The moment the blood-red lightning struck the mountain peak, Nian'an drove the fourth Soul Fragment deep into her chest. An unprecedented agony swept through her—this time, it was not the gentle Power of the Fragrant Veins, but the violent essence of celestial lightning. She arched her back in a silent roar, blue-violet, spiderweb-like cracks blooming across her skin.
"Stop them!" Amu’s shout was barely audible amidst the thunder. He swung his blade to intercept three black arrows aimed at Nian'an, only to find dense, black root-fibers burrowing out from the shafts. Linger cast a paper talisman that ignited into a net of fire, but the Black Lotus Cult leader flicked his sleeve, sending a string of bronze bells flying; at their crisp chime, the flames froze into ice.
The Lightning Conductor suddenly appeared before Nian'an, his silver robes billowing like sails. He cast a seal with both hands to raise a barrier of lightning, the blood-red bolts shattering into a stench-filled, bloody mist against it. "Hurry and complete the fusion!" Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "They are using the Root of Corruption to pollute the celestial lightning!"
Chapter 65