Chapter 189: The Battle Ends!

In the sky, ten thunderous suns carried world-ending might.

They surged down, crashing towards Gu Fan on the ground.

Although Gu Fan’s body had recovered seventy to eighty percent thanks to the mysterious pearl left behind by Nian Ji, at this moment, faced with the impending sense of crisis, he still felt a chill in his heart.

“So this is Heavenly Might!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the first thunderous sun crashed down upon Gu Fan.

Gu Fan’s entire body was enveloped in a violently trembling phantom manifestation, which dissipated the first sun.

Before he could even catch his breath, the second one descended!

Boom!!

Thunder filled the surroundings, forcing Gu Fan’s body to one knee.

But clearly, he could still endure!

Then came the third! The fourth! The fifth in quick succession!

In an instant, the Magic Immunity Golden Taiji Circle collapsed and vanished.

Since thunder was not strictly a spell-type attack, holding out for this long was already a rare feat!

After the sixth one fell, the Domain Suppression of Myriad Phenomena phantom turned into golden light and scattered.

The residual power of the thunderous sun sent Gu Fan’s body flying backward!

The seventh one roared down!

Gu Fan let out a roar. After the Taiji Fish phantom failed to stabilize, it once again disintegrated.

Gu Fan knew deeply that the tenfold strength enhancement from the Green Lotus must not be broken. It was his greatest reliance in battling across realms all this time.

If the Green Lotus’s enhancement disappeared now, he would be merely a normal Divine Moon Realm cultivator.

Aside from his exceptionally strong physical body, he would have no other advantages!

Yet there were still three thunderous suns left, and with his physical body alone, there was no way he could endure them!

Thinking of this, Gu Fan opened his mouth and inhaled. Dozens of Nine-colored Yuan Crystal Stones emerged from his Storage Pouch!

Any single one of these Yuan Crystal Stones was a fortune beyond imagination on Destiny Continent, but now, they could only serve as Gu Fan’s energy!

He absorbed the Yuan Crystal Stones, converting them through the Taiji Fish into Mysterious Power to replenish himself!

Only this way could he resist to the utmost limit!

As he absorbed the Yuan Crystal Stones, the eighth thunderous sun descended!

In the next moment, Gu Fan was blasted into a charred black state, while the Green Lotus phantom swayed violently, but barely managed to stabilize in the end.

Gu Fan’s whole body trembled, layers of charred skin peeling off.

In an instant, the ninth one descended!

Boom!!

Gu Fan coughed up blood in great gulps, his right arm charred and severed. Then, the green phantom vanished!

“Cough, cough… just one more wave left. Endure it, and it’s victory!”

He gave up the idea of returning to the Apocalypse World to avoid the tribulation.

Having endured up to this point, retreating now would render all previous efforts in vain!

Most importantly, he might very well give rise to a Heart Demon in the future because of it!

“One step back means endless retreat. Today, I must fight for this step on the path of the Great Dao!”

Having lost all buff effects, Gu Fan floated midair with one arm, operating the Taiji Fish within to constantly convert Mysterious Power.

He would use his strongest physical body to withstand the final wave!

The tenth thunderous sun fell, its deafening roar echoing throughout Xuanguang City and beyond.

When all the thunderlight dissipated, the entire Qiao Family had turned into ruins.

In the distance, a group of Qiao Family survivors looked toward the Heavenly Tribulation battlefield with dark expressions.

A white-haired old woman and several sons glared angrily.

“I’ll go check the situation!”

Lao San prepared to depart but was held back by the eldest of the Qiao Family!

“Wait, wait a bit longer. The intensity of this person’s Heavenly Tribulation is unprecedented. Even the Old Ancestor died in it. Better to wait a bit more!”

“That’s right, Third Brother, don’t be rash!”

At this moment, Lao Wu of the Qiao Family spoke with a gloomy face.

“Best would be for us to immediately withdraw from Xuanguang City! The Old Ancestor and a large number of Divine Moon Realm cultivators are dead. Even if we stay, we can no longer become the overlord of Xuanguang City…”

“Besides, in these past few days, our Qiao Family has acted arrogantly and offended many other mid- and small-scale factions. Previously we could ignore them, but now… if someone targets us for revenge, we may not be able to protect ourselves!”

At that moment, the eldest of the Qiao Family let out a cold snort:

“No wonder you’re the think tank of our Qiao Family. If not for following your plans, disheartening Ruo Xi, and ultimately proposing to the Old Ancestor to marry Ruo Xi off to the Lan Die Family, how would our Qiao Family have ended up like this!”

After Lao San finished speaking, he too let out a cold snort.

“After all the scheming, we misjudged Gu Fan’s strength. Now that the Qiao Family is destroyed, Lao Wu surely deserves great credit!”

At these words, Lao Wu of the Qiao Family turned pale.

Every word his elder brothers spoke pierced straight into his heart.

They weren’t wrong. A large part of the Qiao Family’s current crisis was caused by him!

If he hadn’t disregarded familial ties and schemed for that bit of profit concerning Ruo Xi, and instead properly befriended a peerless genius like Gu Fan…

Wouldn’t the Qiao Family have had an entirely different fate?

“Enough, stop talking. What matters most now is what to do next—leave or stay?”

The white-haired old woman let out a heavy snort.

“What’s done is done, no point in dwelling on it. What’s important now is the present.”

The eldest, third, and fourth of the Qiao Family exchanged glances before cupping their fists and declaring,

“I believe retreat is best. If Mother wishes to continue pursuing vengeance, then do as you please, but we shall not accompany you!”

Lao San and Lao Si also nodded in agreement.

This made the white-haired old woman and Lao Wu’s expressions change. After exchanging glances, they could only let out a bitter smile.

“So be it. Then let’s retreat entirely. All disciples of the Qiao Family shall leave Xuanguang City…”

Upon hearing this, the eldest, third, and fourth of the Qiao Family breathed a sigh of relief. If possible, they didn’t want to be at odds with their own mother and brothers.

Being able to retreat together was the best outcome, though it was a pity for the foundation their ancestors had built over generations.

After the three of them left to arrange the retreat, the white-haired old woman looked with some sorrow at the ruins of the Qiao Residence.

“One wrong step, and every step afterward goes wrong. In the end, was it truly our fault?”

“Mother, please don’t blame yourself. No one could have predicted Gu Fan’s strength. We may have lost this time, but as long as we’re alive, we can rise again. One day, we’ll return to Xuanguang City!”

The old woman gave a bitter smile and sighed.

“Let’s go. Only the living have a future.”

…

At the center of the Heavenly Tribulation’s impact, although the clouds in the sky had dispersed, the nearly thousand-meter-deep crater on the ground bore witness to the brutality just now.

At this moment, Gu Fan lay among the ruins, his divine sense sealed, his body cracked, and both arms gone!

Although there were Mysterious Dao Stones and Yuan Crystal Stones by his side nourishing his body and helping to heal the wounds, the terrifying injuries were still horrifying.

Gu Fan opened his mouth, full of lingering fear.

That final thunderous sun had instantly destroyed all his meridians and bones.

If one could observe his internal state now, his insides were nothing but charred black.

He had survived solely on the sheer strength of his physical body, while the newly reconstructed root bone within him faintly connected to another realm’s Evil Lotus, delivering a sliver of vitality.

“Cough… I… overdid it…”

Gu Fan silently prayed that the people from the Qiao Family wouldn’t come. Otherwise, in his current state, even a dog could trample him.

Just then, footsteps sounded at the edge of the crater.

Because thunder had only just dissipated, each footstep came with a sizzling noise.

“Wuwuwu… Gu Fan! Are you still alive?”

“Wuwu, it’s all my fault, I got you killed…”

“Gu Fan, I can’t even find your corpse… wuwu…”

Gu Fan let out a sigh of relief. It was Ruo Xi.

Then he used all his strength to nudge the rubble beside his foot and made a noise.

Ruo Xi’s sobbing paused outside the crater, and after seeming to recognize the direction, she immediately looked down into the pit.

There lay a charred, armless figure.

“It’s me… Gu Fan…”

Only then did Ruo Xi confirm that the blackened figure was Gu Fan. Tears streamed down her cheeks like broken pearls.

She quickly jumped into the pit and cradled him in her arms.

“Wuwu, I’m sorry Gu Fan, it’s all my fault. How did you end up with only half of your body…”

“…”

Gu Fan was helpless. Unable to move, he could only let Ruo Xi hold him.

“Take me away… as fast as you can…”

Ruo Xi wasn’t foolish. Upon hearing this, she immediately wiped her tears, composed herself, and quietly carried Gu Fan away from the scene.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep