Chapter 330: Thunder Qilin
Upon hearing Yang Xiong's words, the Thunderous Hellfire Vine was immediately shocked, its eyes revealing a trace of fear.
Clearly, with the power Yang Xiong had just demonstrated with a casual strike, killing it would have been an easy feat.
The Thunderous Hellfire Vine had undergone countless hardships to reach its current level and age, and naturally, it did not want to fall so easily.
"My lord, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but I can't tell you. To pass through my guardianship and reach the deepest part of the Thunder Canyon, aside from having absolute strength, one also needs an extreme affinity for lightning. Otherwise, even if you are incredibly strong, you will be reduced to ashes," the vine explained.
Yang Xiong smiled. "Interesting. It seems you're cooperating with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Otherwise, this Thunder Canyon wouldn't have become a training ground, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would not have concealed your existence. Am I right?"
The Thunderous Hellfire Vine thought for a moment before responding, "It's not exactly cooperation. It's just that many years ago, an old man from their clan helped me, and their lightning affinity indeed matches mine, so we have helped each other."
"Of course, I've never killed any humans. Since you know about the lifestyle of the Thunderous Hellfire Vine, you must know that our kind has always lived in remote places, avoiding human interference. Our special lightning affinity requires us to live in desolate, far-off locations."
"Otherwise, if we were disturbed while cultivating, it wouldn't just risk our lives; it could also cause large-scale disasters."
Yang Xiong sighed. "It seems you're an interesting soul beast. Hiding deep in the Thunder Canyon, it's difficult for outsiders to intervene. You've absorbed massive amounts of lightning from the canyon, forming a lightning pool that aids the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's cultivation. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"But I'm not interested in that. I just want to know what lies deep within the Thunder Canyon. I have a feeling that something there is inexplicably drawing me in."
Yang Xiong had been here before, but at the time, his strength was still too weak, and he was no match for the Thunderous Hellfire Vine, so he had given up.
The ground around the Thunder Canyon was dark, reminiscent of the Sea God's Furious Waves, but the two environments had been formed in entirely different ways.
The Sea God's Furious Waves had been created by the Sea God's power continually crashing and compressing the stones, ultimately forming a special environment.
In contrast, the dark stones in the Thunder Canyon seemed to have been tempered and struck by lightning countless times.
As they moved deeper into the canyon, the strength of the lightning grew more intense. The air was filled not only with endless lightning elements but also with destructive power, which prevented ordinary soul masters from reaching the Thunderous Hellfire Vine.
For the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, however, the Thunder Canyon was a treasure trove for cultivation. It was a naturally simulated environment where their bodies would become more resilient under the refining power of the lightning. Their Dragon Transformation secret technique was probably cultivated here in the Thunder Canyon.
The Thunderous Hellfire Vine suddenly grew serious. "My lord, I'm not exaggerating. Any soul master who does not possess extreme lightning affinity will turn to ash if they enter the depths of the Thunder Canyon. Even the top Title Douluo of your kind wouldn't survive."
Yang Xiong didn't hesitate, instantly summoning his Asura Martial Soul. A massive blood-red figure appeared around his body, and soon, blood-red lightning surrounded it. Its power seemed even more terrifying than the Thunderous Hellfire Vine's.
This was the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning that Yang Xiong had mastered. Compared to the Thunderous Hellfire Vine's azure lightning, the blood-red Heavenly Tribulation Lightning seemed to surpass it in power.
The Thunderous Hellfire Vine was taken aback. "Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, how is that possible?"
Yang Xiong smiled. "I didn't expect you to know so much. You even recognize the lightning from the Heavenly Tribulation. This shouldn't be something a mere 100,000-year soul beast could understand."
"Since I possess this Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, do I have the right to enter the depths of this Thunder Canyon?"
The Thunderous Hellfire Vine roared furiously, its body crackling with lightning. The energy contained in the lightning surged, as if the apocalypse were approaching.
Then, all the lightning gathered together, and the Thunderous Hellfire Vine's massive form began to change. It transformed into an extremely tall middle-aged man.
The man stood over 2.5 meters tall, with a robust physique. Lightning flickered all over his body, and there seemed to be explosive power inside him. From his aura, he appeared to have reached the realm of a 98th-level Title Douluo.
Yang Xiong was shocked. He hadn't expected the Thunderous Hellfire Vine to be able to take a human form. Unlike the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python, which didn't have this ability, the Magic Soul White Shark Xiao Bai and the Deep Sea Demon Whale King did.
For a soul beast to transform into a human at will, it had to either be a ferocious beast over 200,000 years old or possess a divine gift. There were no other options.
This Thunderous Hellfire Vine before him clearly didn't possess the aura of a ferocious beast, but the fact that it could transform into a human form suggested there was something more to it.
The middle-aged man bowed slightly. "My name is Lei Tian. Since you come from the Divine Realm and possess the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, you naturally have the right to enter the depths of the Thunder Canyon."
Yang Xiong nodded. "I am Yang Xiong, but I'm not from the Divine Realm. I am merely a successor of the gods."
Lei Tian looked puzzled. "That shouldn't be possible. While human soul masters can harness divine power, they are usually only 99th-level Title Douluo, and their divine power is very limited. It's impossible for someone like you to use divine power so freely. Even your martial soul should have evolved into a divine soul."
Yang Xiong responded, "There is no essential difference between humans and gods. A god is merely a human soul master who has evolved. My martial soul is special; it is my own body. After numerous breakthroughs and refining through divine power, I reached this level. Don't overthink it."
"I am curious though. How do you know so much about the gods and divine power? Could you also come from the Divine Realm?"
Lei Tian quickly replied, "My lord, have you encountered other soul beasts from the Divine Realm?"
Yang Xiong nodded. "I once encountered a black dragon in the Star Dou Forest. His name is Emperor Tian, and his strength is extraordinary. His physique is outstanding. He must be from the Divine Realm."
Lei Tian was stunned. "How is that possible? The Black Dragon King Emperor Tian? How could he be in Douluo Continent? The dragon clan should have perished long ago!"
Yang Xiong's expression shifted slightly. "It seems you really are from the Divine Realm. No wonder the Thunderous Hellfire Vine could surpass the 100,000-year limit. Only the immense divine power from the Divine Realm could nourish you."
"Also, you know Emperor Tian. Your origins must be far from simple. Or perhaps you appeared in Douluo Continent through someone else's power?"
Lei Tian's face showed a trace of bitterness. "You know more than I expected. While I am from the Divine Realm, I am far too ordinary compared to the Black Dragon King Emperor Tian. I am far too weak."
"I don't know much either. Once we reach the depths of the Thunder Canyon, you will learn everything. You possess the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, so I believe you are the one I've been waiting for."
Yang Xiong was filled with confusion. The original work never mentioned a 100,000-year Thunderous Hellfire Vine, nor any gods related to thunder.
Since he came from Blue Star, it could be said that he was a variable in this world. It made him feel that Douluo Continent was far more mysterious than he had imagined.
Without further hindrance from the Thunderous Hellfire Vine, Yang Xiong followed the path of lightning and moved deeper into the Thunder Canyon.
The deeper they went, the more intense the lightning became, resembling a lightning pool or even a Heavenly Tribulation. The entire Thunder Canyon seemed to be roaring.
With Yang Xiong's current physical condition, the lightning no longer had any effect on him. Even the true Heavenly Tribulation would be within his control.
Especially in this flashing lightning, the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning seemed to be a higher level than the lightning in the Thunder Canyon, suppressing all surrounding energy elements.
When they reached the deepest part, the sight before Yang Xiong was terrifying.
It was a massive pit, over 200 meters long and wide, covered in blood-red lightning. It seemed to resonate with his Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, as if both shared the same origin.
Yang Xiong finally understood Lei Tian's words. No wonder Lei Tian said that even a Title Douluo couldn't enter here.
Lei Tian bowed solemnly to the blood-red lightning pool, his expression full of reverence and solemnity. "My lord, I've brought him here. This person should be the one you've been waiting for."
Before Yang Xiong could react, the entire lightning pool let out an extremely terrifying roar. All the blood-red lightning gathered together and transformed into a gigantic Qilin, as if it could destroy heaven and earth at that moment.
Even with Yang Xiong's strength, he felt an overwhelming pressure, as if his soul was being crushed, similar to facing a true god. Even Qian Renxue had never given him this kind of pressure. Only the Sea God and the God of Slaughter could emanate such an aura.
Yang Xiong gritted his teeth and endured the pressure, "Thunder Qilin, this is impossible!"
As far as Yang Xiong knew, all soul beasts in Douluo Continent had bloodline levels. Among them, the Dragon and Phoenix bloodlines were the noblest and the most powerful.
Unfortunately, no pure bloodline soul beasts had appeared on Douluo Continent for a long time. Whether it was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon or the Fire Phoenix, or even Ma Hongjun's Fire Phoenix, they only had a hint of the bloodline of top-tier soul beasts.
The Qilin bloodline was just as noble as the Dragon and Phoenix bloodlines. Yang Xiong had only read a few mentions of it in ancient texts.
The Thunder Qilin before him, though just an apparition, could control the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning. This was no longer just a soul beast; at the very least, it was at the level of a god.
If this Thunder Qilin truly came from the Divine Realm, its power might even surpass the Sea God's, perhaps rivaling even the God of Slaughter.
(END CHAPTER)
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