"Come forth, Thunder!"

Rumble!!!

With a furious roar, thunder and lightning endlessly filled the sky above.

It seemed to be responding to the great power summoning it.

"Hm? I underestimated you!"

Elder Zhang looked up, carefully sensing the Spirit Art Xia Liu was wielding.

To control the power of Heavenly Thunder.

This was no ordinary Spirit Art.

It was a move that surpassed Spirit Art—a Divine Skill.

Given the pervasive aura in the heavens and earth, this absolutely contained the power of a Minor Divine Ability!

The might of a Minor Divine Ability even a Golden Core Stage expert must weigh carefully.

No wonder Xia Liu dared to strike back against a Golden Pill Stage Cultivator.

He actually possessed such a Divine Power Art!

"Do you think you can defeat my Golden Pill Early Stage cultivation with such a divine ability? Perhaps you are overconfident!"

Elder Zhang said disdainfully.

"You're right; this technique alone can't defeat you. But what if there's this?"

Without saying more, the bag behind Xia Liu slightly opened, and a glazed light spun out from within.

An extraordinary aura enveloped the surrounding dozens of miles.

The appearance of the Taiqing Sword made Elder Zhang's face twitch.

Soon, a gasp of amazement reverberated through the area: "It's a Spiritual Artifact!"

Another Golden Pill Stage Cultivator squinted his eyes, similarly taken aback inside.

According to his assessment, the Taiqing Sword in Xia Liu's hand was at least a Supreme Grade Spirit Artifact!

Only a Supreme Grade Spirit Artifact could emit such a rich aura!

Ye Fei, who was protecting Quanyu and retreating from the battlefield, saw this scene.

His eyes almost popped out.

Xia Liu actually possessed a Spiritual Artifact!

And he could also perform such terrifying thunder techniques.

Such power was already enough to contend against a Golden Pill Stage Cultivator!

Poor me for thinking I needed to protect him earlier.

How embarrassing.

The abilities he's shown are enough for him to protect himself in the face of a Golden Pill Early Stage cultivator.

Yifu's emotions were quite agitated.

Xia Liu's strength made her tremble with fear.

Recalling how she had mocked Xia Liu before.

How as a senior she had pressured Xia Liu...

All these images replayed in her mind, causing Yifu to tremble uncontrollably.

So terrifying.

Xia Liu's hidden strength was too horrifying!

She didn't want him to win now, instead longing for Elder Zhang to kill him.

So she would not have to explain anything later, would not have to bow in front of him.

But thinking of Xia Liu losing, she feared Zhuang Bifan might kill everyone to vent his old wound of a ruined arm.

Being stuck between a rock and a hard place was annoying.

"Good boy! Thanks for bringing me a Spiritual Artifact!"

As Elder Zhang's words fell.

His mouth opened wide, spitting out five Golden Needles.

Within these five Golden Needles, a trace of Primordial Force from a Golden Core Stage expert was embedded.

Any cultivator of the same level would find it troublesome when facing them.

Back then, when he first refined these five Golden Needles, Elder Zhang defeated a duo of same-level cultivators.

That battle made him famous in the Zhuang Family.

Eventually, he became the top Guest Elder.

Facing the sudden emergence of five Golden Needles, Xia Liu's heart skipped a beat.

A fatal crisis flashed by.

Those five Golden Needles were terrifying!

"Xia Liu, be mindful, those five Golden Needles are this old man's Lifebound Treasure. If they strike you, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Bai Jue reminded him.

"Lifebound Treasure? It's said that Golden Core Stage cultivators can use their Golden Core to refine a Lifebound Treasure; today, I'm fortunate to witness it."

"Your knowledge of Lifebound Treasures might be limited; I'll provide detailed information after the battle ends."

"Elder Bai, analyze for me, combining the Taiqing Sword and the third step of the Thunder Control Technique, how would it fare against those five Golden Needles?"

Xia Liu asked.

"This..."

Earlier Bai Jue had warned Xia Liu to be cautious.

And now, he forgot about the Taiqing Sword entirely.

"You can pretend I never said anything just now."

"What do you mean, Elder Bai? Quickly explain."

Xia Liu suddenly became anxious.

Bai Jue's enigmatic words were hard to understand.

"The Taiqing Sword is the chief among the four great Spirit Artifacts of the Southern Realm. Coupled with the third step of the Thunder Control Technique, given his Golden Pill Early Stage cultivation, if the Lifebound Treasure is defense-oriented, it might resist for a while..."

"So, he's doomed?"

"Stop babbling, finish it quickly."

Bai Jue replied impatiently.

He was even starting to suspect that Xia Liu was trying to steer him.

...

Xia Liu was at a loss for words, but Bai Jue's words were trustworthy.

Seems like Elder Zhang was unfortunate!

"Roar of Thunder!"

With no more hesitation, Xia Liu showcased the power of the Roar of Thunder for the first time.

In the sky above, thunder resounded, continually slicing through the void.

Thunder Energy struck the Taiqing Sword.

In less than a breath, electric serpents of thunder continuously danced across the Taiqing Sword.

A majestic, overwhelming power surged forth.

"What a mighty aura! But since I've already summoned my Lifebound Treasure, today you cannot turn the tide! Break for me!"

The five Golden Needles immediately swirled upward, intent on piercing Xia Liu's body.

Faced with the Lifebound Treasure of a Golden Pill Early Stage cultivator.

Xia Liu's lips slightly curled: "Let me end your overconfidence!"

Thousands of Threads and Myriad Strands!

Thousands upon thousands of Thunderbolt Sword Energies burst forth from the Taiqing Sword.

The space ahead twisted, seemingly unable to bear the might of the sword energy.

When the five Golden Needles encountered the countless Thunderbolt Sword Energies.

In the blink of an eye, they were engulfed.

Ting ting ting!!!

A crisp sound rang out from the point of contact between needles and sword energy.

Sparks flared continuously.

Everyone present was shaken to their core.

Just as the sword energy was about to reach Elder Zhang, he coughed up a mouthful of crimson blood.

The Body Protection Gang Circle he had deployed instantly withered.

Sensing that his Lifebound Treasure might be shattered, he immediately cried out for help behind him.

"Daoist Fellow Kunhang, help me!"

Kunhang was the Golden Pill Early Stage cultivator hired by Zhuang Bifan at the mercenary shop.

Upon hearing Elder Zhang's words, Kunhang did not respond, standing taciturn in place.

His attitude was clear, he would not help.

"Damn it! Just you wait!"

A heart-wrenching scene made Elder Zhang furious.

But faced with the unstoppable Thunderbolt Sword Energy.

He had no choice but to face it seriously.

If he let up, he would be pierced to death by the Thunderbolt Sword Energy!

Ting ting ting!!!

As Elder Zhang grew anxious, the Thunderbolt Sword Energy already touched the Gang Circle.

Fortunately, upon seeing such majestic sword energy, he timely arranged the Gang Circle.

If not, before the sword energy arrived...

He would have been blasted through.

He consistently underestimated Xia Liu.

Who would have thought, the sword energy emitted by that Supreme Grade Spirit Artifact would be so powerful!

The thousands of sword energies like rain shattered the snowy ground around Elder Zhang.

And further buried Elder Zhang into the snow.

In the space around, only the sound of sword energy striking air echoed.

This unprecedented scene made Kunhang tremble.

Also leaving Ye Fei, Yifu, and Zhuang Bifan dumbfounded.

Who could have thought? Xia Liu, with mere Foundation Establishment cultivation, could push a Golden Core Stage expert to such an extent!

When he struck, it felt like he was pressing Elder Zhang!

Too terrifying!

When did such a monster appear in the Northern Realm?

Crunch!

Amid everyone's shock, a crisp sound emerged from the snow.

Zhuang Bifan immediately sensed something amiss.

That was the sound of the Body Protection Gang Circle breaking!

Next, Elder Zhang might have to endure the unmatched sword energy like a torrential downpour with his body!

A few breaths later, the countless sword energies dissipated.

The space within a few miles fell into an unprecedented state of clarity...