Chapter 1549: Chapter 1181: Breaking Extreme Refinement, Descent of Soul Refining Heavenly Punishment!

"Ka-cha!"

The sound of lightning thundered suddenly!

The entire sky was illuminated with an eerie brilliance by the white light that pierced through the sun!

"Godfather!"

"Oh my mother!"

"Grandma! What is happening?"

"..."

At the very moment the sound of lightning thundered, the crowd below the arena immediately clutched their heads and dropped to the ground!

The ancient people were ignorant and deeply believed in Ghosts and Deities!

Lightning piercing the sun in broad daylight was considered ominous, seen as a summons of heaven’s anger!

Everyone present believed this without doubt!

However, there were also those who had experienced this lightning baptism before, who were momentarily stunned when they heard the sound of lightning.

"How is this possible? How could she?" Elder Yuh’s longsword fell to the ground with a crisp sound, an unbelievable expression filling his old face.

"Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement! Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement! How is this possible? This is impossible!" Elder of Bai Family, Bai Wuao, looked as if he had been struck by lightning, shaking his head repeatedly and saying, "Impossible! This is impossible! The descent of Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement must occur in rainy weather, with lightning born from the timing of heaven and earth, and it must coincide with someone in the Transformative Realm undergoing a tribulation, just at the moment they break through to the Body Refining Realm! But now, with the sun high in the sky and not a cloud in sight, where did this thunderous lightning come from? This is impossible! Impossible! Could it be that even the heavens are helping her?"

"Too late! Eventually... still too late..." In front of Zhou Mu, facing him, Yuh Zhiqian looked up at the swirling, gathering lightning in the sky, and his black iron longsword fell to the ground with a thud, a look of despondency on his slightly pale face...

As Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement approached, anyone daring to come near Gu Changsheng would have their souls annihilated under its reach!

Even for experts of the Primordial Transformative Realm like them, they dared not touch the Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement that was not meant for them!

And at this moment, looking at Gu Changsheng, Shi Wujue stood with both hands behind his back, maintaining a stance of exertion, sweat beading slowly and dripping from his breathtaking face...

Without glancing at the sky, which seemed torn apart, Shi Wujue resolutely gazed at Gu Changsheng, the depths of his narrow eyes full of determination, his lips moving silently, murmuring, "Gu Changsheng, all this palace can do for you is to split open the heavens and draw down this Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement for you..."

"Three rounds of Heaven’s Punishment to cleanse the Divine Soul, whether you can endure to the end... the unsolved mystery of my Ancient Country He Clan, will it finally reach its conclusion, it’s all wagered on today!"

Breaking Extreme Refinement transforms the body anew.

Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement forges an indestructible Divine Soul.

Gu Changsheng, whether you can pass this barrier and transcend, depends on your own fortune...

What this palace could do for you has been done completely...

Your success or failure, your survival or demise, is tied to the survival of my He Clan...

Hopefully, you do not...

Do not let this palace...

Down!

And at this moment, Gu Changsheng, who had been struggling in the agony of the Body Refining Realm, suddenly looked up after the lightning illuminated the sky, the thunder rolling twice...

Her bloodshot eyes, burning like fire, as if washed in blood...

Looking at the heavenly mechanism, the thunder and lightning that seemed to smash all darkness into pieces, Gu Changsheng’s eyes flickered with brilliance; her throat burned painfully, but she could not help bursting into laughter...

"Haha! Heaven assists me, Gu Changsheng! The Heaven-defying punishment, I have been... awaiting for so long!"

Originally, she was gambling!

Using life as a wager, she engaged in a high-stakes gamble!

She bet that heaven would leave no one with no path to tread, that she would eventually meet with this descending Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement at the right moment!

The pain of Body Refining, Gu Changsheng did not mind!

All the physical pain, Gu Changsheng did not take to heart, for in her past and present lives, she had suffered countless hardships, so she cherished the rare ease and cherished life with care...

The pain of Soul Refinement, she did not care either!

With arms opened once more, Gu Changsheng slightly looked up, facing the thunder in the sky, her small, bright face full of certainty!

To reach here, to stand on the semifinal stage of the Nirvana Martial Contest, she came with the determination to face death without fear! She could be defeated, could be knocked down, but she possessed a heart that would never admit defeat!

My heart is resilient, unyielding and ever-forward!

As long as my belief holds, I, Gu Changsheng, will never be destroyed!

"Heaven! What has become of this world? Southern Emperor! Get out of the way!"

"Mad! Mad! Everyone has gone mad!"

"..."

The crowd below the arena, crouching on the ground, slightly raised their heads only to see Gu Changsheng with arms wide open, posing as if ready to soar amid the sky full of lightning!

This scene really scared them to death!

Heaven’s might cannot be violated! No matter how noble the worldly ruler is, they cannot compare their might to the heavens!

Southern Emperor, what kind of might is this?

Is this an attempt to contest the height of heaven?

It’s sheer madness! It’s courting death!

And those from the Hidden World Clan standing on the stage, their weapons all fallen to the ground by now, had an unprecedented wariness in their eyes!

"It’s impossible! Even if Heaven’s Punishment Soul Refinement descends, so what? She cannot possibly pass the trial!"

Elder Yuh shook his head, filled with disbelief.

"I also hope... hope it’s impossible..." Bai Wuao’s old face wore a thoughtful expression, his brows furrowed as he spoke slowly.

He also hopes it’s impossible!

No one hopes more than he does that the ruler of this continent is someone humble, weak, and easily defeated!

However, the reality is right before us!

Gu Changsheng is actually attempting to break through the shackles and conquer the Transformative Realm right under his nose!

Moreover, she is crossing the realms rapidly in the shortest time!

This causes Bai Wuao to feel a deep-rooted dread, yet he is helpless!

"Changsheng..." Zhou Mu stands not far from Gu Changsheng, with eyes deep like a cold pool full of worry; he has experienced it, he recently went through the agony of trying to conquer the Transformative Realm!

At that time, he had the protection of Shi Wujue’s Divine Tears Pearl, making the possibility of mishap with his talents extremely slight!

But Gu Changsheng...

She has no spiritual treasure protecting her!

Soul Refining Heavenly Punishment is the will of heaven! It is the punishment from above for those who dare to break through shackles, aspiring for their souls to be immortal!

Without the protection of the divine relic or spiritual treasure, trying to pass the realm of soul refining is as difficult as ascending to the heavens!

Though Zhou Mu knows Gu Changsheng’s strong will, knows her strength is starkly different from her usual carefree appearance, yet he still can’t help but worry!

This defies the heavens!

Unlike anything before!

Can she pass smoothly?

The consequences of failure, Zhou Mu dares not imagine!

But once the breakthrough begins, it cannot be interrupted, and no one can replace Gu Changsheng to endure it all!

"Rumble!"

"Rumble..."

"..."

In broad daylight, with the sun hanging high, yet the sound of thunder and lightning never ceases, as if wanting to penetrate people’s eardrums, the rumbling sound is relentless!

In the black clouds above, lightning and fire slowly gather, increasingly making the divine soul dread!

"Oh heavens! Thunder is about to strike!"

Unknowingly, someone shouted loudly!

In an instant, even those disciples of the hidden world clan standing on the platform crouched down, holding their heads in fear, bodies trembling lightly!

The awe of heavenly thunder causes a dread that originates at the heart, irrelevant to one’s strength or power!

"Changsheng!"

Zhou Mu, looking at Gu Changsheng’s back, calls out again in tension.

However, the next moment, he’s forced back a step by the thunderous aura from the sky...

With long fingers clenched tightly, Zhou Mu’s eyes are filled with anguish!

This trial belongs to her, he cannot interfere! He can’t do anything for her but watch...

This feeling of helplessness almost drives Zhou Mu mad!

"Evildoer! Step back!"

A hoarse voice emits from Gu Changsheng’s mouth, as she lifts her head, never glancing back, her small face filled with increasing determination, "The first heavenly punishment is descending..."

Her phoenix eyes, narrowing with the lightning gathering in the sky, Gu Changsheng speaks solemnly.

With the flight of spiraling lightning, as if ready to destroy everything in the universe, Gu Changsheng slightly hooks the corner of her lips, desperately trying to divert her attention!

Damn!

This isn’t a game!

The first strike of thunder hasn’t descended, yet she already feels unprecedented pressure!

Heavenly might?

Damn it!

If you were truly mighty, I wouldn’t have traversed time and space to come here!

"Come!"

Her pupils once again lock tightly, Gu Changsheng’s lips slightly parted, and with the descending thunder, her body—bathed in crimson as blood—moves...

"Rumble!"

"Bang!"

"Ah!"

The thunder strikes, hitting Gu Changsheng.

Gu Changsheng immediately throws her head back, screaming in agony!

Her long hair swirling, flies behind her, the red robes instantly dimming, almost entirely struck black!

Unable to directly face its fierce power, those elders of the hidden world clan hearing Gu Changsheng’s cry of pain instinctively lift their heads in surprise, their gaze filled with hope as they look at the woman standing in the middle of the platform...

The wrath of thunder, the lightning and fire, has already engulfed that woman!

The baptism of thunder makes her appear as though she’s crawled from hell, utterly wretched, her exterior hideous!

Is she going to fail?

Is she going to fail!

Even if heaven favors her, allowing her to attract the unexpected Soul Refining Heavenly Punishment right in time, the pain of soul refining far exceeds that of body refining! That soul-tearing agony has already claimed the lives of countless masters during their advancement to conquer the Transformative Realm; why would Gu Changsheng succeed? What right does she have to succeed?

"Haha! Gu Changsheng, this is all your overestimation of yourself, bringing disaster upon yourself! Now, as you perish under the wrath of thunder, people will only say the heavens do not tolerate you, Gu Changsheng! What of the Southern Emperor? Even the Southern Emperor cannot rival the heavens! Just await your death!" Elder Yuh screams with mad laugh, looking at Gu Changsheng...