Chapter 793: Refinement and the Half-Step Eighth-Rank Supreme
A streak of lightning flashed across the sky, streaking straight toward the oncoming ninth-rank Beast Spirit and the horde of eighth-rank spirits that followed. A resonant crack of thunder echoed, carrying the boundless weight of annihilation.
Boom!
In an instant, it was as if divine thunder had descended. The world itself trembled. The ear-splitting roar tore through mountains and valleys, the sheer soundwave rippling outward for thousands of miles.
From above, the lightning fell like molten rivers of destruction, cascading through the heavens until the skies became seas of thunder.
Even the thick, clinging clouds of death qi that hung perpetually over the valley were pierced apart, swept away by the radiant storm.
The world was engulfed in endless light and chaos.
Within Mo Yu's eyes, the lightning reflected like an infernal storm. His lips curved faintly—expectant rather than surprised.
"As expected of an artifact refined by my true self... Such power could erase even the heavens themselves."
Below the realm of Earth Supremes, no being alive could withstand it.
He immediately moved, retreating swiftly in the opposite direction. Staying close to that epicenter of destruction would mean courting death even for him.
Boom!
And then the black Thunder Orb detonated.
Torrents of lightning burst outward like tidal waves, swallowing everything. The very space trembled and cracked.
The ground split into vast, gaping fissures, unraveling the valley into chaos.
Everything touched by the roaring thunder turned to dust.
The withered bodies of the eighth-rank Beast Spirits were obliterated instantly, their resistance meaningless before the storm. When the lightning passed over them, they simply ceased to exist—scattered ashes lost in divine wrath.
Only the ninth-rank Beast Spirit endured for a brief, trembling heartbeat. Its enormous body burst with dense, suffocating death qi, momentarily halting the thunderous tide.
But for one heartbeat only.
When the lightning struck again, it smashed through the wall of death energy as if it were brittle glass. The power flooded over, engulfing the creature in a sea of searing destruction.
The great valley vanished beneath the world-rending storm.
Far away, Cai Lin and the others felt the tremor ripple across the horizon. Their faces turned pale as they stared into the distance—where a sun of pure lightning devoured the land.
"What kind of power is this?" Han Yue whispered. Even from miles away, the pressure weighed on his chest; close up, it would have meant instant death.
Cai Lin's delicate lips tightened slightly. Though worry shimmered in her eyes, she soon composed herself, voice cool as glacier water. "Stay alert. Don't let anyone near."
The others nodded, encircling the region as guardians.
Meanwhile, far to the north, on a mountain peak, a figure in blood-red robes suddenly turned toward the sight of that blinding light. The surge of energy made his brow crease for an instant. The oppressive shockwave had reached even him.
Blood Ming's amber eyes narrowed in thought.
"Brother Blood Ming," one of his followers said warily, "what was that? That power feels… unreal."
"Lightning," Blood Ming said quietly. "And not just any. Power like that... even a ninth-rank Supreme would perish within it."
Understanding flickered across his eyes. "So, he finally used it."
A chuckle escaped his lips. "Seems I overestimated him. To think that to kill a half-step ninth-rank Beast Spirit, he'd have to rely on that trinket."
In his mind, Mo Yu was now just another fool stripped of his trump card. When they met again, he would make that arrogant human pay in full.
"Finish the task here," he said softly.
He raised his hand. A blood-red spear appeared in his grasp. With a casual flick, he vanished—reappearing directly above the half-step ninth-rank creature still thrashing below.
Whoosh!
The spear descended like a crimson dragon, roaring through the air before crashing straight through the monster's body. The scarlet beam pierced effortlessly, and the Beast Spirit exploded into pieces.
A dark heart emerged, beating faintly. Blood Ming caught it nonchalantly, rolling it in his palm as a cold smirk tugged his lips.
"Mo Yu… I hope you survive long enough to step into the inner sanctum. Otherwise, I'll be very disappointed."
…
Elsewhere, the gigantic valley lay destroyed beyond recognition. The mountain walls had collapsed into powder; rivers of molten earth coursed through the canyon. The landscape resembled a scar across the world itself.
Amid the lingering thunderlight, a lone boulder cracked apart. A figure burst outward in a streak of light—Mo Yu.
He landed lightly amid the wreckage, scanning the devastation. No signs of movement. The entire bestial horde, including the ninth-rank spirit, had been erased.
His gaze shifted sharply. "The Nine Revolution Azure Lotus…"
Without wasting time, he sprinted toward where the swamp had been.
The once-corrupted marshland was now a boiling lake of mud, the air thick with the remnants of death qi. Yet even among this desolation, a faint green glow shone like a heartbeat.
When Mo Yu arrived, he saw it—still untouched.
The small pool of pure water shimmered with clarity, untouched by the storm. It was surrounded by black waters that seemed unable to cross an invisible barrier.
Deep at its heart, the azure lotus bloomed—a perfect gem of nature's defiance.
Relief washed through him. "Good. You survived."
With a motion of his sleeve, he descended. His fingers rose, summoning a concentrated surge of spirit power. The golden energy coiled into a vortex, reaching deep into the lake, clutching the glowing lotus at its root.
A flood of essence rose. Slivers of mud and pure water wrapped around the jade flower as it lifted into the air and floated before him.
The fragrance was intoxicating. Raw vitality surged from it, tingling across his skin.
With a finger flick, Mo Yu dispelled the clinging mud, revealing the immaculate beauty beneath.
The Nine Revolution Azure Lotus gleamed like sculpted jade, its delicate petals curled around a single flawless seed, etched with divine markings shaped by the laws of heaven and earth.
"So that's what you are…" he whispered in awe.
The value of such a treasure was unimaginable. Refining this lotus could fortify the soul, and most importantly—break the barrier to Earth Supreme.
It was one of the rarest miracles in all creation.
Mo Yu smiled faintly, storing it away before streaking skyward. Minutes later, he descended upon the mountain ridge where Cai Lin's group waited.
The moment they saw him unharmed, joy flashed across their faces.
"It's over?" Cai Lin asked, though her gaze already caught the satisfaction behind his eyes.
Mo Yu nodded with a grin. The thrill of his success lingered in his chest.
She didn't need to ask what he had found. The glimmer in his expression told her everything.
"We'll rest first," he said lightly, "then make for the inner sanctuary."
Cai Lin and Han Yue exchanged glances, then nodded.
Half a day later, the group found refuge in a secluded peak free of death qi. Mo Yu carved out a cave within the mountain and summoned Cai Lin to join him inside.
Outside, Han Yue, Mang Lie, and the others stationed themselves in a defensive circle, keeping watch.
Within the cave, Mo Yu sat cross-legged. The air shimmered with a faint emerald glow. Before him, the Nine Revolution Lotus floated, its light infusing the underground hollow with pure life force. Even the wilted vines on the stone walls began to sprout anew.
Cai Lin stared at the lotus, her normally calm features flickering with surprise. "That's… the Nine Revolution Azure Lotus?"
Her voice trembled slightly. She had read of such things—divine relics coveted by every ancient power. Even the mighty Swallowing Python Clan possessed nothing comparable.
Mo Yu smiled faintly. "Fortune favors the reckless, it seems."
His eyes glimmered as they fell upon the white lotus seed nestled at its center—the true source of the lotus's power. Refining it would allow him to reshape his foundation, paving the way toward an eventual breakthrough beyond the ninth rank.
"Let's refine it together," he said softly.
Cai Lin's eyes widened, but when she saw his expression, she only smiled and nodded. Their bond transcended words; what he had was hers as well.
Mo Yu extended his hand. The white seed lifted from the lotus, splitting neatly into two halves.
The two sat across from one another, facing the glowing lotus.
"Let's begin."
Both swallowed their halves of the seed simultaneously.
Instantly, a torrent of life force burst within them. Brilliant green light seeped through their skin, their hair flowing longer and glossier as raw vitality surged out. The power flooding their veins made even the ancient stones around them hum with resonance.
Though overwhelming, it wasn't meant to harm. They steadied their breathing, circulating spiritual energy to draw the seed's essence inward.
The vast vitality soon melted into their cores, amplifying their lifeforce and refining their spiritual foundations.
Outside, Han Yue and the others watched as waves of energy rolled from the mountain like a pulse, shaking the surroundings.
They exchanged astonished glances. "What kind of treasure did he find?" Han Yue murmured.
Hours passed into a day.
Then, the mountain trembled.
From the cave burst a torrent of radiant light—two figures emerged, encircled by luminous energy. One was serene and powerful, the other graceful and radiant.
Like celestial lovers descending from the heavens—Mo Yu and Cai Lin had completed their refinement.
(END CHAPTER)
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