The Lord of Thunder’s Demands

Ji Ning, however, did not stop for an instant. With a soft whoosh, he fled hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, simultaneously releasing his heartforce to investigate exactly which mighty figure had arrived.

“No need to be alarmed.” A warm voice, accompanied by laughter, rang out.

Even as he fled, Ji Ning’s heartforce observed the newcomer. It was a man dressed in a Daoist robe, a white-bearded Daoist with an immortal, otherworldly bearing.

“It’s him?” Ji Ning was secretly alarmed. “I knew it. When I used the Lightning-Serpent Teleportation technique, I’d attract the attention of some great powers. I’m not afraid of the Seamless Gate side, but there’s trouble from my own camp instead. The first to jump out is Immortal Yuqiu. He’s known as ‘the one without desires or demands,’ but he truly has no shame at all.”

Among the True Gods and Daofathers, there were fiendish villains and treacherous scoundrels.

Immortal Yuqiu was the most typical example.

His greed and cunning had long been famous throughout the Three Realms. He was sarcastically called ‘the one without desires or demands.’ But a being who had become a True God or Daofather would not have his Dao-heart shaken by mere mockery. He continued to act as he pleased. This time, when Ji Ning unleashed the Lightning-Serpent Teleportation technique, many of the mighty figures in the Nuwa Camp were tempted. Some of the more fiendish ones were especially covetous. However, because everyone was watching, and because Ji Ning was, after all, a member of their own camp, they all hesitated. Being the first to stick one’s neck out was not easy. Immortal Yuqiu, however, became that first one.

“Greetings, Senior Yuqiu.” Ji Ning said respectfully.

“No need to stand on ceremony, none at all. I am quite good friends with your master, Subhuti, and I was a sworn brother to your other master, Daoist Threelives.” Immortal Yuqiu said with a beaming smile.

Ji Ning was rendered speechless.

Subhuti looked down on Immortal Yuqiu. It was likely the two had only met a few times at most. ‘Quite good friends’ was a stretch. As for Daoist Threelives, during his ancient conquests, he had naturally socialized with other great powers. He had treated Immortal Yuqiu with ordinary politeness. Yet Yuqiu described that as being ‘sworn brothers.’

“I was delighted to hear that Threelives had found a successor. Ah, what a pity.” Immortal Yuqiu sighed emotionally. “That battle… my old brother Threelives fell in battle. It fills me with endless melancholy.”

“But it’s all right now. He has a disciple like you.” Immortal Yuqiu nodded with a smile. “I just saw you execute a teleportation technique that harnesses a Nine-Horned Lightning Serpent. The great calamity is upon us. If several more great powers on our side could learn this technique, our chances of survival would increase dramatically. Ji Ning, would you be willing to let me take a look at the technique manual?”

Ji Ning had long been instructed by his master, Subhuti. He immediately replied, “Senior, this technique was obtained by my master, Subhuti, by chance. Although he passed it on to me, he strictly forbade me from passing it on to others. I, his disciple, cannot disobey my master’s orders. If you truly desire the technique manual, Senior, you can go speak with my master.”

Immortal Yuqiu’s brow furrowed slightly.

Go find Subhuti?

What was Subhuti’s status? He was a figure nearly on par with the Human Sovereigns and the leaders of the Daoist and Buddhist sects. His mastery of spacetime was the best in the Three Realms. If Subhuti wanted to hide, no one could find him.

“It’s just a movement technique.” Immortal Yuqiu’s face darkened. “And this matter concerns the safety of many great powers on our side. It concerns the great calamity. Is Subhuti really going to hoard this technique and refuse to share it?”

Whoosh!

Another surge of oppressive power descended. Lightning flickered in the void. Ji Ning’s heart stirred. This familiar aura belonged to the Lord of Thunder, whom he had visited before. The void tore open, and a burly man in black armor strode out. His eyes were filled with lightning. As he walked, the very void felt suffocating to Ji Ning. If Immortal Yuqiu was merely an ordinary Daofather in terms of strength, the Lord of Thunder was at the peak Daofather level.

“Lord of Thunder.” Immortal Yuqiu smiled.

The Lord of Thunder, a rare show of respect, nodded to Yuqiu. After all, this time he was taking Yuqiu’s side.

“Ji Ning.” The Lord of Thunder’s face remained cold. “Immortal Yuqiu is right. This matter concerns the lives and deaths of countless living beings on our side during the great calamity. Hand over this movement technique divine ability immediately.”

“My master ordered…”

Before Ji Ning could finish, the Lord of Thunder’s brows furrowed as he barked, “If it’s beyond your authority due to your master’s orders, then have your master come! You are his disciple; you must have a way to contact him. Summon your master now! Let him come himself.” Patriarch Subhuti had indeed given Ji Ning a token. As for other great powers, aside from the few who had a good relationship with Subhuti, they could not see him even if they wished.

Whoosh.

A vortex appeared in the void, and a Daoist-robed elder walked out.

Patriarch Subhuti had been watching the entire time. He knew clearly that a great power would inevitably step forward. When Immortal Yuqiu appeared, he was calm. But when the Lord of Thunder appeared… Subhuti knew there would be trouble. Immortal Yuqiu was weak and didn’t dare offend him too much. The Lord of Thunder, however, was an extremely violent and stubborn character. He didn’t even give face to the leaders of the Daoist and Buddhist sects. Moreover, the Lord of Thunder was the supreme master of lightning in the Three Realms. He would be incredibly eager to get his hands on the ‘Lightning-Serpent Teleportation’ technique.

“Lord of Thunder.” Subhuti appeared.

“Greetings, Subhuti.” Immortal Yuqiu hurriedly said with a smile.

The Lord of Thunder stared at Subhuti and said in a low voice, “Subhuti, I think… it would be best for you to hand over that technique manual.”

“Hmph.” Subhuti, who normally smiled calmly, now spoke with an indifferent coldness. “This technique manual was obtained through my own hard efforts. I have the right to teach it to whomever I please. What, are you trying to force me? Since when did all the great powers need to completely contribute their own secret techniques? I wasn’t aware of that rule.”

The Lord of Thunder was momentarily speechless. The ultimate techniques that great powers used to dominate the Three Realms were generally not passed on. For example, Daofather Three Purities’ ‘Extermination Immortal Sword Formation’ would certainly not be passed on. In fact, even if it were, others lacked the four Primordial Chaos divine swords needed to cultivate it. But even if they couldn’t cultivate it, if someone else learned the complete method of the ‘Extermination Immortal Sword Formation,’ it would be much easier for them to counter it.

Similarly, Subhuti’s ‘Ultimate Spacetime Technique’ had only been taught to a single person, Hongxue.

Other great powers wouldn’t say anything, nor would they overly covet Subhuti’s technique or Three Purities’ formation. This was because every great power had their own path of cultivation and would not be distracted by other paths. Their desire for other ultimate techniques was not that strong. However, Ji Ning’s Lightning-Serpent Teleportation technique was different.

It was a divine ability. Anyone who learned it could use it immediately.

“This divine ability would be of immense help to all the great powers on our side.” The Lord of Thunder roared angrily. “It concerns the survival of countless living beings on our side! Is that not reason enough to hand it over?”

“It’s not that I refuse to hand it over. Naturally, I care about this great calamity. That’s why I’ve already contributed this technique.” Patriarch Subhuti let out a sudden, emotional sigh. “The Buddhist Sect, the Daoist Sect, and the Human Imperial Clan have all already received this technique. Fuxi, Shennong, Suiren, and the two leaders of the Buddhist and Daoist Sects have all obtained it. But to this day, not a single great power has been able to master it.”

“What?!”

Immortal Yuqiu, the Lord of Thunder, and even the other great powers whose divine senses had descended here were all shocked.

Many great powers were paying attention to this place. Most of the mighty figures in the Nuwa Camp had their divine senses covering this area. Some were even ready to manifest in person. As for the great powers of the Seamless Gate Camp, they were desperate to investigate as well. But Subhuti, Three Purities, and the others had long ago joined forces to completely block their divine senses.

Those on their own side were allowed in. Those on the enemy side were completely blocked.

“If such a heaven-defying divine ability could be easily learned by a great power, our side would be guaranteed victory.” Patriarch Subhuti shook his head and sighed. “Tell me, would such a divine ability be so easy to learn?”

The Lord of Thunder said in a low voice, “Why not pass it on to all the great powers on our side? Perhaps one of us will be able to master it.”

“There’s no rush.”

Patriarch Subhuti shook his head. “You are not unaware of how formidable the Seamless Gate’s spies are. Over the years, we have uncovered quite a few of their spies on our side. We have even exposed one spy among the great powers. It is very possible… that there are still spies among the great powers. We must be cautious. Otherwise, if a spy obtains this technique, it will fall into the hands of the Seamless Gate. If a top-tier great power on their side learns it… that would be a disaster.”

The Lord of Thunder was struck speechless. The Seamless Gate was indeed extremely skilled at planting spies. Some hidden Empyrean Gods and True Immortals remained undetectable until they acted. It was only when cultivators like the Evergreen Sword Immortal did something critical at a pivotal moment that the Nuwa Camp discovered they were traitors.

Suddenly—

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

One after another, figures began to coalesce. Some were tall and burly, some were calm and composed, some radiated a murderous aura, and some were icy cold. Manifestations of various True Gods and Daofathers began to take shape. With the arrival of this group of True Gods and Daofathers, more and more of them began to send down their manifestations. It seemed they all wanted to discuss this matter.

From what Subhuti had said, they understood that the five top-tier figures—Suiren, Three Purities, and the others—were still hesitating, worried about spies among them.

“My heavens.” Ji Ning felt breathless.

To see so many True Gods and Daofathers at once… such an opportunity was extremely rare.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

Five of the most powerful auras descended.

Shennong, Fuxi, Suiren, Buddha Tathagata, and Daofather Three Purities. They had only sent down their manifestations as well.

“Eighty-two True Gods and Daofathers.” Ji Ning was secretly shocked. “But they haven’t all come. My senior apprentice-brother and second apprentice-brother aren’t here.”

“I think Subhuti is right.” The headless Fiendgod, Xingtian, spoke up from afar. “This divine ability was discovered by our fellow Daoist Subhuti. Whether to offer it is entirely his choice. The fact that he has already offered it shows he has considered the safety of many great powers on our side. The three Human Sovereigns and the two leaders of the Buddhist and Daoist Sects are certainly not spies. As for the other great powers, we must still be cautious. Such a divine ability would be extremely difficult to cultivate. Imagine if none of the great powers on our side manage to master it, but the technique is passed on by a spy to the Seamless Gate, and someone on their side successfully masters it. That would be a nightmare.”

“Yes, there’s no need to rush.” Lü Dongbin also spoke up.

Unexpectedly, many great powers sided with Subhuti. This was mainly because the five leaders were united with him, and their influence was simply too great.

The Lord of Thunder grew anxious.

Although the great powers present were covetous, many of them followed the five leaders. Furthermore, they themselves had very little confidence in successfully mastering the technique. The Nine-Horned Lightning Serpent was not so easily tamed. The Lord of Thunder, however, considered himself the one with the greatest chance of success.

“I was born from the Primordial Chaos and am one of the original eighty-one True Gods.” The Lord of Thunder could no longer hold back. He spoke, his voice booming across the void. “Thus, there is no reason for me to be a spy for the Seamless Gate. Look around the Three Realms. In terms of commanding lightning and thunder, I am unmatched. I am extremely familiar with the Nine-Horned Lightning Serpent. My chances of mastering this divine ability are very high! Three Human Sovereigns, Tathagata, Three Purities… do you truly believe that I, the Lord of Thunder, am unworthy of learning it?”