Chapter 144: You

At that moment, the forbidden zone spirit that had fallen to the other side of the heavens furrowed its brow slightly.

"This thunder tribulation… why does it carry such an extraordinary aura? Could it have awakened some thunder spirit?" It pondered for a moment, then relaxed its brow, thinking no further. After all, even if a thunder spirit did appear, it would be aimed at that mortal down below. If Qin Yu were struck down directly, the Nine Yang Ancient God might still have a chance to escape. But Qin Yu cannot die, otherwise the Great Dao Heart Contract they signed would drag the Nine Yang Ancient God down with him, so later I'll have to intervene appropriately to save his life.

The forbidden zone spirit was now filled with worry, feeling utterly stifled as never before, threatened by a mere imprint. In this burial ground, it was like a lofty deity, unchallenged by anyone. Yet now, an imprint left by one who had died countless ages dared to act arrogantly before it.

"Boom!" A thunder dragon shot straight toward the inner depths, where the burial ground's core lay—the graveyard of the primeval gods. The terrifying explosion instantly shook heaven and earth; countless gusts surged like raging waves in all directions, and splendid sparks burst forth in the blast.

Down below, Qin Yu blinked in surprise, thinking: What… is this? Isn't I undergoing tribulation? Could it be that the Niepan Jie Ling has actually entered?

Not only him, the Nine Yang Ancient God also froze, unable to hold back a curse in his sea of consciousness: "What the hell kind of lousy thunder tribulation is this? That's the tomb of my primeval god lineage! Acting like this, if it were in the primeval era, I could easily flip my hand and crush it!"

"Shut up, don't you dare interfere with his tribulation!" the Phoenix Second-Generation Ancestor snapped. If it were any true top-tier god, they'd indeed have this power, but relying on you, Nine Yang Ancient God—who back then wasn't even a notable figure—and still shouting now? Adding to the earlier trouble you caused, the Phoenix Second-Generation Ancestor grew ever more displeased, wishing to crush you outright.

"Roar!" Above the clouds, a youthful figure stood upon the thunder dragon's head, hands clasped behind his back, expression calm. Countless thunder gleams surged toward Qin Yu like a vast ocean, sweeping away all the Dao patterns around him.

"Crackle… crackle!" The vital essence contained in the lightning began to flow into Qin Yu, thick and dense enough to almost solidify.

"You've come?" Qin Yu asked softly. He felt his flesh undergoing constant refinement, yet without destructive force. Aside from the Niepan Jie Ling, he could think of no one else capable of summoning the heavenly thunder punishment, and his heart eased at once—this breakthrough seemed to break the stalemate. If this backup failed too, he would have to abandon the Nine Yang Ancient God. Though he'd like to imprison it for future saint‑level aid, the situation forced his hand. Still, Qin Yu would not let this go; he had already marked this debt. After all, it was they who first tried to seize his body, and now being subdued is just desert. Thus he swore silently that he would settle this score, leaving not a single one of the burial ground's primeval gods alive—he would exterminate them all.

"My subordinate is late; please punish me, my lord." The Niepan Jie Ling bowed with clasped hands. Clad in a black robe, faint lightning coiled around it, emanating a dreadful aura like a deity's. Right now it seethed with inner fury—if it hadn't arrived in time, my lord would have been in danger. That earlier thunder dragon assault was merely a warning to the foe.

"This… is actually a thunder spirit? Why does it call that mortal 'my lord'?" The Nine Yang Ancient God in the sea of consciousness was greatly shaken, full of bewilderment. What is going on? How could a Foundation Establishment mortal draw forth so many ancient beings?

"As expected, deep blessings." The Phoenix Second-Generation Ancestor, deep within, curled the corner of its mouth into a faint smile—it seemed its gamble had paid off. Who would have thought this boy, having mastered a thunder spirit in his youth, now crosses realms to come to his lord's aid? From now on, I needn't worry. For it has sensed this thunder spirit's aura, which turns out to be the legendary forbidden tribulation—the Great Sun Niepan Tribulation. It itself once survived that tribulation to enter the Saint Realm, gaining invincible might, defeating all challengers, and establishing its illustrious fame. Yet it was also astonished that a being of forbidden‑tribulation caliber would acknowledge Qin Yu as master; there must be some hidden circumstance it does not know.

"A tribulation spirit? The heavenly Dao has long slumbered—are you declaring war on the primeval god lineage?" The forbidden zone spirit stepped to the edge of the heavenly thunder punishment, its form shrouded within; even the mortals inside, including the azure‑green wood beside them, could not see clearly. It now suffered a splitting headache—all it wanted was to possess a mortal, yet it has drawn forth so many powers. The Phoenix Second-Generation Ancestor is merely an imprint, insignificant. But now a forbidden tribulation spirit has appeared; if it borrows the might of this heavenly thunder punishment, its power could bury this burial ground. These heaven‑and‑earth spirits, as long as they act within the rules' allowance, can unleash their full force.

The Niepan Jie Ling ignored the forbidden zone spirit, instead continuing respectfully to Qin Yu: "My lord… what has happened here?" It too was full of doubt, wondering why the primeval gods still survived. After each great tribulation, heaven‑and‑earth spirits renew; they are reborn only after antiquity, with no link to the remote ancient or primeval ages, so the present situation is truly hard to fathom.

"Earlier I entered the inner zone of the Heavenly God Forbidden Zone for an assessment, thinking I would receive an inheritance, but instead I encountered a remnant soul of a primeval god trying to seize my body…" Qin Yu summed it up in a few words, his eyes flashing cold. This is practically a dead end—if not for my connection with the Little Phoenix and the activation of the Phoenix Second‑Generation Ancestor's imprint, I would still have died miserably here, possessed and erased. Even if a youthful saint stepped onto this ground, facing a forbidden zone spirit that governs worldly rules plus the double threat of an ancient imprint seeking possession, plus the restriction barring cultivators under thirty, none could escape; only death awaits. That I am alive now is nothing short of luck.

The Niepan Jie Ling gave a slight nod, its face instantly turning cold as it gazed fixedly at the forbidden zone spirit standing at the edge of the heavenly thunder punishment.

"My lord can have this ancient god follow him—that is his honor. Now I give you three breaths to retreat to the depths. Otherwise, you will perish and vanish, and I will mobilize the power of the world's thunder dao to bury this burial ground."

The forbidden zone spirit's heart trembled. Where did this terrifying mortal entity come from? A thunder dao tribulation spirit actually willing to mobilize the world's power for him, fighting to the death? And what does it mean for an ancient god to follow him as an honor? Suppressing its inner rage, it asked:

"May I ask, who is this lord? Even if I were to let my ancient god follow him, I'd need to know his identity."

The Niepan Jie Ling raised a finger with its right hand, gave a cold smile: "You, too, dare to know my lord's identity? Final breath—leave or die!"

Countless thunderbolts erupted instantly, as if the tribulation spirit had unleashed a heaven‑shaking wrath.

The forbidden zone spirit's visage shifted drastically. It dared not gamble, for many godly imprints still lingered deep in the burial ground; it would not sacrifice everything for a mere Nine Yang Ancient God. As for the face of the primeval god lineage… that is the Nine Yang Ancient God's own concern.

In an instant, its form dissipated in the air, withdrawing straight back to the depths.