Evan Chu didn’t pay any attention to the lightning crashing down on him. His eyes were fixed on the movements of the Netherbeast monsters around him. Very quickly, the first fire thunder struck his body, making him shudder all over.
When this fire thunder struck, all the surrounding Netherbeasts retreated a few steps—except for the fire scorpion. Maybe it’s because, as a fire-element Netherbeast, it isn’t really afraid of fire thunder.
Evan glanced at the fire scorpion and said gloomily, “This guy really isn’t afraid of thunder, or maybe this bolt just can’t hit it at all. It’s standing there without a care in the world.”
Luna immediately said, “That fire scorpion’s strength has broken through to Ninth-Layer Saint Martial Realm, so its intelligence is basically no different from a human’s. It saw the thunder tribulation for the other four fruits and already knows how it’ll end. Now it’s just waiting for you to be hit by the final fire thunder so it can snatch the fire fruit.”
“So shameless! Once I get the fire fruit, I’ll definitely slaughter it. This is so infuriating!” Evan said, frustrated.
Just then, the second bolt of thunder crashed down, blasting Evan several meters away. He felt that this fire thunder was much stronger than the second bolt for the other attributes. Is it because this is the last elemental fruit? Then wouldn’t the third one be even scarier? Evan thought to himself.
Evan quickly climbed to his feet and saw the fire scorpion actually crawling toward him. Looks like it really is planning to snatch the fire fruit as soon as the third fire thunder falls.
Just as Evan was getting anxious, Luna suddenly said, “Looks like you don’t need my help anymore—your backup has arrived.”
Evan was a little confused by Luna’s words. When did he get backup? But then he quickly realized something. “Could it be her? No way!”
“That’s right, it’s Faye Knox. But if she sees you looking like this, you’ll definitely be embarrassed. She might just turn around and leave—right now you look exactly like a hooligan!” Luna teased.
Evan looked at his own miserable appearance and gave a bitter laugh. “No matter how good your clothes are, they can’t withstand this kind of lightning. Whatever, I’ll just put something on—otherwise she’ll really think I’m some wild man.”
He took out a pair of shorts from his storage ring and put them on. Then Evan saw a figure in the distance flying rapidly toward him, soon arriving right in front of him.
The dark clouds overhead grew even thicker, denser than before. It was as if the sky had suddenly gone black, and visibility dropped to less than five hundred meters. You could tell just how powerful this lightning would be.
Faye Knox was drawn here by the lightning. Even a thousand li away, she sensed how terrifying it was. Lightning is rare in the Netherworld—either a treasure is about to appear, or a monstrous genius is crossing tribulation. Now that lightning had appeared in the Land of the Undead, of course she had to come investigate.
But when she arrived, she saw something she couldn’t believe: that little thief was actually here. Only now he was pitch-black all over, his hair sticking up like a bomb had gone off, and except for the whites of his eyes, there was really no way to describe the rest.
“Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be recovering underground?” Faye demanded immediately.
“I left after I recovered. I didn’t expect we’d run into each other here—guess we’re really fated!” Evan dodged the question, not daring to admit he hadn’t seen Faye when he left. If she’d actually been waiting there, his lie would be exposed instantly.
“Fated? You have the nerve to say that to me? I waited there for you for a full seven days! Did you leave early and trick me on purpose?” Faye said furiously, her face full of anger.
“Heaven and earth as my witness, how could I possibly trick you? When I came out, you were already gone, so I just got here first because I’m fast. Enough—help me deal with that scorpion. I have to get this fire fruit, it’s really important for me.” Evan said seriously.
He almost blurted out, ‘If I’m lying, let lightning strike me,’ but he’d already been struck countless times—and with an even stronger fire thunder still waiting, saying that would only prove he was lying, since it would come true immediately.
Faye looked at the fruit in front of Evan—it was blazing red, with a powerful fire-attribute energy swirling around it. She knew it was no ordinary item, and since Evan had already said it was important to him, she didn’t feel right fighting him for it.
She glanced at the fire scorpion not far away and was startled—this thing was actually a Netherbeast with strength about equal to her own. She’d have to be careful dealing with it.
“Fine, but what’s with all this lightning in the sky? Is it really aimed at you?” Faye asked, puzzled.
Evan gave a bitter smile. “Exactly—otherwise I wouldn’t be in such a sorry state. I’ll have to trouble you!”
Faye nodded and walked toward the fire scorpion. But just then, an enormous pressure appeared in the sky—a phenomenon that hadn’t happened before. Evan was instantly alarmed. “Luna, what’s going on? I don’t think I can handle this fire thunder!”
The pressure made Evan feel a sense of danger—a subconscious instinct. It was the first time he’d ever felt truly afraid.
“I don’t know what’s happening either. Maybe it’s because you forced all the Five-Element Fruits to ripen, so now you’re facing a heavenly punishment. Let Faye leave—if you can’t get this fire fruit, so be it. You can still buy one at an auction in the Immortal Realm, even if it’s expensive,” Luna said.
Evan hurriedly called out to Faye, “Faye, get out of here! The power of this fire thunder is terrifying—you could be seriously hurt. Trust me! Forget the scorpion, there’s no time!”
Faye turned and saw Evan’s anxious expression. She knew he wasn’t lying—she’d never seen him so panicked before. Without hesitation, she flew off into the distance.
She wanted to ask why Evan wasn’t running away himself, but when she saw the determined look in his eyes, she held back.
At that moment, Luna said, “Evan, circulate the lightning element in your body as fast as you can. This last strike isn’t just normal fire thunder—it’s the Scorching Divine Thunder, the one bolt of Nine-Heaven Divine Thunder you haven’t faced yet! This thunder is formed from lightning and Heavenfire. I hope you can withstand it, because if you can’t, you’ll die here. But if you succeed, you’ll be transformed even more than by the Five-Element Thunder.”
“I don’t understand why you’re attracting such terrifying lightning. Normally, this kind only appears during God-tribulations. With your current strength, I’m honestly worried for you!” Luna said.
Evan frowned, then focused his mind. A dragon’s roar burst from his lips, and he instantly transformed into his Golden Dragon form. Only the Golden Dragon’s defenses were strong enough—if Luna said the thunder was this terrifying, he had to use his full power to resist.
At the same time, his body was covered in layers of earth and stone defenses, and he clamped the Timewheel Bracelet in his mouth. If things really went wrong, he’d use his last chance with the bracelet!
Once everything was ready, the final bolt of lightning crashed down... (Double release tonight)