The speck of light grew at a visible speed, finally stabilizing into a blue crystal the size of a dragon's eye.
The crystal slowly rotated, translucent from edge to edge, radiating a pure and powerful chill!
It was utterly distinct from the thunder Soul Power and Bloodline Power within Xue Chen, yet faintly formed a wondrous balance and connection with them.
The thick layer of ice around Xue Chen began to crackle, countless fissures appearing across it before it finally shattered with a boom, transforming into pure energy that was absorbed by the blue crystal on his skin.
He slowly opened his eyes. Deep in his pupils, a flash of icy blue light flickered and vanished.
He had successfully condensed an Ice Attribute Origin Seed within his body!
Feeling the blue crystal in his dantian radiating a familiar chill, and sensing how effortlessly his body could command the ice elements around him, Xue Chen's pale face broke into a tired yet intensely exhilarated smile.
He knew that from this moment on, his path would grow even wider!
And the door to Snow Empress's unique techniques had opened to him as well.
Several months slipped quietly by as he devoted himself to cultivation.
On this day, Xue Chen was inside Ice Crystal Palace, guiding the ice and thunder Soul Power within his body to merge and temper him. Suddenly, the aura around him surged, and his Soul Power broke through a certain threshold—he had successfully reached Level 30!
Yet at the very instant he broke through!
Outside Ice Crystal Palace, the clear, pale sky over the Far North was suddenly and without warning swallowed by thick, dark clouds rushing in from every direction.
The clouds hung low, churning like ink. Purple lightning flickered within them, rumbling with muffled roars.
The world instantly dimmed. A terrifying, heart-stopping pressure of destruction blanketed the land. It was so much like the blue lightning tribulation from several months ago, yet somehow different!
Snow Empress sensed the change in the heavens at once. She appeared outside the palace in an instant and looked up at the churning purple thunderclouds, shock and worry filling her eyes. Her gaze turned involuntarily toward the side hall where Xue Chen was cultivating.
"Could it be... Chen'er brought this on again?"
Almost at the same time, Xue Chen jolted awake from his cultivation. He clearly felt the second seal within him trembling violently, as though some force outside was calling to it, and it was on the verge of breaking free.
He hurried out of the side hall and came to Snow Empress's side. A trace of helplessness crossed his small face, though he was strangely calm.
"Mother," Xue Chen said with certainty, looking up at the purple thunderclouds:
"This lightning tribulation... seems to have been brought on by me again.
I feel... just like the first time, it shouldn't pose any real danger."
At his words, Snow Empress's beautiful face grew even more grave.
She naturally trusted Xue Chen's instincts, but this concerned the might of the heavens. And the aura from the purple lightning was even more unsettling than the blue lightning before. How could she not worry?
She feared this tribulation would be different from the last. If anything went wrong, the consequences would be unthinkable.
She wanted to stop him and have him take shelter.
Xue Chen saw the worry in Snow Empress's eyes. He stepped forward and took her hand, his gaze clear and resolute:
"Mother, don't worry.
I can feel it clearly. Though the power in this tribulation is even more frightening, its core intent is no different from the last one. It means me no harm.
It feels more like... a tempering and a liberation.
Mother, help me. Just send me up there."
Looking into the trust in Xue Chen's eyes, Snow Empress's worry and reason clashed fiercely within her.
In the end, her love and trust for Xue Chen won out.
She took a deep breath, forcing down her unease, and firmly clasped his little hand in return before nodding.
"All right! Mother trusts you."
Her voice remained cool:
"But remember, if anything feels wrong, call for me at once!
No matter what happens, Mother will keep you safe!"
"Mm!" Xue Chen nodded firmly, gratitude and confidence shining in his eyes.
Snow Empress no longer hesitated. She raised a slender hand, and a stream of pure, gentle Soul Power lifted Xue Chen, carrying him steadily into the sky above Ice Crystal Palace to face the churning purple thunderclouds.
This tribulation seemed smaller in scale than the first, which had blanketed the entire Far North, but its oppressive force was more concentrated.
At the heart of the thunderclouds, purple lightning gathered in a frenzy.
"RUMBLE—!!!"
The first bolt of purple lightning, like a roaring purple dragon, tore through the sky and crashed down upon Xue Chen!
The pain he expected did not fully come. The instant the purple lightning touched his body—
It once again revealed its uncanny nature. The violent thunderous power was restrained, leaving behind only the purest, most primordial thunder energy.
It then surged into his body, rushing straight for the second seal deep within his dantian, which was trembling violently!
"Crack..."
A clear sound of shattering rang out from deep within Xue Chen's soul.
Then came the second bolt, the third...
Purple bolts of heavenly punishment fell one after another, striking Xue Chen with unerring precision and transforming into a torrent that broke the seal.
The whole process was faster than the first time. After only seven bolts of lightning, the purple thunderclouds began to dissipate, as if their task were complete, and brilliant sunlight streamed through the gaps once more.
Xue Chen hovered in midair, bathed in purple lightning that had yet to fade completely, like a Thunder God descended upon the world.
Inside him, the incredibly complex second seal—a faintly glowing sigil—had been utterly crushed by the successive strikes of seven purple bolts. It transformed into pure, primordial energy that flowed into every part of his body.
But the gift from the broken seal this time did not come with the mysterious blue Soul Ring from before. Instead, it clearly manifested in his thunder attribute!
The phantom image of the Thunder Dragon Emperor appeared behind him of its own accord. On its once-azure body, strands of regal, violent purple lightning began to weave through the blue!
The phantom of the Radiant Thunder Dragon Spear in his hand solidified as well. Along the edges of the blue dragon-scale patterns on the shaft, a deep purple hue spread, radiating a terrifying aura that made the soul tremble!
His Ultimate Lightning attribute had evolved further!
From its original blue lightning, it had evolved into an interwoven blue and purple. Its power, speed, and destructive force had all risen by more than one level!
The purple lightning seemed to contain a supreme intent of judgment and evil-smiting.
Feeling the stronger, purer thunderous power surging through him, and the blue-purple Thunder Origin standing alongside his Ice Origin without the slightest conflict, Xue Chen broke into a radiant smile.
He slowly descended and looked toward Snow Empress below, who had been watching him anxiously. He nodded firmly.
The second seal had been successfully broken!
His power had once again undergone a qualitative leap!
When Snow Empress saw the thunderclouds disperse and felt Xue Chen's aura settle, stronger than before, the heavy stone hanging over her heart finally fell.
She beckoned with a delicate hand. The gentle Soul Power holding Xue Chen slowly receded, bringing him safely back to her.
She reached out and brushed the few stray sparks of lightning from his hair. Concern and curiosity shone in her eyes as she asked softly:
"Chen'er, how do you feel?
Did this lightning tribulation bring you another strange Origin Soul Ring like last time, or some other new ability?"
At her words, Xue Chen closed his eyes and carefully examined his body.
The thunder origin that had once been azure had now turned a deeper blue-purple. Though purple did not predominate, it had imbued all his thunderous power with a supreme aura of judgment and destruction.
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