Thunder Prison Tempers the Body, Blue Lightning Submits

Deep within Thunder Gorge, inside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's guest Branch Courtyard, "Shocking Thunder Pavilion."

Yang Yu stood before the window, gazing at the thunderclouds that perpetually shrouded the distant main peak. That was where the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's main sect was located—the Thunder God Hall. Thick silver serpents of lightning periodically tore through the sky and struck the mountaintop, unleashing deafening roars and an aura of heart-pounding destruction.

Yue Guan appeared silently behind him and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Yu Luo Mian has already rushed back to the main peak to report. Judging by his expression, he was badly frightened. Yu Xiaogang has been thrown into the clan's water prison. Even if he survives, he'll lose a layer of skin."

Yang Yu gave a calm hum, unsurprised. Though the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan appeared powerful, its internal hierarchy was strict, and it was arrogant and exclusionary. Since Yu Xiaogang, that "stain," had been exposed personally by Spirit Hall's Holy Son, they would only handle him more ruthlessly than outsiders would in order to distance themselves from him.

"How has the clan reacted?" Yang Yu asked.

"There has been no movement for now. But all the defensive Soul Tools around Thunder God Hall have been activated, and the patrols have tripled. They seem to be on guard, but also... hesitating." Yue Guan's lips curled with mockery. "It seems that old fellow Yu Yuanzhen is weighing the pros and cons too, deciding whether to meet you, this 'unwelcome guest.'"

"He will come." Yang Yu's tone was certain. "Unless he wants the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to bear the dual charges of 'sheltering an Evil Cultist' and 'slighting the Holy Son.'"

He turned and looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who stood silently at the side like ice. "How does it feel?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded faintly, a sharp glint flashing through her cold eyes. "The lightning elements here are highly active. They mildly stimulate my Soul Power, but I can adapt." Her Netherworld attribute leaned toward darkness and clashed somewhat with lightning's violent righteousness, but it was also a form of tempering.

"Adapt?" A faint curve touched Yang Yu's lips. "Simply adapting isn't enough. Since we've come to Thunder Gorge, we can't make the trip for nothing."

His gaze returned to the main peak beneath the churning thunderclouds. "Yue Guan, send word to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Tell them that I have long heard that Thunder Gorge's 'Thunder Prison' is one of the continent's marvels, capable of tempering a Soul Master's body and Soul Power. I have longed to experience it and wish to borrow their treasured ground for a few days of cultivation. Surely the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will not be so stingy?"

Yue Guan's eyes lit up, immediately understanding Yang Yu's intent. "A brilliant plan, Your Highness! I'll go at once!"

Thunder Prison was a forbidden ground of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, located within a bottomless rift along the flank of the main peak. It constantly drew down lightning from the heavens. After being transformed by the earth veins and special arrays, that lightning power became relatively "gentle" and controllable. It was a treasured place for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's core disciples to temper their Martial Souls and increase their strength, and it had never been opened to outsiders.

Yang Yu's request seemed to be for cultivation, but it was actually a further test and provocation. If they agreed, they would be opening their core forbidden ground to Spirit Hall's Holy Son and losing face. If they refused, they would be openly slapping him in the face and confirming the accusation of slighting him.

Sure enough, when the news reached Thunder God Hall, it caused another stir.

Inside Thunder God Hall, the atmosphere was even more oppressive than the thunderclouds outside.

Clan Head Yu Yuanzhen sat at the head of the hall. He looked to be around fifty or sixty, with resolute features and a beard and hair that seemed to flare outward. Even without anger, he radiated authority. Faint blue lightning flowed around him, and his aura was like that of a dormant thunder dragon, unfathomably deep. Several clan elders sat below, all wearing ugly expressions.

"Outrageous! He's going too far!" A hot-tempered elder slammed his hand against the table, scattering sparks of lightning. "Does that brat truly think our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is made of clay? First, he used the name of an Evil Cultist to force us to deal with that waste Yu Xiaogang. Now he pushes his luck and wants to enter Thunder Prison? That is a clan forbidden ground! Why should we open it to an outsider?"

"Exactly! Thunder Prison is one of our clan's foundations. How can outsiders be allowed to lay hands on it?"

"I think he came here deliberately to cause trouble! Why not..."

"Why not what?" Yu Yuanzhen finally spoke. His voice was low, yet it rolled through the hall like muffled thunder, instantly suppressing all the noise. His gaze swept across the elders with unquestionable authority. "Take action? Then let Spirit Hall's million Soul Masters and several worshippers level Thunder Gorge?"

The elders immediately fell silent.

"He is making a 'reasonable' request for cultivation in his capacity as the Holy Son." Yu Yuanzhen said coldly. "If we refuse, we will be handing others ammunition. Those old bastards in Elder Hall, who have long disliked us, will immediately pin the label of rebellion on us! The Star Luo Empire's example is right before our eyes!"

"Are we supposed to let him shit on our heads?" the hot-tempered elder said unwillingly.

A cold glint flashed through Yu Yuanzhen's eyes. "Is Thunder Prison so easy to enter? Even our clan's core disciples must proceed with extreme caution when entering Thunder Prison. One misstep, and they will be injured by lightning. He is an outsider, and his Martial Soul is not lightning-attributed. If he forcibly enters Thunder Prison and is 'accidentally' severely wounded by lightning, or even... meets with some mishap, can that be blamed on us?"

The elders were stunned for a moment, then revealed cold smiles of understanding.

"Clan Head is wise!"

"Exactly! He insists on going in himself! If something happens, what does it have to do with us?"

"This is the perfect chance to take some of the wind out of his sails!"

Yu Yuanzhen rose to his feet, lightning flickering in his eyes. "Pass down the order. Open the outer region of Thunder Prison and invite His Highness the Holy Son to cultivate within. Tell them to raise Thunder Prison's intensity... slightly, to the highest setting. Then send several 'clever' disciples inside to 'accompany him in cultivation.' Make sure His Highness the Holy Son... enjoys himself."

"Yes!" An elder immediately accepted the order and departed.

Half an hour later.

Under Yu Luo Mian's "enthusiastic" guidance, which concealed a hint of schadenfreude, Yang Yu arrived at the entrance to Thunder Prison.

It was a massive crack in the mountain, as though cleaved open by a giant axe. Wild winds howled, whipping their robes with snapping sounds. Deep within the rift was not darkness, but a blazing blue-white radiance that made one's scalp tingle! Countless lightning serpents darted, collided, and exploded wildly within it, producing an endless series of crackling booms! The dense lightning elements had nearly become tangible, and even the air carried a numbing sensation.

At the entrance stood an enormous stone stele, engraved with two grand characters—Thunder Prison! Beside them was a line of smaller text: Those without lightning-attributed Martial Souls will surely be injured upon entry!

Yu Luo Mian pointed at the stele and offered a false show of concern. "Your Highness the Holy Son, the lightning power inside Thunder Prison is violent. Even with our clan's arrays guiding it, it is no trivial matter. Please look at this warning... Your Highness has a precious body. If..."

"No matter." Yang Yu interrupted him. Without even glancing at the stele, he walked directly toward the entrance. Zhu Zhuqing followed without the slightest hesitation.

As Yu Luo Mian watched their backs, a vicious glint flashed through his eyes. He gave several elite clan disciples guarding the entrance a meaningful look.

The disciples understood at once. Malicious smiles appeared on their lips as they followed inside. Their task was to "guide" the lightning and properly "entertain" His Highness the Holy Son.

The moment they stepped into Thunder Prison's range, terrifying lightning pressure descended! It felt as though an invisible mountain had fallen upon their shoulders! Countless tiny lightning serpents coiled around them like living creatures, bringing waves of stinging pain and numbness!

Zhu Zhuqing let out a muffled groan. Dark Soul Power immediately surfaced around her skin to resist it, but she still felt her movements slow and even the circulation of her Soul Power become difficult. The lightning power here greatly suppressed her.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples, meanwhile, moved as though in water. Blue electric light shone from their bodies as they easily resisted the outer lightning. They even deliberately quickened their pace, drawing the surrounding lightning along and pressing it toward Yang Yu and Zhu Zhuqing, attempting to force them deeper into Thunder Prison, toward areas where the lightning was more violent.

"Your Highness, be careful. The lightning here is rather unstable. It would be better to stay close to us," one disciple said hypocritically. Yet his hand secretly released a strand of Soul Power, drawing down a lightning bolt as thick as an arm before Yang Yu's side and forcing him to change course.

Yang Yu seemed completely unaware and continued walking at an unhurried pace. The lightning exploded less than a meter before him, scattering electric light everywhere, yet he did not even blink.

He tilted his head slightly toward Zhu Zhuqing. "How does it feel?"

Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth and endured. "I can still bear it."

"Release your defensive Soul Power. Try guiding a strand of lightning power into your body. Circulate your Soul Power using the method I taught you, tempering your meridians and Martial Soul." Yang Yu's calm voice reached her.

Zhu Zhuqing froze. Release her defense? Here? Wouldn't that be courting death? Yet she held absolute obedience toward Yang Yu's orders. After only a moment of hesitation, she clenched her teeth and truly withdrew her protective Soul Power!

Sizzle!

In an instant, countless lightning serpents surged toward her like sharks scenting blood! Intense numbness and pain swept through her entire body! Her delicate body trembled violently, and her face instantly turned pale!

But she immediately followed an extremely strange and difficult Soul Power circulation route Yang Yu had once taught her. She forcibly guided those threads of violent lightning power through her meridians. It was like sanding her meridians with sandpaper, agonizing beyond measure, yet she vaguely sensed that under the stimulation of that destructive power, her meridians and Martial Soul were becoming slightly more resilient!

When the Blue Lightning disciples saw that Zhu Zhuqing actually dared to absorb lightning power on her own initiative, mocking smiles appeared on their faces as they waited to see her get charred into a blackened corpse.

Yet though Zhu Zhuqing was in agony and trembling, she endured it head-on! Her aura even slowly became more condensed!

Then they looked at Yang Yu and discovered that this Holy Son was even more outrageous! There was not the slightest Soul Power fluctuation around him. He simply strolled through the violent lightning as though walking through a courtyard. Whenever those lightning serpents, enough to leave a Soul Ancestor scrambling, came within three meters of his body, they seemed to encounter an invisible barrier and automatically slid aside before dissipating! They could not even lift the corner of his robe!

It was as if he were not walking through a lightning hell, but taking a stroll in his own backyard!

How was this possible?! The Blue Lightning disciples' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets! They had never seen anyone disregard Thunder Prison's lightning so completely! Even if the clan head himself came, he would need to circulate Soul Power to defend himself!

"You all seem rather free?" Yang Yu suddenly turned toward the dumbfounded disciples, a cold curve on his lips. "Since you're here, don't just stand around watching. Let's... train together?"

Before his words had even faded, he gave them no time to react. He casually raised his right hand and lightly clenched the empty air before him!

Buzz!

The phantom of the Eternal Time Dragon Martial Soul flashed behind him and vanished!

"Void Draw!"

An unusual spatial ripple instantly spread outward!

The next moment, a scene that sent the Blue Lightning disciples' souls flying and spirits scattering unfolded!

All the violently darting lightning serpents within several dozen meters suddenly changed their chaotic trajectories, as though summoned by an irresistible force. Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, they converged madly upon the Blue Lightning disciples!

"No!"

"What is happening?!"

"I can't control it!"

The disciples were terrified out of their wits and desperately tried to control or evade the lightning. But the bolts seemed to have come alive, locking onto them tightly as they became faster and more powerful!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four terrifying explosions rang out in succession!

The four Soul King-level elite disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan did not even have time to fully unleash their Martial Soul Avatars before they were completely swallowed by the lightning power they had been so proud of wielding like their own limbs! They released incomparably miserable screams!

When the lightning faded, the four lay on the ground blackened and smoking. Their bodies convulsed violently, foam spilling from their mouths. They had barely half their lives left! Their Martial Souls had suffered severe damage from the backlash of their own lightning!

Yang Yu did not even spare those four pieces of trash a glance. He continued onward, his calm voice drifting back. "I have experienced the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's hospitality. It seems the lightning of this Thunder Prison does not listen to you very well."

Zhu Zhuqing endured the numbness and agony in her body as she stared at Yang Yu's back, which seemed like that of a god or demon. Her cold eyes were filled with shock. With a wave of his hand, he controlled the lightning within an enemy's domain and made it turn against its master... What an inconceivable method!

She took a deep breath and guided the lightning power entering her body even more desperately, using it to temper herself.

The two gradually went deeper into Thunder Prison. The farther they went, the more terrifying the lightning became. Its color slowly shifted from blue-white to violet, and its power multiplied.

Zhu Zhuqing had already reached her limit. Her skin had cracked, blood seeping out, yet her eyes shone brighter than ever. She could feel that under this extreme agony and tempering, her meridians, flesh, and even Martial Soul were undergoing subtle but steadfast transformation! Even the barrier at level thirty-three seemed to be loosening!

Yang Yu finally stopped in an area where the lightning was at its most intense, having nearly become a violet sea of lightning. The lightning power here was enough to severely wound a Soul Douluo with ease.

"Here will do," he said, then made a move that nearly caused every Blue Lightning Clan expert observing in secret to drop their jaws.

He actually sat down cross-legged in the violent violet lightning sea! Then... he completely released every defense!

Boom!!!

As though it had sensed provocation, all the lightning in Thunder Prison instantly went berserk! Endless violet lightning surged toward Yang Yu like it had found an outlet, completely swallowing him!

"Your Highness!" Zhu Zhuqing cried out in alarm. Even knowing that Yang Yu's strength was unfathomable, she was frightened by the sight.

Yu Yuanzhen and the elders watching in secret also abruptly rose, their expressions changing drastically! Had this fellow gone mad?! Was he seeking death?!

Yet in the next moment, a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives appeared.

Within that terrifying violet lightning sea, powerful enough to annihilate a Soul Douluo, Yang Yu's figure slowly emerged. He remained seated cross-legged, his eyes closed and expression peaceful. Those destructive lightning powers could not harm him in the slightest. Instead, they flowed gently around him like docile streams, then... thread by thread, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, were absorbed into his body!

His body seemed to be a bottomless black hole, madly devouring the purest and most violent lightning source power within Thunder Prison!

He was not resisting it! He was devouring it!

Using it to temper his Eternal Time Dragon Martial Soul and Creation Lotus Martial Soul!

"A... a monster..." An elder's lips trembled as he collapsed into his seat.

Yu Yuanzhen's face had gone pale, cold sweat covering his forehead. His eyes were filled with disbelief and deep fear. He finally understood that this young Holy Son was not some spoiled playboy relying on his status to act recklessly, but a... monster they could not comprehend at all!

To become enemies with someone like him... the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could not afford it!

At the center of Thunder Prison, Yang Yu slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the subtle growth of his two great Martial Souls under the nourishment of lightning source power, he nodded in satisfaction.

His gaze seemed to pierce through space, falling upon the terrified figures atop the distant main peak.

His voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly through all of Thunder Gorge like thunder from the nine heavens:

"Thunder Prison is not bad. This Holy Son will take it."

"Clan Head Yu, I will remember this generous gift."

"Now, can you come out and discuss... the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's future?"

Yu Yuanzhen's body trembled, and the last trace of color drained from his face.

He knew that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan... had no choice but submission.