When Shen Shitao learned that the helper Lü Ying had brought was none other than Yang Kai, her mood immediately grew complicated, a hint of bitterness tugging at the corner of her lips. Although she had intended to cultivate a friendship with Yang Kai—build a good relationship so she could invite him along on future adventures—if they couldn't even survive this crisis, what was the point of talking about the future?
Yang Kai's cultivation was only at the second level of the Saint King Realm. How could he possibly break through the prohibition here and rescue the three of them?
Still, he had come to help. Even though Shen Shitao felt somewhat disappointed, she didn't say much. She was about to open her mouth to express her gratitude when Wang Yuhan from the Extreme Dao Sect shouted in exasperation from the side: "What good is bringing him here? The three of us risked our lives to help you escape, and you bring back someone like him? Do you want us dead?!"
Though he hadn't outright cursed, those were no light words.
Lü Ying's face went pale instantly. She stared at Wang Yuhan, her lips trembling, guilt and unease written all over her features.
Shen Shitao's pretty face darkened. "Senior Brother Wang, aren't you going a bit too far? Don't you know what kind of place this is? Nobody ever comes to Buried Heroes Valley on a normal day. The fact that Junior Sister Lü Ying managed to find Brother Yang at all is a stroke of incredible luck. What more do you want?"
She unleashed a sharp rebuke at Wang Yuhan without holding back. The latter's face flushed with embarrassment, and though he didn't argue back, anyone could see the displeasure in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai—who was standing outside—finally shifted his gaze from the spot he had been observing and cast a cool glance at Wang Yuhan, but said nothing. The man's words clearly carried a hint of disparagement. Yang Kai found it unpleasant, but couldn't be bothered to argue.
What caught his attention was the prohibition itself and the Silver Night Thunder Beast within.
The prohibition here went without saying. Given the existence of something as special as the Thunder Pool, this place had clearly been a restricted area of the Ancient Sun Sect in the past—likely a zone carved out specifically for cultivators who practiced lightning-attributed techniques and martial skills. And the Silver Night Thunder Beast had somehow managed to activate the prohibition here, trapping Shen Shitao and the others inside.
The Silver Night Thunder Beast was, after all, a lightning-type demon beast. With the Thunder Pool augmenting it further and fighting within the confines of the prohibition, it enjoyed every conceivable advantage of terrain. Its strength was exactly as Lü Ying had described—it could perform far beyond its normal limits.
The Silver Night Thunder Beast cut a strange figure—its head was that of an bull, its body that of a deer, its tail that of a leopard, and lightning flickered across its entire frame. Layer upon layer of thick scales covered its surface, each about the span of a palm, clearly forged for extreme durability. Ordinary attacks would never penetrate its defense.
Upon its forehead grew two curved horns, and lightning surged violently through them. When its massive head shook, it tugged at the dark clouds overhead, drawing down bolts of heavenly thunder that slammed into its horns. The lightning was then redirected outward in a searing blast aimed directly at its targets. The horns seemed to possess some amplifying property, capable of magnifying the power of each thunderbolt.
From time to time, the beast would open its maw and spit out spheres of lightning. When these thunder spheres struck the ground before Shen Shitao and the others and detonated, the sky filled with sinuous arcs of electricity writhing like small serpents—devastatingly powerful and nearly impossible to guard against.
Shen Shitao and her two companions had taken shelter beneath an enormous umbrella roughly ten feet across. Waves of formidable energy pulsed from its surface, runes flowing across it in luminous patterns, light rippling continuously—this had to be the one Shen Shitao had mentioned earlier: a Void Grade, Superior Quality defensive artifact, the Nine Palace Heaven Net Umbrella.
Every lightning-based attack that came within range was intercepted by a layer of mysterious power emanating from the umbrella, drastically reducing its force.
After watching for only a moment, Yang Kai understood that if not for this defensive artifact, the three of them would have died many times over already.
Though the Nine Palace Heaven Net Umbrella allowed Shen Shitao to deflect most of the Silver Night Thunder Beast's attacks, she was still in a wretched state. Before Wang Yuhan stood a colorful folding screen, which was also a defensive artifact—lightning arcs that slipped past Shen Shitao's defenses were intercepted by the screen and vanished into it, disappearing to who knew where.
As for the last of the three, Shen Fanlei, he was covered in crackling arcs of lightning just like the beast itself. He made no defensive moves at all. Instead, with great heaving breaths, he sucked the scattered bolts of lightning power straight into his belly.
Of the three, he appeared the most at ease. It seemed as though the loose threads of lightning not only couldn't harm him but were actually strengthening his power.
This drew an extra glance from Yang Kai, who judged that the man either possessed a special constitution or practiced some extraordinary technique. His spirit, too, remained as sharp as ever—his eyes burned bright with vitality.
The three fought in a triangular formation, each covering the other's flank as they weathered the Silver Night Thunder Beast's furious assault. For the moment, their lives were not in immediate danger. But if this continued, the moment Shen Shitao and Wang Yuhan's Saint Yuan ran dry, their defeat and death would be merely a matter of time. Even Shen Fanlei, with his special constitution and technique, would not be spared.
"Brother Yang!" Shen Shitao called out, seizing a moment between breaths. "If you have any means at your disposal, please use them now! We can't hold on much longer!"
She had noticed that Yang Kai had been standing motionless the entire time—showing no intention of helping, yet no intention of leaving either—and could not help but grow anxious.