The pitch-black seed cracked.
A tender sprout quietly unfurled, its emerald radiance growing ever brighter.
Amid the surging thunder slurry, a strange flower bud bloomed in defiance.
The flower resembled an epiphyllum.
Its petals were crystal clear, translucent in violet-blue, its stamen a cluster of blazing white lightning.
It had no roots, no stem.
It floated above the Purple Evil Lightning slurry.
Arcs of electricity flowed along the edges of its petals.
It radiated a life force that was the complete opposite of destruction.
This flower—
Was called the Nirvana Thunder Epiphyllum.
Li Zhexian's consciousness, which was about to sink into darkness, was sharply awakened by the surging life force so close to him.
His hand, which was propped on the ground, was only an inch away from the "Nirvana Thunder Epiphyllum."
His dying senses were stimulated by the immense life force, and with a final burst of energy, a shred of clarity returned.
"This…"
Li Zhexian forced his eyelids open.
His lips moved soundlessly, and in the dim depths of his pupils, the flower that radiated the brilliance of life was reflected.
An indescribable feeling surged in his heart without warning.
A flash of lightning, more dazzling than the Purple Evil Lightning, suddenly shot through Li Zhexian's mind.
All his past beliefs about thunder being "only destruction" were completely overturned in front of this flower of life blooming in the thunder slurry.
"Wrong… I was wrong all along…"
"Thunder… is not only destruction…"
"Beneath its facade of destruction, it contains... rebirth..."
"Like a nourishing rain that falls after the spring thunder, and like new branches that sprout after lightning strikes and shatters a withered tree..."
"...It is breaking to establish new order! It is nirvana! It is rebirth!"
Staring at the ever more radiant Nirvana Thunder Epiphyllum,
Li Zhixian's clouded eyes shone with brilliance surpassing thunder itself.
A mysterious comprehension shattered the shackles he had long sought to break but could never find the key to.
"Thunder—"
"A sword of destruction—yet sheathed in rebirth!"
"When thunder tears the sky, a green sprout has already secretly formed in the depths of the scorched earth!"
"Thunder—"
"Is the most violent purification in the world, and also the most merciful nurturing!"
And in the instant Li Zhexian's comprehension bloomed—
As if summoned by the Nirvana Thunder Epiphyllum—
The entire valley stirred.
Those grass seeds buried deep beneath the thunder marsh,
Deemed forever incapable of sprouting,
Were awakened all at once.
Buzz—
Buzz—
With the "Nirvana Thunder Epiphyllum" in Li Zhexian's palm as the starting point, invisible ripples of immense life force spread out.
The ripples swept through the entire Purple Evil marsh,
Even extended into the Azure Sky Thunder marsh.
And then—
A magnificent, breathtaking sight appeared.
Countless green lights flared within the thunder slurry.
Seeds that had slumbered for ages split apart, tender shoots piercing the viscous lightning marsh.
In just a few breaths, a multitude of "Nirvana Thunder Epiphyllum" emerged from the charred earth. As their petals unfurled, small electrical arcs flowed, and lively lightning snakes coiled around their emerald green stems and leaves.
The entire valley was filled with lightning and the scent of flowers, and the auras of destruction and rebirth intertwined and collided in the air.
(Li Zhexian comprehends the sword)
A group was hurrying through the valley.
They had already gone more than six thousand meters deep and were about to enter the Purple Evil Lightning grounds.
Just then—
Yu Yuanzhen halted abruptly.
Those behind him stopped as well.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, who were burning with anxiety, were about to rush forward, but they were stopped by Yu Yuanzhen.
He stared at the valley ahead, and a look of surprise flashed across his old eyes.
In just a few seconds, everyone unbelievably watched as a beautiful blue-purple light spread like a tide from the depths of the valley
As it came closer, they were surprised to find that it was a multitude of strange flowers, which were rapidly growing from the depths of the thunder marsh toward them.
These flowers were breathtakingly beautiful, as if they were from a dream.
In an instant, the tide of flowers surrounded everyone. The previously desolate valley of destruction transformed into a beautiful dream-like sea of flowers.
Witnessing such a miraculous sight, everyone was too shocked to speak.
"This... this..." The Blue Lightning clan disciples and elders were all stunned. They recognized these. They were the very grass seeds buried in the Thunder Valley that no one had paid attention to.
In fact, in the beginning, they had also believed them to be treasures. But after exhausting all their efforts to make them bloom and failing, they had no choice but to give up. This had become a consensus of the Blue Lightning clan.
But today—
All those long-silent seeds had bloomed at once.
Yu Jinghan exhaled a heavy breath, recalling how Li Zhexian had once asked him about those very seeds.
With difficulty, he spoke:
"Li Zhexian…"
"This must be his doing."
Lightning flashed faintly within Yu Yuanzhen's eyes.
"Let's continue."
At six thousand six hundred sixty-six meters—
They stepped into the Purple-Evil lightning grounds.
And then—
Their gazes were then seized by the figure in the center of the sea of flowers.
Yu Yuanzhen raised his hand, signaling silence.
None dared utter a word.
Only eyes, wide with shock, fixed upon the ragged youth seated cross-legged amidst the flowers.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling clenched their sleeves, holding their breath.
They understood that Li Zhexian was at a critical moment in his sword comprehension and could not be disturbed in the slightest.
Li Zhexian's breathing gradually became long and steady. With his every breath, the entire magnificent sea of flowers swayed gently in rhythm.
Just like those reborn grass seeds, he was undergoing nirvana in destruction and rebirth in ashes.
The charred, dead skin rustled and peeled off, revealing new skin that was as smooth as jade. Faint purple lightning and vibrant green life force intertwined and flowed beneath his skin.
Li Zhexian slowly opened his eyes.
No trace of confusion remained within them.
Only clarity, born of seeing the true essence of lightning.
"I…"
"Understand."
"Thunder sword intent is not only about destruction."
"Life is hidden in the depths of silence, and a single sword can bring all things back to life."
As Li Zhexian murmured in a low voice, a surge of sword qi shot up from the great spine on his back
His twelve sword bones vibrated like dragons roaring and swords crying out.
The one that had endured the most tempering from the Purple Evil Lightning shone with a brilliant light.
That light was no longer purely destructive lightning.
It took lightning as its bone and vibrant green life force as its marrow.
A Thunder Sword Bone containing the dual truths of destruction and rebirth was completely condensed amidst this miracle of life blooming in the sea of flowers.
An unprecedented Sword Intent—
Surged outward from Li Zhexian.
Sweeping across the sea of flowers—
At first it was so fierce that petals scattered like rain.
Yet in the next breath, it turned to power of renewal, lifting each fallen petal with gentle grace.
This Sword Intent—
Fierce as divine thunder, cleansing all!
Gentle as spring rain, nourishing all things!
"Qinglian Sword Song's Fourth Form…"
"Complete!"
As he spoke the words, his heart was heavy with mixed emotions.
The hardship—
Only he could know.
For a full month, he had driven himself mad, walking daily upon the knife's edge of death.
But in the end!
The result did not betray him!
Amid the sea of flowers, though his white robe was tattered, his skin glowed like jade, his body wreathed in the Sword Intent of destruction and rebirth interwoven—like a true sword immortal descended into the mortal world.
"This form shall be named…"
"Thunder Ash Rebirth."