On the ice, Chen Huaian struggled to move.
A staggering loss of 1000 layers of fortune made him feel as if he were walking on a tightrope.
It seemed that with the next step, he would fall, and after that, he might never be able to stand again.
“Disciple, let me test you. What is the rank of the Purple Dawn Divine Thunder Talisman, and how powerful is it?”
Li Qingran recalled the books she had once read in the scripture hall and replied, “The Purple Dawn Divine Thunder Talisman is a divine talisman crafted by great cultivators during stormy weather, channeling celestial thunder. At its weakest, it is still considered top-grade, commonly used by Transformation Stage practitioners against their foes. When activated, it can transform the user into divine thunder, capable of destroying anything. Even a late-stage Transformation practitioner could be severely injured if caught unprepared.”
“Then compared to the Nine Yang Purple Thunder Talisman, which is stronger?”
“The Nine Yang Purple Thunder Talisman is created by practitioners with a thunder spirit root, refining their own thunder spiritual energy into talismans. It is also a treasure aimed at Transformation Stage opponents, capable of summoning celestial thunder upon activation. Truly comparing them…,” Li Qingran tapped her lips and tilted her head, “I still believe the Purple Dawn Divine Thunder Talisman is superior. Celestial thunder is the embodiment of heavenly principles, pure yang and unbending. The difficulty of crafting such a talisman is much higher.”
“If your esteemed master gives you a talisman, would you dare to use it?”
Li Qingran shrank back, shaking her head like a tambourine, “Master jokes. I am but a Foundation Establishment practitioner, how could I dare to use such a divine talisman? I wouldn’t be able to control it. Even the residual power of the divine thunder would be enough to overwhelm me.”
After ‘having a conversation’ with Li Qingran, Chen Huaian had his answer.
The Purple Dawn Divine Thunder Talisman might not kill a prepared late-stage Transformation practitioner, but the target was the Corpse King. The purely yang Purple Dawn Divine Thunder would naturally suppress such an evil spirit. Its effectiveness should be at least tripled!
Behind the Corpse King, a mouth opened and closed within a pool of rotten flesh: “Huaian… boy?”
Chen Huaian looked at the corpse-ridden Brocade River, locking eyes with the Corpse Emperor Jiang. His intent to kill coalesced into a freezing wind.
“Uncle, I owe you my life, Chen Huaian will repay debts promptly!”
With a roar, “Condense!” the heavens responded with thunder, gathering dark clouds.
The remaining half of the talisman paper burned up instantly.
Chen Huaian’s hair turned completely white, reflecting the silver light of the flowing thunder essence.
Under some mysterious force, Chen Huaian ascended into the air,
his right hand holding the thunder talisman carbonized, thunder dragons surged through his meridians, and his body had become a conduit for divine thunder!
“Ninefold…Heavenly Tribulation?!” Emperor Jiang’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the figure enveloped in thunder above: “Who are you? A reincarnation of the Thunder Department? No… that shouldn’t be possible yet. I should be the strongest now! Those old ones guaranteed…”
“Blabbering nonsense!” Chen Huaian coldly snorted, slapping the thunder talisman onto his crown while pointing his finger like a sword towards the sky. His pupils glowed with thunder essence, bloodlines bursting from his eyes only to explode into electric mist before hitting the ground.
“Purple Dawn Exorcism, Ten Thousand Thunders…” As he spoke, thunder essence gushed out from all seven orifices,
with a voice resonating with the harmony of heaven and earth: “…Refine True Essence!”
BOOM!
Centered around Chen Huaian,
countless purple lightning pillars descended from the heavens.
Numerous ice chips from the Brocade River floated in the air, arcs of electricity weaving through them.
Emperor Jiang’s imperial crown shattered in the thunderous energy, revealing a face covered in devil-sealing nails.
“Protect me!” He formed seals with both hands, a massive emperor avatar condensed behind him, clad in a dragon robe, with corpse qi surging like the sea. Beneath the golden pendants, his face was green with fangs, red pupils blazing, and countless ghost soldiers surrounded their emperor.
Even so,
they crumbled bit by bit in the thunderstorm.
“I… refuse!”
Emperor Jiang raised his head, roaring loudly enough to shatter glass for miles around.
Cracks spread across his face, bronze nails peeled away, revealing charred bones beneath.
His body was disintegrating.
“You… deceivers! I won’t forgive you…”
“I… am divinely appointed!”
“I… have endured twelve heavenly tribulations!”
Above the heavens, Chen Huaian’s entire body was carbonized, except for his thunder-infused eyes that remained bright.
“Heavenly tribulation couldn’t kill you?”
“Then I will!”
The final bolt of purple lightning descended, like a pillar supporting the sky.
After the thunder roared, the dark clouds dissipated.
In the original place, there was no longer Emperor Jiang, only a handful of ash and pools of gold.
Chen Huaian fell from the sky.
Unable to see, unable to hear, lost in thought.
A Transformation Stage practitioner using the Purple Dawn Divine Thunder Talisman transforms into divine thunder, temporarily gaining the empowerment of heavenly principles.
But they also undergo the tempering of heavenly principles.
How could someone merely at the Qi Condensation stage withstand such overwhelming tempering?
The price, naturally,
is to disintegrate into ash.
…
Kunlun Mountain.
The tightly shut doors of the celestial palace suddenly opened.
Celestial music wafted through the air, and colorful auspicious clouds gathered atop Kunlun Mountain.
Explorers and revivalists from the Demon-Slaying Division and noble families alike stared upwards in awe at the strange phenomena above.
A dignified female voice came from the clouds:
“I have heard of the suffering in the mortal world, long plagued by demons and evil spirits. Today, I specially open the Heavenly Gate to widely recruit disciples.”
“To enter our Kunlun Celestial Palace, one must climb the ten-thousand-step stone staircase before the palace gates. Climbing a thousand steps grants entry to the outer sect, three thousand steps to the inner sect, five thousand steps for personal transmission, eight thousand steps to inherit the sect’s legacy, and surpassing ten thousand steps makes one the next palace master.”
As the words faded,
the barrier sealing the last nine thousand steps disappeared.
…
Great Thunder Sound Temple.
Golden clouds pierced the heavens, and the true Buddha manifested.
Golden blood dripped from the jade tiles, and the Bodhi tree transformed into a diamond guardian.
The true Buddha’s foot touched down, shrinking the entire Mount Meru into a single speck of gold on his robe.
“All sentient beings suffer; the Buddhist realm has no gate.”
The Buddha’s voice echoed throughout the mountain range, as three thousand golden lotuses sprouted from the ground.
“One must self-liberate to encounter me.”
As the words ended, the true Buddha dissolved into crimson clouds.
Within and outside the Great Thunder Sound Temple, everyone who bowed in reverence, whether believers or not, found a scar appearing on their heads.
…
The main Christian church, where the sky split open with a beam of golden light.
Yahweh stepped down on a cloud ladder, holy light cascading down like a waterfall.
When He lowered His gaze, the sea of clouds formed into seven lampstands, and raising His hand caused holy flames to descend. The holy flames did not consume the thorns beneath His feet but instead nurtured sacred roses, burning into the inscription of the Ten Commandments upon landing before the cathedral, etching eternal decrees into the marble slabs.
Inside the church, people possessed by demons began emitting black smoke.
The smoke coalesced into screaming devils, whose cries were drowned out by hymns.
“Those who bear the cross, come drink from the cup of the everlasting covenant.”
The divine decree transformed into a white eagle soaring over Mount Calvary.
The rust on the iron nail on the forehead of the demon statue peeled off, revealing New Testament Greek text.
The shadow of the Ark appeared under the Lord’s cross.
In the fluttering wings of the cherubim, the foreheads of believers were branded with a fiery emblem.
…
Neon City, where the hundred ghosts paraded through the night.
All of Osaka became a ghostly domain.
…
In the American Zone, a meteorite fell.
The zombie virus began spreading throughout the city.
…
In the Heavenly Abode District,
while Province C’s Demon-Slaying Division was busy clearing the battlefield, calming the populace, and treating the wounded,
divine descents and large-scale anomalies began erupting worldwide.
And at this moment, the charred remains of Chen Huaian lay quietly inside a nutrient tank,
completely unaware of everything happening outside.
…
