27: Chapter 27 Thunder Swamp Alien - Purple Lightning Thundercloud Strike

Li Qingyue's footsteps had just moved—but her wrist was tightly gripped by a withered hand.

This hand was thin as a stick, yet it felt like an iron hoop, unmoving, with astonishing strength.

"Qingyue, wait!"

The old man's voice was deep as an ancient bell, every word sounding as if it had been ground between his teeth, heavy enough to make one gasp for air.

He stared at her, his gaze burning, almost searing into her eyes, burning through all her thoughts:

"This boy's fate is not something you can peer into, nor is it something you can approach. Listen to your Revered Master—do not pursue!"

"Revered Master..."

Li Qingyue's lips moved slightly.

The flicker of curiosity that had ignited in her eyes dimmed bit by bit under the old man's iron-heavy gaze, like a lamp wick soaked in water, slowly extinguishing.

She lowered her eyelashes, which trembled like butterfly wings, and whispered:

"Yes."

The voice was very light, so light it was almost inaudible.

Yet it suppressed a tumultuous sense of unwillingness.

This unwillingness was like a surging undercurrent, roaring beneath the calm water surface, boiling in the silence.

Only then did the old man slowly release her hand.

He slowly packed up his divination flags and carefully gathered the few Top-Grade Spirit Stones left by Chu Changsheng into his robes—the action was cautious, as if he were putting away hot branding irons, forbidden objects capable of burning everything to ash, or karmic fire that would scorch the soul at the slightest touch.

"Let's go,"

He sighed heavily.

The sigh was heavy, as if bearing a thousand mountains.

"Return to the Sword Sect first."

Li Qingyue said nothing more.

She silently helped the old man up.

When her fingertips touched her Revered Master's arm, she could feel the barely perceptible trembling caused by excessive exhaustion, like the final flickering of a candle in the wind.

The two walked out of the tavern.

They boarded the silently hovering silver flying boat—"Flowing Cloud".

The runes on the boat's hull lit up one by one, the light flowing like a reversed galaxy, like the Nine Heavens galaxy pouring down.

It then transformed into a streak of silver light, tearing through the sky and speeding toward the direction of the Nantian Sword Sect.

The wind whistled in her ears.

The mountains, rivers, and cities below retreated rapidly, like a flowing scroll, blurring into colorful patches and quickly dissolving into the horizon.

Li Qingyue stood by the railing.

Her white clothes were whipped by the fierce wind, flapping loudly like a battle flag in the wind, like a snow lotus blooming in the clouds.

She gazed at the gradually shrinking Nantian City beneath the sea of clouds—

In a certain street in the city, a certain figure grew larger and larger in her heart.

Larger and larger.

So large it filled her entire chest, so large it felt as if it were about to jump out of her throat.

Finally, she turned back and looked at the old man in the cabin, who was closing his eyes to regulate his breath:

"Revered Master, could it be just a coincidence that this person appeared in Nantian City? With such a fate... are we really just going to leave it alone?"

The old man slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes reflected the rapidly passing cloud shadows outside the porthole, deep and unfathomable.

This gaze was like an ancient, deep pool, bottomless and devoid of light.

"Qingyue," his voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against a rough stone surface, "it is not leaving it alone, but... not daring to interfere."

"Not daring to?"

Li Qingyue was slightly stunned.

This word would actually be uttered by her Revered Master.

Her Revered Master had spent his whole life divining, peeking into the secrets of heaven, exploring the Nine Heavens and the Yellow Springs, yet when had he ever said the words "not daring"?

"I used the 'Heavenly Mechanism Guide' to peer into his fate chart, and what I saw was not a hexagram, but a chaotic abyss."

The old man's fingertips unconsciously stroked the few Spirit Stones in his sleeve that still held residual warmth.

The Spirit Stones were warm and scorching, as if he could still feel that heart-palpitating, chaotic, and majestic aura of "fated connection," like touching a sleeping ancient Vicious Beast.

"The golden patterns are favored by destiny, the Evil Qi means disaster follows him, the lonely star dictates a life of solitude, yet he is entangled with threads of 'fated connection' that cannot be severed... Any one of these, if it fell upon an ordinary person, would be enough to determine their life and change their destiny."

He paused and looked at Li Qingyue, his eyes filled with unprecedented gravity—this gravity was like a mountain, pressing down until one could not breathe, like an ancient glacier covering the top:

"But in his fate chart, they collide, entangle, devour, and are reborn... That does not look like the fate of a person. It looks more like... a world fighting within his soul, fighting until the sun and moon lose their light, fighting until the mountains and rivers are shattered."

A chill ran up Li Qingyue's spine.

This coldness rose from her tailbone, shooting straight to her crown, making her shiver all over, as if even her blood had frozen.

"Revered Master, are you saying..."

"I said nothing."

The old man closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair, exhausted.

This exhaustion was like thousand-year-old snow, bottomless, like the eternal night shrouding everything:

"I only tell you, stay away from him."

"Such a fate can no longer be summarized by the words 'auspicious' or 'ominous'."

"Approaching him might be a great Opportunity, but it is more likely to be... the beginning of a great calamity, a disaster for all living beings."

The flying boat pierced through the clouds and fog.

Silence spread within the cabin, like the arrival of night, like ink dripping into clear water, spreading silently.

Li Qingyue turned around and looked again toward the direction of Nantian City, which was long since out of sight.

Her slender fingers slowly curled, gripping the railing.

Her knuckles turned white.

In her eyes—that dimmed flicker of flame, in a depth where no one could see, faintly, a glimmer ignited once more.

Like embers beneath ashes, reigniting when meeting the wind.

Chu Changsheng left Zuixian Tower and strolled toward the east of the city.

The long street was bustling and noisy.

The brief and bizarre interlude just now seemed like a pebble thrown into the water amidst the city's hustle and bustle—the ripples dissipated, leaving no trace, as if it had never happened.

He mingled with the crowd, listening to the vendors shouting on both sides, smelling the aroma wafting from the eateries, and the slight ripple in his heart caused by "the secrets of heaven cannot be leaked" also gradually calmed down, like a lake returning to stillness.

As he walked—

His footsteps slowly stopped.

He looked up.

A plaque with gold characters on a black background hung before his eyes—

Yuyao Pavilion.

The calligraphy was vigorous, the three big characters faintly revealing an aura of killing, completely out of place with the gentleness of the cosmetic shop and dessert shop on either side.

The characters were like swords, sharp and exposed, filled with murderous intent.

Chu Changsheng suddenly smiled.

A long-lost, almost youthful impulse surged into his heart for no reason, like a spring breeze brushing over a wasteland that had been silent for many years.

Wielding a sword across the world, riding a dragon and controlling the wind—

In which young Cultivator's dream has there not been such a scene?

He stepped forward.

Stepped inside.

A complex scent mixed with the stench of beasts, the bitter taste of Spiritual Plants, and a faint smell of blood and the spiritual light of runes rushed toward him.

This scent was intense, like a punch to the face, rushing straight into his nasal cavity, choking his throat.

There were three floors in the pavilion.

At a glance, the place was filled with iron cages.

The first floor mostly contained low-level Yao Beasts of the first and second tiers—Gale Wolves paced anxiously in their cages, their claws rubbing against the floor, making a harsh sound like iron scraping against bone; Green-Eyed Foxes curled up in the corners, their charming eyes scanning the newcomers vigilantly, their fur standing on end as if facing a great enemy.

The cages were all covered with talismans, the runes flowing, suppressing the ferocity and Yao power of the Yao Beasts like invisible shackles.

"What would you like to see, Senior?"

A gray-robed attendant nimbly approached, his eyes darting over Chu Changsheng—a shrewdness from years of observing people—and his smile became three parts warmer, like a fly seeing honey:

"We just received a batch of 'Spirit-Devouring Ants' from the Western Regions; raising them can help temper Magical Artifacts. There are also 'Moon-Companion Butterflies' from the Southern Border, whose wing powder has a soothing effect, most favored by Fairies..."

Chu Changsheng waved his hand.

Interrupting his endless introduction, as if brushing away a noisy mosquito by his ear.

"Is there anything," he paused, his gaze sweeping over the beasts in the cages, some listless, some anxious, the corners of his lips curling, the smile containing three parts playfulness and seven parts anticipation, "that is more imposing, can intimidate others, and preferably can serve as a mount?"

Before his voice had even faded—

A Top-Grade Spirit Stone was casually tossed over.

The Spirit Stone traced a brilliant arc in the air, like a meteor falling to the ground, like a bright moon falling.

The attendant scrambled to catch it.

The pure and surging Spiritual Qi upon touching it made him shiver, his eyes widening instantly, his tongue slightly tied:

"Se-Senior, please wait! This one... this one will go and fetch the manager immediately!"

He rushed toward the back hall, almost tumbling.

This appearance was like a rabbit chased by a vicious wolf, as if there was a raging fire behind him.

Not long after, a middle-aged man with two shiny handlebar mustaches, dressed in a brocade robe, walked out quickly to greet him.

Before he arrived, his voice reached first, filled with twelve parts of obsequiousness, like honey mixed with oil:

"A distinguished guest has arrived, apologies for not welcoming you sooner! I am Zhao San, the manager of this Yuyao Pavilion."

"I heard you are looking for a mount that is presentable, Senior?"

Chu Changsheng nodded lazily.

In this laziness, there was a casual indifference, like an emperor selecting a general.

A gleam flashed in Manager Zhao's eyes, and he bent his waist even lower, his waist like a bent willow, wishing he could bury his head in the ground:

"What a coincidence! It is truly a coincidence! Yesterday, we just received a rare item—a fifth-tier 'Purple Lightning Thunder Cloud Beast', an exotic species found only in the depths of the Western Regions' Thunder Marsh! It can travel ten thousand li a day and can control lightning; when it runs, wind and thunder follow it—that is what you call imposing! If you ride it out, I guarantee all the Cultivators in the city will stare wide-eyed!"

As he spoke, he stepped aside to lead the way:

"Senior, please go upstairs!"

The third floor was much quieter than the floors below.

The cages were also larger and stronger.

Every iron pillar was engraved with Restriction runes, flickering with a faint cold light, like the eyes of a poisonous snake.

The air was filled with a subtle sense of oppression, as if some behemoth was sleeping, and even its breath carried the scent of thunder.

In front of a giant refined iron cage at the very back, Manager Zhao stopped and pointed into the cage:

"Senior, take a look."

Chu Changsheng lifted his eyes to look.

In the cage—a giant beast was crouching.

Its entire body was covered in dark purple scales, the edges of the scales shimmering with a metallic cold light, sharp as a blade, as if cast from cold iron.

It looked like a Qilin, but it had a pair of folded fleshy wings on its back, and faint lightning patterns on the wing membranes; those patterns were profound, like heavenly talismans, like ancient incantations.

Even in its sleep—its body was still entwined with fine, snake-like purple electric light, crackling and popping, as if thousands of thunder snakes were weaving between the scales.

The electric light was like a living thing, moving between the scales, flickering on and off, pulsing like breathing.

Seeming to sense the gaze, the giant beast suddenly opened its eyes!

A pair of vertical pupils—were actually the color of pure plasma!

The color was blinding, like the most violent thunder in the depths of the thunder pool condensed into substance, like concentrated Heavenly Tribulation thunder from the Nine Heavens.

Violent, wild, unyielding, with no intention of being tamed, only an innate ferocity carved into its Bloodline!

"Roar—!!!"

It suddenly reared up!

Issuing a roar that shook the building!

The sound wave carried the power of thunder, like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting, shaking the entire Yuyao Pavilion until it trembled!

The beams creaked, roof tiles clattered to the ground, and dust fell like rain!

The runes on the cage flickered crazily, like a candle in the wind, barely locking the escaping electric arcs and pressure inside the cage, but already emitting an unbearable groan.

Manager Zhao's face turned pale, and he subconsciously took half a step back, explaining with a forced smile, his voice trembling:

"Please forgive me, Senior, this beast has not yet shed its wild nature and has already injured three of our best beast tamers in the pavilion, so it has not been properly tamed..."

Before his voice had even faded—

He caught a glimpse of a figure moving beside him out of the corner of his eye!

"Senior, no!"

Manager Zhao's exclamation stuck in his throat.

Stuck tight, unable to utter a single word.

Chu Changsheng had already stepped forward and pushed open the refined iron cage door, which was engraved with heavy Restrictions and weighed over a thousand jin, with one hand—

And walked inside.

"Clang."

The cage door closed casually behind him.

This muffled sound was like a funeral bell tolling, like the King of Hell closing the door.

Manager Zhao's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

It's over; this generous Senior is likely going to lose his life on the spot!

The pavilion is going to have another human life lawsuit!

The miserable state of those beast tamers is still vivid, with broken bones and shattered tendons, still lying on their beds groaning!

The Thunder Cloud Beast was completely enraged by this intrusion into its territory!

"Awoo—!!!"

Purple lightning exploded from its entire body!

Turning into countless dancing electric snakes, filling the entire iron cage!

The electric light was blinding, so bright one could not open their eyes, as bright as if thousands of suns were exploding at the same time!

The blinding thunder light completely engulfed Chu Changsheng's figure, leaving only a dazzling ball of light, like a flat boat submerged in a sea of thunder!

The violent pressure collapsed like a mountain, all crushing toward the tiny figure before it!

And his pressure was like a mountain, like a sea, like the collapse of heaven, like the fall of the eternal firmament!

The giant beast stamped its four hooves on the ground—

The entire iron cage shook violently!

The runes on the iron pillars flickered crazily, emitting an unbearable groan, as if they would shatter at any moment!

It had transformed into a streak of purple lightning tearing through the air, carrying the aura of destroying everything, carrying the force of ten thousand jun, carrying the rage of destroying heaven and earth, and pounced toward Chu Changsheng!

The speed was too fast to see clearly, too fast to even capture a lingering shadow, as fast as real lightning!

Its blood-basin mouth opened—

Thunder light condensed in its throat, like a purple sun!

Destruction—

Is imminent!