80: Fenglei Mountain Range

The Wind and Thunder Mountain Range is located on the edge of the Northern Region of Central State, stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles. The mountains are rugged and perpetually shrouded in violent thunder and hurricanes. Before truly stepping into the mountain range's confines, one could hear the distant muffled thunder and mournful wind howls. The air was thick with potent lightning energy and chaotic wind elements, making flight difficult even for ordinary Dou Kings.

Li Ao hovered atop an isolated Peak on the mountain range's periphery, gazing at the death zone where electric snakes danced wildly and wind blades whistled. According to the map from the Myriad Treasures Tower, the exotic treasure's radiance first appeared near the "Thunder Prison Valley" in the mountain range's core area.

He did not hesitate. A faint dark-gold luster appeared around him as he activated the remaining power of the Black Iron Hegemon Body to resist the pervasive wind pressure and the occasional small electric snake that darted toward him. With a movement of his body, he shot into the violent energy field like an arrow.

Upon entering the mountain range, the environment instantly worsened several times over! Black hurricanes roared like giant beasts, sweeping up millstone-sized rocks, and sharp wind blades were strong enough to slice through refined steel! The sky was covered in dark clouds, and silver snake-like lightning bolts continuously struck down, shattering the pitch-black mountain rocks!

Li Ao spread his Soul Power, rapidly advancing toward the Thunder Prison Valley while avoiding the most violent wind and thunder zones. His figure moved nimbly, weaving through gaps in the wind and lulls between lightning strikes. Occasionally, unavoidable wind blades struck him, but they only left a white mark on his dark-gold skin before dissipating.

The might of the Black Iron Hegemon Body was fully displayed, even while he was still recovering from severe injuries.

Along the way, he encountered many adventurers also searching for treasure. There were lone Dou Huangs and organized mercenary groups. When they met, most were wary and guarded, and bloody conflicts even erupted over the chance discovery of a rare lightning-attribute medicinal herb.

The cruelty of Central State was fully reflected in this mountain range.

Li Ao did not wish to cause trouble, so he avoided crowds and focused on traveling and searching. Relying on his keen perception of energy fluctuations, he managed to acquire several "Wind and Thunder Stones" containing pure lightning energy, thereby completing a basic mission for the Myriad Treasures Tower.

Three days later, he finally reached the edge of the Thunder Prison Valley marked on the map.

This was a massive basin. In the center of the basin was a dark, bottomless abyss. Above the abyss, the thunder clouds were densest, and lightning bolts as thick as barrels poured down like a waterfall, crashing into the abyss and generating deafening roars! The surrounding area of the basin was covered in jagged, strange rocks scorched black by the lightning.

The lightning energy gathered here had almost materialized. The free-floating electric arcs in the air made people's hair stand on end involuntarily.

Li Ao could sense that the strange fluctuation causing the celestial phenomenon originated deep within the Thunder Prison Valley!

However, quite a few people had already gathered on the periphery of the Thunder Prison Valley, clearly divided into several camps.

One side wore unified blue robes embroidered with lightning patterns on the sleeves; their aura was mostly sharp. The leading Elder's aura had reached the level of a Seven-Star Dou Huang, indicating they belonged to the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, a formidable force in the Northern Region.

The other side was a group of men in blood-colored attire, radiating Evil Qi—they were the Black Emperor Sect, the group Li Ao had previously clashed with!

Mo Ya was conspicuously present. Standing beside him was an Elder with a sinister aura and snake-like eyes, whose cultivation was actually that of an Eight-Star Dou Huang! He was clearly the leading expert of the Black Emperor Sect who had come this time.

Besides these two obviously strongest factions, there were also some scattered experts and small mercenary groups watching from afar, attempting to profit from the chaos.

Li Ao's arrival did not attract much attention; he deliberately restrained his aura and blended in with the Loose Cultivator crowd.

"Elder Ge Ye, this Thunder Prison Valley was discovered by my Wind and Thunder Pavilion first. What is the meaning of your Black Emperor Sect interfering?" the Seven-Star Dou Huang Elder of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion sternly shouted toward the Black Emperor Sect.

The sinister Elder named Ge Ye gave a chilling laugh: "Elder Bei, exotic treasures of heaven and earth are obtained by the destined. You claim the Wind and Thunder Pavilion discovered it first, so it belongs to you? What a joke! My Black Emperor Sect will definitely enter this Thunder Prison Valley today!"

Both sides were on the verge of conflict, and the atmosphere was tense.

Li Ao observed coolly, calculating in his heart. Forcing his way in was definitely impossible; his strength had not yet recovered enough to simultaneously fight two high-level Dou Huangs and the many experts under their command. He could only wait for the right moment.

Just then, from the depths of the Thunder Prison Valley, within the abyss, a pillar of seven-colored radiance suddenly erupted toward the sky! An even purer and more massive energy fluctuation swept out!

"The exotic treasure is about to emerge!"

Someone shouted, and the two previously confronting sides instantly moved!

"Attack! Seize the exotic treasure!" Ge Ye roared, and the members of the Black Emperor Sect, like a bloody torrent, rushed toward the abyss first!

"Stop them!" Elder Bei was not to be outdone, leading the Disciples of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion to meet the charge!

The two torrents instantly collided at the valley entrance. Dou Qi roared, energy exploded, and sounds of fighting and screaming immediately filled the area!

And those observing Loose Cultivators and small mercenary groups, like sharks smelling blood, rushed into the battle with red eyes, attempting to snatch a share amidst the chaos!

The scene completely spiraled out of control, and a chaotic battle erupted!

Li Ao's eyes narrowed. This was the moment!

He stepped on the Thunder Sound Steps, his figure like a phantom. He did not join the main battle but instead stealthily moved along the edge of the battlefield, using the jagged rocks for cover, heading silently toward the abyss.

His Soul Power was highly concentrated, precisely evading the chaotic attacks and rampant lightning bolts.

However, just as he was about to approach the edge of the abyss, a cold gaze locked onto him!

"Brat! It really is you! Stay right there for this young master!" Mo Ya's venomous voice rang out! He had not participated in the core fighting, having been searching the periphery, and had finally discovered Li Ao's tracks!

The Five-Star Dou Huang Elder beside him, who had been injured by the nether iron, showed a ferocious expression. Ignoring the lingering stiffness in his right arm, he gathered immense Dou Qi in his left hand, transforming it into a massive bloody claw that fiercely grabbed toward Li Ao's back!

"Seeking death!"

A cold light flashed in Li Ao's eyes, and he spun around abruptly! He did not use Dou Qi, but instead condensed the trace of the Annihilation Rule, which contained the Concept of "End," that he had just comprehended, onto his fingertip, and gently tapped the bloody giant claw!

The movement was graceful, without the slightest hint of aggression.

The fingertip met the giant claw.

There was no explosive collision of energy.

The imposing bloody giant claw, the moment it touched the fingertip, seemed to have all its meaning of "existence" instantly drained away. Its structure collapsed, its energy annihilated, and it silently vanished into the air!

Not only that, but that wisp of gray-black Annihilation Qi, like a maggot clinging to bone, instantly spread up the Elder's left arm through the Dou Qi connection!

"Ah! That damned thing again!" The Elder let out a scream of terror, and his left arm visibly withered and decayed at a speed visible to the naked eye! He was so scared his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, retreating frantically, daring not to approach Li Ao in the slightest!

Mo Ya watched dumbfounded, chills rising from his heart! This guy was even more sinister and terrifying than he was in the space wormhole!

Li Ao glanced at them coldly, ignoring them. His figure flickered, and he leaped into the lightning-ravaged abyss!

"Chase him! Don't let him get the exotic treasure!" Mo Ya shouted, both shocked and furious, at the other guards beside him. Several Dou Huang-level guards braced themselves and rushed into the abyss after him.

Inside the abyss, it was not dark but illuminated like day by countless lightning bolts. The further down he went, the denser and more violent the lightning became, powerful enough to strike down a Dou Huang!

Li Ao operated the Black Iron Hegemon Body to its limit. His dark-gold body floated in the sea of lightning, enduring the bombardment of lightning strikes! The power of the lightning invaded his body, bringing intense numbness and stinging pain, yet it also seemed to be tempering his damaged Physical Body. The fractured Meridians showed subtle signs of healing under the stimulation of the lightning!

"This lightning... actually has a Body Tempering effect?" Li Ao's heart stirred. He no longer blindly avoided it; instead, he actively guided some of the lightning power into his body, using its violent energy, combined with the Annihilation Rule, to forcibly scour and repair the hidden injuries within him!

This was a painful and perilous process, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

After descending about a thousand zhang, solid ground finally appeared below. It was a massive platform constructed of a certain kind of black crystal stone. In the center of the platform floated a human-head-sized mass of liquid that constantly shifted with seven-colored radiance! The liquid contained unimaginable colossal energy and vitality, and it was the source that had triggered the celestial phenomenon!

"This is... earth core soul marrow?! No, it seems to have also undergone Fusion with the Wind and Thunder Origin power!" Li Ao recognized the item, and a hint of pleasant surprise flashed in his eyes! earth core soul marrow is a sacred object for nourishing the Soul, and earth core soul marrow fused with the Wind and Thunder Origin would have an effect that is even harder to estimate. Perhaps... it would have a miraculous effect on Medusa's injuries!

However, just as he was about to approach the mass of seven-colored liquid, another anomaly occurred!

"Roar!"

A roar seemingly from ancient times came from the endless darkness beneath the platform! Immediately following, a hundred-zhang-long giant python, completely condensed from lightning, suddenly shot out of the darkness. It opened its massive mouth, formed of electricity, and lunged toward Li Ao to devour him! The aura it emitted had shockingly reached the Peak of a Seventh-Tier Demonic Beast, comparable to a human Dou Zong!

As expected, this exotic treasure had a powerful guardian beast!

With the Lightning Python blocking the path ahead and the Black Emperor Sect pursuers behind!

Li Ao's eyes turned icy as he slowly gripped the hilt of the saber on his back.

It seemed he would have to use some of his trump cards prematurely.