Chapter 497 – Gu Qingyue: My Mental State Has Collapsed

As long as she obtained the rumble inscription, she could complete the Gu Family's "Archaic Thunder Emperor Sutra," breaking through to the Immortal King Realm in one fell swoop, and even touching that Realm!

She had no idea that just a few hundred meters behind her…

A man in green robes was watching her clear the way with a relaxed expression.

"Is this an Emperor Weapon? It doesn't look as sturdy as my chaos bell."

Zhou Chen critiqued in his heart while watching, "Her positioning is off too; she almost stepped into a thunder pit."

"Tsk tsk, for a Saintess, she's a bit clumsy."

One after another, the two passed through the most dangerous Red Thunder Zone.

Finally…

A massive underground hollow appeared before them.

This hollow was ten thousand zhang wide, surrounded by flowing thunder liquid.

In the very center of the hollow, an ancient altar floated.

On the altar, a fist-sized purple rune was slowly rotating.

With every rotation, it caused the surrounding lightning to emit a deafening roar.

The rumble inscription!

The moment Gu Qingyue saw that rune, her breathing quickened.

"I finally found it!"

She put away the copper mirror and, with a flash of her figure, prepared to rush toward the altar.

However…

The very moment her foot stepped onto the edge of the altar.

"Roar—!!!"

An earth-shaking beast roar erupted from the thunder liquid pool beneath the altar.

The sound was so loud it directly shattered the surrounding space.

Gu Qingyue's expression changed drastically, and she retreated violently.

The thunder liquid pool surged violently as a massive claw reached out and slammed down on the spot where she had just been standing.

"Boom!"

The altar shook violently.

A giant beast bathed in lightning slowly rose from the pool.

It looked like a Qilin but was even more ferocious. Its entire body was covered in purple-gold scales, with destructive arcs of electricity dancing on each one.

Immortal King Realm Peak!

Moreover, it was an Archaic Thunder Beast, born from lightning, with combat strength far exceeding those of the same level!

Gu Qingyue's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

"Damn it… the intelligence didn't say there was a guardian beast!"

Zhou Chen, hiding in the shadows, was amused by this scene.

"I knew it wouldn't be that simple."

"Gu Family Saintess, please begin your performance."

The appearance of the Archaic Thunder Beast caused the air in the entire underground space to freeze.

This beast had clearly been guarding this place for countless years, its Aura long since merged with that of the rumble inscription.

In this home field full of lightning, its combat power could even go head-to-head with an ordinary first-level Immortal Emperor!

"Roar!"

The thunder beast roared, spitting out a bolt of Purple Firmament Divine Thunder as thick as a water bucket.

The lightning was incredibly fast, reaching Gu Qingyue in an instant.

Gu Qingyue lived up to her reputation as the Gu Family's number one Prodigy, reacting extremely quickly.

She flipped the copper mirror in her hand, and a soft white light shot from its surface, forming a light shield.

"Bang!"

The divine thunder crashed into the light shield, exploding into a sky full of electrical arcs.

Gu Qingyue was shaken back a dozen steps, each step leaving a deep crater in the hard ground.

Her moon-white gown was also scorched in several places by the splashing electrical arcs, revealing her snow-white skin.

"Vile beast!"

Gu Qingyue was enraged.

She was a high-and-mighty Saintess; when had she ever been in such a pathetic state?

"Archaic Secret Art: Spirit Summoning!"

She formed hand seals, and a massive phantom appeared behind her. It was a goddess clad in armor, holding a long spear, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.

"Go!"

The goddess phantom thrust her spear, carrying an Aura that could destroy heaven and earth, heading straight for the thunder beast's eyes.

The person and the beast instantly clashed in battle.

The entire underground space was filled with flying rocks and splashing thunder liquid.

Zhou Chen hid behind a huge rock, watching with great interest.

"This Gu Family Cultivation Technique really has something to it."

He analyzed in his heart while watching the battle: "This Spirit Summoning Art can actually borrow a sliver of an ancestor's Battle Intent, forcibly increasing combat strength by thirty percent."

"However, this thunder beast's hide is too thick. If this woman doesn't have any other trump cards, she's probably in trouble."

Sure enough.

After dozens of rounds, Gu Qingyue gradually fell into a disadvantage.

The power of lightning here was endless; whenever the thunder beast was injured, it just had to roll in the pool to recover immediately. But Gu Qingyue's Immortal Spiritual Power was being depleted with every bit used.

"I can't delay any longer!"

A look of determination flashed in Gu Qingyue's eyes.

She bit the tip of her tongue and spat a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the copper mirror.

"Emperor Weapon Awakening: Mirror Flower, Water Moon!"

The copper mirror hummed, erupting with a terrifying suction force. The surrounding space instantly distorted, as if turning into countless mirrors.

Before the thunder beast could react, it was trapped in a labyrinth made of mirrors.

Countless beams of light shot from the mirror surfaces, cutting the thunder beast's body like lasers.

"Awoooo—"

The thunder beast screamed as its hard scales were sliced open, and purple beast blood gushed out.

"Now!"

Gu Qingyue's face was pale; clearly, this move took a massive toll on her.

Taking advantage of the thunder beast being trapped, she turned into a streak of light and lunged toward the rumble inscription in the center of the altar.

Close!

Only ten zhang away! Five zhang!

Gu Qingyue reached out her hand, her eyes filled with wild joy.

As long as she got the Inscription, any injury, no matter how severe, would be worth it!

However…

At the very moment her fingertips were about to touch the Inscription.

A slender, fair hand suddenly reached out from the nearby Void Realm.

That hand moved gracefully, like picking a flower, and lightly pinched the rumble inscription.

Then, it retracted.

The Inscription was gone.

Gu Qingyue grabbed thin air.

She froze.

She remained in her forward-lunging posture, stiffly stopping in mid-air. On her beautiful face, the expression shifted from wild joy to shock, and then from shock to bewilderment.

Who am I? Where am I? Where is my Inscription?

"Oh my, this thing is quite hot to the touch."

A lazy voice came from her side.

Gu Qingyue turned her head sharply.

She saw a man in green robes standing at the edge of the altar, tossing the rumble inscription she had risked her life for as if it were an ordinary pebble.

"You… who are you?!"

Gu Qingyue's voice was so sharp it went out of tune.

This was the core of the Forbidden Land! There were layers of Formations outside and an Archaic Thunder Beast inside! When did this person get in? Why hadn't she noticed him at all?!

Zhou Chen smiled, revealing a row of white teeth: "I am Ling Xiao, a Disciple of the Xuantian Sect. Passing through here, I saw the Saintess fighting so hard and specifically came to lend a hand."

"Lend a hand?"

Gu Qingyue trembled with rage: "Give the Inscription back to me! That's mine!"

"Yours?"

Zhou Chen looked surprised: "Does it have your name on it? Why didn't I see it?"

As he spoke, he even pretended to lift the Inscription to take a look.

"Look, no name. Since it was found on my Xuantian Sect's territory, it naturally belongs to my Xuantian Sect. Saintess, you trespassed on private property and even tried to steal something; isn't that inappropriate?"

"You're looking for death!"

Gu Qingyue completely lost it.