Chapter 2814: Emperor's Essence for Thunder

Ye Chen did not return to Yǔ Nǚ Fēng, instead leaving Zhū Tiān Mén.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, he finally came to a stop and found a meteorite only about a hundred zhàng in diameter. He set up a table on it, then summoned numerous clones, sending them off into the four directions of the starry sky. Each clone carried a mission: to spread a message far and wide. The message was to collect all kinds of thunder—no freebies involved. In exchange, he offered source stones, magical artifacts, pills, Dì Yùn, secret scrolls, immortal techniques—anything he had, as long as they had thunder and lightning. The more thunder, the better.

Indeed, the Shèng Tǐ was making a big move this time, putting in all his effort to fuse the Hùn Dùn Léi and seize that opportunity. This was mainly due to a stimulus he had felt, coming from Líng Xiāo Bǎo Diàn. As a half-step Dàchéng, he couldn't even enter the door. If Líng Xiāo Diàn were to do something malicious, he would only be able to watch helplessly. He hated that feeling of powerlessness.

"Léi Diàn?"

The message spread quickly, like it had grown wings, reaching every corner of the world. Everyone who heard it stroked their chins, not surprised at all. After all, the Shèng Tǐ had already fused the Hùn Dùn Huǒ before—this time, he was going for the Hùn Dùn Léi!

"No freebies, sounds reliable."

"Too bad, I don't have any."

"Help me find some! The Shèng Tǐ is super generous."

Wherever cultivators gathered, discussions buzzed. Those with thunder and lightning were already clutching their own and heading toward the starry sky where Ye Chen was. Since it was something the Huāng Gǔ Shèng Tǐ wanted, they were happy to provide it. Who knows, he might actually succeed in fusing the Hùn Dùn Léi and use that opportunity to advance to Dàchéng. For the entire Zhū Tiān, that would be a great blessing.

With a Dàchéng figure in charge, the world would be more peaceful. Even if foreign domains invaded again, they could hold the line. The Shèng Tǐ lineage was the lineage of saviors, always guarding the common people. The world remembered this kindness.

Besides, Ye Chen wasn't asking for freebies. He said as long as he had it, they could pick whatever they wanted, as long as the price was fair. There was no deal that couldn't be made. But if he ever decided to rob your house one day, then you wouldn't have a choice. Everyone in Zhū Tiān knew the temperament of Dà Chǔ's Tenth Emperor.

As a result, the once quiet starry sky became lively. Groups of people appeared, opening domain gates and rushing toward that area. Not everyone had thunder and lightning—most were just there for the spectacle. After all, it had been five years since most had seen the Shèng Tǐ. How to put it? They really missed him.

"Little Léi Zi, your spring has come."

The Hùn Dùn Huǒ said, flickering excitedly.

"Once I become Hùn Dùn Léi, we'll beat him together."

The Hùn Dùn Dǐng hummed, gently nudging the Tiān Léi.

The Tiān Léi ignored those two entirely, too busy hovering by Ye Chen's side, waiting for its meal. Its spring was truly arriving.

Ye Chen remained calm, resting his chin in his hands and waiting idly. This was all about testing his character. If his character was good, people would come to trade thunder and lightning. If not, who would bother with him?

"Want to fuse?"

Out of boredom, Ye Chen glanced at the Tài Chū Shén Léi.

The Shén Léi didn't react at all, completely unresponsive.

Ye Chen coughed dryly and continued waiting.

Boom! Rumble!

A booming sound erupted, but it wasn't from domain gates—it was the noise of a battle sweeping in from the distance, like an ocean of immortal light engulfing everything.

Ye Chen glanced sideways and then looked away.

He could see clearly who was fighting: Lóng Wǔ and Yǒng Shēng Tǐ. Those two were the real troublemakers. They were fierce in wars, and even in peaceful times, they stirred up trouble on their own.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Accompanied by the rumbles, the two fought their way right here.

Looking up, the battle was intense. Yǒng Shēng Tǐ had unfolded his Yǒng Shēng Xiān Yù, while Lóng Wǔ had activated his Tài Xū Shén Tú. Both were their innate visions—one like a supreme god-king, the other like an peerless immortal king. They clashed fiercely, unleashing emperor-level immortal techniques one after another. Every direct clash sent waves of destruction rippling outward.

Because of them, this patch of starry sky was collapsing.

The surrounding ancient stars were also suffering greatly.

It was clear that Lóng Wǔ wasn't a match for Yǒng Shēng Tǐ, but compared to the past, he had improved tremendously. In the old days, he would have been defeated outright, but now he could at least fight head-on. So, in a way, Yǒng Shēng Tǐ was his sharpening stone, turning this rusty iron into a divine weapon.

The one who felt this most deeply was the male Yǒng Shēng Tǐ. After so many battles, this Dragon Emperor remnant soul grew stronger with each fight, gaining deeper insights into the Dao. At this rate, he would eventually be defeated.

"Damn."

Amid the booms came cries of alarm.

The first batch of cultivators had arrived to trade thunder, but as soon as they stepped out of their domain gates, they were caught in the battle's shockwaves and sent flying. The weaker ones even had their bodies destroyed.

"Again with Yǒng Shēng Tǐ and the Dragon Emperor remnant soul."

"They fight every other day—I'm used to it."

"I see the Shèng Tǐ over there, just waiting."

The cultivators kept their distance, clicking their tongues in amazement and sighing. They only dared to watch from afar, not get close. Even spectating required strength; one wrong move could cost your life.

"Whoa."

"That was close—I almost got pulled in."

"What a narrow escape."

More and more people arrived, and many suffered the same fate. As soon as they exited their domain gates, they were blasted away. The starry sky was in chaos because of the two fighters, with curses echoing everywhere. They had endured invasions from Tiān Mó, È Mó, and even chaos from the Hóng Huāng clans, but dying to mere aftershocks would be ridiculous.

"Take your fight somewhere else."

Ye Chen sent a message, his face darkening. He was waiting to trade for thunder and fuse the Hùn Dùn Léi—did they have to come here and mess things up?

Lóng Wǔ and Yǒng Shēng Tǐ stopped at once and turned to leave, as if they could already see Ye Chen's furious expression. If Ye Chen lost his temper, the consequences would be severe.

"Trade for thunder."

As soon as the two left, Ye Chen called out.

Those carrying thunder crowded forward. At the front was an old acquaintance: Qí Wáng, that rather arrogant donkey.

"You actually have thunder."

Ye Chen stroked his chin, seeing right through it. Honestly, he didn't want to trade with this donkey—he was thinking of just robbing him. Their relationship was solid enough that talking money would hurt feelings.

But with so many others behind, openly robbing wouldn't be right. He had to keep his word and not scare people off. He didn't have time to hunt them down one by one.

"Don't underestimate me."

Qí Wáng grinned widely, still in his donkey form, with those big front teeth perfectly straight and his donkey face stretched long.

"Pills, artifacts, immortal techniques—what do you want?"

Ye Chen sat down, smiling at Qí Wáng.

"I want Huāng Gǔ Shèng blood."

Qí Wáng transformed into human form, rubbing his hands with a chuckle.

"You're here to draw my blood? That's going too far!"

"Nothing else, just Shèng blood."

"Take it and get lost quickly."

Ye Chen waved his hand, sending out a strand of Shèng blood. With a casual move, he drew out Qí Wáng's thunder—it was a domineering Tiān Léi, of a decent level, worth his attention.

"Got it!"

Qí Wáng scampered off, and as he ran, he turned back into a donkey, strutting arrogantly on his four hooves, clopping away as if afraid Ye Chen would change his mind.

Ye Chen took a deep breath. Next time he saw him, he would teach Qí Wáng how to be a proper donkey. How dare he draw my blood? Just you wait.

"Senior, can I have an emperor-level immortal technique?"

After Qí Wáng came a honest-looking young man, round and a bit dark-skinned, only at the Huāng Jìng level. He looked like a good kid through and through.

"Of course."

Ye Chen smiled and gently flicked his sleeve.

One ancient secret scroll after another flew out from his sleeve, each engraved with the name of a technique, like Nì Tiān Huàn Dì or Suō Dì Chéng Cùn. Basically, anything he had was there.

"Pick one, but only one."

"Thank you so much, senior."

The honest young man handed over his thunder and took one: Suō Dì Chéng Cùn. It was an escape technique for self-preservation, something he had wanted for years.