Chang Pingqian, still driving the 'Earth-Grasping Seal' and unwilling to give up midway, knew that Zhao Leiyun's subsequent attacks would be incredibly fierce. However, he had no other choice but to brace himself and endure.
Zhao Leiyun, on the other hand, had already detected Chang Pingqian's trick. After Chang Pingqian set up several layers of defense, he remained motionless. Coupled with the so-called top-tier artifact, the 'Earth-Grasping Seal,' Zhao Leiyun immediately realized that his opponent must be using the 'Earth-Grasping Seal' as his trump card.
He had just witnessed the formidable power of the Earth-Grasping Seal, and its might was indeed extraordinary.
Without hesitation, he injected a surge of spiritual energy into the great banner in his hand, pointing its tip at Chang Pingqian and unleashing a torrent of lightning.
This time, no illusory lightning eagles formed. Instead, only dozens of terrifying arcs of lightning were generated. While less agile than the lightning eagle swarm, they possessed relentless continuity, instantly forming a powerful, ferocious torrent of lightning.
The fierce lightning torrent surged forward with astonishing momentum, causing the lightning and yellow light to collide violently once more.
This time, the refined copper flame-gold shield in front of Chang Pingqian only lasted for a brief five to six seconds before emitting a dull roar. The yellow light scattered, and the top-grade artifact, the refined copper flame-gold shield, finally met its end, shattered into pieces by the dense torrent of lightning.
With its obstruction removed, the lightning torrent surged forward unceremoniously. However, it was intercepted by the several layers of spiritual energy shields that Chang Pingqian had set up earlier and had been waiting for. The three-colored light and the lightning light clashed, momentarily creating a stalemate.
But it wasn't long before the three-colored light was suppressed by the lightning, on the verge of collapse.
Meanwhile, Chang Pingqian's Earth-Grasping Seal had just finished accumulating spiritual energy and was about to be unleashed from his hand, but he was running out of time.
At this moment, the ice female cultivator, who had been carefully observing the situation, intervened. As she channeled the spiritual energy within her body, she extended her right hand. With a crackling sound, white mist swirled above her palm, and within the mist, a crystal-clear, heavy ice shield materialized.
Instantly, the heavy ice shield appeared before the lightning torrent, temporarily blocking the continuous arcs of lightning that surged towards Chang Pingqian.
Seeing this, Zhao Leiyun was furious. This little vixen dared to betray him! However, he merely snorted coldly, his expression unchanged.
He spun the Thunder Mother Eagle Banner with both hands. The lightning at the banner tip ceased to erupt outward. Instead, the entire banner began to glow with an intense blue light, causing the spiritual energy within his body to pour into the flagpole like a bursting dam.
With such immense spiritual energy as backing, the lightning on the banner became even more dazzling. The densely gathered lightning power generated various explosive sounds in the air.
Zhao Leiyun's face was extremely pale due to the significant loss of his spiritual energy. However, his vicious expression indicated that he knew prolonged engagement was risky and was preparing to unleash his ultimate move.
With a low roar, Zhao Leiyun exerted force with both hands, tossing the Thunder Mother Eagle Banner into the air with a "whoosh." He then rapidly formed hand seals with his fingers, pointed at the banner, and shouted.
"Lightning Transforms into Divine Eagles!"
The Thunder Mother Eagle Banner radiated light, lightning crackled, and electricity flashed. In an instant, it transformed into two lightning eagles, each twenty to thirty feet long, filled with the power of lightning. They appeared lifelike, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, exactly like the one embroidered on the banner.
"Go," Zhao Leiyun commanded without hesitation, flicking his finger. The two lightning eagles immediately opened their massive mouths and ferociously pounced towards Chang Pingqian and the ice-named female cultivator respectively.
But just then, a large seal, several feet across, suddenly flew up from Chang Pingqian, who had been sitting cross-legged. Thick earth-attribute spiritual energy swirled around the seal. It met the eagles' heads without any sign of weakness, and the two began to grapple.
In mid-air, the potent yellow light would sometimes overpower the dazzling lightning, and at other times, the dazzling lightning would suppress the potent yellow light. For the moment, neither side gained an advantage.
As for the ice female cultivator, seeing the twenty to thirty-foot-long lightning eagles imbued with lightning power speeding towards her, a cold smile flickered across her delicate face. She retrieved a jade pendant from her storage bag.
This jade pendant was no ordinary artifact; it was the "Phoenix Ice Snow Flower Pendant," a top-tier artifact passed down through generations of the Bing family.
She was not an ordinary descendant of the Bing family but the fifth daughter of the current Bing family patriarch, named Bing Menglu.
After infusing a portion of her spiritual energy into the jade pendant, its water-like luster flashed. The pendant circled Bing Menglu in a streak of flowing light before transforming into a five-zhang-long ice phoenix that danced in the air, its crystal-clear, ice-like body twisting as it soared and circled.
The ice phoenix, exuding a bone-chilling aura, let out a cry. Upon colliding with the lightning eagles filled with lightning power, they pecked and clawed at each other, and for the moment, neither side gained an advantage.
The battle between Chang Pingqian, Bing Menglu, and Zhao Leiyun seemed unlikely to be decided quickly.
...
On the other side, seeing that ordinary lightning-attribute spells were ineffective, the Yun brothers immediately channeled the spiritual energy within them. They extended their hands, and with crackling sounds, arcs of lightning spread above their palms. Amidst the storm of lightning and electricity, over a hundred arcs of lightning appeared.
With a wave of their hands, the Yun brothers sent these hundreds of lightning arcs hurtling towards Wu Tao at an extremely fast speed.
Meanwhile, Xue Yan, seeing that his top-grade artifact, the Fire Shadow Spirit Sword, was not very effective, rummaged through his storage bag. By the time he took it out with his left hand, he held a rope about a foot long. He muttered incantations, and under the guidance of his divine sense, the rope suddenly came alive. It grew rapidly in the wind, instantly reaching severalzhang in length, standing tall like a giant python.
"Bind!"
"Entwine!"
"Crush!"
As the incantations were uttered, the rope flew up, emitting a faint golden light. Like a sentient giant python, it swiftly met Wu Tao and attached itself to the outside of his protective Yuan Magnetic Gale Shield.
Although it lacked physical attacking power, as a special top-grade artifact, the Toughness and hardness of the Shimmering Gold Rope were arguably the best among artifacts. It easily restrained Wu Tao, who was protected by the magnetic yuan gale.
"Special top-grade artifact!"
Wu Tao couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. It was understandable, as special top-grade artifacts were more than twice as expensive as ordinary top-grade artifacts. How could an ordinary Qi Refining stage cultivator possibly have so many spirit stones to buy such an expensive artifact?
With the magnetic yuan gale protecting his body, he was not worried about this non-offensive special top-grade artifact causing him significant harm.
However, the Shimmering Gold Rope could restrict his body within a certain range, preventing him from easily moving his limbs and turning him into a conspicuous target.
The lightning spells of the Yun brothers, on the other hand, were incredibly powerful. When fully unleashed, they could break through the protective magnetic yuan gale shield.
However, Wu Tao felt no panic. The "Dragon-Tiger Yuan Gang Nine Arts" he cultivated was considered one of the best techniques among the top ten orthodox sects, Tai Yi Immortal Sect. It not only cultivated both body and technique but also included several protective and combat spells, and could even aid in the growth of divine sense to a certain extent.
This was precisely the benefit of being an elite disciple in a top sect. Not only were the cultivation techniques superior, but also resources such as artifacts, spiritual materials, and elixirs were far better than those available to ordinary rogue cultivators and family disciples.
...
Wu Tao channeled the spiritual energy within his body. The surging gale around him resembled a ferocious dragon, writhing and coiling. His fist was like the dragon's head.
"High-grade spell—Tremor Strength Dragon Catch!"
His gauntlets, "Armor-Breaking Dragon Chicks," were special top-tier artifacts. Besides their own powerful attack, they also contained the function of storing spiritual energy.
At this moment, Wu Tao did not have much spiritual energy left. Even if he went all out, he could at most unleash a few protective and combat spells. However, dealing with these few individuals at this moment was more than enough!
And this technique, Tremor Strength Dragon Catch, was not his most familiar spell, nor his most powerful one, but it was the most suitable one to be performed at this moment.