"Very good, little human. You've managed to pique this beast's interest."
Thunderclap's massive body shook, and a droplet of violet-gold liquid lightning fell from it, landing within the forest of thunder.
It was the same thunder essence that had just been contained inside the lightning sphere.
The next moment, a violent and destructive aura erupted outward. The originally deep-blue lightning forest instantly dimmed, and countless serpents of lightning whipped about, striking down upon Jiang Jue.
Crack! Crack!
Jiang Jue felt the boiling of his blood and energy within, surging more violently by the second. His heart pounded like a powerful water pump — thump, thump, thump!
On his skin, streams of silvery-white light began to flow — this was his True Martial Soul, which had spontaneously awakened under the stimulation of lightning.
This was a normal part of cultivating the Flawless Golden Body. Thunder-tempering wasn't only to strengthen the flesh — it could also stimulate a secondary awakening of the True Martial Soul.
"Hm? The lightning's even stronger now — perfect!"
Feeling the increasingly intense lightning and the tingling sensation spreading across his body, Jiang Jue grinned and continued circulating his blood and qi. Following the cultivation route of the Flawless Golden Body, he tempered every inch of his body without pause.
He could clearly feel the medicinal essence from the Spirit Hall's previous medicinal baths — which had long since merged into his flesh — now completely releasing its power.
At the same time, the Ice Emperor's forty-thousand-year origin energy, sealed within the bone of his right arm, opened slightly, continuously replenishing the energy Jiang Jue consumed.
At this moment, Jiang Jue's body had formed a perfect closed loop —Energy was consumed, transformed into qi and blood, then replenished again.
The aura radiating from him grew ever stronger, as though a rough stone were transforming into pure gold.
Before this, Jiang Jue had been like a man standing upon a mountain of treasure but not knowing how to mine it. Now, everything was different.
"Oi, Little Jin, this has already reached a level a Soul Emperor would barely withstand — and that brat's still fine?! Where'd you find him?"Thunderclap exclaimed in astonishment, clicking its tongue.
"You don't need to know. He's a disciple of my True Body Sect,"Golden Roc replied, his eyes glimmering, a faint smile playing on his lips as Thunderclap muttered.
"This time the Sect Master really picked up a treasure. Not only does he have immense spiritual power, but his physique's also terrifyingly strong."
Unknowingly, the suspicion deep within Golden Roc's heart toward Jiang Jue had begun to fade.After all, who would send a genius with such astounding talent as a spy?That would make no sense — none at all.
"Little Jin, you're grinning like a blooming chrysanthemum,"Thunderclap said mockingly.
Golden Roc's expression froze, his eyelid twitching. His fist clenched and slowly rose.
"Oi, oi! Are we still increasing the output or not?"Thunderclap flinched, hurriedly asking.
Golden Roc hesitated for a moment, then looked at Jiang Jue, who showed no sign of struggling under the lightning, and said solemnly:
"Continue. But do it gradually. Don't overdo it — this is Jiang Jue's first thunder tempering."
"Fine, fine, I hear you,"Thunderclap replied casually. After all, right now it was nothing more than a soulless "power generator."
Rumble!
Three more droplets of violet-gold thunder essence fell into the lightning forest. The already violent aura instantly intensified — most of the lightning turned purple, intertwining chaotically in the sky before crashing down upon Jiang Jue's body.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Jiang Jue's muscles bulged, veins popped, and waves of qi and blood surged like battle smoke. The silver glow across his body flowed rapidly.
Faintly, a trace of emerald green radiated from between his brows, healing the fine wounds across his skin.
"Thunderclap, you damn beast! I told you to increase it gradually! And you throw in three drops of thunder essence at once?!"Golden Roc's eyes widened as he cursed loudly.
The pressure emanating from the lightning forest had instantly doubled.
"It's fine, it's fine! This beast has it under control — '寸止,' you know?"Thunderclap said with exaggerated wisdom, pretending to be profound.
Buzz!
The next moment, Jiang Jue's entire body trembled violently. An invisible wave burst outward, sweeping through the surroundings. The scattered rocks on the ground flew up, and even the raging lightning forest shuddered.
"This is your so-called 'under control'?!"Golden Roc's face darkened instantly. He flashed forward, heading toward Thunderclap's cluster of vines.
If Jiang Jue got hurt, Golden Roc would be in serious trouble too.
"W–wait! That shouldn't be possible! This beast saw that human brat doing fine just a moment ago — how could—?"Thunderclap murmured in confusion. With its thousands of years of experience as the True Body Sect's "power station," it was certain Jiang Jue should've been fine.
Seeing Golden Roc panicking made it panic too — after all, this concerned its roots.
But before Golden Roc could even reach Jiang Jue —
A powerful aura erupted from Jiang Jue's body. The silvery light covering him flickered wildly as tiny specks of gold appeared, spreading rapidly over half his body.
"This—this is a Golden-tier Awakening!?"Golden Roc froze midair, eyes wide, utterly shocked.
"That's impossible! It doesn't make sense!"
Without the True Body Secret Technique, a soul master's True Martial Soul could at best reach a Silver-tier secondary awakening before becoming a Titled Douluo — and even that was rare.
And Jiang Jue was only at the Soul King level!
Golden Roc snapped his gaze toward Thunderclap, his voice trembling.
"Did you do this?!"
"W–what? Oh—yes, yes, of course! This beast did it! I told you — I have perfect control!"Thunderclap blurted out. When it saw the golden light covering Jiang Jue's body, it immediately straightened up, pretending to be all-knowing.
Having thunder-tempered countless True Body disciples, it knew exactly what that golden light meant — it was the highest-level awakening of a True Martial Soul!
But soon, Golden Roc realized something was off.
The golden glow on Jiang Jue's body was spreading — but far too slowly, inching along like a crawling tortoise.
"Thunderclap, put in a bit more effort!"Golden Roc urged repeatedly.
"Bro, are you actually taking me seriously right now?"Thunderclap muttered inwardly. It didn't even know what was happening — but since it had started pretending, it might as well finish the act.
"Ahem, no can do. This is his first tempering — any more, and his body might not withstand it."Thunderclap coughed twice, adopting the air of a wise elder.
"You sure it's not you who can't handle it?"Golden Roc gave it a suspicious look.
"…"
"Silence! How could this beast possibly be unable to handle it?!"Thunderclap bristled immediately. There was nothing it hated more than being told it "couldn't do it." That was the greatest insult to its pride.
Just as it was about to retort, a heavy sound rang out.
Thoom!
Jiang Jue suddenly stretched out his muscular arms, fists clenched tight. The surrounding lightning vanished in an instant.
A powerful suction force erupted from his body, drawing in all the surrounding lightning in one sweep — not a single spark was left behind.
Whoosh!
Jiang Jue exhaled deeply. Inside his body, thunder rumbled like war drums, booming nonstop.
He slowly opened his eyes — a streak of violet lightning flashed within them. His entire being radiated vigorous, burning life-force.
"The Golden-tier secondary awakening has advanced once again,"Jiang Jue murmured softly, a faint smile on his lips.
All his suffering had not been in vain.
"Oh right — Thunderclap."
As if suddenly remembering something, Jiang Jue's gaze flickered. Between his brows, a thread of radiant golden light emerged, drifting through the air before gently landing upon Thunderclap's body.
"Huh?"
All at once, Thunderclap felt its entire body go numb. A strange, exhilarating sensation welled up from within — something entirely new seemed to merge with its essence.
With a whoosh, it instantly returned to Jiang Jue's side. Its massive vine-like body coiled around him, circling restlessly.
Sniff sniff…"Human… you smell so good…"
(End of Chapter)