92: Thunder Purification 1

As the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, the three of them were already standing on a ridge on the outskirts of the Thunder Mountain Range.

In the distance, the perpetual thunderclouds, like a thick gray blanket, covered the entire mountain range, with blinding flashes of lightning occasionally striking down, illuminating the rugged peaks.

Ling Xiao's condition was worse than last night.

Although the black threads were suppressed at his glabella, they had formed a spiderweb-like black pattern, spreading from his forehead to his cheeks.

Even more worrying was that one-third of his silver hair had turned jet black, fluttering eerily in the morning breeze.

"According to the star map, the seed of the plane should be in the thunder pool at the top of the main peak," Xiao Bing said, unfolding the map, his brows furrowed, "But that place is permanently shrouded in a thunderous storm, making it impossible to approach by ordinary means."

Xiao Yan's right eye glowed with crimson-gold and azure-silver light, and memories of the Flame Lord's Fire continuously surged forth: "The Flame Lord's records mentioned 'Thunder Lord,' one of the Spirit of the Plane's guardians.

If he's still alive..."

A deafening peal of thunder interrupted him.

On the distant main peak, a purple lightning bolt as thick as a bucket struck directly down, exploding into a blinding flash of electricity at the mountain's summit.

What was horrifying was that a huge face made of lightning vaguely emerged from the electric light!

"Intruders..." A thunderous voice rolled through the valley, making the three of them's eardrums ache, "State your names!"

Xiao Yan stepped forward, the Flame Lord's Fire circulating around his body: "Junior Xiao Yan, accompanied by Junior Brother Xiao Bing and Ling Xiao, has come to seek an audience with Senior Thunder Lord!"

The lightning face was silent for a moment, then suddenly approached, arriving before the three of them from several miles away in the blink of an eye!

Seen up close, this face was entirely composed of flickering electric light, with blurred features yet full of majesty.

"The Flame Lord's aura... the Spirit of the Plane's fluctuations... and also..." The Thunder Lord's gaze swept over the three of them, lingering on Xiao Bing for an instant, "Xuanming Ice Flame? The successor of that girl Ice Soul?"

Xiao Bing cupped his fists and bowed: "Senior is perceptive.

My master, Yao Chen, once received guidance from Senior Ice Soul."

The Thunder Lord snorted, shaking the surrounding rocks loose: "Yao Chen? Never heard of him.

But you've come at just the right time..." His gaze locked onto Ling Xiao, "Boy, you've been contaminated by the Chaos Devourer."

This was not a question, but a statement.

Ling Xiao subconsciously touched the black Pattern on his forehead: "Senior has a Wisdom Eye.

Junior inadvertently in the Black Mist Marsh..."

"Enough nonsense!" The Thunder Lord impatiently interrupted, "You can take the seed of the plane, but this boy must enter the thunder pool alone to undergo purification!" He looked at Xiao Yan, "Heir of the Flame Lord, you should understand the rules—thunder purification cannot be interfered with."

Xiao Bing immediately objected: "No! Ling Xiao's current state..."

"Second Brother..." Ling Xiao gently pressed Xiao Bing's arm, "I must go.

The black threads are constantly adapting to suppression; the next rampage might be even more severe."

Xiao Yan's right eye burned, and fragments of the Flame Lord's memory regarding thunder purification appeared—it was an extremely painful baptism, but it could indeed temporarily curb Chaos contamination.

The question was, could Ling Xiao, in his current state, endure the entire process?

"Senior," Xiao Yan asked cautiously, "How long does the purification process take? What is the success rate?"

The Thunder Lord's face twisted, as if smiling: "Until he can't hold on or the purification is complete.

As for the success rate?" The lightning-formed shoulders shrugged, "Of the experimenters over the past thousand years, no more than three have survived."

Xiao Bing's face instantly changed: "This is practically murder!"

"The choice is yours," the Thunder Lord said coldly, "If you don't accept, then scram.

But a word of warning—" His face suddenly became serious, "The contamination within this boy is very special; it's a 'seed' directly from the black tower's seed.

If it's not dealt with quickly, he will be completely transformed in at most seven days, and then he will be the Chaos Devourer's spokesperson in the Source World!"

These words were like a basin of ice water poured over the three of them.

Ling Xiao's face was pale, but his eyes were firm: "I'll go."

"Ling Xiao!" Xiao Bing still wanted to dissuade him, but was interrupted by his younger brother's shake of the head.

"Second Brother, you know my condition," Ling Xiao said with a bitter smile, "If you hadn't joined forces to suppress me last night, I would have already... And I can feel that the black threads are stealing my memories, especially the parts about the seed of the plane."

Xiao Yan pondered for a long time, then suddenly asked: "Senior Thunder Lord, if we agree to the purification, will you hand over the seed of the plane after its success?"

The Thunder Lord's face flickered: "Of course.

What use do I have for this broken seed?

I'm just keeping it for the Spirit of the Plane."

"One last question," Xiao Yan's right eye fixed on the Thunder Lord, "Are you guarding an ordinary seed of the plane, or... a nexus seed?"

The Thunder Lord was clearly stunned, his lightning-formed eyebrows raised high: "The Flame Lord even told you this? Interesting..." He leaned closer to Xiao Yan, the electric light almost scorching his skin, "Indeed, what I guard here is precisely the most special of the twelve seeds of the plane, the nexus seed, which can connect and sense all other seeds."

Xiao Bing gasped: "No wonder the star map guided us to collect them in a specific order... We must get the nexus seed first!"

"Clever," the Thunder Lord stepped back a bit, "So, have you decided?"

Xiao Yan looked at Ling Xiao, who nodded without hesitation.

Xiao Bing still wanted to say something, but in the end, he just sighed heavily, took out a dark blue rune, and placed it in Ling Xiao's hand: "If you encounter danger, crush it, and I will immediately sense it."]}