Chapter 242: Chapter 242

After this period of cultivation, Zhao Letian had mastered all his martial techniques to the point of great achievement, leading to a qualitative leap in strength.

Moreover, with the help of the Enlightenment Stele, his sword intent had been elevated to the fourth level, while the forces of wind, thunder, and fire had all advanced to the third level, showing rapid progress.

Most importantly, after dedicated and arduous practice, his true cultivation had smoothly broken through to the True Martial Fifth Realm, and in this Slaughter Illusion Realm, he was even able to exhibit the power of the True Martial Second Realm.

However, he paid no small price for this: almost all the Jade Tokens he had obtained were used to exchange for elixirs to enhance his cultivation, so that he did not have many left to exchange for higher-level Spiritual Artifacts and martial techniques. He could only scrounge together a bit over a hundred Jade Tokens to exchange for a Four-star Flying Sword, a Four-star Bow and Arrow, and a piece of Four-star Armor.

Suddenly, fierce winds howled and a vast expanse of dark clouds appeared out of nowhere above the ruins, flashing with lightning and rumbling with thunder.

Atop the Enlightenment Stele, Zhao Letian, who was in the midst of seated cultivation, abruptly opened his eyes, rose to his feet, and looked up at the thunderclouds in the sky with a mix of shock and uncertainty.

The thunderclouds emitted a strong sense of danger that even someone as formidable as him couldn't help but feel a surge of fear. He did not doubt that the power within those clouds could easily obliterate him.

Just then, a thick purple Thunder Arc descended from the thunderclouds high above, striking a dilapidated palace below like a Thunder Dragon, instantly reducing it to flat ground and blasting a huge pitch-black pit in the earth, surrounded by charred marks.

"Such tremendous power, time to go."

Zhao Letian was startled, and without hesitation, he stepped onto his Four-star Flying Sword and turned into a streak of sword light, racing towards the distance.

Though he was reluctant to leave the Enlightenment Stele, he had no choice but to flee for his life; countless more Thunder Dragons were swiftly moving within the thunderclouds. The first strike was evidently just the beginning, and it was certain that more intense attacks were to follow.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

Indeed, following the arrival of the first Thunder Dragon, consecutive Thunder Dragons bombarded down, forming massive pillars of thunderous electricity that pierced the sky and earth, a truly spectacular sight.

Additionally, the location of the Thunder Dragon strikes had no pattern whatsoever, happening at random.

This caused Zhao Letian to furrow his brows, as he flew forward rapidly while constantly keeping an eye on the thunderclouds above.

The span of the thundercloud was vast, making it impossible to fly out of in a short time. He had to remain highly vigilant, ready to evade the Thunder Dragons at any moment, for if he were struck, even if not fatal, he would still suffer severe injuries.

Not long after flying, a burst of electric arcs exploded from the thundercloud above Zhao Letian, followed immediately by a thick purple Thunder Arc, which struck fiercely towards him.

"Not good! Meteor Step."

Zhao Letian was alarmed and almost as soon as the Thunder Dragon began its descent, he used the fully mastered Xuan-level Body Technique, Meteor Step, turning into a dazzling point of Starlight and shot forward rapidly like a meteor.

As a result, just as he dodged, the massive Thunder Dragon, as thick as a person, slammed down just over a zhang (3.3 meters) behind him. Although it didn't hit him, numerous powerful and fine electric arcs dispersed from the Thunder Dragon and violently struck Zhao Letian's body, causing a strong sensation of stabbing pain. He sustained slight internal injuries, and the skin and hair on his body were scorched. Had it not been for the Four-star Spirit Artifact armor he wore, he would likely have suffered severe injuries at this moment.

Zhao Letian grunted, enduring the pain of his injuries without daring to stop, continuing to transform into a streak of sword light and swiftly fleeing into the distance.

Along the way, Zhao Letian saw that many people hiding nearby were startled by the Thunder Dragons descending from the sky and fled in panic and terror.

"Damn it, what is this? Why has this thundercloud suddenly appeared out of nowhere? Could this also be part of the assessment?"

"Such bad luck, why does this thunderstorm not go elsewhere? Why must it descend right above this young master?"

While desperately trying to escape at the fastest speed possible, to get out of the range of the thunderstorm, everyone also angrily complained in shock and fear.

Watching the people engulfed by the thunderstorm, a fiery light flashed in Zhao Letian's eyes—they surely have quite a number of Jade Tokens on them.

However, he was too preoccupied to care for himself at the moment and therefore did not rush into action.

The thoughts of others were the same as Zhao Letian's, all coveting the Jade Tokens on others, but survival was the priority. No one intended to make a move, only planning to wait until they had escaped the thunderstorm's range.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

The Thunder Dragon kept striking down. Though it rarely hit any Martial Artist below, anyone struck was pulverized without the slightest resistance, forcing everyone to keep their nerves tightly wound, not daring to relax for even a moment.

After a while, Zhao Letian, leading the way, was the first to dash out of the thunderstorm's range.

But he did not hurry to leave; instead, he flipped his hand to take out a Four-star Spiritual Bow and Arrow, drawing the bow and nocking an arrow, directly aiming at everyone who was fleeing out of the thunderstorm.

"Hand over your Jade Tokens, or die."

Zhao Letian's voice, like a bell, drowned out the rolling thunder, reaching everyone's ears.

"Damn it, this bastard actually wants to exploit our plight."

"It's over, he is the third-ranked Zhao Zilong. Even if we manage to get out, we probably can't defeat him."

The crowd within the thunderstorm discussed indignantly with grim expressions. The or.i*g%i+n&al sou$r.ce! is *..

"You do not have the privilege to hesitate. Either hand them over or die."

Impatience flashed in Zhao Letian's eyes. As he spoke, a surge of powerful True Essence Power swirled around the bow and arrow in his hand.

Feeling the lethal threat, someone, though reluctant, gritted their teeth and surrendered their Jade Token to Zhao Letian.

Seeing someone taking the lead, the others could no longer hesitate and handed over their Jade Tokens with faces full of unwillingness.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!..."

Moments later, everyone had rushed out of the range of the thunderstorm.

But at this time, Zhao Letian had yet to leave and blocked those people's way.

"Hand over all the treasures on you, or else, you will still die."

Zhao Letian, bow and arrow still in hand, locked onto everyone as he coldly spoke.

"Zhao Zilong, in life one should allow for some leeway, so we may meet again favorably another day..."

Someone, with a grim expression, attempted to bargain with Zhao Letian. Without their Spiritual Artifacts, how would they compete in the future?

Before the person could finish speaking, Zhao Letian's arrow shot out, instantly piercing through that person's head.