Taming the Thunder Dragon

Ren Xiaoyao stood at the entrance of the cave, gazing at the gradually brightening dawn, his brow still furrowed.

The catastrophe still exists.

A mountain wind, carrying the chilling aura unique to the Black Miasma Mountain Range, swept past. As his robes fluttered, he could clearly feel a faint tremor emanating from the Emperor Formation Fragment within his dantian—a distress signal sent by the seal Demonic Qi Erosion. Although he had already broken through to the peak of the late-stage Earth Immortal Demon General, the shadow of the Late Heavenly Immortal demon general loomed large over him. That Demonic Might, as heavy as a mountain, still made his heart tighten even from dozens of miles away. "This improvement in cultivation is merely a delaying tactic. If I truly want to stop the Demon Realm army, I must find the next Emperor Formation Fragment as soon as possible. Perhaps I'll also need to find some rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures to aid my cultivation and break through to the Heavenly Immortal as soon as possible," he muttered to himself, his fingertips tracing the flowing cloud patterns on the scabbard at his waist. His mind raced, recalling the scattered information transmitted by the Primordial Emperor Formation. Within those fragmented images, there seemed to be clues to the Secret Realm related to thunder.

Suddenly, a faint yet clear tremor emanated from the depths of his consciousness. It was the resonance between the fused Emperor Formation Fragment and some pure energy in the world, like a sleeping ancient bell being gently tolled. He quickly composed himself, sat cross-legged, and his Divine Sense spread outwards like a spiderweb. A moment later, he abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto the southeast direction of the Black Miasma Mountain Range — the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi there was exceptionally violent, yet it possessed a chilling purity, a unique characteristic of the Thunder Force, which strangely resonated with the Emperor Power flowing within his dantian. "The Thunder Force..." "Could it be the Heavenly Thunder Secret Realm, which appears only during the peak of thunder in High Antiquity records?" A barely suppressed glint flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes, his heart pounding slightly with excitement. He had seen scattered records of the Heavenly Thunder Secret Realm in ancient texts: it was a sacred place where the thunder of heaven and earth converged. The thunderous Spiritual Qi within the Secret Realm could not only temper the physical body and spiritual power, cleanse the marrow and meridians, but also offer the chance to encounter spiritual creatures born from thunder, or even Divine Beast. If he could enter it to cultivate, breaking through to the Heavenly Immortal realm would no longer be an unattainable dream, and he would have more confidence in dealing with the crisis in the Demon Realm.

Without further hesitation, Ren Xiaoyao lightly touched the ground with his toes, his figure transforming into a streak of azure-gold light, and sped off towards the southeast. The miasma and Devil Creature along the way dared not approach the Emperor's Might emanating from his body. Even the few early-stage Earth Immortal Devil Creature that had previously lingered in the mountains and forests only dared to lie in wait at a distance, watching the streak of light disappear into the horizon.

About half an hour later, Ren Xiaoyao arrived at a steep cliff. The cliff was like a chasm cleaved by a Giant Axe, sheer and towering, its rocks covered with charred marks from lightning strikes. Above the cliff, dark clouds were as thick as spilled ink, and purple lightning, like nimble silver snakes, weaved and coiled within them, sometimes condensing into huge balls of lightning, sometimes unleashing brilliant arcs of electricity. The deafening roar of thunder was like the wrath of a god, even the air itself trembled slightly from the impact of the sound waves. The air was filled with a dense, almost intangible... With each Spiritual Qi, he could feel countless tiny electric threads drilling into his nasal cavity and coursing through his meridians, causing the Emperor Power within his dantian to stir slightly, as if it were cheering. In the center of the cliff, there was a Rift about ten feet wide, from Rift violent Thunder Force surged continuously, forming a swirling purple lightning vortex. The rocks at the edge of the Rift had been tempered by the Thunder Force over the years, turning them black and shiny, with a cold, hard metallic luster—this was the entrance to the Heavenly Thunder Secret Realm, which, according to High Antiquity records, only appeared when the Thunder Force was at its peak.

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, channeling his Emperor Power to protect himself, and slowly stepped into the Rift. The moment he entered, a violent Thunder Force struck him, like countless needles piercing his protective shield, causing the pale golden light emanating from it to fluctuate violently. He gritted his teeth and pushed the <Flowing Cloud Art> to its limit, his pale blue spiritual energy intertwining with his golden Emperor Power to form an impenetrable protective layer, as he walked step by step deeper into the Secret Realm.

The interior of the Secret Realm was like another world ruled by thunder. The sky was filled with ceaselessly rolling Thunder Clouds, and golden arcs of electricity occasionally tore through the darkness within the dark purple clouds, illuminating the entire Secret Realm as if it were daytime. Deep within the clouds, the faint phantoms of enormous Thunder Beasts could be seen slowly moving. The ground was covered with thunder-patterned stones gleaming with a ghostly blue light. These stones were of various shapes, some resembling crouching tigers, others coiled dragons, their surfaces covered with golden thunder patterns like spiderwebs, as if they were mysterious Totems drawn by heaven and earth. Occasionally, a thin bolt of purple lightning would flash from the cracks in the stones, striking the ground with a "crack" and creating small, smoking craters, the bottom of which still held flickering electric currents. The deeper one went, the more intense the Thunder Force grew increasingly violent, with thick pillars of lightning, as thick as buckets, floating in the air. These pillars stood upright in the Secret Realm, their tops connected to the rolling Thunder Clouds, their bases piercing the ground. The power contained within these pillars was enough to make even a late-stage Earth Immortal cultivator tremble with fear; careless contact would likely result in instantaneous annihilation. The Secret Realm also harbored some peculiar lightning herbs, entirely purple with tiny electric threads coiled around their leaves. Reflected in the lightning, they shimmered with a lustrous sheen, emitting Spiritual Qi several times purer than ordinary herbs. The Secret Realm echoed with the crackling of electricity and the muffled rumble of thunder, weaving together a thunderous symphony that made one's eardrums tingle.

Ren Xiaoyao found a relatively flat valley and sat cross-legged on a huge thunder-patterned stone. As soon as he sat down, the stone radiated warmth, and pure thunderous Spiritual Qi surged into his body through his buttocks, causing the Emperor Power in his dantian to instantly boil. "Such rich thunderous Spiritual Qi!" he thought to himself with delight. He immediately closed his eyes, formed cultivation hand seals, and began to absorb the surrounding Thunder Force.

The Thunder Force was indeed exceptionally violent. Upon entering his meridians, it surged forth like a wild horse, the inner walls of his meridians scraping against the electric wires, causing sharp, stinging pains, as if countless tiny knives were simultaneously cutting into his flesh. Fine beads of sweat trickled down Ren Xiaoyao's forehead, dripping onto the lightning-patterned stone and instantly evaporating into white smoke. Yet, he clenched his teeth, not uttering a single groan—he knew this was an essential step in tempering himself. He circulated the power of the fused Emperor Formation Fragment within his dantian, mobilizing the pale golden Emperor Power, like an experienced shepherd wielding an invisible whip, carefully taming the unruly Thunder Force bit by bit. The Emperor Power of the color yellow and the Thunder Force collided and merged continuously in his meridians. At first, they repelled each other, bursting out crackling lightning and muffled explosions. As time passed, under the harmonization of the Emperor Formation Fragment, they gradually transformed into a stream of purple-gold light, circulating repeatedly in his meridians. With each cycle, the purple-gold light became more solid, and his meridians were repeatedly tempered by the Thunder Force, nearly doubling in width and increasing in toughness several times over. Even the tiny cracks left by the Demonic Qi Erosion slowly healed under the nourishment of this power. The Emperor Power also became increasingly pure and violent, faintly carrying a trace of the majesty of lightning, making his aura sharper.

Time slipped away quietly during cultivation. The Thunder Force in the valley, initially dense like mist, gradually thinned, and the surrounding thunder-patterned stones lost their former luster, becoming dull and lifeless. Meanwhile, Ren Xiaoyao's aura continued to rise, from its initial calm and restrained state to a surging torrent. Purple-gold Emperor Power flowed across his body like boiling magma, staining his robes with a faint layer of lightning. Within his dantian, the purple-gold Emperor Power was already overflowing, as if about to explode. The erupting volcano relentlessly assaulted the bottleneck of the Heavenly Immortal that had long hindered him. That bottleneck, like a heavy Stone Gate, repeatedly deflected his Emperor Power, but each impact only widened the cracks in the Stone Gate. "This time, I will break through this shackle!" Ren Xiaoyao suddenly opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them. A low shout, like a thunderclap, resounded through the valley. The Emperor Power within his dantian instantly erupted to its peak, like a flood bursting its banks, surging towards the bottleneck once more with earth-shattering force.

With a crisp "crack," the bottleneck shattered, and an even more powerful force instantly swept through his body. Ren Xiaoyao's cultivation steadily climbed from the peak of the late-stage Earth Immortal realm to the perfect late-stage Earth Immortal realm. The purple-gold Emperor Power around him became increasingly solid, even forming a faint halo of lightning on his body, radiating a chilling pressure. He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, which was mixed with wisps of electricity. "Finally, I've broken through to the perfect late-stage Earth Immortal realm, only one step away from becoming Heavenly Immortal!"

Just as Ren Xiaoyao was about to get up and explore the depths of the Secret Realm, a deafening dragon's roar suddenly came from afar. The roar contained a dense Thunder Force, which resonated strongly with the thunderous Spiritual Qi in the Secret Realm, causing even the ground to tremble slightly. "This is... the voice of the Lightning True Dragon?" A hint of surprise flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes. Legend has it that the Lightning True Dragon is Divine Beast born in the Thunder Secret Realm, and its bloodline contains pure Thunder Force. If one could subdue it, it would not only become a powerful force, but one could also use its bloodline power to break through to the Heavenly Immortal more quickly.

He flew swiftly following the sound of the dragon's roar, and soon arrived at a vast lake of thunder. The lake's water was not ordinary clear water, but rather formed from liquid Thunder Force, shimmering with purple lightning. Thunderous bubbles constantly rose from the surface, crackling and hissing as they burst. On a small island in the center of the lake, a True Dragon, three zhang long, was coiled up. Its entire body was covered in purple scales, intricately patterned with lightning. Its whiskers and horns crackled with electricity—it was indeed Lightning True Dragon!

The Lightning True Dragon seemed to sense Ren Xiaoyao's presence, abruptly opening its eyes—its golden pupils like two burning flames, filled with fine lightning patterns, exuding innate majesty and vigilance. It slowly raised its head, letting out an angry roar that rippled across the lake's surface. Then, it opened its mouth wide, unleashing a bolt of purple lightning as thick as a bucket, like a cannonball, tearing through the air with a sharp Sky-Rending Strike sound, hurtling towards Ren Xiaoyao. Ren Xiaoyao dared not be careless. He stomped his foot on the ground, retreating rapidly, while simultaneously raising his hand. Purple-gold Emperor Power condensed in front of him into a giant shield over ten feet wide, its surface covered in Emperor Mark and lightning patterns, radiating a heavy aura. With a deafening crash, the lightning collided violently with the shield, the violent force spreading outwards, shattering the surrounding lightning-patterned stones and carving deep trenches several feet deep into the ground, emitting pungent blue smoke.

"Lightning True Dragon, I mean you no harm. I only wish to form a contract with you to jointly deal with the future crisis in the Demon Realm," Ren Xiaoyao said loudly, dispelling his oppressive aura and showing goodwill. However, the Lightning True Dragon did not appreciate this at all. It spewed out several bolts of lightning again, and with a swift movement, it pounced on Ren Xiaoyao like lightning. Its dragon claws were wrapped with dense Thunder Force, accompanied by Sky-Rending Strike.

Ren Xiaoyao shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to draw his sword to meet the attack. A clear, resonant Sword Hum cry pierced through the thunderous roar. The moment Carefree Sword was drawn, azure -Golden Sword Light, imbued with Sky-Rending Strike- gold Emperor Power and the Thunder Force, slashed towards the Lightning True Dragon like a meteor streaking through the darkness, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air. The Lightning True Dragon was not to be outdone. It lashed out with its tail, whipping up a sky full of liquid lightning, forming a purple lightning wall several feet thick. Electric snakes danced wildly on the surface of the lightning wall, radiating a suffocating pressure. The instant the sword light collided with the lightning wall, a deafening "bang" shook the entire Secret Realm. The violent power spread in all directions, blasting a huge whirlpool with a diameter of tens of feet into the surface of the Thunder Lake. Countless liquid lightning bolts splashed out like a waterfall, landing on the surrounding thunder-patterned stones, stirring up bursts of lightning and a pungent, acrid smell.

A fierce battle erupted between the man and the dragon above Thunder Lake. Ren Xiaoyao, using the "Cloud Treading Steps" of the <Flowing Cloud Art>, moved with ghostly agility through the gaps in the lightning, sometimes leaping through the void to gain leverage and sometimes crouching to avoid the dragon's claws. His Carefree Sword was unpredictable, unleashing exquisite sword moves from the "Seven Styles of Flowing Clouds"—"Flowing Cloud Breaks the Moon" was a tricky move, its tip gathering purple-gold Emperor Power to pierce the True Dragon's eyes; "Clouds Roll and Winds Unfurl" created a Heavy Sword Shadows, impenetrable Sword Net to block the Dragon Breath; "Raging Waves Strike the Shore" infused the sword with Emperor Power and Thunder Force, unleashing a cyan-gold Sword-Ray tens of feet long, slashing towards the dragon's body with the force of thunder.

The Lightning True Dragon also displayed the terrifying combat power of Divine Beast. It violently swung its body, its scales crackling with blinding lightning, and countless tiny lightning arrows shot out from between the scales, enveloping Ren Xiaoyao like an impenetrable barrage. Then, it opened its mouth wide and spewed out a twisted Lightning Chains, which snaked and coiled in the air like a living thing, aiming to ensnare Ren Xiaoyao's limbs. Seeing this, Ren Xiaoyao moved his sword with his body, unleashing the "Wind Returns, Snow Dances" from the "Seven Styles of Flowing Clouds." The sword drew perfect arcs, deflecting all the lightning arrows. At the same time, he twisted his wrist and severed the Lightning Chains with a single stroke. But before he could catch his breath, the Lightning True Dragon had already pounced close, its huge dragon claws carrying Destructive Aura. Ren Xiaoyao could only hastily condense an Emperor Power Shield to defend himself. With a "crack," the Emperor Power Shield was torn in three places by the dragon claws, and he himself was thrown backward, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Sword light and lightning intertwined to form a dazzling net of light, with booming sounds, dragon roars, and Sword Hum echoing continuously. The Thunder Clouds throughout the Secret Realm were stirred up by this great battle, becoming increasingly violent. Several Nine Heavens Divine Thunder as thick as water vats even cleaved down from the clouds, striking the lake and creating towering waves. Ren Xiaoyao steadied himself in mid-air, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. His gaze grew increasingly solemn—the strength of this Lightning True Dragon exceeded his expectations. Not only was its power ferocious, but its moves were also agile and unpredictable. If he didn't find a way to break the deadlock soon, he feared he would be worn down.

He forced himself to calm down, dodging the True Dragon's attacks while carefully observing its movements. Gradually, Ren Xiaoyao noticed something: before each time the Lightning True Dragon spewed lightning or launched a large-scale attack, a diamond-shaped scale on its belly would shimmer slightly. That was not only where its power gathered, but also a relatively weak point in its defense. Moreover, after launching a fierce attack, it would experience a brief pause in its aura, which was precisely an opportunity to exploit.

Ren Xiaoyao devised a plan. He deliberately slowed his Movement Method, slightly lowering his left shoulder to create a seemingly fatal opening. The Lightning True Dragon, already known for its violent nature, gleamed even more fiercely at this sight. It suddenly flapped its wings and lunged forward, its claws carrying immense power as they clawed at Ren Xiaoyao's left shoulder. The lightning gathered at the claw's tip even distorted the surrounding air. Just as the claw was about to touch his clothes, Ren Xiaoyao Shattering the Void beneath his feet, unleashing the "Cloud Treading Steps" from the <Flowing Cloud Art> for ultimate Teleport. His figure moved three feet to the side like a ghost, perfectly avoiding the fatal claw. Simultaneously, using the recoil, he instantly appeared beneath the Lightning True Dragon's abdomen—precisely during a moment when its breath was stagnant.

"Now!" Ren Xiaoyao roared inwardly, his Carefree Sword surging three feet into a cyan light, pouring all his purple-gold Emperor Power and the wandering Thunder Force from the Secret Realm into it. The lightning patterns and Emperor Mark on the sword simultaneously lit up, forming a dazzling purple-gold Sword-Ray. He flipped his wrist, the sword's momentum like Meteor Chasing the Moon, fiercely stabbing towards the shimmering diamond-shaped scale. A deafening clang of metal clashing rang out. The moment the blade pierced the scale, purple lightning erupted like a volcanic eruption, spreading along the sword towards Ren Xiaoyao's arm. His sleeve was instantly scorched away by the lightning, and the skin on his arm was charred black. Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth and circulated his Emperor Power to resist. Even though the pain was excruciating, he gripped the hilt tightly, refusing to let go, and even urged his Emperor Power again, trying to pierce the Sword-Ray deeper.

The Lightning True Dragon let out a painful roar that shook the Secret Realm. Its massive body trembled violently, and the lightning around it dimmed instantly. It lost its balance in the air and plummeted towards the lake. Ren Xiaoyao was also thrown back by the force of the impact and crashed heavily onto the Thunder Pattern Stone. He spat out two mouthfuls of blood, but he still kept his eyes fixed on the falling True Dragon, not daring to relax for a moment.

Taking advantage of the moment, Ren Xiaoyao leaped onto the neck of the Lightning True Dragon, gently pressing his right hand against its scales and infusing it with the power of a pure Emperor Formation Fragment. The power, carrying a gentle, soothing quality, dispelled the Lightning True Dragon's ferocity like the warm spring Warm Sun, gradually calming its agitation. He leaned down and whispered in the Lightning True Dragon's ear, "Lightning True Dragon, I know you are the Guardians of this Secret Realm, but now the Demon Realm is about to invade, and the lives of both realms are in imminent danger. I need your power to protect this world with me!" The anger in the Lightning True Dragon gradually faded, replaced by a hint of confusion. It shook its head, seemingly pondering something. Then, it sensed the ancient aura emanating from the Emperor Formation Fragment within Ren Xiaoyao's body. That aura felt incredibly familiar and comforting, and a trace of acceptance flashed in its eyes. It slowly lowered its proud head, its golden eyes no longer filled with hostility, only docility.

Seeing this, Ren Xiaoyao finally felt relieved, a smile of satisfaction spreading across his face. He quickly formed a contract hand seal. His Emperor Power flowed through his fingertips, and a pale golden Contract Rune slowly condensed, inscribed with complex Emperor Array patterns, radiating a soft yet solemn light. With a soft shout, the Contract Rune flew into the Lightning True Dragon's body. The moment the rune completely merged, a close spiritual connection was established between the man and the dragon. Ren Xiaoyao could clearly feel the emotions in Purple Lightning's heart—joy, closeness, and a hint of anticipation for the unknown. "From now on, you will be called Purple Lightning," Ren Xiaoyao said softly, reaching out to gently stroke Purple Lightning's scales. The lightning on the scales obediently avoided his palm. Purple Lightning let out a gentle dragon roar, nuzzling his arm affectionately with its head, its massive body swaying gently, appearing very excited.

After subduing Purple Lightning, Ren Xiaoyao left the Heavenly Thunder Secret Realm with it. Purple Lightning's massive body darted nimbly through the air, its tail occasionally sweeping across the clouds, stirring up bursts of lightning, and it frequently let out a joyful roar, its voice full of affection. The purple lightning around it had subsided, transforming into a layer of soft electric light that lingered on its scales, making Ren Xiaoyao's figure appear even more imposing. At this moment, Ren Xiaoyao's cultivation had not only broken through to the late-stage Perfect Earth Immortal, but his purple-gold Emperor Power surged within him, its circulation carrying the domineering power of thunder and the weight of Emperor Power. Although the lightning halo around his body was faint, it contained a heart-palpitating power, even slightly distorting the surrounding air with its oppressive aura. More importantly, he had the assistance of the Lightning True Dragon Purple Lightning —this divine Divine Beast could not only spew forth violent lightning, but also use the Thunder Force to Teleport... The Teleport scales were incredibly tough, enough to withstand a full-force attack from an early-stage Heavenly Immortal. He stood at the Secret Realm Entrance, gazing towards the Black Miasma Mountain Range. The dark purple miasma there remained thick, like a giant curtain shrouding the earth, but now, it held no fear for him. Ren Xiaoyao gripped his Carefree Sword tightly. The flowing cloud patterns on the scabbard seemed to glow faintly in response to his master's State of Mind. A resolute glint flashed in his eyes. "Demon General, Demon Realm army, I, Ren Xiaoyao, have returned! This time, I will make you pay the price and safeguard the peace between these two realms!" With that, he tapped his toes, transforming into a streak of purple-gold light along with Purple Lightning, carrying the force of thunder, and hurtling towards the Black Miasma Mountain Range. The miasma along the way was instantly purified into Void upon encountering this Thunder Force.