The Divine Statue
With a thunderous boom, waves surged skyward, turning the place into a vast marsh that engulfed the ruins. The collapsed courtyard walls were submerged, and the rubble vanished from sight.
The Nine Heavens of the Rain Path was a large-scale divine ability, difficult for one person to use alone. Many people had to join forces to activate it, and its power was astonishing!
In particular, legend had it that the final strike of the Nine Heavens of the Rain Path was a taboo divine ability that involved a deity!
The curtain of light blazed as a colossal lotus blossomed, shielding the Rain Clan while also serving as an attack. When its petals opened, a force of new life burst through the sky and struck at Lei Chong.
Beside him, Shi Hao frowned. For him as he was now, such might was somewhat shocking, forcing him to put on the Indestructible Golden Body.
"This is the Nine Heavens of the Rain Path?" Lei Chong sneered instead.
Playing with water in front of him-wasn't that courting death?
Rumble!
Lei Chong pointed a finger at the sky. A vortex appeared overhead, and a thick bolt of lightning fell, striking the colossal lotus.
Crack!
The colossal lotus shattered, and arcs of lightning scattered along the water. Everyone around the marsh was struck by the lightning.
They screamed as they were sent flying backward, tendrils of black smoke rising from their bodies.
They did not die. If the lotus had not borne the brunt of the lightning, that single bolt would have killed them long ago.
"This is bad. He's too strong. Use the final heaven at once." They exchanged glances and immediately made their decision.
Hum!
Streaks of multicolored light filled the sky as a colossal lotus descended.
It was only an enormous flower bud and had not fully bloomed.
Though the flower was half withered, dissolving into wisps of rain and mist, the haze pouring from its center grew ever more brilliant and terrifying. Was that thin smoke formed from a river of stars?
Stars revolved, and the sun and moon flickered, an utterly bizarre sight. Even more astonishing, a faint figure appeared, sitting cross-legged amid the haze and stars.
"Hmm, there's something strange about this after all." Lei Chong did not panic. He had expected it and knew the Rain God would descend.
"Heaven has shown us mercy! The Rain God isn't dead, he's really still alive!" the Rain Clan shouted.
"Hahaha, he really is alive! Our ancestor the Rain God is still there. We may be separated by endless time and space, but he's still in this world."
The Rain Clan went mad, crying and shouting in a way that made people's skin crawl. The entire clan was like this!
"Hmph!" Lei Chong snorted coldly. Black clouds churned high overhead, and a thick bolt of lightning fell, striking the illusory figure in midair.
He had already seen a so-called illusory deity in the sea.
Boom!
Most of the haze dispersed, revealing an imposing figure seated cross-legged in the void, eyes closed. He was solemn and sacred, and people could not help wanting to submit and kowtow.
Hum!
The seated figure seemed about to move. He tried to open his eyes, but failed after several attempts.
Even so, as his body swayed, a startling might erupted, shaking all directions and making the void tremble.
Crack!
Lei Chong opened his mouth and gave a soft shout. Several arcs of lightning poured out, forming a giant Suanni that raised both arms and struck at the illusory figure.
A giant net of lightning formed in the Suanni's hands.
Shi Hao, who had been standing still, saw the Suanni in the sky, and his eyes suddenly flashed. This was the lightning-control method he had hoped for.
Though he had mastered the Suanni Technique, his use of it was far less practiced than Lei Chong's. He could not wield it so effortlessly.
The giant net of lightning enveloped the Rain God's illusory figure, seeking to refine him completely within it.
Bang!
The Rain God's illusory figure raised his palm and collided with the lightning. The two silently engulfed each other, then exploded violently, the sound shaking the heavens.
Crack!
The giant net of lightning rapidly disintegrated, and the Rain God's illusory figure shattered into pieces.
Pop!
A soft sound rang out. The half-withered lotus was completely obliterated, leaving nothing behind. The Rain God's illusory figure, seated cross-legged in the void, was ultimately unable to hold itself together and vanished completely as well.
Pfft!
Several figures were sent flying backward. They were the ones who had unleashed the Nine Heavens of the Rain Path, and the battle had caught them in its wake. They could not withstand such might.
Boom!
Sacred radiance bloomed in the deepest part of the Rain Clan grounds. An ancient temple stood there, and inside its hall was a small altar. When it opened, a divine decree appeared.
Golden rain of light filled the sky, dazzling and brilliant, spreading a vast, overwhelming presence that shook people to the core.
Not only was the entire Rain Clan shaken, but so was every part of the imperial capital. Everyone felt fear in their hearts, their legs trembling and knees growing weak as they wanted to kneel.
Such was the pressure of the entire decree, far beyond what a single corner could match.
Whoosh!
A figure appeared. It was Lei Chong's true body, rushing into the deepest part of Rain Manor to stand beneath the decree.
His spirit body and true body were close enough to sense each other.
After learning what the divine decree could do, Lei Chong's true body had hurried over.
Hum!
Lei Chong's spirit body turned into a rain of light and returned to his body.
At the same time, Little Pagoda glowed among Shi Hao's hair and swept him into the air, carrying him into the deepest part of the Rain Clan grounds as well.
Two corners were already missing from the divine decree.
The decree was damaged and lacked the might of a complete one.
Whoosh!
Lei Chong took out a bronze lamp and blew a breath toward the sky. Runes in the wick turned into flames, enveloping the decree high overhead.
The decree emitted golden light, blocking the flames of the Divine Illumination Lamp.
Crunch!
Suddenly, a chewing sound came from among Shi Hao's hair. The decree in the sky dimmed, clearly having lost another corner.
After losing another corner, the decree's light grew dimmer. Now that the flames were scorching it, it seemed unable to hold out.
Whoosh!
The decree suddenly emitted a burst of light, driving back the surrounding flames.
After emitting that light, the decree visibly dimmed.
Whoosh!
Lei Chong reached up into the sky and seized a corner of the decree.
There were four pieces of the decree within it. They glowed in his palm, humming and trembling as they sent out fluctuations, trying to break free of Lei Chong's hand.
Crack!
Lightning flickered in Lei Chong's palm, striking the pieces of the decree.
Their surfaces blackened, and their trembling visibly weakened.
He pointed several fingers at the pieces of the decree, sealing them completely.
Beside Lei Chong, Shi Hao and Little Pagoda both made their moves, fighting for the decree high overhead and seizing the power within it.
Hum!
In just a moment, half the decree was gone. The remainder trembled violently and rushed toward the temple ahead.
Clearly, some power was intervening, summoning the rest of the decree over.
Several fragments even flew up and landed on a divine statue in the ancient temple.
Boom!
Lei Chong swung his palm, smashing the ancient temple into ruins.
The divine statue shook violently and absorbed several fragments of the decree. The light around it grew ever more intense, finally coalescing into an illusory figure.
The figure was none other than the Rain God's illusory form, as if he had fully come back to life.
"It's the Rain God! The Rain God has manifested through the divine statue and will protect our Rain Clan!" The Rain Clan was overjoyed, crying and laughing there.