From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 74 Surrounded by Enemies, a Perilous Journey

The purple lightning, like a raging dragon, tore at my body. I felt as if my internal organs were being burned by flames, and every inch of my skin was groaning. The power of the tenth heavenly tribulation far exceeded my imagination. I struggled to hold on, my consciousness gradually fading amidst the intense pain.

Just then, a chilling and powerful demonic energy coiled around my neck like a venomous snake. A malicious voice rang in my ear: "Xiao Yao, prepare to die!"

I jolted my eyes open to find the Asura King's狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) face inches away, his black demonic blade raised high, gleaming with a chilling light. I tried to dodge, but found my body numb and completely immobile. The lingering power of the heavenly tribulation had not yet dissipated; I was now like a fish on a chopping board, at his mercy.

At the critical moment, a white figure appeared in front of me. It was Wen Chen! His face was pale, and blood was still dripping from the corner of his mouth; he had clearly been seriously injured in the previous battle.

"Wen Chen! No!" I cried out in anguish, but I was powerless to stop what was about to happen.

The Asura King let out a cruel laugh, his demonic blade stabbing towards Wen Chen without hesitation. Black demonic energy clashed violently with white immortal energy, producing a deafening roar. Wen Chen groaned, his body trembling violently, blood flowing continuously from the corner of his mouth.

I watched helplessly as he took the fatal blow for me, my heart breaking. Wen Chen's body slowly collapsed, and I struggled to hold him, but found I didn't even have the strength to lift my arm.

"Wen Chen..." My voice trembled, and tears blurred my vision.

The Asura King laughed wildly: "Hahahaha! Wen Chen, you were willing to sacrifice yourself for a piece of trash, how utterly foolish! Next, it's your turn, Xiao Yao!"

He approached me step by step, his eyes gleaming with greed. I closed my eyes in despair, awaiting death.

Suddenly, a golden light descended from the sky, forcing the Asura King back several steps. I barely opened my eyes and saw the figure of Guanyin Bodhisattva appear in the air, her face filled with compassion, softly chanting Buddhist scriptures.

"Asura King, are you not afraid of the Heavenly Court's punishment for your reckless behavior?" Guanyin Bodhisattva's voice was solemn and majestic.

The Asura King scoffed disdainfully, "The Heavenly Court? A bunch of hypocrites! I'd like to see what they can do to me!"

He raised his demonic blade again, preparing to attack me. Just then, a majestic voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth: "Bold Asura King, how dare you disrupt the order of the Heavenly Court!"

The Jade Emperor appeared in the sky, clad in golden armor and holding a jade tablet, exuding majesty. His gaze was icy as he stared at the Asura King, and he slowly said, "Asura King, you..."

The Jade Emperor's voice boomed like a bell, making my eardrums ring. A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart; perhaps, I could still be saved. But the Asura King showed no fear. He laughed wildly, his eyes full of provocation: "Old Jade Emperor, if you have the ability, come down and fight me!"

The Jade Emperor's face turned ashen. He gripped his jade tablet tightly, seemingly about to strike. But he ultimately restrained himself, and I saw a flicker of helplessness and struggle in his eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly asked, "Where is Erlang Shen?"

A golden light flashed, and Erlang Shen appeared beside the Jade Emperor. He knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "Your subject is here!"

"Quickly lead the heavenly soldiers and generals down to the mortal realm to capture the Asura King!" The Jade Emperor's voice was full of majesty.

"As you command!" Erlang Shen accepted the order and left, the golden light flashing once more before disappearing into the horizon.

The Jade Emperor's gaze fell upon me, tinged with pity and regret. He slowly said, "Xiao Yao, your fate is beyond my control. Everything is predetermined." With that, he vanished.

A bitter feeling welled up inside me; the Jade Emperor ultimately did not intervene to save me. Was I truly going to die here?

The figure of Guanyin Bodhisattva remained suspended in the air, gazing at me compassionately, her eyes filled with worry. I heard her softly chanting Buddhist scriptures, her voice like a gentle stream flowing into my heart, bringing me a sense of comfort. I knew she was praying for me. But I knew that even her power was futile against the Asura King.

The Asura King's gaze fell upon me again, his eyes flashing with cruel light as he approached me step by step. "Xiao Yao, your death is near!" He raised the demonic blade high in his hand, and the black demonic energy clung to me like a leech, making me feel suffocated.

I closed my eyes in despair, awaiting death. Wen Chen had already fallen in a pool of blood for me; what else was there for me to cherish?

Suddenly, I felt a powerful force envelop me. I opened my eyes and saw the White Bone Demon standing in front of me, holding a white bone in her hand, blocking the Asura King's attack.

"Asura King, aren't you being far too disrespectful to our demon race?" The White Bone Demon's voice was sharp and piercing, carrying a hint of provocation.

"White Bone Demon, you're courting death!" King Asura roared, turning his demonic blade towards the White Bone Demon.

"Hmph, it's not certain who will die!" The White Bone Demon sneered as she engaged in a fierce battle with the Asura King.

I tried to struggle to my feet, but found my body still numb and unable to move. I could only watch helplessly as the White Bone Demon and the Asura King fought, my heart filled with anxiety and unease.

Suddenly, a deafening roar came from the sky. I looked up and saw countless heavenly soldiers and generals descending from the sky. They were dressed in golden armor, holding sharp blades, and looked fierce.

Leading the group was none other than Erlang Shen! Holding a three-pointed, double-edged sword, his eyes blazed as he stared directly at the Asura King, shouting sternly, "Asura King, your sins are heinous! Today is your death day!"

Asura King's expression changed drastically; he...

Asura King's expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected Erlang Shen to arrive so quickly. He glared at me fiercely, his eyes filled with resentment and malice, as if he wanted to devour me alive. Then, he brandished his demonic blade and charged towards Erlang Shen.

In an instant, the sky was filled with deafening battle cries, golden light and demonic energy intertwined, and the flashing of swords and the clash of blades were dazzling. Heavenly soldiers and generals engaged in fierce combat with the Asura King's demonic army, and the scene was extremely chaotic. I was stunned by this sudden turn of events and momentarily forgot my own predicament.

"Xiao Yao! Concentrate! Don't get distracted!" Guanyin Bodhisattva's voice was like a wake-up call, pulling me back from my shock. I then remembered that I was still undergoing my tribulation! The eighth bolt of heavenly lightning was about to strike!

I quickly focused my mind and gathered the last of my spiritual energy to prepare for this fatal blow. However, at that moment, I felt a chilling demonic power invade my mind, disturbing my thoughts and making it impossible for me to concentrate.

"Hehehe... Xiao Yao, do you think you can escape my grasp?" The White Bone Demon's sharp and piercing voice rang in my mind, like a demonic sound piercing my brain, causing me unbearable pain.

I gritted my teeth, trying my best to resist the White Bone Demon's interference, but I found that this demonic power was like a maggot clinging to my bone, impossible to shake off. My body grew weaker and weaker, and my consciousness began to blur. I felt that I was about to give up.

"Xiao Yao! Hold on!" Wen Chen's weak voice rang in my ears, as if from a distant horizon. I struggled to open my eyes, but all I saw was a sea of ​​blood. Wen Chen, are you still alive?

A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart. For Wen Chen's sake, I couldn't give up! I desperately mobilized the spiritual power within my body to resist the bombardment of heavenly lightning and the interference of the White Bone Demon. My body trembled violently, as if it would collapse at any moment.

Just when I was about to despair, I felt a warm power enveloping me. This power was so familiar... it was Guanyin Bodhisattva!

I saw the figure of Guanyin Bodhisattva appear before me. She looked at me compassionately, her eyes filled with encouragement and support. She stretched out her slender hand and gently placed it on the top of my head. A pure Buddhist power slowly flowed into my body, repairing my damaged meridians and spiritual energy.

I felt my body gradually regaining its strength, and my consciousness becoming clearer. I looked at Guanyin Bodhisattva with gratitude, my heart filled with warmth and hope.

However, this brief calm was soon shattered. The battle between Asura King and Erlang Shen had reached a fever pitch, with both sides exhausted and the battle at a stalemate.

Just then, the Asura King suddenly roared, burning his own essence and blood, transforming into a black light that broke through Erlang Shen's defenses and rushed straight towards me!

"Xiao Yao! Be careful!" Erlang Shen exclaimed, but it was too late to stop him.

I watched helplessly as the black light hurtled towards me, my heart filled with fear and despair. Was I ultimately destined to be condemned by fate?

Just at this critical moment, a white figure blocked my way.

"The White Bone Demon!" I exclaimed in surprise.

The White Bone Demon turned her head and gave me a sinister smile. "Xiao Yao, I told you, you'd regret it..."

The White Bone Demon stood before me, using her skeletal body to withstand the Asura King's attack! I even heard the sound of bones cracking. Her frail body swayed, but she didn't fall. I was stunned, not understanding why she did this. Was she not here to harm me?

"Why..." I blurted out, my voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

She didn't answer, only gave a bitter smile, a smile that carried a hint of relief and...sorrow? Before I could think about it, the ninth bolt of heavenly lightning, with its earth-shattering power, crashed down!

I felt as if my body was being torn apart; the excruciating pain almost made me lose consciousness. My spiritual energy was already depleted, and I was powerless to resist the powerful heavenly lightning, forced to watch helplessly as it devoured me. Just when I thought I was doomed, I suddenly sensed something amiss.

This ninth bolt of heavenly lightning seems... weaker than the previous ones?

The thought flashed through my mind like lightning. I endured the excruciating pain, carefully sensing the power of the heavenly lightning and its trajectory. The first eight bolts of lightning were stronger with each strike, their power increasing exponentially. But this ninth bolt, while impressive in its display, seemed to have slightly reduced power. Could it be… that this heavenly tribulation also follows some kind of pattern?

I desperately concentrated, ignoring the excruciating pain in my body and the surrounding noise, focusing all my attention on the heavenly lightning. Gradually, I discovered that this heavenly lightning was not entirely without a trace. Its descent, its trajectory, and its power all seemed to be related to some kind of energy flow between heaven and earth. This energy flow was invisible to the naked eye and difficult to detect with divine sense, yet it truly existed.

A surge of elation welled up within me. If I could grasp the laws governing this energy flow, could I guide the direction of the heavenly lightning, or even... harness its power?

The idea made me tremble with excitement. I knew this might be my only chance! I had to seize this opportunity!

I began trying to mobilize the last bit of spiritual energy within my body to sense this mysterious energy flow. The process was incredibly difficult; my body was at its limit, and every wisp of spiritual energy felt like being cut by a knife. But I didn't give up. I tried again and again, failed time and time again, and started over each time.

Finally, just as the ninth bolt of heavenly lightning was about to dissipate, I sensed a faint connection. I felt as if I could touch the pulse of this energy flow; it throbbed in my senses, guiding my direction.

"Xiao Yao! What are you doing!" Guanyin Bodhisattva's anxious voice came. She seemed to have noticed my actions, but did not understand my intentions.

I ignored her; all my energy was focused on the flow of energy. I sensed the tenth heavenly lightning bolt brewing, far more powerful than the previous nine. If I failed, I would be annihilated!

I took a deep breath and poured the last bit of spiritual power in my body into this energy flow. Then, I suddenly opened my eyes and looked at the Asura King who was fighting Erlang Shen in the distance... "I'll lend it to you."