Ch. 71 - Nine Heavens Thunderclouds

Within the True Martial Sacred Ground lies a unique location known as the Thunder-Summoning Pool.

Legend has it that the pool was established during the era of Grand Emperor Shen Xing. In his youth, he had a powerful rival who battled him six times, three wins, three losses. This rival became known as Lord of Thunder.

When Lord of Thunder attempted his breakthrough from the peak of the Paragon Meridian Realm to the Imperial Meridian Realm, he summoned a cataclysmic thunder tribulation.

A massive sea of lightning engulfed the land. Nine Heavens Thunderclouds, Infernal God Thunder, Heaven-Warding Thunder, all kinds of terrifying thunderbolts gathered together.

That day, thunder echoed through the land, violet energy filled the skies, and thunderbolts stretched across the heavens like blazing rivers, suspended across a hundred miles of sky.

Lord of Thunder emerged from the thunder sea, blessed by ten thousand divine bolts, and successfully broke through to the Imperial Meridian Realm, stepping into legend.

Later, when Grand Emperor Shen Xing carried the Heaven’s Will, he personally suppressed the thunder sea and refined the region, forming the Thunder-Summoning Pool, both in memory of his old friend and as a training ground for future generations.

…

When Xu Zimo arrived at the Thunder-Summoning Pool, many disciples were already there cultivating.

A boundless sea of lightning surged across the land. Looking out into the distance felt like being submerged in a world of violet and light blue.

At the outer edge of the pool, there were only faint arcs of electricity. Deeper inside, the lightning intensified in power and magnitude.

It was said that deep within the Thunder-Summoning Pool, there existed Nine Heavens God Thunder, the same kind used by Lord of Thunder himself.

Body-tempering through lightning is one of the most direct ways to strengthen the flesh. However, the thunder here was only effective for those at the Paragon Meridian Realm and below, once one reached the Imperial Meridian Realm, its use became negligible.

Xu Zimo stepped into the thunder sea. After fusing with the Hell-Suppressing Deity Physique, his body was already incredibly powerful.

The light blue arcs of electricity merely tickled him.

As he walked deeper, the color of the lightning darkened, and a faint numbing sensation began to creep over him.

Looking up, he saw a serpentine bolt of blue lightning soaring and roaring across the thunder sea.

Xu Zimo took a deep breath. The Thunder-Summoning Pool was divided into five regions.

Zone 1: Mild electric arcs

Zone 2: Standard thunderbolts

Zone 3: Terrestrial Core Thunderfire

Upon entering Zone 3, Xu Zimo immediately felt a tearing pain in his body.

The lightning struck his flesh, killing and strengthening his cells in an endless cycle.

Very few disciples trained in Zone 3. Aside from a handful of others, Xu Zimo saw nothing but deep blue lightning as far as the eye could see.

After walking a short distance, he came across a familiar face, Gao Xiong, the youth from the Myriad Mountains who possessed the Ancient Tyrant Bear Bloodline.

Gao Xiong was currently standing in the densest part of Zone 3, his bulging muscles glistening under the crackling lightning. His hair stood straight back, his entire body bathing in the thunder sea.

He tilted his head toward the sky, letting the lightning crack and sizzle across his body.

His expression wasn’t one of pain, but of enjoyment, as if the thunder sea was a refreshing bath.

The Ancient Tyrant Bear Bloodline was indeed formidable. Once fully awakened, it could even rival some of the bottom-ranked physiques among the Top 100 Battle Physiques.

Noticing Xu Zimo, Gao Xiong was surprised.

“It’s you!” he said.

After the new disciples’ entrance trial, Gao Xiong had made a point to ask around about Xu Zimo.

The son of Vice-Lord Xu Qingshan, someone he dared not offend, but also someone he didn’t want to fawn over.

…

“Wanna give Zone 4 a try?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.

Gao Xiong gave him a look and quickly shook his head.

He had tried entering Zone 4 once, feeling confident after his ease in Zone 3.

But once inside, he realized the lightning there wasn’t just stronger, it was on a completely different level.

Not a quantitative change, but a qualitative one.

…

Under Gao Xiong’s cautious gaze, Xu Zimo stepped toward Zone 4.

The thunder roared in majestic fury, howling, shrieking, as if intent on destroying the heavens themselves.

This was Heaven-Warding Thunder, the divine thunder of Zone 4.

The lightning shifted from deep blue to royal purple. As soon as Xu Zimo stepped in, he felt his body grow heavy.

His muscles tore with burning pain, as if he would be consumed by the frenzy.

But Xu Zimo endured. Sitting cross-legged, he circulated his internal cultivation method to heal and resist.

Though agonizing, the lightning wasn’t fatal.

Still, he knew this was as far as he could go physically.

But his real goal here wasn’t to temper his body, it was to refine Tyrant’s Shadow.

Once the pain dulled and his body adapted, Xu Zimo stood and walked toward the edge of Zone 5.

“Is this guy insane?” Gao Xiong muttered, watching with a pale face.

Xu Zimo reached the boundary between Zones 4 and 5. He didn’t step in recklessly.

Instead, he channeled his Six-Domain spiritforce into Shadow Tyrant.

Then, he used the spiritforce to levitate the blade into Zone 5 while he himself remained at the border.

Zone 5’s lightning was endless, deep purple bolts blanketed the entire region.

He could even hear the roars of thunder dragons. The lightning here had developed sentience.

Nine Heavens Thunderclouds, Infernal God Thunder, Purple Gold Celestial Lightning, countless legendary forms of thunder fused into one.

As the long-silent sea of lightning stirred, Shadow Tyrant became the catalyst.

First, gentle ripples…

Then, crashing waves…

And finally, a thunderous tsunami.

Countless bolts of lightning surged toward the blade.

CRACK, BOOM!

Explosions echoed through the thunder sea, divine might flashing in arcs of white and violet.

Shadow Tyrant trembled violently in mid-air.

Xu Zimo focused his gaze and poured more Six-Domain energy into the weapon.

As time passed, the blade’s trembling began to stabilize. The dark blade gleamed ever more brightly, now tinged with deep purple lightning.

Xu Zimo took a deep breath and left the blade to refine itself in Zone 5 while he continued cultivating in Zone 4.

…

The sea of thunder roared endlessly.

By the time noon the next day arrived, Xu Zimo opened his eyes from his cultivation.

Today was the day of Yan Buhui’s duel. He planned to bring Little Gui and watch the show.

Looking up, he saw Shadow Tyrant still suspended in midair, being tempered by the lightning.

With a flick of his hand, the blade shot toward him like a streak of light.

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