Chapter 432: Two-Stroke 'Thunder'

True Martial King expanded his domain to encompass the surroundings, naturally staying vigilant. Meng Chuan and the other three also released their Seamless Domains, as powerful cultivators strongly disliked being disturbed while training. This was especially true when deeply immersed in comprehension, where external interference could potentially disrupt a crucial breakthrough. Therefore, everyone unleashed their Seamless Domains, ensuring no one would cross boundaries.

"This lake is unfathomably profound," True Martial King remarked with a smile as he observed it. His True Martial Domain began to manifest around him as he also began to comprehend the mysteries of the Yin-Yang Lake. Within the lake, countless black and white streams of energy chased each other, possessing terrifying power that crushed the darkness and gave birth to a world. Anyone falling into this lake would be instantly disintegrated.

"Life is finite, but the Grand Dao is boundless," Peng Mu murmured to himself, observing the world-creation phenomenon. The closer he came to the end of his lifespan, the more insignificant he felt. Peng Mu glanced at his old friend, 'Cloud Sword Sea,' who had already drawn his sword and begun practicing swordsmanship. Flashes of sword light rippled around him like waves.

"Hmm?" Peng Mu looked at Meng Chuan in the distance with some surprise.

Meng Chuan, however, had summoned a table, chair, paint palette, and brushes from his Grotto-Heaven Pearl. He sat down and began mixing paints. "What is he doing?" Peng Mu wondered secretly.

Meng Chuan sat at his desk, the entire World Interstice serving as his study. The scene before him, purple lightning tearing through the darkness, was his subject. "I'm finally painting this a second time," Meng Chuan thought, thrilled. "Last time, my realm was lower, I was still a Marquis Godfiend. Now that I've reached the 'Law Domain Great Accomplishment' stage, observing it again... the feeling is distinctly different." Naturally, at different stages of cultivation, observing the purple lightning yielded different insights.

"I'll still paint the fifteen forms of lightning." This was something Meng Chuan had long desired. He spread out the paper, held it down with a paperweight, picked up his brush, pondered for a moment, and then began to paint. With his previous painting experience and having created two supreme arts, Meng Chuan had a specific sequence in mind for this painting. He started by depicting the 'Void Lineage' of lightning.

The Nine Heavens Form of the Void! This was a concept Meng Chuan had deeply comprehended, and his self-created 'Cloud Mist Dragon-Snake Movement Technique' contained many of its mysteries. Meng Chuan began with the 'Nine Heavens Form,' immersing himself in it. "Marvelous, simply marvelous," he thought, incredibly excited. As he painted the 'Nine Heavens Form,' combining it with his own comprehension, he gained a deeper understanding. "To hear the Dao in the morning and die content in the evening"—this spoke of the joy of comprehending the Dao! As Meng Chuan painted, perceiving the deeper essence of the light, he felt as if he saw the 'Dao' and 'Truth.' His blood boiled with excitement, tears welled in his eyes, and his Primeval Spirit radiated spiritual light. This was also common among powerful Godfiends: a profound joy emanating from the heart upon a breakthrough or deeper realization, which would prompt self-reflection and lead to a transformation of the Primeval Spirit.

This time, Meng Chuan painted the Void Lineage first: the Nine Heavens Form, Thunder Domain Form, Illusion-Reality Form, and No-Self Form, in sequence. Immersed in painting, he lost track of time. At the King Godfiend stage of cultivation, one could go without food, drink, or sleep for a month and still feel excellent. He divided the lightning into four aspects to paint—the Void Lineage, Flash Lineage, Destruction Lineage, and Life Lineage—creating a total of fifteen paintings.

Whether Godfiends or Demon Kings, observing the awe-inspiring scene of world creation in the World Interstice, they would find it utterly boundless. None would ever hope to integrate all its myriad mysteries into their own studies, as it was simply too vast. They could only choose 'one aspect,' the one most suited to them, comprehend it, integrate it, and thereby improve themselves. If Meng Chuan were practicing saber arts, it would be the same. But at this moment, he was painting! Painting was about capturing the essence of the 'purple lightning' and presenting all its aspects in a single piece. Seeing the painting should be like seeing the real purple lightning—that would be perfection. However, limited by his artistic ability, Meng Chuan divided it into fifteen separate pieces.

The process of painting was Meng Chuan's process of gaining a deeper understanding of the purple lightning. Others cultivated by focusing on just one aspect. Meng Chuan perceived the entire purple lightning, grasping its essence and charm with the eye of an unparalleled artist. This subtly influenced his path of cultivation.

***

In the Demon World, inside the grand Ice Palace, three Demon Emperors sat high on their thrones as the illusory scene before them dissipated.

"The screening is over," Empress Xuanyue said. "We should now have a clear understanding of the strength of all Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings." The test, which lasted over ten days, was for every Fifth-Heaven Demon King.

"Hmm," Emperor Xinghe nodded gently. "Judging by their performance, the String Demon King ranks among the second and third strongest of all Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings in terms of power. However, its mastery of technique is the highest, making it the most deserving of a Tribulation Realm secret treasure."

"Good."

Peng Emperor and Empress Xuanyue both nodded in agreement.

Due to the many Tribulation Realm mighty experts in their history, the Demon Race possessed a considerable number of Tribulation Realm secret treasures and weapons. However, the conditions for bestowing each secret treasure were extremely strict, because even the deepest foundation would be squandered if carelessly spent. Granting a 'Tribulation Realm secret treasure weapon' to a Fifth-Heaven Demon King, in particular, was previously impossible. This time, it was also for the purpose of defeating the human race.

Peng Emperor said, "Our Demon Race has three Tribulation Realm secret treasures most suitable for the String Demon King. Let it choose one itself." Empress Xuanyue nodded.

Soon after, the String Saint Master entered the hall, looked at the three Emperors seated high on their thrones, and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Emperors." No matter how proud it was, it remained utterly respectful before the Emperors.

"Take a look," Empress Xuanyue waved her hand, and a booklet flew over. It contained information on three Tribulation Realm secret treasures. "You may choose any one," she said.

The String Saint Master took it, and its eyes lit up. The descriptions of the Tribulation Realm secret treasures were incredibly tempting, and after reviewing them, it hesitated.

"Emperors," the String Saint Master respectfully asked, "the human race's Primeval Spirit mystic technique 'Demon Drill' is incredibly powerful. Do we, the Demon Race, possess any Primeval Spirit mystic techniques to protect our Primeval Spirits and resist the Demon Drill? Or any similar offensive means?"

It had experienced the power of the Demon Drill from the Guardian King Shan. Under the pain, it barely managed to stay conscious, its strength greatly diminished. It was only because Meng Chuan's destructive power wasn't enough to break through its robes. If he had shattered its robes, its life would have been forfeit. Meng Chuan couldn't break through, but True Martial King and others could. The String Saint Master urgently needed a means to protect its Primeval Spirit.

"None," Peng Emperor said coldly. "Ordinary Primeval Spirit mystic techniques are similar to your Black Lotus mystic technique. To possess powerful Primeval Spirit mystic techniques, one must cultivate the illusion lineage and achieve great heights in it."

"But the human race's Demon Drill shouldn't require the illusion lineage," the String Saint Master remarked. "Many human Godfiends, like King Dongning and King Qianmu, can use it."

"That is a unique mystic technique of the human race," Peng Emperor continued. "Even in the outer realm, powerful Primeval Spirit mystic techniques are almost exclusively wielded by those of the illusion lineage. A non-illusion lineage technique that is also extremely powerful? Such things are exceedingly rare, and our Demon World does not possess one."

The Demon Drill Forbidden Art was highly regarded by generations of human powerhouses, almost a mandatory study, and a representative 'trump card' of Cangyuan World. The 'Demon Drill' was originally kept in the Heart Sea Hall, and external forces, though coveting this mystic art, could not obtain it.

"Then I choose the Tribulation Realm secret treasure 'Nine-Life Cocoon'," the String Saint Master made its choice.

"The Nine-Life Cocoon was the life-bound secret treasure of a Primeval Spirit Fifth Tribulation Realm mighty expert," Empress Xuanyue's voice was clear and cool. "At crucial moments, it can transform into a 'cocoon,' and after a few breaths, a complete physical body and Primeval Spirit can be re-nurtured, essentially granting an extra life. However, this 'breaking cocoon rebirth' technique requires the Tribulation Realm mighty expert's own bloodline. Even if we Demons obtain the 'Nine-Life Cocoon,' we cannot achieve 'breaking cocoon rebirth'."

"I understand, Your Majesty," the String Saint Master respectfully said. "What I value is the toughness and sharpness of the 'silk threads' of the Nine-Life Cocoon, and its proficiency in protecting both the physical body and Primeval Spirit."

Most Tribulation Realm secret treasures have a defensive effect against Primeval Spirit attacks. The effects vary in strength. Some Tribulation Realm secret treasures are primarily for killing enemies and are weaker in terms of Primeval Spirit protection. Others are for preserving life, like the 'Blood Blade Disk,' which is very strong in protecting the Primeval Spirit. The 'Nine-Life Cocoon' also primarily focuses on self-preservation and equally provides strong Primeval Spirit protection.

"The Nine-Life Cocoon suits your 'String Art' well," Empress Xuanyue said. She waved her hand, and a palm-sized 'egg' glowing with crystalline white light flew towards the String Saint Master. "You'll need to refine it with a life-bound artifact refining method. Quickly put it away and go cultivate in the 'Crying Nine' meditation chamber."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave." The String Saint Master suppressed its excitement, took the 'egg,' and exited the palace.

"The human race's Primeval Spirit mystic techniques are indeed troublesome," Emperor Xinghe said. "Our Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings are at a disadvantage in this regard."

"Grandmaster Cangyuan was a Seventh Tribulation Realm mighty expert; his ability to find the 'Demon Drill' mystic art inheritance is something we cannot envy," Peng Emperor said calmly. "After all, the strongest in the Demon Race's history were only Sixth Tribulation Realm mighty experts, and while there was more than one, the difference between Sixth and Seventh Tribulation Realm mighty experts is immense." Places Grandmaster Cangyuan could go, Sixth Tribulation Realm mighty experts found it very difficult to access.

Although the Demon Race had more treasures, and a greater quantity of them, the human race's 'quality' was higher. The Primeval Spirit lineage inheritances, 'Primeval Spirit Stars' and 'Demon Drill Forbidden Art,' ranked first and second in the human race's Heart Sea Hall. Both were coveted by the Demon Race, who clearly lacked such inheritances. Of course, the Demon Race also had its own unique accumulations.

"How should we cultivate the Peacock?" Empress Xuanyue said. "This Peacock has awakened the 'Dark Peacock' bloodline of the Space-Time River; it is our trump card against the human race."