Chapter 406: The Dean Who Traps His Students — Mang Tianchi
Zzzzzzt…
As Xiao Yuan charged into the Thunder Pool, countless lightning bolts surged like silver serpents, streaking toward him. Yet, upon contact with his body, they emitted muffled thuds and were absorbed into him. Though the lightning was fierce, it still paled compared to the Black Demon Lightning within Xiao Yuan. Moreover, with the destructive power of his Heavenly Flame, he had dual protection and no reason to fear.
Seeing Xiao Yuan walk across the thunder pool as if on flat land, the massive black dragon hovering outside emitted a flash of light and transformed into a robust human figure. Crossing his legs, he sat in the air, eyes locked on the interior of the Thunder Pool.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
In the sea of thunder, bolts of lightning exploded in all directions. Xiao Yuan operated his Demon Lightning Body technique, continuously absorbing the lightning and converting it into nutrients for the Black Demon Lightning within him.
After walking roughly two hundred zhang inward, he halted. The thunder energy here was dense enough. Going deeper would lower absorption efficiency and needlessly increase risk.
After all, the Void Thunder Pool had gathered an unfathomable amount of lightning energy. If he triggered a backlash, not even his Heavenly Flame might be able to save him from being reduced to ashes in an instant.
"This will do."
He sat cross-legged and calmed his mind. With a wave of his hand, eleven puppet figures appeared—ten Earth Demon Puppets acquired from ancient ruins, and one Heaven Demon Puppet: Mo Yu.
The puppets from the Wind Lightning Pavilion had long been refined to their limit, so they were left behind guarding the Starfall Pavilion.
It was almost laughable. Back when Elder Feng complained the Starfall Pavilion lacked strength, Xiao Yuan had tossed him the six puppets made from Wind Lightning Pavilion disciples. Even someone as experienced as Feng Zun was stunned—he had never been this well-equipped!
Xiao Yuan chuckled and sent the puppets toward an area where thunder energy was especially dense.
Rumble!
The moment the puppets moved, surrounding lightning surged violently, converging and bombarding them. However, the thunder, upon striking the puppets, vanished instantly, absorbed like water into a sponge.
The thunderclaps raged endlessly, but the puppets' bodies only grew brighter and stronger.
The Void Thunder Pool was saturated with volatile energy. Ordinary Dou Zuns wouldn't dare absorb it, but for Xiao Yuan, the more violent the better!
His body would first filter the energy, then the Heavenly Flame would refine it into pure Dou Qi, flowing into his Qi Palaces endlessly.
Over time, his aura steadily strengthened.
Before arriving, Xiao Yuan was already at the peak of Four-Star Dou Zun. During Zi Yan's refinement, he had expended a lot of Dou Qi. Combined with five drops of Ancient Dragon Essence Blood and the Dragon-Phoenix power Zi Yan gave him, he broke through to Five-Star Dou Zun in just three days.
But he didn't stop there—he kept cultivating.
Rumble—!
Two months passed. In the silver Thunder Pool, Xiao Yuan sat quietly, surrounded by eleven puppets in a circle. Thunder raged outside, massive bolts like serpentine beasts continually crashing down. Instead of damage, they made the puppets glow with renewed brilliance.
The Thunder Pool gurgled as vast currents of energy surged around Xiao Yuan and violently poured into his body.
Despite the storm, Xiao Yuan sat motionless, a bottomless abyss absorbing it all. Above him, a hundred-zhang-wide thunder vortex formed, spinning furiously, releasing wave after wave of energy.
Boom boom!
Eventually, the vortex began to fade. Xiao Yuan's body sparkled with silver arcs, resembling a thunder god descending.
As the vortex dispersed, the lightning arcs crawling over his skin sank into him and vanished.
Then, his tightly closed eyes opened.
Hooo…
A breath laced with sparks escaped his throat—his aura now that of a Six-Star Dou Zun!
"Six-Star Dou Zun, huh…"
A satisfied smile spread across Xiao Yuan's face. It was almost time to visit the Ancient Clan. With more power, he had more confidence.
At this level, using the Heavenly Flame Triple Transformation could bring him to Nine-Star Dou Zun. As long as no half-saint intervened, no one could stand in his way.
And if a half-saint did show up?
He had tricks for that too.
Looking around at the ten Earth Demon Puppets, a smile tugged at his lips. They had fully turned golden—the sign of advancement to Heaven Demon Puppets!
Even Mo Yu had reached Nine-Star Dou Zun level!
Satisfied, Xiao Yuan stood and stretched before retrieving the puppets and preparing to leave.
But then he suddenly turned, eyes narrowing at the depth of the Thunder Pool. His soul sense picked up a massive energy fluctuation from that direction.
"Something's wrong…"
He saw nothing, but his instincts screamed danger. He turned and dashed toward the edge of the pool.
Whatever was coming—better to leave now.
But just as he moved ten zhang, an invisible gale burst from the pool's depths. Wherever it passed, terrifying thunder was instantly vaporized.
"What terrifying wind!"
The hair on his body stood on end.
Zzzzt!
In the torn space, a ragged figure burst out, chased by a dozen terrifying bolts of black lightning like demonic dragons.
The moment Xiao Yuan saw the black lightning, his heart froze.
Black Demon Lightning—all fully matured!
Even a Dou Sheng would be troubled. Xiao Yuan didn't hesitate—he activated Sky Thunder Movement and fled at full speed.
He didn't even look at the figure being chased. That person was clearly stronger than him, but the lightning behind them was terrifying.
If even a strand of that lightning touched him, he'd be reduced to dust!
Suddenly, the figure noticed him—and to his horror, flew straight toward him.
"Hey, bro! Don't come this way!"
Feeling the terrifying aura behind him, Xiao Yuan nearly cried. That guy obviously wanted help, but he'd clearly overestimated Xiao Yuan.
"Hey, friend up ahead!"
A voice rang out behind him, and in a flash, a silhouette appeared beside him.
"…Six-Star Dou Zun? Seriously? You're this weak and you dared come into the Void Thunder Pool? Are you nuts?"
Xiao Yuan twitched. So what if he was Six-Star? Did he owe you food or something?
Glancing sideways, he saw an older man, hair streaked with gray, robes tattered from lightning. Despite his sorry state, the old man radiated vitality—as if the terrifying black lightning hadn't harmed him much at all.
"…Crap. I did eat his food…"
Xiao Yuan's expression froze as he recognized the man.
It was Mang Tianchi—the dean of Jia Nan Academy!
"Seriously? These freak bolts are too fast! Forget it—kid, I'm out!"
Mang Tianchi waved a hand, twisted the space, and vanished.
"What the hell, Dean?! You can't just ditch me!"
Xiao Yuan's jaw dropped.
"Hm?"
Mang Tianchi paused, looked back—and realized who he'd just left behind.
Oh no… That's my heir. Xiao Yuan, right?
With a flash, he returned, grabbed Xiao Yuan's shoulder, and teleported both a kilometer away.
Where they'd just been was immediately razed by the Black Demon Lightning.
Hovering outside the Thunder Pool, Mang Tianchi squinted at Xiao Yuan for a long while and muttered, "You've got guts, kid. Coming here with just that level of strength."
"Hmph. Not like you weren't being chased around by Black Demon Lightning either," Xiao Yuan shot back.
"Don't be ridiculous. I wasn't being chased! I was just cautious not to trigger the whole pool. I could've destroyed those things!"
Mang Tianchi huffed.
Xiao Yuan rolled his eyes. "Yeah right. Big, mighty dean tossing your student behind you to tank the lightning."
"I rescued you, didn't I?!"
Embarrassed, Mang Tianchi averted his gaze.
"Ahem. Those creatures deep in the pool—formed from pure thunder—they're great for cultivation. Since you're fast, how about we go deeper together?"
"Hell no." Xiao Yuan shook his head immediately. Go deeper into that death trap? No thanks.
"Tsk. Weak and gutless," Mang Tianchi muttered.
"Oh? I'll just go tell Elder Su Qian you tried dragging me to fight Black Demon Lightning. Let's see if he nags you to death."
Xiao Yuan smiled coldly.
"Alright, alright, we'll discuss it later."
Mang Tianchi's face changed instantly, now smiling like a fox.
Whoosh!
Just then, a voice echoed from afar: "Brother Xiao Yuan, are you alright?!"
"Huh? That's a Taixu Ancient Dragon?" Mang Tianchi looked surprised, then shot Xiao Yuan a strange glance. "How's a human kid like you mixed up with them?"
"Anyway, aren't you and your brother heading to the Ancient Clan soon? Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you. Train hard!"
Mang Tianchi clearly didn't want to meet the new arrival. With a wave and a swirl of space, he disappeared.
Watching his wacky dean vanish again, Xiao Yuan could only turn and look at the approaching Hei Qing.
"Whew… finally found you. Luckily, you had the Dragon Seal Her Majesty left in your body, or I wouldn't have found you."
Hei Qing sighed in relief.
"Just had a little trouble in the Thunder Pool," Xiao Yuan smiled, omitting the whole story. "I'm done cultivating. Let's head back."
"Great! I was getting bored out of my mind!"
Hei Qing's eyes lit up. With a flash of light, he turned back into a massive black dragon. Xiao Yuan jumped onto his back, and with a lash of his tail, they vanished into the depths of the void.
(END CHAPTER)
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