Chapter 616: The Rebirth of the Thunderveil Godbeast

Pang Jian's towering Immortal Divine Soul gave off a five-color radiance.

The rings of five-colored radiance, each embodying the profound manifestation of the five elements, successively engraved themselves as deep inscriptions on the pristine white pillar, becoming the foundation of its newfound divine power.

Dao Seals gradually formed across the pristine white pillar's surface, taking the forms of towering golden mountains, cascading waterfalls and rivers, blazing meteors, ancient forests, and earthen depths.

At that moment, Pang Jian could not help but recall the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars in the Fifth World.

The True Gods of the Abyss had engraved profound mysteries into those pillars. Each one bore intricate inscriptions, exuding a power akin to the barrier, meant to restrain the inhabitants of the Fifth World.

Those pillars had suppressed the foreign races and prevented them from ascending to the upper worlds.

The seven Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars had even kept the awakening of the Fey Race's bloodlines in check, significantly diminishing the combat prowess of the Fey Race as a whole.

Using his Five-Element Starry Rivers as a conduit, Pang Jian transmitted the five elements within his five viscera and engraved them upon the pristine white pillar as Dao Seals.

A master had once crafted this Five Thunder Annihilation at the Thunderveil Godbeast's request. However, the instant Pang Jian inscribed his unique insights into it, the pillar became irrevocably bound to him instead.

The once-white pillar now emitted a dazzling five-colored radiance.

The golden mountains, flowing waterfalls, blazing fire spheres, ancient forests, and boundless earth on its surface came to life, as if infused with vitality.

A deafening thunderclap erupted from within the pillar. Lightning bolts coiled around it like dragons and serpents, fiercely guarding the miraculous phenomena within.

Though lightning remained the pillar's foundation, it now harmonized perfectly with the five elements.

In the Thunderveil Godbeast's hands, Five Thunder Annihilation had been an ill-fitted fusion that failed to unleash its true might.

After Pang Jian refined it, the pillar transformed into an artifact of unfathomable might, seemingly infused with infinite mystical power.

"Five Thunder Annihilation Bombardment!" Pang Jian shouted as he raised the pillar toward the sky, like an ancient God splitting the heavens and the earth apart.

A torrent of concentrated lightning poured from his palm into the pillar.

The five elements within his five viscera coursed through his Five-Element Starry Rivers, flowing into the Dao Seals engraved upon the pillar's surface.

An astonishing scene, one that the Thunderveil Godbeast had never witnessed before, suddenly manifested.

Five bolts of lightning, each infused with the elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, transformed into five raging lightning vortexes, with the five-colored pillar standing tall among them.

The pillar towered into the sky, its boundless might shaking the world, dispersing the bizarre mist to reveal an empty void.

Five Thunder Annihilation became the foundation of the world, the cornerstone of all laws, and the center of the universe itself.

The five lightning bolts, each infused with the five elements, represented the fusion of lightning and elemental power.

This technique, known as the Five Thunder Annihilation Bombardment, seemed to give birth to all laws regarding the natural world.

The five lightning bolts exploded into five lightning vortexes on impact, eradicating all of the conjured lightning-attribute ancient Fey Race before raining down on the Thunderveil Godbeast itself.

Despite its mighty physique, the Thunderveil Godbeast was left scorched and battered, its fur singed black, head bursting with flames, and golden sparks flashing before its eyes.

By the time Thunder God Pan Di arrived, the Thunderveil Godbeast was charred black from head to toe.

The Thunderveil Godbeast coughed violently, gagging before spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Pang Jian's cold energy froze the blood solid the instant it left its body.

The nine small Thunderveil Godbeast manifestations that had once stood guard above the miniature Thunder Pool on its tongue dissipated like smoke.

"Is defying the bloodline I was born with the same as defying the natural order itself? Was the path I pursued all this time destined to be a mistake?

"If not, then why? Why was the divine artifact I spent millennia forging taken from me so easily?

"Was I wrong? Even if I was, I'm still determined to walk this path to the end!"

The exhausted Thunderveil Godbeast bared its fangs and let out a hoarse roar.

It abandoned the Thunder Pool, no longer wishing to seize it or absorb the Duke of Thunder's insights into itself.

After all, it had always refused the path of lightning. This rejection had slowly twisted its heart to the point of betraying the Duke of Thunder himself.

Why do I still covet the Duke of Thunder's Thunder Pool? Why do I still long for the Divine Court of Thunder?

The Thunderveil Godbeast wondered.

Is it simply because my flesh and bones pulse with endless lightning? Or because I've already become a Thunder God?

Does that mean I can never let the Dao of Lightning go? If my heart is truly set on forging a new path, it's better to stop pursuing the Thunder Pool.

Only by losing can one truly gain.

If I lack the courage to let go, the path I painstakingly pursue—this rebellion against my bloodline—will never succeed.

The Thunderveil Godbeast opened its mouth and spat out torrents of massive, crackling lightning.

It expelled the lightning it had absorbed from countless Sacred Lands in the outer worlds, one after another.

Every strand of lightning it once hoarded was now poured into the Thunder Pool, strengthening it, so that one day in the future, it could rise again as the Divine Court of Thunder, ruling over all Thunder Gods.

The Thunderveil Godbeast cast away all traces of lightning within its body, blood, and soul.

It even shattered the crystal bloodline chains in its heart at the expense of grave injuries.

During the battle, the Thunderveil Godbeast had experienced a moment of clarity. After losing the divine artifact, Five Thunder Annihilation, the veil clouding its heart lifted.

It completely severed all connections to lightning, including its crystal bloodline chains, divine techniques, and insights into the Dao of Lightning.

In doing so, it was no longer a Thunder God. All the lightning within it had completely vanished, leaving only its vast blood essence behind.

"The human race cultivates using spiritual qi. After choosing a cultivation method, they can gather the corresponding energy and establish a path toward a Heavenly Dao.

"Though weak, they at least have the freedom to choose their Heavenly Dao.

"I wish for the Fey Race to have that same freedom.

"Our bloodline attributes are predestined, granting us immense power from birth. By following the path set by our bloodlines, we can ascend to higher ranks and even become a Fey God.

"But there will always be Fey Race who refuse the bounds of fate and reject the path their bloodline dictates!

"On this day, I choose a new path. I will abandon everything my bloodline has given me and cast aside all that the heavens have bestowed upon me!

"May what I discarded grant me the right to choose anew."

The Thunderveil Godbeast's blood essence churned violently within its body, and its diminished aura slowly rose once more.

"We will meet again, Pang Jian, Pan Di."

The Thunderveil Godbeast, shrouded in an endless crimson radiance, flew off in a random direction.

Although weak without its powerful lightning, it now had the freedom to explore and search for a new path.

The surging of its blood essence and the rapid growth of its aura signified its limitless potential. It was as if it had undergone a rebirth of sorts.

The Thunderveil Godbeast unhesitatingly abandoned the Thunder Pool despite having desperately pursued it for so long.

Its ill-fitted divine artifact, Five Thunder Annihilation, was also left behind, allowing Pang Jian to claim it without resistance.1

It departed into the vast unknown, alone.

Pan Di made no move to stop the Thunderveil Godbeast as it left.

Turning to Pang Jian, Pan Di said, "Let it go. We've lost a Thunder God, but this could mark the birth of a new path for our Fey Race.

"Every being seeking to carve a new path is a great trailblazer. No one can say if anything will come of this, but it's set foot on an admirable journey.

"I hope it survives and proves that forging new paths is viable. I want to see it again."

Pan Di gazed at the diminishing figure of the Thunderveil Godbeast with deep respect in his eyes, watching as it disappeared into the unknown.

During this battle, Pang Jian retained the Thunder Pool while gaining the divine artifact, Five Thunder Annihilation.

As Pan Di had spoken on the Thunderveil Godbeast's behalf, Pang Jian decided it was not worth pursuing the matter further.

"How are you? Are any other Outer Gods still hunting you in this bizarre mist?" Pang Jian asked, running his fingers across Five Thunder Annihilation as he refined it.

Although the divine artifact was ill-suited to the Thunderveil Godbeast, it felt remarkably natural in Pang Jian's hands. A myriad of profound abilities could be manifested when infused with the five elements.

As he refined the divine artifact, he contemplated methods to enhance its power to its fullest potential.

"The only one hunting me was the Thunderveil Godbeast. The Outer Gods patrolling the bizarre mist were actually targeting you.

"When word spread that you were back in the Abyss, the Outer Gods lurking around dispersed."

A strange look flickered in Pan Di's eyes.

"You could attract even more Outer Gods now that you've returned to the bizarre mist. That would be troublesome for me."

Pang Jian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I can return at any time. One step back, and I'm in the Abyss."

***

In the First World of the Abyss, a colossal well-shaped domain of sword light enveloped an azure dragon, causing it to plummet like a meteor.

Sword lights and lightning bolts intertwined dazzlingly within this radiant sword light domain.

The ancient Thunder Dragon, possibly the strongest Fey Race in the Abyss, had half its scales torn apart and its once-imposing body battered and wounded.

Sword strikes had stripped the Nine Heavens Thunder Divine Tree within its clawed grasp completely bare.

The Mirage Dragon Pearl conjured illusory worlds, which the Thunder Dragon weaved through to evade incoming attacks as he fell toward the Dragon Lair Sect.

An ancient power buried deep beneath the Dragon Lair Sect awakened after tens of thousands of years, pouring into the azure dragon's wounded body like nourishing rain.

Revitalized, the azure dragon roared, "Li Zhaotian! I'll spare you this time!"

The sword lights shooting from the well-shaped domain retreated into the Sword Pavilion hovering high above the Sacred Soul Continent.

Li Zhaotian held the miniature Sword Pavilion in his palm, watching as a small wooden sword smoothly returned to it.

Narrowing his eyes with a smirk, he said, "Good, good, good! I sincerely thank you for your generosity, benevolence, and mercy in sparing me."

Then, transforming into a streak of sword light, he headed for the Eastern Land.