Ever since Jiang Jue had considered adding multiple attributes to his Martial Soul, a plan had already formed in his mind.
The attributes he wanted to attach naturally could not be weak. And among all elements, thunder—the most domineering and destructive—was naturally within his consideration.
And now, before him stood a Thunder Prison Vine on the verge of becoming a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. To say Jiang Jue wasn't tempted would be a lie.
He had already asked Old Jin last time: even if Thunderclap were gone, it wouldn't greatly affect the Body Sect. After all, there were still dozens of Thunder Prison Vines along this cliff—enough for the disciples to use for body tempering.
Moreover, judging from how things were going, Thunderclap absolutely wouldn't survive its hundred-thousand-year tribulation. So rather than die pointlessly, it might as well become Jiang Jue's soul ring and join the "harmonious and loving" family.
—or perhaps, become his soul spirit.
"Ahhh, that's good stuff!"
"Brother Jiang, you truly are a man of great fortune—this destiny power is so thick!"
After absorbing that wisp of fortune, Thunderclap's massive body coiled joyfully around Jiang Jue, nearly trembling with excitement.
Since Jiang Jue had already made up his mind, he saw no reason to hide it.
Besides, even Du Busi had witnessed him connecting fate with an Emperor Auspicious Beast before. Possessing fortune power was perfectly normal for him.
"Oh? So you crave this destiny power that much?" Jiang Jue asked softly, eyes glinting faintly.
As for that so-called "thick" fortune power—what he had just released was nothing more than a drop in the ocean for him.
"Crave it? Of course I do! I need it!" Thunderclap blurted out anxiously. After all, this concerned its very life.
"But this kind of fortune power is quite rare, isn't it?" Jiang Jue's tone remained calm.
Thunderclap hesitated for a moment, torn inside. But after looking at Jiang Jue, it steeled itself and spoke.
"To be honest, Brother Jiang… ever since I began absorbing thunder from heavenly tribulations, I've lost my connection to fortune entirely."
"Our Thunder Prison Vine clan… it's as if the world itself despises us. Other soul beasts grow normally—but we must constantly be struck by lightning to survive."
"All that talk about 'endless thunder' and 'devouring without rest'—pure nonsense! If we could grow peacefully, why would I provoke the heavens?"
As Thunderclap spoke, its tone grew more agitated, sparks bursting wildly from its body.
Jiang Jue, however, remained utterly calm.
"That hundred-thousand-year tribulation… it's like a curse—inescapable. It binds our race, binds me! I only want to survive it—to live!"
"But among my kind, none have ever survived the hundred-thousand-year tribulation. Most self-destruct before even seventy thousand years. In comparison, I'm already lucky."
Saying that, Thunderclap let out a bitter laugh, devoid of pride.
"I always thought I'd end up like my ancestors, repeating their mistakes… but after meeting you, Brother Jiang, I saw a glimmer of hope."
"So please—help me!"
Jiang Jue listened quietly, then slowly shook his head.
Seeing this, Thunderclap's heart dropped; it instantly felt half frozen—until Jiang Jue's voice turned.
"If I help you survive your hundred-thousand-year tribulation… then what will you do afterward?"
"I… I will…"
Thunderclap froze, its enormous body falling still.
"You'll keep absorbing thunder, growing stronger, waiting for the two-hundred-thousand-year tribulation to come. But maybe—you'll never make it that far. You might perish somewhere along the way."
Jiang Jue's voice was soft, but each word struck like a hammer, pounding directly into Thunderclap's heart. It fell silent, lost and shaken.
"Jiang Jue… you don't have to say it like that. You're making me feel terrible…" Thunderclap muttered weakly.
"Am I wrong?"
Jiang Jue's response was light as a breeze, yet heavy with truth. After that, he said no more—only looked quietly at Thunderclap.
Yes… even if it survived the hundred-thousand-year tribulation, what then? There would still be the two-hundred-thousand-year tribulation, the three-hundred-thousand-year tribulation…
Perhaps it wouldn't even need the tribulation—it might die on its own first.
"Then Brother Jiang… what do you mean?"
Suddenly, Thunderclap's mind flashed—it seemed to grasp something. It looked at Jiang Jue, asking cautiously.
"If you feel this world rejects you… then why not transcend it?"
Jiang Jue smiled faintly as he spoke, seeing that Thunderclap had caught on.
"Huh? Transcend the world? Me?"
Thunderclap extended a vine, pointing at itself in disbelief.
One couldn't blame it—Jiang Jue's words sounded too far-fetched, like something out of a dream.
"You alone may not be able to," Jiang Jue said, "but what if I can?"
As he spoke, the Eye of Fate slowly opened upon his brow, releasing dazzling golden light brimming with incomparably powerful destiny energy.
"Th-this is…?"
Before Thunderclap could react, a great golden wheel—like a grinding disk—manifested behind Jiang Jue, bathing him in sacred radiance. In that light, he looked divine—majestic, holy.
"So much… destiny power… This—this—this…"
Thunderclap stared, stunned, as words tumbled incoherently from its mouth.
Such dense, overwhelming fortune—it had never even imagined such abundance.
If it possessed such fortune, what tribulation could it possibly fear? It had never lived so "richly" in all its life!
At that thought, Thunderclap's resolve hardened. Its vast body lowered, trembling slightly as it spoke:
"Brother Jiang, I—Thunderclap—have wandered half a lifetime, never meeting a true master. If you would only—"
"Wait—hold on."
Jiang Jue's face stiffened, quickly interrupting.
"That's not what I meant. I'm asking—would you be willing to gamble with me… on the chance of becoming a god?"
"Become… a god?"
Thunderclap looked at Jiang Jue's Eye of Fate and the resplendent golden wheel behind him. After a brief moment of thought, it spoke with trembling excitement:
"For that chance, I'd go through fire and water, Brother Jiang!"
"Good."
Jiang Jue nodded in satisfaction.
"For now, relax your cultivation. Within three years, prepare to face your hundred-thousand-year tribulation. When the time comes, I'll handle the rest."
"All right, Brother Jiang. I'll do whatever you say."
Thunderclap didn't ask further. For the first time, its once-dark future seemed bright again.
Why did it believe Jiang Jue so easily? Because as a creature shunned by the world, it could feel how extraordinary that golden wheel of fortune was—a destiny far beyond ordinary comprehension.
And now, at the lowest point of its life, with nowhere else to go—any step forward was upward.
"Since that's the case," Thunderclap thought resolutely, "then let me see for myself what this dreaded hundred-thousand-year tribulation truly is!"
(End of Chapter)