Chapter 224 - Lightning Struck Xinyi

The day had come for her to attack the horrendous horn. At dawn, in an abandoned rice field, the Lightning Python woke up. He had a good meal of a ton of meat which was required to bring his full potential. The prince provided it by letting his men hunt for the python a night before. This was a simple task for them because this was their way in Platanna despite its advanced technology. They didn't exchange hunting wilds with farmlands. Farms were only for small villages that only offered the usual livestock. But to feed their physical needs to produce powers, they needed the powerful wild beasts in the forest. 

After a such nice and sumptuous meal, the python shook its body and lightning crackled around it. And its body grew bigger until it was as huge as Nianshi, but its body up to its tail was longer than the entire Fengfu City. Last, five wide gray wings shoot out from its scales near its head. The majestic wings were like fans spreading out from its body.

It flew up to the walls of Fengfu where Xinyi waited. She hopped on the saddle on the python's head and didn't look back. Ming almost wouldn't want to let her go, but he had to. But he didn't look away as she left. He ceaselessly stared at her back as tears welled from his eyes. Yet, he wiped them out right away. Why would he cry as if she wouldn't come back? He thought. He still believed she would be in his arms again and lived until they had reached their old age. She was the powerful Sorceress with the essences of her two predecessors, trusting them to protect her. 

Shenkai, Guang, and Lengshui went into their artifacts. They would use their powers to help and protect Xinyi, ensuring she wouldn't die, that was if they could prevent it.

Prince Zelmer rode on Meirga's head. Five of the prince's best black-clad warriors followed behind them, riding the flying horses' King Duan Wan provided. These five had the powers to shield him from the lightning strikes in a limited time. 

That night before this day, Xinyi, Alva, and the other three spirit guardians met in her domain. Alva proposed to pull Xinyi right away after she pulled the horn to prevent her death. In her domain, she had full control, and possibly, just a guess, she could imprison the horn and crush it there. But they told no one about this because they did not know the outcome yet. It was a slingshot plan with no assurance to work. 

On the city wall, there were only Xian Lang, Ming, Lifen, Zhai, An, Qinfen, Lofey, Tyriece, Zhang Wei, the first prince of Youshi, Duan Ren, and the Youshi King Duan Wan. 

Xionmao watched outside the cave. He had a plan of his own to save Xinyi. The cave he looked after had a critical power he told no one about. Not even Xinyi, because it would involve the Kore. He kept it and would only use it when it's needed. For now, he would watch and wait and act on the right timing.

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The python flew higher and nearer to the horn. As they were very close, the horn vibrated and rotated fast. And before they knew it, the thunder boomed louder, deafening the python and Xinyi. Thankfully, Xinyi shielded themselves in seconds because as the thunder roared, a bolt of white lightning struck them. Although her shield still worked, it was the python's lightning that countered and met it, lessening its burning effects when it reached them. And with Xinyi's shield, they did not feel any heat at all. But on how long they would last, they would know later.

Nianshi and prince went along close by. When the lightning attacked the python, Nianshi slowed down and flew around to avoid the random flashes of lightning using his enormous speed. He thought Meirga was suitable for this journey with her teleportation power but rejected the thought. As the man and the most experienced between them, he had to face it with bravery. He tried to go closer to where the python went but still within the limits of the lightning's tip. 

The more the python moved closer, the horn turned faster, and multiple flashes attacked them. His lightning responded in equal strength and rapidity against the horn's attacks. Xinyi felt the burning effect in her skin and flesh from the lightning flashes at this time. She had to ask Guang for healing because she was reserving her own healing essence when she pulled the horn.

It was an unnerving scene down below. On the wall, the onlookers' chests pounded like crazy as they witnessed the blinding bolts of lightning attacking the python in almost a second difference from each other. Xian Lang estimated, the python and Xinyi received more than a hundred attacks at this moment. They merely make their silhouettes out of the burst of lights.

Nianshi had to fly lower because the lightning's length went longer than it was earlier. 

At first, the Warriors' defensive power worked, but as they had reached their limitation, they had to rein the flying horses to go down. They implored the prince to leave the lightning zone, but Prince Zelmer firmly told them he would stay until the end. His men had told him to escape Chiji, but he couldn't do such a cowardly thing. He couldn't turn away from his responsibility as Xinyi's uncle. More so, his wife caused this destruction. How could he sleep at night if he did so? No, he had to stay and see through this to the end. Mostly, he could pull her to his domain with a thought when drastic times call.

Each one had their own plans with one aim, to help Xinyi achieve her goal and protect her. 

The python was already five meters away from the horn, but his flight slowed. Flashes of lightning struck them simultaneously in a second. Some flashes hit his wings and tail, but it persisted to counter-attack and fly inch by inch to bring Xinyi to the horn.

Xinyi's face and lips paled at this moment and felt her body got weaker. Guang's healing poured out to her from the necklace pendant, yet it was not enough. Xinyi gritted her teeth and focused her mind on pulling the horn when it was already at her reach. She had to endure for Ming and for everyone in Chiji.

Suddenly the python stopped when they were three meters away. He told Xinyi that he couldn't go nearer while meeting the attacks head-on. If he went closer, he had to fly down right away or they couldn't escape anymore. The lightning seemed to be gluey and might hold them in mid-air. And would only release them when they were lifeless. 

However, Xinyi insisted for them to continue. They were already there, so they just to face it. He sighed and told her to ready for such a feat, and for their death if he couldn't fly away at the right time. 

After hearing the python's sad words, she told him of her plan to let Alva pull her into her domain when she took hold of the horn. Thus, the python would just fly down on his own without her. 

The python agreed and mustered all his inner strength to make the flight of his life. It was now or never. He warned Xinyi that he could fly in not less than a meter closer because, for sure, the horn lightning would hold them and they couldn't leave the skies alive. Xinyi confirmed she understood.

After heaving a long breath, the python zoomed into the horn and arrived a meter below it. He quickly shouted, "Jump!" 

Xinyi did so, and the python flew down, thinking Xinyi was already in her domain. Unknowingly, what he predicted happened. The lightning held Xinyi as if she was clinging to the horn. Her mind went blank when it struck her. Somehow, it didn't burn her as usual when someone was struck by lightning.

Everyone below yelled in horror to see her body lit up, as if a strong current ran through her, lightning the heavens with her. Everything concentrated in her body. There were no other flashes of lights but her. 

Prince Zelmer saw it and tried to pull her to his domain, but a black stream of light crashed at him. He fell unconscious. A black-clad warrior rapidly flew straight to catch him in time. The warrior hurriedly poured his essence on the prince while still flying and woke him up. Relief filled his chest to see the prince opened his eyes.

But the prince asked him to bring him back to Xinyi, but the warrior who could refuse him while he was weak, would not submit.

At this point in time, Ming was like crazy looking Xinyi. He shouted and gestured at the lowering python to go back. The python turned its head and saw Xinyi's horrendous situation.

Inside Xinyi's domain, Alva pulled her in, but as black power zapped Xinyi's mind, it cut their connection. Their plan was an epic fail. Alva panicked and cried like a child who lost her mother in the streets. She stopped crying when Guang told her that Xinyi was still holding on.

On the other hand, Guang cast her shield at Xinyi, but it was already pointless. The lightning had totally covered her. She continued to pour her healing power and helped sustained her mistress' life, but she was getting weak too. She might not last long and had to rest to replenish her essence. And she was afraid to let go of Xinyi.

Lengshui and Shenkai also gave their best to pull Xinyi from the horn but it glued her to itself and same as the python said, it would not let go unless she was dead.

With all the craziness, the two Sorceress' essence residing under Xinyi's heart merged and rapidly melded to Xinyi's colored essence. The said essence whirred clockwise like a stirring wheel and flew toward her brain. 

Inside Xinyi's head, when the lightning hit her, it became blank. She had no comprehension of what took place, although she was not in the state of unconsciousness. As her predecessors' essence along with the colored essence entered her brain, she slowly heard two female voices calling her to wake up. 

Seconds past and her mind cleared up and felt no pain in her body. She looked up and saw her hand still holding on to the horn. Momentarily she was uncertain about why she was up there and her purpose with that horn. But the voices seemed to see her thoughts and told her to go into her domain with the horn. Without thinking more, she summoned all of her strength and moved into her domain with a thought.

But before she could go in her domain, the horn wanted to fight back and its lightning zapped everywhere, wanting to distract her since it couldn't hurt her at all. It only shocked her brain cells. The lightning could not burn even a single hair off her body. 

The lightning struck the prince with the warrior, but the soldier's shield protected them. When the lightning darted past him, Prince Zelmer thoughts went directly to Lifen. He looked down and yelled at the black-clad man to bring him to Lifen, pronto. But the lightning was already ahead of him and fell on Lifen's head. 

Ming also saw the lightning coming their way. His wind speedily flew him to An and Qinfen, who were far from him, grabbing them and avoided the flashing light at the right time. But he couldn't reach Lifen before it would strike her.

Suddenly someone jumped in and lifted a sword above Lifen's hair. It was Zang Wei who was there by her side the whole time and saved her. Zang Wei received the lightning and died instantly in front of Lifen's eyes.

The sudden strike burst her eardrums, making her deaf, but she thoroughly saw the man she promised to marry fell dead while protecting her. The prince arrived when Zang Wei's body touched the wall's rough floor. 

Prince Zelmer pulled Lifen in his embrace and realized she couldn't hear him. At first, he thought she was only in shock that was why she didn't reply, but later he saw the reality. With a thought, he brought Lifen and Zang Wei to his domain and told the healer to heal them. But the man only said that he could only heal Lifen because he confirmed that Zang Wei had died and he had no power to revive a dead person. Also, he added that Zang Wei's inner organs might have been burned, so there was no hope for him even if he exerted all his efforts to heal him.

While all these took place, Xinyi had moved into her domain and the bolts of lightning had stopped outside and black clouds vanished, leaving a night full of stars. She transported the horn into her domain.

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