16: Price Backlash: Thunder Purification Magic Fluid

The cold morning light, like a miserly alms, struggled to penetrate the gaps in the heavy leaden clouds, scattering over the ravaged ruins of Shen Shou Valley.

The rain had stopped, but the air was still damp and cold enough to wring water from it, filled with a nauseating mix of scorched earth, blood, soil, and a faint, almost imperceptible scent of decay emanating from the Demonic Silver Hand.

Mo Yuan's figure appeared like a ghost, silently emerging at the edge of what had become a massive ruin of the Law Enforcement Hall.

He used the lingering smoke and the cover of broken walls to his advantage, his gaze like the most precise probe, fixed on the location transmitted by the Bee King through their Soul Link—the corner of a side hall, torn apart by thunderfire, not yet completely collapsed.

Broken beams, like the ribs of a giant beast, were impaled in the mud, still burning with faint flames.

Scattered rubble piled up like mountains, and charred wood emitted wisps of smoke.

In a corner half-covered by a massive fallen rock, a half-rolled ancient scroll lay quietly amidst the mud and ashes.

The scroll had clearly endured the thunderfire's baptism; its edges were charred and curled, like a damaged wing licked by flames.

But beneath those charred and curled edges, several patterns, imprinted on deep brown animal skin, clearly revealed themselves, like thunder breaking free from its restraints!

The patterns were ancient, mysterious, and filled with an indescribable primal aura!

They were not straight lines but rather like naturally formed lightning branches in heaven and earth, winding, coiling, and looping, exuding a pure, violent, and terrifying Dao rhyme, as if containing the Origin rules of thunder!

The moment his gaze touched it, the nascent, purple Thunder Spiritual Root light core deep within Mo Yuan's Dantian, which had just Broken Through to the second level of Qi Refining, suddenly pulsed!

A faint but incredibly pure power of thunder, as if resonating from the same Origin, subtly emanated from the Incomplete Thunder Array Diagram from a long distance away!

Incomplete Thunder Array Diagram!

What a treasure!

Ecstasy, like molten lava, instantly washed away the fatigue in Mo Yuan's heart!

He suppressed his excitement and vigilantly scanned his surroundings.

Figures moved among the ruins; the surviving Disciples of the Seven Kill Hall scurried like headless flies, crying, wailing, and futilely digging for their buried comrades, the air filled with despair and chaos, no one noticing this secluded corner.

An opportunity!

Mo Yuan no longer hesitated; his figure, like a civet cat melting into shadows, used the cover of broken walls and dust, closing in on his target silently in a few leaps.

He held his breath, extended his Thunder Corpse Claw, which was wrapped in silver-gray electrical arcs and had a charred palm, carefully avoiding the residual heat on the scroll, snatched it up, and quickly tucked it into his embrace!

It felt cold and heavy in his hand; the scroll's material itself seemed extremely special, as it hadn't been completely incinerated by the thunderfire!

A clearer, tingling sensation, like a faint electric current, instantly shot from his palm into his Dantian, creating a strange resonance with the Thunder Spiritual Root light core!

He got it!

Mo Yuan's heart hammered wildly!

He dared not delay for a moment; his figure flickered like an arrow shot from a bow, instantly disappearing into the lingering smoke and chaos on the outskirts of the ruins, rushing towards the depths of Shen Shou Valley, in the direction of the Stone Crevice guarded by the Ant King!

Inside the Stone Crevice, it was still cold and damp.

The massive body of the Red Copper Ant King, like a cooled lava fortress, blocked the entrance, its lava-like compound eyes vigilantly scanning the forest outside, which was faintly illuminated by the morning light.

Six giant sickle Ant Guards lay silently, like motionless sculptures.

In the corner, Supple Bone Rabbit was curled up on a pile of dry grass, her large gray Rabbit ears softly drooping, covering half of her still pale little face.

Her ruby-like eyes were tightly closed, and her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyelids, as if she had fallen into a deep, restorative slumber.

Mo Yuan's figure rushed into the Stone Crevice like a gust of wind, leaning against the cold rock wall, breathing heavily.

The dull pain in his chest and abdomen and the burning sensation from the Thunder Corpse Claw were still intense, but the nascent, stable, and restrained purple light core in his Dantian continuously flowed with pure Thunder Spiritual Power like a sweet spring, nourishing and repairing his riddled body, bringing a sense of strength after surviving a catastrophe.

He impatiently pulled out the half-rolled Incomplete Thunder Array Diagram from his embrace; beneath its charred edges, the few incomplete array patterns containing ancient thunder Dao rhyme flickered faintly with a ghostly light in the dimness.

However, just as his heart surged with excitement, preparing to meticulously study this unexpected gain—

"Woo..."

An extremely faint whimper of pain, like that of an injured young beast, suddenly echoed from the dry grass pile in the corner!

Mo Yuan sharply looked up!

He saw the curled-up Supple Bone Rabbit trembling violently and uncontrollably!

Her normally steady breathing became rapid and erratic!

Her large Rabbit ears suddenly perked up as if startled, then drooped limply!

On her snow-white little face, the slight flush of color that had returned during her slumber instantly faded, turning ashen white!

Even more terrifying, beneath the skin of her slender neck and exposed arms, extremely fine, dark red lines, like living things, rapidly spread and protruded like a spiderweb!

They exuded an intense, heart-stopping craving for blood!

"Ma... Master..." Supple Bone Rabbit struggled to open her eyes; her ruby-like eyes were no longer pure, but covered with a murky, bloody film!

Her gaze was unfocused and pained, filled with an uncontrollable, mad craving stemming from her life's Origin!

"Hungry... So hungry... Blood... Need blood..." Her voice was hoarse and distorted, like a beast's growl, and her small body writhed and struggled painfully on the dry grass pile like a fish out of water!

The demonic liquid's backlash had erupted!

It had been a full day and night since she last consumed Mo Yuan's essence blood containing corpse poison!

The "food" that sustained her existence had run out!

Mo Yuan's heart instantly sank to the bottom!

He looked at Supple Bone Rabbit's little face, contorted by her bloodlust, and at the dark red bloodlines wriggling madly beneath her skin; a chill shot from his spine to the top of his head!

After the last consumption, she had shared the backlash of the Demonic Silver Hand, but this time, the backlash was even more violent!

Even more out of control!

"Rabbit! Control yourself!" Mo Yuan's voice, filled with urgency and command, fiercely pierced into Supple Bone Rabbit's chaotic and painful consciousness core through the Soul Link!

However, this time, the Soul Link's coercive power seemed to be overwhelmed by the surging bloodthirsty instinct!

The blood-red in Supple Bone Rabbit's eyes intensified, and guttural, unintelligible sounds came from her throat; her large Rabbit ears were tightly strained with pain and struggle!

She suddenly raised her head, her ruby-like eyes fixed on Mo Yuan, as if looking at her only way to survive, yet also like looking at the most delicious prey!

A chaotic and violent aura erupted from her small body!

"Blood... Give me blood!" A sharp, distorted shriek squeezed out of her throat!

Buzz—!

Space ripples instantly spread!

Supple Bone Rabbit's figure, along with the dry grass crushed beneath her, instantly became blurred and distorted!

"Phantom" activated!

Not for reconnaissance, not for stealth, but for... hunting!

"Oh no!" Mo Yuan's Soul almost flew out of him!

He knew all too well how terrifying Supple Bone Rabbit was in "Phantom" state!

If she went invisible and out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Stop! I command you to stop!" Mo Yuan's will, like a thunderclap, struck with the strongest coercive force of the Soul Link!

At the same time, his Thunder Corpse Claw, wrapped in electrical arcs, suddenly lifted, its palm aimed at Supple Bone Rabbit's rapidly disappearing position!

However, it was too late!

Supple Bone Rabbit's figure completely vanished into the air!

Only a few swirling dry leaves remained in her place!

A cold, viscous killing intent, carrying a strong bloodthirsty desire, instantly locked onto Mo Yuan like an invisible venomous snake!

He could clearly "sense" the invisible entity rushing towards him with frantic craving!

Its target was directly at the great artery in his neck!

No retreat!

No escape!

"Er ah—!" Mo Yuan let out a suppressed roar of fury; the electrical arcs leaping on his Thunder Corpse Claw instantly became violent!

He no longer tried to suppress Supple Bone Rabbit, but instead poured all his spirit, all his nascent Thunder Spiritual Power, madly into his left arm!

Zzzzz—!

The silver-white electrical arcs, entwined with gray-black airflow, instantly intertwined into a dense electric net in front of him, like an exploding hedgehog!

Boom!

A dull thud sounded!

Mo Yuan felt a huge force violently strike the electric net!

The electrical arcs leaped and annihilated wildly!

His body swayed violently, stumbling backward!

A tearing pain shot through his left arm!

At the same time, Supple Bone Rabbit's pained grunt came from the air!

Her "Phantom" state was forcibly interrupted by the violent power of thunder!

Her figure suddenly reappeared less than three feet in front of Mo Yuan, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, flying backward and crashing heavily against the cold rock wall, then rolling to the ground!

A trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth, and the blood-red in her ruby eyes receded slightly, but they were still filled with pain and an insatiable, mad bloodlust!

The dark red bloodlines beneath her skin, like stimulated venomous snakes, wriggled even more frantically!

"Roar!" The Ant King seemed enraged by this sudden turn of events and the violent bloodthirsty aura emanating from Supple Bone Rabbit; its massive body suddenly turned towards them, its lava-like compound eyes locked onto the fallen Supple Bone Rabbit, and a low, threatening growl rumbled in its throat!

The six giant sickle Ants also instantly raised their ferocious heads, chaotic red light flickering in their compound eyes, and their tail stingers lifted!

An internal conflict within the sequence was on the verge of breaking out!

"Don't move!" Mo Yuan roared, his voice hoarse but carrying undeniable authority, fiercely suppressing the Ant King and its Guards' agitation through the Soul Link!

His gaze was fixed on Supple Bone Rabbit, who was struggling in pain on the ground, her eyes swirling with blood-red, his expression incredibly complex.

He couldn't kill her!

She was an important reconnaissance asset!

And even more, she was key to sharing the backlash of the Demonic Silver Hand!

But allowing her bloodthirsty instinct to go out of control would lead to endless trouble!

What to do?!

Forcibly feed her blood?

Not to mention he was equally weak at the moment, would the essence blood containing corpse poison further exacerbate the violence and mutation within her body?

A crazy thought flashed through Mo Yuan's mind like lightning!

Thunder Spiritual Power!

His nascent, pure Thunder Spiritual Power!

Since it could draw down heavenly thunder, refine his own body, forge the Thunder Corpse Claw...

Then could it... also purify the bloodthirsty side effect brought by the demonic liquid?!

He'd gamble on it!

Mo Yuan no longer hesitated!

He endured the severe pain in his left arm and the weakness in his body, suddenly stepped forward, and rushed to Supple Bone Rabbit's side!

His left hand—the Thunder Corpse Claw—wrapped in silver-gray electrical arcs and inscribed with purple thunder patterns, no longer carried an aura of destruction, but instead, its five fingers spread, palm facing down, aimed at Supple Bone Rabbit's chest, which was violently heaving with pain and beneath which dark red bloodlines wriggled madly!

In his Dantian, the purple Thunder Spiritual Root light core instantly erupted with an unprecedented pure light!

The nascent, incomparably pure pale purple Thunder Spiritual Power, like a summoned sweet spring, surged along the meridians of his arm, pouring into the Thunder Corpse Claw without reservation!

"Purify... for me!" Mo Yuan let out a low roar from his throat!

Zzzzz—!!!

It was no longer a violent explosion, but a strange sound like silkworms spinning silk, or an icy spring flowing!

Countless dense, condensed currents of pure, deep purple electricity, like spiritual snakes with lives of their own, instantly spewed from the palm of the Thunder Corpse Claw!

They were no longer the destructive silver-white, but a deep purple full of vibrant life and purifying power!

These purple electric snakes did not directly attack Supple Bone Rabbit's body, but like the most nimble weavers, instantly intertwined into a dense yet gentle net of light on her body's surface!

The moment the light net covered her!

"Er ah ah ah—!!!"

Supple Bone Rabbit let out a shriek of agony even more piercing and painful than any before!

Her body arched and convulsed violently, as if thrown into a boiling oil pot!

The madly wriggling dark red bloodlines beneath her skin, as if encountering their natural enemy, let out terrified "hissing" screams!

Under the illumination of the purple electric light, they, like ice and snow exposed to the scorching sun, visibly dimmed, melted, and disintegrated at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Tiny wisps of dark red mist, carrying an intense, sweet, and metallic scent, like impurities being forcibly stripped away, were forced out from Supple Bone Rabbit's pores, from her mouth and nose!

The moment these mists touched the air, they were instantly purified and annihilated by the purple electric net, transforming into wisps of green smoke and dissipating!

Purification!

The purifying power of thunder!

Mo Yuan could clearly "sense" that the chaotic, bloodthirsty, and violent will within Supple Bone Rabbit, originating from the demonic liquid's Origin, was rapidly fading like washed-away dirt under the cleansing of pure Thunder Spiritual Power!

The painful struggles and bloodthirsty madness transmitted through her Soul Link rapidly weakened like a receding tide!

The excruciating pain was still heart-wrenching; Supple Bone Rabbit's small body trembled violently under the purple electric net, sweat mixed with tears soaked her silver-gray hair, but in her ruby-like eyes, the mad blood-red rapidly receded like a tide!

In its place was an extreme fatigue, exhaustion, and... a trace of bewilderment, like a newborn infant, after being purified.

Mo Yuan's face also quickly turned pale, veins bulged on his forehead, and large beads of sweat rolled down.

This purification process consumed an immense amount of his spirit and Thunder Spiritual Power!

The light core in his Dantian, which had just Broken Through to the second level of Qi Refining and stabilized, once again dimmed, and waves of hollow palpitations came from it!

But he gritted his teeth and persevered!

The purple electric light, like a gentle shackle, continuously flushed and purified...

Finally, when the last trace of dark red bloodthirsty mist was forced out and annihilated, the grotesque dark red bloodlines beneath Supple Bone Rabbit's skin completely disappeared.

Her body stopped trembling; as if she had used up her last ounce of strength, she collapsed softly onto the cold rock, her ruby eyes closed weakly, her long eyelashes stained with tears, falling into a deep coma.

The fluctuations transmitted through the Soul Link were faint but pure, with no trace of bloodthirsty frenzy, only deep fatigue and weakness remaining.

The backlash of the price... was forcibly purified and suppressed!

Mo Yuan let out a long, trembling sigh of relief, his body swayed, and he could no longer support himself, slumping to the ground.

The purple electric net on the Thunder Corpse Claw instantly dissipated, leaving only a slight burning sensation in his palm.

He breathed heavily, the dull pain in his chest and abdomen surging back like a tide.

Fatigue, like a mountain, crushed him.

However, just as his mind settled slightly, preparing to regulate his breath and recover—

At the entrance of the Stone Crevice, the covering vines were suddenly pulled aside!

A small, thin figure, wearing a faded, patched coarse cloth short jacket, timidly poked half his body in, holding a steaming coarse pottery medicine bowl.

It was Gouzi!

He had clearly been attracted by the commotion inside the Stone Crevice, his face filled with fear and worry, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the Ant King, which blocked the entrance and exuded a fierce aura, then looking at Mo Yuan, who was in a sorry state, sitting on the ground panting, and finally, landing on Supple Bone Rabbit not far from Mo Yuan, unconscious, with a trace of blood still at the corner of her mouth, her clothes disheveled, looking utterly miserable!

Gouzi's eyes instantly widened!

His mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg!

The medicine bowl in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," shattering into pieces!

The scalding medicine splashed on his foot, but he didn't even notice!

"Mo... Doctor Mo..." Gouzi's voice trembled uncontrollably, filled with indescribable horror and bewilderment; he extended a trembling finger, pointing at the unconscious Supple Bone Rabbit, then at Mo Yuan's charred, grotesque Thunder Corpse Claw, which still had a faint electric glow, stammering incoherently:

"She... who is she?

Your... your hand...

Why... why is it sparking?!"