Chapter 107: Black Tribulation Lightning

The battlefield was a maelstrom of chaos, the air thick with the clash of spiritual energy and the cries of cultivators. Jiang Feng stood at the center of it all, his body a conduit of raw power as the Skyforge Zone raged around him. The flames roared like a living entity, their heat and light overwhelming all who dared to stand against him.

The ground beneath his feet cracked and splintered, unable to withstand the sheer force of his presence. The sky above churned with dark clouds, as if the heavens themselves were bearing witness to the carnage below.

Jiang Feng's Three Sun Fists, backed by the power of Draconian might, pressed forward relentlessly. His strike sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the force of his blow causing the very fabric of the battlefield to tremble. The toll of the Shadow Bell echoed like a death knell, its soundwaves twisting and shattering the flames around him. The howl of the bell merged with the roar of the fire, creating a cacophony that seemed to shake the earth itself. Jiang Feng's body shuddered as he unleashed a punch, his fist blazing with the light of a breaking dawn.

"Dawn Breaker, Breaking the Sun!" His shout boomed like an explosion, reverberating across the battlefield.

The impact of his strike was catastrophic. Light erupted from his fist as it collided with the shockwave, which stood like an impenetrable iron wall. The flames surrounding him surged and then shattered, the Skyforge Zone collapsing under the sheer force of the collision. Jiang Feng was thrown back, blood spraying from his mouth as his right arm bent at an unnatural angle. He landed heavily on the ground, panting, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. His eyes blazed with fury, even as pain coursed through his broken arm.

His hatred for those of the Celestial Shadow Church ran deep, the image of Wu Jin surfaced in his mind, fueling his rage!! "I will kill you all"

The force of the shockwave had been unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was as if a mountain of metal had slammed into him, crushing his defenses and leaving him reeling. This was no ordinary opponent; the junior generation of the Northern Moon Sect had never posed such a threat. The cultivators he had faced before were all at the 8th stage or lower 9th stage of the Essence Realm, but this was something entirely different. This was a battle that pushed him to his limits.

The shockwave burst apart, sending currents of wind tearing through the battlefield. The Shadow Bell shattered, its fragments scattering like shards of glass. Lin Meixue staggered back, fresh blood spilling from her lips. Her eyes, however, shone with excitement rather than fear. She wiped the blood from her mouth, her gaze flickering past Jiang Feng to the flames swaying behind Ji Moran. A cunning grin spread across her face as she noticed the fear in Ji Moran's eyes.

At that moment, the howling red moon descended, slamming towards the ground with the force of a falling star. The impact was devastating, the ground exploding in a shower of rock and debris. Jiang Feng's Skyforge Vortex roared into action, meeting the red moon head-on.

The collision sent him flying backward, his draconic armor cracked and broken in several places, blood leaking from the wounds beneath. His broken arm hung limply at his side as he landed heavily, his body battered but his resolve was yet again unbroken.

"Yes, this is the type of battle I need to push me forward," Jiang Feng growled, lifting his head to the sky and roaring in defiance.

Those around had shocked expressions, tongue tied and amazed!

Han Yunfei, unscathed, swung his Whipblade with deadly precision, the air tearing as the blade cut through it. The Celestial Dagger, seemingly with a will of its own, stabbed out, sparks flying as the two weapons clashed. Jiang Feng, however, was running on empty. The Skyforge Zone and Vortex had drained his spiritual energy, and the Draconic Resilience that had sustained him was fading. His robe was torn and bloodied, his body a testament to the ferocity of the short battle.

Ji Moran watched in horror, her hands covering her mouth. She was powerless, her strength insufficient to make a difference against the Shadow Church members. The thought of Jiang Feng falling here, in this place, was unbearable due to the bond they had just built through practicing everyday.

"He's dead," Danue Ge muttered, his voice cold and detached as he observed the battle. The outcome seemed inevitable.

"Ji Moran, run!" Zhen Ruyi shouted from a distance, her voice filled with desperation. The thought of losing Ji Moran was too much to bear, worse for the Ji Clan.

"He was a fool to challenge the Shadow Church to begin with. Serves him right," Shen Long spat, his voice dripping with venom as he guarded the others from Silver Sword City. Most of them were on the brink of death, their bodies broken and their spirits shattered.

"We should go now," Zhao Tian urged, pulling Lan Xue toward the exit of the Illusionary Formation. But Lan Xue stood rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed on the unfolding battle, unable to tear herself away.

Han Yunfei approached Ling Meixue, his face cold, expressionless and calculating as he observed the broken figure of Jiang Feng. Ling Meixue, too, eyed Jiang Feng with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. She wanted to strike at Ji Moran, to eliminate her before turning her attention to the flames, but something held her back. An instinct, a feeling that told her to tread carefully.

"I have an unsettling feeling about this guy," Han Yunfei said, extending a hand to help Ling Meixue to her feet. Though injured, she had endured far worse and remained standing, this to her was nothing.

"I'm getting a weird vibe as well. Don't underestimate him. Let's attack together," she replied, her Twin Shard Daggers gleaming as they shot outward. With a wave of her hand, shadow energy twisted around her body, causing her to vanish into the darkness.

Han Yunfei followed suit, stepping into the shadows and disappearing from sight. His Whipblade lashed out, cutting through the air with deadly precision.

Jiang Feng took all of this in, the shouts from the others, the look of excitement in Ling Meixue's eyes, the cold expression of Han Yunfei and the hateful glares from the other cities. He was no fool, he knew what he had done, he knew that he had killed many, he knew the consequences that would follow his actions, but so what?

Which city hadn't killed anyone? Which city wasn't planning to kill the other for treasures, which city wasn't secretly working with and against each other to come out on-top? Who didn't know that death would be an option once you entered the Obsidian Waterfall Realm, whether by humans or beasts?

Jiang feng watched as the two weapons zoomed in on him, his smile widening as he took a deep breath and turned his focus inward!

"Senior Aetherion, are you ready?" Jiang Feng asked silently, his voice echoing in his mind.

"Kill!" came the deep, rumbling response that seemed to want to tear his mind apart as the Aetherion Dragon opened it's massive eyes inside the realm space it was at.

Jiang Feng lifted his head and roared to the sky, the sound reverberating across the battlefield. Above him, a massive black dragon materialized, its form towering and majestic. The dragon had four horns which crackled with lightning, its scales ink-black and shimmering with an otherworldly sheen. Terrible lightning crackled across its body, illuminating the darkened sky.

The dragon then lifted its head and let out a thunderous roar, the sound shaking the heavens. Storm clouds gathered overhead, and within seconds, black lightning began to rain down.

The lightning struck with unerring accuracy, shattering Han Yunfei's Whipblade and Ling Meixue's Twin Shard Daggers. The force of the strikes sent them reeling, forcing them out of the shadows and into the light. The black lightning continued to rain down, striking them with relentless fury, their bodies convulsing as the energy coursed through them. The dragon's roar echoed once more before it vanished, its form dissipating into Jiang Feng's body.

He could only sustain it for that long and no more! 'Tribulation lightning' Jiang Feng muttered.

As the dragon's power merged back with his body, Jiang Feng's broken arm began to heal, the bones snapping back into place with an audible crack. His body, battered and bloodied, started to mend itself, the wounds closing as if they had never been there. The Eternal Bloodline flared to life, the character for "Eternal" burning brightly on his back as it gave off a dominating aura.

His Draconian Bloodline surged, black scales started to fuse with his flesh as one, while lightning flickered across his body. His blood rushed through his veins, power coursing through him like a raging river.

"Jiang Feng boy, if your body doesn't get stronger fast, my Draconic Blood will cause your body to implode and you will die a horrible death. It would be a shame to die like this!" The Aetherion Dragon's voice rumbled once more before going silent.

"I understand" Jiang Feng commented before turning to look at those from the shadow church who stood back up with burning eyes. 'No wonder everyone ran away. These guys just won't die" Jiang Feng smiled.

The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the crackling of lightning and the heavy breathing of the combatants. Jiang Feng stood tall, his body restored, his spirit unbroken. The battle was far from over, but for now, he was ready to face whatever came next.