Chapter 245: Thunder’s Wrath in the Storm

Crack! Crack!

Boom!

Heavy leaden clouds amassed as startling thunder ripped the night, slithering through the dark mists.

A sudden, searing wave of heat burst forth as if melting the snow and wind. Winter thunder, after a night of brooding, finally broke loose like a dam bursting, transforming into countless raindrops that smashed downward from unimaginable heights.

The rain pounded like a waterfall, relentless and wild!

Interlaced lightning danced like writhing snakes amid the storm!

At West City, the Divine Guard Army’s sprawling camp stood firm.

The General’s primary camp had long been reduced to a wasteland—a deep pit, tens of meters in diameter, resembling a deadly, blossoming flower marred the land.

The Main Command Tent had vanished without a trace, its frozen earth repeatedly upended by the biting winter.

Blistering, churning smoke slowly ascended from the ruins.

Li Che, wearing a Cute Cow Mask, boasted a massive, muscular frame; even the mere act of raising his hand made his bulging muscles seem as if they might burst.

His rigorous training had honed him to perfection; every movement pulsed with terrifying strength.

With his five fingers splayed, the eyes behind the mask of Li Che, deep and unruffled like a still well, steadily observed the lifeless body of You Liqing.

A top-tier powerhouse at the Supreme Three-Flower level of the Breath Retention Transformation realm would be among the realm’s elite even if he stood in Daocheng.

Had it not been for the Blood God Jiuyang Vajra Ape—one of the Five Elder Mechanism Beasts bearing six eternal divine seals—Li Che’s own might alone would hardly have been enough to slay You Liqing, no matter how cunningly he fought.

The power of Dragon Elephant Vajra was indeed formidable, but since Li Che had only just reached the level of a Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster, he could barely hold his own against the Guiyuan Gangqi of the Supreme Three-Flower You Liqing.

Yet You Liqing’s Guiyuan Gangqi was overwhelmingly majestic. In a prolonged duel, Li Che would inevitably fall behind.

If You Liqing hadn’t been gravely injured…

Li Che would have stood no chance.

“But in this world—there is no such thing as if.”

Li Che murmured softly.

He was convinced that if word spread of his severe injuries as the Ogre, coupled with the exposure of his location, You Liqing would waste no time coming to claim his life!

Moreover, given You Liqing’s exceptional strength, Li Che would be tormented day and night.

Thus, there was no option but to eliminate You Liqing.

If Li Che’s identity as the Ogre were revealed, he was sure that even at the risk of offending the Qianyuan Divine Sect, You Liqing would come for his entire family!

To live peacefully in this world, Li Che had to ruthlessly snuff out every potential threat.

Threats like You Liqing, threats like the Dragon Queen,

especially the Dragon Queen!

The murderous glint in Li Che’s eyes grew even colder. That lunatic—who demanded that her daughter perform a ghost marriage for the deceased Ji Haihui—was utterly unforgivable!

Madwoman!

You’ll be dead sooner rather than later!

This time… consider yourself lucky!

Had You Liqing not absorbed the Divine Talisman for the Dragon Queen’s sake, even with half-step Martial Saint strength, she would have sustained a devastating blow!

And Li Che—

simply relished watching his foes suffer crippling injuries.

Like a shark lured by the scent of blood, he would instantly give chase, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Li Che never claimed to be a virtuous man.

Back in Feilei City, when dealing with covert weapons, toxins, lime, and Jianshouqing Powder, how could he care about being labeled despicable?

After all, as the Ogre, he was no hero!

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

The sound of air slicing through space reverberated around him, but Li Che remained unhurried.

Minute by minute, thick black fog seeped from You Liqing’s corpse, oozing relentlessly from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.

Dense and clinging, it resembled an impenetrably rich inky haze.

Slowly, it coalesced, outlining You Liqing’s form!

As if dragging the dead forcibly back from the depths of hell!

You Liqing’s Spiritual Confinement began to materialize…

His eyelids closed, and a ghostly, ominous presence floated before Li Che, finally settling on the ground.

Then, with a sudden flare, You Liqing’s closed eyes exploded open like two dazzling golden lanterns, radiating blinding brilliance!

Boom!

It was as though a cluster of thunderbolts rained down, their roar echoing in and out of the city!

Even in his Spiritual Confinement, a fierce aura blazed like molten gold and liquid fire!

It was like the ocean raging, with thunderous roars that shook everything!

The Spiritual Confinement that had reawakened You Liqing was at its peak!

Unaffected by any Divine Talismans, his essence, spirit, and vigor were utterly complete!

In that instant, all his wounds vanished, as his armor, shrouded in a hazy golden glow, resounded with a clashing symphony.

The torrential rain beating down on the Heavenly Dome dissolved before it could hit him, vaporizing into swirling mists.

Li Che, wearing the Ogre Mask, watched calmly as You Liqing returned from death.

His dark hair wildly tousled, his eyes ablaze!

You Liqing stared intently at Li Che, as if clinging to the memories of his past life. After an initial haze, recollections bled into his vision, stirring unknown realizations.

A mighty aura surged amid the ruins, whipping up a ferocious windstorm.

“I am dead.”

“Yet I am alive?” You Liqing murmured.

He had witnessed his corpse and the lifeless body that once supported him, while Long Tai, enshrouded in utter stillness, twitched ever so slightly with a pained expression.

“I—”

You Liqing opened his mouth slightly.

He looked at Li Che, surprisingly not struggling or resisting as Li Che had imagined.

Li Che raised an eyebrow. Bai Wuchang and Xue Dufu were already restless—after all, this was a supreme Grandmaster at the top Three-Flower level. Even if he couldn’t consume them all, he could still become unimaginably powerful!

He would be the most formidable asset for his master!

“My lord,”

as You Liqing’s armor clanged and his dark hair flew wildly, he suddenly clasped his fists in a salute toward Li Che.

He bowed his head, a gesture he had never made in life.

Li Che, behind his Ogre Mask, looked at You Liqing with a mix of surprise and amusement, “You won’t resist? You won’t fight back? You willingly submit to me?”

You Liqing’s level far surpassed his; normally, someone like Su He Lian—an eminent figure in the Breath Retention Transformation realm—would display resistance during Spiritual Confinement.

Though such defiance was useless to Li Che, any sign of rebellion meant disloyalty. His quota for Spiritual Confinement was limited, nothing more than fodder for Xue Dufu, the Divine Guardian, and Niu Thirteen.

You Liqing clasped his fists.

“Because… I intended to beg my master to revive Long Tai and Blue Bird.”

At the first sign of revival, when he saw his own corpse, Long Tai’s body, and the Blue Bird’s head, its hair sprawled on the ground from a wound at the brow, You Liqing finally knew his purpose.

Since he could live—

then Long Tai and Blue Bird should have a chance at life as well!

In that moment, as he marveled at the Underworld’s terrifying might, he also recognized a brand-new, glittering opportunity!

A rebirth of hope.

So why would You Liqing dare resist?

His keen intuition told him that the Ogre master before him—sinister, vicious, and ruthless—would not hesitate to annihilate anyone showing even a hint of rebellion.

If he dared to defy, he would be silenced in an instant.

No wonder a true General would be so shrewd—far wiser than someone like Su He Lian.

Li Che prized obedient Spiritual Confinement, especially in someone as formidable as You Liqing. With his overwhelming power,

combined with the might of the Blood God Jiuyang Vajra Ape, Li Che felt his opportunity to eliminate the mad Dragon Queen had grown substantially!

Satisfied, Li Che nodded.

“Very well.”

“Since you’ve chosen to submit to me, you will never rise against me again.” Li Che said with a smile.

This was the nature of Spiritual Confinement.

Only in the first moments after rebirth could there be hesitation or rebellion. In that instant, any resistance would be crushed.

But if loyalty prevailed, Spiritual Confinement would be indelibly branded, sealing one’s submission to Li Che.

“I dare not.” You Liqing saluted with his fists.

“Excellent.”

“Then your wish is granted.”

Li Che nodded and, with his fingers splayed, targeted Long Tai and Blue Bird.

From within their bodies, black mist churned and slowly condensed into their Spiritual Confinement.

Holding onto what remained of their power, the two Pre-Heavenly Grandmasters—

You Liqing’s Spiritual Confinement flickered, as if his very soul stirred, and instantly appeared beside them to calm their hearts and quell any thoughts of resistance.

You Liqing feared that if his nefarious master sensed even a shred of rebellion, he would show no mercy—crushing them like a demon.

Like a devil.

“Greetings, my lord!”

The moment the Spiritual Confinement of Long Tai and Blue Bird materialized, they saluted Li Che respectfully.

They chose submission naturally, not only because of You Liqing but also out of wisdom, knowing that the chance to live again was too rare to squander.

Li Che nodded in satisfaction.

With a flick of his wrist, three Spiritual Confinements transformed into three black Spiritual Chess Pieces that shot into the Cosmic Chessboard, landing squarely on it.

In the next moment, his five fingers—

Crack!

Under the raging rain under the Heavenly Dome, winter thunder erupted once more!

Li Che’s figure had vanished without a trace.

Within the dense fog,

Ma Mian reassembled his weapon. Raising his hand to press against his mask, he exploded into a cloud of inky mist, merging with the dispersing fog washed by the torrential rain.

The Cosmic Chessboard twisted and disappeared without a trace.

Bang, bang, bang—!!!

Within the camp, surges of fierce qi and blood energy erupted as raindrops burst in all directions, with pale figures rushing in.

They leapt from the edge of a deep pit tens of meters deep.

One after another, their entire bodies trembled violently.

A subordinate of the Pre-Heavenly Grandmaster fell onto the edge, stepping forward in a daze.

Wet stones, battered by the rain, tumbled down the sloping edge of the pit—

Heat rose from below.

Within the pit.

The West Camp General of the Divine Guard Army, King Ping Luan’s fourth disciple, You Liqing—

was dead.

Long Tai and Blue Bird—

met equally tragic ends.

Everyone felt a buzzing in their heads, as if their brains were about to explode.

Something terrible had happened!

A calamity of monumental proportions!

In Daocheng.

At the Dao Master Residence.

The City Lord of Daocheng was often addressed as the Dao Master.

Because he oversaw not only one city in Lingnan Path but also subordinate Zhou Cities and Capitals across a vast domain, he was known as the Dao Master.

In Great Jing, one Dao and one Divine Sect.

The Divine Sect’s deep legacy allowed them to govern entire domains, with each starting from a thousand-year foundation, always guarded by a Divine Nucleus Great God.

Thus, every Dao Master in the Dajing Dynasty had to be an unrivaled powerhouse, not only commanding the Divine Guard Army but also serving to counter the Divine Sect.

Both the Temple Guardian Division and the Imperial Watch were part of the Great Jing Court’s forces. In the envisioned structure of Great Jing, these three major powers effectively balanced the Divine Sect.

The sprawling, lavish Dao Master Residence featured winding waterways, pavilions, and majestic towers.

Though winter rain battered the pristine white snow, it stirred up a fine dust, making the scene appear like a celestial paradise.

In The Pavilion, the Dragon Queen Ao Yuxin sat gracefully, with little Ao Qingqing—the petite daughter of the Dragon God Clan—obediently at her side.

Ao Yuxin adored Ao Qingqing. Though not her biological daughter, as the elder sister’s daughter, Ao Yuxin saw a reflection of her younger self in her.

Back then, she had been carefree, devoted solely to cultivation—a pure little dragon maiden.

She had once assumed human form to walk the mortal world, venturing through the martial world, drinking and feasting, experiencing human life.

But, destined to be a dragon maiden, she never truly controlled her own dragon life.

Her clan treated her merely as a pawn in alliances, betrothing her to that man.

He, Ji Mo Li, one of the five supreme feudal lords of the Dajing Dynasty, became the link between Great Jing and the Dragon God Clan,

and thus—

a sacrificial offering.

The Dragon Queen’s full-figured form emanated a subtle radiance from her horns, her eyes a deep, mirror-blue, reflecting the relentless wind and rain driven by winter thunder.

“Little Aunt, You Liqing—”

she began, “even after sustaining severe injuries, he shielded you from that Divine Talisman. Won’t you see him and offer some comfort?” Ao Qingqing asked curiously as she stood silently beside the Dragon Queen.

Ao Yuxin shook her head, her long lashes trembling slightly, “I didn’t require him to fend that blow for me. If word gets out that he sacrificed himself for me, the Prince will misunderstand.”

Ao Qingqing blinked; she had heard legendary tales of her little aunt’s youthful exploits within the Dragon God Clan—tales so remarkable they once incited the wrath of the Dragon King.

Rumor had it—

it was all connected to this very General.

Crash, crash—

The rain grew ever more torrential, winter thunder rolling as it lit up the night.

“Enough, Qingqing. Don’t ask too many questions—my aunt has high hopes for you,”

she continued, “The head of the Qianyuan Divine Sect is a famed powerhouse in Great Jing. Rumor says he teaches all without prejudice, and among his demonic disciples is one from the far northern barbaric tribe. Our Dragon God Clan naturally has a chance to join the Qianyuan Divine Sect under him.”

“This final coveted disciple spot—my aunt hopes you’ll give it your all,”

“You are the most gifted dragon maiden of our generation in the Dragon God Clan—your future is…”

Ao Yuxin paused abruptly.

She couldn’t help but recall her own destiny: once, she too had been a supremely talented dragon maiden in the Dragon God Clan, though that very talent had sealed her fate.

In truth, her innate gifts paled in comparison to Ao Qingqing’s. Perhaps Ao Qingqing might, through sheer talent, change the fate of being nothing more than a pawn in an arranged marriage?

“Only if you become the final direct disciple of the Qianyuan Sect Master can you change your destiny—without ending up like your aunt,”

Ao Yuxin gently rubbed Ao Qingqing’s head, gazing into the little girl’s deep blue eyes that mirrored her own.

After all, even Ji Haihui’s eyes were of a different, purple Dragon God hue.

“Rest assured, Aunt. I won’t let you down! I’ll do my best!” Ao Qingqing beamed.

Ao Yuxin nodded, pouring a cup of hot tea, resting her elbows on the table, and cradling the cup as her rosy lips parted.

As the tea touched her lips,

the storm around The Pavilion momentarily seemed to freeze.

A dignified figure, holding an umbrella, slowly emerged from the rain and stepped into The Pavilion.

Hmmm?!

Ao Yuxin’s eyes narrowed as she regarded the newcomer.

“Young Dao Master?”

The figure’s expression was complex as he looked at Ao Yuxin.

“Your Highness.”

“I’ve just received word,”

“That the Fourth Disciple of the Prince—General You—has fallen.”

Boom, boom, boom!

As winter thunder roared and howled,

Ao Yuxin’s deep blue eyes suddenly dulled, as if their light had been snuffed out.

The tea cup in her hand shattered instantly into splinters.

Scalding hot tea splattered, yet she felt nothing—as if her dragon sinews, bones, and soul had been stripped away—

Her complexion paling with visible speed.

Even the formidable qi of the Dragon God Clan could not mask the pallor and panic on her face.

In the next moment, the focus in her dragon eyes settled on the impeccably dressed man of Daocheng—Young Dao Master Yue Weizheng.

“General You… You Liqing…”

“Is he dead?”

Ao Yuxin confirmed in disbelief.

Beside her, Ao Qingqing stood frozen before worry, glancing at her aunt.

This—

The beloved son, the most important person, had died—

The blow was almost too much to bear—

A grotesque expression soon overtook Ao Yuxin’s face as tears streamed down. A anguish more devastating than the loss of a son surged forth!

A terrifying dragon silhouette suddenly erupted behind her, nearly ripping off the roof of The Pavilion!

A piercing scream!

“Who did it?!”

“Who killed You Liqing—!!”

Boom!

Above the Heavenly Dome, winter thunder roared even more fiercely, as if the thunder gods themselves were enraged!

This rare winter downpour had turned savage at that moment.

Li Che clenched a Feilei Chess Piece in his fist.

Li Che made his way back to the Private Workshop Courtyard in Tinglei Alley.

Standing silently in the small courtyard,

raindrops pattered to the ground, splintering into fragmented puddles.

From the black-tiled eaves, rain formed a continuous curtain of beads.

Li Che simply stood quietly as the raging rain twisted around him, unable to wet him in the least.

He looked skyward, his eyes dazzling as he stared directly at the storm’s fury!

“Winter thunder clashing, lightning interwoven—what a storm!”

The elastic inky shirt on his body had burst from battle, leaving his strong torso bared; he couldn’t be bothered with clothes.

Simply relishing the oppressive majesty of the heavenly thunder amidst the rain!

The cultivation of his Thunder Magnetic Conduit required perfect alignment of time and space.

That winter thunder had set every cell, every drop of blood, every muscle, and every tendon into jubilant motion—as if even his hair was dancing.

He didn’t even pause to review the perilous duel against You Liqing or the clash of fists, nor did he summon the Spiritual Confinement of You Liqing, Long Tai, and Blue Bird for a post-battle talk.

Instead, he simply lifted his head, gazing at the sky, longing for thunder.

Crack! Crack!

It was as if leaden clouds collided in the high sky, the bursting lightning so brilliant it resembled a colossal dragon streaking across!

Amid the deluge of rain and wind, Li Che felt his spirit calm instantaneously.

His Thunder Magnetic Conduit was awakened, capturing the deafening roars of the storm and using the vibrations of the thunder as a crucible for his extraordinary physique.

In the courtyard, as rain poured down, Li Che sensed an almost eerie silence, with not even a pin drop. In his chest, the Dao Fruit of Thunder Magnetic Conduit thumped violently.

Though newly formed and slight, its beating resembled the relentless drumming of a thunder god!

He listened intently to each resounding winter thunderclap from the sky.

Massive thunderbolts cascaded down, as if entirely captured by him in the small courtyard.

Li Che’s insides trembled with the resonance; his joints creaked as they rubbed relentlessly—his unparalleled body now truly transformed.

And in that moment, an extraordinary metamorphosis seemed to take place!

Li Che’s mind grew profoundly focused.

Fleeting streams of light flashed before his eyes.

[Dao Fruit: Thunder Magnetic Conduit (Iv1 15%)]

It had improved!

Gradually increasing!

Bathed in the storm, Li Che suddenly opened his eyes wide as if electric arcs darted from his pupils,

while within, his bones and sinews resonated like clashing firecrackers!

All 360 acupoints on his body began to glow brilliantly.

Then, the Dragon Elephant Vajra surged forth!

Fierce qi roiled and burst upward, shattering countless raindrops that gathered behind him into a massive, dragon-like phantom.

It nearly filled the entire small courtyard!

Energy lines seemed to trace from above his head, encircling him before spiraling back to his feet.

His body levitated, suspended ten meters above the courtyard.

The Cosmic Chessboard sealed off any prying eyes.

Without expending any qi or divine essence, he floated as if free from the confines of the realm.

Li Che spread his arms. At that very moment, a streak of lightning crashed down from the night sky!

The terrifying bolt, as if slicing through both heaven and earth, resembled a monstrous, fearsome lightning serpent!

Bang—!!! Countless lightning bolts slammed toward the earth, while innumerable divine essences, compelled by the lightning, surged into a frenzy.

They roiled and piled up under the thunder’s wrath.

When the winter thunder struck the courtyard where Li Che hovered, most of its force was spent.

The impact on Li Che was like a speeding vehicle colliding with his body with devastating force.

Every organ quaked; every pore flared wide as he greedily absorbed the explosive thunder, with countless sparks scattering with each electric burst.

The enormous sound waves echoed across the courtyard, as the rain spread out in expansive ripples!

The colossal phantom of Dragon Elephant Vajra, animated by the storm, now brimmed with vibrant blue lightning arcs that roared and tumbled.

Then, almost imperceptibly, Li Che crashed down using his Thunder Magnetic Conduit, slamming into the ground with brutal impact.

Water on the ground surged like boulders thrown into a lake, sending white waves bursting outward.

“Ahh, what a rush!”

Electric arcs danced in his eyes as he stretched; his bones creaked mightily, echoing like rolling thunder.

It was as if the sudden appearance of a winter thunder lightning serpent was perfectly accompanied by a resounding thunderclap.

[Dao Fruit: Thunder Magnetic Conduit (lv2 0%)]

Li Che’s eyes sparkled as a smile tugged at his lips.

“Bathed in a single heavenly thunder, my Dao Fruit has leapfrogged to Iv2—the effect is quite impressive.”

“Too bad it can only capture the thunder once.”

Li Che raised his head, the sensation of calling down thunder now vanished.

If given the choice, he’d prefer to manipulate the realm and float amid the heavens to soak in the thunder’s splendor.

But thunder is fearsome; at his current state, he might not withstand it.

Yet, the thunder summoned to earth, weakened by the overwhelming divine essence, was within his tolerable limits.

“If I were to break into Iv3—would I really have to capture spring, summer, and autumn thunder as well?”

“Four Seasons Thunder—now that would be something interesting.”

“Besides, once bathed in heavenly thunder, even my Dragon Elephant Vajra seems to have transformed slightly.”

“Perhaps the dragon essence now carries a hint of thunder—could the elephant too inherit unique traits akin to a dragon?”

Li Che’s eyes flickered as he sensed the merging of dragon and thunder. A thought took root in his mind.

Standing in the courtyard, Li Che produced a Five-Star Martial Pill and swallowed it with a gulp.

His powerful stomach churned, crushing the pill, as its potent properties roiled outwards, surging madly from his core.

Li Che closed his eyes in quiet contemplation, savoring the lingering aftertaste of the battle.

[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (lv5 6%)]

Glimmers of light flashed before his eyes.

After the leap to 1v5, further breakthroughs in the Dragon Elephant Vajra were exceedingly difficult.

Yet today’s bloody clash with You Liqing had inched its maturity by a mere 5%.

Frankly, it wasn’t much.

Previously, in battling the Master Su Huai Ming on Shendiao Ridge, he barely gained any experience.

Only during the skirmish with Niu Thirteen did he manage a 1% increment.

Nonetheless, it was progress!

The feedback from the Dragon Elephant Vajra spurred Li Che’s martial will to coalesce into something tangible, plunging him into an almost epiphanic state!

Li Che opened his eyes wide, cherishing this rare state.

In that moment, any martial art he practiced would yield sudden enlightenment, dramatically boosting his speed.

He couldn’t waste this opportunity.

With a snap of his fingers,

amidst the heavy rain, the Spiritual Confinements of You Liqing, Long Tai, and Blue Bird materialized one after another.

“Greetings, my lord.”

The three Spiritual Confinements pulsed as if their hearts were being tugged by the formidable vibrations emanating from the Dragon Elephant Vajra,

rendering their expressions pained—as if they might shatter at any moment.

And at that moment, the three Spiritual Confinements—

finally beheld for the first time the true nature of the Underworld Ogre.

Through the unseen bond they shared with Li Che,

You Liqing’s heart pounded violently. Even though he had already died once and though Li Che was his master,

he was utterly aghast.

He could never have imagined—no matter how he tried to fathom it—

it wasn’t the Ogre!

It was the Underworld—

it was him!

That gentle, courteous, and honest master of woodcarving from Jingguang Prefecture!

Yet Li Che paid no heed to the tidal wave of emotions stirring within You Liqing and the others.

At that moment, Li Che entered a state of transcendent clarity fueled by his Dao Fruit, as if he had reached an epiphany.

His martial insight soared to heights worthy of admiration!

Li Che’s fierce gaze burned as his Mud Pellet at his brow split, revealing a dazzling Star Plucking Gaze

which now fixed its terrifying, all-seeing stare on You Liqing.

Then it shifted to Blue Bird.

Unyielding and imperious.

“I present to you—

your divine seed.”