"What is this?" After Xiao Yan effortlessly cleaved the Thunder Eating Beast in two, a mysterious beam of light slowly emerged from its body, prompting his question.
"Bzzzz!" With its body split in two by Xiao Yan, the Thunder Eating Beast's vitality dwindled and its aura steadily weakened. Yet waves of dazzling thunder power continued to surge from within it.
"A Thunder Crystal?" A moment later, a diamond-shaped Silver Crystal inside the Thunder Eating Beast came into Xiao Yan's view.
The Silver Crystal was about the size of a palm, with threads of silver lightning constantly surfacing around it. Within it lay an immense reserve of pure energy, and even those wisps of lightning made Xiao Yan's heart tremble slightly.
"This Thunder Crystal is good stuff. Unfortunately, only thunder-attribute experts can use it, which limits its value."
"This Thunder Crystal was condensed by a soul beast at two-star Dou Xian perfection. After consuming it, a thunder-attribute expert might gain even more dazzling thunder power, or improve their strength," the Soul Devouring Master explained.
"What a pity." Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly at those words. It seemed he had been fated to encounter this treasure, but not to enjoy it.
"Crack!" Although Xiao Yan could not devour it, he would not let it go to waste either. He turned his palm over, intending to put the Thunder Crystal away. After all, it was a rare treasure.
"Xiao Yan, wait." Just then, Duan Qifei's urgent voice came from afar.
"Qifei?" Hearing her, Xiao Yan stopped what he was doing.
"This thing would be useful to me. Could you give it to me...?" Duan Qifei and Liu Qing were struggling to hold off a Thunder Eating Beast as Duan Qifei communicated with Xiao Yan through soul power.
"Of course." Xiao Yan gave an understanding smile. Whether because she was his friend or because of her identity as a Samsara Runner, he naturally would not keep the Thunder Crystal for himself.
"Thanks."
"In return, I'll take you all to the forbidden area in the Thunder Tomb. There are plenty of good things there, and very few people know about it." Duan Qifei was delighted, but she did not want to claim the fruits of Xiao Yan's victory without giving anything in return.
"The Thunder Tomb's forbidden area?" Xiao Yan was startled at first, then slowly broke into a smile.
With his current strength at the two-star Dou Xian mid stage, ordinary energy entities probably would not be enough to help him break through again. The Thunder Tomb's forbidden area would surely contain plenty of treasures. Though danger was inevitable, Xiao Yan had never been afraid.
"Rumble!" Before long, the Yu Sisters' team and Duan Qifei's team completely slew the remaining two Thunder Eating Beasts after considerable effort. Neither beast produced a Thunder Crystal, however.
"Here." When Duan Qifei came up to him, Xiao Yan gently tossed her the Thunder Crystal.
"Bzzzz!" The moment the Thunder Crystal landed in Duan Qifei's hands, it erupted with a staggering aura, as though it was exceptionally well matched to her.
"Go ahead and absorb it first."
"We're only on the outskirts here, and most of the experts we encounter are fairly average. Once we enter the depths of the Thunder Tomb, the ones we run into will be much harder to deal with." Xiao Yan spoke as he watched the heat radiating from Duan Qifei's body and the faint fluctuations at the center of her brow.
"Mm."
"Thanks." Duan Qifei did not refuse. She sat down cross-legged, suspended the silver Thunder Crystal before her, and began circulating her cultivation method, working hard to refine it.
"Whoosh!" The Thunder Crystal appeared simple, but it was anything but.
Its outermost layer of Silver Crystal was extremely tough. Even though Duan Qifei's thunder power was far from ordinary, she probably would not be able to break through it anytime soon.
"Oh well, let's wait."
"We can spare a little time anyway." As Duan Qifei began cultivating, the others quieted down as well.
The thunder power she possesses is no trifling matter either! Watching the silver lightning Duan Qifei unleashed beside him, Xiao Yan felt a rare flicker of shock.
"This girl probably possesses a Thunder-type Minor Heavenly Seed. That's why her thunder power is so much stronger than that of ordinary experts," the Soul Devouring Master said.
"A Thunder-type Minor Heavenly Seed..." Xiao Yan slowly shook his head, finding that explanation somewhat hard to believe. A Thunder-type Minor Heavenly Seed alone clearly could not give him such an overwhelming sense of pressure. She probably harbored some other secret.
While events in the Thunder Tomb unfolded like a raging fire, certain unknown developments were quietly taking place outside.
Inside Forged Blade Thunder Valley.
Within an elegant manor, Duan Tianyan, the Deputy Valley Master of Forged Blade Thunder Valley, was enjoying a leisurely moment in its rear garden. He reclined quietly in the center of a pavilion, sipping tea with a contented expression.
"My lord, something has happened." A disembodied voice abruptly sounded in the air above the pavilion.
"What happened? Speak." Duan Tianyan frowned, a hint of coldness creeping into his voice.
"The Youhuan Clan's Clan Patriarch and his elite forces have suddenly disappeared from their base camp..." The disembodied voice sounded again.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" At those words, the exquisite tea set in Duan Tianyan's hands instantly crumbled into powder and scattered through the air.
"That bastard Youhuan!"
"If he ruins our grand undertaking, he'll pay for it with his life!" A cold snort suddenly echoed above the pavilion, the voice brimming with murderous intent.
"In addition, the Soul Hall's experts have successfully infiltrated the Thunder Realm, and our forces from Sin have laid an inescapable net throughout Thunder City."
"Everything is ready. All we lack is the east wind." The disembodied voice sounded again.
"Excellent."
"Go back and tell those fellows from the Soul Hall that no one is to act rashly without my orders!"
"Also, send people into the Thunder Tomb to ensure Youhuan's safety." Duan Tianyan's brows knitted tightly.
"My lord, Lord Youhuan and the Youhuan Dual Sovereigns are all four-star Dou Xian. Surely nothing will happen to them?" A trace of confusion flickered through the indistinct figure.
"Are you questioning my words?" Duan Tianyan snorted coldly. As the Deputy Valley Master of Forged Blade Thunder Valley, he naturally knew what terrifying beings existed inside the Thunder Tomb!
Never mind three four-star Dou Xian experts-even five of them probably could not compare to some of the beings within!
"Yes, my lord!" the indistinct figure answered respectfully, then slowly vanished.
"Those damned members of the Outer Realm Evil Clan. Do they really think humans are fools...?"
"The Youhuan Clan really is a headache." Duan Tianyan gently rubbed his forehead, carefully working through the final plan in his mind!
Since this was revenge, and since they had gathered the three mighty forces of Sin, the Outer Realm Evil Clan, and the Soul Hall, they naturally intended to strike with the fury of thunder and completely wipe out Forged Blade Thunder Valley-even the entire Eastern Continent.
Thus, their plan would begin the moment the Eastern Continent competition concluded.
"Just wait. Before long, this Eastern Continent will vanish without a trace." A sinister curl appeared at the corner of Duan Tianyan's mouth, making him as loathsome as a maggot from hell!
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