Imo smiled. "Don't worry, Teacher. I will approach him as a fellow warrior, not as a prince. Besides, exchanging insights with true experts always brings new understanding, does it not?"
The old man sighed, yet a trace of approval flashed in his eyes. "Your Highness remains as willful as ever. Still, please act with caution. You understand the situation within the Empire better than I do."
"I will be careful." Imo nodded solemnly before cutting off the communication.
He leaned back in his seat and deactivated the privacy field. The noise of the surrounding crowd flooded back into his ears. The spectators were still passionately discussing the previous match, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.
As the Seventh Prince of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, Imo held relatively low status and was not considered a serious contender for the throne. Ironically, that granted him far greater freedom. He could pursue what truly fascinated him. And what fascinated him most had always been powerful warriors and the paths they walked to reach the summit.
Rowan's performance today had undoubtedly captured his attention.
"Rowan," Imo murmured softly, his eyes shining with anticipation. "I hope you will continue to surprise me."
Back in the resting area, Rowan had just finished his intense battle with Valendo and was recovering his strength. Luo Feng, Hong, and the Thunder God sat around him, their atmosphere relaxed and cheerful.
"Brother Rowan, you were incredible!" Luo Feng said excitedly, his eyes full of admiration. "I've never seen anyone construct a law formation like that before. It was unbelievable."
Rowan smiled faintly and shook his head. "I was fortunate. Valendo is extremely powerful. If he had not underestimated my control over the Fire Law, the outcome would have been uncertain."
Hong, as always, remained quiet. Yet the recovery potion he handed Rowan, along with the approving look in his eyes, spoke volumes.
The Thunder God burst into loud laughter. "Haha! Looks like all four of us advanced this round. That's fantastic!" He slapped Rowan's shoulder with such force that Rowan nearly stumbled.
Rowan steadied himself, a helpless smile flickering in his eyes. The Thunder God had always been like this. Bold, cheerful, and unbelievably strong.
"By the way," Rowan suddenly asked, "when does your match start?"
The Thunder God's expression immediately turned serious. "Two hours from now." He checked the time. "I should start preparing."
Despite his usual carefree attitude, the Thunder God was exceptionally disciplined before a fight. Among the four of them, he had the most imposing physique. Nearly two meters tall, broad and muscular, he shaved his head and usually wore a bright grin that made him appear rough and straightforward. But now, his face was focused and calm.
"Who's your opponent?" Luo Feng asked.
"Modin, the Windwalker from the Sky Vault Universe Nation," the Thunder God replied as he pulled out his weapon from his spatial storage. "He specializes in the Wind Law. Fast, precise, and excellent at long-range attacks."
The weapon was a massive lightning warblade. Its dark silver surface was etched with patterns resembling bolts of lightning. A fist-sized blue crystal was embedded in the hilt. It was a rare thunder source stone that amplified the power of lightning laws. The blade was nearly two meters long and weighed hundreds of kilograms, yet in his hands it moved as lightly as a feather.
Rowan studied his expression and understood the tension hidden beneath. "Modin's Wind Law is indeed formidable. But if you can fully deploy your Ninefold Lightning Domain, his speed advantage will diminish significantly."
The Thunder God nodded. "I know. The key is surviving his long-range attacks long enough to unfold my domain."
Hong spoke for once. "Wind fuels fire. It can also strengthen lightning. Do not resist his wind. Use it."
The Thunder God's eyes lit up. "You're right. I can use his wind to accelerate my lightning transmission."
Luo Feng looked curious. "Have you made any breakthroughs in your Ninefold Lightning Domain recently?"
The Thunder God grinned mysteriously. "A small one. I used to stabilize only the sixth layer. Now I can briefly reach the seventh. If everything goes well, I'll try to break through to the eighth in this match."
"The eighth?" Luo Feng's eyes widened. "How powerful is that?"
Rowan explained, "Each layer multiplies the power. According to ancient records, the eighth layer could instantly evaporate a small lake."
Luo Feng swallowed. "That strong?"
The Thunder God scratched his head sheepishly. "In theory. But how much power I can truly unleash depends on my control over the Lightning Law. Without sufficient law support, the domain is only an empty shell."
He stood and gripped his warblade. "I'm heading to the training room for final adjustments. Come watch my match later."
"We definitely will," Luo Feng promised.
The Thunder God nodded and strode away. Though he appeared relaxed, the heavy aura around him revealed the pressure he carried.
Inside the training room, he stood at the center and closed his eyes.
The warblade was planted in the ground. Both hands rested on the hilt as his body relaxed completely. His breathing gradually deepened and slowed. Soon, faint blue lightning began to flicker across his skin, like countless tiny bolts moving beneath the surface.
"Lightning Breath, First Form," he whispered.
The lightning law energy within his body began circulating in a precise pattern. This breathing technique was the result of years of research. It maximized the potential of his lightning power.
"Lightning Breath, Second Form."
His breathing suddenly changed, becoming faster and more forceful. The electric light intensified, crackling softly.
"Lightning Breath, Third Form."
This time, his breathing became nearly imperceptible. Yet the lightning within him surged to new heights. A thin armor of lightning enveloped his body.
"Lightning Breath, Final Form. Wrath of Thunder."
His eyes snapped open, blazing with electric light. He gripped the warblade and pulled.
A thunderous explosion erupted. A massive bolt shot upward, piercing the energy barrier and leaving a scorched hole in the ceiling.
The Thunder God stared at it and sighed bitterly. "Great. I'll have to compensate the Virtual Universe Company again."
At that moment, the training room door opened. A staff member in uniform walked in, calmly recording the damage.
"Contestant Thunder God, your match is about to begin. Please prepare."
"Understood."
After the staff member left, he took a deep breath and sheathed his blade.
"This time," he murmured, "I must reach the eighth layer."
Meanwhile, powerful figures across the audience watched closely.
In his private viewing room, Prince Belut reviewed the Thunder God's information.
"What is his real name?" he asked.
"He abandoned it long ago," an intelligence officer replied. "He goes only by Thunder God. He, Rowan, Luo Feng, and Hong form a close group known as the Four Musketeers."
"And his strength?"
"He specializes in Lightning Law and has reached the mid-entry stage. His Ninefold Lightning Domain allows explosive power beyond his level, though it drains him severely."
Belut nodded thoughtfully. "Ninefold Lightning Domain. It resembles some ancient imperial techniques. Interesting."
The match was about to begin.
Standing on the teleportation platform, the Thunder God steadied his breath.
"Wind versus lightning. Speed versus power," he whispered. "Let's see which is stronger."
As the countdown began, light engulfed his body. Before disappearing, he glanced toward the audience.
Rowan, Luo Feng, and Hong were already seated. Rowan nodded calmly in encouragement. Luo Feng waved excitedly. Hong's silent gaze carried firm support.
The Thunder God grinned and turned to face his challenge. With brothers like them behind him, he had no reason to hold back.
"The third-round match: Thunder God of the Xia Universe Nation versus Modin of the Sky Vault Universe Nation. Victory conditions: surrender or complete loss of combat ability."
As the light faded, he appeared in a new arena.
It was a vast circular battlefield filled with floating platforms of different heights. Beneath them stretched endless blue mist. Falling meant immediate defeat.
The environment clearly favored speed.
The Thunder God stood on the largest platform, scanning for his opponent.
A spiral of wind appeared across from him. When it dissipated, a slender man emerged.
Modin, Windwalker of the Sky Vault Universe Nation. Around forty, yet youthful. His long silver hair was tied loosely with a jade ribbon. He wore a light green combat suit made of rare wind-element materials. His emerald eyes seemed to see through everything.
He carried no visible weapon, only a pair of nearly invisible gloves.
"Thunder God of the Xia Universe Nation," Modin said calmly. "I have long heard of you. I look forward to witnessing your Ninefold Lightning Domain."
The Thunder God grinned. "Likewise. But don't expect mercy."
Modin smiled. "Of course. We are all here for victory."
The announcement echoed.
"The match begins."