160: Chapter 160 First Appearance in the Domain

As Zhang Wen walked to the entrance of the training ground, the System's mechanical voice rang in his mind, carrying a slight tremor of data fluctuation:

【Detected that the complete 'Shattered Archipelago Map' has been unlocked, triggering additional information: The core area of the Atlantis ruins contains 'Spacetime Turbulence', which stabilizes briefly at noon every Wednesday. It is possible to enter 'Starfall Hall' — which contains ancient Thunder Element Legacy fragments.】

His footsteps paused, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the Dragon-patterned token. Starfall Hall? Thunder Element Legacy?

This map exchange was incredibly worth it; he didn't feel a shred of pain from spending the points, but rather felt like he had picked up a huge bargain.

On the stone floor of the training ground, Lu Yan was being chased by Su Qing around a wooden post, the sword wind of the rusty sword making his clothes flutter wildly.

"Sister Su Qing, it was just half a piece of osmanthus cake, wasn't it? Is it really necessary to go all out?"

Lu Yan shouted while dodging, his bronze-colored skin shimmering with the Vajra Body, so he wasn't afraid of being grazed by the sword wind.

"If you snatch my things again, next time I'll chop your wrist directly."

Su Qing retracted her sword and stood still, the crimson patterns on the rusty sword flashing. "Zhang Wen is here, perfect. Let's try the new grouping."

Murong Wu had already stood in the center of the venue at some point, her fingertips brushing across the Void Realm, and pale blue Star Orbit patterns emerged on the ground. "My team chooses Ye Chen, Chu Yao, and Ling Feng."

Her gaze fell on Zhang Wen, a hint of Battle Intent in her starry eyes. "Your team is Lu Yan, Su Qing, and Xiao Zhan?"

"Exactly what I want."

Zhang Wen raised his hand and summoned the sky-splitting startling thunder spear. The moment the Lightning Radiance on the spear tip touched the ground, a spiritual energy barrier automatically rose around the training ground — this was the 'Live Combat Barrier' specially prepared for them by the Dragon Country, capable of withstanding full-force exchanges in the Domain Realm.

【Detected that a team battle is about to begin, triggering a temporary task: Reach 100% win rate for the first cooperation, reward team tacit understanding +5%, points +10000.】

Zhang Wen's eyes moved, and just as he wanted to remind his teammates, Xiao Zhan had already roared and charged out, the red light of his Overlord Body rising like flames. "Murong Wu, I didn't beat you last time, today is a perfect time to see if your Star Orbit is tough enough!"

"Star Orbit · Heavenly Pivot Bind."

Murong Wu flicked her fingertips, and two star chains shot out like snakes, precisely wrapping around Xiao Zhan's ankles.

She was clearly prepared for Xiao Zhan's brute force, as unloading runes flowed on the star chains, actually slowing his momentum by half.

"Ye Chen, left flank," Murong Wu ordered coldly.

Black mist instantly permeated the area, and Ye Chen's figure disappeared into it. A translucent sword shadow silently stabbed toward the back of Lu Yan's heart — he had chosen the seemingly most 'simple-minded' Breakthrough point in the team.

"Trying to sneak attack me?"

Lu Yan chuckled, turned around abruptly, and slammed his chest into the sword shadow.

With a crisp 'ding', the sword shadow was deflected by the Vajra Body, and Lu Yan took the opportunity to punch toward the black mist. The fist wind tore through the air, forcing Ye Chen to reveal his figure.

"Su Qing, cover the rear."

Zhang Wen's voice rang out simultaneously, and the sky-splitting startling thunder spear swept out a lightning arc, splitting the vines Chu Yao had tangled over into charred fragments.

"Lu Yan, protect the left flank. Xiao Zhan, don't charge blindly, use the vibration force of the Overlord Body to break the star chains!"

Su Qing had already understood, twirling the rusty sword to create three sword flowers. The crimson light formed a triangular barrier, blocking the Wind Blade that Ling Feng had attacked from the right side.

Her Nine-Palace Copper Coins were hidden in her sleeves, ready to support at any time — this was exactly what Zhang Wen had specifically warned her about after reading the System data; although Ling Feng's speed was fast, he feared close-quarters combat.

【Team cooperation: 37%... 41%...】 The numbers on the System panel were jumping slowly.

Hearing Zhang Wen's reminder, Xiao Zhan suddenly stomped his feet hard, and the vibration force of the Overlord Body was transmitted back along the star chains.

Murong Wu's expression changed slightly, and the star chains instantly tightened, with most of the runes dimming. "Interesting." She pinched the spell faster with her fingertips, and more stars appeared in the sky. "Star Orbit · Meteor Shower!"

Countless Starlight Rays fell like a rain of arrows, covering the entire barrier.

Zhang Wen's eyes focused, and the lightning scar on his left arm lit up. "Domain · Nine Heavens Thunder Prison!"

Violent Lightning Radiance erupted suddenly, forming a lightning Domain with a diameter of ten zhang above their own camp. As soon as the Starlight Rays broke into the lightning Domain, they were automatically marked — 【Divine Thought Locking】 triggered!

Immediately following, the effect of Myriad Laws Inducing Thunder appeared. Each Starlight Ray was like a lightning rod, actually actively attracting the Tribulation Thunder in the lightning Domain to strike down. The Starlight Rays collided with the Lightning Radiance, exploding into spots of light in mid-air.

"This is... your Domain?"

Murong Wu's pupils constricted. She could feel that her Starlight Rays were like living targets in the lightning Domain; not only was their power weakened, but they also became tools for the opponent to borrow power.

"Taste this." Zhang Wen did not stop, and the sky-splitting startling thunder spear suddenly pointed at Ye Chen. "Instant Prison Thunder Sound Spear · First Form: Thunder Execution!"

The spear tip erupted with blinding white light, and a lightning spear condensed to the extreme broke through the air, its speed exceeding the speed of sound, carrying a sharp sonic boom.

This was the power of the SSS-grade Cultivation Technique. The true intent of annihilation and barrier-breaking was entwined on the lightning spear. As soon as Ye Chen's black mist defense made contact, it dissipated like melting snow.

"Pfft!" Ye Chen was grazed on the shoulder by the lightning spear. The black mist thinned by more than half instantly. As he stumbled back, a trace of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

【Team cooperation: 50%! Temporary task complete, reward issued.】

Zhang Wen was overjoyed and wanted to press the attack, but saw Chu Yao suddenly throw out a large area of vines, not attacking them, but wrapping around Murong Wu's team. "Retreat!"

Murong Wu understood, retracted her fingertips, and the Star Orbit quickly dissipated. "That's all for today." She took a deep look at Zhang Wen. "Your strength, how have you become stronger again?"

Xiao Zhan was still shouting that he hadn't fought enough, but was pulled back by Lu Yan. "Brother Xiao, Zhang Wen said to quit while we're ahead. We have to save our energy to practice cooperation."

Zhang Wen retracted his spear and stood still, and the lightning Domain slowly dissipated.

He could feel that after the battle just now, the tacit understanding between teammates had indeed deepened somewhat — Su Qing's defense could always be stuck at the most critical node, and Lu Yan's Vajra Body was no longer blindly resisting, but consciously protecting the flanks.

【Detected that the first cooperation met the standard, unlocking the prerequisite for the 'Fusion - Heaven-Supporting' Fusion skill: Need to conduct at least ten live combat drills with teammates and comprehend 'Qi Pulse Connection'.】

Just as the System prompt finished, Su Qing walked over, the red light on the rusty sword reflecting in her eyes. "Can your lightning Domain induce our spiritual energy? Just now I felt the Crimson Fire in the rusty sword being induced, and I almost could unleash 'Burning Heaven'."

Zhang Wen's heart moved. Myriad Laws Inducing Thunder could not only induce the opponent's energy, but could it also stimulate the power of teammates?

The potential of this Domain was even greater than he had imagined.

"Continue tomorrow." Zhang Wen looked at everyone, his gaze sweeping over the timer monument in the corner of the training ground — there were eighty-seven days left until the global league.

The night grew darker, and Zhang Wen sat alone at the edge of the barrier, flipping through the 'thunder source crystal core' in the System mall. The fist-sized crystal emitted a purple-gold light, and the price tag was followed by a long string of zeros: 1000000 points.

"Looks like I have to do more tasks." He whispered to himself, tapping on the crystal core icon with his fingertips. "Let's set a small goal first: save up enough points to upgrade the Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder to the Myriad Phenomena Return to Ruin Thunder."

In the dormitory building in the distance, Chu Yao was whispering a report to a water mirror: "His lightning Domain has four characteristics, and the annihilation and barrier-breaking pose the greatest threat to us."

A hoarse voice came from the water mirror: "At all costs, you must find out. In addition, the Onmyōryō of the Sakura Country is also looking for the Legacy there."

Chu Yao turned off the water mirror, and the vines on her fingertips trembled slightly. She looked toward the direction of the training ground, where faint Lightning Radiance still remained — Zhang Wen, how many secrets are you hiding?