Wang Yu had barely begun ascending when he paused mid-flight, answering his own internal question.
He'd seen a spiritual treasure. Not taking it would be a crime against heaven.
He turned and shot toward the source.
The closer he got, the denser the ambient lightning became. The blue-white arcs began to shimmer with a faint violet hue.
Moments later—
A cluster of violet crystals emerged from the scorched soil, glowing in the endless darkness of the abyss. Each crystal bore lightning sigils, crackling softly with electric discharge.
Wang Yu's eyes lit up.
"Heavenly Thunder Crystal Cluster!"
A rare treasure said to form when lightning tribulation energy disperses during a cultivator's breakthrough. It was an ideal material for crafting tribulation-deflecting artifacts.
Starting at tier-three, and if birthed during Nascent Soul or Soul Formation tribulations, it could reach even higher grades.
Thunderfall Abyss, with its constant lightning strikes and accumulated energy, was the perfect environment for such a phenomenon.
This cluster was likely naturally formed.
Wang Yu braved the violet lightning and plucked the cluster with ease, storing it in a jade box. He'd buy the necessary tools from Tianbao Pavilion later.
With this, he could begin crafting his own tribulation artifact.
Normally, when preparing to break through to Core Formation, one would apply to the sect for a tier-three spiritual vein cave, tribulation-dispersing formations, and protective treasures.
So why make his own?
Because Wang Yu wanted to break through in Spiritridge, not at the sect.
He'd claimed to use the Foundation Seizing Technique to reach Foundation stage—just to avoid attention. After all, he'd done it at age 37.
Now, he was only 63.
Compared to ordinary cultivators who reached Foundation at 100, or geniuses at 50, he stood out too much. Even the Lifespan Burning Demonic Art couldn't hide it.
Only the Foundation Seizing Technique could explain it away.
The three clans backing him—Zhuo, Yu, and Zuoqiu—were happy to help. With their cover, he wouldn't be exposed anytime soon.
Once he reached Core Formation, his status would rise from inner sect steward to elder. Then, learning the sect's core inheritance would be guaranteed.
Originally, he planned to use the Profound Origin Demonic Fetus as his excuse. That's what Zhuo Shouqing and the others believed.
But another cultivator also practiced that technique—his enemy, Fu Xiao.
Fu Xiao had gone to Vermilion Divine Mountain seeking fortune and hadn't returned.
Wang Yu's plan:
If Fu Xiao returned, he'd break through in Spiritridge. If not, he'd go to the sect.
Either way, he needed his own tribulation artifact.
The Heavenly Thunder Crystal Cluster was perfect.
He infused true essence into his Lunar Ghost Eyes, scanning the surroundings.
Sure enough—
More yang energy signatures appeared.
Wang Yu had always been bold when it came to treasure hunting. Otherwise, he wouldn't have entered the Eastern Capital Ruins and returned with a haul.
Following the trail of yang energy—
"Thunderstone? Tier-two lightning treasure—five pieces. Good auxiliary material for tribulation artifacts."
"Purple Lightning Fusion Gold Liquid? Rare tier-two body-refining treasure. At least a hundred drops here. Take it."
"Lightning-Conducting Iron? Essential for the Heavenheart Lightning-Diffusing Array. Perfect for crafting lightning flags or modular components."
The deeper he went, the more lightning treasures he found. None matched the Heavenly Thunder Cluster, but the haul was impressive.
As the saying goes: misfortune births fortune, and fortune hides misfortune.
Being forced into Thunderfall Abyss was misfortune. Breaking through to late-stage second realm body cultivation was fortune. Finding these treasures—fortune again.
By duality theory… Wang Yu swallowed nervously.
His Lunar Ghost Eyes revealed one last, intensely yang signature. It looked like a round watermelon lying on the ground.
"One last treasure. Then I'm out."
A quarter-hour later—
Wang Yu frowned at the black, round stone. The yang energy was real, but he couldn't identify it.
He tried lifting it—no luck.
"What kind of treasure is this? Even I can't move it. Is it fused to the mountain?!"
"Urgh—!"
He activated his Dragonspine Strength, veins bulging across his arms, neck, and forehead. Faint draconic roars echoed.
"Raaagh!"
Just as he was about to succeed, the ground beneath him cracked, spreading fissures across ten meters.
BOOM—
The earth shook. The black stone erupted with violent lightning, forcing Wang Yu to leap back in shock.
What the hell?
Suddenly—
Two arcs of lightning flashed in the dark.
Wang Yu stared.
The black stone had opened lightning-filled eyes.
"…So… I was trying to pull off its head?"
BOOM—
The pit exploded. Rocks flew. Lightning surged from every direction, illuminating the abyss.
Wang Yu finally saw the full form.
A charred corpse, its legs fused with root-like stone tendrils. Yellowish fluid oozed from the severed stumps—he'd torn it loose.
No doubt—
A naturally formed zombie.
Its corpse energy and lightning were fused. No yin or death aura. According to corpse-path records—
This was a mutant thunder corpse.
Wang Yu's scalp tingled.
Zombies feared all yang forces—lightning, fire, pure yang essence.
Some could resist, but were still fundamentally vulnerable. Like his Lunar Ghoul Corpse.
This thunder corpse was different.
It had truly assimilated lightning, shedding its yin nature and gaining thunder techniques.
It no longer absorbed death aura—which normally blocked zombies from developing intelligence.
Legendary spirit corpses gained wisdom by avoiding death aura.
This thunder corpse had spirit corpse traits.
Among rare thunder corpses, it was a unique specimen. If it reached ascension, it could truly resurrect.
Wang Yu was stunned.
It was like witnessing a myth.
After a long pause—
The thunder corpse stirred, realizing its situation. It looked at its severed root-legs, and its eyes flashed with human-like fury.
Zombies were called children of the earth. They drew power from the land. Wang Yu had disrupted its setup.
CRACK—
Lightning flashed. The thunder corpse appeared before Wang Yu, its claw crackling with violet electricity, slashing at his chest.
Wang Yu leaned back, bracing with one hand and sweeping with his leg.
His monstrous strength met iron-like resistance. The corpse didn't budge.
"Tier-three mid stage?!"
He gasped. He couldn't even move it.
The corpse retracted its arms and stabbed forward.
Wang Yu melted into the ground using Purple Dragon Earthshift.
Now was not the time to fight.
But—
The thunder corpse followed underground. Faster than him.
In two breaths, it grabbed his left leg and hurled him out of the earth. The tunnel exploded behind him.
From the surface, it looked like the ground had erupted. Wang Yu flew out, trailing lightning. The thunder corpse chased.
It roared.
"RAAAHH—!"
A lightning beam shot from its mouth.
Wang Yu's eyes twitched.
He spread his Frostmoon Wings, twisting mid-air. He released Ice Wyvern Flame, shaping it into twin ice serpents to intercept the beam.
Lightning was fast—and the corpse's cultivation crushed his.
The flames clashed with the beam for a moment—then shattered.
Not because the flame was weak, but because Wang Yu's cultivation and technique couldn't keep up.
Half his body was struck. He went numb.
"Who said fortune favors the bold?!"
He cursed inwardly.
He summoned the Lunar Ghoul Corpse from its coffin. As the thunder corpse lunged, the two collided.
Wang Yu staggered up, pulling out the Ghostcry Flute. The Glazed Soul Lantern spun behind him, releasing gray soulfire.
Normally, zombies resisted soul-path powers. But this one had intelligence.
That meant it had a true soul—not just a bloodthirsty instinct.
A weakness.
"Woooo—"
The flute's sharp, eerie melody rang out. The thunder corpse paused. Not fully controlled—but clearly affected.
The ghoul seized the moment and unleashed its divine art: Corpse Curse – Lunar Suppression!
The curse wrapped around the thunder corpse.
It roared.
Then—
It erupted with a thunderstorm field. Thick lightning bolts shot from its body, forming a dense grid that electrocuted the ghoul.
Its corpse aura dissipated. It was badly wounded.
The storm lasted ten breaths, purging the curse.
Then the thunder corpse resumed its charge.
Wang Yu, paralyzed, could only call Snowjade to carry him.
Meanwhile—
He activated his soul technique: Soul-Shattering Finger!
(End of Chapter)
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