Chapter 458

She lifted her head and saw that the shell of the golden egg hovering in midair had been scorched black by the lightning; it was trembling violently, as if struggling not to fall.

She recalled that the book had recorded: the heavenly tribulation for a divine beast's descent consists of nine strikes.

If the divine beast were to undergo tribulation for taking human form, it would be the 'ninety‑nine tribulation', that is, eighty‑one strikes in total.

But now the golden egg only needs to hatch and descend into the world, so it only has to endure nine strikes of tribulation.

But she faintly felt this tribulation was not ordinary, so she couldn't help sending a thought to the golden egg: 'You aren't about to take human form, are you?'

The golden egg, its mind addled from the blows, suddenly sensed its master's thought‑transmission and sobbed back: 'I don't want this either……'

Yuan Yao's brow twitched.

'How many tribulations do you have to endure now?!'

Golden egg: 'Eighty‑nine, waa waa waa, it hurts so much, my flesh is all scorched!'

Hardly had it finished speaking when the third tribulation strike came chasing after it!

Golden egg: 'Owwww!!! Pain pain pain!!!'

The tribulation strikes were falling faster and faster.

The golden egg kept dodging, trying to avoid the strikes.

But unexpectedly, the tribulation struck at an angle, hitting it!

Golden egg: 'Master, save me quickly! I'm about to die! Ahhh!'

Tribulation strikes rained down from above one after another, leaving less than two seconds to react; the golden egg's body was scorched black, and the exposed flesh was split open, making it impossible to tell what kind of creature it was.

Seeing this, Yuan Yao quickly spread her mental power over the surrounding area, discovered that the participants had been cleared out, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

She suddenly lifted her gaze, leapt up, and tapped her toes on the sea surface.

In her hand she summoned a Phantom Spirit Sword.

'Master, Xuexue can also help,' came Xuexue's voice.

Immediately after, Yuan Batian sent a thought: 'I can help too.'

Yuan Yao summoned them all forth.

Xuexue had not taken human form; it appeared as a small white snow beast, landing on the sea surface, slightly raising its golden eyes, mysterious and beautiful.

Yuan Batian also did not transform, but perched on Yuan Yao's shoulder.

Not far away, the Great Elder and Third Elder of Fusang Island were startled when they saw Xuexue appear.

This is… a seventh‑rank spirit beast?!

They stared at Yuan Yao in disbelief, their hearts filled with shock.

Yuan Yao had not only contracted the divine beast's egg, but also subdued a seventh‑rank spirit beast!

This……

And she is only an early‑stage Nascent Soul cultivator; such power is truly terrifying!

Both elders were greatly shaken inside.

The Great Elder of Fusang urged the Third Elder: 'Go back first and report this to the island lord!'

Upon hearing this, the Third Elder of Fusang nodded with a solemn expression.

While the Third Elder rushed back to the Fusang Island coast, Yuan Yao, together with Xuexue and Yuan Batian, leapt up and came to the golden egg's side, quickly blocking a tribulation strike for it!

Boom!

A deafening explosion rang out, as if it would reverberate through the entire heavens.

Meanwhile, on the Fusang Island coast, the crowd suddenly saw two white figures appear before the divine beast's egg, stared for a moment, then many jumped to their feet and could not help shouting:

'Who is that?!'

'That's a snow beast! Why would a snow beast appear in the sea?'

'Is that little girl trying to seize the divine beast's egg?!'

Upon hearing this, people from the great clans also could not stay seated.

They had originally planned to wait until the divine beast's egg survived the tribulation, then take advantage of its weakness to form a contract, but they never expected……

…that a little girl and a snow beast would suddenly appear!

Xiao Jun and Xiao Qionghua instantly recognized Yuan Yao; their breathing hitched, they exchanged a glance, and wore the expression 'as expected'.

'Everyone…'

Before Xiao Jun could even speak, several figures shot forward toward the sea.

Seeing this, others also rushed toward the location of the divine beast's egg.

For a moment, chaos ensued.

'Hold it!' Xiao Jun sprang to his feet and bellowed angrily.

His voice thundered like lightning, ringing in people's ears painfully; many were cowed by Xiao Jun's voice and aura and indeed stopped in their tracks.

But this was already a moment too late.

By now dozens had already leapt onto the sea surface, among them Fusang Island clan elders and juniors, as well as outside cultivators.

At that moment the Third Elder of Fusang also returned, and under everyone's gaze he exclaimed urgently: 'Island Lord, that is Yuan……'

Before he could finish, two figures flashed past before everyone's eyes.

'Ling'er!' Xiao Qionghua instantly recognized her daughter.

The other, dressed in black, hair tied in a high ponytail, wielding the Tilt-Heaven Destiny Sword, was none other than the fifth disciple of the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord—Ying Wuji!

The two moved with extreme speed, tapping their toes on the sea surface; in an instant they stood before the dozens of people.

They turned around.

Xiao Lingwei lashed out with her whip, a sharp 'crack' that made scalps tingle.

She said coldly: 'Everyone, please halt.'

"The Divine Beast egg that my junior sister has contracted is undergoing the heavenly tribulation; to avoid accidentally hurting you all, please retreat!"

Upon hearing that, the dozens of people present changed expression.

Someone among them recognized Xiao Lingwei, knowing she was the Eldest Miss of Fusang Island.

One of the clan elders narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "We have never seen the scene of a Divine Beast being born, so we just want to get closer to see it clearly."

"You two had better move aside! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!" The tall, burly man wielding a great blade snorted arrogantly, full of threat.

Meanwhile, the black-clad youth slowly said, "I will count to three."

"'Count to three?' the burly man sneered, 'You probably don't know who I am! I am Xu San, known as King Yanluo!'"

"'Three.'"

And those who knew the identities of Xiao Lingwei and Ying Wuji, upon hearing the countdown, all retreated.

"'What's so scary about a brat and a lass? You're all cowards!' Seeing that a dozen or so people actually retreated, the burly man instantly showed a look of contempt."

Another person jeered, 'Exactly, we don't care whether this is your junior sister or not! Get lost now, or we'll kill you!'

"'Two.'"

"'What are the two of you supposed to be?!'"

"'I'm not leaving—come on then——'"

"'One.'"

At the instant the words fell, a long whip suddenly lashed out; despite their preparations, they could not block this attack and were directly whipped hard into the sea.

"'Ahhh——'"

Ying Wuji directly swung his sword!

Boom!

The sea surged up to ten zhang high, like a tsunami approaching, and these people were directly flung into midair.

The crowd on the shore, seeing this, stared wide-eyed in shock.

What followed left them even more dumbfounded.

Only seeing Xiao Lingwei move, she gripped the bone-joint whip and lashed out fiercely!

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Those people in midair were almost all whipped hard by her, one after another, heavily slammed back onto the shore, then letting out piercing screams.