A Deal: Thunder Hell Vine's Sacrifice

The voice of the Thunder Hell Vine rang in Meng Chen's mind, incredibly clear. Though majestic, it carried a gentle kindness, as if trying to convince Meng Chen that it was harmless.

Make a deal?

Hearing this request, Meng Chen finally felt at ease.

Because it didn't sound like they were going to kill him right away.

"Trading? What kind of trading?"

Thunder Hell Vine was silent for a moment. Meng Chen vaguely sensed that its mood seemed to be getting dejected. However, with its majesty, even in its dejection, it exuded a fierce divine power.

Like a king driven to the brink of despair, even in death he would rather die by fire than be dishonored by slaves.

"Human, what do you think my cultivation level is?"

Meng Chen was completely bewildered; how was he supposed to know that?

Thirty thousand years? Forty thousand years? It certainly won't exceed fifty thousand years.

If it can make a level 95 Titled Douluo like Yu Yuanzhen, a top-tier lightning-type Beast Martial Soul, fear it, then it must be quite powerful.

Considering that the Thunder Hell Vine, as Soul Beast with the bloodline of the Thunder God, often possessed strength exceeding its cultivation level, Meng Chen gave an auspicious number. "Forty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight years?"

Thunder Hell Vine fell silent again, this time because he was speechless.

"Human, I have cultivated in this valley for countless years, and my cultivation has just reached forty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years."

"Forty-nine thousand years?"

Meng Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

Normally, Thunder Hell Vine would self- Destruction after about 20,000 to 40,000 years due to excessive thunder element in its body. This Thunder Hell Vine is almost 50,000 years old!

That's terrifying!

"That's right, forty-nine thousand years..."

Meng Chen sensed extreme regret and resentment from Thunder Hell Vine's emotions.

"I have been trying to break through the 50,000-year threshold, but the power of thunder within me caused my life force to come to an end at the 49,000-year mark. No matter how hard I try, I cannot take that next step."

"Any further delay will mean my death."

At this point, Thunder Hell Vine's regret and resentment had turned into a sense of desolation.

For ordinary Soul Beast, there is only a hurdle of 100,000 years in cultivation.

However, the Thunder Hell Vine possesses the bloodline of the Thunder God, making it exceptionally powerful but also exceptionally restricted. For the Thunder Hell Vine, 50,000 years is a life-or-death hurdle equivalent to 100,000 years for an ordinary Soul Beast.

"So, you want me to help you..."

Meng Chen immediately understood; it seemed that this Thunder Hell Vine wanted him to help it break through its 50,000-year lifespan limit.

"That's right, I hope you can help me break through 100,000 years."

ah?

No, shouldn't it be over 50,000 years?

Seeing Meng Chen's confusion, Thunder Hell Vine explained, "I'm not asking you to work for free. I will sacrifice myself to become your fifth Soul Ring. You should know that there may be no Soul Beast on the entire continent more suitable to be your fifth Soul Ring than me. And all you need to do is help me break through 100,000 years. It's obviously a bargain for you."

Meng Chen was even more shocked and confused. Where had Thunder Hell Vine's monarchical authority gone? Where did it learn this bargaining tone?

This street vendor vibe is completely unlike a Soul Beast with the bloodline of Thunder God!

However, the words may be crude, but the principle is sound: this deal is currently entirely beneficial to Meng Chen.

This Thunder Hell Vine has lived for tens of thousands of years in vain. What if I accept the sacrifice but don't help it break through the 100,000-year mark? Wouldn't it explode?

Meng Chen readily agreed, "No problem, but how can I help you break through 100,000 years?"

He has no intention of defaulting on his debt.

Upon hearing Meng Chen's words, Thunder Hell Vine's emotions softened and warmed, like an aged giant entrusting himself to a trustworthy junior.

"After my sacrifice, my primordial power will condense into a seed, which, in your human terms, is my next life."

It was born from the ashes of sacrifice, seeking a new glory. I am its past, it is my future. You must protect it until it reaches a new peak."

Thunder Hell Vine became serious again, surrounded by booming thunder, its words sounding like the pronouncements of the Thunder God.

Meng Chen sensed a kind of longing from Thunder Hell Vine, a stubbornness that had reached its end but refused to be extinguished.

It was unwilling to simply vanish from the world silently; even if it meant sacrificing itself for humanity, it was willing to gamble on that path to heaven.

Isn't this just a reflection of one's own mindset?

Meng Chen admitted that there was an element of gambling involved in his search for the Thunder Hell Vine, but he gambled correctly.

"Alright, I promise you, I will take good care of this seed. As long as I live, it will be fine and will even survive the 100,000-year lifespan limit. This vow is for life!"

Meng Chen said solemnly.

Since Thunder Hell Vine gave such a serious order, Meng Chen took it seriously.

Meng Chen's attitude clearly pleased Thunder Hell Vine.

"Be careful, after I make my sacrifice, all the energy of this entire Thunder Pool will enter your body along with me. You have to hold on."

"No problem."

Upon receiving Meng Chen's affirmative reply, the entire Thunder Pool rippled violently, and thunder roared as if the sky were collapsing. The flashes of lightning could even be seen from hundreds of kilometers away.

"Okay... then... let's begin!"

As soon as Thunder Hell Vine finished speaking, a dazzling light burst forth.

Its vine gradually turned into a blood-red light from the root, and the blood-red light rose like a ribbon, converging into a pillar of light that pierced through heaven and earth.

Golden lightning patterns began to appear within the pillar of light, swirling within the crimson light, creating a breathtakingly beautiful interplay of gold and red.

The thunderstorm in the entire Ten Thousand Thunder Valley became even more violent. The lightning that had been flowing freely in the valley now all converged on the blood-red pillar of light, like the Yangtze River flowing eastward to the sea.

This scene was incredibly spectacular, but also incredibly dangerous.

The magnetic field generated by the violent power of thunder even magnetized the metal particles contained in the soil, causing them to fly into the sky and form a metal frenzy.

Fortunately, Meng Chen was protected by the power of the Thunder Hell Vine, so even the most terrifying power fluctuations could not affect him.

He immediately sat down cross-legged, preparing to accept the sacrificial power of the Thunder Hell Vine.

Soon, the entire Thunder Hell Vine had completely transformed into light, and the crimson color of the light pillar grew increasingly intense, eventually turning into a dark red.

"Boom!"

The entire dark red pillar of light exploded, looking from a distance like a rain of blood, but the blood-red light spots did not fall to the ground, but instead gathered towards Meng Chen!

Meng Chen felt a terrifying energy being poured into his body, and for a moment he felt a throbbing pain.

He was horrified. Was this the energy that the Thunder Hell Vine had accumulated over 49,000 years?