Chapter 331: Thunder Kirin

Thunderclap Gorge Vine, upon hearing Yang Xiong's words, was instantly startled, a trace of fear flashing in its eyes.

Obviously, given the strength of Yang Xiong's casual strike earlier, killing him would be a piece of cake.

Thunderclap Gorge Vine, however, has reached its current realm and age after countless trials, and it certainly does not wish to fall easily.

"Esteemed sir, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but that I cannot. To pass my guardianship and reach the deepest part of Thunderclap Gorge, you need not only absolute strength but also extreme Lightning Attribute; otherwise, no matter how formidable your power, you will turn to ash."

Yang Xiong smiled, "Interesting. It seems you are cooperating with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan; otherwise this Thunderclap Gorge wouldn't be a cultivation treasure land, and the clan would conceal your existence. Am I right?"

Thunderclap Gorge Vine thought for a moment before speaking, "We wouldn't call it cooperation; back then an elder of theirs helped me once, and their Lightning Attribute indeed matches mine, so we simply assist each other."

"Of course I have never killed any human. Since you know the habits of Thunderclap Gorge Vine, you should know our clan always lives in remote areas, disliking human disturbance; because of our special Lightning Attribute, we can only survive in desolate, especially isolated places."

"Otherwise, if our cultivation is disturbed, not only would our lives be in danger at any moment, but massive disasters could also arise."

Yang Xiong sighed, "It seems your Soul Beast is indeed intriguing. Hiding deep within Thunderclap Gorge makes outside interference difficult, and you have absorbed the abundant lightning of the gorge to form Leichi, which actually aids the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's cultivation. Both sides get what they need."

"But I'm not interested in those. I just want to know what lies at the deepest part of Thunderclap Gorge; I always feel something there inexplicably draws me."

Yang Xiong had come here once before, but at that time his strength was relatively weak and he was no match for this Thunderclap Gorge Vine, so he gave up.

The ground surrounding the entire Thunderclap Gorge appeared dark as ink, somewhat like the Raging Wave Absolute Peril of Sea God Island, yet the two formed in completely different ways.

The Raging Wave Absolute Peril on Sea God Island is created by the Sea God's power repeatedly striking and compressing stones, eventually forming a unique environment.

In Thunderclap Gorge, however, it is the opposite; the dark stones on the ground are believed to have been tempered and struck by countless lightning.

Moreover, the deeper one goes, the stronger the lightning power becomes; the air contains not only endless lightning elements but also boundless destructive force, which prevents ordinary Soul Grandmasters from reaching Thunderclap Gorge Vine's position.

For Soul Grandmasters of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, this Thunderclap Gorge is a cultivation treasure land—a natural Simulated Environment. Under the tempering of lightning, their bodies become tougher, and their Dragon Transformation secret technique was likely forged here.

Thunderclap Gorge Vine suddenly became unusually solemn, "Esteemed sir, I am not exaggerating; any Soul Grandmaster lacking extreme Lightning Attribute who enters the deepest part of Thunderclap Gorge will turn to ash, even the finest Title Douluo among humans."

Yang Xiong did not hesitate; he instantly summoned his martial soul Shura, and a massive blood‑red silhouette appeared around his body, quickly surrounded by blood‑red lightning, whose power seemed even more terrifying than Thunderclap Gorge Vine's.

This is the Heaven Tribulation Thunder Yang Xiong wields; compared with Thunderclap Gorge Vine's azure lightning, the blood‑red Heaven Tribulation Thunder appears to dwarf it in power.

Thunderclap Gorge Vine was instantly startled, "Heaven Tribulation Thunder—how is that possible?"

Yang Xiong laughed, "I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable, knowing my lightning comes from the Heaven Tribulation. That shouldn't be something a Ten‑thousand Year Soul Beast like you can comprehend."

"I possess this Heaven Tribulation Thunder; does that grant me the right to enter the deepest part of Thunderclap Gorge?"

Thunderclap Gorge Vine let out a ferocious roar, lightning surging over its entire body, the bolts brimming with endless power, as if the end of the world were about to arrive.

Immediately after, all the lightning inexplicably coalesced rapidly; Thunderclap Gorge Vine's massive form began to change, eventually transforming into an extremely tall middle‑aged man.

The man stood over 2.5 meters tall, his build immensely hulking, faint lightning flickering across his body, his interior seeming to contain explosive power; by his aura, he appeared to have reached the realm of a Ninety‑Eighth Level Title Douluo.

Yang Xiong was also astonished; he hadn't expected Thunderclap Gorge Vine could assume human form. Titan Giant Ape and Azure Bull Python lack this ability, whereas Demon Soul Great White Shark, Xiao Bai, and the Deep Sea Demon Whale King possess it.

For a Soul Beast to freely take human form, it must either be a Fierce Beast older than two hundred thousand years, or possess a divine grant; there is no other way.

Yet the Thunderclap Gorge Vine before us clearly lacks the aura of a Fierce Beast, so its ability to assume human shape suggests hidden circumstances.

The middle‑aged man bowed slightly, "Esteemed sir, my name is Lei Tian. Since you come from the God Realm and possess Heaven Tribulation Thunder, you naturally qualify to enter the deepest part of Thunderclap Gorge."

Yang Xiong nodded, "I am Yang Xiong, but I am not from the God Realm; I am merely an Inheritor of the divine."

Lei Tian looked puzzled, "That shouldn't be. Human Soul Grandmasters may wield Divine Power, but they are usually Level 99 Ultimate Douluo, and their Divine Power is very limited—it's impossible to use it as freely as you do. Even your martial soul should have already evolved into a Divine Sense."

Yang Xiong replied, "There is no essential difference between humans and gods; the so‑called Divine Sense is merely the evolution of a human Soul Grandmaster. My martial soul is unusual—it is my own body. After countless limit breakthroughs, I tempered my body with Divine Power to reach this realm; don't overthink it."

"I find it odd—why do you know so much about Divine Sense and Divine Power? Could you also be from the God Realm?"

Lei Tian quickly responded, "Esteemed sir, have you ever seen other Soul Beasts that come from the God Realm?"

Yang Xiong nodded, "I once encountered a Black Dragon in the Star Dou Great Forest; his name is Di Tian, whose strength is immense and physique outstanding—he should be from the God Realm."

Lei Tian was instantly shocked, "How is that possible? How could Black Dragon King Di Tian be on Douluo Continent? Shouldn't the Dragon Clan have already perished?"

Yang Xiong's expression shifted slightly, "It seems you truly are from the God Realm; no wonder Thunderclap Gorge Vine can break the Ten Thousand Year limit—only the God Realm's mighty Divine Power can nurture you."

"Moreover, you know Di Tian; your origin is probably not that simple. Whose hand placed you on Douluo Continent?"

Lei Tian's face showed a hint of bitterness, "You know more than I imagined. Though I come from the God Realm, compared to Black Dragon King Di Tian I am far too ordinary, far too weak."

"I don't actually know much either. Once we reach the deepest part of Thunderclap Gorge, you will naturally learn everything. Since you possess Heaven Tribulation Thunder, you are likely the one I've been waiting for."

Yang Xiong now wore a puzzled expression; the original text seemed never to feature a Ten Thousand Year level Thunderclap Gorge Vine, nor any deity associated with lightning.

He, coming from Blue Star, could be a variable in this world; why does Douluo Continent feel even more mysterious than imagined?

Without Thunderclap Gorge Vine's obstruction, Yang Xiong followed the thunder, gradually advancing toward the deepest part of Thunderclap Gorge.

The deeper he walked, the denser the lightning became, resembling a Leichi, yet also like a Heaven Tribulation; the entire Thunderclap Gorge seemed to roar.

Given Yang Xiong's current physique, ordinary lightning has no effect on him; even a true Heaven Tribulation would be no match.

Especially amid the flashing thunderlight, Heaven Tribulation Thunder appears higher in rank than the gorge's own thunder, capable of suppressing all surrounding energy elements.

When the two reached the deepest point, the scene before Yang Xiong was terrifying beyond measure.

It was a massive pit, over two hundred meters in length and width; its surface was covered with blood‑red lightning, seemingly echoing Yang Xiong's Heaven Tribulation Thunder, as if both shared the same origin.

Only then did Yang Xiong grasp Lei Tian's earlier words; this place indeed possesses Heaven Tribulation Thunder, no wonder Lei Tian said even an Ultimate Douluo cannot breach it.

Lei Tian, unusually solemn, bowed before the blood‑red Leichi, his expression full of respect and solemnity, "Esteemed sir, I have brought the person; he should be the one you have been waiting for."

Before Yang Xiong could react, the Leichi emitted an extremely terrifying roar; all the blood‑red lightning converged, forming a gigantic kirin, as if it could annihilate heaven and earth in an instant.

Even with Yang Xiong's strength, he felt endless pressure bearing down, his soul seemingly crushed, as if confronting a true deity; not even Qian Renxue could impose such pressure—only the Sea God and the Asura God achieve such momentum.

Yang Xiong gritted his teeth, enduring the pressure, "Thunder Kirin, how is this possible!"

According to Yang Xiong, all Soul Beasts on Douluo Continent have bloodline grades; worldwide, the Dragon Clan and Phoenix bloodlines are the most noble and strongest.

Unfortunately, whether Dragon or Phoenix, pure‑blood Soul Beasts have not appeared on Douluo Continent for a long time; even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the Fire Dragon, or Ma Hongjun's Fire Phoenix only possess a trace of top‑tier Soul Beast bloodline.

The Kirin lineage's bloodline is by no means inferior to the Dragon or Phoenix lines; Yang Xiong has only glimpsed brief mentions of them in ancient texts.

Though this Thunder Kirin before him was merely an illusion, it could wield Heaven Tribulation Thunder; this is beyond a Soul Beast, at least deity level.

If this Thunder Kirin truly comes from the God Realm, its strength is probably above the Sea God and might not be weaker than the Asura God.

(End of Chapter)