Chapter 261

Chapter 261: A Perverse Advancement

Zhang Yang’s expression shifted slightly.

The Holy Lightning concealed within the Realm of Thunder was terrifying. Unlike when it destroyed the holy weapon feather earlier, it did not respond with pure destruction. Instead, it allowed this dreadful force to press down and disperse the lightning.

He could only retreat swiftly.

Witnessing this scene, Yilie, Su Baishi, and Ying Wuji were overjoyed.

Even the Sparrow King appeared pleased.

This was the most invincible treasure of their race, and he hadn’t even fully unleashed its power yet. If he did, it would be even more horrifying. Of course, using it came at a price, as it involved the subtle mysteries of the immortal path—something considered taboo in the era of Eternal Night, where no immortals existed.

The Sparrow King gradually exerted his strength.

The holy beast demon sparrow within the pearl let out a wild cry, stirring up fierce winds, raging lightning, and boiling flames, as if the world within the pearl was facing an apocalypse.

The sheer might and the intense Holy Intention it generated were truly overwhelming.

Yilie and the others gazed at the pearl with greedy expressions. Such a treasure was undoubtedly superior to most holy treasures they had seen, ranking among the most powerful offensive artifacts.

However, their true anticipation lay with the Great Path Sacred Fruit.

Thus, their eyes remained fixed intently on Zhang Yang.

Yilie sneered, “Little brat, keep acting arrogant. Can’t you use the lightning here? Come on, show me how you plan to kill us!”

Su Baishi scoffed, “Brother Yi, there’s no need to argue with a dying man. We should focus on how to torture him afterward to vent our frustrations.”

Ying Wuji grinned wickedly. “Torturing him is boring. Why not use him to threaten Bing Yuyan? She’s the number one beauty of the Southern Region, after all. How about making her kneel before us? Or better yet, forcing him to strip and dance for us? What do you think?”

“Brother Ying, what a brilliant idea!” Yilie laughed heartily. “That woman is so proud, and she truly is captivating. Even someone like me, at the Great Boundless stage, feels strange when she looks at me. Just imagine how enchanting she must be. Haha, I had long severed my desires for women, but now… I suddenly feel revived. Hehe…”

Their laughter, cruelty, shamelessness, and depravity only intensified Zhang Yang’s killing intent toward them.

With a cold expression, he continued retreating.

In truth, he was trying to stimulate the Holy Lightning within the rift, but he still could not fully activate it. This time, he was certain, he was being suppressed.

Thus, he had no choice but to withdraw.

One had to admit, the treasure in the Sparrow King’s hands was truly terrifying.

“Sparrow King, hurry up! I’m about to lose control,” Yilie urged. “We mustn’t let his people find us, or we’ll all be in trouble.”

Su Baishi added, “Sparrow King, unleash your power. If there’s any loss, we’re willing to compensate you double.”

The Sparrow King laughed heartily. “Good! Since you’re both so anxious, I won’t hold back!”

He swiftly formed over thirty intricate hand seals at lightning speed, sending beams of light into the pearl.

The pearl vibrated with a deep hum.

The holy beast demon sparrow inside erupted with blinding holy light, which surged through the pearl and manifested into a colossal, terrifying holy beast demon sparrow outside. It obscured the sky and the sun as it charged violently toward Zhang Yang.

“Don’t kill him; we need him alive!” Yilie was already exhilarated.

Su Baishi and Ying Wuji clenched their fists in anticipation, excitement shining in their eyes.

The holy light intertwined, taking on a nearly tangible form, while the overwhelming Holy Might pressed down on Yilie and the others, forcing them to retreat over a hundred meters before they managed to stabilize themselves.

In the Realm of Thunder, the lightning was completely suppressed, dissipating entirely under the onslaught of Holy Might.

Woo!

The holy beast demon sparrow rushed forward unimpeded, closing in on Zhang Yang.

All the lightning within the Realm of Thunder dissipated.

Even the Slaughter Thunder erupting from Zhang Yang was crushed and scattered.

He felt as if an invisible mountain were pressing down on him, nearly forcing him to his knees. It was only because he was slammed against the boundary wall of the Realm of Thunder that he managed to remain standing.

However, as the ferocious holy beast demon sparrow reached him, it suddenly showed signs of fear. This seemingly invincible creature trembled violently, its eyes filled with horror as it gazed at the massive handprint looming above Zhang Yang.

As the Holy Might dissipated, Zhang Yang quickly regained his composure and looked up.

Strands of lightning emerged from the knife-like handprint.

The lightning gathered at the palm’s center, intertwining to form a hazy figure.

The moment Zhang Yang caught sight of the figure taking shape, his mind buzzed, and his Slaughter Thunder Saint Power surged, breaking through as if an invisible force had forcibly elevated it.

“What is this?”

“Who is he?”

Zhang Yang felt dazed and confused, unable to react for a moment.

How had he broken through?

He quickly examined himself and discovered that not only had he truly advanced, but profound insights into the foundations of his Slaughter Thunder Saint Power were also surfacing in his mind.

“Unbelievable…”

Zhang Yang was utterly shocked.

While he was still processing his advancement, the holy beast demon sparrow collapsed to the ground, trembling violently, utterly terrified.

The figure made of condensed lightning looked unreal, as if a light breeze could make him disappear.

He stepped out from the handprint on the mountain wall, standing atop the enormous holy beast demon sparrow.

Crack!

The holy beast demon sparrow, which had erupted from the pearl in a dazzling display of intertwined holy light, suddenly shattered into countless specks of light that scattered in all directions.

Witnessing this scene, Zhang Yang’s heart pounded, while Yilie, Su Baishi, and Ying Wuji stared in shock, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

As for the Sparrow King, he suffered an immediate backlash. His body trembled violently as he coughed up blood.

The pearl, which originally contained the demon sparrow holy beast’s eye, shook uncontrollably. Inside, the holy beast demon sparrow writhed in agony, its expression twisted with pain.

The figure remained hazy, yet he seemed to stand at the center of the world, with all things and spirits instinctively bowing before him.

With his arms crossed behind his back, he spoke calmly, “I am the Thunder Saint Monarch, tasked by the Human King to suppress all races in turmoil. If you dare to continue causing chaos and attempt to escape this perilous situation to harm a human genius at the Battle God level, I shall enact the Human King’s decree and forever eradicate all races!”

Then, he raised a single finger and pointed.

There was no flash of light, no thunderous roar, only a sharp bang echoed through the air.

Before anyone could react, the treasured holy pearl, one of the most revered artifacts in the world, shattered instantly.

"Ah!"

The Sparrow King let out a wretched scream, blood spurting from his mouth as his body convulsed. In the next moment, his lifeless corpse crashed to the ground.

Yilie, Su Baishi, and Ying Wuji turned deathly pale, their entire bodies trembling in fear. They desperately wanted to flee, but their legs refused to move. A chilling realization dawned upon them, they had lost control of their bodies. The damp sensation beneath them confirmed their utter terror; they had wet themselves.

Only Zhang Yang, upon hearing the Thunder Saint Monarch’s words, felt an indescribable shock. Before he could fully grasp the meaning of the Human King’s decree, his attention snapped back to the figure’s casually extended finger, the one that had effortlessly obliterated the pearl and slain the Sparrow King.

A new realization struck him.

Just as his Slaughter Thunder Saint Power had passively advanced earlier, he found himself breaking through once more.

He had not attempted to comprehend anything, yet he had undeniably ascended to a higher level.

The perfected Slaughter Thunder Saint Power!

Zhang Yang was utterly dumbfounded.

What does this even mean?

Is he saying he acted on my behalf?

Did he deliberately help me break through?

As his mind swirled with questions, profound insights into the perfected Slaughter Thunder Saint Power surged through him, embedding themselves deeply into his consciousness. He could now fully grasp its essence.

But it wasn’t over yet.

After shattering the pearl and killing the Sparrow King, the mysterious figure waved his hand once more.

Suddenly, the seemingly desolate Forbidden Land began to tremble violently.

The ground split apart as endless radiance burst forth, soaring into the sky, engulfing the entire Forbidden Land in a sea of blinding light.

Through the dazzling glow, Zhang Yang caught glimpses of complete devastation, the Forbidden Land collapsing entirely, the earth fracturing, mountains and rivers crumbling, forests obliterated, and even the void itself shattering.

It was true destruction.

An entire region vast enough to house millions of people had been utterly erased with nothing but a wave of his hand.

At that moment, Zhang Yang’s bloodline surged, boiling with newfound power.

The shattered Heavenly Court within his bloodline reawakened.

An indescribable sensation welled up within him as he fixated on the radiant light surging from the ruins. Suddenly, enlightenment struck, allowing him to grasp an even deeper understanding.

The perfected Slaughter Thunder Saint Power advanced once again.

The consummate Slaughter Thunder Saint Power!

Zhang Yang’s eyes widened in disbelief.

He had unexpectedly surpassed the level of the Diamond Dragon Holy Power.

His mouth twitched. What was happening?!

“You… you… you are not a saint…” Yilie stammered in terror.

The mysterious figure’s gaze swept across them. In an instant, the void before him seemed to rupture, the sheer pressure forcing Yilie to her knees as if the heavens themselves were crushing her.

Then, he spoke once more.

“I am the Thunder Saint Monarch. A saint? You are but ants! I walk the immortal path, from the Great Path Palace. By the decree of the Human King, I guard the absolute territories of all races. If the races refuse to repent, the Human King’s decree shall eradicate all beings here, transforming this land into an immortal domain, one that shall fuel the eternal endurance of my vast immortal path!”

With that, he stepped into the boundless radiance that had consumed the Forbidden Land.

Zhang Yang, Yilie, Su Baishi, Ying Wuji, and the others could only stare in shock.

He was an immortal!