Chapter 579: Long Xiao, Come Out and Face Your Death!

The Thunderclap Paradise was shaped like a deep valley, with massive bolts of lightning suspended in the sky above.

Thunder rumbled unceasingly in the azure skies like wailing Thunder Gods.

The rocks in the valley had absorbed the Blessed Land's unique lightning, transforming into Thunder Crystals, Thunder Iron, Thunder Jades, and many other precious ores infused with lightning.

Pang Lin sat cross-legged deep within the valley, unaware of the turmoil unfolding in the outside world.

A three-zhang-tall tree stood behind her, steadily absorbing lightning to nourish its growth. This tree, known as the Nine Heavens Thunder Divine Tree, had emerged alongside the Thunderclap Paradise.

She had no idea where its seed had come from, only that it bore innate imprints of the Dao of Lightning.

Its bark, leaves, trunk, and branches continuously refined lightning to one day bear a Lightning Dao Fruit.

Whoosh!

A broad-shouldered old man materialized in the valley as if formed from pure lightning.

The towering man was barefoot, and his forehead bore striking dragon horns. The thunderous clamor of the skies fell silent when he appeared.

"Heh, the legendary Nine Heavens Thunder Divine Tree! This tree is a supreme treasure for any Thunder Gods. Who would have thought such a thing could be nurtured in a Blessed Land of the Abyss?"

The old man's face was alight with a broad grin.

Pang Lin only froze briefly before realizing who he was. Pursing her lips, she silently placed the bone of the Celestial Phoenix on her lap, body trembling uncontrollably.

She had always known that she would have to face this ancient Thunder Dragon one day.

Ever since she was brought into the Pure Land Sect with the bone of the Celestial Phoenix and met her master, Su Wanrou, everyone—openly and subtly—had consistently reminded her that she was destined to ascend as a True God through the Dao of Lightning.

The ancient Thunder Dragon of the Dragon Lair Sect was an immovable force. Even so, she had to surpass him, for the sake of herself, the Pure Land Sect, and the human race.

Pang Lin knew the ancient Thunder Dragon was fearsome. The more she studied him, the more she felt the urge to give up.

Through it all, her senior sister and master encouraged her to believe in herself. The white crane, Sun Bin, and others also worked tirelessly to help her strengthen her cultivation realm.

That sharp-tongued white crane had even ventured into Cloud Lightning to gather lightning for her, nearly losing its life in the process.

The care and support of these people had tempered her resolve, refining the once fragile girl into someone resolute and unyielding.

Slowly, she came to believe in her own potential and abilities as a peerless cultivation prodigy, destined to ascend as a True God through the Dao of Lightning.

She dreamed of the day she would become a True God. Once she stood at the top of the hierarchy of the Abyss, it would finally be her turn to protect her brother.

Unfortunately, that unshakable resolve and grand dreams shattered the instant she truly stood before the ancient Thunder Dragon.

Although she had devoted herself entirely to cultivating lightning-attribute arts, it was nothing in comparison to the ancient Thunder Dragon's profound comprehension of the Dao of Lightning.

The ancient Thunder Dragon did not deliberately show off his power. Despite this, he seemed to become one with the Blessed Land upon stepping into the Thunderclap Paradise.

Every bolt of lightning, lightning-infused ore, and even the strange little tree behind her all seemed to rejoice at his arrival. It was as if he was meant to be their true master.

A crushing sense of helplessness surged within Pang Lin. At that moment, she could not help but feel that no matter how relentlessly she cultivated, she would never be able to surpass him.

Suddenly, a radiant Celestial Phoenix, formed of pure divine light, silently materialized behind Pang Lin.

Its ethereal wings spread gently, wrapping around Pang Lin's delicate frame, shielding her from harm.

Long Xiao had been focused on the Nine Heavens Thunder Divine Tree, contemplating how to merge his nine lightning vortexes with it when the Celestial Phoenix caught his attention.

The ancient Thunder Dragon sighed. "Even the old black turtle returned to life, yet you failed to be reborn.

"You chose a human prodigy born with a natural lightning vortex—one whose path clashes with mine—to inherit your divine power. You hope that the True Gods of the human race will elevate her to the peak of the Immortal Realm, so that she may ascend to godhood by stepping over my corpse.

"I know you hated me. I also know that the issue with the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars in the Fifth World is likely tied to you. Still, I do not blame you."

The Thunder Dragon's gaze remained fixed on either the Nine Heavens Thunder Divine Tree or the radiant form of the Celestial Phoenix. Not once did he look at Pang Lin.

"I truly wish you were still alive, that you could be reborn through the flames of nirvana. That way, you could witness me forge a new golden age for the Fey Race.

"I will accomplish what you and the black turtle failed to bring to fruition. I will make our Fey Race the rulers of the Abyss."

With that, the ancient Thunder Dragon departed, completely ignoring Pang Lin from beginning to end.

***

The True Dragon Hall's majestic dome was adorned with a vivid, realistic mural of colossal dragons.

Thunder Dragons, Flame Dragons, Ice Dragons, and Five-Clawed Gold Dragons were depicted soaring across the starry skies, exuding boundless dominance.

Massive stone pillars supported the True Dragon Hall, each inscribed with black turtles, Celestial Phoenixes, Qilins, Primordial Serpents, Golden Elephants, Vermilion Birds, and Giant Apes.

Every Rank Ten Fey God throughout the history of the Fey Race had their likeness immortalized within these stone pillars.

The dragons soaring through the starry skies on the dome embodied Thunder Dragon Long Xiao's lifelong ambitions.

The Fey Gods engraved on the stone pillars, on the other hand, specifically depicted those outside the Dragon Race. These beings, like the stone pillars themselves, existed to uphold his vision and support the reign of the Dragon Gods across the starry skies.

Long Xiao had indeed worked toward the prosperity of the Fey Race, seeking to expand their influence and secure the birth of more Fey Gods, but the alignment of this with his personal goals also could not be denied.

The dragons—or more specifically, dragons like himself—were meant to be the eternal rulers of the Fey Race. They were destined to be its unquestioned leaders.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Fey Kings of the Sacred Soul Continent stepped into the True Dragon Hall one after another.

Their gazes swept across the vast mural before turning toward the legendary Fey Gods immortalized in the stone pillars.

All the Fey Kings maintained human forms within the True Dragon Hall. None chose to reveal their true forms.

"Elder Rock Bear, congratulations on ascending as a Fey God."

"Elder Rock Bear, we look forward to your guidance in the future."

The Fey Kings naturally gathered around the Rock Bear as the ancient Thunder Dragon had yet to appear.

As a Rank Ten Fey God, the Rock Bear had broken through the limits of his lifespan. His human form was no longer a wizened elder but a solidly built middle-aged man with tan skin and a steadfast demeanor.

The Rock Bear nodded in acknowledgment to those greeting him, presenting himself as neither arrogant nor too familiar.

Regardless of how many congratulations he received, deep in his heart, he knew the Fey Kings still considered the ancient Thunder Dragon the undisputed ruler of the Fey Race and the true master of the Sacred Soul Continent.

The ancient Thunder Dragon had simply dominated the continent for too long. As a newly ascended Fey God, the Rock Bear knew he stood no chance of shaking the ancient Thunder Dragon's rule, at least in the short term.

"Apologies for the wait," Long Xiao said, appearing beside a black-and-gold stone pillar engraved with a black turtle. "I summoned you all here today to announce something important.

"Through many efforts and negotiations with certain individuals, I have resolved a problem that has plagued our Fey Race for years."

He closed his eyes and silently counted to seven as he listened to the clamor of the Fey Kings.

Reopening his eyes, he said, "Focus on your hearts. Do you feel it? The dormant bloodline mysteries, sealed away for years, have awakened once more."

A shudder rippled through the Fey Kings.

They immediately circulated their blood essence and energies, using their souls to inspect their inner selves. New crystal bloodline chains were forming deep within their hearts.

The Fey Kings' eyes flared with excitement and fervor surged in their hearts.

An invisible shackle had suppressed their bloodlines for years, preventing their innate abilities from fully manifesting.

This restriction had weakened their potential. It had forced them to struggle harder to advance and had obstructed the rise of new Fey Gods.

The ancient Thunder Dragon had destroyed these shackles!

His reputation among the Fey Race soared to unprecedented heights!

"The force that suppressed our bloodlines was not the foreign races of the Fifth World. It was the seven Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars! The fallen Celestial Phoenix played a crucial role in their creation. Though the True Gods of the human race had deceived her, she undeniably committed an unforgivable mistake.

"Still, the past is the past, and I have no desire to condemn the dead.

"Remember this. After the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars were erected, the human race imposed additional restrictions to ensure our bloodlines would never fully awaken!

"This is why no new Fey Gods have emerged after the fall of the Celestial Phoenix and the black turtle," the Thunder Dragon revealed with an air of calm authority.

However, he conveniently refrained from mentioning how these restrictions had never affected the Dragon Race of the Dragon Lair Sect, nor did he speak of how the Dragon Race had been one of the greatest beneficiaries of this system.

***

Deep within a mountain range in the eastern region of the Sacred Soul Continent, where the towering True Dragon Hall stood tall, a blinding sword light could be seen tearing through the sky.

Whoosh!

A mighty figure emerged from the sword light.

It was Li Zhaotian.

"Long Xiao! Come out and face your death!"

His voice thundered toward the True Dragon Hall where over a dozen Fey Kings, several Rank Nine dragons, and the newly ascended Fey God Rock Bear were gathered.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Although Li Zhaotian knew that the crowd was inside, he did not hesitate or wait for the Fey Kings to disperse, nor did he choose to strike when the hall was empty. Instead, he unleashed his fury as directly and violently as possible.

He chose to draw his sword!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Rivers of sword light slashed across the endless mountain range belonging to the Dragon Lair Sect.

The radiant sword light pierced deep into the ground, restraining countless young dragons within their cave lairs like an inescapable cage.

Over twenty dragons—ranging from Rank Six to Rank Eight—were now entirely at Li Zhaotian's mercy.

"Li Zhaotian, you dare?!" the Fey Kings and Rank Nine dragons roared in fury.

With a flick of his sleeve, Li Zhaotian revealed a miniature, nine-story pagoda that resembled a sword with its blade pointed toward the ground.

Streaks of sword light burst forth from the pagoda, plunging into the mountain caverns, sweeping into the True Dragon Hall, and hovering threateningly at the napes of the Great Feys waiting nearby.

Li Zhaotian had brought the nine-story pagoda, a symbol of the Sword Pavilion's supreme authority and a legendary artifact in the history of the Abyss, to confront the ancient Thunder Dragon.

"Release Pang Lin or I will slaughter every last one of your kin!"