The sacred realm of Thunder God.
Chen Yi found himself standing atop a vast staircase forged from purple-gold lightning. This was the Path of Reverse Thunder, constructed by Thunder God's supreme divine power and specially devised to suppress the inheritor's will and cut off any dependence on one's bloodline.
Within this trial, Chen Yi's thundergod heritage, usually a source of strength, instead became a hindrance.
Each step he took, the power of thunder subtly gnawed at his senses, sealing his ability to draw upon his bloodline. Where once he had complete immunity to any thunder-based damage, here that gift was stripped away—thunder became his greatest enemy, a relentless tool of torture.
To withstand the savage lightning that tore his meridians, scorched his flesh, and lashed his soul, Chen Yi could rely only on sheer willpower. Even worse, the pressure and intensity of the lightning increased exponentially with every step. His exposed skin became a canvas of burns and freshly opened wounds, a vicious cycle of pain which seemed unending.
Chen Yi's face twisted with pain and rage. Jaw clenched, every advance felt weighted with a thousand pounds. It seemed like he suffered for centuries in that storm, but at long last, he set foot on the final step and reached the end of the Path of Defying Thunder.
As he stepped onto the stable lightning altar at the summit, the raging storm instantly ceased—retreating like a receding tide—leaving only Chen Yi, battered and exhausted.
In that moment, a solemn, thunderous voice, like a Daoist chant, boomed from the sky above:
["Having walked the Path of Reverse Thunder, facing the primordial holy thunder with your mortal body, tempering your will, forsaking dependency on external strength, and searching for the true self—"]
["You have passed the fourth trial of Thunder God's Nine Tribulations: the Path of Defying Thunder."]
["Rewards: All soul rings' lifespan extended by ten thousand years. All soul bones' lifespan extended by ten thousand years. Spirit power increased by one rank."]
As the voice faded, a pure, golden-purple divine light—imbued with the laws of thunder—descended from the void and merged into Chen Yi's body.
The soul power he'd just laboriously broken through to level 78 instantly soared, shattering its barriers as he advanced to level 79. Both his soul rings and soul bones blazed with resplendent brilliance, their essence and age enriched by the nourishing divine radiance.
Suddenly, lightning flashed across the space. In a blink, Chen Yi's figure vanished from Thunder God's trial domain...
…
Within Chen Yi's private chamber in the Spirit Hall, as the final flecks of light faded, he staggered onto the soft carpet. Without a care for appearances, he collapsed onto the edge of his bed, chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
The divine reward had already healed most of his wounds and greatly strengthened his body, but the deep fatigue of his soul and the depletion of his willpower would require time to recover.
"Phew... ha... Teacher, your command of thunder truly is extraordinary…" Chen Yi whispered to himself, awe in his eyes after finally catching his breath.
This was merely a test, but its rules nearly rivaled true divine law—stripping one's bloodline recognition and reversing every resistance.
Truly worthy of Thunder God's legacy.
If only not for that one streak of misfortune in the past, your master would have already attained the status of God King.
Of course... such matters are beyond the ordinary.
Suddenly, a gentle, smiling woman's voice echoed through the still room. Chen Yi shuddered and snapped his head toward the sound. There, seated beside the tea table by the window, sat two figures—so seamlessly integrated with the surroundings that they seemed to have been there since time immemorial.
One, cloaked in a broad robe of deep violet edged with gold, had their hood drawn back, revealing clearly defined features.
The other, an incomparable beauty clad in flowing emerald green, radiated a serene, soothing warmth; her gentle smile seemed to melt away the world's anxieties and suffering.
Instantly recognizing his visitors, Chen Yi's heart jolted—these were two of the five God Kings of the God Realm: the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life. He trembled.
How long had passed—now two such gods had descended, and both were God Kings!
But Chen Yi dared not relax. Suppressing his shock, he forced his aching body to stand and, taking two steps forward, bowed respectfully.
"Chen Yi greets God King of Destruction and God King of Life."
The Goddess of Life smiled, raising a jade-like hand. A gentle force lifted Chen Yi as she spoke softly,
"There's no need for such formality. Considering our relationship, you may address us as Senior."
The God of Destruction nodded ever so slightly.
Obeying, Chen Yi relaxed his tone. "This disciple greets senior Destruction and Life."
The Goddess of Life responded with a deeper smile. "Good child, please, rise."
Though puzzled, Chen Yi straightened. For two God Kings to descend into the human realm was no trivial event.
Why have you both come to meet with me personally? What matter could possibly be so important?
As the Goddess of Life glanced at Destruction, her gentle smile remained ever present.
"I apologize for frightening you during our last incident. We have come here today, as elders, to thank you—and we bring a small gift."
"A gift?" Chen Yi asked with surprise, glancing at the two God Kings.
"Might this gift…be related to you, senior? Would it affect your standing in the God Realm?"
The Goddess of Life's eyes shone with even deeper gratitude. "Don't worry. We already discussed this with the Goddess of Good, and she has no objections. In fact, it's tacitly approved by her."
Though the Asura God's penalties had been harsh—not light by any means—they were still milder in comparison to Asura's own misdeeds. Thus, Goddess of Good likewise wished to confer some benefits to Chen Yi. When Chen Yi at last ascended to the God Realm, she wanted all involved to see the situation in a favorable light. As for the Evil God… with three God Kings in agreement, his opinion mattered little.
Chen Yi nodded. As long as neither Destruction nor Life were harmed, he had sensed some of the Goddess of Good's intentions.
Just then, the God of Destruction, who had been silent, slowly raised his right hand. Instantly, a sphere of violet light, the size of a fist, appeared in his palm. Handing it to Chen Yi, he said, "Take this. It is a gift from your senior, Little Green, and myself."
The Goddess of Life, standing nearby, quietly added,
"This is something your senior, Little Purple, personally discovered deep within the Forbidden Land of the Gods after learning of your existence."
Chen Yi's heart leapt. With the utmost solemnity, he extended both hands and accepted the violet sphere. It felt heavy and cold, yet within glimmered a terrifying, ancient power—something primal, a sense of… dragon energy.
Carefully, Chen Yi separated a thread of his spiritual power, cautiously reaching into the orb.
"RROOOOOAARR!!"
Suddenly, as if swept across the endless gulf of time and space, a universe-shaking dragon's roar—violent and indomitable—reverberated in his spiritual world.
A phantasmal Thunder Dragon, its body cloaked in storm clouds, appeared before his eyes; its eyes, like twin suns of purple lightning, looked down upon him, arrogance and power radiating forth. The pressure alone made Chen Yi blanch, his spirit wavering.
Fortunately, the dragon's shadow quickly vanished. Focusing on the interior of the sphere, he saw the tightly-bound trunk and spine of a soul bone, colored a deep purplish-black, floating serenely at the orb's center.
"This…is this a divine-grade soul bone?!"
Chen Yi took a deep breath, forcing down his shock as he looked incredulously at the God of Destruction.
The God of Destruction nodded, gazing at the glowing orb with a complex expression.
"This Thunder Dragon was once an extremely promising young prodigy among dragons, with the potential to become a new Dragon King. In life, his cultivation reached the pinnacle of second-rank gods, but he ultimately fell in the great war that swept the God Realm."
Chen Yi's eyes widened. A Thunder Dragon with the potential to become Dragon King—meaning that in its former life, it possessed power comparable to at least the first class god of the God Realm! How could any ordinary soul bone compare to one from such a being?
Destruction continued,
"The torso bone is the most crucial among the six primary soul bones—it is the core's foundation. We found this artifact for your sake. May it guide you on your future path."
"Thank you, senior!" Chen Yi gripped the divine sphere tightly, sensing the immense, ancient power within—and the care and goodwill from his elders. With deep gratitude, he solemnly expressed his thanks.
This gift was truly priceless!
The Goddess of Life gently cautioned,
"Xiao Yi, this soul bone's energy and the dragon's spirit inside are extraordinarily formidable. With your current spiritual and bodily strength, absorbing it would be extremely difficult—potentially even dangerous. Your teacher suggests waiting until you reach the godhood realm before attempting to assimilate it. That will be the safest course."
Chen Yi nodded firmly, committing her advice to heart.
"Yes! I will treat such a treasure with utmost caution and never attempt to absorb it recklessly."
Afterward, the two God Kings conversed warmly with Chen Yi, asking about his training progress, insights from the Thunder God trials, as well as news from the continent. At last, the Goddess of Life glanced at Destruction and smiled.
"Alright, Xiao Yi, it's getting late. Your Senior Purple and I must return to the God Realm. We're truly glad to have met you today. Remember: train diligently. We await you there."
"Yes! I will do my utmost to finish the divine trials and join you two seniors in the God Realm!" Chen Yi assured them energetically.
He did not mention that the Asura God might have more plans afoot; after all, the Rakshasa Goddess had made clear there was no reason for the God Realm Council to intervene. Nothing could be gained by worrying his elders.
The God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life shared a final smile, their figures blurring and fading silently as if they had never been there.
Only Chen Yi remained in the room, clutching the precious, purple-black thunder dragon bone radiating crackling energy in his palm.
"It's good to have mighty trees to lean on…"
Chen Yi looked down at the god-grade thunder dragon bone in his grasp and sighed softly. With the foundation built by Thunder God, the guidance of Destruction and Life—the two God Kings as elders—and their unreserved gifts, his abilities were little short of the famed Little Dragon Girl.
Yet, only those at god-origin could absorb such a bone. Though his current soul power had reached the very peak of the spirit domain, true godhood was still far away.
"The path is arduous, and the journey long…"
Stowing away the soul bone, a thought sparked in his mind. Turning his awareness inward, he asked curiously:
"Seniors... do you have any advice or suggestions regarding this thunder dragon torso bone?"
…