255: Chapter 255 Bottleneck

Torrential rain poured down.

Above the Qianjiao Cliff Water Mansion, dark clouds like ink rolled relentlessly.

Streaks of purple-gold thunder crashed down from the Nine Heavens, yet they were no ordinary heavenly thunder—as each bolt fell, it carried a faint, indistinct "Dao Charm," as if heaven and earth themselves were applauding something.

Deep within the Water Mansion, inside a quiet room.

Gao De sat cross-legged atop a Mysterious Ice Jade Couch, the Purple Gold Glazed Thunder Flame around him no longer burning but—hovering.

Thousands of hair-thin bolts of lightning surged from his body, yet they did not dissipate; instead, they hovered quietly within three feet of him, like thousands of docile little snakes slowly wandering.

They did not harm him.

No, it should be said—

They were his to begin with.

Outside the window, the final bolt of thunder struck.

Gao De opened his eyes.

In that instant, two flashes of purple-gold light vanished within the depths of his pupils.

"The second wisp," he whispered.

He raised his hand.

This time, there was no movement.

Only a single thought.

Within the quiet room, the thousands of hovering lightning bolts suddenly condensed, transforming into a three-foot-long Purple Gold Lightning Dragon that slowly circled him once before dissipating like smoke.

"The Dao of Thunder: the first wisp is 'Fusion'—merging with the thunder, becoming an Incarnation of the lightning," he muttered to himself. "The second wisp is 'Birth'—no need to borrow the thunder of heaven and earth; I myself am the source of the thunder."

He stood up and stretched his limbs.

His bones crackled, and purple-gold lightning flowed freely through the Meridians in his body, smoother and more powerful than a month ago.

"Time to test the results."

He walked out of the quiet room.

Outside the door, Ao Xue was still standing guard. Seeing him come out, a flash of surprise crossed her blood-red eyes.

"Great King, your aura..."

"It has changed a bit," Gao De nodded. "The second wisp is complete."

Ao Xue was stunned for a moment, then a rare smile appeared on her face. "Congratulations, Great King."

Gao De waved his hand. "The third wisp is the key."

He paused and looked toward the meeting hall. "Where are Mysterious Turtle and the others?"

"They are all here," Ao Xue said. "During the seven days of your closed-door Cultivation, there was no movement from the Heavenly Demon Cult. But Mysterious Turtle said that scouts from the outskirts of the Bewitching Ghost Swamp reported that black Qi occasionally shoots into the sky from where the Cult Master is in seclusion, accompanied by the sound of dragon roars."

"He is refining the Evil Dragon Power," Gao De's eyes narrowed slightly. "His speed is not slow."

Most of the Evil Dragon Power that had entered his body back then had been forced out by Bai Ze, but he had also taken the opportunity to absorb a portion, storing it within his body.

He stepped toward the meeting hall.

Ao Xue followed behind him and suddenly asked, "Great King, what is the third wisp meant to comprehend?"

Gao De's footsteps paused.

"I don't know," he said.

Ao Xue was taken aback.

Gao De did not look back, but continued walking forward. "The first wisp, 'Fusion', took three days to comprehend. The second wisp, 'Birth', took seven days. The third wisp... I have been contemplating it for half a month and have no clue."

"What exactly is the third wisp of the Dao of Thunder?"

"I don't know."

He pushed open the door to the meeting hall.

---

Inside the meeting hall, Mysterious Turtle, Dragon Peach, Turtle Three Thousand, Green Edge, Iron Pincer, and others were already waiting.

Seeing Gao De enter, everyone rose together.

Gao De waved his hand, signaling them to sit.

"How is the situation?"

Mysterious Turtle stood up to report: "Reporting to the Cliff Master, the Heavenly Demon Cult has made no moves in the past half-month. Shadowy Evil and Poison Dove are in seclusion due to heavy injuries, and the Holy Infant Guard has lost over half its numbers, with the survivors cowering deep within the Bewitching Ghost Swamp, not daring to come out."

"What about the Cult Master's side?"

"Scouts report that black Qi shoots into the sky every three days from the Cult Master's seclusion spot, accompanied by dragon roars. The last time was three days ago." Mysterious Turtle's expression was grave. "That black Qi was thicker than any time before, and the dragon roar was longer... I suspect he may be about to emerge from seclusion."

Gao De remained silent for a moment.

"How long?"

"Based on this trend, at least one month, at most three," Mysterious Turtle said. "After all, his advancement was interrupted by Bai Ze, and he only absorbed thirty percent of the Evil Dragon Power. He still needs time to fully refine it and use it for a Breakthrough."

"One month..." Gao De whispered.

One month.

Within one month, he had to comprehend the third wisp of the Dao of Thunder.

Otherwise, the scene at the Gui Xu Eye from that day would surely repeat itself.

Only this time, Bai Ze might not necessarily intervene again.

"Mysterious Turtle, continue monitoring. Report any unusual movement immediately."

"Yes!"

Gao De stood up and walked to the door of the meeting hall, looking out at the vast, misty Lake.

"One month," he murmured. "Is it enough?"

---

That night.

Gao De sat alone atop the summit of the Water Mansion.

This was the highest point of Qianjiao Cliff, offering a panoramic view of the entire water region.

Moonlight like water spilled across the Lake.

He looked up at the moon.

That full moon was exactly the same as when he had looked up from the bottom of the Lake years ago.

Only he was no longer the fish of those years.

"The Dao of Thunder..." he whispered.

The first wisp, "Fusion," was comprehending "Thunder is Me."

That day, sitting at the edge of the Gui Xu Eye, feeling the lingering aura of that Evil Dragon, he suddenly understood—the so-called power of the Great Dao is not an external force, but one's own self.

Thunder was his Bloodline to begin with.

He didn't need to "borrow" it; he only needed to "recognize" it.

To recognize that he himself was the thunder.

The second wisp, "Birth," was comprehending "I am Thunder."

That day, as torrential rain poured down and he watched the rolling dark clouds, he suddenly understood—since I am thunder, why would I need to borrow the thunder of heaven and earth?

I myself am the source of thunder.

Wherever my thoughts go, thunder is born of itself.

Then what about the third wisp?

If the first wisp is "Fusion" and the second is "Birth"—

What should the third wisp be?

"Could it be... Destruction?"

He frowned.

The Power of Thunder is supremely yang and rigid, naturally centered on Slaughter and destruction. If it were "Destruction," it would indeed be logical.

But he vaguely felt something was wrong.

The Dao of Thunder is more than just destruction.

It also possesses vitality.

The first clap of thunder in spring awakens all things.

The thunder of a Heavenly Tribulation is both destruction and tempering—those who survive the Heavenly Tribulation receive the recognition of heaven and earth, and their Bloodline undergoes a transformation.

Destruction and Rebirth are two sides of the same coin for thunder.

"Could the third wisp be 'Rebirth'?" he murmured.

But what is Rebirth?

He looked down at his hands.

The purple-gold glazed lightning flowed in his palms, as docile as a pet.

With a thought, the lightning turned into a small snake, wandering around his wrist.

With another thought, the small snake turned into a lotus flower, its petals blooming layer by layer.

With another thought, the lotus collapsed, turning into thousands of points of light that dissipated into the night sky.

"Birth and destruction governed by the heart," he said softly. "But this is only the application of a Divine Ability, not the power of the Great Dao."

He fell into deep thought.

---

For ten consecutive days.

Gao De did not step out, sitting atop the Water Mansion summit, contemplating day and night.

By day he watched the clouds roll and unroll; by night he observed the stars shift and turn.

Occasionally, thunder would streak across the sky, and he would focus his mind to sense it, trying to capture that trace of the mysterious "Dao Charm."

But he was always just a bit short.

The night of the eleventh day.

Gao De still sat atop the Water Mansion summit, staring blankly at the night sky.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him.

He did not look back.

Ao Xue walked to his side and sat down beside him.

The two were silent for a long time.

After a long while, Ao Xue spoke: "Great King, something is on your mind."

Gao De did not deny it.

"The third wisp is stuck," he said. "Ten days, and no progress at all."

Ao Xue fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Great King, do you still remember the first time you triggered a Heavenly Tribulation?"

Gao De was startled.

The first time he triggered a Heavenly Tribulation?

That was when he underwent his Dragon Transformation.

That day, dark clouds pressed down, the Lightning Tribulation descended, and he had a narrow escape from death, nearly being charred to a crisp.

"I remember," he said. "I almost died."

Ao Xue asked, "Then what were you thinking at that time?"

Gao De thought for a moment.

"I wanted to live," he said. "I only wanted to live."

Ao Xue nodded.

"And now?"

Gao De was stunned.

Now?

What was he thinking about now?

Thinking about the Dao of Thunder.

Thinking about the third wisp.

Thinking about the decisive battle with the Heavenly Demon Cult Master in one month.

Thinking about a Breakthrough to the fifth rank.

Thinking—

"You are thinking too much," Ao Xue said.

Gao De turned to look at her, somewhat surprised by her words.

Ao Xue's blood-red eyes were calm as she gazed at the night sky.

"When I, a Blood Dragon, hadn't yet had my Bloodline Awakening, I was also stuck," she said. "Back then, I thought I wasn't strong enough and Cultivated with all my might, but instead, the more I Cultivated, the more I regressed."

"Later, I stopped Cultivating and went to kill a Yao Beast, having a hearty fight, and I achieved a Breakthrough when I woke up."

She paused.

"This thing called the Great Dao, I cannot fathom it."

"But I know that the more you try to grasp it, the faster it runs."

Gao De remained silent.

After a long while, he suddenly gave a small laugh.

"When did you learn to say such things?"

Ao Xue rolled her eyes at him. "I learned it from you."

Gao De shook his head with a smile.

Then, he stood up.

"Let's go."

Ao Xue was startled. "Where to?"

In Gao De's eyes, the purple-gold glazed light flickered slightly.

"To find a Yao Beast and have a hearty fight."

---

Half an hour later.

Deep within the Yunmeng Great Marsh, at an unnamed swamp.

A Fourth Rank Early Stage Black Water Profound Serpent was coiled in the center of the swamp, breathing out poisonous mist.

It was the overlord of this swamp; within a thousand miles, no one dared to provoke it.

Tonight, it was enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Then—

A streak of purple-gold lightning fell from the sky!

"Boom—!!!"

Before the Black Water Profound Serpent could react, it was pinned into the mud by a claw!

It was furious, struggling and spewing poisonous mist wildly!

But that purple-gold lightning gave it no chance at all.

One punch.

Two punches.

Three punches.

Each punch carried the pure Power of Thunder, without any flashiness or technique—just smashing!

The Black Water Profound Serpent screamed and counterattacked frantically, its poison fangs biting into that figure, only to be directly shattered by the purple-gold glazed lightning!

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The Black Water Profound Serpent lay on the ground dying, its eyes filled with terror.

That purple-gold lightning stood before it, covered in blood—some of it the serpent's, some of it his own.

But he was smiling.

"Exhilarating!"

Gao De threw his head back and roared.

The lightning flames around him surged uncontrollably!

Those lightning flames were no longer just purple-gold and glazed, but—

Half purple-gold, half pitch-black!

The pitch-black half carried an aura of pure destruction!

Ao Xue watched this from afar, her pupils shrinking suddenly.

"That is..."

Gao De looked down at the lightning flames in his palm.

Purple-gold and pitch-black intertwined and flowed.

"Destruction... so you were here."

He looked up at the night sky.

In that instant, he understood.

The third wisp of the Dao of Thunder—

Was not "Birth," nor "Destruction."

But "Slaughter."

Pure, untainted by any stray thoughts, destroying solely for the sake of destruction—

The power of Slaughter.

He had practiced thunder for many years, always in the name of "breaking evil," "slaying demons," and "protecting the Dao."

But thunder itself has no good or evil.

It is simply power.

It can Break Evil, and it can also kill people.

It can Slay Demons, and it can also Slaughter all living beings.

It is simply—Slaughter.

"The third wisp," he whispered.

The lightning flames, intertwined with purple-gold and pitch-black, burned quietly around him.

Neither violent nor gentle.

Simply existing.

Simply Slaughter.

---

Dawn.

Qianjiao Cliff Water Mansion.

Gao De sat in the quiet room, the lightning flames around him having returned to their purple-gold glazed color.

But that pitch-blackness had not disappeared.

It had merely delved into the depths.

"Three wisps of Great Dao power," he murmured. "Fusion, Birth, Slaughter."

"The first wisp: merging with the thunder."

"The second wisp: being the source of thunder oneself."

"The third wisp: thunder is Slaughter."

He raised his hand, and a wisp of lightning emerged in his palm.

That lightning was different from before.

It had no aura.

Not blazing, not violent, not docile.

Simply—existing.

But if anyone dared to touch it, they would instantly understand—

That was pure destruction.

"Three wisps," he said softly. "A fifty percent chance."

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the morning sun was rising, spilling across the Lake.

In the distance, Mysterious Turtle hurried over with a grave expression.

"Cliff Master!" he sent a voice transmission through the door. "Urgent report from the Bewitching Ghost Swamp—"

Gao De pushed open the door.

"Speak."

Mysterious Turtle took a deep breath.

"The Heavenly Demon Cult Master has emerged from seclusion."