Chapter 65: The Proud Spirit Faces Thunder Jade

Lin Aosoul charged forward in great strides, his massive hammer dragging across the ground behind him. The rumble was reminiscent of elephant hooves pounding the earth, as if an army of thousands were advancing, making the ground tremble underfoot. With a sudden leap, the ground beneath his feet split with cracks, his waist bent into a powerful arc, and both hands gripped the hammer as he swung it down, like an elephant emerging from the forest, primitive shadows flickering behind him.

The students standing behind Lei Jue saw the enormous hammer that seemed to blot out the sky, felt as if a colossal beast was charging toward them, and their faces turned pale as they hurriedly retreated.

Lei Jue’s smile grew more contemptuous.

“It seems you still don’t understand the difference between the lowly and the noble, the weak and the powerful.”

He spread his arms wide, his staff hovering above his head. “Let me show you—the wrath of the gods!”

In an instant, the world changed color. Black clouds churned overhead, and as he spoke, a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, splitting earth and sky like a furious dragon plunging through the clouds, its power vast and overwhelming.

“Heaven-Shattering Thunder!”

Lin Aosoul’s motion to raise his hammer abruptly froze in midair. Under the force of the thunder, he found himself unable to take another step, unable even to move his body. The fierce lightning reached him in a heartbeat, striking him squarely. Relentless bolts bombarded his body, and even his physique, sturdy as iron and steel, could hardly withstand the onslaught.

Yet he refused to yield. With a roar, he struggled against the crushing pressure of the thunder from above, determined to lift his hammer once more.

“So you still haven’t learned your lesson!” Lei Jue sneered, curling his lips coldly, and with a wave of his hand summoned another bolt. “Wrath of the Storm—Dance of the Dragons!” His robes billowed wildly in the tempest.

The clouds above sealed together, and lightning slithered through the darkness like dragons, rumbling ominously. Countless bolts rained down in rapid succession, striking the ground. Warriors of the Holy City’s Guard were hit one after another, their cries echoing as they collapsed. Then, the thickest nine pillars of lightning linked together, crashing down upon Lin Aosoul.

Despite unlocking the third form of his weapon, Lin Aosoul could not approach. The barrage of lightning exceeded what his body could endure; blood streamed from his seven orifices as his strength faded, and his hammer sank feebly to the earth.

Still, the thunderous assault did not cease. One bolt followed another, apocalyptic and unrelenting, lasting for dozens of minutes. When the storm finally abated, the grass before the city gates was charred black, and silence reigned.

The clouds gradually dispersed overhead. The onlookers, as if struck by lightning themselves, stood paralyzed by fear, their legs numb and bodies rigid.

The warriors of the Holy City’s Guard lay sprawled across the ground, unconscious.

Lin Aosoul, grievously wounded, knelt on one knee, his hands propping himself up on the hammer’s shaft. Blood dripped from his forehead and temples, the hammer reverted to its original form.

Blackfeather was stunned, witnessing for the first time the true might of a master.

“The pinnacle power of a Mage Lord… able to stir the heavens themselves. So this is the Thunder clan, rival to the Crimson Flame family…”

“Hmph, he dared confront the prince directly—this guard must be mad,” murmured a student hiding behind Lei Jue. “He deserved what he got. Not killing him is mercy enough…”

Lei Jue signaled for his white tiger to be brought over; he had no wish to linger in this joyless place any longer.

“Stop… right there…” Lin Aosoul, collapsed on the ground, spoke unyieldingly, his hoarse voice muddied by blood.

Lei Jue halted.

“How utterly foolish…”

He stretched out a hand. “Let this be the end of your foolish life—Heaven’s Thunder!”

Lightning gathered once more above Lin Aosoul, clouds swirling into a purple vortex. He had no strength left to evade, gripping the hammer, resolved to face death. His determined face was bleached pale by the advancing thunder.

“Damn!” thought Blackfeather, “With Lin Aosoul’s current state, he can’t withstand this blow. Even if I can’t use my dark powers, at least I must shield him from this!”

Driven by some unknown force, Blackfeather darted forward like an arrow. Though he had no personal ties with Lin Aosoul, they were both members of the Holy City; he could not stand by and watch him die.

With the Demon’s Eye empowering him, Blackfeather moved as swiftly as a swallow skimming the water. A black shadow streaked from the crowd, crossing the ground, and in an instant stood before Lin Aosoul.

“Come then,” Blackfeather thought, raising his staff in his right hand, clenching his teeth, bracing himself for the thunder overhead, prepared to take the blow with his own body. The lightning pierced through him in a flash, searing and slashing like fire and blade, more powerful than he’d imagined!

One strike, and his knees buckled involuntarily, nearly failing to withstand it. “So strong! I can’t believe Lin Aosoul endured this…”

But remembering the man behind him, Blackfeather stood firm, spine straight, gripping his staff tightly, drawing the lightning toward himself.

The thunder roared on, the heavenly bolt seemingly endless. The unbroken current coursed through Blackfeather’s body, numbing and burning him to the bone, slowly robbing him of all feeling. The pain was as if his sinews and bones were torn apart. Standing beneath the thunder, time seemed to slow; sweat poured down his face, yet he endured with sheer willpower.

Lei Jue watched this newcomer challenge his authority, his expression darkening as he wielded his staff to summon even fiercer bolts that shattered the clouds and struck the earth.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three resounding crashes. Blackfeather felt dizzy, vision swimming in darkness, his right hand and staff scorched with agony, blood oozing from his mouth and nose.

“If this keeps up, I won’t last much longer… Without the seal’s strength, my body is no tougher than a mid-level mage…”

Just as his consciousness began to fade and his knees threatened to collapse, a black vortex suddenly erupted uncontrollably from his right palm. Though only palm-sized, it was like a black hole capable of swallowing all things, instantly drawing the pillar of lightning into his body.

Even Blackfeather was surprised. As the lightning was absorbed, he straightened, catching his breath. His right hand had lost all feeling, and everything that happened was beyond his control—there was no way to stop the black vortex now.

All the thunder in the heavens was pulled by this black hole, descending in unison, absorbed into Blackfeather’s right arm, vanishing from sight!