Chapter 1468: Chapter 157: Extreme Sky Thunder_3
The silver-purple solar thunder in front of Ah Dai constantly absorbed the free energy in the air. After the solar thunder had formed, it created a massive energy field with Ah Dai and Sheng Xie at its center. Sheng Xie had ceased its Dragon Breath; whenever assassins attacked, it would unleash a powerful electric blast with its Golden Horn to repel the enemies. At this moment, Sheng Xie was like an iron fortress, making it impossible for the assassins to cross the Thunder Pond. However, the assassins gathered here were, after all, the full force of the Assassin’s Guild. The relentless attacks of the Eradicators exerted immense pressure on Sheng Xie. Amid the continuous assault, streaks of crimson blood seeped from beneath Sheng Xie’s silver-gray scales. It could barely hold on, yet it persevered, desperately releasing its energy so that Ah Dai could complete the Heavenly Thunder Clash.
Dark clouds loomed across the sky, plunging the entire Duke’s Mansion into an oppressive atmosphere. The rumbling thunderclaps unsettled the assassins, spurring even fiercer attacks.
Xi Wen and the others had realized something was amiss the moment Ah Dai and Sheng Xie burst out of the Duke’s Manor. They immediately rushed over, but as they landed on the wall, they discovered the entire Duke’s Mansion was enveloped in a powerful Wind Barrier. Even with their combined strength, they couldn’t break through the formidable barrier instantly. Just as they were wracked with urgency, Xi Wen noticed the change in Ah Dai atop Sheng Xie’s back. Being the Sect Leader of the Tian Gang Sword Sect, he naturally recognized the technique Ah Dai was using. He exclaimed in shock, "Heavenly Thunder Clash! It seems Ah Dai’s abilities have truly reached the Sword Saint Level—he’s even capable of employing such a powerful attack!"
Yan Shi froze for a moment and said, "I’ve seen this move before. Ah Dai used it during his battle against Chief Judge Xuan Yuan of the Holy Church last time. Back then, he severely injured himself. If it weren’t for the Pope’s Divine Healing Technique, he would have likely died. Master, could using such a powerful attack this time cause him to harm himself again?"
Xi Wen shook his head and replied, "No, it shouldn’t. The last time you mentioned, Ah Dai was only at the second level. However, he’s now surpassed the fifth layer of this realm and is even nearing the sixth. The full power of the Heavenly Thunder Clash has been unleashed; he must have a way to avoid injuring himself. Even if he doesn’t, it’s too late for us to intervene now."
Zhuo Yun suddenly gasped and said, "Look! The defense barrier has disappeared!" Indeed, as the dark clouds gathered, the faint green energy barrier enveloping the Duke’s Mansion vanished.
Byinlog held a position within the Empire of Sunset City analogous to Larthas’ standing in the Empire of Tian Jing—a position of utmost authority. Though he and the Duke had always been at odds, he couldn’t refuse the Duke’s request for help this time. Upon receiving the Duke’s signal, he unleashed his most powerful large-scale defense magic, the Wind God’s Barrier, to cover the entire Duke’s Mansion. Simultaneously, he also realized that the Duke’s target turned out to be none other than Ah Dai, the person who had spared his life in the palace last time. Although he had already repaid that favor, Byinlog still felt an inexplicable fondness for Ah Dai. Little did he know that the Duke was the Guild Master of the Assassin’s Guild. When the assassins attacked after the barrier was formed, he was stunned to discover that these subordinates of the Duke were even fiercer than the elite Forbidden Guards of the royal palace. For the first time, he saw the Duke’s full strength. What astonished him even more was Ah Dai’s cultivation. Not only had Ah Dai summoned the legendary Giant Dragon, but he also managed to fend off the powerful attacks of the Duke’s strongest subordinates unscathed, killing several in return. When Ah Dai unleashed the Heavenly Thunder Clash, Byinlog could feel the power of the attack. Especially once the Heavenly Thunder Clash influenced the natural phenomena around them, Byinlog understood clearly: if the celestial storm in the sky struck the Duke’s Mansion, he would be the first to perish. His Wind God’s Barrier could never withstand the attacks unleashed by the heavens. Under the pull of the atmospheric energy, his own life might even end here. Already holding no goodwill for the Duke, Byinlog decisively withdrew the barrier as the dark clouds gathered. Rising into the air, he returned to the royal palace from the shadows to deliver the news.
Xi Wen also noticed the barrier’s disappearance. Grabbing the eager-to-charge Yan Li, he said solemnly, "Now is not the time for us to enter. When the Heavenly Thunder Clash fully erupts, we likely won’t be able to withstand it either. Ah Dai won’t be in immediate danger for now. We wait—once the Heavenly Thunder Clash subsides and he’s in trouble, we’ll act." Though the Yan brothers were anxious, Xi Wen was the leader of this mission, and they could only wait patiently. Feeling the massive energy fluctuations in the air, they understood that Xi Wen was right—the power of Ah Dai’s Heavenly Thunder Clash was not something they could contend with.
Ah Dai had already realized that Sheng Xie was nearing its limit. However, all of his energy was consumed in controlling the solar thunder of the Heavenly Thunder Clash, leaving him unable to assist Sheng Xie. The only thing he could do was accelerate the condensation of his energy, fully unleashing the power of the Heavenly Thunder Clash as quickly as possible. The pull of the solar thunder grew ever stronger, and Sheng Xie suddenly felt a significant reduction in the pressure around it. Some of the aura emitted by the assassins was actually being drawn into the energy sphere released by Ah Dai. The dark energy began to form a gray ring around the energy sphere. The silver, purple, and gray energies illuminated Ah Dai’s face with an eerie glow. Observing the transformation of the clouds in the sky, Ah Dai’s spirits lifted. Gathering all his strength, he pushed the light sphere in his hands outward, shouting, "Heavenly Thunder Clash, release—!" The tri-colored energy sphere began to spin rapidly, its surging pull absorbing even more of the energy dispersed by the assassins. Some of the smarter assassins sensed something was wrong and quickly retreated. The rest, however, found in shock that their bodies were being drawn inexorably toward Ah Dai and Sheng Xie. The sky suddenly brightened as a blinding white lightning bolt illuminated the heavens in an instant. Under the lightning’s radiance, the assassins on the ground appeared deathly pale.
