Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 316: An Unexpected Strongman

"Sigh, I didn't expect that because of me, you'd also get into trouble, being targeted by a Dou Venerate expert. That doesn't feel good, does it?"

Seeing that the elder Mu Gu had set his sights on Mo Yu, Uncle Snake's face froze, and he turned to Mo Yu with a bitter smile.

"Uncle Snake, don't joke. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten into this mess. I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry, Uncle Snake. You should've accepted Mu Gu Elder's offer earlier and joined the Soul Hall. With your skills, you'd have had a chance to survive," Mo Yu said, shaking his head with a heavy heart.

"Haha, you kid, don't flatter yourself. I didn't refuse to join the Soul Hall just because of you." Uncle Snake gave Mo Yu a slight smile, though it was clear he wasn't being completely honest.

Hearing this, Mo Yu's expression remained somber.

"Seriously, though, there's no way I'd join the Soul Hall. I've heard about their reputation in Central Plains. While they do like recruiting strong people, their rules are extremely strict. For someone like me, joining as a soul body would probably mean little freedom, maybe even enslavement. For me, being controlled by the Soul Hall is worse than death," Uncle Snake said, his cold eyes narrowing as he spoke in a low voice.

Hearing Uncle Snake's firm refusal, Mo Yu's silver eyes clouded with gloom. This battle was, without a doubt, the most dangerous moment since his rebirth.

Elder Mu Gu was the strongest person Mo Yu had encountered on the Dou Qi continent!

"Uncle Snake, you're a Dou Venerate. Surely, you have some trump cards, right? If there's a chance later, you should leave. Don't worry about me," Mo Yu said seriously.

"Haha, are you telling me what to do now, kid?" Uncle Snake chuckled, feeling warmed by Mo Yu's concern. He shook his head and said, "After fighting Han Feng earlier, I've suffered injuries, and my strength has weakened considerably. Even at full strength, I'd have trouble stopping this man. A Dou Venerate is no ordinary opponent. If I were in my prime, this Mu Gu Elder wouldn't concern me. But now..."

With his suggestion rejected, Mo Yu felt even more anxious. Today, the situation was truly dire.

"Haha, have you two finished discussing? Are you coming with me willingly, or do I have to capture you myself?" Mu Gu Elder's cold laugh echoed as he watched Mo Yu and Uncle Snake murmuring to each other, clearly unbothered.

In this realm, he was the only master, and everything was under his control.

"Damn it. If we must, let's fight!" Mo Yu clenched his fists, determination surging through him. He had already died twice in his past life, so what was one more time?

As Mo Yu's thoughts raced, Uncle Snake gently grabbed his arm and said calmly, "Leave it to me. Go to Cai Lin."

Mo Yu was startled and turned to look at Uncle Snake's calm, scholarly face. After a moment, his silver eyes narrowed. "Uncle Snake, you..."

Seeing Mo Yu's expression, Uncle Snake used soul communication to speak directly to him. "Mo Yu, like you said, as the once-legendary Snake Venerable, how could I not have a trump card? But my trump card comes at the cost of burning all my bloodline power. This final strike may not kill him, but it can seriously wound Mu Gu Elder and delay him. When that happens, use the space-shifting dark thunder in your body to escape as far as you can. Don't worry about Yuan Manor. Dou Venerates don't lower themselves to harm weaker opponents. Just don't return to Yuan Manor; leave the Black-Corner Region. Dou Venerates can search vast areas, far more than ordinary fighters. If you grow stronger than me someday, avenge me against the Soul Hall. And, don't let Cai Lin down. Finally, take care of the Snake-People Tribe for me..."

Hearing Uncle Snake's words, which sounded like final instructions, Mo Yu froze. His face went pale. Uncle Snake was planning to...

"No, Uncle Snake! If we live, we live together. If we die, we die together. I, Mo Yu, am not afraid of death!" Mo Yu's gaze firmed as he shook his head.

Uncle Snake smiled with relief at Mo Yu's response, then glanced toward Cai Lin, showing a small, tender smile.

Without waiting for Mo Yu to act, Uncle Snake struck him sharply on the shoulder, sending a soft force through his body that pushed him toward Cai Lin and the others.

"I already told you, today, neither of you will escape," Mu Gu Elder sneered coldly as he watched Mo Yu being shielded by Cai Lin and her group. His eerie purple eyes beneath his black robe shifted toward Uncle Snake's indifferent face. "Snake Venerable, do you really think you can be a match for me in your current state?"

"If you want my soul, you'll have to pay the price. It won't be as easy as you think," Uncle Snake said coldly. A terrifying purple-gold energy surged from his palm, causing the surrounding air to ripple.

"If you were at your peak, I'd flee at the sight of you. But now, as a mere soul body, how much of your Seven-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent bloodline power can you still wield?" Mu Gu Elder taunted, though even he flinched slightly at the sight of the ancient bloodline's chilling power.

Hearing Mu Gu Elder's words, Uncle Snake felt a heavy weight in his heart but didn't waste time responding. The powerful bloodline energy within him erupted, creating an overwhelming pressure that spread across the sky.

"Haha, trying to go all out? It won't work!" Mu Gu Elder laughed sinisterly, his robe swirling as dark, eerie fog began to pour out of his body, forming thick, black clouds in the sky. The sunlight above the Northern Desert Plains was quickly blotted out, leaving the entire area shrouded in ominous darkness.

Mu Gu Elder's move covered the sky, blotting out the sun, as if signaling the end of days. His overwhelming power left many nearby experts pale with fear. The strength of a Dou Venerate was truly terrifying.

Seeing this, Uncle Snake frowned slightly. Glancing toward Mo Yu's direction, he let out a soft sigh, reluctant. Then, his eyes flashed with purple-gold light as his hand seals changed.

As Uncle Snake's hand seals shifted, the purple-gold energy enveloping his body surged wildly, causing his aura to rise rapidly. The sheer force of this energy shocked even Su Qian and the others watching. Intense purple-gold light poured into Uncle Snake's soul body.

"Burning your bloodline power? Has this guy gone mad? He'll destroy his soul doing this!" Mu Gu Elder's eyes widened in shock at Uncle Snake's suicidal move.

"No! I must stop him. The Soul Hall's master values Snake Venerable greatly; we can't let him be destroyed!" Mu Gu Elder's expression shifted dramatically. He quickly spread his fingers, sending five thick strands of dark fog from his fingertips that condensed into sinister black chains. With a sharp sound, the chains pierced through the air, aiming straight for Uncle Snake.

As the five black chains descended, Uncle Snake, now enveloped in overwhelming purple-gold energy, narrowed his eyes. He spun and threw a devastating punch at the terrifying chains.

As the punch landed, the massive energy surrounding Uncle Snake followed, sending ripples through the very fabric of space. Though the punch appeared simple, it carried enough force to distort the air itself.

"Boom!"

Uncle Snake's punch knocked the chains back, but a dark shadow suddenly appeared, and the two exchanged punches. The resulting shockwaves spread across the sky, accompanied by a deafening thunderclap.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The two figures blurred and vanished from sight, reappearing thousands of meters away. Each collision of their immense power triggered explosions of energy that reverberated like thunder across the battlefield, causing countless spectators below to tremble with fear.

In the sky, black clouds rolled ominously. Occasionally, bursts of energy would split the clouds, allowing a brief shaft of sunlight to break through. But even the sunlight felt cold and devoid of warmth.

On a mountain peak, Mo Yu looked up at the battle, his face grim. Though injured, his exceptional soul perception allowed him to follow the fight above more clearly than others.

Despite his weakened state, Uncle Snake's strength was still formidable. Even in his soul form, thanks to his Seven-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent bloodline, he could battle a Dou Venerate. But his attacks were clearly losing momentum. If this battle dragged on, and his bloodline energy burned out, defeat was inevitable.

"Mo Yu, leave now!" Uncle Snake's voice echoed in Mo Yu's mind once again.

Hearing this, Mo Yu's face darkened. His silver eyes flickered with indecision. Was this really the only way?

"Haha, don't bother trying any tricks. Against overwhelming power, none of that will work!" Mu Gu Elder sneered. He pushed off the ground, launching toward Uncle Snake like an arrow. His face twisted with malice, and it was clear he had no intention of prolonging the fight.

A withered hand emerged from the void, aiming directly at Uncle Snake's soul body. The hand moved without any visible Dou Qi, but as it passed, it left dark cracks in the fabric of space.

"Boom!"

Mu Gu Elder's strike seemed simple, but it transcended space, landing squarely on Uncle Snake, who couldn't dodge in time.

Purple-gold energy surged violently in defense, but only for a moment before Mu Gu's overpowering Dou Qi pushed it back.

"Pfft!"

The purple-gold energy shattered, and Uncle Snake's face turned pale. Without a physical body, the damage from a Dou Venerate's attack was devastating.

As the protective energy around Uncle Snake faded, the eerie black fog engulfed him like a tidal wave.

The impact left Uncle Snake's soul form nearly transparent, his life force dimming like a flickering candle. Mo Yu could clearly sense that Uncle Snake's vitality was draining fast, almost on the verge of extinguishing.

"Haha, Snake Venerable, no matter what plans you have, you'll never succeed against me!" Mu Gu Elder's eerie laugh echoed through the darkened sky. His figure blurred, reappearing just a short distance from Uncle Snake.

Dark fog swirled around Mu Gu's withered hand as he reached toward Uncle Snake's now nearly transparent soul form, like a ghostly claw grasping for his prey.

Feeling the chilling energy approaching, Uncle Snake's soul trembled slightly. His face was pale, and he knew that in his current weakened state, even if Mu Gu Elder didn't attack, he was already facing certain death.

"However..."

As thoughts raced through his mind, Uncle Snake's gaze lowered to the mountain peak below, where Mo Yu stood, watching with anxious eyes. A bitter smile crept across Uncle Snake's lips.

"Sigh... kid, why haven't you left yet...?"

Noticing Uncle Snake's gaze, Mo Yu shook his head resolutely. Though the Spatial Shattering Thunder in his body could allow him to escape, it was only a maturing ability, and it wasn't guaranteed to outpace a Dou Venerate's pursuit.

If that was the case, Mo Yu decided he'd rather go down fighting with honor.

"Haha, boy, since Snake Venerable has been captured, why don't you join him?" Mu Gu Elder laughed coldly, his voice like a thunderclap as he darted toward Mo Yu.

Seeing Mu Gu Elder approach, the faces of Yuan Manor's leaders turned pale. The three allied leaders exchanged glances and subtly backed away.

By contrast, Zi Huo, Qing Lin, and Cai Lin stood steadfastly in front of Mo Yu without hesitation.

"Hmph, a bunch of ants. I wasn't going to bother with you, but since you want to die, don't blame me for slaughtering you all!" Mu Gu Elder sneered, his gaze sweeping over them coldly.

However, when his eyes landed on Zi Huo, Cai Lin, Qing Lin, and Zi Yan, he hesitated for a moment. His sinister eyes flashed with surprise.

Just from a quick glance, Mu Gu Elder noticed the unusual qualities in their physiques, each seeming extraordinarily rare, even by Central Plains standards. He couldn't help but grow more intrigued.

"You all, leave. Don't worry about me," Mo Yu said, pushing aside the people standing protectively in front of him. He shook his head as he stared at the eerie and terrifying Mu Gu Elder.

"Boss, live or die together!" Zi Huo declared simply.

Qing Lin and Zi Yan nodded in agreement. Even though Cai Lin didn't say anything, her seductive figure stood firm, refusing to move.

"What a touching scene, but none of you will leave here alive today!" Mu Gu Elder cackled. He waved his hand, and a massive cloud of dark fog surged forward, enveloping Mo Yu and his group.

The immense pressure of the Dou Venerate made it impossible to move.

Seeing this, Mo Yu's face darkened. Was this really the end?

Watching this scene unfold, Han Feng smirked smugly. Mo Yu, at long last, would finally be eliminated.

But just as the dark fog was about to engulf Mo Yu and the others, a thunderclap suddenly boomed across the once-clear sky!

"Boom!"

With the roar of thunder, silver lightning bolts burst from the sky like writhing serpents, filling the heavens. Dark clouds rapidly spread across the vast sky, covering the entire expanse in a matter of seconds.

The sky was torn apart, dividing into several sections, each dominated by rolling black clouds. From within the clouds, an immense and oppressive aura of thunder radiated across the landscape.

Suddenly, cracks formed in the thunderclouds, and over a dozen figures appeared without warning above the Northern Desert Plains.

These figures stood atop the black clouds, each dressed in silver and black robes. Their expressions were cold, and their sharp gazes, like flashes of lightning, sent chills down the spines of all who looked at them.

As these people appeared, the dark fog in the air instantly dissipated, as if it had been burned away by the sunlight.

Mo Yu looked up in surprise at the newly arrived figures. He immediately noticed that each of them radiated an aura as deep and unfathomable as a pool of lightning.

Even Cai Lin and the Elder of Eagle Mountain had never exuded such an intense presence.

Most notably, Mo Yu's gaze landed on the leader—a cold, iron-tower-like man whose physique was as formidable as Zi Huo's. Sensing the overwhelming thunderous energy emanating from this man, Mo Yu whispered in awe:

"A Dou Venerate!"

(End of Chapter)

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