Previously on I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield...
Qin Tian's companions are on the verge of collapse, suffering heavy injuries from the Shengongsi clan. Facing overwhelming odds, Qin Tian makes the desperate decision to begin his breakthrough to Tier Seven amidst the battle. This act shocks both his allies and enemies, as the tribulation that engulfs the ice valley is far more powerful than anyone anticipated.
"Boom——!"
The firmament shattered completely into ink, with the rolling thunderclouds churning out lightning as thick as blood, not the usual purple of a thunder tribulation, but a dark red so deep it borders on black, each arc of lightning resembling a blood stain tearing the sky.
The entire Ice Valley lay shrouded in an apocalypse-like shadow, with a terrifying pressure falling like a giant stone of ten thousand tons, squeezing the chest of Spiritualists below Tier Seven with an invisible hand, halting breaths and leaving faces as pale as paper.
"Qin Tian...!" Shengongsi Yuzuo fixed his gaze on Qin Tian, his pupils reflecting the myriad blood-red lightning, his expression wildly fluctuating between light and shadow—from initial sinister darkness, to shock, and then to an uncontrollable rage.
He finally realized that Qin Tian chose to confront the tribulation now not only as a gamble with his life, but also to leverage the power of the heavenly punishment, dragging them, this group, into the purgatory of the thunder penalty together.
Facing a blood thunder tribulation of such magnitude, even the top genius of the Holy Blood Clan might not survive despite full preparation, while Qin Tian faced it barehanded, certain to meet his doom.
Yet, if Qin Tian held the thought of mutual destruction, drawing the thunder tribulation over Ice Valley, he might survive, but those around him would surely face grim outcomes.
"Evacuate! Evacuate immediately!"
Shengongsi Yuzuo’s startled voice exploded in the mind of every companion.
Upon hearing the command, they bolted, with Shengongsi Xin Fu and six renowned geniuses frantically sprinting for the Ice Valley’s exit.
Just as they began to move, a barely noticeable spatial ripple flickered through the Ice Valley—at that very distraction, Qin Tian precisely teleported Zhuge Yu and the other three out of the tribulation’s range.
Then, Qin Tian raised his eyes to the fleeing enemies, a cold curve curling on his lips: "Did I say you could leave?"
He spread his arms, the surging thunder energy around him weaving with a hint of eerie darkness, transforming into invisible chains that adhered precisely to the people of Shengongsi.
This aura did not harm, yet like a lighthouse, it firmly marked their positions beneath the thunderclouds.
"Boom!"
The thunderclouds appeared provoked, issuing furious roars, thousands of bloody thunder pillars plunged like torrential rain, dense enough to cover the sky.
Over ninety percent of the pillars were precisely locked onto Qin Tian, yet nearly a hundred struck the marked people of Shengongsi.
The rumble of thunder pillars caused the Ice Valley to collapse, Qin Tian was entirely engulfed by boundless blood thunder, his silhouette vanished amidst the radiant surge.
But the calamity on Shengongsi’s side unfolded forthwith.
The hastily erected Spirit Shields of six renowned geniuses shattered like flimsy paper against the blood thunder, the pillars striking them, muscles carbonizing in an instant, bones sighing "crack-crack" as they fractured, screams stifled by lightning in their throats.
A Spirit Mage, physically frail, was simultaneously hit by three thunder pillars, turning directly into a heap of charred ash, drifting in the wind; the remaining five lay twitching on the ground, their Spiritual Energy weak as candle flames in the wind, completely losing the ability to move.
Shengongsi Yuzuo and Xin Fu relied on the formidable foundation of Tier Seven Holy Blood, their raised shields barely withstood the thunder strikes, yet were buffeted by surging Qi and Blood. Watching their subordinates, dead or injured, Shengongsi Yuzuo, enraged and fearful, knew this was only the first wave of the thunder tribulation, the subsequent ones would be even stronger.
He turned to Qin Tian, his pupils abruptly constricting,
only to find, submerged in lightning, Qin Tian, who ought to be scorched by the thunder, appearing unscathed, even letting out a comfortable low groan from the radiant surge.
As the blood thunder gradually eased, Qin Tian’s silhouette slowly resurfaced. The thunder arcs around him grew more intense, his skin glowing with a healthy purple-gold luster—the [Thunder Ancestor] talent operating at full capacity, every ounce of the tribulation’s power serving as nourishing fuel for body refinement.
Not only was he unhurt, his aura became even more formidable, he even displayed an expression of enjoyment.
This demeanor totally enraged the thunderclouds, the layers violently churning, a blood-red thunder dragon gradually emerged, its dragon scales cohered by lightning patterns, its dragon head overlooking Ice Valley, its scarlet dragon eyes locked onto Qin Tian, the atmosphere of destruction pressing down like a tsunami.
While the thunder dragon commanded his attention, Qin Tian’s sharp gaze was fixed on Shengongsi Xin Fu, who was attempting a covert escape. A malicious grin spread across Qin Tian’s face.
"No...!" Shengongsi Xin Fu’s body bristled with terror, an icy sensation of impending death coursing from his feet to the top of his head, his countenance contorted in fear.
Stay away from me!
In the blink of an eye, Qin Tian disappeared from Shengongsi Xin Fu’s sight. Moments later, he felt a heavy pressure on his back. Two arms, crackling with thunder energy, wrapped around his waist from behind, immobilizing him completely.
"Ready... for the thunder's baptism?"
A soft voice, tinged with amusement, whispered near his ear.
Shengongsi Xin Fu’s mind went blank. Before he could even attempt to break free, the thunder dragon let out a deafening roar. Descending with immense power that shook the very foundations of existence, it engulfed both Qin Tian and Shengongsi Xin Fu in a blinding flash of crimson lightning.
"Ah——!!"
Piercing, agonizing screams echoed through the turbulent lightning. Shengongsi Xin Fu felt his very bones disintegrate under the dragon’s furious roar. His soul itself seemed to be plunged into an inferno, sizzling and writhing in torment amidst the scorching thunder energy.
Agony!
Such unbearable pain!
At this critical juncture, Qin Tian’s earlier composure wavered, his brows knitting together slightly.
Even though his [Thunder Ancestor] talent rendered him impervious to direct thunder damage, this thunder dragon was a manifestation of the heavens' Law Tribulation. Beyond its raw thunderous might, it carried an aura of pure annihilation.
This destructive force bypassed all physical defenses. It felt like innumerable invisible blades were tearing through his internal body, shredding muscle fibers, grinding his bones to dust, and causing his organs to spasm with searing pain.
