My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 238: Origins of Community Thunder

Duan Ling and Yu Xin, who were completely unaware of the secrets of this place, were as bewildered by the unexpected change as Zuo Qiutian.

Did you assume a life-or-death stance against me just to crash into the barrier and send yourself to death?

Earlier, when Yu Xin approached the barrier, she was repelled before even making contact. The massive force nearly sent her plummeting into the Magma Lake. If it weren't for Zuo Qiutian's intervention, she might have already turned to charcoal inside.

Now Li Rui is charging forward—isn't this suicide?

"No!"

Duan Ling barely managed to break free from the restraints of the Blood River, wanting to speak but had no time to explain before his mouth was sealed again.

Simultaneously, Li Rui had already rushed to the forefront.

As before, without making contact, an impact hit him squarely, nearly making him lose his balance.

Thus, he activated the new skill on the administrator's coat at this moment.

Immovable as a Mountain: Reduces the effect of forced movement by 80% for 3 seconds.

Everyone watched in shock as he crashed into the faintly visible barrier, too stunned to consider what Li Rui was doing.

Zuo Qiutian squinted his eyes, unsure what this troublemaker, who repeatedly disrupted his plans, wanted to do. But he was certain it was the Heavenly Dao Barrier; even if one could avoid the impact, how could a mortal form withstand contact with it? Forceful contact would surely result in annihilation.

However, something miraculous happened right before his eyes.

Upon touching the barrier, not only was Li Rui unharmed, but a layer of radiance flashed, causing the barrier to disappear completely.

!

Not only was everyone else unprepared for this, but Li Rui himself didn't expect it.

"I used the damn key, and you just directly dismantled the door?"

He used all his strength to fight Zuo Qiutian, intending to make him believe he was willing to risk his life, thereby approaching the barrier unexpectedly. Without making the opponent feel threatened, he might guess his intention and intercept directly.

Li Rui initially thought that he could only rush into the barrier alone, seize the Community Thunder, and perhaps have a chance to stall for more time.

But now the barrier has completely vanished.

That clearly extraordinary withered peach tree was exposed to everyone without any protection.

Li Rui knew things were bad. No need to guess, he knew Zuo Qiutian was sure to stop him.

Turning around, he saw the Blood River suspending its array formation, soaring and attacking him overwhelmingly, enveloping him wholly in a blossom of blood lotus.

"Li Rui!"

Due to the Blood River's withdrawal, Yu Xin and others were freed from their constraints, and they launched attacks from behind, trying to stop Zuo Qiutian's spell.

However, with a disdainful snort, Zuo Qiutian swung a gale of Evil Qi that sent them all flying, leaving them vomiting blood as they hit the ground.

The disparity was simply too great. A mere casual hit by Zuo Qiutian required Li Rui to use Thunder Shocking Earth to counteract it fully, yet the Blood River and gale wind seemed endless.

Even Li Rui needed to charge up powerful moves to counteract, much less the others.

At this moment, they could only watch helplessly as the blood lotus enveloped Li Rui within.

"Do not waste your efforts."

Zuo Qiutian stated, "This Blood Lotus Transforming Soul technique was taught to me by Master Fusheng of Biyang Valley, driven by essence blood. It seems ordinary, but not even high beings like Chongxu and Zhenyue can withstand it. In mere moments, his body will be gone."

"This is my final respect and mourning for Brother Li. He was formidable, not highly cultivated but still proving a thorn to me. To honor him, I let you go."

He showed a bit of pride as if he had defeated a destined rival, "Time is up; his physical form won't exist, nor will his spirit remain."

Their minds, already pained by the Evil Qi disturbance in their bodies, sank further upon hearing this.

No one said, "He died; we won't live pathetically either," but the fact was, their lives were indeed exchanged for by Li Rui's desperate battle.

Although Zuo Qiutian's decision might not have been within Li Rui's expectations.

They watched in despair as the blood lotus bloomed from a bud into full bloom, the feeling of hopelessness growing ever deeper, until a bit of golden glow slid from the blossom.

Even Zuo Qiutian approaching the peach tree remnant showed a change in his expression.

Indeed, if Chongxu and Zhenyue were to take this hit head-on, they wouldn't fare well, but this didn't mean they lacked methods to resist.

Zhang Keyue's token.

No attributes, no special effects, just one entry called Save the Master.

It was made with eighty-one Returning Yuan Evil-avoiding Talismans, empowered by Zhenyue's cultivation.

The golden light protected Li Rui within the blood lotus, calm as a mountain, completely unharmed. After the lotus dissipated, he charged at the remaining lightning-struck peach wood.

In the final moment, he saw the withered twig ignited by crimson lightning.

...

Whoa—

The skies were clear and gentle; the mountain slopes burst with greenery, vegetation gently rustling in the breeze, creating an enjoyable sound.

On these sunlit slopes, all the vegetation grew beautifully, especially at the peak where a particularly tall peach tree stood.

She was so eye-catching; if anyone visited this place, surely they'd think no tree in this world could compare in might, and if inclined, might compose a verse.

But here, nestled deep in the mountains, devoid of human presence, with some small demons wandering, no one was likely to visit.

Everything was presented in Li Rui's eyes.

From an omniscient perspective, he gazed at the mountain, unable to move or speak, just to watch.

The flow of time accelerated; seasons passed—spring, summer, autumn, winter—and the peach tree grew more flourishing, its flowers turning crimson.

Until one night, with a full moon high in the sky, the weather warm and pleasant as usual.

Suddenly, a flash of red streaked across the sky, coming straight towards this place.

Crash!

A red thunderbolt fell from the heavens, striking the peach wood directly.

Everything on the slope ignited swiftly; the thunder fire instantly reduced anything it touched to ashes.

The demons dwelling here seemed bewitched, losing their lives instantly.

In such apocalyptic scenes, only the peach tree stood, visibly changing.

Its trunk became a body, branches transformed into limbs, long black hair draped from the top, as petals danced, encasing her pristine as jade body in veils.

This towering woman, nearly ten feet high, surveyed the burning slopes, frowned, and waved her hand, countless peach petals swirling to extinguish the flames.

She seemed naturally imbued with a commanding presence, commanding flames to retreat wherever she went, daring not to hinder.

The Celestial Thunder flame gradually died down under her efforts, yet as things improved, residual fire began to coalesce, prompting Peach Blossom Empress to frown again.

Amidst the blaze emerged an elderly figure, hair and brows ablaze, skin wrinkled like deep valleys, his robe stitched with fiery patterns.

Upon meeting, there was no exchange of words; they instantly engaged in combat.

Li Rui realized he underestimated the gentle-toned Peach Blossom Spirit.

These spirit monsters fashioned from celestial power fought with earthshaking force.

Even the hillside where the peach blossoms grew was leveled flat.

Ultimately, the aged Lava Ancestor fell and dissipated, transforming into a Lava Lake while Peach Blossom Empress, severely injured, didn't linger, staggering away from the fiery land and disappearing at the mountain's base.

Li Rui's view remained fixed here.

After the fierce battle, numerous Flame Spirits emerged from the Lava Lake, thriving on Spiritual Qi, building totems before the lake, and worshiping the lava.

Every Flame Spirit, upon dying, would burn to ashes by the lakeside, becoming rocks.

Thus time raced forward; Peach Blossom Empress never returned.

The Flame Spirits lived short lives, lasting only a few years before ending, their bodies contributing to constructing the Lava Ancestor's tomb, eventually forming a mountain.

Li Rui finally understood the massive cavity within the mountain cell wasn't hollowed, merely an overhead cover.

His view inched closer; as the final Flame Spirit dashed, he was sealed within the mountain cell too.

Time passed unknown; a patch of land emerged from the Lava Lake, sprouting vegetation, forming a vibrant island.

At the island's center, a tender sapling grew into a new peach tree that, when lush with leaves, bore not flowers, but a fiery red bell.