Every step was difficult, but he took every step. Li Zhexian trekked alone into the depths of the Thunder Valley.
The deeper he went, the narrower the path between the cliffs became.
But the thunder grew only more violent.
At first—
Ordinary blazing-white lightning was still dominant.
Pools of Azure Sky Lightning dotted the terrain like patches of jade-green water.
Yet as he went deeper—
The Azure Sky Lightning pooled into a vast lake, from scattered puddles to a single endless sea of azure thunder.
Li Zhexian was almost wading forward.
"It seems…"
"My resistance to lightning is gradually increasing."
He opened his palm.
Beneath his pale skin, faint glimmers of ice-blue and crimson light intertwined.
And beneath that mingled glow of ice and fire, streaks of blazing white lightning quietly flickered.
"Is this the effect of the Melting Frost Spirit Vein Body?"
"It may not grant full immunity like with ice and fire, but it greatly strengthens my resistance to lightning."
"Even this resistance alone is already worth the trip."
"But…"
"It still isn't enough!"
"I must comprehend the Thunder Sword Intent!"
Li Zhexian exhaled slowly.
Tiny arcs of electricity cracked at the edges of his lips and nose.
The paralyzing, searing pain surged over him like tides, yet he clenched his teeth.
Step by step, , he advanced to the next section of the valley.
Time passed.
At last, the terrain ahead completely changed.
Ordinary thunder was nowhere to be seen.
Everywhere Li Zhexian looked, the ground was covered in Azure Lightning slurry.
It pooled into thunder-ponds in low depressions, and surged like rivers through gullies.
But what made Li Zhexian's pupils contract—
Was at the very core of that boiling azure thunder-lake.
There churned pools of deep purple, viscous lightning liquid.
This was no ordinary purple, but thick like congealed blood, emanating a destructive aura even more terrifying than Azure Sky Lightning.
The liquid writhed like a living thing.
Every surge of it made the surrounding Azure Sky Lightning twist away as if in fear.
"Purple Evil Lightning…"
Li Zhexian clenched his fists.
The sheer ferocity of it—even just its surrounding aura—made his whole body seize up, heart pounding with fear.
He stood still for a long while.
In his eyes, where purple radiance reflected—
At last, a flame of resolve ignited.
To comprehend the Thunder Sword Intent, he must first truly face thunder itself.
Only by enduring destruction again and again could he hope to grasp its essence.
"Come then!"
Without another moment's hesitation—
Li Zhexian stepped into the surging Purple Evil Lightning.
From afar—
Seeing that figure half-submerged in Purple Evil Lightning, flesh torn open, blood soaking his white robes—
Yu Jinghan and Yu Luomian's eyes flickered with deep emotion.
Yu Jinghan spoke slowly:
"This young man is extraordinary. The first time I met him, I felt the sharp edge he held within. As expected, he's a remarkable Li Zhexian."
Yu Luomian was silent a moment, then murmured:
Talent is like a guide from the stars, but hard work is the long staircase beneath your feet. This young man has both. His future is limitless."
Li Zhexian sensed the presence of others.
But at this moment, his entire mind and spirit were focused on maintaining the last shred of clarity, doing his best to feel the destructive essence of the Purple Evil Lightning.
The power of the Purple Evil Lightning was more than ten times that of the Azure Sky Lightning!
The moment he was submerged in the Purple Evil Lightning, Li Zhexian felt every inch of his flesh and blood about to burst.
Agony!
A bone-gnawing pain, accompanied by a numbness and itchiness that was enough to drive one mad!
Even with the tempering of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the Wind Eye, this pain was still almost enough to make Li Zhexian break down
He bit down hard.
Blood trickled from his lips.
The Purple Evil Lightning snakes tore at his skin, turning him into a blood-soaked figure in an instant.
The next moment, the dripping blood was evaporated into nothingness by the Purple Evil Lightning.
In that unbearable agony, Li Zhexian tried to capture the pulse of the of thunder.
He was no reckless man.
In his 6,666-meter journey through the Azure Sky Lightning region, he had already run through the possibilities.
If it was hard to comprehend the Thunder Sword Intent, why not risk everything for a single breakthrough?
As his thoughts flashed, Li Zhexian activated his Great Spine Sword Bone.
The twelve sword bones shone, like both dragons and swords.
One shimmered with starlight, one with mingled ice and fire, one wreathed in gentle breeze—
The remaining nine gleamed pure and white as jade.
The Purple Evil Lightning crashed upon them.
Violet arcs spread madly across the bones.
Li Zhexian's body shook like a leaf in a storm.
This was the "shortcut" he had conceived.
If he could comprehend the Thunder Sword Intent, a Sword Bone of Thunder would naturally condense!
Then, conversely, if he used the Purple Evil Lightning to forcefully temper a sword bone with the power of thunder, could he not reverse-engineer the Thunder Sword Intent?
His body staggered, on the verge of collapse.
The aura of destruction swallowed him whole.
And within it, he caught a truth, vivid and clear.
"Destruction! Destruction! Only destruction remains!"
"Thunder acts as Heaven's judgment! Its nature is to annihilate!"
"My comprehension is correct!"
"Then why... why isn't the sword intent forming?!"
"Pffft—"
The Sword Bones could be tempered.
But Li Zhexian's mortal flesh was at its limit.
A large mouthful of blood spewed out, instantly burned to nothingness by the Purple Evil Lightning.
His body stumbled, and he couldn't maintain his cross-legged posture. His right hand instinctively propped himself up.
Just then, Li Zhexian's palm seemed to touch something. But he had no time to look at what it was. He could only grip it tightly in his hand. Then, he slowly tipped over.
"Five minutes!"
"Incredible!" Elder Yu Jinghan's old eyes blazed with light, and a flash of lightning appeared under his feet. He had already rushed into the Purple Evil Lightning, grabbing Li Zhexian and carrying him out.
Outside the valley, everyone was anxiously waiting.
Before long, Yu Jinghan and Yu Luomian flew out.
When they saw the charred, blood-soaked, near-unrecognizable body in his arms—
Every disciple drew a sharp breath!
Too brutal!
His body was scorched, skin peeled back, hardly an inch left uninjured!
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's beautiful faces turned as pale as paper. Tears welled up in their eyes as they rushed forward in a panic.
"Li Zhexian lasted for five minutes in the Purple Malice Lightning!" Yu Jinghan's eyes blazed with the fury of thunder as he swept his gaze over the Blue Lightning Clan disciples. He roared,
"Is there anyone among the younger generation of my Blue Lightning clan who can compare to this?! Shouldn't you all feel ashamed?!"
All the Blue Lightning clan disciples lowered their heads, their faces filled with shame.
Yu Jinghan carefully handed Li Zhexian to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. "Li Zhexian's life is not in danger."
As they looked at Li Zhexian, who was as black as charcoal and barely breathing in their arms, their hearts felt like they were being twisted by a knife.
Ye Lingling tremblingly held out her slender hand. In her palm, the light of the Nine Heart Begonia flowed, and a gentle, sacred healing light rained down.
After dozens of breaths—
Li Zhexian's eyelashes quivered, and slowly, he opened his eyes.
He lay in Dugu Yan's arms, but his gaze turned toward Yu Jinghan as he slowly opened his tightly clenched right hand.
"Senior…"
"What... what is this thing..."
In Li Zhexian's palm, a hard object the size of a fingernail lay quietly. It was completely black.
Yu Jinghan looked at it closely. "A Thunder-Marsh Gras Seed."
"Born within the deadliest reaches of the thunder marsh, a seed that will never sprout."
"In the Thunder Valley, it is nothing unusual."
Li Zhexian's eyes were dazed for a moment. He thought of the Purple Evil Lightning prison he had just endured.
"A seed… born of destruction…"
Li Zhexian was helped back to his residence by Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. After being healed by the Nine Heart Begonia and the Wine Martial Soul, he was no longer in great danger. He was just a little pale.
Li Zhexian sat in a soft chair, staring unblinkingly at the grass seed in his palm. He felt a flash of insight...