No demon beast would attack a person or another demon beast during the tribulation, as entering the range of the tribulation would automatically increase its power.
When one person enters the tribulation, the power of the lightning doubles. If two people enter, the power doubles once again, continuing until the intruders perish and the power resets.
Regardless of whether a demon beast has awakened its intelligence, none of them would venture into the midst of the tribulation. Three demon beasts observed the impending thunderous tribulation and flew to a safe distance, surrounding Lin Yi, who was undergoing the tribulation, forming a triangular enclosure.
The first wave of white lightning descended, striking with immense force, shattering the upper part of the cave.
Lin Yi, inside the cave, pushed out a precise surge of green qi from his palms, deflecting the incoming lightning. The tribulation clouds, seemingly intelligent, scattered after the first attack, followed by three white lightning bolts targeting different positions on Lin Yi's body.
Lin Yi remained calm, using a spell to create a black and white Tai Chi diagram above him.
This Tai Chi diagram blocked the attacks of the three white lightning bolts, rendering them ineffective.
Once initiated, the tribulation attacks continuously. Lin Yi adeptly dealt with the onslaught, sometimes blocking, sometimes advancing. The first round of tribulation passed under his skillful evasion.
Next was the second wave of light blue lightning, containing the power of water vapor. Lin Yi, momentarily unaware, attempted to use the same Tai Chi diagram to block but was pierced by the first bolt. The Tai Chi diagram was breached, but Lin Yi's spiritual shield absorbed the remaining impact, leaving a tingling sensation on his body without causing harm.
Since there was no harm to the body, Lin Yi daringly attempted to absorb one of the light blue lightning bolts directly into his body during the subsequent attacks.
Seeing the effectiveness of his attempt, Lin Yi seized the opportunity. Rather than attacking the tribulation clouds, he focused on adapting his body to the increasing intensity of the lightning.
As the tribulation continued, Lin Yi successfully absorbed more light blue lightning into his body. The spiritual energy within his dantian, initially in a gaseous state, began to liquefy. His body, initially stiff from the lightning, gradually became more comfortable.
Skin covered in fine mud revealed the effects of the lightning's tempering.
With the conclusion of the second wave of lightning, the third and final wave of blue lightning struck. Lin Yi, now more cautious, drew a Tai Chi Eight Diagrams chart, combining it with a spiritual shield and a sword in hand.
He faced the blue lightning head-on, colliding like a whirlwind. After three resounding crashes, Lin Yi returned to his original meditative position, the sword in his hand reduced to powder.
After a wry smile, Lin Yi glanced at his palm. The blue lightning briefly appeared before disappearing. Observing the three demon beasts in the distance, Lin Yi closed his eyes again, sensing the insights gained from the three strikes.
The three demons saw the tribulation clouds dissipating and Lin Yi sitting in meditation. They exchanged glances and slowly converged, forming a encircling formation.
Lin Yi sensed the gradual approach of the three demons without opening his eyes, silently laughing inside. It seemed they intended to take advantage of his vulnerability after overcoming the tribulation.
Ignoring the three approaching demons, Lin Yi sat there, waiting for them to come and meet their doom. With abundant spiritual energy and formidable physical strength, he had nothing to fear from three semi-transformed demons.
Internally, he hoped the three demons would come and challenge him. As a cultivator in the Lesser Yang and Lesser Mystery realms, breaking through required experiencing the tribulation.
The demons advancing to the semi-transformed stage had also experienced their own tribulations, making Lin Yi equivalent to them in terms of realm.
However, these three demons had advanced to the semi-transformed stage several hundred years ago, possessing strength superior to ordinary cultivators newly advanced in their realm.
After a while, Lin Yi opened his eyes, saying, "Three esteemed fellows, what brings you here?"
"Human and demon forces are incompatible. Youngster, spare us your pleasantries," the demon fish spoke bluntly.
"What do you three ugly creatures want?" Lin Yi scorned, watching their half-human, half-demon forms.
"You're seeking death!" The demon fish, unable to contain its anger, reverted to its true form, wielding two steel tridents with its fish tail flicking. Like an arrow released from a bow, it shot towards Lin Yi.
Lin Yi, witnessing the demon fish approaching, felt no fear. Although it seemed fast, Lin Yi had completely locked onto its soul with his spiritual power. He controlled the trajectory of its flight with ease.
Creating a Tai Chi diagram with one hand, Lin Yi directed it towards the demon fish and simultaneously shot two fingers like a sword at the demon eagle.
If the flight of the demon fish resembled a released arrow, Lin Yi's speed was akin to a bullet leaving the barrel. The demon eagle, known for its speed, was caught off guard.
With Lin Yi's sword energy piercing through its head, the demon eagle met its demise.
Observing this, the demon tortoise, frightened and shocked, almost lost control. In a descent towards the sea, it narrowly escaped, wanting to flee for its life.
After a single attack that killed the demon eagle, Lin Yi immediately flew towards the demon tortoise. As the tortoise was about to sink into the sea, Lin Yi struck its shell forcefully, with a palm carrying a returning force.
The rebounding demon tortoise was splashed back onto the sea surface. Its original form revealed, it spat out threads of dark blood.
Turning his head to the captured demon fish, Lin Yi's lips curled slightly. It seemed that semi-transformed demon beasts were not much of a challenge.
Although the demon fish was tightly bound by the Tai Chi diagram, it could still witness the scenes of Lin Yi's confrontation with the demon eagle and tortoise. In just a few moves, two companions at the same level were effortlessly killed by this human cultivator who had recently advanced.
The demon fish's head spun as it quickly begged for mercy, fearing that Lin Yi might suddenly attack like he did with the demon eagle.
"As death approaches, is there anything left to discuss?" Lin Yi asked.
"As long as you spare my life, I will definitely repay you generously. I swear here that the information I provide will be valuable to you. Otherwise, let me suffer the torment of soul extraction and spirit refining," the demon fish pleaded desperately.
"Are you sure your information is useful to me?" Lin Yi inquired.
"I have at least two pieces of information that will be helpful to you. Now that I am in your hands, I dare not deceive you," the demon fish hurriedly added when it saw Lin Yi loosen his grip, fearing Lin Yi might kill it like the demon eagle.
"Is that all your information?" Lin Yi was dissatisfied.
"Of course, there's another one. Let's talk while we move. Otherwise, it might be too late."
Now, the demon fish was even more worried than Lin Yi about the arrival of Miao Ying's father, Miao Ying Wang. After all, Lin Yi had already made a vow: as long as the demon fish revealed the second secret, he would spare its life.
Miao Ying Wang's anger would be unpredictable, especially since its son met a tragic end. If Lin Yi shifted the blame onto others, the demon fish would be in trouble.
"At the later stage of the semi-transformed period, I'm currently not a match for it," Lin Yi thought in his heart. Therefore, he used his spatial storage technique to shrink the bodies of Miao Ying and Xuan Gui before stowing them away in his sleeves.
Next, he sealed the entire body of the demon fish and carried it in his hand, flying towards the south. As for why he chose the south, the demon fish had informed him that there was a secret relic in the south. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Yi decided to explore the relic to see if he could gain anything.
(End of this chapter)