Chapter 294 - 289: Summoning Thunder, Advancement
His consciousness withdrew from the vast, boundless primeval pool of lightning, and Su Yu’s eyes snapped open.
He gasped for air, subconsciously patting his body down. He found that aside from some mental exhaustion, his physical body hadn’t changed at all.
However, a new line of information had appeared on his panel.
[Authority]: Thunder (Integrity: 0.01%)
[Authority Trait]: Thunder is Heaven’s Might, Dispensing Punishment on Heaven’s Behalf! As the host has grasped a minuscule amount of the Authority of Thunder, your resistance to Thunder Power is permanently increased by 30%, and your comprehension of the Thunder Law is increased by 30%.
[Attached Divine Law]: Summon Thunder! The host may commune with heaven and earth, forcefully trigger a cataclysmic change in the sky, draw down the furious thunder of the nine heavens, and deliver a strike of heavenly punishment!
’So this is the authority of a god? Can I really command the heavenly thunder now, just like those ancient gods and demons?’
Su Yu could hardly believe it. He had previously witnessed the Black Lotus Sect’s Earth King alter the weather multiple times and thought it was an incredible display of power. He never imagined that he would now wield such power himself.
After the shock wore off, a thoughtful and puzzled look flashed in Su Yu’s eyes.
’Something’s not right... I seized this Authority of Thunder from that Divine Statue of the Mother of Non-Birth. But the attribute doesn’t match at all!’
Su Yu had once carefully read through the classified files at the Public Security Bureau regarding the doctrines and divine records of the Black Lotus Sect.
’The mortal world is a prison, flesh and blood a cage. Life holds a thousand layers of suffering; death returns to the void of myriad kalpas.’
’The Old Mother pities the world, bestowing the vacuum, stripping away the karma of pain, and peeling off the illusion of the seven emotions... Only by shedding this filthy mortal coil can one form scales of green jade and achieve an indestructible diamond body.’
’The Old Mother is merciful, granting non-birth. With annihilation as the source, one draws out the spine to serve as a sharp blade, and transforms the ribs into long scythes. As long as blood does not dry, the battle does not cease... As long as the heart is not dead, life is not severed...’
’Only the form of bone is pure in this world. Only by severing all ties to the mortal realm and saving the world through slaughter can one return to the Vacuum Home.’
"..."
Various records flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t find any mention of Thunder Power, which made him even more perplexed.
’How could I obtain the Authority of Thunder from a Divine Statue of the Mother of Non-Birth?’
Su Yu couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard he thought, so he quickly suppressed the notion. ’How could I possibly comprehend the power of a god? Forcing myself to think about it will only cause more frustration.’
’No matter where this authority came from, it’s in my hands now, which makes it my trump card! I’ll know for sure once I test its power!’
Su Yu took a deep breath to calm himself, slowly raising his head to look at the clear, star-dusted night sky above.
He communed with it in his mind, silently chanting.
’Thunder!’
Although he hadn’t spoken it aloud, as the word for thunder appeared in his mind, a profoundly mysterious and magnificent power truly manifested.
The night sky, which had been silent and brilliant with starlight just a moment ago, grew violent without any warning the instant Su Yu’s thought took form!
Dark clouds appeared from nowhere, gathering and churning within a radius of several miles. As the wind howled, blinding silver serpents of electricity could be seen crazily weaving and slithering deep within the clouds, letting out a series of dull, soul-shaking rumbles.
Watching the celestial phenomena shift, Su Yu couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
BOOM!
The thunder cracked!
This Thunder Power felt incredibly intimate to Su Yu. He had always felt that heaven’s might was like a prison, but now it felt like something familiar.
BOOM! BOOM...
More thunderclaps exploded, echoing across the land under the night sky.
With a mental command, Su Yu pointed.
’Strike there!’
In the next instant, as if his words were law, a thick bolt of lightning, like heavenly punishment, descended from the night sky with a deafening roar and accurately struck the location Su Yu had just designated in his mind.
CRACK!
A thick hemlock tree was struck by the lightning and instantly split in two. With a splintering crash, a large branch fell, and the remaining half of the trunk burst into a raging fire.
HISS—
Witnessing this cataclysmic destructive power with his own eyes, Su Yu couldn’t help but gasp, his eyes filled with wild joy.
’I can really summon thunder and bring down heavenly punishment!’
Thunder Power was inherently the most violent force between heaven and earth.
Even though it was just an ordinary bolt of lightning, it was enough to severely injure an enemy. A slightly weaker foe would be killed instantly!
As far as Su Yu knew, a master at the Muscle Forging Realm would be utterly unable to withstand a single strike of heavenly lightning!
As for the Profound Bone Realm, they could resist three or four strikes at most.
This meant that in addition to his divine ability, Annihilation of Non-Birth, he had another trump card!
’I wonder what the cooldown is for this divine authority.’
Su Yu opened his panel again to check the information on the authority.
[Authority]: Thunder (Integrity: 0.01%) (Sealed: 167h:58m:20s)
[Note]: Improving the Authority of Thunder can enhance its traits. If used forcefully, it will create a karmic entanglement, making it extremely easy to attract a god’s gaze!
’Attract a god’s gaze?’
Seeing those four blood-red words, Su Yu’s heart leaped, and a chill shot up his spine to the back of his head.
’Just as I thought, this Authority of Thunder was forcibly plundered. Does this mean I’ve become the mortal enemy of a god...’
The thought terrified Su Yu.
A god! What a terrifying existence that was.
With his current meager Cultivation, he probably wouldn’t even count as a large ant in a god’s eyes. If he were truly targeted by some kind of indescribable, terrifying being, his soul would surely be scattered to the winds.
’It seems I absolutely cannot use this Summon Thunder skill casually. 168 hours is exactly seven days. I can’t reveal this trump card unless I’m in a truly desperate situation!’
Having made up his mind, Su Yu suppressed his fear and instead felt an unprecedented sense of security.
Counting his trump cards: the White Ape Transformation that doubled All Attributes, the divine ability Annihilation of Non-Birth, and now the divine law Summon Thunder.
In the treacherous currents of Black Stone City, he finally had some capital to influence the game and protect himself!
’Next, time to deal with this drop of divine blood!’
Su Yu’s gaze returned to the jade statue.
The Black Lotus Sect had spared no expense tonight, revealing so many people—even several Hall Masters at the Profound Bone Realm—just to escort this Divine Statue out of the city.
The divine blood contained within it must be extraordinary!
’Absorb!’
’Execute Option One!’
With a thought from Su Yu.
A tiny crack suddenly appeared on the Divine Statue’s smooth forehead. A drop of blood, glowing with a faint golden-red halo, slowly seeped out and hovered in mid-air.
Su Yu extended his index finger and touched it gently.
A familiar scene played out again. The drop of golden-red divine blood, as if it had a life of its own, shot up his fingertip and into his body with a SWOOSH.
But that was all. When the divine blood entered Su Yu’s body, it was like a drop of water falling into the ocean, causing not a single ripple.
[Divine Blood absorbed successfully]
[Breakthrough Point progress +100%]
[Executing Option One. Divine Ability: Annihilation of Non-Birth enhancement unlocked.]
[Unlock successful. Divine Ability: Annihilation of Non-Birth has been promoted to Tier 2. Host has grasped the Authority of Thunder. Correcting divine ability’s direction...]
[Congratulations on mastering the Tier 2 Divine Ability: Annihilation of Non-Birth (Thunder)]
[Divine Ability]: Annihilation of Non-Birth (Thunder) (Tier 2) (Next Tier Unlock: 1%)
[Trait 1]: Annihilation. All things have a beginning and an end; this skill presides over the return to ruin. When the intent of Annihilation descends, it forcibly strips away all "life force" and "spirituality." Those struck by this intent will have their Qi and Blood fall silent and their flesh wither and decay, completely severing all possibility of self-healing and regeneration. All laws become void, leaving only dead silence.
[Trait 2]: This divine ability fused with a trace of the Thunder Law during its evolution. When used, Annihilation will be accompanied by destructive black lightning. Thunder is the ultimate yang, the perfect counter to evil. This divine ability will inflict terrifying true damage and a purifying erasure effect on any target containing "aberrant corruption" or "evil god power"!
’The divine ability actually leveled up? And it has two Traits!’
Su Yu looked at the brand-new description on the panel and couldn’t help but clench his fists tightly.
This was a huge, unexpected surprise!
The original Annihilation of Non-Birth, now fused with the Thunder Law, had not only reached a new level of destructive power but also gained the ability to counter evil!
In the future, if he encountered enemies or mutated aberrations, a strike of Annihilation with its destructive black lightning would be completely unstoppable!
Su Yu suppressed his excitement and shifted his gaze to the very bottom of the panel.
[Breakthrough Point]: 2 (Progress: 88%)
’The Breakthrough Point gain was huge this time, too. I’m already over two points. After I get back, it won’t take more than a few days to save up to three!’
’I was originally planning to use the Breaking Limit on the Seven Kills Thunder Collapse Step or the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill first, but since I can save up to three points now, I should definitely use it for the third Breaking Limit on the White Ape Long Arm Fist!’
Su Yu threw a punch. The Ape Shadow Gale and Hundred Fierce Peaks both activated, instantly increasing the punch’s power several times over and easily creating a sonic boom.
’My Fist Technique is so strong now entirely thanks to the two Traits from Breaking Limit. If I go for a third Breaking Limit, my strength will definitely explode again!’
SCREE—!
Just as Su Yu was immersed in planning his future power progression, a familiar, clear eagle cry suddenly echoed from mid-air.
Su Yu looked up and smiled faintly.
Qing Yuan was back!
And far behind it, the sound of two figures rapidly breaking the air was fast approaching. Judging from the familiar, powerful fluctuations of Qi and Blood, it was the two great Commanders, Li Jingxuan and Ye Xiaohong, in pursuit.
With a thought, Su Yu quickly closed the system panel in front of him.
He dusted the mud and water from his robes and turned to walk toward the mutilated half-corpse of the Water Snake Gang’s leader, Hong Lei, rapidly weaving a plausible explanation in his mind.
The fact that he had killed Hong Lei would definitely be a huge shock to them.