly cleave down from the sky, once again instantly swallowing Xu Ling whole!

"BOOM!!!"

The power of this thunder was far superior to the previous one. Su Chan, Ziyuan, and Zhou Qin watched as Xu Ling’s golden-body Nascent Spirit was instantly shattered into countless tiny golden motes floating in the air.

When the lightning dissipated, the motes slowly gathered again, reforming the shape of the golden-body Nascent Spirit.

But this time, the golden radiance emanating from Xu Ling’s Nascent Spirit was pitifully weak. He swiftly retreated back into his physical body.

The moment Xu Ling's Nascent Spirit returned to its aperture, he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood with a cry. The hand holding the Earth Element Spirit Elixir involuntarily loosened, and both the Medicine King Cauldron and the Elixir tumbled into the air, continuing to float ownerless.

Xu Kong, hearing Xu Ling’s scream, rushed to his side, anxiously channeling true essence into him. As soon as he moved, the two Heavenly Emperor guardians also vanished.

Xu Kong whispered a few words to Xu Ling. His Nascent Spirit glared at the Earth Element Spirit Elixir and the Medicine King Cauldron with unconcealed reluctance, as if wanting to snatch them back. But Xu Ling suddenly grabbed his hand, coughing blood, and struggling to speak softly, "There’s thunder... a Thunder Tribulation expert... hurry, run!"

With that, he didn't even glance at the Elixir or the Cauldron again, dragging Xu Kong as two streams of green light, they fled quickly.

At this moment, Su Chan, Ziyuan, and Zhou Qin were struck dumbfounded. They stared blankly at the hastily retreating Xu Ling and Xu Kong, then turned to look at Li Yundong, who was equally bewildered.

Su Chan stammered, "Yundong... you, you are amazing! You actually drove away a Golden Body master!"

Li Yundong shook his head like a rattle drum. "It wasn't me. I didn't draw any thunder just now!"

Ziyuan, being well-informed, had a sudden, chilling thought. Her face pal slightly as she looked around, remaining silent for a moment.

Zhou Qin hadn't grasped the underlying implication. Overwhelmed by joy, she couldn't help but laugh, "No matter what, Master, this formidable enemy is finally gone!"

Li Yundong surveyed the scene. The Tian Du Peak, which had just been the site of a brutal battle, was now terrifyingly quiet, resembling a vast graveyard!

For a moment, the sky above Tian Du Peak was empty and pitch black, with only the sound of the wind whistling mournfully. Everywhere seemed devoid of life.

Yet, Li Yundong vaguely sensed that within the oppressive darkness, a power more terrifying than Xu Ling seemed to be watching him.

After vigilantly scanning his surroundings, Li Yundong beckoned toward the Earth Element Spirit Elixir and the Medicine King Cauldron floating in the air. These three Elixirs, fought over repeatedly and changing hands several times, gently floated toward Li Yundong, with the Medicine King Cauldron following closely behind.

But just as the three Spirit Elixirs were about to reach Li Yundong, the ground not far in front of him suddenly split open. Three figures darted out from the fissure, one of whom laughed maniacally as he reached out to grab the Earth Element Spirit Elixirs!

Li Yundong immediately exploded in fury. Without even looking, he unleashed his entire true essence, which burst forth like a detonating bomb, sweeping toward the grasping figure in an overwhelming, mountain-toppling surge!

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