Chapter 107: The Region of Thunder
A night’s rest allowed Rod’s mental energy and combat qi to recover significantly! Feeling refreshed, a faint smile appeared on Rod’s lips.
Although his body felt empty now, with no combat qi present, as long as he focused his mind, that combat qi would be continuously released from the core in his dantian. This was where the greatest advantage at the divine level became evident! If at the mid-stage saint level one could utilize the energy between heaven and earth by forming cyclones, then now he had reached an even higher level—just as before a straw helped him replenish energy in battle, now his entire mouth was working to continuously absorb and utilize energy, showing a vast difference.
With his strength restored to its peak, Rod felt much lighter. Once the armor formed from his combat qi covered his body, the pressure he faced was reduced to a minimum.
Looking at the Dark Dragon beside him, he sighed. Time was almost up. Clearly, as the Sword Spirit of the Dark Dragon had said, out of three thousand drops of blood, only one hundred were still missing—what was needed next was his own life force! Recalling the nervous expressions and words of Lilith and Sognar when they saw the Dark Dragon earlier, Rod felt a sense of unease.
The fact that someone like Sognar was willing to risk his dragon soul being sealed by the Dark Dragon and even perish alongside it made Rod realize he was definitely not lying—it truly existed.
If the Dark Dragon was truly that evil, would saving it bring chaos and bloodshed? Once again, Rod’s resolve wavered. Indeed, he couldn’t bear to abandon or destroy the Dark Dragon, as it was one of his two most valuable companions. It had been by his side through thick and thin, witnessing his transformation from an ignorant novice to his current position, at the cost of countless lives. Even if he couldn’t save it, he certainly wouldn’t destroy it.
“Kid, what are you thinking about?” Suddenly, a voice rang out as Rod was quietly observing the Dark Dragon, hesitating.
Hearing this voice, Rod quickly turned around, only to find that Lilith and the others had already stood behind him, seemingly without him noticing.
“What are you standing around for? It’s time to go!” Seeing Rod’s dazed expression, Lilith smiled faintly and said calmly.
“Set off?” Hearing this, Rod frowned slightly and looked at the group in confusion. Especially that old man standing beside Lilith—the one called Lord Gary! Was he going to join us as well? “Lord Gary will come with us; there’s no need to look!” Seemingly sensing Rod’s thoughts, Lilith continued. A woman’s sixth sense is always so keen, able to pierce through a person’s emotions completely. This statement really surprised Rod, who gave Gary a strange look. Could such a powerful old man be so easily persuaded? What method had Lilith used? He looked at the group suspiciously, feeling that something was off. “Kid, the one in your hand is a Dark Dragon, right?” Before Rod could ask, Gary spoke up, his expression still serious, showing no emotions at all. “What do you want to do?” Hearing Gary’s words, Rod quickly hid the Dark Dragon behind him and asked nervously. Although he had doubts and concerns about the Dark Dragon, as he himself had said, the sword and its master were one—destroy the sword, and the master dies. He wouldn’t allow anyone to harm the Dark Dragon. “Nothing. Heh, a Dark Dragon? It seems the seal is about to be broken. I never thought this day would come! Don’t worry, I’m not like others who want to destroy it. Everything has its value in existence, especially something as extraordinary as this. Do you really think those who fight over it are all well-intentioned, wanting to bring peace by destroying the Dark Dragon? Doesn’t everyone have their own ambitions and plans? Though the sword may be evil, it depends on its master’s intentions. Used rightly, it will fulfill its purpose; used wrongly, it will bring chaos. Think carefully about it yourself!” The result was completely opposite to what Rod had imagined. Instead of anger and a desire to destroy, Gary spoke with a smile. “Lord…” Hearing his words, Xuanfeng frowned slightly, while Sognar cried out in anxiety.
“Alright, kid, ignore what others say. You don’t need to pay attention to it—having a clear conscience is enough. Remember what I said today. Also, I want to remind you that it’s not easy for you to control the fully restored Dark Dragon with your current strength. So before you’re fully confident, I hope you don’t try to lift its seal. It won’t bring you any benefit; it will only plunge you into a terrifying situation. Even if one day you have the strength to do it, stay calm, don’t rush. A firm belief is what truly matters. Don’t disappoint me, and don’t disappoint those who care about you!”
Organizer Sognar continued speaking, and the old man spoke carefully to Rod. Yet all this left Rod somewhat at a loss, not understanding what was going on.
“Don’t worry, I know!” With a look of gratitude, Gary nodded and smiled at Rod. Though his words seemed simple, Rod’s doubts were instantly dispelled, as if he had suddenly grasped the essence of another world, becoming enlightened.
“Seize this opportunity well. The divine level is a crucial stage—understand it deeply, reflect on it, cultivate yourself more, and strengthen your mind. It will benefit you. The second form is merely the most basic form; it won’t satisfy your needs. Strive to make further progress!” With a sigh, after saying those last words, the old man turned and walked slowly ahead.
“Thank you for your guidance, elder!” A flash of insight struck Rod’s mind as he faintly grasped some clues. As words from someone who had experienced it all, they contained countless insights and lessons, delivering a profound impact on Rod. Even Xuanfeng and the others nodded thoughtfully, their faces showing a hint of joy. But Rod didn’t realize that the old man’s words were pointing the way to that mysterious realm for a divine-level warrior—a realm that countless people dreamed of achieving.
“It’s time to go. Hurry up and follow!” As the old man walked farther away, Lilith hurriedly urged the others.
Immediately, they rushed to follow in Gary’s footsteps.
“Kid, there’s something inside you that can control the Dark Dragon. I hope you can bring us a new era—that’s what we old folks hope for. Don’t disappoint us!” Sensing the others following behind, Gary’s lips curled slightly as he murmured to himself.
Others didn’t know, but he could sense it. On that day, at the most critical moment of breaking through to the divine level, Rod encountered problems. If it were an ordinary person, they would have been finished long ago. He managed to hold on not only thanks to his demon race’s strong physique but also, more importantly, with the help of the Dark Dragon and two other forces within him. This could be hidden from others, but not from him—he could clearly sense those forces. One was of fire nature, likely the Fire Dragon Soul mentioned by that girl, Lilith; another was cold, undoubtedly the Dark Dragon. The third seemed cold yet exuded infinite gentleness. Though it appeared to be the weakest force, it possessed terrifying power and aura. Even the Dark Dragon feared it—just imagine. Without that force, even with the help of the Dark Dragon and the Fire Dragon Soul, nothing would have worked. Without a balancing force, it could even cause even more terrifying problems.
In this way, while Rod was in a daze, Gary joined their group. Under Gary’s leadership, they continued forward. After passing through the point with 20,000 times gravity, Rod felt increasingly lighter, and their speed grew faster. The reason was simple: after crossing this threshold, gravity gradually decreased as they moved forward, and the decline was quite noticeable! It was similar to when they entered, except now it took them 3,000 meters to reduce gravity by 1,000 times.
Even after traveling 6,000 meters, Rod could completely rely on his own physical strength without any trouble or difficulty, no longer needing the help of his Dou Qi avatar. Reaching the divine level meant facing 18,000 times gravity, but it posed no real challenge for him—he could withstand it with his own body and a little Dou Qi support.
“Ahead is Reese’s territory. I wonder how that kid is doing now. I really miss him!” On that day, looking at the open area ahead, Sognar sighed with emotion, showing a rare hint of nostalgia on his face.
It was the fifth day since they set out. For the first three days, they struggled under 20,000 times gravity. This area, at the core of the Void Space, was vast, covering at least 5,000 meters! In the following two days, they easily reached the region with 17,000 times gravity.
Yet this area was somewhat different from all the places they had passed before, displaying a distinct appearance: open spaces, short trees and shrubs, as well as rocks, debris, and dead trees exposed in the open, giving one the impression that this place was desolate and chaotic. As they moved further into this area, the darkness gradually lessened, no longer as pitch-black as the places they had crossed earlier. More colors appeared in the sky; although darkness still dominated, it was a bit brighter. Faint rays of light could also be seen in the sky, which was quitewonderful and beautiful! Yet such a beautiful place exuded a heavy sense of oppression, making one feel as though some terrifying energy was brewing between heaven and earth. “Is this the Thunder Region? It seems to have expanded quite a bit. That kid, Rhys, has made great progress over the years. Sognar, it seems you’re destined to be at a disadvantage against him!” Sensing the surroundings, Xuanfeng also smiled slightly and teased Sognar, but it was obvious to everyone that the expressions on their faces now carried a hint of caution and wariness.