Thunder Sect – Wu Tangge's Private Chamber
The room pulsed with strange, ancient energy. Runes floated in the air, glowing with golden light. In the center, Hua Yueru stood, arms bound by a spiritual restraint, her eyes filled with silent fury.
Wu Tangge circled her like a predator, smirking.
"I can awaken your Celestial Supreme Body," he said softly, "but nothing in this world is free."
She bit her lip. "What do you want?"
He stopped in front of her, eyes cold and commanding.
"Simple. Swear your loyalty. Become my servant—mind, body, soul. Obey my every command. Deny your pride… and kneel."
She trembled, face pale. But behind her, the door opened slightly.
Hua Lin watched from outside in silence… and said nothing.
She clenched her fists, then slowly fell to her knees.
"…Fine. I'll obey."
Wu Tangge smiled, raising one hand. A burst of silver light enveloped her body. Symbols etched into her skin, and power surged through her meridians.
Her Celestial Supreme Body awakened, glowing like a fallen star.
She collapsed, panting.
Wu Tangge leaned in close, whispering in her ear.
"Good girl. You belong to me now and until I come back cultivate here."
Thunder Sect – Main Hall
Wu Tangge sat lazily on the sect leader's throne, legs crossed, wine cup in hand. Below him, the Eight Elders knelt, heads bowed, not daring to breathe too loudly.
His voice was calm—but every word dripped with menace.
"I have a question," he said, swirling his wine. "Do any of you insects know about the Five Troops Secret Realm?"
The elders exchanged glances, hesitant.
The Fifth Elder finally spoke. "S-Senior Wu… we've heard rumors. It's a forbidden realm once used by ancient armies to temper divine generals. But no one knows where it is now…"
Wu Tangge sipped his wine, then snapped his fingers.
A flash of black light shot out—Fifth Elder's arm exploded in a burst of blood.
"A rumor isn't an answer."
The elder screamed, clutching his stump. The others remained frozen in terror.
The Third Elder quickly knelt lower. "I-I know! A map is hidden in the ruins beneath Thunder Abyss Valley… guarded by the eighth level ancient soul beasts!"
Wu Tangge grinned.
"Now that... is useful."
He stood, walking past them like a god among ants.
"Prepare the sect. We march at dawn. And if any of you lie to me again…"
He glanced at the writhing Fifth Elder.
"I'll make you all look just like him—but alive."
The sun had not yet risen when the Thunder Sect stood assembled before the valley. Jagged cliffs loomed like broken fangs, and a sinister mist seeped from the earth—Thunder Abyss Valley, a place even the sect once feared to enter.
Wu Tangge stood at the front, robes fluttering despite the still air. Behind him, the eight elders followed like silent shadows. No one dared speak unless spoken to.
"Elder Hua," Wu Tangge said coldly. "Lead the way to the ruins."
The Second Elder hesitated. "Senior Wu, the ancient soul beasts inside—"
Wu Tangge raised a hand. Space cracked around the elder's body, blood trickling from his ears.
"Speak again, and you'll leave your tongue here."
The elder fell silent, bowing in terror.
They entered.
---
Inside the Abyss
The valley's interior was a graveyard of bones and shattered statues. Arcane symbols lit up as Wu Tangge walked, reacting to his powerful aura.
Roars echoed in the darkness—soul beasts awakened by the intruders.
A colossal shadow emerged: a Six-Winged Thunder Lion, its body pulsing with lightning.
The elders stepped back instinctively.
Wu Tangge stepped forward.
He didn't draw a weapon.
He raised a hand.
"Kneel."
Black lightning erupted from his palm. The air screamed. The beast howled, its body smashed into the ground, lightning extinguished.
With a casual wave, Wu Tangge burned the lion's soul to ash.
Behind it, a hidden altar rose from the earth—ancient and cracked.
On it lay a map etched into bone.
Wu Tangge picked it up, eyes gleaming.
"heh… acquired."
He turned to the elders.
"Im coming... Five Troops. Remember that."
Thunder Sect – Nightfall
The gates opened as Wu Tangge returned, his robes stained with the blood of soul beasts, a sinister grin on his lips. In his hand—the map fragment, pulsing with ancient energy.
Suddenly his shadow, a dark figure appeared.
Lucid.
He knelt instantly. "Master I'm back."
Wu Tangge tossed him a soul crystal glowing with Xiao Yan's energy signature.
"Find him. I want him broken—not just his body, but his mind. Drag him back if he lives. If he dies… bring me his ashes."
Lucid bowed and vanished into the darkness.
Wu Tangge stepped toward the great hall, where the elders awaited him like slaves.
He held the bone-map in one hand and raised the other. Dark flames erupted in the air, forming an ethereal compass.
"The first path is open."
He stared into the flames, eyes gleaming.
"The Five Troops Secret Realm… the place where generals were forged, and empires born. I will take what lies within."
The flames shifted, revealing distant mountains cloaked in storms.
Wu Tangge turned, voice sharp.
"Prepare a spatial gate. Only I will go. I don't need weaklings slowing me down."
The elders bowed low.
"Y-yes, Senior Wu Tangge!"
As the gate cracked open with terrifying force, Wu Tangge stepped in with a final word:
"When I return... I will give all of you rewards".