103: Chapter 13 Thunder Pool Secret Realm, Elder Lie's Guidance!
Leaving Master Hong's small courtyard, Zhou Heng did not delay for a moment.
Gripping the warm Thunder Pool Access Token in his hand, he followed the faint guidance coming from the token,
and walked towards the depths of Donghuang Military University, towards the Secret Realm Area classified as a forbidden zone.
The deeper he went, the more secluded the environment became, and the yuan in the air became richer and... more restless.
Vaguely, low rumbles of thunder could be heard from the distance.
Along the way, he passed through several strictly guarded checkpoints, all stationed by guards with powerful auras.
Zhou Heng showed his Thunder Pool Access Token, and after the guards checked it without error,
they saw his face, the "Newbie King" who was now known to everyone in Donghuang,
and all respectfully let him pass, their eyes carrying a hint of curiosity and admiration.
"It seems I really am a celebrity now," Zhou Heng muttered to himself, but on the surface, he remained calm and continued forward.
Finally, he arrived at the entrance of a valley shrouded by a massive formation.
An ancient stone palace stood at the valley entrance, and in front of the palace,
an old man wearing gray hemp clothes, with white hair and beard and an ancient face, sat cross-legged on a prayer mat with his eyes closed.
No powerful aura emanated from the old man, as if he were an ordinary old man next door, but Zhou Heng's Omniscient Eye sent a strong warning!
[Warning! Immeasurable energy source detected! Extremely dangerous!]
[Target: Elder Lie (Secret Realm Guardian)]
[Realm: Divine General Realm! ???]
[Status: Dormant, fused with the surrounding environment]
[Note: Extremely dangerous! Do not peer! Do not provoke!]
Zhou Heng's heart tightened, and he quickly restrained all his aura,
stepping forward a few paces and bowing respectfully: "Student Zhou Heng, by order of Master Hong, has come with the Thunder Pool Access Token to cultivate. Please forgive me for disturbing your peaceful cultivation, Senior."
The old man slowly opened his eyes, which seemed to contain endless thunder and see through the affairs of the world.
His gaze fell on Zhou Heng, and Zhou Heng immediately felt as if he were being seen through completely,
even the Purple Firmament Thunder Seed in his sea of consciousness trembled slightly.
"Little Hong has certainly taken a good disciple." Elder Lie's voice was flat, yet it carried a strange penetrating power,
echoing directly in Zhou Heng's mind, "Spirit Nurturing First Star, solid foundation, pure thunder yuan, and it even contains a hint of... a peculiar purple intent. Not bad."
Zhou Heng's heart shook; Elder Lie's eyesight was too sharp!
He could even vaguely sense the Purple Firmament Thunder Seed?
"Senior overpraises me." Zhou Heng did not dare to be negligent and presented the Thunder Pool Access Token with both hands.
Elder Lie's gaze swept over the token and he nodded: "The token is correct. Go in. The core of the Thunder Pool is extraordinary; act according to your ability and do not be greedy for merit. The period is seven days; I will naturally send you out when the time comes."
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior! This student will keep it in mind!" Zhou Heng bowed again.
Elder Lie said no more, only giving a light wave of his hand.
Buzz—!
The formation light screen at the valley entrance rippled, revealing a passage only wide enough for one person to pass through.
An even purer and more violent thunder aura rushed towards him from within!
Zhou Heng took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The scene before his eyes suddenly opened up!
The interior of the valley was not a cave as imagined, but a vast space,
the sky was an eternal dark purple thundercloud, with countless electric snakes weaving and roaring within the clouds!
In the center of the valley was an incredibly massive pool, and inside the pool was not water, but a "Thunder Pool" completely condensed from liquid silver thunder!
On the surface of the Thunder Pool, lightning jumped, making terrifying sizzling sounds!
The concentration of thunder yuan filling the air was more than a hundred times stronger than the high-level thunder room outside!
There were even faint ripples of profound law fluctuations!
Just standing by the pool, Zhou Heng felt a stinging pain in his skin, and his hair stood on end!
But the Myriad Tribulations Thunder Prison Body and the Annihilation Wind and Thunder Divine Seal within his body began to operate at high speed spontaneously, conveying feelings of extreme longing!
"So this is the Thunder Pool core... it's too terrifying!" Zhou Heng's eyes were burning with intensity.
He didn't jump in immediately, but instead sat cross-legged by the pool, operating Thunder Breathing to slowly adapt to this terrifying environmental pressure.
Just then, Elder Lie's flat voice once again sounded directly in his mind:
"Kid, the body tempering technique you practice follows a fierce and overbearing path, pursuing the ultimate in destruction and rebirth."
"The Nirvana Divine Thunder in this Thunder Pool core contains the true meaning of destruction, which fits your path perfectly. But remember, after destruction comes rebirth."
"Blindly pursuing destruction will eventually lead to self-destruction. Realizing the mystery of the transition between life and death within it will benefit both your body tempering technique and that Purple Firmament Thunder Seed."
Zhou Heng's whole body shook! Elder Lie's words were like a sudden enlightenment, pointing directly to the core of his cultivation!
"After destruction comes rebirth... the transition between life and death..." he murmured to himself, a flash of realization crossing his eyes.
He had always focused on the destruction and tempering power of the Myriad Tribulations Thunder Prison Body, but had neglected the rebirth and creation that followed destruction!
And the Purple Firmament Thunder Seed itself seemed to contain a hint of creative vitality!
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior!" Zhou Heng expressed his sincere gratitude. This one sentence was of immeasurable value!
Elder Lie's voice did not sound again, as if it had never appeared.
Zhou Heng composed his mind, his gaze becoming incredibly determined.
He took off his shirt, revealing his lean and strong physique, and then stepped into the Thunder Pool one step at a time.
Sizzle—!
The moment his foot touched the silver thunder liquid, an unimaginable sharp pain struck!
It felt as if his entire being was about to be melted by this terrifying thunder!
But he gritted his teeth, and the Myriad Tribulations Thunder Prison Body operated at full power, guiding the violent Nirvana Divine Thunder into his body!
Destruction! The ultimate power of destruction ravaged his body, tearing through his meridians, flesh, and bones!
But this time, Zhou Heng did not merely endure passively; he actively sought to comprehend!
He guided strands of destructive thunder yuan to stimulate the Purple Firmament Thunder Seed!
Buzz!
The Purple Firmament Thunder Seed trembled slightly, releasing a faint wisp of purple vitality that merged into the destroyed tissue!
Destruction and rebirth formed a subtle cycle at this moment!
Although the power of rebirth was far weaker than destruction, it allowed Zhou Heng to see the direction!
He no longer hesitated and slowly submerged his entire body into the Thunder Pool!
Boom—!!!
Endless Nirvana Divine Thunder completely enveloped him!
Sharp pain surged like a tide, but his mind was immersed in the comprehension of the transition between life and death!
The Myriad Tribulations Thunder Prison Body operated at an unprecedented speed!
The third stage, "Tempering Meridians," was rapidly consolidated, and he began to charge towards the fourth stage, "Tempering Acupoints"!
His vitality became even more pure and condensed in the cycle of destruction and rebirth, advancing towards 300 Cal!
His mental energy became even more resilient under the baptism of thunder!
The runes of the Annihilation Thunder Domain condensed automatically in his sea of consciousness, becoming clearer and more profound!
He also gained new inspiration for the force-exertion techniques of the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Spear Art within the thunder!
Time quietly slipped away amidst the painful ordeal and the rapid improvement...
What Zhou Heng didn't know was that in front of the stone palace at the valley entrance, Elder Lie slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the Thunder Pool, a very faint hint of admiration flashing through his calm eyes.