Chapter 1283: The Extinction of the Thunder Clan

Boom—

Meanwhile, as the women of the Forest Realm struggled to revive those women, on the other side Lin Feng, after several days of refining and absorption, felt a powerful aura suddenly surge from his body and once again enveloped the valley.

At the same time, Lin Feng, who had been sitting with his eyes closed for several days, immediately opened his eyes, delightedly sensing the surging, vast Dou Qi within his body.

"Eight-Star Mid-Stage. This far exceeds my previous imagination!"

Realizing his power had broken through again, he instantly clasped his hands in delight, his face full of joy.

Who could have thought that he could, within just a few months, achieve successive breakthroughs and raise his Dou Qi power directly to the current Eight-Star Mid-Stage realm!

However, Lin Feng shook his head and smiled lightly, saying, "But before this, I never expected that in the Yao Dian incident I could obtain so many exotic fires. Counting them, if we add the Wu Nie Tun Yan Earth Fire on the Soul Void Son, there are eleven exotic fires in total."

"But the eleven exotic fires only advanced me by a small step; this Eight-Star Dou Saint is truly hard to ascend. No wonder Gu Yuan and the Soul Heaven Emperor in the original work were not determined to obtain the Pure Lotus Demonic Fire. At this level, aside from the Wu Nie Tun Yan that the Soul Clan has carefully nurtured for nearly ten thousand years, other exotic fires basically have no effect on a strongman of this rank."

In his words, a hint of bitterness also crept into Lin Feng's tone.

If those eleven exotic fires were at the Dou Zong or Dou Zun stage, they would likely cause an immediate breakthrough.

But for him now, the effect is so weak.

Nevertheless, it makes sense; among these exotic fires, aside from the Living Spirit Flame and the Wu Nie Tun Yan Earth Fire.

The other nine exotic fires consist only of Xiao Yan's mysterious three‑thousand Flame Fire, whose source is unknown, and it entered the top ten rankings.

As for the other exotic fires, the highest‑ranked is the Nine‑Underworld Wind Flame from the Yao Clan, which is only tenth on the exotic fire list.

And exotic fires of this caliber naturally have little effect on Lin Feng at the Eight-Star Dou Saint realm.

"Forget it, Xiao Ling is still asleep, digesting the half‑finished fire spirit intellect of that Xiao Yan fellow. While that's happening, I'll go back and check the situation. Moreover, regarding the earlier disappearance of the Yao Clan and Xiao Yan, I have no idea how the Soul and Ancient clans will react."

Thinking of this, Lin Feng instantly sprang up and darted at great speed toward the southern region.

"Hey Cao Ying, how many people have we revived so far?"

While Lin Feng rushed back at full speed, in the Forest Realm, Dan Chen, somewhat weary, sat on a bench in a pavilion and asked the alluring woman in a black dress opposite him.

Hearing that, the woman in black immediately lifted her slightly pale face and corrected, "I'm older, you should call me sister. As for the number revived, I recall it being twenty‑one."

As soon as she finished speaking, she bared her silver teeth in a bite, somewhat indignant, "The four of us have been helping our husband revive concubines day and night, yet that husband disappears for two or three months at a time, and we have no idea where he's gone."

"Haha, Ying'er, it seems you hold quite a grudge against your husband."

However, just as the former finished speaking, a hearty laugh rang throughout the Forest Realm.

Immediately after, a streak of blue light shot down from the sky into the Forest Realm, flew straight to the pavilion where the two stood, and transformed into Lin Feng's original form.

"Husband!"

Seeing the suddenly appearing former, Dan Chen leapt up in delight and threw herself into her man's arms.

Lin Feng, seeing this, immediately opened his arms and embraced the beauty.

But compared to Dan Chen, Cao Ying remained a bit more composed.

After probing her husband's aura, she was surprised, "Husband, you have advanced to Eight-Star Dou Saint? Moreover, I feel your aura is not much different from Senior Candlefire."

"Hehe, thanks to the successful breakthrough of the Nine‑grade Profound Pill I refined, and after spending some time absorbing those exotic fires, I have now reached the Eight-Star Mid-Stage realm."

At this point, a smile tugged at Lin Feng's mouth.

"Eight-Star Mid-Stage!?"

When the former spoke, Dan Chen and Cao Ying instantly became ecstatic.

Then, after a brief thought, Cao Ying's beautiful eyes brightened, and her pink lips lightly opened, "Eight-Star Mid-Stage. In that case, with your Imperial Realm Soul, Xiao Ling and other numerous means, even a Nine‑Star Early‑Stage Dou Saint might not be able to defeat you!"

"Hmm, if that Nine‑Star Early‑Stage Dou Saint lacks an Imperial Realm Soul, I'm confident I could retreat unscathed; but if that Nine‑Star Dou Saint strongman also possesses an Imperial Realm Soul, then I would have to turn and flee."

Hearing that, Lin Feng, after pondering for a moment, speculated.

The power of an Eight-Star Mid-Stage Dou Saint, combined with the Imperial Realm Soul, Xiao Ling who has merged over twenty kinds of exotic fires including Pure Lotus Demonic Fire, the Dragon‑Phoenix Power, a robust constitution, and many other aids.

Therefore, even when compared with a Nine‑Star Dou Saint lacking an Imperial Realm Soul, Lin Feng still has considerable confidence.

Moreover, he still holds part of the inheritance left by the Saint of the Pure Lotus Demon.

If it weren't an ambush, he would have time to pre‑arrange the Refined Heaven Ancient Array.

Even if the previous Wu Nie Tun Yan came at him, he would not be at all vulnerable, and would even have a twenty‑to‑thirty percent chance of injuring the opponent.

"Hehe, now that the soul power of me, Dan Chen and Xin Lan, with the help of the soul origins you gave us, is far stronger than a normal Heavenly Realm Great Perfection cultivator, even three of us together could possibly not lose to one of the three ancient sages of the Ancient Clan in a short time. Thus, with our family's strength plus the three great beast races working together, we could even stand a battle against the Ancient Clan."

Hearing her husband was confident about sparring with a Nine‑Star Dou Saint, Cao Ying's eyes lit up, and she smiled as she stepped forward, nudging Dan Chen aside to claim half of Lin Feng's embrace.

After finding a comfortable spot, Cao Ying immediately licked her pink tongue over her tender lips and continued, "Moreover, we now have Xian Er, a Seven‑Star Peak Dou Saint; Cai Lin; Feng Qinger, a Seven‑Star Mid‑Stage; Zi Yan, a Seven‑Star Early‑Stage; and my sister Yun'er, a Five‑Star Dou Saint, together with Qing Lin. When the time comes, I wonder who can still compete with us for the opportunities inside Gu Di Dong Fu."

Hearing that, Lin Feng gave a wry smile and explained, "I'm afraid that won't work. Though I have the strength to contend with a Nine‑Star Early‑Stage, the gap between a Nine‑Star Early‑Stage and a Nine‑Star Peak is also huge. If we face the Ancient Clan, even though we have more Seven‑Star Dou Saints, Gu Yuan alone could put us in a terrible plight. Moreover, they also have a Black Nier King of the Eight‑Star Early‑Stage Dou Saint rank."

"Moreover, of the three great beast races, aside from the Nine‑Underworld Earth Serpent Clan that we secretly control, the other two major families were only brought in because of Zi Yan, Feng Qinger, and their mutual interests. If we face such a strong enemy while at an absolute disadvantage, even with Zi Yan and Feng Qinger present, there's an eighty‑to‑ninety percent chance other problems will still arise."

When the former said that, Cao Ying immediately furrowed her dark eyebrows, realizing she had perhaps oversimplified the combat power of a Nine‑Star Peak Dou Saint.

Moreover, being born into the family, she naturally understood the decision‑making logic of the clan's higher‑ups.

If a matter is impossible, even a Dragon Emperor's daughter or an internal prodigy could abandon it to seek a way for the family's survival.

Besides, sacrificing an individual for the collective isn't that a very proper decision within a faction?

Understanding that, Cao Ying later gave a wry smile, "Alright, it seems I had thought the Nine‑Star Peak Dou Saint too simply before. Given the current situation, we can only first boost your strength, husband, and then make other plans."

"Then how about we capture that Nine‑grade Golden Pill you mentioned earlier?"

Seeing that her side still could not compare with the Ancient Clan, Dan Chen recalled the relic of the Golden Pill master and promptly suggested.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, Cao Ying immediately refused, "Probably not. We currently lack the ability to capture him alone, so to seize that Golden Pill we would have to enlist the help of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan. Given our current relations, they might not willingly relinquish the Nine‑grade Golden Pill."

"After all, this pill differs from Xiao Yan's soul body; they have no way to refine it, only to trade it for other cultivation resources. The Nine‑grade Golden Pill can be taken directly by the beast races to boost strength. Moreover, this one might be the only such pill on the Dou Qi Continent right now, and how many could ignore it?"

At this point, Cao Ying's expression grew increasingly solemn.

After all, she didn't think that once her husband became the man of Zi Yan and Feng Qinger, the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan would help them without limits.

Now those two clans act so only because her husband uses the trapped old Dragon Emperor of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan and the Imperial‑grade Nascent Pill inside Gu Di Dong Fu that can help one ascend to Dou Emperor, temporarily binding the two great families together.

If they truly manage to defeat the Soul and Ancient clans and obtain that Imperial‑grade Nascent Pill, who knows whether they'll end up fighting each other to the death inside.

"Huh?"

Listening to Cao Ying's explanation, Danchen's cute little face instantly filled with astonishment.

She never imagined there were so many ways involved.

She also never thought that their two great allies could even directly fall out at certain moments.

And Lin Feng, seeing the girl's astonished expression, gently smiled and stroked her thick black hair.

Cao Ying was right; if it weren't for the trapped Old Dragon Emperor and the Gu Di Dong Fu, the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, who have been fighting to the death for countless years, wouldn't have been able to sit together so easily to discuss matters.

However, such a situation is destined to be short‑lived.

If they were to obtain the Imperial‑grade embryonic pill, when faced with the once‑in‑ten‑thousand‑years opportunity of a peerless master reappearing, they would likely turn hostile the very next moment.

As for the earlier promises—just jokes—when advancing to Dou Emperor and becoming the continent's top contender, any promise is nothing but a fart.

Even the soul bodies of the Stone Clan and Xiao Yan before, those two clans were equally eye‑greedy.

It was only because of his and the women's strength, and because they themselves could not refine the soul essence, that the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon Clan and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had to reluctantly give up.

Otherwise, how could the strong of those two clans not want to compensate for the weakness of the beast souls' power?

"By the way, never mind that—Ying'er, Chen Er, how are you getting on with reviving those maidens during this time?"

After a long while, Lin Feng immediately shook his head and asked the two women.

After all, improving one's own strength is the true path now.

Hearing that, Cao Ying immediately explained: "Through the efforts of the four of us during this period, we have now revived twenty‑one people, and each one's strength is at four‑star Battle Saint level. However, husband, the resources you have given us are also being severely depleted."

"Due to several mistakes during the refining process, if it weren't for the medicinal resources of the Stone Clan and the Medicine Clan that contain many of the pills needed to revive them, the plan would have been forced to stop long ago." "Oh, it seems this dual cultivation breakthrough plan is more resource‑intensive than I thought."

Upon learning the current state of the dual cultivation plan, Lin Feng immediately furrowed his brow and said, somewhat surprised.

But then, with a resolute gaze, he said: "The dual cultivation matter is now one of the few ways I have to boost my strength; even if it consumes massive resources, it must be carried out. Moreover, later I will forge some nine‑grade treasure pills with you, give each of them one, and raise the strength of my prospective concubines to a higher realm."

"Then, after I go to the Void Thunder Pool to snag some wool, forge a nine‑grade mysterious‑pill‑level Thunder Tribulation Pill, absorb their Battle Qi, and combine the Dou Emperor bloodlines of the Stone Clan and parts of the Medicine Clan, perhaps I can ascend in one go to the eight‑star pinnacle or even higher. By then, our family alone could still resolve that nine‑grade golden pill."

At this point, a faint light flickered in Lin Feng's eyes as he continued: "With the aid of that nine‑grade golden pill, my strength will climb another level; then, even if I face Gu Yuan, I can hold him off for a while!"

"Good!"

Learning of their husband's plan, Chen Er and Cao Ying the two women immediately exchanged glances and then gave a firm nod.

Facing the current predicament, they felt that taking in a few concubines for their husband wasn't a big deal.

After all, the ancient eight tribes, the weaker races have largely vanished into the river of history.

Those that still stand today are by no means soft targets.

And as the remaining four‑tribe opponents, the pressure they face is also considerable.

Moreover, on our side, it's an alliance that, after the Gu Di Dong Fu emerged, could fall apart at any moment.

If our family's strength isn't greater, we might either be wiped out by the Dou Emperor families led by the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan, or be slain by our own allies' backstabs.

"Hehe, let's go. Rather than idle chat here, we'd better go forge more pills."

As he spoke, Lin Feng lifted the two women and swiftly left the place.

However, as he departed, his gaze also swept over a spot in the Lin Realm.

With his Dou Emperor realm soul strength, he naturally could sense that the Colorful Scale was currently in seclusion there.

"Hope she can successfully breakthrough. After surpassing the five‑star Battle Saint, treasure pills become ineffective and mysterious pills hard to refine, making advancement exponentially harder. Even now I can't spare enough high‑level resources to nurture you, the beasts; beast advancement consumes more than three times the resources of humans of the same level!"

As soon as the words fell, Lin Feng, with the two women, vanished into the sky.

However, while Lin Feng was secluding himself to forge pills, over on the other side the Ancient Clan also invited the Flame Clan to the Ancient Realm to discuss dealing with the Soul Clan.

The Flame Clan originally didn't want to risk going to the Ancient Realm, but unfortunately their plan was shattered by the Ancient Clan's remark that the Soul Clan possessed soul‑devouring tactics.

In the end, the Flame Clan chieftain couldn't help but set out personally to the Ancient Realm to discuss the matter.

But during this process, unsurprisingly, the Soul Heaven Emperor also appeared in the Ancient Realm as in the original work.

Then, using a feint, he successfully snatched the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from the Ancient Clan and the Flame Clan.

After that, the Soul Heaven Emperor led the Soul Clan members away calmly.

However, after that, the Soul Clan's strong ones did not return to the Soul Realm; instead, taking advantage of the relaxed vigilance on the Ancient Clan's side, they headed to the Thunder Realm.

After all, Gu Yuan already knew of this appearance, and with the loss of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, some of the Ancient Clan would naturally stop keeping an eye on the Soul Heaven Emperor.

And this time also served as an excellent window for replenishment.

At least, the Soul Heaven Emperor must gather enough soul essence for Wu Nie Tun Yan.

Otherwise, Wu Nie Tun Yan cannot ascend to the Dou Emperor realm soul, and the Soul Heaven Emperor would be unable to unlock the secret of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.

As for Wu Nie Tun Yan, since it now incorporates the soul bodies of the Stone Clan and many members of the Medicine Clan compared to the original, it naturally cannot ascend to the Dou Emperor realm soul.

Therefore, they can only set their sights on the Thunder Clan.

After all, among the major Dou Emperor families today, only the Flame Clan and the Thunder Clan are the weakest.

The Flame Clan enjoys the Ancient Clan's protection, and due to the Medicine Clan issue, they have already prepared for any contingency.

Even if the Soul Heaven Emperor acts, he cannot eradicate the Flame Clan before the Ancient Clan reacts.

But the Thunder Clan is different.

Because they know that when the Soul Clan annihilated the Medicine Clan, the "blood loss" cost them almost all of their seven‑star Battle Saints.

Their vigilance toward the Soul Clan has also dropped considerably.

In their eyes, the Soul Clan, having lost high‑level forces, now only possesses the Soul Heaven Emperor and Wu Nie Tun Yan as top combat power.

With the Ancient Clan's restrictions, the Soul Heaven Emperor cannot act.

Relying on a single Wu Nie Tun Yan, even subduing the Medicine Clan's protective formation is that difficult; how could they hope to wipe out the Thunder Clan, whose strength is several times theirs?

Isn't this just ridiculous?

However, the Soul Heaven Emperor seized this mindset of the Thunder Clan, letting Wu Nie Tun Yan silently take control of many Thunder Clan elders.

In the end, under the dual assault of the Soul Heaven Emperor and Wu Nie Tun Yan, a traitor sacrificed himself in a self‑detonation, delaying the Thunder Clan chieftain for a moment; the protective formation hadn't even been activated before he fell.

After that, it was almost entirely Wu Nie Tun Yan's unilateral harvesting time.

In less than five minutes, millions of members of the Thunder Clan, including its clan chief, all became residual souls and Dou Emperor bloodline supplement packs, which were packaged and taken away by Wu Nie Tun Yan.

With the addition of the entire Thunder Clan's Dou Emperor bloodline, the Dou Emperor bloodline obtained by the Soul Heaven Emperor became several grades stronger than in the original work.

After all, the Thunder Clan's ancestors ascended to Dou Emperor later, only a few years after the Ancient Clan's Dou Emperor ancestor.

Therefore, overall, the Thunder Clan's Dou Emperor bloodline is not much weaker compared to the Ancient Clan's.

Although the current generation of Thunder Clan chiefs is rather unlucky, the clan has not produced a divine‑quality bloodline, resulting in a lack of a Nine‑Star Dou Saint to sit as a pillar within the clan.

But Lei Dong of the same generation as Gu Xun'er is indeed a genuine Thunder Clan divine‑quality bloodline!

Moreover, among Lei Dong's generation, another peer in the Thunder Clan is a genius named Lei Yun who is just a step away from transforming into a nine‑grade bloodline.

Thus overall, the young members of this Thunder Clan generation are only slightly behind the second tier compared with the Ancient Clan's Gu Xun'er and others.

However, these Thunder Clan geniuses were snatched up by Wu Nie Tun Yan before reaching their peak, refined into Dou Emperor bloodline supplement packs.

And the Thunder Clan's Dou Emperor bloodline is extremely potent, so that despite the Soul Clan receiving one fewer Stone Clan and a few Medicine Clan Dou Emperor bloodlines than in the original, its gains are still several grades higher.

Of course, the Soul Clan's operation this time was not entirely smooth.

When Wu Nie Tun Yan, after exterminating all living members of the Thunder Clan, teamed up with the Soul Heaven Emperor to capture the Thunder Emperor's residual soul, the residual soul—still in its primal state without any formation or Thunder Clan reinforcement—inflicted considerable injury on Wu Nie Tun Yan.

In the end, although they succeeded in capturing the Thunder Emperor's residual soul,

the injuries caused by the Thunder Emperor triggered old wounds that Wu Nie Tun Yan had previously received from the Medicine Emperor's residual soul.

Consequently, Wu Nie Tun Yan had to temporarily abandon the plan to advance to the Imperial Realm soul, and instead focus on recuperating its injuries.

As for the Soul Heaven Emperor, though extremely irritated by this episode, he can only accept it helplessly.

After all, with Wu Nie Tun Yan wounded, even if it advanced to the Imperial Realm soul, it could not temporarily hold back Gu Yuan.

And this would severely disrupt his plan.

Therefore, the Soul Heaven Emperor knows this matter cannot be rushed.

Moreover, although they have obtained the entire Thunder Clan's souls, refining them into soul essence requires some time.

Thus, during this period, the Soul Heaven Emperor can have his subordinates refine these soul bodies into soul essence, so that once Wu Nie Tun Yan emerges from its seal, it can absorb enough soul essence to break through.

In this situation, the Soul Heaven Emperor is also not in a hurry to locate the Xiao Clan's Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.

After all, the paths Xiao Yan previously walked have already been thoroughly inspected by the Soul Clan's strongmen.

That region could not possibly contain the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade without their detection.

Hence the result is obvious: it must be on the Yao Chen who escaped under Xiao Yan's cover.

Later, by threatening Xiao Yan's family, they will surely obtain that final piece of Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade.

As for Lin Feng, his record in the pharmacopoeia only shows a Five‑Star Dou Saint realm.

Even adding soul power, exotic fire and other means, he could only, at the cost of a "serious injury", barely kill a Seven‑Star early Soul Void.

Therefore, both the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan have temporarily forgotten his existence.

After all, before a Soul/Ancient Clan alliance that boasts a Nine‑Star peak Dou Saint and an Eight‑Star peak Dou Saint, a combat power barely at the early Seven‑Star level can be easily dealt with by dispatching any one of the Four Demon Saints or three Immortals.

Thus, in the eyes of both sides, Lin Feng is merely a slightly larger ant; against a strong opponent, he is not worth the effort to focus on. (End of chapter)