Chapter 502: Thunder of Divine Wrath
by xennovelCrimson clouds swirled across the heavens, intertwined with ominous thunder that brewed a unique, profound black aura.
Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder! The heavens and earth roared in fury!
In the wake of divine wrath, the very force that stirred the will of heaven and earth unleashed the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder – the true power contained within the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring, potent enough to eradicate demons!
Everyone felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom; mortal cultivators were as insignificant as ants before such catastrophes, too terrified even to perceive it, fearful the next moment might bring instant annihilation!
At that very moment, many sensed that something was horribly amiss.
The Four Seas Dragon Clan of Dragon Island had gone mad – as if willingly marching to their death, delivering themselves into Li Che’s hands where they were slaughtered, blood running like rivers over the entire island and its mountains.
The blood-soaked scene was almost too brutal for the eyes and spirit.
It resembled nothing less than a sacrificial ritual – a sacrifice from the dragon clan; endless blood was vaporized by the island’s fierce heat, rising upward to stain the divine weapon.
The divine weapon seemed overtaken by fury, ignited completely, now triggering such terrifying thunder as if set to exterminate the world, shaking the very will of heaven and earth!
Inside the Qiankun Ring, the turbulent Thunder Pool churned as countless bolts of dark thunder lashed the air, warping space as if an endless void surged up from every crack.
Such fearsome thunder – even divine calamities would be torn apart by a mere touch.
It was a catastrophe far more terrifying than even the Divine Xiao Thunder, one of the three great disasters!
The Jiulong River roared as its raging waters bellowed, while in the eerie recesses of the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple, powerful figures watched the display with mocking detachment.
The mysterious aura of the Third Prince’s Bizarre Temple had long been exposed. Now, within its warped confines, countless experts had occupied the space, their eyes piercing through the eerie mist.
Some even bore the unmistakable mark of the Daoist Way – undoubtedly supreme experts.
When the Qitian Temple Spirit resurrected in Qitian City, the Pantheon dispatched one supreme expert after another. This time, they naturally sent in their best.
These supremes, with profound insights into hidden matters, seemed to have foreseen the mystery behind Dragon Island’s bizarre events.
“Oh, Young Dragon Emperor…”
“This divine tide is the Four Seas Dragon Clan’s final chance. Once the Young Dragon Emperor was sealed by the Third Prince, this was their only opportunity to break the seal.”
“But alas, the Dragon Emperor is imprisoned within the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. Had he been free, the Four Seas Dragon Clan wouldn’t have been forced down such a tragic path.”
“To be destroyed by a mortal Martial Immortal on Dragon Island – where countless dragons bleed and fall – is nothing short of a shocking spectacle.”
“Are all these intricate plans really worth it?”
“So much bloodshed for a fleeting, elusive hope… Is it worth it?!”
A deep, resonant voice emerged from beyond the eerie confines, as an expert’s soul-like query and murmurs filled the air.
……
……
The island bled red.
Atop a rocky summit.
A figure in an Ink Robe surged dramatically, like a bold brushstroke on a celestial scroll.
Li Che looked upward with pride, his face devoid of worry, replaced by eager anticipation.
Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder?
Li Che truly awaited it, as did the Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit pulsating in his chest.
That dao fruit had been stuck at the Lv6 stage for far too long.
Li Che needed more intense, more powerful thunder to help his Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit break past Lv6 and surge into Lv7. Perhaps only when his martial prowess advanced further would a new, high-intensity thunder calamity come his way.
So Li Che decided to wait patiently; as his cultivation matured, new challenges would naturally arise.
Yet, he never imagined such an opportunity would come.
At first…
Li Che truly had no inkling of the schemes the dragons of Dragon Island were concocting.
They had arranged a ninety-nine-layer All-Dragon Assassination Formation, aiming to massacre the lured father and daughter on Dragon Island.
But Han Sixi, stationed near Li Che by the Third Prince’s escort outside the carriage, stealthily overheard Consort Su Da’s words. There was something off about Su Da, and Li Che soon realized the gravity of the matter – her origins were extraordinary and her insights beyond measure.
Her words, though speculative, revealed to Li Che the true intentions of the Four Seas Dragon Clan.
They planned to unleash the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder on Li Che and XiXi, destabilize the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring, and revive the sealed Young Dragon Emperor on Dragon Island…
Once Li Che understood the Four Seas Dragon Clan’s purpose, he did not retreat nor did he turn away. Instead, he chose to strike first – his eyes fixed on both the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder and the mature dao fruits provided by the island’s dragons.
Thus, Li Che spared no mercy, cutting a swathe from the foot to the summit of Dragon Island. Since they offered countless dragons as sacrifice for a chance, Li Che granted them that opportunity.
But he would never let them use the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder to kill XiXi.
He sent XiXi directly to Mo City Fengdu – a place so secure that even divine forces would fail to locate her. XiXi had nothing to fear.
With that resolute confidence, Li Che boldly faced the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder.
He reveled…
…in the grand feast of thunder!
Boom—!!!
Stretched high above, the Qiankun Ring, stained with blood, shimmered with countless marks of the Daoist Way – a sign that the divine weapon was reawakening as divine aura boiled over in anger.
Countless dark bolts of thunder interwove within the Qiankun Ring.
The suffocating pressure of the cosmos enveloped everything, as if a colossal divine hand were about to descend from the Nine Heavens to overturn the world!
Rumble, rumble!
It was as if the heavens themselves sighed, a deity releasing a heavy lament.
That sigh transformed into a booming thunderclap, resonating in the hearts of all who gazed upward, rippling from Dragon Island, shaking Jingguang City, and spreading across Lingnan Path…
Every corner was filled with interlaced, echoing thunder!
It was as if divine retribution were upon them!
Rumble, rumble—
Everyone beheld the dark thunderpool brewing within the bloodstained Qiankun Ring – a pool of such depth and fury, churning like an inky reservoir, where dark thunder serpents and electric dragons danced, evoking a premonition of looming disaster.
Upon sensing such catastrophic punishment, all diverted their gaze.
Their eyes rested on the figure in the Ink Robe, the one who had annihilated countless dragons while standing atop the summit.
He held his head high, neither retreating nor fleeing.
It was as if he intended to face this horrifying calamity head-on, even if it meant shattering himself to pieces.
Li Che spread his arms wide; he had awaited this moment for so long!
Boom!
Every bone in his body trembled, as his golden vital energy shot skyward like beams of light, burning fiercely. Each sinew, tougher than a drawn bow, strained as if to burst the very void with a colossal explosion!
The Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame receded.
Li Che’s purple hair turned jet black as he danced wildly between heaven and earth. Under the gaze of countless onlookers, he leaped upward to stand beneath the Thunder Pool. With a rumbling roar, thunder erupted!
Instantly, inside the Qiankun Ring, as if the Thunder Pool were tipping over, innumerable bolts of thunder cascaded like a celestial torrent, carrying the aura of annihilation to snuff out all life!
Boom!
A massive bolt of dark thunder, as thick as an arm, crashed down!
Space shattered amid the crisscrossing bolts, splintering like glass pierced by an arrow, exploding into countless fragments!
Thud—!!!
A bolt of dark thunder, resembling an inky pillar of light imbued with destructive force, demolished everything in its path, its deafening roar shaking the heavens and sending countless creatures fleeing in terror.
That dark thunder crashed violently into Li Che’s body.
His Martial Immortal Golden Body burst into a dazzling golden glow, his vital energy erupting like thick mist as he staunchly withstood the onslaught of dark thunder!
Faced with such a fearsome impact, he remained utterly unmoved – like an unyielding reef amid a raging ocean storm, impervious to all force!
His jet-black hair whipped wildly as Li Che spread his arms wide, almost as if embracing the dark thunder!
Boom, boom, boom!
The Qiankun Ring trembled under the surge of dragon-blood-fueled divine weapons, unleashing torrent after torrent of thunder. Although the bolts were dark, they illuminated the night as though turning it to day!
Everyone watched in numb shock, their hearts gripped by terror and awe, at a scene too vast for words.
Was this truly human?
Even the fiercest beasts would never be able to withstand such world-ending thunder with mere flesh!
In the mortal realm, such calamities could obliterate everything!
Yet Li Che, the mortal Martial Immortal, had shouldered the thunder’s onslaught, defying its destructive might!
What remarkable flesh he possessed!
Even when Li Che had slain four and a half half-step supreme Dragon Gods before, none had witnessed such awe-inspiring might.
But now, as Li Che used his body to directly counter the thunder’s fury, it truly amazed everyone – they finally understood what it meant to be a mortal Martial Immortal!
Rumble, rumble—!!!
The heavens roared in anger!
Within the Qiankun Ring, it was as if a deity ruled the Thunder Pool; in its furious depths, a monstrous entity with countless tentacles was forming. Dark thunder serpents lashed out like whips, striking at Li Che!
Crack, crack, crack!
Wherever it hit – be it air, wind, rain, or space – every tangible and intangible element groaned under the weight, until space itself shattered!
The Jiulong River roared, and the heavens bellowed!
Every heart trembled, ears nearly deafened as brilliant light burst across the heavens, a weight of despair crushing them all.
Li Che, Nan Lihuo, Feng Zhiqi, Zhao Fangzhou and others leapt onto towering trees outside Jingguang City, perching atop branches to gaze at the skies.
It seemed as if a fine wisp of dark thunder – finer than a hair – drifted by.
Feng Zhiqi reached out, cradling a fragment of thunder’s residue in his palm.
Bang—
In an instant, his hand was blasted into a mangled mess of flesh and blood, as if his very skin began to wither and shatter…
Agonizing pain spread through Feng Zhiqi’s body.
This…
This thunder!
Was this the fearsome thunder that Li Che was now facing?
Feng Zhiqi’s face twisted in pain, his eyes clouded with confusion and daze before finally reflecting ecstatic mania.
Everyone fell silent, gripped only by horror.
Today, the Martial Immortal truly stunned the mortal realm.
……
……
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—
Li Che, too, was suffering.
Though his flesh was torn apart, that was minor compared to the divine will embedded within the thunder—a force far more lethal.
Li Che’s spirit trembled; his Seven Aperture Luminous Heart shook as it unleashed the divine essence of his Unsullied Heart to suppress the divine will. Both the Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit and the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit thumped vigorously – a clear sign he was reaping massive rewards from this challenge.
Boom!
The roaring thunder cascaded as brilliant divine light burst from Li Che’s body; millions of pores seemed to gleam at once, interweaving radiantly like the rising sun over the horizon, lighting up the heavens!
His bones reverberated with energy, filling him with an unprecedented sense of exhilaration – why?
Because amid the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder, he had absorbed the purest essence of heaven and earth!
Though composed largely of thunder, it was itself made from the very cosmic essence!
The divine nature stripped away by the thunder left behind nothing but pure, unadulterated thunder power!
Li Che ascended, bathing in the sea of thunder, clenching his fists as the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit pulsed rhythmically, commencing his martial demonstration.
Every punch, every move, every technique was unleashed in that moment.
Myriad Transformations of Dragon Elephant Furnace!
Qilin Sealing Inscription!
Thousand Mountain Lone Wanderer Sky-Cleaving Blade!
Blood-Shed Phoenix Withering Arrow!
Six Desires Emptiness, and…
Qitian Treading the Firmament!
Boom—!!!
Golden vital energy erupted as the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder crashed down on him, cloaking his body in a dark thunder armor.
Every move flowed flawlessly.
His martial prowess evolved continuously; his grasp and mastery of martial arts soared, pushing him past minor breakthroughs and rapidly advancing toward consummate mastery!
It was as if the impact of the thunder sparked sudden enlightenment throughout his being.
Above, the dark clouds dissolved to reveal a sky strewn with starlight and the brilliant clarity of a cleansed firmament!
Li Che felt an exhilarating, unprecedented rush!
The Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit voraciously absorbed the power of the thunder; its explosive essence was drawn by millions of pores to fortify his body through the tempering of bone and muscle.
Resounding clangs echoed – the very sound of his body transforming. Every bolt of dark thunder was like a giant hammer from a deity, striking a molten ingot.
Li Che had never feared thunder – perhaps because he wielded the Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit, lending him an unspoken confidence to face its might.
Thus, he confronted the calamity head-on, using the thunder as a tool to temper his body, absorb its essence, and empower himself!
Boom, boom, boom, boom—!!!
A thunderous waterfall cascaded down, boundless in its fury, while divine aura permeated the storm, its crushing force freezing sinew and bone.
Even as his Martial Immortal Golden Body was lacerated, Li Che remained unyielding.
The pulsation of the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit released a potent healing power, reassembling shattered bones and mending torn flesh!
Golden blood mist spread high above; broken sinews and severed meridians were restored under the mighty power of the dao fruit, healing completely!
Li Che grunted silently, enduring the pain without complaint.
He absorbed the relentless crucible of cosmic power, letting the cleansing thunder wash over him.
Only the weak complain – the strong endure in silence, evolving and growing for the sake of becoming a father who can protect his daughter.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—!
One by one, ninety-nine bolts of Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder descended as Li Che silently counted them.
He felt his body grow feeble with each explosion, as though it were shattering repeatedly.
Yet, at the very instant that weakness appeared,
the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder began to subside, its calming signifying the waning of divine wrath and the dispersal of the Thunder Pool.
In the void, a sound like surging tides slowly faded as the oppressive aura receded, allowing many cultivators in Jingguang City to collapse and gasp for breath.
Though they did not face their own calamity, the shock of the assault left them trembling and shivering.
“It’s over…”
By the Jiulong River.
Cultivators, expelled from Jingguang City, gulped and spoke in trembling voices.
Many of them were Divine Calamity cultivators, once at the pinnacle of mortal power, now as feeble as insects.
They were simply overwhelmed.
Li Che, of the Qianyuan Divine Sect and a true Martial Immortal of his time, had singlehandedly withstood the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder!
A spectacle that shook the world – a mortal masterpiece!
Inside the lavish Imperial carriage,
an oppressive silence reigned, as if even a pin drop could be heard.
Lü Litong, the Third Prince, remained stoically silent, too shocked even to show fear – only blank bewilderment filled him.
Had he truly incurred the wrath of such a monster?
When the father and daughter first arrived in Divine Capital, they were weak and insignificant – barely worthy of the Third Prince’s attention. But now…
In just two short years, they had become utterly fearsome.
Consort Su Da lifted her delicate, pale hand to draw back the curtain, gazing at the rocky summit of Dragon Island hundreds of miles away, where countless thunderbolts danced wildly as she exhaled slowly.
The Four Seas Dragon Clan had sacrificed countless dragons to stimulate the Xuan Lei Vajra Qiankun Ring and invoke the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder – all in a bid to slay the Daughter of Yulian.
But now…
Not even a single hair of the Daughter of Yulian was touched before the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder was repelled.
How could any mortal possibly block the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder?!
Murmuring to herself, Su Da whispered,
“Li Che…”
Behind Su Da, a white fox stirred, its captivating eyes shimmering with deep apprehension.
“This shouldn’t be…”
“The resurrection of the Daughter of Yulian has completely deviated from its destined course…”
“No, no, no…”
Su Da shook her head softly.
Finally, those bewitching eyes hardened completely.
She quietly chanted the name of a turning point.
“Her father…”
“Li Che.”
……
……
In Divine Capital,
within the First City of the Palace Corridors’ Divine Temple,
majestic temples lined the landscape, their glazed tiles glittering under starlight like celestial palaces.
The Emperor emerged from the palace, strolling along long corridors and ascending the White Jade Stairway.
Everyone within the royal court trembled in fear at the sight of the Emperor, saluting him in astonishment.
The Emperor, walking on foot, left the First City of Divine Capital and proceeded to the Second City. His golden dragon robe billowed as he continued until he reached the Eight-Treasure Double-Eaved Dripping Imperial Watch Tower.
With his hands clasped behind him and his eyes deep with sorrow, he arrived once again before the Imperial Watch.
A pained glimmer flickered in his eyes – his Ju Xian Flag had been lost. The Xuanzhen Supreme had borrowed it, and in the process it was gone.
This loss filled him with immeasurable sorrow. He had no idea who had taken the flag, but now it hardly mattered.
“Could this really be fate? Will the Great Realm meet its demise by my own hand?” the Emperor murmured.
The deities of Yulian were reviving. Once Qitian revived, other gods would follow, and chaos would envelop the eerie precincts, plunging the world into turmoil and a divine tide of purification.
Could the Great Realm’s royal family survive such a tide?
But the Emperor knew that one individual could decisively sway the tide.
Perhaps by seizing that person and harnessing his power, there might be a chance to endure.
The creaking of ancient wooden planks echoed through the pavilion, steeped in the breath of ages past.
Under the guidance of Vice-General Fang Shangzhen of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, the Emperor reached the Ninth Floor and again faced the stoic Grand Inspector seated atop a Xuan Turtle.
Every encounter with the inscrutable Grand Inspector weighed heavily on the Emperor’s heart.
Originally, the Emperor had planned to support Xie Yunshen in opposing the Grand Inspector, even entrusting him with the fate of the Great Realm.
After all, finding someone like Xie Yunshen – one capable of commanding mystical energies – was extremely rare, and the Emperor had placed myriad hopes on him.
Yet, when compared to the Grand Inspector, Xie Yunshen was ultimately outclassed.
“Your Majesty…”
Both the Grand Inspector and the Emperor exuded divine aura and Daoist power, their gazes calm and measured.
As always.
The Emperor stepped into the Ninth Floor pavilion, about to speak, when the Grand Inspector of Gongshu Ghost Valley motioned toward a mirror before him, inviting the Emperor to look.
The Emperor turned and was stunned.
There, in the mirror,
on the bloodstained Stone Mountain, Li Che stood bathed in the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder, his golden vital energy linking him to the sky – a sight both divine and demonic!
The Emperor’s eyes shrank in horror.
How could this be?!
“He…”
The Grand Inspector, astride his Xuan Turtle, smiled gently.
“Indeed.”
“I, Li Keqing of the Imperial Watch, am the Martial Immortal of our era.”
The Emperor turned pale, his lips trembling.
“Grand Inspector… Your Majesty… is there still hope?”
The Grand Inspector, his robe billowing and his eyes unflinching, replied,
“Your Majesty, the will of heaven is inexorable.”
……
……
Then silence fell across heaven and earth; divine wrath dissipated and the thunder ceased.
Atop Stone Mountain, the winds and thunder vanished.
The bloodstained hues of the Qiankun Ring gradually faded, and the Thunder Pool ceased its churning.
Once again, Li Che stood on the summit, his jet-black hair dancing wildly. The life force within him roared like surging waves, as his Martial Immortal Golden Body was forged anew by the dark thunder.
Layer upon layer of old skin peeled away; blood flowed through his channels like liquid mercury. His fortified meridians roared like thunder, stripping away the old and revealing a translucent, radiant form – millions of pores erupting in brilliance like the midday sun!
“Phew—”
“Sigh—”
Li Che exhaled deeply, then inhaled, reviving his entire being.
He opened his eyes, which shone brilliantly, sharp as twin lightning bolts slicing through the night!
Pure exhilaration!
A smile crept upon Li Che’s lips.
Golden light flashed before his eyes, as if shattered sunlight were reassembled in his gaze.
[Dragon Elephant Furnace: Martial Immortal Golden Body (70%)]
A tremendous boost!
An enormous enhancement indeed – the ordeal of the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder accelerated his Martial Immortal Golden Body’s progress by 20%!
It was almost unbelievable!
Yet it made sense; the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder was fearsome. Without the aid of his Thunder Magnetic Conduit Dao Fruit to temper and adapt the thunder’s force, even his Martial Immortal Golden Body would have been shattered to dust.
The pain would have multiplied many times over.
But now, Li Che was thoroughly satisfied.
The enhancement of his Martial Immortal Golden Body greatly increased its ability to absorb and endure the original dao calamities!
Li Che was confident he could elevate those original dao calamities, even perfecting the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, while other original dao calamities would similarly surge in power…
And that breakthrough would also elevate the potency of the many Celestial Seed Martial Arts within the Eight Mysterious Gates!
Overall, it was a gigantic leap in strength!
Yet Li Che’s greatest gain from facing the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder – ignited by the Four Seas Dragon Clan’s sacrificial offering – was not merely an enhancement of his flesh.
It was…
Thump, thump, thump—
A deafening heartbeat roared through him, like a thunderclap tearing the skies!
Li Che’s eyes flashed as invisible shockwaves rippled through space, distorting it like billowing cloth.
Shattered sunlight reassembled to offer a prompt:
[Dao Fruit: Dragon Elephant Vajra (Lv7 95%)]
Slaughtering countless dragons, defeating four and a half half-step supremes, and braving the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder – all culminating in a breakthrough in his mortal form!
The maturity of his dao fruit surged by 15% – no small feat!
Dragon Island and the entire Four Seas Dragon Clan certainly did not disappoint Li Che.
After all, reaching Lv7 in dao fruit maturation is no trivial matter!
A 15% epiphany boost was more than enough to push the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame to perfection!
And now, the Dragon Elephant Vajra Dao Fruit edged ever closer to Lv8!
Soon… really soon!
Li Che’s eyes sparkled with brilliant golden light.
Beyond this wondrous breakthrough…
there was another gain.
Originally, Li Che had only intended to increase his maturity through slaughter, never expecting Dragon Island to scheme and bestow upon him such a grand gift as the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder!
Though it was meant to wipe out the father and daughter, to Li Che, the Nine Heavens’ Mystic Thunder was like a treasured feast delivered to his mouth!
It was the taste he had craved for so long yet could never attain!
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
Inside his chest, it thundered as if the very roar of the heavens had erupted – countless arcs of lightning burst from his millions of pores, swirling wildly atop the summit.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
As if endless tempests had arisen, Li Che stood as tall as a divine spear upon the summit.
His jet-black hair fanned out in the wind.
Briefly, invisible lines seemed to emanate from Dragon Island, as if heaven and earth had drawn endless, unseen threads above his head that cascaded downward and then soared upward to form a complete loop.
Li Che opened his eyes, his five fingers outstretched as dark thunder roared a prompt:
[Dao Fruit: Thunder Magnetic Conduit (Lv7 0%)]
……