bookbashuk Chapter 288 The Impending Thunder Seed
Chapter 288 The Impending Thunder Seed
Chapter 288 The Impending Thunder Seed
Xiao Bai sat cross-legged on a boulder in the cave. The frost on his right arm glowed with a faint blue light in the dim light. A layer of ice crystals slowly condensed throughout the cave, and the temperature dropped sharply.
He looked down at his arm, which was almost completely frozen, his eyes calm, as if it wasn't his arm at all.
"It's just a minor injury," Xiao Bai said casually, his voice revealing no trace of pain.
Yao Tianhu rolled his eyes. He even suspected that Xiao Bai might have some kind of pain-immune fighting technique, since he hadn't seen Xiao Bai frown even once the whole way.
As it drifted closer, the light from its soul illuminated Xiao Bai's calm face.
"This Ice Venerable Force is no ordinary technique; it can even freeze part of my soul's perception."
Xiao Bai didn't speak, but slowly raised his left hand, his five fingers spread and hovering above his right arm. Suddenly, five-colored light burst forth from his fingertips, and thin strands of lightning-infused energy pierced the ice layer as if they were alive.
"What's this?" Yao Tianhuo's pupils contracted slightly.
"The five elements revolve, capable of transforming into all things," Xiao Bai murmured with his eyes closed. "Since that old bastard has delivered energy to our doorstep, how can we waste it?"
The five-colored battle qi moved within the ice layer, gradually eroding the azure Ice Venerable Force.
With each portion absorbed, the frost recedes slightly, while the five-colored battle qi grows stronger.
The strangest thing is that the icy energy that was swallowed did not dissipate, but instead gradually transformed into pure battle qi in the flow of the five elements, flowing into the dantian along the meridians.
Yaotianhuo keenly sensed that the temperature inside the cave was slowly rising.
He stared at the frost gradually fading on Xiao Bai's right arm and suddenly realized that the seemingly random flashes of five-colored light actually contained some kind of mysterious meaning.
"The five elements combined in one body have such wondrous uses?"
Yao Tianhuo looked surprised, stroked his beard, and shook his head with a sigh:
"However, perhaps only you on the entire continent possess such extraordinary abilities, with five types of lightning on your body, each corresponding to one of the five elements!"
Xiao Bai's lips curled slightly. "At this rate, it might take me a few days to completely get rid of the frost on my arm. I'll have to trouble Elder Yao to keep watch during this time!"
"No problem, just focus on healing!"
Seeing that he had a solution, Yao Tianhuo was immediately relieved and waved his hand.
Xiao Bai nodded slightly, his hands moving without stopping. He left a portion of his mind to control the lightning and refine the Ice Venerable Force, and then, with a thought, he went to his sea of consciousness.
In an instant, the world changed, and the space in the sea of consciousness resembled a calm lake, tranquil and profound.
In the center, an ancient thunder talisman floated silently, its entire body purple-gold, its surface imprinted with intricate thunder patterns, each pattern seemingly containing the ultimate truth of heaven and earth.
"strangeness."
Xiao Bai's illusory soul stood before the thunder talisman, his brows furrowed.
In the past, every time he broke through a major realm, Master Fu would give him a lightning seed containing special power.
In his original plan, with the help of the Thunder Seed and the energy of the Demon Poison Spot, he was sure he could reach the level of a mid-level Dou Zong in one fell swoop.
However, after he advanced to the Dou Zong level this time, Master Fu did not give him that lightning seed for a long time. Seeing this, he could only refine the demonic poison spot completely before his cultivation reached the peak of the three-star Dou Zong level.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Xiao Bai raised his eyes and looked down at a corner of the talisman, where a dazzling golden light appeared and disappeared, as if it were imprisoned by some force and could not break free from the talisman.
"What does this mean?"
Looking at that golden light, Xiao Bai felt conflicted.
This nonsensical situation, without any clues or hints, gave him a terrible headache.
He had tried every method he could think of when he was at the bottom of the blood pool, but for some reason, the golden light just wouldn't come out.
Memories related to the Thunder Talisman kept resurfacing in his mind after he came to this world.
The five-colored light that suppressed him for years during his initial Dou Zhi power period, the subsequent five Five Elements Thunder Seeds, and finally the Myriad Tribulations Reincarnation Thunder at the Dou Huang realm—all of these seem to be related to the Five Elements.
A thought flashed through his mind, recalling the time when his soul broke through to the Spirit Realm, when the Five Elements transformed into Yin and Yang, and a sudden inspiration arose in his heart.
"Could it be due to a weakness in the five elements within the dantian?"
Thinking of this, the illusory soul suddenly raised its hand, and five bolts of lightning of different colors burst forth from its fingertips, intertwining in the space of consciousness. The lightning of the five attributes of metal, wood, water, fire and earth blended together, yet remained distinct.
"Master Fu is waiting for me to complete my Five Elements foundation!"
Since forcibly using the Thunder Seal in the Netherworld Swamp, the five elements in his dantian have been in a weakened state.
Does this golden lightning seed require a strong foundation of the five elements, or even a more stable foundation after the transformation of yin and yang, in order to bear it?
Otherwise, that golden light wouldn't have remained in a state of almost emerging, as if it were telling him something.
The item was provided, but it doesn't meet your requirements!
In an instant, Xiao Bai's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
"It seems I can't delay any longer. I need to go to the Pill Tower as soon as possible and acquire the Three Thousand Burning Flames. That strange flame can absorb the energy of the starry sky for its own use. With it, I can absorb the power of the stars for my own use anytime, anywhere, and my Five Elements power will definitely increase extremely quickly!"
Xiao Bai's illusory soul stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then his eyes burst forth with dazzling five-colored lightning.
After taking a deep look at the golden lightning, Xiao Bai's lips slowly curled up, and his figure gradually dissipated in his sea of consciousness.
"Wait for me."
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
The ice on Xiao Bai's right arm had almost completely melted, revealing pale skin.
Upon closer inspection, however, fine, five-colored lines appear and disappear on the skin's surface, moving as if they were alive.
At a certain moment, an energy storm suddenly erupted inside the cave, causing Xiao Bai's robes to flutter without wind, and electric sparks to dance in his hair.
"boom!"
A powerful aura suddenly erupted, and a tangible energy ripple spread around the area.
Caught off guard, Yao Tianhuo was pulled back several steps by the energy ripples, watching in shock as Xiao Bai's aura steadily increased.
"Four-Star Dou Zong."
Sensing Xiao Bai's presence, Yao Tianhu shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"When others heal their wounds, it depletes their cultivation, but you've turned misfortune into a blessing."
When the storm subsided, Xiao Bai slowly opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with five-colored light before finally settling into calm.
Suddenly, his right arm trembled as his soul force swept across it.
At the elbow joint, a stubborn ice crystal clung tightly, and a tiny ice python could be vaguely seen struggling within it.
"Interesting. There's actually some kind of will remaining within it. I almost overlooked it before I refined this force to the very end."
Xiao Bai chuckled, and his left hand suddenly changed from a palm to a claw, his thunderous fighting spirit instantly twisting into a spiral.
"Get out here!"
"hiss--"
With a sharp hiss, the ice python was forcibly pulled out and writhed wildly amidst the five-colored battle aura.
With a glint in his eyes, Xiao Bai transformed the lightning in his palm into a cage, and his soul power swept over the ice python for a moment before his brows furrowed slightly.
"Elder Yao, have you made any discoveries in the vicinity these past few days?"
"Aside from the occasional appearance of magical beasts, we haven't discovered anything else!"
Yao Tianhu shook his head, floated over, and his expression turned slightly unpleasant when he saw the lifelike ice python in Yao Tianhu's palm.
"I didn't expect that guy to have a hidden trick up his sleeve. What do we do now?"
"Hehe. It's alright. I was being cautious before, and I kept my arm wrapped with my soul power. Several days have passed, and there hasn't been any movement from the Ice River Valley. It seems they can't sense it."
Xiao Bai lightly flicked his fingertips, and five-colored lightning coiled around the ice python like silk threads, his eyes flashing:
"However, if we destroy the ice python now, they will definitely sense it. We need to come up with a proper plan!"
He stared at the struggling ice python in his palm, and suddenly revealed a meaningful smile.
"Since they want to sense it..."
The lightning at his fingertips suddenly solidified, and a surge of powerful soul energy from between his brows transformed into intricate runes that wrapped around the ice python, instantly silencing it completely.
"Then let them sense it to their heart's content."
Yao Tianhuo raised an eyebrow, quietly observing Xiao Bai's actions, and asked with interest:
"What tricks are you up to now, kid?"
"Just playing with them!"
Xiao Bai shook his head and smiled. With a flick of his left hand, he took out a jet-black crystal and a scroll exuding an icy aura from his storage ring.
"This is... a Soul Jade, and the Ice Mirror Technique from Ice River Valley."
Seeing the two items Xiao Bai took out, Yao Tianhuo's eyes flashed. He stroked his beard and asked in confusion:
"I can roughly guess the function of the Soul Jade, but what do you want to do with this Ice Mirror Technique? This thing is quite useless. Although it can remotely present a scene in a certain place, the distance is limited. Even for a Spirit Realm Soul, the maximum distance is only a thousand miles. If you don't consider the soul consumption, this distance is still within the perception of a Spirit Realm Soul, so it's unnecessary. Moreover, this only works if you have ice attribute."
"Hehe. That's for other people, I'm different!"
Xiao Bai smiled mysteriously and buried his head to carefully examine the contents of the scroll. When he was organizing the ice talismans and ice element storage rings before, he only glanced at the contents of the scroll, got an impression, and then tossed it aside.
After a while, Xiao Bai put away the scroll and extended his spiritual power outside the cave.
A few breaths later, a small, light gray bird fluttered its wings in panic and was carried into the cave by an invisible force.
Catching the little bird, Xiao Bai's hand glowed with faint black lightning, which he gently smeared over its eyes.
The bird's terrified eyes were instantly covered with a layer of dark, watery light, which slowly rippled.
Go!
With a slight smile, Xiao Bai released his hand. The little bird, as if granted a pardon, kicked its legs against his palm and eagerly flew out of the cave.
After watching it disappear from sight, Xiao Bai raised his hand, black lightning flashed, and with a sweep of his hand, a black mirror appeared in the void, with black lightning flashing around its surface.
"Gui Water Thunder Mirror Technique!"
Xiao Bai formed a hand seal, and his soul power surged into the floating mirror following a certain sensation.
In an instant, the black mirror surface rippled slowly like water, and after a few flashes, an image appeared on it.
"Hehe. As expected of me. As long as you know the principle of Ice Mirror Technique, you can still create the same effect by using water as a substitute!"
Yao Tianhu stared in disbelief at the scene reflected in the mirror, and couldn't help but move closer:
"Tsk tsk. This thing looks much clearer than that Ice Mirror spell."
The view in the mirror was from the perspective of the gray bird in flight, showing it skimming over the mountains and forests, with the scenery below rushing past.
Xiao Bai's lips curled slightly: "Since ice-type battle qi can form a mirror, water-type can naturally do the same."
As he spoke, silver light flashed on the rune between his eyebrows. Then, he lightly touched the mirror with his fingertip, and black lightning flowed around it. The mirror suddenly enlarged, almost expanding into a curtain.
"I!"
Seeing the sudden change in the scene, Yao Tianhuo gripped the screen so tightly that he almost tore off his beard. Standing in front of the screen, he felt as if he had transformed into a bird and was truly immersed in the scene.
"Xiao Bai, you've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve!"
"Hehe. Of course, it's high definition throughout without any lag or stuttering. It's a true movie-watching marvel, and it's even in 3D. What do you think?" Xiao Bai looked at his masterpiece and nodded in satisfaction.
Using the permissions granted by the vertical eye icon between the eyebrows, a panoramic view of the environment was added to the Water Mirror, instantly improving the image quality.
"What is watching movies? And what is 3D?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Tianhuo was stunned, wondering if he had been spending too much time in underground magma and was becoming out of touch with the times.
"Uh, it's nothing!"
Seeing the curious Yao Tianhuo, Xiao Bai's eyes flashed, and he smiled awkwardly. He had been so happy that he had inadvertently revealed things from his past life.
He casually picked up the Soul Jade from the side, and lightning flashed at his fingertips as he carved several intricate runes on the surface of the crystal.
After doing all this, Xiao Bai turned his gaze back to the motionless ice python, grabbed it with his five fingers, and an invisible wave was pulled out from the ice python.
Then, with a flick of his finger, the separated soul energy was injected into the soul jade engraved with runes.
"This is..." Yao Tianhuo narrowed his eyes, as if he had figured something out.
"A bait." Xiao Bai chuckled. "Since Ice River Valley wants to track us, let them track us to their heart's content."
"You learned that Ice Mirror Technique just to see this bait?" Yao Tianhuo was speechless.
"Of course, if we tricked them, wouldn't it be a shame if we didn't see their furious expressions?"
Blinking, Xiao Bai smiled slightly, stood up, and casually brushed away non-existent dust from his clothes.
Yao Tianhuo was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily: "Insidious enough, but I like it!"
Xiao Bai smiled slightly and stepped out of the cave.
A ray of morning light pierced through the clouds, and Xiao Bai walked towards the light, his back straight as a spear, as if he wanted to pierce through all obstacles in front of him.
Floating behind him, Yao Tianhuo looked at the young man's back in the morning light and felt quite emotional. Although this guy was quite good at causing trouble, he was also quite capable of solving problems.
Throughout his journey, whenever he encountered anything, his first thought was always to rely on himself, without considering depending on him or anyone else.
This mindset is excellent. Anyone who wants to reach the pinnacle of cultivation must, in addition to talent, have the courage to face all difficulties independently.
The path of cultivation is full of thorns. Those who think of relying on others whenever they encounter problems, no matter how talented they are, will not go very far on this path.
"Where do we go next? Tianbei City?" Yaotianhuo floated to his side and asked.
Looking into the distance, Xiao Bai gazed at the sunrise on the horizon and slowly said:
"Yes, let's go pick up Xian'er and Zi Yan first. Ice River Valley suffered a loss this time and won't let it go easily. I'm not comfortable leaving them here."
He paused, turned his head to look at Yao Tianhuo, and smiled:
"Also, it's time for you to be resurrected!"
After saying that, he flashed and tore through space, stepping into the void. With his current strength, short-distance space travel was no problem for him.
Yao Tianhuo grinned, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Resurrection, huh!"
The murmuring echoed at the cave entrance, and the figure transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the closing spatial rift.
(End of this chapter)