Throwing the Thunder Spirit into the Thunder Pool—what was the purpose of this?
“To test whether the shadow at the bottom of the pool is a living creature or an imprint. There are many legends about Thunder Spirits—they are said to be born from heavenly tribulations, and this Thunder Pool shares some connection with them,” the Grand Elder said calmly.
Thunder Spirits were incredibly rare in the world, with only three known to exist, all of which were now in Shi Hao’s possession. The Wang Clan had gone to great lengths to obtain them, only for them to change hands.
These were terrifying creatures, capable of overwhelming all adversaries once fully grown!
Shi Hao had been pondering how to subdue the three Thunder Spirits and earn their loyalty. Now that the Grand Elder had arrived, it was the perfect opportunity to seek guidance.
However, he never expected the first step would be to toss one directly into the Thunder Pool.
“Wait, let me extract some Thunder Tribulation Liquid first,” Shi Hao muttered, unwilling to let the precious liquid go to waste on the creatures.
“Right! If we throw it in, I won’t dare drink from it again—it’d be filthy,” the Lunar Grace Goddess chimed in, nodding vigorously.
The Grand Elder remained as serene as an abyss, offering no comment.
“Glug, glug…” The liquid from the Thunder Pool was poured into a bone cauldron, leaving only a small amount behind.
Yet, the pool still exuded an unfathomable aura, like a bottomless abyss. The true dragon at its depths remained indistinct, impossible to discern clearly.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
The Thunder Spirit protested indignantly, but Shi Hao ignored its struggles and tossed the golden one inside.
To everyone’s astonishment, the golden Thunder Spirit—which had been furious and resistant in Shi Hao’s grip—suddenly became exuberant upon entering the pool, thrashing about excitedly.
It stirred up waves before diving straight to the bottom.
“Hmm?”
Everyone was taken aback as the Thunder Spirit lunged toward the true dragon, as if hunting prey.
Shi Hao, Fatty Cao, and the Heavenly Horned Ant were stunned. They knew Thunder Spirits were fierce, but to attack a true dragon? That was beyond savage!
“I’m starting to doubt—is that really a true dragon hatchling in the pool? For the Thunder Spirit to try preying on it is bizarre!”
In the Thunder Pool, waves surged as the Thunder Spirit transformed into a streak of golden light, ambushing one of the true dragons and pouncing on it.
Yet, something even more astonishing happened—the dragon hatchling wasn’t devoured. Instead, the two merged, moving as one.
The Grand Elder sighed. “As I suspected, it’s not real—just an imprint.”
Upon this conclusion, everyone felt a mix of disappointment and regret.
“Why does the Thunder Spirit resonate so perfectly with it? It’s like they’re inseparable,” Cao Yusheng mused.
“I suspect Thunder Spirits aren’t complete beings but are still evolving. Otherwise, why are they so rare, almost unseen in the world?” the Grand Elder, Meng Tianzheng, remarked.
Shi Hao and Cao Yusheng were stunned, then contemplated the implications with growing shock.
“Elder, are you suggesting that Thunder Spirits don’t truly exist as a species, but are merely a transitional state for another creature?” they pressed, eyes blazing with curiosity.
Shi Hao, in particular, scrutinized the silver and crimson Thunder Spirits in his grasp.
The two creatures screeched and struggled, serpentine yet far more formidable, fearless even in the face of heavenly tribulations—utterly defying the natural order.
“If they grew horns and claws, wouldn’t they just be true dragons?” Fatty Cao muttered.
Their bodies were already adorned with dragon patterns, making them sturdier than flood dragons—an eerie resemblance.
The group was dumbfounded. Could these be an intermediate form of true dragons?
“Really? Let me see—I’ll beat the truth out of them!” The Heavenly Horned Ant roared, lunging forward to brawl.
“It’s merely speculation. Since both originate from heavenly tribulations, there must be some connection. They may not be dragon hatchlings, but they could evolve into them,” the Grand Elder clarified.
He explained that any creature—be it serpent, insect, or beast—could choose to evolve toward true dragons at higher stages of development.
Among them, snakes and flood dragons were the most common candidates, with their ultimate goal often being to ascend as true dragons and attain supreme forms.
“What a coincidence—three Thunder Spirits and three dragon imprints in the pool,” the Lunar Grace Goddess murmured.
“‘The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things.’ There’s profound meaning in this,” the Grand Elder nodded sagely.
Here, he was unassuming, like an ordinary elder.
But outside, even the slightest release of his aura would make mighty warriors tremble and kneel in reverence.
A true Supreme Being stood invincible in the mortal realm.
In this era, only a handful—like Wang Changsheng—could rival the Grand Elder in battle.
“Could Thunder Spirits truly evolve into true dragons?” Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed.
“Possibly. They might even be better suited than snakes or flood dragons—but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll succeed. After all, Thunder Spirits are formidable in their own right,” the Grand Elder replied.
The three imprints in the Thunder Pool were priceless treasures for any creature aspiring to become a true dragon.
After thorough examination, the Grand Elder concluded they were likely left behind by a true dragon.
“True dragons are hailed as the mightiest of all races, and for good reason. But they’re shrouded in mystery, with pitifully few in existence. Typically, only one or two appear in an era,” Cao Yusheng said, citing knowledge from ancient texts and his master.
“Even if the lineage were to vanish temporarily, serpents or flood dragons could eventually evolve to fill the void,” Shi Hao added.
“Strange. Did the last true dragon disappear, die in battle, or journey to the origin of heavenly tribulations?” the Grand Elder pondered.
The discovery of dragon imprints in the Thunder Pool was monumental!
“I’ve heard rumors of a true dragon egg hidden in an ancient cave shrouded in chaotic mist,” the Heavenly Horned Ant whispered, its tone competitive.
“Perhaps one remains, destined to be born as the mightiest of beings. But after all these years, it may have met an unfortunate fate,” the Grand Elder sighed.
He then urged Shi Hao to tame the three Thunder Spirits and keep them close. If they ever evolved into true dragons, the implications would be unimaginable.
A fully grown true dragon would inevitably become an Immortal King—proof of their unrivaled status.
Yet, their numbers were tragically sparse.
Some said even if dozens were born in the same era, only one would survive to maturity—the rest would perish or weaken.
Thus, the sole survivor earned the title of “True Dragon.”
Originally, they were simply called dragons.
Now, the prefix “True” was added.
Shi Hao invited the Grand Elder to study the Thunder Pool, hoping he might uncover the True Dragon Treasure Technique or other scriptures left behind.
Alas, after careful examination, the Grand Elder found no such texts.
“Yet, this is astonishing. These imprints aren’t just the work of a true dragon—they also hold the secrets of heavenly tribulations, even vague principles of life’s origin,” the Grand Elder said, his expression shifting as he reached this conclusion.
This was staggering!
Even immortals and deities sought answers to these mysteries!
No one in the current era could create life from nothingness.
“In other words, any serpent or flood dragon that obtains these imprints could evolve into a true dragon, becoming a genuine living being,” the Grand Elder stated gravely.
Shi Hao and the others were awestruck. The vitality born from the destructive tribulations was terrifyingly potent.
Had the true dragon deliberately left these imprints within this life-rich environment?
“This is no less valuable than immortal scriptures—perhaps even more astounding. No wonder the Forbidden Regions covet it! It contains the principles of life creation. To fully comprehend it would be beyond imagination!” the Grand Elder emphasized.
Shi Hao immediately urged the Grand Elder to study it, as such profound mysteries were beyond his current grasp.
Even Supreme Beings could only speculate, let alone achieve such feats!
“Perhaps Thunder Spirits were born from such imprints but haven’t fully evolved,” Shi Hao suddenly suggested.
This offhand remark startled the Grand Elder, his expression shifting dramatically.
They then probed the Thunder Spirits’ souls, hoping to uncover clues or the Wang Clan’s secrets. Unfortunately, the creatures were like blank slates—ferocious but still immature.
“Plop! Plop!”
Shi Hao tossed the remaining two Thunder Spirits into the pool and turned to the Grand Elder, offering them for his safekeeping.
The Grand Elder understood—Shi Hao wanted him to study them, hoping he might advance further in his cultivation.
The Thunder Pool held immense secrets!
“I truly wonder—where does the heavenly tribulation originate? It’s far too extraordinary,” the Grand Elder murmured.
He then informed Shi Hao that the Wang Clan had paid a steep price in the Imperial Pass to avoid disaster. Otherwise, one of the Five Dragons might have been sent beyond the pass to die in battle.
After all, one of the Five Dragons had delivered the Thunder Spirits.
“The Wang Clan’s apology gift is extraordinary. Combined with this divine radiance, your strength should rise significantly!” The Grand Elder pointed to the light within the Thunder Pool.
He intended to help Shi Hao subdue and refine it.
The Grand Elder produced a crystal, which instantly radiated boundless crimson light, brilliant as a miniature sun, illuminating the entire tribe.
The fist-sized crystal contained a single drop of blood—more translucent than a blood diamond, its radiance unmatched.
“Immortal blood?!” Shi Hao gasped, making the connection.
“Correct. But unlike what you’ve encountered before, this is living immortal blood, not dead,” the Grand Elder explained.
This was the essence of a True Immortal, extracted at their peak, purified of all harmful elements, and sealed with supreme techniques to preserve its vitality.
Shi Hao had seen immortal blood before, but nothing like this.
The Grand Elder sighed. “This is the blood of Wang Changsheng’s father. At his zenith, the True Immortal extracted this essence, refined it for his descendants, and sealed it in life crystal—a treasure beyond measure!”
“Clang!”
Next, the Grand Elder extracted the radiant light from the Thunder Pool, suppressing it with immense power.
“This is the residual radiance of the Immortal-Slaying Guillotine’s dispersal. If refined into your arm or flesh, it will rend all defenses, cutting through everything!” the Grand Elder declared.
At this moment, even Cao Yusheng and the Lunar Grace Goddess were wide-eyed. This was an inconceivable treasure!
It surpassed even the Thunder Pool in value!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage