Geng Metal Thunderous Evil

As the Three Sects Tournament drew ever closer, the atmosphere of cultivation on Stone Bamboo Shoot Mountain grew increasingly tense.

The selected disciples all seized the remaining time to improve their strength. Flashes of spell light and ripples of spiritual power often appeared throughout the various cave dwellings and the Martial Arts Arena.

After successfully drawing the Purple Firmament Thunder Talisman and breaking through to the eighth level of Qi Refining, Mo Yuan did not relax in the slightest. He knew that this alone was not enough.

Whether it was the barely concealed envious gazes within the sect or the threats posed by the Black Fiend Sect and other potential coveters outside, he needed greater strength to deal with them.

And the Three Sects Tournament would be the touchstone that tested it all.

He turned his attention to the newly acquired strand of Innate Gengjin Thunderous Fiend Energy.

It contained the sharpness of Geng Metal and the might of thunder. If he could successfully refine it, whether he incorporated it into his thunder arts or used it to empower his Geng Metal Sword Qi, his offensive power would undergo a qualitative leap.

But fiend energy was fierce and violent, making the refining process extremely dangerous.

"Listening Thunder Abode is good, but refining such savage fiend energy there may cause its aura to leak out and draw unnecessary attention," Mo Yuan pondered.

He recalled seeing in the Scripture Pavilion that the sect possessed certain secret realms and special cultivation chambers specifically for disciples making breakthroughs or cultivating unusual techniques.

He immediately went to the Hall of Affairs to inquire.

After checking the registry, the disciple in charge informed him, "Junior Brother Mo, the ones that meet your requirements and are currently available are the Earth Fire Chamber, the Icy Cave, and the Small Thunder Sound Pool. The Earth Fire Chamber is suited for artifact refining and pill refinement; the Icy Cave can calm the mind and ward off inner demons; while the Small Thunder Sound Pool contains a trace of thunder's origin energy. It has miraculous effects on cultivating thunder arts and tempering the body, but it is also the most violent. One must endure the agony of thunder passing through the body. Those without a powerful physique or profound thunder arts cannot enter."

"The Small Thunder Sound Pool?"

Mo Yuan's eyes lit up. This place was exactly what he needed! "Senior Brother, I choose the Small Thunder Sound Pool. How many contribution points does it cost?"

"The Small Thunder Sound Pool costs fifty contribution points per day," the disciple reported a sizable figure.

Mo Yuan looked at the little over one hundred contribution points remaining on his identity jade token—most had been used to exchange for thunder talisman materials. After a brief pause, he decisively said, "I'll rent it for two days." He believed that if he could successfully refine the Geng Metal Thunderous Evil, the investment would be more than worthwhile.

After paying the contribution points, Mo Yuan received a token engraved with lightning runes. With it, he could enter the Small Thunder Sound Pool located at the edge of the forbidden area behind the mountain.

The Small Thunder Sound Pool was not an actual pool of water, but a natural stone cavern shrouded by a powerful formation.

The cavern was not large. At its center was a spring that continuously emitted hazy purple vapor, while the ground and walls around it were covered in natural thunder patterns.

The moment he stepped inside, violent thunder spiritual energy rushed at him. Fine electric serpents drifted through the air, crackling and making his scalp tingle.

Mo Yuan circulated the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art, causing his blood and qi to surge. He then invoked a trace of insight from the Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman Scripture, and faint purplish-golden lightning glimmered around his body. Only then did he barely adapt to the environment.

He walked to the center of the stone cavern and sat down cross-legged beside the spring.

"The thunder aura here is active. It can conveniently conceal the fluctuations from refining the Geng Metal Thunderous Evil." Mo Yuan steadied himself and no longer hesitated.

He held his breath and focused, first adjusting himself to peak condition. Then, with utmost care, he drew forth the strand of Innate Gengjin Thunderous Fiend Energy in his Dantian, wrapped in Innate Spiritual Energy and Dragon Essence.

The instant the fiend energy left his body, an incomparably sharp power brimming with destructive intent erupted.

White-golden lightning flashed madly, trying to tear apart every restraint. Even the thunder spiritual energy within the entire cavern was stirred, becoming even more violent!

"Hmph!" Mo Yuan let out a muffled grunt. He circulated his cultivation arts with all his strength, using his pure eighth-level spiritual power as a cage and the thunder-controlling methods of the Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman Scripture as guidance. He even mobilized the aura of the Ancient Thundercloud Mark to suppress it as he began the arduous process of refining this strand of savage fiend energy.

The process was excruciating! The Geng Metal Thunderous Evil was like countless tiny, razor-sharp blades mixed with violent lightning, charging wildly through his meridians and bringing tearing agony.

Fine beads of blood began to seep from the surface of his skin, only to be evaporated by the surrounding thunder spiritual energy.

Yet his will was as firm as iron. He guarded the clarity of his mind and guided the power along a specific route, gradually wearing away its violent nature.

He stripped out its Geng Metal essence and thunder origin, integrating them into his own spiritual power and his comprehension of thunder arts.

Lightning filled the stone cavern, swallowing Mo Yuan's figure. He was like a thunder cocoon, enduring the torment of destruction and rebirth.

"System, sign in!"

[ Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Top-Grade Spirit Stone x1, Thunder Spirit Jade (small piece) x1, Thunder Forging Body Art (fragment) x1, residual aura of the Primordial World: a faint trace of Chaotic Thunder Source Dao Rhythm!]

[Top-Grade Spirit Stone]: Its spiritual energy is pure and immense, far surpassing High-Grade Spirit Stones. It can be used to break through crucial bottlenecks or support powerful formations and magical artifacts.

[Thunder Spirit Jade]: A precious jade containing pure thunder spiritual power. It can accelerate the cultivation of thunder arts or serve as the core of a high-level thunder-element formation.

[Thunder Forging Body Art (fragment)]: An ancient method that draws upon thunder's power to temper the physical body. It complements the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art.

[A faint trace of Chaotic Thunder Source Dao Rhythm]: A weak trace containing the laws of thunder's origin. It can greatly enhance one's affinity and comprehension of the Great Dao of Thunder, though only those with exceptional comprehension can absorb it.

"Chaotic Thunder Source Dao Rhythm!" Mo Yuan was overjoyed. This was truly help in his hour of need.

He immediately guided the faint yet supreme Dao Rhythm into his sea of consciousness.

In an instant, his perception of the violent thunder around him became incomparably clear. The Geng Metal Thunderous Evil, once savage and difficult to tame—

under the illumination of that strand of Dao Rhythm, seemed to become far more docile. Its internal structure and the patterns of its energy flow became clear at a glance! The refining speed suddenly soared!

After an unknown amount of time, the lightning in the stone cavern gradually subsided. Mo Yuan slowly opened his eyes, and white-golden lightning flashed through them for an instant, incomparably sharp.

The aura around him had become more condensed, and thunder patterns faintly flowed beneath his skin. His whole person seemed like an unsheathed sword, yet he also carried the majesty of thunder.

That strand of Innate Gengjin Thunderous Fiend Energy had been completely refined by him.

Not only had it fully integrated into his spiritual power, imbuing it with the sharpness of Geng Metal and the explosive nature of thunder, it had also elevated his understanding of the Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman Scripture and the Gengjin Sword Qi Secret Arts to a new level.

With a thought, a condensed threadlike white-golden arc of lightning leaped from his fingertip without the need to draw a talisman. It gave off a hissing sound as it cut through the air, its power far exceeding his previous ordinary thunder arts.

This was the manifestation of his preliminary control over the Geng Metal Thunderous Evil!

At the same time, with the environment of the Small Thunder Sound Pool and the inspiration provided by the Thunder Forging Body Art, his Divine Dragon Body Refining Art had also advanced considerably. The strength of his body rose another level, and he faintly touched the threshold of the second layer.

The two days were up. Mo Yuan walked out of the Small Thunder Sound Pool feeling as though a lifetime had passed.

Although all his contribution points had been spent, his gains were immense.

When he returned to Listening Thunder Abode, Uncle Nine revealed a surprised expression the moment he saw him. "Your aura... has become even more condensed and sharp. Your thunder arts have improved so greatly?"

Mo Yuan briefly explained how he had refined the Geng Metal Thunderous Evil. After hearing it, Uncle Nine clapped his hands in praise. "Good! Opportunity and courage, both in abundance! With this, you should have even greater confidence in the Three Sects Tournament."

Just then, Elder Qian He visited again, his expression even graver than before.

"Senior Brother Lin, Nephew Mo Yuan, we have just received definite news."

Elder Qian He said solemnly, "The Black Fiend Sect has colluded with a mysterious organization known as Netherworld. They appear to be planning a major operation, though their target remains unclear.

Moreover, they seem to have discovered Nephew Mo Yuan's connection to the events in the Provincial City. They may even suspect that he was involved in the dragon soul's escape. Suspicious traces have also been found near the sect in recent days."

Uncle Nine frowned deeply. "Netherworld? I have heard of this organization. Their methods are secretive, and they are even harder to deal with than the Black Fiend Sect. They have actually joined forces..."

Mo Yuan's heart tightened, and his sense of crisis intensified.

But with his strength having greatly increased, he felt no fear. Instead, a powerful fighting spirit rose within him.

"Soldiers against soldiers, water against earth."

Mo Yuan spoke calmly, his voice carrying a faint ring of metal. "Whether it is the tournament or enemies from without, this disciple is prepared."

Uncle Nine and Qian He looked at his calm, confident demeanor, and a trace of relief flashed in both their eyes.

The next day, the sect bells rang once more. The Three Sects Tournament had officially begun! All participating disciples were to gather at the main peak plaza.

Mo Yuan took a deep breath, straightened his blue cloth Daoist robe, slung the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear across his back, concealed the Soul Cleansing Banner within his sea of consciousness, and strode resolutely toward the plaza where the eyes of all three sects converged.