Chapter Fifty-One: The Familiar Presence Beneath the Thunder Pool of Heavenly Tribulation?

[This simulation will require the expenditure of 50,000 Walker Points. After deduction, 568,000 Walker Points remain.]
[Simulation successful: The Celestial Tribulation Thunder Pool of this universe is located in the Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys of the Western Snow Plateau.]

“So, it’s at the westernmost edge of the Great Qin Empire’s territory?”

Lin Qiye understood at once. He turned slightly, gazing toward the distant western sky.

“We’re heading to the Snow Plateau!”

To Lin Qiye’s proposal, Eunuch Cao offered no objection. He was a bodyguard. No matter where the seventeenth prince went, he would follow inseparably. If the seventeenth prince were in mortal danger, he would wager his own aged life to buy the prince time to escape. Even if the Old Wolf Lord were resurrected, he would not hesitate to fight to the death. Bearing the resolve of one prepared to die, Eunuch Cao stayed close behind Lin Qiye, the two of them—master and servant, youth and elder—raced at great speed toward the western borders of the Great Qin Empire.

Five days later.

Lin Qiye halted his forward dash, lifting his head to gaze at the majestic and solemn Snow Plateau in the distance. There before him rose a white plateau, soaring into the heavens. The dazzling brilliance of the snow filled his vision. Beneath the blanket of white, massive mountain ridges stretched endlessly, undulating like mighty dragons writhing beneath the snow.

The plateau towered. It was so high that its summit was lost to sight. Each mountain was a sheer cliff that even cultivators at the Golden Core stage dared not climb.

“What a spectacle! The highest point must be nearly thirty thousand meters up,” Lin Qiye couldn’t help but sigh.

Old Cao nodded. “Indeed. The Snow Plateau rises thirty thousand meters above sea level. As far as this old servant knows, the area of the plateau is six times the size of the Great Qin Empire’s entire territory. The plateau consists of five tiered steps, each seven thousand meters high. Together, they surpass thirty-five thousand meters. Aside from endless snow, there are some reclusive exotic beasts on the plateau, though they’re rarely encountered… The Canglan River within the empire’s borders originates here.”

Listening to Eunuch Cao’s “tour guide” introduction, Lin Qiye nodded as he cast his gaze about, searching for his target.

“So, Eunuch Cao, do you know where exactly the Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys are?”

Eunuch Cao was momentarily taken aback. “The Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys? They’re at the very top of the plateau. That’s the most perilous place in the Snow Plateau! There’s even a myth about their origin! It’s said that hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Snow Plateau kept growing higher, nearly touching the sky itself. So, the heavens sent down seven deities, who transformed into seven divine peaks to suppress the plateau. Because of this, the valleys beneath those peaks became the birthplace of thunderbolts in the world, nurturing thousands of thunder dragons, each dozens of meters thick! Those thunderbolts are extremely dangerous. Even those who have opened the eighth heavenly gate might perish within!”

“Uh… Your Highness isn’t planning to venture into the Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys, is he? That would be unwise!” Eunuch Cao instinctively grew anxious, earnestly imploring Lin Qiye.

“Your Highness, if you mean to challenge the Thunder Pool, even at the cost of my life, I could not save you! Why not seek training elsewhere?”

To his bodyguard’s concerns, Lin Qiye merely smiled serenely. “The birthplace of thunder, with thousands of thunder dragons? That’s my amusement park!” The corners of his mouth curled into a smile; a flame of longing flickered in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Eunuch Cao. My supreme spiritual root can devour thunder to strengthen itself.

“What others see as a deadly calamity, I see as nourishing elixir! Let’s not lose time.”

As his words fell, Lin Qiye leapt, becoming a streak of afterimage as he shot toward the uppermost tier of the Snow Plateau.

Eunuch Cao wanted to stop him. But recalling the prince’s words—and remembering the power of his supreme spiritual root—half his worries dissipated. He, too, became a flickering shadow, swiftly following Lin Qiye.

A day later.

Master and servant, youth and elder, trekked alone atop the fifth tier of the Snow Plateau.

In the distance, the seven peaks of the Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys soared like pillars of gold, piercing the sky. Thousands of thunder dragons, emanating radiant white light, roamed playfully between the peaks, their whiskers and claws flickering. Sometimes a claw would step upon the void, sometimes a tail would sweep across a mountain. Their majestic, bold, and unrestrained forms ruled the sky, as if they were the supreme masters of this world, unbothered by anyone.

As for Lin Qiye and Eunuch Cao, standing on a distant peak, the thunder dragons regarded them as mere air—insignificant human ants, not worthy even of a glance.

Confronted with thousands of thunder dragons, each dozens of meters thick and brimming with violent energy, Eunuch Cao’s face grew grim with dread.

“Your Highness, don’t get any closer. It’s too dangerous!”

“It’s fine,” Lin Qiye replied, unconcerned, shaking his head.

The moment he saw the thunder dragons, he realized that his own Nine-Colored Divine Thunder Physique was trembling madly, as if a beast in heat, filled with desperate yearning.

Devour the thunder! Devour the thunder!

Those words echoed in Lin Qiye’s mind.

Still, for safety’s sake, Lin Qiye did not rush in immediately, but activated his Genesis Simulation first.

“Genesis Simulation, what is the safest way to devour the thunder of this world?”

[This simulation will require the expenditure of 10,000 Walker Points. After deduction, 558,000 Walker Points remain.]
[Simulation successful: Your supreme spiritual root is formidable—simply charge in and devour.]

“Uh… the same as always? It seems the Nine-Colored Divine Thunder Spiritual Root is truly fearsome.”

Having obtained the safest method, Lin Qiye smiled lightly, glancing at Eunuch Cao.

“Wait here for me, don’t move. If danger comes, retreat.”

As he spoke, wings of crackling thunder erupted from Lin Qiye’s back, and with lightning speed, he shot high above the Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys.

Now, Lin Qiye hovered in midair, his cold gaze surveying the thunder dragons below. As long as he plunged down, he could devour the Thunder Pool of this world, ignite the Wound Gate, and greatly enhance the lethality of the Wind and Thunder Infant Sword Technique! His power would surge by leaps and bounds—victory was just ahead!

A smile played on Lin Qiye’s lips.

But just as he prepared to dive into the Thunder Pool, a strange ripple caught his acute senses.

“How odd… I sense something familiar within. Did an old acquaintance leave something behind?”

A hint of surprise and curiosity flickered across Lin Qiye’s brow.

“Who could leave their mark in the Celestial Tribulation Thunder Pool?”

Curiosity surged within him.

“No matter… Once I devour the thunder, all within the Thunder Pool will be revealed to me.”

With that thought, the wings of thunder at his back beat powerfully. A dragon-elephant phantom, a hundred meters tall, materialized behind him, while the Nine-Colored Divine Thunder Spiritual Root radiated with lightning and thunder.

Preparations complete, Lin Qiye plunged downwards. The towering dragon-elephant phantom crashed into the Thunder Pool where the thunder dragons swam.

The instant of impact unleashed a world-shaking thunderclap that echoed across the Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys and a chorus of furious dragon roars that shook heaven and earth. The pride of the thunder dragons had been trampled; their colossal bodies twisted in rage as they surged toward Lin Qiye, intent on tearing him to shreds, reducing him to a charred husk.

Yet, Lin Qiye’s Nine-Colored Divine Thunder Spiritual Root was the natural nemesis of thunder. Thunder dragons capable of slaying even those who had opened the eighth heavenly gate were devoured by Lin Qiye’s very flesh, transformed into pure thunder energy that washed over every bone in his body.

Each thunder dragon refined his spiritual root further, causing strange white thunder runes to blaze within his bones.

Clearly, his supreme spiritual root had ascended to yet another level.

In his previous life, the Nine-Colored Divine Thunder Physique had only just awakened. But now, it had reached ten percent of its awakening, and he had acquired a new white thunder rune.

Delight filled Lin Qiye’s heart. With a flick of his finger, a mass of strange white thunder rose from his fingertip.

“The thunder now has evolved. Its ferocity and savagery is matched by an intense cold, able to freeze an enemy’s soul and tear their will to pieces.”

“Impressive!”

“With the aid of white thunder, my Wind and Thunder Sword Qi becomes even more deadly!”

“And now, with no more obstacles atop the dragon’s spine, I can ignite the Wound Gate without hindrance!”

“But before breaking through, let me see which old friend left their mark at the bottom of the Celestial Tribulation Thunder Pool!”

With that, Lin Qiye’s curious gaze turned toward the depths of the Seven Forbidden Divine Valleys…