The Pacific Ocean.
Tian Yuan burst out of the sea, roaring in the empty expanse.
A torrent of lightning struck him, and the entire world was filled with the thunderous explosions of lightning.
The giants from the Lost City also emerged from the sea, absorbing the lightning from the sky, their bodies surging with power.
"Is he about to undergo tribulation and ascend?"
Ye Ling stood not far away in the void, watching Tian Yuan, enveloped in lightning, murmuring in astonishment.
As he spoke, he saw several more bolts of lightning strike Tian Yuan, causing a qualitative change in his body.
Outside space, several satellites captured images of the Pacific sky, but before they could transmit the data back, they all exploded, becoming space debris.
What was happening in the Pacific became a mystery to all nations.
This event caused a huge stir among the high-ranking officials of several involved countries. Many major powers noticed the changes in the Pacific and dispatched their strongest individuals to investigate.
They had all detected energy capable of destroying the Earth.
It had to be taken seriously.
Of course, the tension among national leaders had no impact on ordinary citizens. Only cities along the Pacific coast experienced typhoons, otherwise, it was harmless.
Rumble!
Bolt after bolt of lightning struck Tian Yuan, continuously strengthening him. The giants also absorbed a large amount of lightning, their strength soaring, arcs of electricity swirling around them, showing signs of returning to their peak.
Ye Ling had been paying attention to the situation of the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead within Tian Yuan. During Tian Yuan's lightning tribulation, the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead had completely infiltrated Tian Yuan's head, controlling his mind.
Now, whether this Tongtian patriarch was Tian Yuan or something else, Ye Ling could not be sure.
"In the memories of the Eight-Legged Priest, the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead was Tian Yuan's secret treasure. Logically, Tian Yuan should be well aware of the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead's situation... I hadn't pushed him to the brink just now, so there was no need for him to swallow that cursed bead..."
In the scenes Ye Ling witnessed, Tian Yuan was basically controlled by the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead. Even if he regained his strength, it was no different from death.
Ye Ling did not understand why Tian Yuan swallowed the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead.
It made no sense.
However, seeing Tian Yuan's current tragic state, Ye Ling was also very curious about the origin of the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead.
Judging by its current function, it had nothing to do with its name. Instead, it was more like a parasite.
If Ye Ling hadn't sensed any life force from the bead, he would have mistaken the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead for a living creature.
"Save... save me..."
Just then, Tian Yuan, whose aura was still soaring, suddenly cried out for help to Ye Ling.
Ye Ling looked over and saw extreme pain flashing in Tian Yuan's eyes, as if he was struggling to break free from the control of the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead.
"Is he asking me for help?"
Seeing Tian Yuan's current behavior, Ye Ling's brow furrowed slightly.
Ever since Tian Yuan swallowed the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead, Ye Ling felt something was off, though he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Upon seeing Tian Yuan's expression, Ye Ling finally realized what was wrong!
Tian Yuan's actions were contradictory. He had no reason to swallow the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead!
Logically, as the Tongtian patriarch, Tian Yuan would know that the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead was not a treasure at all, but some kind of parasitic object that caused great harm to the body, possibly even costing him his life.
Although the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead could greatly enhance the user's strength, in return, the user's spirit would be controlled by the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead, turning them into walking dead.
Judging by Tian Yuan's current appearance, he must have been living a fate worse than death after swallowing the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead.
However, Tian Yuan, knowing the consequences of swallowing the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead, still swallowed it without hesitation. It was as if he had been controlled before doing so.
"The matter of the Tongtian tribe doesn't seem as simple as I thought..."
Ye Ling lowered his eyelids and finally decided to save Tian Yuan's life first. He reached out and grabbed Tian Yuan's soul from his body.
After Tian Yuan's soul was extracted, Ye Ling saw the difference in Tian Yuan.
Tian Yuan's soul was not in a half-human, half-snake state. Instead, it was a person being coiled by a giant python!
The lower half of the spirit body had been completely bitten off by the giant python!
And the energy of the Tongtian Hunyuan Bead had transformed into tiny worms, constantly drilling into Tian Yuan's soul.
"Is this Tongtian patriarch a controlled human?"
Seeing Tian Yuan entwined by the giant python, Ye Ling was also surprised. He immediately shook off the spectral python and the tiny worms from Tian Yuan's body, then pulled Tian Yuan in front of him.
The spectral python roared at Ye Ling, but it seemed to be wary of Ye Ling's strength and did not dare to approach too closely. It only issued a symbolic threat to Ye Ling before returning to Tian Yuan's physical body.
Ye Ling glanced at Tian Yuan, who was still enduring the lightning tribulation, then at the extremely weak spirit in his hand. He casually grabbed a fish from the sea and stuffed Tian Yuan's soul into it, allowing him to barely survive.
"Thank you, my lord, for saving me!"
The fish wriggled in Ye Ling's hand, constantly expressing its gratitude to Ye Ling, its emotions reaching an extreme.
Ye Ling might not understand Tian Yuan's emotions, but Tian Yuan understood them perfectly...
How immense the favor Ye Ling had bestowed upon him was!
Ever since he was entangled by a large snake and transformed into the Tongtian patriarch, he had been controlled by the snake, his every move influenced by it.
Moreover, he had to endure all the pain his body suffered without fail!
After being defeated by the Primordial Saints, he was sealed at the bottom of the sea for a million years, constantly confined in a bronze coffin, tormented by a large snake!
For the true Tian Yuan, during the years he was controlled, it was a fate worse than death. He was on the verge of madness!
Now, Ye Ling's appearance was like a beam of light illuminating his dark world.
When Tian Yuan realized he had been slapped away by Ye Ling and then easily pinned under his foot, he understood that Ye Ling was his savior!
Therefore, he seized the opportunity when the great snake controlled his body to swallow the parasitic bead and desperately broke free from the snake's control, crying out to Ye Ling for help.
Fortunately, Ye Ling responded to his plea. Otherwise, if he were controlled by the snake again, he might never have gained freedom until his death!
Compared to being trapped in his own body, which had become monstrous, Tian Yuan preferred his current fish form!
At least he could control this fish body.
Ye Ling looked with interest at the fish wriggling in his palm and found it amusing. He said, "I'm very curious about your story and the Tongtian tribe. Do you mind if I search your soul?"
"My lord, please do! Your great kindness to me is something I can never repay, no matter what I do for you!"
Tian Yuan said without hesitation. Compared to the torment of being controlled by the snake, soul searching was like an itch to him.
He had experienced too much darkness. Now that he saw a glimmer of light, he was willing to dedicate himself!
Seeing Tian Yuan agree to his request without hesitation, Ye Ling became even more curious about the Tongtian tribe.
What kind of experiences could drive a person to this point?
And even the patriarch was fake...
What exactly was this so-called Tongtian tribe?