The Thunder Emperor, the youngest of the Ten Fiends and a powerful figure among the younger generation, was now being suppressed like a trapped beast.
A flicker of panic, bright as morning dew, flashed through his eyes, then burned itself deep into his pupils. It was the helplessness of a man facing his fate, the terror of an unknown predicament.
He felt as though endless darkness were swallowing him. That force coiled around him like a ghost, steadily eroding his body.
Every inch of his skin trembled. The pain pierced to his very bones, as though it would tear him apart. His heart pounded like a drum, every beat telling of his struggle and unwillingness to yield.
Outside, Su Li's vast, solemn Dharma form stood in its true body.
Golden light blazed like the midday sun, illuminating the entire world. Every corner overflowed with dazzling radiance. Within that brilliance seemed to lie boundless power and wisdom, filling all who saw it with awe.
Yet to the Thunder Emperor, that golden light was so far beyond his reach. It was a mighty power he could never possess.
His vision began to blur, as if veiled in a thin mist. The dazzling light grew distant, and color drained from his world until everything turned dim and gray.
The Thunder Emperor felt as if his soul had been torn from his body. The powerful aura he had once possessed was gradually fading.
The Thunder Pool hovered above the Thunder Emperor's head like a mysterious pagoda, radiating immense lightning power.
That power streamed downward in countless strands of lightning laws, fine as hair, like silver waterfalls brimming with boundless might and majesty.
They formed an impregnable barrier around his primordial spirit, shielding it from outside forces.
Immense lightning surged within the Thunder Pool, forming enormous arcs like silver whirlwinds that spun against the invading force.
Though the Thunder Emperor's primordial spirit remained unyielding beneath the Thunder Pool's protection, the power of that phenomenon was simply too great.
Lightning churned in the Thunder Pool like a savage beast thrashing against its bonds.
But the force was too powerful. An invisible hand gripped the Thunder Pool tightly, and it began to crumble.
The Thunder Emperor's body shook violently. Each tremor came with a loss of strength, and his gaze grew vacant, as if he had lost the guidance of his soul.
The power that had once been indestructible was peeling away from him bit by bit, leaving him utterly helpless and despairing.
His consciousness began to drift, as though he had fallen into an endless darkness.
The Thunder Emperor felt himself being swallowed by that darkness. Fear and helplessness held him fast. He tried to struggle, tried to cry out, but every effort was utterly futile.
The Thunder Pool, that mysterious veil hovering above the Thunder Emperor's head, suddenly shattered.
Its immense lightning power, like countless silver waterfalls, vanished in an instant.
As the Thunder Pool collapsed, a tremendous shock wave swept toward the Thunder Emperor.
The force burst forth like a mountain flood, savage and violent, impossible to withstand. The Thunder Emperor barely managed to cry out before it sent him flying.
His body streaked across the sky like a runaway meteor, plunging straight toward the ground.
His heart pounded fiercely, each beat accompanied by tearing pain. His lungs gasped for air, but all he could breathe in was a bitter taste.
He felt his body being ripped apart. The agony was almost unbearable, and his vision blurred as endless darkness devoured his consciousness.
A mouthful of blood spilled from the corner of his lips, red as a flame and scorching his throat.
His body drifted down like a fallen leaf, lightly touching the ground. That sensation reminded him of his former glory and splendor, but now only endless pain and despair remained.
At that moment, the collapse of the Thunder Pool dealt the Thunder Emperor a devastating blow unlike anything he had ever suffered.
It felt as if an invisible force had torn his body apart. The pain nearly stole his breath, his consciousness blurred, and the world before him dissolved into chaos.
Just as the Thunder Emperor was about to give in, that powerful force suddenly vanished without a trace.
His body abruptly felt weightless, as though freed from the grip of gravity. It was like struggling up from an abyss, and he came to his senses in an instant.
The Thunder Emperor lifted his head with difficulty and looked at the boundless Dharma form in the sky. He let out a sigh. "I've lost." Though unwilling to accept it, he knew full well that he had been utterly defeated in this battle.
The Dharma form towered like a mountain, stretching beyond the horizon and radiating brilliant golden light. Its sacred, majestic glow seemed to come from another world.
The golden light fell across the Thunder Emperor's face, filling him with a pressure beyond compare—the might of an invincible being.
"Ancestor Wang, I admire your strength." The Thunder Emperor rose shakily and bowed deeply to the Dharma form, expressing his respect.
Su Li's strength in this battle had truly astonished the Thunder Emperor.
Though both were supreme beings at the peak of the Dao, the gulf between their strength was like a chasm.
The Thunder Emperor's defiant pride had been thoroughly broken. He understood the distance between himself and Su Li, and recognized his own shortcomings all the more clearly.
Su Li dispersed his Dharma form and drifted lightly to the Thunder Emperor. His gaze was warm and easygoing, like an elder caring for a junior's growth.
"The road of the Great Dao is long. Don't give up the path ahead because of one setback," Su Li said softly, his voice full of encouragement and hope for the Thunder Emperor's future.
His voice seemed to hold a kind of magic. Warmth welled up in the Thunder Emperor's heart, dispelling the gloom of defeat.
After speaking, Su Li took a Nine-Pattern Dao Pill from his pocket and handed it to the Thunder Emperor.
The pill gave off a rich medicinal fragrance, so enticing it seemed to possess wondrous power. The Thunder Emperor felt warmth rise from his dantian and flow along his meridians, instantly healing a fraction of his injuries.
The Thunder Emperor couldn't help but feel astonished. The value of this Nine-Pattern Dao Pill far exceeded anything he had imagined.
"Don't let down those who believe in you. Keep your eyes on the future, and you may yet become a king and an emperor." Su Li smiled, his eyes shining as if he could pierce time and space and see the distant future.
His gaze brimmed with hope and encouragement for the Thunder Emperor. He wished for him to have a bright future.
"Thank you, Ancestor Wang."
The Thunder Emperor was deeply grateful. He bowed once more, expressing his respect for Su Li.
He knew that though he had lost this battle, he had gained a great deal. Su Li's guidance and encouragement would be a beacon on the road ahead, guiding him ever onward.
Su Li smiled faintly, said nothing, and turned to leave the Prodigy Arena.
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