94: Golden Core Fall

While Gao De was in seclusion at the Deep Pool Water Mansion and the entire mansion was recuperating, anomalies began to appear at Dragon Lake (Thunder Pool) on the border between the states of Wu and Chu to the northeast, drawing a large number of onlookers and investigators.

Initially, the Cultivators only saw thunder light lingering on the lake's surface. Later, they discovered ancient tile remains at the bottom, tracing the Origins of the 'Thunder Pool' and the 'Pengze Dragon King'. Rumors of a sighting of the Dragon Son, associated with law, also spread, sparking various speculations and attracting much attention.

However, the true turning point occurred half a month after the anomalies subsided.

At that time, several Golden Core Immortals proficient in Formations and Restrictions, after days of research and testing, finally joined forces to preliminarily shake the entrance Restriction of the hidden Small World deep beneath the lake, revealing a trace of it.

This discovery excited all the onlookers, who were convinced there must be a Treasure Trove inside, and they intensified their efforts to break the seal.

But they never imagined that during the half-month they spent laboriously wearing down the entrance Restriction, inside the Small World, that Fourth-Tier female Thunder Tiger with the Dragon Son, associated with law Bloodline had already completed a crucial step in its life—childbirth.

Utilizing this precious half-month where she was not directly disturbed, and relying on the nourishment of the pure Power of Thunder within the Ancient Thunder Pool cave-heaven, as well as her powerful vitality as a Fourth-Tier Demon King, the Thunder Tiger, though still weak, had recovered nearly half of her strength.

The most lethal postpartum weakness period had passed; she had preliminarily stabilized her Foundation and now possessed the strength to fight!

When the external Cultivators thought the Restriction was about to break and the Treasure Trove was within reach, they excitedly launched a final assault, blasted open the entrance, and swarmed in. What greeted them was not the expected masterless Treasure Trove, but a killing god who, though not at her Peak, had accumulated anger and killing intent to the summit!

"Roar—!"

A world-shaking tiger roar, accompanied by endless blue-purple thunder, instantly filled the entire cave-heaven entrance!

The Golden Core Cultivators rushing at the front, including a Golden Core Middle Stage Elder from a great family of the Wu State and a well-known Loose Cultivator from the Chu State, had no time to react before being swallowed by that violent Thunder Domain containing a trace of the Dragon Son, associated with law's majesty. Their protective Magic Treasures shattered like paper; they couldn't even let out a scream before being instantly annihilated in body and soul!

Immediately following, the Thunder Tiger, having recovered part of its mobility, displayed the terrifying strength of a Fourth-Tier Demon King.

Its massive body moved through the thunder light like a ghost. With a swing of its sharp claws, it tore through the Protective Aura of Golden Core Cultivators. With a snap of its bloody maw, two more Golden Core Early Stage Cultivators who couldn't dodge in time fell!

The scene instantly fell into chaos!

The once aggressive team of Cultivators collapsed in an instant, fleeing backward while wailing for their parents.

Greed was replaced by boundless fear; no one expected such a killing god to be hidden within this cave-heaven!

What made Gao De's heart stir even more when he later learned the news through the Heavenly Secret Realm was that among the list of fallen Golden Core Cultivators, the name of the Green Wave Sect's True Person Qing Bo was prominently included!

According to survivor descriptions, True Person Qing Bo seemingly intended to use his water-attribute Divine Ability to flank and find an Opportunity to escape. Instead, he ran straight into the primary direction of the Thunder Tiger's explosive attack. Unable to escape in time, he and his famous Magic Treasure, the 'Green Wave Whisk', were blasted into charcoal by a bucket-thick bolt of blue-purple divine lightning, his life and Dao ending there!

When the news of this incident broke, it shook the three states!

The news that the Green Wave Sect's top combat power was now a vacuum was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, quickly causing an uproar in the Dongting Lake region!

This was not just because of the fearsome Fourth-Tier Thunder Tiger in the Ancient Thunder Pool cave-heaven, but more crucially, the Green Wave Sect's only Core Formation Ancestor in good condition had fallen. True Person Lan Tao had already been heavily injured by Gao De with his life or death still unknown, and now Qing Bo was dead.

The hegemon that had dominated this area for years suddenly collapsed. The vacuum of power and resources left behind immediately made all neighboring forces restless.

The entire power structure of the Chu State, and even the Wu-Yue states, underwent a quiet but drastic change because of this event.

Countless gazes, both overt and covert, were cast toward the Sect that had suffered great losses in strength yet still occupied spiritual mountains and blessed lands.

When Gao De learned of this series of news during his seclusion, he slowly opened his eyes, and within his jiao pupils, a flash of Purple Lightning passed by.

True Person Qing Bo is dead? The Green Wave Sect has lost its pillars?

For him, this was undoubtedly an unexpected and excellent Opportunity for revenge!

Previously, the Green Wave Sect relied on two Core Formation masters and kept their mountain gate tightly closed, leaving him unable to do anything.

Now, the strongest, Qing Bo, is dead, and the heavily injured Lan Tao is likely not far from death. The interior of the Green Wave Sect must be in a state of panic with empty defenses... "It seems the first thing to do after leaving seclusion is to 'visit' this old neighbor." Gao De thought coldly, a chilling arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

The weight pressing on his heart seemed to show signs of loosening.

He composed his mind and focused even more on breaking through the Third Order Mid-Stage Bottleneck.

Revenge also required sufficient strength as support. He wanted to personally settle this grudge when his state reached a new Peak.

The crisis of the Green Wave Sect's destruction arrived early due to the accident at the Ancient Thunder Pool. This also provided Gao De with an unprecedented Opportunity to clear surrounding obstacles and integrate resources.

The changing winds of the outside world formed a subtle resonance with the steady improvement of his strength... Deep Pool Water Mansion, the core Forbidden Ground, the Cultivation chamber Gao De opened after reaching the Third Order.

Gao De was not as eager as the external Cultivators to seek the Opportunity of the Ancient Thunder Pool, nor did he immediately leave seclusion because of the upheaval in the Green Wave Sect.

He knew deeply that all external opportunities and changes ultimately required one's own strong strength to grasp and handle.

At this moment, he was immersed in a deeper level of Cultivation.

His massive flood dragon body was coiled at the core of the Spiritual Vein, surrounded by dense purple electric light and misty blood Qi.

He was not breaking through the Third Order Mid-Stage Realm Bottleneck, but was putting all his effort into condensing and purifying his Purple Lightning Flood Dragon Bloodline!

The medicinal power of the dragon nurturing pills and hundred beasts blood tempering pills he had taken previously had not fully dissipated. Under his intentional guidance, they were now merging into the depths of his Bloodline bit by bit, stimulating hidden power and removing minute Impurities.

He could clearly feel that the majesty and power belonging to a high-ranking flood dragon within his Bloodline were slowly but steadily growing.

"Four percent... still rising..." Gao De inspected himself internally, sensing the change in Bloodline concentration.

According to previous experience, when the Purple Lightning Flood Dragon Bloodline concentration reached five percent, it was possible to trigger the Awakening of a new innate Divine Ability!

This was far more significant than the strength increase brought by simply raising a minor Realm, and it was more in line with his Foundation.

He suppressed all stray thoughts, even the temptation of revenge brought by the death of True Person Qing Bo and the emptiness of the Green Wave Sect.

He fully operated the Purple Heaven Dragon Transformation Art, guiding the medicinal power and Spiritual Qi like the finest carving knife to sculpt his Bloodline Origin.

Time flowed in silence.

The Spiritual Qi in the Water Mansion converged toward him like a vortex. Wisps of tiny purple electric snakes leaped and darted cheerfully between his scales, making faint crackling sounds as if celebrating the occurrence of some transformation.

After an unknown amount of time, perhaps months or even years, Gao De's body suddenly jolted!

It was as if some shackle within him had been broken. The speed of his Bloodline's flow suddenly accelerated, and a surge of Power of Thunder, far purer and more domineering than before, surged from the depths of his Bloodline!

On his blue-black scales, those natural purple electric patterns suddenly lit up, becoming more complex and profound, as if containing the ultimate principles of the world's thunder laws.

Bloodline concentration, Breakthrough to five percent!

At that very instant, a piece of profound information naturally surfaced in his Sea of Consciousness—regarding a brand new innate Divine Ability!

Divine Ability: Thunder Shadow Traverse!

This Divine Ability was not a simple movement technique, but a combination of Lightning Evasion with his own Bloodline shadows and his subtle perception of space.

When activated, he could transform into a thunder shadow over short distances. It wasn't a straight-line traverse but allowed him to perform near-instantaneous leaps using surrounding shadows or electromagnetic fields. The trajectory was mysterious and unpredictable, making it extremely difficult to lock onto him.

Whether it was for evading lethal attacks in battle or ambushing an opponent, it could be called a god-tier skill!

Although it was just awakened and each use consumed a huge amount of energy with limited distance and consecutive uses, it undoubtedly greatly enhanced his mobility and survival capabilities!

Gao De slowly opened his eyes. Within his jiao pupils, the purple electric light was like a physical substance. An even stronger dragon majesty spread uncontrollably; though it flashed and vanished, it caused all the Demon Soldiers in the Water Mansion to feel a moment of palpitations.

"Five percent... Thunder Shadow Traverse..." He felt his newly acquired power, his heart filled with joy and confidence. The enhancement of strength was always the greatest assurance for dealing with any change.

Only now did he turn his gaze back to the external information.

True Person Qing Bo is dead, the Green Wave Sect is empty inside, and people are panicking... The time for revenge seems to have matured.

"It's time to settle the final score with the Green Wave Sect." A cold smile appeared on Gao De's scale-covered face.

Now that his Bloodline has broken through, his Divine Ability is newly formed, and his natal demon artifact has begun to show its power, it is the best moment to sweep away the obstacles before his door with the momentum of thunder!

He rose to his full height, his Aura vast and powerful, more than a level stronger than before his seclusion.