CHAPTER 969: CHAPTER 531: ARTIFACT SPIRIT

The thunderclouds in the sky grew deeper, and the brewing lightning induced a strong magnetic field effect, causing the rocks and grass on the ground to detach.

Li Shiming’s hair was flying, and besides trying to help the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer pass the tribulation, he also hoped to use the lightning tribulation of the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer to increase the power of the heavenly thunder within his body.

Finally, the first heavenly thunder descended from the sky.

Instantly, it brightened the world, and the lightning struck the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer.

Li Shiming invoked the ’Yuqing Thunder Scripture’ to cast a lightning resistance spell on himself, preparing to endure the heavenly thunder’s bombardment alongside the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer.

Unexpectedly, the heavenly thunder hit the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer, causing countless illusory runes to shine on it. The heavenly thunder seemed to replenish the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer’s energy, with not a trace of lightning escaping it.

Li Shiming stared blankly at the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer in his hands. Although the previous heavenly thunder could not compare to the one he faced when he ascended to the Nascent Soul Stage, it was definitely at the average level of Nascent Soul Level heavenly thunder.

Yet, such a heavenly thunder seemed to disappear like a mud bull entering the sea, without causing any ripple.

Even Li Shiming, holding the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer, did not perceive any lightning; the first heavenly thunder had thus passed.

As he was pondering, the tribulation seemed to sense a provocation, and the thunderclouds converged again.

This is rarely seen during the tribulation process, as usually, prior to the first heavenly thunder, the thunderclouds will have accumulated the full energy of three heavenly thunders.

Obviously, the action of the Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer earlier angered the Heaven and Earth Rules.

"Illusion Spirit Dragon, Golden Corpse, go deal with those cultivators!" At this moment, one of Li Shiming’s minds discovered through the drone satellite system a squad of six Nascent Soul cultivators rapidly approaching.

Additionally, there were some Golden Core cultivators approaching, but their speed was slower.

The Illusion Spirit Dragon and Golden Corpse received the command. The Illusion Spirit Dragon, already in an invisible state, left unnoticed, while the silhouette of the Golden Corpse flickered, and without skills like ’Divine Vision’, it was impossible to see the Golden Corpse’s figure.

"The thunderclouds are intensifying, how is this possible?" A Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner, sensing the change in the thunderclouds ahead, said in confusion.

Speaking did not affect his speed; he maintained a certain distance from his companions to both support each other in battle and guard against their attacks.

"This means that the fourth-grade spirit item is extremely special. If we can obtain it, we won’t have to worry about cultivation resources in the future!" Another Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner said greedily.

After speaking, he carefully sensed the surroundings, mainly checking if other Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioners showed any unusual behavior.

Although theoretically, before identifying what is undergoing tribulation, the likelihood of internal conflict is low, who would dare to bet their life on the character of other Nascent Soul cultivators?

His words stirred the greed of other Nascent Soul cultivators, making the atmosphere among the six Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioners even tenser.

None initiated an attack first, but if someone did, it would lead to chaos.

Li Shiming split some of his consciousness to observe the situation of the six Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioners through the eyes of the Illusion Spirit Dragon.

He then ordered the Golden Corpse to enter the underground, which was one of the Golden Corpse’s talent abilities.

The location where the Golden Corpse lurked was just where the six Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioners passed by.

The Illusion Spirit Dragon approached the six Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioners, and Li Shiming controlled it without exerting any energy attacks.

The Illusion Spirit Dragon would not become visible unless it performed energy attacks, and Li Shiming did not need it to strike successfully in one blow.

The Illusion Spirit Dragon scratched at the body of a Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner, its five claws almost instantly tearing apart the practitioner’s defenses.

This Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner maintained the highest vigilance and immediately reacted when attacked.

His attack shot towards the direction of the Illusion Spirit Dragon, but his Divine Sense failed to detect it; the strike was purely an instinctive reaction of his taut nerves.

The Illusion Spirit Dragon, whilst invisible, activated a special ability upon sensing the Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner’s counterattack—an ability it acquired after devouring Chen Zhou’s dragon-type spiritual pet.

The short-distance space movement allowed a single kilometer of teleportation, usable only once in a battle and required slow recharging for subsequent use.

The attack launched by the Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner was already prepared, sweeping a stream of firelight in one direction.

In that direction stood another Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner.

Similarly, this practitioner also counterattacked; upon realizing he was under attack, he unleashed his prepared spell while retreating to distance himself from other Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioners.

One move triggered a chain reaction, and the sudden actions of these two Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioners prompted responses from the remaining four.

They too quickly distanced themselves, either attacking or casting defensive spells on themselves.

The previously harmonious scene was instantly disrupted.

"You dare attack!" The assaulted Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner shouted.

"What’s happening?" Another Nascent Soul Early Stage practitioner questioned at this moment.

Li Shiming was waiting for this opportunity; he had witnessed on the Beishu Continent six Nascent Soul cultivators relying on a formation to combat formidable enemies.

Since such methods existed on the Beishu Continent, they should also exist here on the Dongqi Continent.