Volume One: The Celestial Palace Amidst the Clouds Chapter Seventy-Three: Thunder Mountain

Chapter Seventy-Three: Thunder Mountain

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Over a dozen dazzling beams of immortal light illuminated the entire space, all converging on the pitch-black turtle shell. Even Zhou Hao could not dissolve the force; none who had made it here were weaklings. Aside from Fire Yuan’s Fire Yi and Wind Desert’s Feng He, both early-stage Golden Immortals, the others had all reached the quasi-Golden Immortal realm. Even if Zhou Hao unleashed his Great Sun Palm with full force, victory was far from guaranteed.

A crackling sound erupted as the earth beneath the turtle shell instantly caved in, sand and dust billowing. Below, the Ice and Fire Celestial Pool surged with waves. In midair, torrents of fire raged while cold air spiraled upward, water and fire intermingling to create terrifying chaotic currents. Yet such concentrated attacks, striking the turtle shell, left it utterly unscathed. The turtle hidden inside its shell was invincible, indifferent to the turmoil outside, content to nap undisturbed!

“Ah, I refuse to believe it! How could this damned turtle shell withstand our combined assault?” a disciple of Thunder Mountain roared in fury. He hadn’t even managed to pick a single Dragonblood Flower before watching the turtle ruin them all, his rage reaching unimaginable heights.

Thud!

The Thunder Mountain disciple punched at the turtle. Behind him, a colossal shadow of a fierce beast appeared, lion-like in form, its body gleaming with purple-gold, fur as lustrous as silk. Lightning crackled around it, electric arcs interwoven, making it appear a deity of thunder. As the disciple unleashed his fist, the beast let out a thunderous roar, charging after the fist toward the turtle.

Buzz!

At the same moment, a youthful figure appeared abruptly before the turtle. He moved his hands in swift seals, then struck forward with a palm. Instantly, golden light flashed, waves of energy rippling outward. All eyes were drawn to the power of that palm; even Feng He and Fire Yi cast sidelong glances.

The two attacks met in midair with a deafening crash, like a volcanic eruption or a raging tsunami. Gold and purple light enveloped the space, but the purple seemed utterly overpowered. The fierce beast, despite its struggle, was reduced to a wailing shadow.

The mountain-sized golden palm swept aside the fist, and the Thunder Mountain disciple who launched the attack coughed blood, stunned. He never imagined that the youthful-looking Zhou Hao possessed such a devastating move; even Feng He or Fire Yi might not withstand it!

“Pfft!” The disciple spat a mouthful of blood, his body collapsing, finally landing flat on his back several miles away, eyes shut, face pale as death, barely breathing.

“What a formidable killing move! What terrifying celestial martial art is this? Even the Suanni Fist is no match for it!”

“Indeed, the Suanni Fist is hailed as Thunder Mountain’s premier offensive technique, its power boundless, famed for destroying countless peers and even higher-level foes. Yet this time… total defeat! Am I seeing things?”

“Who exactly is this Zhou Hao? A disciple of the Celestial Palace, yet constantly exceeding expectations, now revealing such astonishing prowess. He’s hidden his strength too deeply.”

As the dust settled, disciples of the four great factions were in an uproar, their gazes never leaving Zhou Hao. In this brief moment, their wariness of him had deepened immeasurably.

“Zhou Hao, what do you mean by this? You dare harm a member of Thunder Mountain? Do you truly think the four great factions are to be trifled with?” A figure in a purple skirt armor swept forward, her presence commanding, murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

Before her, the youthful figure who had spoken little finally replied: “So many of you attacked my brother—should I not retaliate on his behalf?”

His calm, cold voice echoed across the crowd, leaving most speechless: Calling a turtle that hasn’t even transformed ‘brother’? What a ridiculous excuse!

“Nonsense! It was this turtle that started it, consuming all the Dragonblood Flowers and disgusting us with its saliva. After committing such foul deeds, it’s only right that we teach it a lesson,” Thunder Mountain’s Lei Shan replied frostily.

“How amusing. The Dragonblood Flowers were unclaimed, fair for any to seize. Now that my brother has taken the most, you’re all envious, resentful, and want to kill him out of spite. Don’t think I don’t know what’s in your hearts!” Zhou Hao sneered.

“You sharp-tongued brat, I see you’re courting death!” Lei Shan’s brows arched, silver teeth clenched, fists tightening, her voice ice-cold.

Whoosh!

Zhou Hao’s vision blurred. Lei Shan vanished from her spot; suddenly, a burning pain struck his face, and his body was sent flying, veering left.

“Zhou Hao!” Su Qing cried out, nearly drawing her sword, but was stopped by Zhou Hao’s shout from midair.

“No need to worry about me. Protect the turtle. This woman is no match for me!”

Hearing this, Su Qing paused, lowering her hand. With a slight gesture, the turtle shrank to the size of a teapot lid and came to rest in her palm.

“Let’s see how stubborn you truly are!” Lei Shan transformed into a bolt of purple lightning, enveloped in thunder, charging at Zhou Hao in midair with astonishing speed.

“Do you think I’ll suffer twice in the same place?” Though blood dripped from his lips, Zhou Hao still smiled, a confident, spirited grin.

“Kill!”

Purple light streaked through the void, thunder rolling across the space, its power and speed awe-inspiring. Lei Shan was now wielding Thunder Mountain’s secret technique—Celestial Thunder Light!

Thunder exploded, purple light soared skyward. Zhou Hao seemed about to be pierced by the brightest beam, but he would not sit idle. Though at a disadvantage, suspended in midair, he acted.

Sizzle!

He flung out a diamond-shaped object, a golden lightning within—one of the thunder talismans he’d found in the Cloud Mists Treasury.

The thunder talisman was instantly surrounded by endless bolts, as if it were the very source of lightning. At that moment, Celestial Thunder Light reached Zhou Hao. All this happened in a blink.

A bizarre scene unfolded: the purple light, upon nearing the talisman, was wholly absorbed, swallowed as if by a black hole. The golden lightning within the talisman grew more condensed and radiant.

“Aah! This is a thunder talisman—help me!” A sharp, urgent cry for help came from within the talisman, where a figure could be seen.

“Zhou Hao, release Lei Shan at once, or Thunder Mountain will pursue you to the death!”

Another figure emerged, tall and burly, voice booming like thunder—the strongest Thunder Mountain disciple, Lei Yan. Seeing Lei Shan trapped and calling for help, he was deeply worried.

“Hmph, I refuse!” Youthful arrogance blazed in Zhou Hao’s eyes; threatened and warned, he retorted immediately.

“Go to hell!” Lei Yan stepped forward, leaping into the air, unleashing his Suanni Fist at full strength—a force ten times greater than the previous disciple.

Zhou Hao showed no fear, manipulating the thunder talisman before him to collide with the Suanni Fist, treating the talisman as a shield.

Crack!

The massive Suanni shadow shattered upon contact with the talisman, and the remaining purple-gold lightning was absorbed. The crowd exchanged stunned glances.

“Thunder talisman… truly powerful! Zhou Hao possesses such a celestial treasure?!”

“The thunder talisman is essential for cultivating Palm Lightning; the requirements are stringent—only immortals of the upper realm can forge one. Once separated from its master, it becomes a secret treasure, with limited uses!” someone pointed out.

“But it looks to me as if the talisman is absorbing celestial thunder power to strengthen itself!” another shook his head, disputing the former’s statement.

Along the winding path, a pure white crystal coffin lay across the way. None dared approach too closely; its threat was unknown. Now, as they watched Lei Yan and Zhou Hao face off by the ‘green belt’ of Dragonblood Flowers, a familiar figure quietly drew near.

“You have a thunder talisman, but I have secret treasures as well. Today, I will kill you!”

Lei Yan stood massive in the air, unfaltering, raising a purple-gold melon-shaped weapon, long as his arm, gripped tightly in his hand.

“That secret treasure couldn’t even breach the barrier earlier—now you think it can handle me?” Zhou Hao glanced at Lei Yan’s weapon, scoffing.

“Sharp-tongued! When you lie crushed beneath my hammer, let’s see if you can still smile!” Lei Yan’s rage overflowed. Seeing Zhou Hao’s slender figure, he longed to smash him to pieces.

Clang!

“Then let’s fight!” Zhou Hao drew a deep breath, his right hand forming a grip, and a stone sword appeared, its dark blade ancient and smooth, unremarkable in appearance.

Both soared into the sky, the battle fully engaged. The melon and stone sword clashed repeatedly, sparks and lightning erupting at every strike.

“This Zhou Hao pays no heed to the four great factions. If not for his usefulness, he’d have been dealt with long ago. Now he grows more rampant!” Feng Jun watched the fight above, his face twisted with malice.

“To us, he’s merely a pawn—he won’t stir up any real trouble. Only, I never expected him to possess so many treasures. It hastens his demise,” Feng Ling replied with a cool smile, watching Zhou Hao in the clouds as if eyeing her own prize.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Above, Zhou Hao and Lei Yan exchanged blows, the air exploding. Lei Yan was shocked. He’d cultivated the Way of Thunder for years, tempering his body with celestial lightning, unmatched in physique among peers. Yet Zhou Hao seemed a physical cultivator as well, his strength equal!

Lei Yan didn’t know that Zhou Hao had nearly died deep in the veins of the Cloud Mists Celestial Palace, barely surviving the battle against the Sun Shark. Only by obtaining the nine-petal Fireheart Lotus and using its innate flame to cleanse and reform his bones and flesh had Zhou Hao’s body and soul become so solid and powerful.

Clang!

Their weapons collided again, stone sword and purple-gold melon hammering together, their bodies drawn close, eyes locked—true enemies meeting, hatred blazing.

Crack!

At that moment, the purple-gold melon emitted a mournful cry. From the point of contact with the stone sword, cracks spidered outward. The next instant, it exploded, fragments flying, and Lei Yan was left wide open.

Zhou Hao wasted no time. With a thud, he kicked Lei Yan in the chest, visibly caving it in and sending him flying.

On the winding path, Zhou Hao stood naturally facing the disciples of the four great factions. Beside him, Su Qing watched with cold indifference, her gaze sweeping over faces twisted with rage, malice, or ferocity.

The atmosphere was tense, but equally silent…

“Zhou Hao, are you provoking us?”

Yet such silence could not last. A figure in green robes spoke slowly to Zhou Hao, his voice especially deep.