"Quick, look! He’s really charging over. He must think he’s so powerful that nothing matters."

"Even an expert at the late Core Formation Stage would die if they came against our God-Slaying Array!"

Their expressions twisted with ferocity, their hearts pounding in their chests. They were about to witness a so-called expert and the Black Dragon die at the hands of the God-Slaying Array!

Yi Tianyun seemed completely unguarded as he continued his destructive advance. The instant he stepped into the God-Slaying Array, the entire formation blazed to life. Almost simultaneously, a massive eye materialized in the air. It slowly opened, and a terrifying, gray pillar of light shot toward him with incredible speed!

SWOOSH!

This ashen pillar of light was like a death ray unleashed upon the world. Everything in its path withered or rapidly decayed. Its terrifying corrosive power was the strongest Yi Tianyun had ever encountered!

But no matter how strong it was, its power was at most equivalent to the peak of the Core Formation Stage. The data flickering in his Eye of Investigation confirmed that he could completely withstand the attack: 7,300,000 Combat Power.

’Star Absorption Technique, full power!’

A cold light flashed in Yi Tianyun’s eyes. A terrifying vortex formed in his palm, instantly swallowing the destructive light. It devoured everything that came its way, dissipating any excess. This was the might of the Star Absorption Technique—its ability to neutralize an opponent’s energy. He absorbed what his body could handle and simply dissolved the rest.

Through this frenzied absorption, he managed to withstand the blast of destructive light. Just like the lightning before it, he devoured it completely. It posed a slight challenge, but for someone of his current power, it was hardly a difficult feat. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The attack came swiftly, and it ended just as fast. After about ten seconds, the massive eye closed with a hint of unwillingness in its gaze, then vanished from the sky. Yi Tianyun was completely unchanged, utterly unharmed.

Aided by his Profound Celestial Divine Technique, it was impossible for him to be harmed in the slightest. He had, in fact, completely absorbed the destructive light.

"He... he absorbed that energy?"

They were all dumbfounded. That terrifyingly destructive light had just been... absorbed. They couldn’t believe their eyes. Anyone else touched by that light was reduced to ash, yet he had absorbed it. It was simply horrifying!

Immediately after, several Ice Arrows shot forth, piercing through the thick walls and skewering the men behind them.

"This... this..."

Their eyes widened in shock before they were frozen solid by the Ice Arrows, all signs of life extinguished.

After putting away his Ice Divine Bow, Yi Tianyun said with ice-cold eyes, "Tear this entire place to the ground!"

The Black Dragon roared and began a frenzied rampage, stomping through the area and continuously spewing fire that set everything ablaze. The God-Slaying Array was quickly shattered. Nothing in its path was left intact.

As he pushed deeper, the sky was once again shrouded in dark clouds. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed within them as they surged in his direction. From amidst the clouds, two old men flew toward him, their bodies shimmering with dazzling Divine Runes.

The Divine Runes were tattooed directly onto their skin, making them look as if the Thunder God himself had descended. Lightning from the thunderclouds above arced down, pouring into their bodies and illuminating the runes. The oppressive aura of Core Formation Stage experts bore down on the area.

"The ancestors have come out of seclusion! The ancestors are here!"

The deacons hiding in the corners cried out in relief. The sight of their ancestors immediately put them at ease; these were their two strongest patriarchs.

"I don’t care which power you belong to, but you’ve disturbed our seclusion and wrecked our Divine Rune Mansion. That is a crime punishable by death!"

The Celestial Thunder Ancestor’s voice boomed like rolling thunder. The sound alone was like a sonic wave, sweeping over the area and causing the air to crackle with lightning, the noise deafening.

Celestial Thunder Ancestor: Cultivation at the Eighth Level of the Core Formation Stage. His entire body is engraved with Thunder Attribute Divine Runes, allowing him to unleash immense Power of thunder and lightning. Current comprehensive Combat Power: 5,150,000! Weakness: Suppressed and countered by the Earth Attribute. Known Martial Arts: Thunder Flash and Celestial Thunder Technique! Possible drops: Thunder Flash, Celestial Thunder Technique, Thunder Divine Talisman, Lightning Power, etc...

Thunder Dominating Ancestor: Peak Core Formation Stage cultivation. His entire body is engraved with Thunder Attribute Divine Runes, allowing him to unleash immense Power of thunder and lightning. Current comprehensive Combat Power: 6,500,000! Weakness: Suppressed and countered by Earth Attribute Power. Known Martial Arts...

Their skill sets were identical; the only difference was their cultivation level. Both could command the power of the Thunder Attribute, which they had specialized in cultivating—a relatively unique elemental power.

This Combat Power was just as heaven-defying. Thunder Dominating Ancestor’s Combat Power was a staggering 6,500,000, and that was without him even exerting his full strength. It was obvious now that the phantom of the Netherworld Emperor from before was, at best, a single strike from a peak Core Formation expert, not a true representation of their full power.

Yi Tianyun had anticipated this, so he wasn’t surprised in the least.

’So this is the true power of an expert at the peak of the Core Formation Stage...’

A thrill of excitement shot through Yi Tianyun, completely devoid of fear. ’So what if they were at the peak of the Core Formation Stage? He’d kill them all the same!’

"A crime punishable by death?"

Yi Tianyun sneered, then took out a Protective Talisman and crushed it. Immediately, a phantom of the Netherworld Emperor materialized in mid-air, gazing down upon the land—and the experts before him—with utter indifference.

"The Netherworld Emperor!!"

They were utterly shocked. Even the Divine Rune Mansion disciples watching from a distance were stunned. How could the Netherworld Emperor possibly appear here?

"How do you have a Protective Talisman from the Netherworld Emperor!?" the Celestial Thunder Ancestor demanded, shocked. "Are you from the Netherworld Empire?"

"What do you think?" Yi Tianyun replied. This was exactly the effect he was aiming for. He wanted to sow confusion and make them believe he was from the Netherworld Empire. That way, any disciples who escaped would spread the rumor that the Netherworld Emperor had sent someone to annihilate the Divine Rune Mansion. The blame would be shifted squarely onto their shoulders.

In the next moment, the phantom of the Netherworld Emperor unleashed its most powerful attack on the two ancestors—the Netherworld Divine Palm.

It was the same move, with the same level of power as before. The Celestial Thunder Ancestor simply pointed a finger. A bolt of lightning shot out and blasted the Netherworld Divine Palm to cinders! That was the difference in their power. The Celestial Thunder Ancestor’s cultivation wasn’t at the peak of the Core Formation Stage, but shattering this mere phantom of the Netherworld Emperor was no trouble at all.

"If you are truly from the Netherworld Empire, then what has our Divine Rune Mansion done to deserve you coming here to suppress us!" he demanded, his gaze icy as he stared at Yi Tianyun. They did not attack immediately.

"Your crime is your ignorance. Your crime is your arrogance. Your crime is your heartlessness!" Yi Tianyun’s gaze was colder than ice.