Thunder Mountain, the outskirts of Thunder King Valley!

By now, it had been more than ten days since the manifestation of the Thunder King Stele. As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered here, their gazes growing restless.

On the stele, the words "Four Orders of Thunder King, Combine to Activate" were clear for all cultivators present to see. Like the previous Meridian Refining Masters, they also deduced that the Four Orders of Thunder King had found an owner, which was the reason for the stele's appearance.

But who exactly had obtained the Four Orders of Thunder King? When would they come to the Thunder King Valley? Or perhaps, were they even aware of the connection between the Thunder King Token and Thunder King Valley? These were questions shrouded in mystery for everyone present.

Even some of the powerful elders displayed greed and burning desire in their eyes. If the one who obtained the Thunder King Token was a cultivator with no background and low cultivation, they might attempt to rob him out of their own greed.

After all, this was the Thunder King Valley left by a Heavenly Rank Expert. Although these people were unsure if the Thunder King Token was only capable of opening the Thunder Barrier of the valley, their greed drove them not to easily give up any chance. Perhaps the Thunder King Token was the key to finding the supreme treasure inside Thunder King Valley?

Swish!

Suddenly, the stele, which had been motionless since its manifestation, emitted a silver beam of light. This silver beam, unlike the previous lightning that could strike people down, resembled a semi-transparent light shield, shooting swiftly in a specific direction.

This sudden change energized everyone, turning their attention towards the direction the light beam had shot out. The next moment, they saw an elder in gray robes walking quickly toward them, causing them all to ponder.

Pop!

The silver beam was extremely fast, but it merely tapped the gray-robed elder before dissipating like a guiding lamp, instantly revealing the truth to everyone.

"That gray-robed elder has a Thunder King Token!"

This was the common thought in everyone's mind; they were all aware that the Thunder King Stele wouldn't change without reason. Moreover, they had been here for more than ten days without seeing any movement from the stele. The fact that this elder was struck by the light beam as soon as he appeared was quite telling.

Suddenly struck by the beam so swiftly, the gray-robed elder was startled. But after sensing his whole body and finding no abnormalities, he let out a large sigh of relief.

With his gaze, the elder naturally saw the words on the distant stele at a glance. After murmuring them, a cold smile appeared on his face. He then reached to his waist, producing an inconspicuous iron token out of thin air.

"Thunder King Token!"

As soon as this token appeared, exclamations arose in the crowd, with some eyes filled with intense greed, eager to make a move and seize it.

"Hmph, you dare covet something belonging to Tang Yuanmu?"

But just as everyone was hesitating on whether to be the first to make a move, the gray-robed elder suddenly let out a cold snort, bringing an instant silence over the front of Thunder King Valley.

"Tang Yuanmu? He's Tang Yuanmu?"

Countless thoughts flooded the crowd's minds, and those who had already stepped forward quickly retreated, as if there was something terrifying about that elder's name.

"'Blood Slaughter Butcher' Tang Yuanmu, didn't expect he was the one to obtain the first Thunder King Token; seems there's nothing left to fight for!"

The low-level Earth Rank Meridian Refining Master who spoke first showed a trace of fear in his eyes. His words seemed to pull everyone back to reality, making them abandon the idea of snatching the token.

The elder known as the "Blood Slaughter Butcher" was notorious around the cities near Thunder Mountain, but his notoriety was not a good reputation; it was infamous enough to stop children from crying at night.

It is said that Tang Yuanmu was once a ruthless great thief, who slaughtered three entire families in Long City in one night, all because some young people from those families were drinking in the same restaurant as him. Fearing his identity had been discovered, he annihilated their clans.

This incident showcased his bloody means, causing a significant uproar. Even the Long City branch of the Spirit Fighting Commerce once dispatched experts to track and kill him.

Unfortunately, Tang Yuanmu was cautious and his methods unpredictable, making it impossible for even the Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage expert from the Long City Spirit Fighting Commerce to track him down. Eventually, the case was left unresolved.

In the following years, Tang Yuanmu continued living freely, with those families that displeased him facing extermination. His reputation for evil made many cultivators around Thunder City and nearby towns tremble with fear.

No one expected that the first Thunder King Token to appear would be snatched by this Blood Slaughter Butcher. Those cultivators who stepped forward earlier now tremble with cold sweat at the thought of it.

It's no joke; this person is notorious for wiping out entire families just on a suspicion. If he takes offense at their earlier actions, not only would they suffer, but their families might also face complete extermination soon after.

Therefore, even though these people loathe Tang Yuanmu's evil reputation, they dare not provoke him at this time, fearing it would bring disaster upon their families.

Fortunately, Tang Yuanmu knows how to weigh benefits and consequences. In front of so many cultivators, he is aware of the consequences of stirring public anger and intends to secure the treasures inside Thunder King Valley first.

"It seems that in order to unlock Thunder King Valley's Thunder Barrier, all four Thunder King Tokens are needed. I wonder who holds the other three?"

After intimidating the cultivators, Tang Yuanmu sat cross-legged at the forefront, his eyes darting around, seemingly plotting like those greedy ones from before.

A ruthless person like Tang Yuanmu certainly wouldn't be bound by morals. If the Thunder King Token fell into the hands of low-level cultivators, he would undoubtedly snatch it.

After all, he learned from the stele about the importance of the Thunder King Token. Gaining an extra one might increase his chances of acquiring treasures in Thunder King Valley, so why not?

Swoosh!

Just when Tang Yuanmu sat down, a silver beam of light shot from the stele outside Thunder King Valley. This time, everyone seemed to have a premonition and glanced directly at the direction where the beam pointed, falling on a slowly approaching man in blue.

The tall man wore a blue robe, appearing somewhat elegant, though no one noticed the occasional flicker of thunder in his deep eyes, seemingly resonating with the Thunder Power of Thunder King Valley.

"Huh? Why does this young man look familiar?"

As Tang Yuanmu sensed the aura of the newcomer, a voice suddenly sounded, recalling something, and exclaimed, "I know who he is; he is Li Qingran, the 'Five Thunder Child' of Sky Thunder Valley!"

"So it's him?!"

Upon hearing this, most people instantly realized and confirmed the familiar figure in their minds, and coupled with the occasional lightning in his eyes, there was no doubt.

Sky Thunder Valley is one of the thirteen first-class forces on Tenglong Continent, far beyond the comparison of small families and factions. Among the younger generation, five geniuses are most famous, each revered as a "Thunder Child."

This "Five Thunder Child" Li Qingran is ranked fifth in the younger generation of Sky Thunder Valley, a super genius whose cultivation has reached the Half-step Origin Seeking Realm, far surpassing the talents of the Yang and Lin families.

Of course, if it were merely a young man at the Half-step Origin Seeking Realm, he might intimidate ordinary cultivators, but he would not worry true Origin Seeking Realm early-stage experts like Tang Yuanmu.

However, the backing of Sky Thunder Valley behind Li Qingran is not to be underestimated. Don't be fooled by Tang Yuanmu's escape from the Spirit Fighting Commerce in Long City; it was because those experts didn't go all out.

If Spirit Fighting Commerce truly exerted their strength, dealing with an Origin Seeking Realm early-stage Tang Yuanmu would hardly be a challenge, as they are an even more powerful top force than Sky Thunder Valley.

Though Sky Thunder Valley pales compared to Spirit Fighting Commerce, its nature is different. It's said that everyone within Sky Thunder Valley is hot-tempered and vindictive, pursuing their enemies to the ends of the earth, undying.

Despite the covert dealings of Spirit Fighting Commerce, being a commerce entity requires some concern for reputation; those violent acts are not mainstream within it.

Thus, even though Tang Yuanmu desires to snatch the Thunder King Token from Li Qingran, he refrains due to the formidable background of Sky Thunder Valley.

The "Five Thunder Child" Li Qingran naturally noticed the distant stele in the first moment, realizing its importance like Tang Yuanmu. Now his gaze is locked onto Tang Yuanmu.

Li Qingran is unfamiliar with the grey-clothed elder, but for some reason, upon being struck by the silver beam, he discovered a subtle hidden connection between the Iron Token in his hand and the elder, understanding something instantly.

"One of the Thunder King Tokens is with that old guy!"

This is what Li Qingran sensed. However, he also sensed the early-stage Origin Seeking Realm aura of the grey-clothed elder, leading to a mutual cautious stare, leaving others bewildered.