343: Chapter 343 Using Four Ounces to Move a Thousand Pounds

Just then, the Thunder Spirit Guard seemed to be provoked by Ye Tian's method of "using lightning to control lightning." A violent mental ripple spread out as its entire lightning body suddenly swelled, and it raised both hands high above its head.

The lightning Spiritual Qi on the platform surged like crazy between its raised hands, gradually condensing into a dark purple lightning ball over three feet in diameter. Bolts of lightning darted wildly inside, looking as if it would explode at any second!

"Thunderstorm Heavenly Punishment! This is its lethal ultimate move!" some Cultivators retreated in fear, as if the lightning ball was about to detonate instantly.

Everyone held their breath; the power of this strike was likely more terrifying than all the previous attacks combined!

However, Ye Tian did not retreat. Instead, he executed the Thunder Gang Dream Walk to close in on the Thunder Spirit Guard, with sword already appearing in his right hand!

Facing the terrifying lightning ball that was about to smash down, Ye Tian's eyes were calm. He poured True Essence into sword, and his Sword Qi surged as he stabbed toward the core of the dark purple lightning ball—the "point" where its connection to the lightning pool's energy was most tight!

"Fool! He actually dares to stab into the center of a thunderstorm!" Zhao Mao couldn't help but sneer, as if he could already see Ye Tian being blown to pieces by the lightning ball.

However, in the next second, the Thunder Spirit Guard's raised hands suddenly jerked!

The lightning ball, which was on the verge of taking shape, suddenly began to fluctuate uncontrollably!

Its originally orderly yet violent lightning power was disrupted by the Sword Qi, instantly losing balance!

"Not good!" Feng Xuan's pupils suddenly constricted.

For the first time, an emotional ripple similar to "astonishment" appeared in the Thunder Spirit Guard's silver-white lightning eyes.

It wanted to control it, to dissipate the lightning ball, but it was too late.

The unbalanced energy inside the lightning ball clashed wildly and finally exploded.

"BOOM!!"

Lightning instantly swallowed the Thunder Spirit Guard. A violent shockwave wrapped in electricity swept out in all directions like a circle!

"Retreat!"

At the edge of the platform, everyone's expressions changed drastically. They all propped up their protective powers or summoned defensive Magic Treasures, retreating desperately.

Ye Tian, being the closest, bore the brunt of it. But he was prepared. At the same time he stabbed with his Sword Qi, he used the counterforce to retreat. Simultaneously, the black tortoise spirit armor shield emerged on his left arm, blocking in front of him.

"Bang!"

The lightning struck the shield's surface. Ye Tian's body shook violently as he was pushed back over a dozen yards, plowing two deep furrows into the ground. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth again, but he ultimately withstood the aftermath of the explosion at such close range.

The lightning raged for a full ten seconds before slowly dissipating.

Everyone hurriedly looked over and saw that the three-zhang-tall purple lightning spirit light pillar had dimmed by more than half, with dense cracks appearing on the pillar's body.

Inside the light pillar, the previously solid lightning figure had become thin and transparent, as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind. Its aura had dropped to around the Zhenwu Seventh or Eighth Level and was very unstable.

As for Ye Tian, though his face was pale, his aura fluctuated, and his sword-wielding hand trembled slightly, he remained standing.

Moreover, he hadn't simply blocked or dodged. He had used a method of "deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces" to detonate the Thunder Spirit Guard's own strongest strike, heavily wounding it!

Everyone was stunned by this incredible yet brilliantly executed way of breaking the deadlock.

This level of insight, this courage, this meticulous control over lightning power, and that Sword Intent... it was simply divine!

"So it can actually be done like this?" a Loose Cultivator muttered to himself, as if a door to a new world had been opened.

"His understanding of lightning power... just what level has it reached?" Li Xuanxiao's eyes were burning as he stared fixedly at the sword in Ye Tian's hand. That strike just now had left a deep impression on his heart.

The Ghost Girl let out a soft "Eh," and the eyes beneath her veil flashed with even deeper interest.

Deep within Bei Minghong's cold, silver-gray eyes, an obscure ripple finally appeared.

Zhao Mao and Nangong Yu had expressions as if they had seen a ghost, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Junior Brother Ye's talent is indeed different from ordinary people." Feng Xuan breathed a long sigh of relief, his eyes full of praise.

Bai Ling and Bai Shaoyi were even more surprised and delighted, their eyes sparkling with brilliance.

Just then, the lightning spirit light pillar, along with the thin Thunder Spirit Guard inside that was about to dissipate, suddenly vibrated simultaneously.

The guard's blurred face turned toward Ye Tian, two points of silver-white lightning flashing repeatedly, as if conveying a sense of "recognition."

Then, the figures of the light pillar and the guard both turned ethereal, transforming into countless tiny purple light spots that flew toward the three treasures floating above the lightning pool in the center of the platform!

Finally, the vast majority of the light spots merged into that purple Legacy Jade Slip. The surface of the Jade Slip flashed with brilliance, appearing to become a bit more profound.

A small portion of purple light spots also entered the Thunder Source Essence and the Thunder-Patterned Dao Gold respectively.

At the same time, in the air between Ye Tian and that light pillar, a large area of the originally floating, dense spatial cracks actually dissolved, revealing a path leading further into the platform!

The path wasn't long, only about a dozen yards, and there were still cracks and Restrictions ahead!

This discovery made everyone's breathing on the platform instantly heavy. Their eyes stared at the treasures in the middle of the lightning pool like hungry wolves, then looked at the newly revealed path. The greed and heat in their eyes could no longer be hidden.

"The path is out!"

"Kill a Thunder Spirit Guard, and you can open a path!"

"The treasures and Legacy are mine, haha!"

Many Cultivators who were previously watching and hesitant could no longer suppress the greed in their hearts.

Since someone had proven that this method worked, then...

Almost at the same time, several powerful auras suddenly erupted from different directions of the platform, rushing toward the other eight intact lightning spirit light pillars in unison!

"Move!"

"The Opportunity is right before us!"

"Each by their own ability!"

In the east, Li Xuanxiao achieved the state of Man and Sword as One, charging straight toward the eastern light pillar with a determination that knew no retreat. Before the sword even arrived, the chilling Sword Qi already stimulated lightning to gather on the pillar's surface.

In the southeast, Bei Minghong's speed was so fast that eyes couldn't keep up. He didn't charge at the light pillar but instead led two men in black, sweeping directly toward the end of the path Ye Tian had just opened!

His target seemed to be the circular Formation area further inside at the end of the path; he didn't even glance at the other light pillar in the southeast that was close at hand. This was absolute confidence.

In the southwest, the Ghost Girl turned into black smoke, drifting strangely and spreading to blend into the shadows at the edge of the platform, leaving uncomfortable traces wherever she passed. Her target was the southwestern light pillar.

In the south, Nangong Chi let out a low roar, his entire body erupting in red-gold flames that covered him, Nangong Yu, and those few people as they charged toward the southern light pillar.

Nangong Yu was enveloped in flames, his face still a bit pale, but when his eyes swept over Ye Tian, the resentment in his gaze was almost tangible.

In the northwest, Zhao Mao chose a slightly weaker light pillar. He wasn't as ostentatious as Nangong Chi; instead, he gave a look to the thin companion behind him.

The thin companion immediately understood, his hands flicking repeatedly as several almost invisible gray threads silently shot toward another group of three Loose Cultivators who also wanted to charge at that light pillar.

Soul-Tripping Silk! A sinister little toy intended to interfere with others and create chaos.

Besides these groups, there were also two or three Loose Cultivators at the Zhenwu Ninth Level who considered themselves capable, as well as two or three small groups made up of Cultivators at the Zhenwu Seventh or Eighth Level, who all rushed toward the remaining light pillars with bloodshot eyes.

In the blink of an eye, battles broke out in front of almost all eight light pillars simultaneously!

Lightning exploded, swords whistled, sabers hummed, flames rolled, and frost surged... True Essence and Martial Skill lights of various attributes mixed into a mess on the platform.

Those with insufficient skill were pierced through the chest by a Thunder Spirit Guard's spear, falling to the ground charred black.

Those with tacit cooperation were temporarily locked in combat with the Thunder Spirit Guards.

There were also those like Zhao Mao, who, while dealing with the Thunder Spirit Guard, insidiously tripped up nearby competitors, turning the scene into a chaotic mess.

The energy from the lightning strikes still hummed in the air of the platform, and purple light dregs and charred dust were still slowly falling.

At this moment, Ye Tian stood leaning on his sword, his breathing somewhat rapid.

Detonating the Thunder Spirit Guard's ultimate move seemed like a clever trick, but it was actually very risky. It required extremely high focus, True Essence, and especially the split-second grasp of lightning power.

Right now, his body was more than half drained, his Meridians were aching, his blood and Qi were still churning, and a sense of sluggishness came from the black tortoise spirit armor shield on his left arm—a side effect of blocking too many shockwaves.

But he still stared at the light pillar where the guard's shadow had vanished, and the temporarily "clean" path between the light pillar and him.

The direction the path pointed was of more concern to Ye Tian than the three floating treasures. Further inside the platform, the Formation patterns seemed to gather with a particular regularity, as if they were forming a circular Formation area around the lightning pool.

Perhaps that was the key to getting close to the lightning pool and truly obtaining the treasures. He even wondered if it could be the control center of this place.