CHAPTER 67: HEAVENLY LIGHTNING SECOND FORM: CRIMSON LIGHTNING EYE

At the center of the secret realm, cultivators from Heavenly Mandate Hall were in the midst of their third round of the hunting operation.

After multiple relentless battles, the demonic beast at the Core Breakthrough Realm was now on the brink of death, but it had become utterly berserk.

Its final desperate counterattack came at a heavy cost for the group.

Jun Wudi stood soaked in blood. Weakened by his long-existing internal injuries and beaten back again and again by the beast, he could barely hold his ground.

He glanced at the fallen companions around him. These were people he had personally brought from his clan, raised and trained step by step since their youth.

Jun Wudi couldn't bear to see them die because of him and his personal goals.

Left with no choice, he gave up on the opportunity for now and ordered a retreat.

He stepped forward to block the beast's attacks, then turned back and shouted at Jun Laoye and Nantian Yijian, "Take them and go! As long as we live, there will be other chances!"

These people were all former soldiers. Naturally, they treated orders as their top priority. Upon hearing Jun Wudi's call, they supported each other and began retreating.

A ripple shimmered across the sky, and a portal tore open in the air. Lu Chen and Nantian Wan'er emerged from the teleportation formation, landing squarely behind the beast.

Seeing Lu Chen appear out of nowhere, Nantian Yijian grew anxious and shouted, "Little Lu, run! That's a Core Breakthrough Realm demonic beast!"

However, Lu Chen didn't retreat. He turned toward the beast, just in time to see Jun Wudi locked in battle with it. "A Core Breakthrough Realm demonic beast?"

Lu Chen recalled what Jun Laoye had told him earlier, that they came here to retrieve something. "Looks like this is what Uncle Jun came for. I'd better find a way to help him."

The demonic beast turned around, letting out an enraged roar when it saw Lu Chen behind it. Opening its massive pincers, it charged straight at him.

Seeing Lu Chen remain motionless in the face of the charge, Nantian Yijian thought he'd been paralyzed with fear. He quickly channeled his spirit qi and prepared to rush over to save him.

Lu Chen sneered at the beast. "Heh, it's just a Spidercrab that's barely at the Core Breakthrough Realm."

He wrapped his arm around Nantian Wan'er. Spirit qi surged through his meridians toward his legs as he prepared to dodge at any moment. "Do you have any idea? Beasts below the Core Breakthrough Realm are like ants to me."

Lu Chen's statement didn't stem from arrogance. With the Fire Phoenix Mark alone, Lu Chen could easily suppress any beast below the Core Breakthrough Realm.

In a flash, the Spidercrab's attack was upon him. Its massive pincers nearly brushed Lu Chen's face. In that instant, Lu Chen drew the Hunyuan Greatsword and swung it through the air toward the Spidercrab. "Perfect."

At the same time, he used his movement art to retreat rapidly. The entire sequence of actions was fluid and precise, leaving the onlookers stunned.

Nantian Yijian had just started to rush forward when he saw Lu Chen's effortless movements. He was so shocked he couldn't even finish his sentence. "Little Lu, you..."

Jun Wudi observed Lu Chen's movement and sensed the aura of his cultivation level. "Those are spirit qi fluctuations at the level of Qi Regulation Realm."

It was only then that Jun Laoye noticed Lu Chen's presence. Hearing Jun Wudi's words, he let out a deep sigh. "I'm still a step too slow."

Ever since reaching the Qi Regulation Realm, he had been eager to seek Lu Chen for another duel. But now, watching his smooth and seamless movements, he realized that Lu Chen had left him behind once again.

Lu Chen didn't respond to either of them. He fixed his gaze on the white mark left on the Spidercrab's body and let out a cold chuckle. "Looks like Wind Dragon was right. My cultivation is still lacking. Without their help, I wouldn't be able to suppress beasts at the Core Breakthrough Realm at all."

"Wan'er, fall back."

Lu Chen kept the Hunyuan Greatsword back into his Heavenly Pool, and with a gentle push, sent Nantian Wan'er floating back toward Nantian Yijian.

Without turning his head, he shouted, "Little Jian, take care of Wan'er for me."

"Alright, alright! Be careful, Little Lu!"

Nantian Yijian caught the incoming Nantian Wan'er and quickly retreated to the group.

After confirming Wan'er was safe, he reached into his robe and pulled out a herb.

It was an ordinary herb he had picked up back in the Fire Region. He was now using it as a cover for the Fire Phoenix Mark.

As the Spidercrab opened its gaping jaws, Lu Chen activated his spirit qi and tossed the herb in with a precise and deceptive motion.

"Done!"

He watched as the herb vanished down the Spidercrab's throat, and in that instant, he secretly activated the Fire Phoenix Mark at full strength. The beast's aura collapsed right away.

Despite having just broken into the Core Breakthrough Realm, the beast was highly intelligent. Realizing it was being suppressed, it collapsed to the ground. Its small eyes blinked pitifully at Lu Chen, silently pleading for mercy.

But Lu Chen ignored the beast's begging. In his eyes, a creature that attacked him the moment they met was nowhere near as important as his own allies.

He instantly flashed back to Nantian Wan'er's side, turned to Jun Wudi, and shouted urgently, "Uncle Jun, hurry. The effect only lasts ten minutes."

At his call, everyone in the cave stared at the subdued Spidercrab, faces tense with anticipation.

Jun Wudi couldn't understand why Lu Chen's aura had changed so drastically, but the situation left no room for hesitation.

The Spidercrab had been weakened, and it was the perfect time to make a move. Forming a hand seal, Jun Wudi summoned his divine spear and gave it a testing thrust. Under Lu Chen’s suppression, the Spider Crab could only endure Jun Wudi’s attack landing on its body without even flinching.

Confident about the beast's inability to resist, Jun Wudi relaxed, spinning the spear in the air before plunging it into the ground.

Bringing his right hand's index and middle fingers together, Jun Wudi slowly moved them in front of his nose. As he focused inward, a surge of powerful spirit qi spread through his body.

Wind Dragon's clone circled above Lu Chen's head. It sensed Jun Wudi's aura and muttered, "Such a young Core Breakthrough Realm cultivator? There are even faint traces of Earth Core Realm energy. But it feels like his cultivation was crippled. Right now, he's barely at the first level of the Core Breakthrough Realm."

Hearing Wind Dragon's words, Lu Chen recalled what Jun Laoye had said and grew even more curious about Jun Wudi's past.

Lu Chen decided that if he ever had the power to do so, he would help Jun Wudi resolve the issues with his cultivation.

Tiny arcs of red lightning began to dance around Jun Wudi's fingertips as he started chanting a complicated and obscure incantation.

"Is that the Heavenly Lightning Sutra you used in our match?"

Lu Chen recognized it immediately. It was the incantation Jun Laoye had recited when using the Heavenly Dao Command.

Jun Laoye looked at the crimson lightning flickering along the spear and explained, "No. This is the second form of Heavenly Lightning Sutra."

Lu Chen turned around, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

To him, it looked like the same move Jun Laoye had used before.

Seeing Lu Chen's confusion, Jun Laoye got a little excited. "Just watch closely. Second uncle created this move himself. You all have never seen it before."

Right then, Jun Wudi shouted, "Heavenly Dao Command: Heavenly Lightning Sutra, Second Form!"

The spear in front of him pulsed with thunderlight and shot up into the sky, then vanished without a trace.

"That's it?" Lu Chen asked as he stared at the disappearing spear.

Something feels off. This attack shouldn't have been so simple.

Jun Laoye snorted. "You're underestimating it. This is just the beginning. Keep watching. Once second uncle activates this move, he won't be able to move. It'll be up to me to guard him."

With that, Jun Laoye drew his spear and carefully took up a defensive stance beside Jun Wudi. "Second Uncle, I'll protect you."

Jun Wudi laughed heartily and slowly closed his eyes. "Haha! Little Jun, I've never thought I'd live to see the day you guard me."

A beam of crimson lightning emerged from the center of Jun Wudi's forehead, gradually forming a third eye.

Seeing this, Jun Laoye called out to Lu Chen, "Watch carefully. That lightning eye is a secret technique of the Jun Clan that has never been passed down. Combined with Second Uncle's original move, the real show is about to begin."

After saying that, he fell silent and focused entirely on guarding the surroundings.

Jun Wudi roared, "It's coming! Heavenly Lightning Second Form, Crimson Lightning Eye!"

The spirit qi around him surged, reaching its peak. A small thundercloud formed above the Spidercrab's head, gradually taking the shape of an eye.

Jun Wudi's eyes snapped open as he shouted again, "Break!"

At that moment, the eye in the sky opened wide.

Jun Wudi raised one finger toward the sky, and a massive spear, entirely formed from crimson lightning, slowly emerged from the thundercloud eye. The spearhead radiated an overwhelming aura.

The Spidercrab was already on the verge of death. Its defenses had crumbled, and Lu Chen was still suppressing it, leaving it unable to resist.

"Go!"

The crimson lightning spear shot straight toward the Spidercrab and pinned it squarely on the head.

Red lightning erupted in all directions. The Spidercrab's flesh burst open in an instant as it let out an ear-piercing, agonized scream. Its blood rained down on the surroundings.

Just when Lu Chen thought the attack was over and was about to move in for a follow-up, the thundercloud above crackled again. Another crimson lightning spear dropped from the sky.

Following this second strike, the thundercloud eye unleashed its full might.

Every ten seconds, another red lightning spear descended. For a full ten minutes, Jun Wudi relentlessly pinned the Spidercrab's body with countless lightning spears, riddling it with holes.

Yet, the Spidercrab still clung to life. It struggled against the suppression, trying desperately to break free.

Jun Wudi pointed at the thundercloud eye above and shouted, "Explode!"

Boom!

A thunderous roar erupted from the sky.

Lu Chen looked up just in time to see the thundercloud eye shatter, transforming into 108 crimson lightning bolts that rained down like a waterfall, all striking the Spidercrab at the same time.

Jun Laoye quickly pulled the exhausted Jun Wudi back to safety.

Then, the final purple bolt fell.

A scream of pure agony rang out.

The Spidercrab, in a last burst of willpower, broke free from Lu Chen's suppression and charged toward Jun Wudi, seemingly ready to drag him into death together.

However, it barely managed two steps before its body began to disintegrate. Lu Chen suppressed it again. It swayed, then collapsed and fell still, its life force completely burned out.

Everyone inside the cave let out a long sigh of relief. Their mission had finally been accomplished.

Jun Laoye and Nantian Yijian hugged each other and jumped for joy on the spot. "We did it. We really did it!"

The victory hadn't come easily.

Jun Wudi didn't spare a moment for celebration. He struggled to his feet and staggered toward a herb deep within the cave.

Sitting down in front of the unscathed herb, he finally let out a loud, unrestrained laugh.

Jun Wudi usually carried himself with calm indifference. This was the first time everyone had seen him so unguarded.

He carefully dug out the herb by hand, making sure to keep the roots intact, then gently placed it into a prepared jade vial.

Looking at the vial in his hand, Jun Wudi finally calmed down. Two tears silently rolled down his cheeks as he softly called out the name of a woman—Su Yan.

Lu Chen remembered that name. It must have been the "Aunt" Jun Laoye had mentioned before.

Seeing Jun Wudi's state, Lu Chen wanted to offer some comfort.

Just then, he felt a sudden disturbance coming from the stone door beside him.

A burst of crazed laughter echoed from within the stone door. "Hahaha! I'm finally out! Cheap tricks! Did you think you could keep me trapped?"

As soon as Lu Chen heard the voice, a violent aura surged through him. "This... could it be...? Hahaha, at last. I've waited so long for this moment."

The others nearby turned their heads, startled by Lu Chen's sudden change. They thought the Spidercrab had come back to life.

Nantian Yijian stood behind him and called out desperately, "Little Lu, what's wrong?"

However, Lu Chen gave no response.