Chapter 669: Thunder Master's Warning
"Five Kings Hall?"
Seeing the dark figure standing atop the colossal demonic hand and hearing Seven Kings Hall's address, Lin Langtian and Lin Dong both stiffened, their expressions growing grave.
Seven Kings Hall had already crossed two Samsara Tribulations. Judging from the aura rolling off Five Kings Hall, he had reached the level of three Tribulations.
Such strength was no weaker than that of the Eight Ancient Masters.
Even with Yuan Demon Power, Lin Langtian likely would not be this man's match. In the end, he had not even stepped into Samsara yet.
"So you're called Lin Langtian.
"I didn't expect you to control our power so freely—and even fuse it with Ancestral Symbol force.
"Tell me how you did it. If your answer pleases me, I might take you as a personal disciple and make you a core member of our race," Five Kings Hall said with a faint smile, his eyes gleaming.
He had clearly seen the value of Lin Langtian's secret—and wanted it for himself.
If Abyssal Prison could harness that method, they might breed a new generation of monsters and raise their race's standing among the outer fiends.
"Oh?
"You want to know?" Lin Langtian's mouth curved into a slow arc.
"Speak. You will not be treated unfairly," Five Kings Hall replied, the heat in his dark eyes barely hidden.
Lin Langtian snorted coldly. "If you want the answer, you can pay for it—with your life."
Five Kings Hall's expression darkened.
He had not expected to be mocked to his face.
"You're courting death.
"It seems I'll have to drag you back and pry it out of you at my leisure," he said icily as demonic qi flooded the skies, his presence turning bone‑deep cold.
As one who had passed three Tribulations, his power far outstripped Seven Kings Hall's.
Lin Langtian's gaze sharpened as Yuan Demon Power churned within him.
Beside him, Lin Dong's features hardened as the purple‑gold dragon markings spiraled out, their aura rising.
With tempers fraying and killing intent thickening, a battle that could shake the heavens seemed moments away.
Boom!
Just then, a deafening peal of thunder split the air.
Everyone jerked their heads up.
In the distance, the dark sky blazed with light.
A world of thunder spread toward them at terrifying speed.
Amid the sea of lightning, a towering figure strode forward on bolts of thunder, a suffocating presence flooding the heavens.
Five Kings Hall's eyes narrowed.
For the first time, gravity crept into his face.
Seven Kings Hall stared at the approaching form, his usual gloom cracked by raw fear.
"Thunder Master?!"
At those words, Lin Langtian and Lin Dong stiffened.
They looked to the distant horizon where the thunder world rolled nearer—
And a massive figure leaped forward with a single step, crossing ten thousand zhang in a blink.
Was this the Thunder Master—one of the Eight Ancient Masters guarding the Northern Xuan Region?
The man's speed was staggering.
When the thunder first sounded, he had still been at the edge of their vision.
By the time it faded, silver light flashed overhead and he stood in full view.
They finally saw him clearly.
He was tall and powerfully built, looking around middle‑aged, with short silver hair.
His features were rough and rugged, a pair of lightning eyes blazing beneath thick brows.
Those silver pupils glinted with coldness and violence.
On his bare arms, a thunder totem coiled, emanating an ancient, ferocious pulse that made even the world tremble.
Rumble!
Thunder grew ever denser as his gaze settled on Five Kings Hall and Seven Kings Hall.
An indescribable pressure saturated the air.
"I've been hunting for you everywhere.
"Didn't expect you to be stupid enough to show yourselves," he said, voice low and rumbling like thunder, the very air shivering around each word.
"You're like a ghost that won't stay buried," Seven Kings Hall snarled, teeth clenched.
"Do we have anything left to discuss?" Thunder Master replied flatly.
His face never shifted, his cold demeanor sharp enough to cut.
His eyes slid over to Five Kings Hall, a hint of emotion flickering in the lightning depths.
"To think even you would show up in person over a few juniors.
"Has Abyssal Prison really fallen so far?"
Five Kings Hall's mouth twisted.
He had believed sending Seven Kings Hall was more than enough to crush the brothers.
He had not expected Lin Langtian to turn the tables.
Now, with Thunder Master here, the original plan was clearly finished.
This was not the time for Abyssal Prison to bare its fangs against the Eight Ancients.
"Thunder Master, I know your strength.
"You've appeared, so let's end things here for today.
"You can rest assured—there will be a reckoning between my Abyssal Prison and you so‑called Ancient Masters," he said lightly.
His gaze flicked to Lin Langtian.
"Lin Langtian, you are full of surprises, and your secrets run deep.
"Even old Seven failed this time.
"But this is far from over."
With that, he waved his sleeve and demonic qi wrapped around Seven Kings Hall.
Space tore open behind them.
"Hmph."
Thunder Master snorted.
His fist lashed out, and a ten‑thousand‑zhang thunder lion crashed from the sky, its roar shaking the heavens as it hurtled toward Five Kings Hall.
"Hehe. Still as rude as ever.
"But this isn't the time for our fight.
"Wait for me, Thunder Master. This time, my race will overturn the outcome from ten thousand years ago," Five Kings Hall chuckled.
A colossal demonic lotus bloomed, catching the lightning beast and smothering it.
Then he retreated into the rift with Seven Kings Hall.
The demonic qi dispersed, and they vanished completely.
Thunder Master narrowed his eyes at the spot where they had disappeared and flicked a finger.
A thin strand of lightning pierced the void, vanishing without a trace.
Only then did he turn to face Lin Langtian and Lin Dong.
For a long moment, he merely studied them.
"You're the Lin Langtian and Lin Dong Flame Master spoke of?" he finally asked.
The brothers exchanged a glance.
They did not know what Flame Master had said about them, but they still cupped their fists.
"Many thanks for your assistance today, Thunder Master," Lin Langtian said.
With Five Kings Hall's strength, the two of them had little chance of victory alone.
Thunder Master's intervention had not gone unnoticed.
"Killing Demons is my duty.
"I've been tracking them for a long time.
"It's only thanks to your battle that I finally got a lead.
"There's no need to thank me," he replied, his voice booming like distant thunder.
His gaze swept over Lin Langtian, the lightning in his eyes rippling faintly.
"When Flame Master told me you could copy Ancestral Symbols, I was already stunned.
"I didn't expect you to also wield demonic power—and fuse it with Ancestral Symbol force.
"Even if Master were still alive, he'd never have imagined such a thing."
Lin Langtian said nothing.
With Symbol Ancestor's name hanging in the air, there was little he could safely add.
Thunder Master watched his silence, but did not relent.
His measuring gaze carried a faint weight.
"Can you tell me how you did it?
"This touches on matters too great to ignore.
"It might be the key to helping the Xuan Domain Continent defeat the Demons once and for all," he said.
Dragging the continent's fate into it made Lin Langtian's eyes flash with annoyance.
Was this a moral chain meant to wrench the secret from him?
But as quickly as it rose, his irritation faded.
He understood.
His secret was too great—great enough to worry even an Ancient Master.
After a brief pause, he answered.
"I possess a treasure.
"It lets me control demonic power at will—and fuse different forces together.
"Even power as incompatible as demonic qi and Ancestral Symbol force can be merged through it."
"A treasure, then…" Thunder Master nodded, unsurprised.
For someone so young, mere comprehension could not have accomplished what he had witnessed.
"So your ability to copy Ancestral Symbols and handle demonic power—both come from this treasure?" he pressed.
He wanted to ask more.
But he knew how far he could go.
Demanding details about such a thing would turn any cultivator against him.
He might not fear Lin Langtian now—but if the boy could beat Seven Kings Hall before even stepping into Samsara, who could say what the future would hold?
Yet the treasure was dangerously strange.
What if one day Lin Langtian fell under its control and became a puppet of the Demons?
Sensing his unease, Lin Langtian spoke again.
"You can rest easy, Thunder Master.
"I was born on this continent.
"This is my home.
"No matter what power I wield, the Demons will always be my enemy.
"My blade will only ever point outward, never inward."
Lin Dong stepped forward as well.
"Thunder Master, strength isn't inherently evil.
"Those three Yuan Gate Sect Masters cultivated yuan power, yet they still chose to serve the Demons.
"If Brother Langtian can harness demonic power, then using it to kill Demons is only right.
"I trust him. He won't become a slave to his own strength."
Thunder Master studied them both for a long time.
At last, he sighed.
"Very well.
"Then hold fast to that resolve.
"Demonic corrosion is never a matter of a day or two," he warned.
Lin Langtian's expression was firm.
He had no intention of losing himself.
"Enough. I'll be taking my leave.
"I left a lightning mark on Seven Kings Hall earlier.
"I can sense a rough direction from it—I need to investigate.
"They've been lurking in the shadows for too long. It sits ill with me," he said.
"Alone?" Lin Langtian and Lin Dong asked at once.
"The strongest ones in Abyssal Prison took heavy wounds in the last war.
"They're still recovering—and aren't eager to clash head‑on just yet.
"If they were, they wouldn't be hiding like rats.
"And even if I do run into trouble, they won't be able to keep me.
"Not even Heavenly Kings Hall."
A hint of pride threaded his words.
As master of thunder, his speed ranked among the very best of the Eight Ancients.
Trying to cage him would be no easy feat.
"Heavenly Kings Hall?" Lin Dong echoed.
"Their leader, most likely.
"An extremely troublesome foe.
"In the old days, he stood just beneath the Demon Emperor. I've clashed with him before—and lost," Thunder Master said, his own gaze sharpening.
"But he took a grievous wound from Little Junior Sister back then.
"He won't have recovered yet.
"If he appears before he's healed, only she can face him.
"And when that time comes…"
His eyes slid to Lin Dong.
The meaning was clear.
Once Heavenly Kings Hall showed himself, Ice Master would have to awaken.
That was as far as their grace period went.
Lin Dong's hands clenched.
Beside him, Lin Langtian's hand landed on his shoulder in silent support.
"I should go.
"After this failed attempt, Abyssal Prison won't act openly again for a while.
"Until their strongest have fully recovered, they'll keep their heads down," Thunder Master said.
The brothers simply nodded.
"Be careful."
He gave a short, sharp laugh and waved.
Lightning exploded around him in a blinding flash—
And when it faded, he was gone.
Lin Langtian stared at the empty sky, his eyes narrowing slightly.
This world was edging closer to chaos.
The sleepers in the dark were stirring once more.
It wouldn't be long now—
Before the second World War began anew.
(END CHAPTER)
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