Chapter 697 The Worthy Title of Eastern State’s First Prodigy

On the mountain peak, only a Supreme had the qualification to stand.

The aftermath of a Supreme’s clash was enough to shake a Nirvana cultivator into the air.

If a Nirvana cultivator’s foundation was unstable and their manifestation weak, the backlash of a Supreme’s battle could even shatter them apart!

No Nirvana cultivator would be foolish enough to appear at the summit.

Would that not be like sticking a straw into a cesspit—purely courting death?

After a brief thought, Li Yunlong dismissed the absurd idea.

At that moment, a stronger fluctuation suddenly erupted from the summit.

The terrifying surge spread outward like layers of clouds exploding.

Where it swept past, cultivators’ minds went blank.

They felt themselves washed by a mighty force.

That power seemed to contain the truths of heaven and earth.

Even the smallest trace of it was enough to suspend their thoughts, trapping them within the Great Dao’s truth.

After a brief pause, some cultivators gradually awakened.

“What a strange sensation, I feel more attuned to heaven and earth’s spiritual energy.”

“Heavens, my realm seems to have advanced, I am on the verge of reaching the next minor boundary.”

“My comprehension of saber techniques has become sharper!”

The cultivators looked delighted, exchanging their gains with one another.

But Li Cangfeng, Cao Qingwan, and the other prodigies of Eastern State did not awaken, still immersed in their spiritual worlds.

Whispers spread among the cultivators.

Soon, they reached a conclusion.

The greater the talent, the longer one remained entranced.

The rewards naturally would be greater as well.

That cleansing of Dao truth could let ordinary cultivators break realms and comprehend techniques.

For prodigies of extraordinary aptitude, the effects were naturally much stronger!

After a full quarter hour, the Eastern Li Dynasty prince Li Yin was the first to awaken.

Unable to restrain himself, he let out a low shout.

His aura surged wildly.

In an instant, five Dao patterns ignited within him.

That equaled two or three centuries of bitter cultivation.

Li Yin’s awakening became a signal.

Cao Qingwan, Li Yunlong, Sikong Lie, Sikong Yang, and others awakened in succession.

Each had gained new insights.

Perhaps in martial techniques.

Perhaps in cultivation methods.

Perhaps in comprehension of the void.

Or perhaps in great increases of Dao patterns.

Every prodigy benefited immensely.

The last to awaken was Li Cangfeng.

At that instant, an extremely dangerous sword intent erupted from his body.

Li Yin reacted swiftly, pulling the Eastern Li Dynasty cultivators away.

Otherwise, those unguarded Nirvana cultivators could have been slain outright by the penetrating sword qi.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sword intent pierced the heavens, stabbing straight toward the sky.

Cao Qingwan, Li Yunlong, and the other prodigies looked at him with clear unease.

Truly worthy of being Eastern State’s first prodigy.

Li Cangfeng fully opened his eyes.

Buzz!

A golden giant sword manifestation appeared.

The Dao patterns upon it rose rapidly.

Only when they reached ninety-nine did they finally stop.

“That must be Li Cangfeng’s Saint Sword Manifestation? Just looking at it feels overwhelming, as if it could cleave me in half at any moment.”

“He advanced by eight Dao patterns in one breath—now at ninety-nine!”

“Too terrifying! Eastern State’s first prodigy! Worthy of the title!”

The cultivators whispered in awe.

Their gazes toward Li Cangfeng were filled with admiration, reverence, and envy.

They wished they could take his place, becoming the unrivaled first prodigy of Eastern State.

Li Cangfeng looked around, only smiling faintly.

Ninety-nine Dao patterns!

He was just one step away from the Supreme Realm!

"My strength is no longer low. Compared to that black-robed cultivator who repelled the Thundervine Dragon, I may already surpass him."

Li Cangfeng pondered quietly.

In his eyes, prodigies such as Cao Qingwan and Li Yunlong were no match for him.

At most, only the Sikong brothers—Sikong Lie and Sikong Yang—working together could pose any threat.

But after entering the Thousandfold Thunder Prison, for the first time, he discovered an opponent.

It was that day, when the black-robed cultivator had forced back the Thundervine Dragon, indirectly saving Li Yin, Sikong Lie, Hu Xinyue, and the others.

All this time, he had been searching for that figure within the Thunder Prison.

But he had never been able to find him.

Now, however, he had gained eight Dao patterns in one breath.

Unless that person was already a hundred-pattern cultivator, he was certain to be stronger.

"On the mountaintop… the battle should be decided by now, shouldn’t it?"

Li Cangfeng lifted his head toward the peak.

The others also looked up.

Beneath that terrifying golden thunder, no demon could possibly survive.

Such a battle, vast and overwhelming, must have reached its end.

At this moment, atop the mountain.

The thunderlight had yet to fade.

The sacred golden thunder, filled with destruction, poured down like molten lightning.

It engulfed Lei Jinglong completely.

The seven Supremes could not see him clearly, only a silhouette writhing and howling amidst the storm.

Lei Daoheng’s body trembled as he turned his gaze to Shen Mo.

It was as though he was seeing something beyond all comprehension.

Not only him, but Xiang Gu, Hu Qing, and the White Supreme also turned their eyes toward Shen Mo.

Even if they could not recognize the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Flame, they could still deduce it.

For lightning powerful enough to wound Lei Jinglong to this extent, to make him scream in such agony—

It could only be the strongest thunder in existence.

Ranked second on the Eternal Flame List: the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Flame!

What they could not fathom was how a Nirvana cultivator could possibly tame such a divine treasure of heaven and earth.

That was a feat even the Flame Emperor could not achieve.

"Ahhh!"

A particularly wretched scream burst out.

Endless demonic qi spewed from Lei Jinglong’s mouth, only to be destroyed entirely by the golden thunder.

Shen Mo raised his hand.

The Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Flame returned to his palm, then disappeared into his divine palace.

The golden thunder that had been crashing down without pause finally began to weaken.

Gradually, it faded back into violet lightning.

The giant spears of purple thunder dwindled.

At last, no trace of lightning fell.

In its place was a vast crater.

At the bottom knelt a charred husk.

All hair and skin had been seared away by the terrifying thunder.

It no longer resembled a man.

And within that husk was no trace of life.

Lei Jinglong had clearly perished within the thunderous torrent.

Perhaps death was the best release for the newly risen Supreme of the Thunder Prison family.

Lei Daoheng looked at the charred corpse, his eyes filled with mixed emotions.

Sorrow, regret, anger—all intertwined.

He drew a deep breath, then finally turned toward Shen Mo.

The oldest among the seven Supremes present, this elder of the Thunder Prison family bowed deeply to him.

With solemnity, he said, "Many thanks, Daoist friend, for slaying the demon and restoring purity to our Thousandfold Thunder Prison."

Shen Mo glanced at the old Supreme in mild surprise.

He cupped his hands in return. "Old Supreme, you are too courteous."

"The demons poison heaven and earth. It is our duty as cultivators to give our all to exterminate them."

Seeing Lei Daoheng express such gratitude, the White Supreme and the other Supremes also cupped their hands toward Shen Mo.

All seven Supremes bowed to a Nirvana cultivator in thanks.

In ten thousand years past, and in ten thousand years to come, such a thing would likely never be seen again.

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