Chapter 41: Absorbing the Strange Thunder

Looking at the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder looking worthless, Qian Lao helplessly placed his hand on his forehead and said, "Xiao Li, the evil aura on you is way too heavy; even strange thunder is drawn to you."

Xiao Li gave a wry smile; ever since the Black Seal City auction began, he's been killing people every day for the past half‑month at the Blood Sect—sometimes a few, sometimes dozens—because there are too many young, easy‑to‑bully folks, and he does it for self‑preservation.

Though he also opportunistically robbed those doing evil… "punish the wicked, promote the good," cough, roughly calculated, Xiao Li has slain over a thousand people in the past two months, so it's no wonder the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder voluntarily submitted.

Watching the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder cling to him and press inward, Xiao Li smiled helplessly, "Qian Lao, please have Bai Lao guard the outside for me; I expect the absorption will take a long time."

Qian Lao nodded; the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder has been underground for an unknown span, and if Xiao Li wants to absorb this sea‑like energy, it will take at least several months.

After Qian Lao left, Xiao Li quietly pulled out a refined blood pill and stuffed it whole into his mouth like candy, "Be good; once I get stronger I'll take you away."

The Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder seemed to understand, honestly releasing its grip on Xiao Li's hand, even blocking the entrance and thumping its chest, as if surrendering itself to me.

"Haha, then I'm counting on you," Xiao Li felt the burst of blood‑pill energy inside him, quickly sat cross‑legged, and began absorbing.

Xiao Li wasn't really worried about whether he could absorb the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder; the creature came voluntarily, and as long as he absorbs it slowly and doesn't exceed the absorption limit of a Great Dou Master, there's no danger.

After the blood pill was fully absorbed, Xiao Li successfully broke through to the peak of a Seven‑Star Great Dou Master.

"The blood pill still has too many impurities; five third‑grade blood pills only raised me two stars," Xiao Li sighed lightly.

Seeing the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder trying to cling again, Xiao Li waved his hand urgently, "Hold on, I still need to temper my Dou Qi; an unstable foundation is a serious problem."

The Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder sulked in the corner, feeling rejected QAQ.

With everything ready, as Xiao Li spoke, the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder impatiently leapt onto him, a massive surge of energy flooding in instantly, turning Xiao Li's face a deep red.

"Slow—slow down, that's too much!"

Blood clouds as dark as ink, reddish‑black, and even Xiao Li felt extremely uneasy from the blood‑evil aura, as if he were receiving the centuries‑long resentment of the Blood‑evil Heaven‑slayer Thunder—an unavoidable test from it.

Without the brilliance of the flesh, one must endure mental torment.

Xiao Li's black robe billowed as if a storm raged within, and a faint blood‑colored glow seeped from under his skin—a proof that blood‑colored lightning had fused with his body.

Xiao Li clenched his teeth, fine beads of sweat beading on his forehead, yet he kept a steadfast will, continuously guiding and absorbing that terrifying, immense energy.

The number of days he spends absorbing this energy equals the number of days he must endure its mental shock.

If he absorbed it all, the resentment generated by burying tens of thousands of people would cause Xiao Li's mind to collapse, so he can only discard most of the energy, leaving it here to absorb later.

"……"

In the Demon Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yan flicked the blood off his Mystic Heavy Ruler and captured the rock snake, now turned into meat mush, into his absorption ring.

Yao Lao appeared beside Xiao Yan, fondly stroking his illusory beard, "Not bad, not bad—four months out and you've become a Five‑Star Dou Zhe, much faster than in Wutan City."

Seeing Xiao Yan's resentful gaze, Yao Lao laughed heartily, "Alright, alright—hard cultivation is the way to rapid growth. Think of your second brother; if you don't work harder, how can you catch up?"

When Xiao Li was mentioned, Xiao Yan's eyes hardened, and he looked toward the cave ahead, "Teacher, you said there's something good there—are you serious?"

Yao Lao clicked his tongue, "Of course. My spiritual perception is strong; rest assured, there will definitely be something you'll be satisfied with."

Xiao Yan brushed the darkness and walked inward, staring at the massive stone gate that appeared, looking to Yao Lao as if seeking help.

Yao Lao murmured softly, floated toward the stone gate, and began searching for a way to break it.

While Yao Lao was pondering, beside the stone gate Xiao Yan had already crouched, his hand touching a tiny protrusion beneath the gate; his finger pressed lightly, producing a faint creak that echoed slowly through the cave.

"Uh, teacher, this doesn't seem like a puzzle‑type door," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

Yao Lao's face stiffened, his right hand rubbing his chin and freezing, "Of course I know—this is a test for you!"

As the stone gate rose, a faint silvery light emanated from its interior, dispelling all the surrounding darkness.

Seeing the brilliantly lit interior of the stone gate, Yao Lao tossed his hair, "Alright, go in."

Saying that, Yao Lao pretended to drift calmly into the gate's interior.

Watching Yao Lao step forward, Xiao Yan tightly followed.

The two stepped through the stone gate, and the view before them suddenly broadened.

Inside the stone gate lay a massive stone chamber, somewhat simple and spacious; the walls were inlaid with moonstones for illumination, and at the center stood a seat.

On the seat sat a withered skeleton, its sunken skull perched on a stark white thigh bone; in this quiet atmosphere, it looked rather eerie.

In front of the seat was a relatively long green stone platform, upon which three locked stone boxes were neatly arranged.

Additionally, in the three corners of the chamber were piles of gleaming gold coins and other precious valuables, likely numbering well over several hundred thousand.

Xiao Yan's eyes twinkled, "Great, now I'm rich—accidentally stumbled upon a strongman's tomb chamber."

…the Xiao family

Xiao Zhan looked at the lone little medic immortal sitting in the pavilion and sighed, "Xiao Li, that kid—bringing someone back and then ignoring them, what's that supposed to be?"

Fortunately, because Xiao Li brought her back, even though the little medic immortal has become even more beautiful these past months, the ragtag boys in the clan haven't dared to approach.

Looking at Xun Er sitting beside the little medic immortal, Xiao Zhan clutched his head in pain, "These two kids have disappeared; one ran off, the other left a girl, and both girls act like they've claimed those wayward sons."

Speaking of that, Xiao Zhan suddenly thought of the distant Imperial Capital's Nanlan family, recalling that his own Xiao Yan and a Nanlan girl were betrothed.

Xiao Zhan looked at the faint‑smiling Xun Er, resolved in his heart that, compared to a mere Nanlan daughter, he preferred her, but…

Dear reader masters, this chapter is just a setup; the protagonist will be secluding himself to absorb for several months. In the next chapter I'll write about Nanlan Yanran—the three‑year pact still stands—so please don't rush. Without enough buildup, the fun would feel forced. Thanks again for everyone's support!

(End of Chapter)