The Void Lightning Pool.
At the deepest point of this endless storm, the air was thick with destruction. The raging Black Demon Lightning here had grown so concentrated that it no longer took the form of arcs, but molten lightning plasma, forming an entire sea of blazing death.
And within that sea, a colossal dragon of radiant gold—the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning—began the sacred act of Spirit Convergence.
Lightning surged and roared. Around it, countless pillars of Black Demon Lightning coiled like loyal guardians, encircling the space to bar all intruders while preparing themselves as offerings for their emperor.
The Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning stirred. Its enormous body rippled through the thunder sea, waves of energy crashing skyward as torrential lightning converged alongside dense, pure spiritual energy.
It raised its proud head and unleashed a roar that shook the heavens. The sound became shockwaves rippling through the air, streaked with dancing bolts of light. Even a seasoned Dou Saint would not dare to face that might head-on.
Within its golden eyes, faint spiritual light flickered—weak, but real. It was the lightning spirit born of the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning's essence, a being without a soul, guided only by its instinctual will.
But today, it would gather a spirit.
As the vast spiritual energy poured into its immense form, the faint gleam in those eyes grew ever brighter. That light traced along the dragon's life imprint, filling in what had been hollow—gradually molding it toward the shape of a true soul.
Rumble!
A thunderous explosion sounded from within its own body—lightning's backlash. For lightning itself could not be allowed to bear its own soul. The heavens would not permit a thunder spirit to claim individuality.
A wailing cry shook the lightning sea, echoing with anguish. The Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning's roar became a scream of torment. Despite its immense might, it could not withstand the backlash tearing it apart from within.
Liu Xi knew this was his cue. Though the creature was strong beyond measure, that strength was also its greatest curse. The more powerful the existence, the harder it became to forge a soul.
So it was for the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning—and so it had been for the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Both were supreme beings of the world, yet both had lived without true consciousness.
Within Liu Xi's own spiritual world, the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree trembled faintly, its sorrow resonating through his mind—grieving for the lightning dragon, and for itself.
Yes, they were the strongest in heaven and earth. But what was strength without a soul? They grew and expanded, never knowing why.
Liu Xi exhaled softly, comforting the ancient presence within. 'Someday,' he vowed, 'I'll help you condense a soul too.' For every great being, the longing for a complete consciousness was the same.
He stepped forward. The surrounding Black Demon Lightning did not dare to bar his way; instead, it parted respectfully, bowing to his Emperor Realm Soul.
Before him, arcs of lightning blazed across the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning's body. The beast trembled, wracked with agony as lightning energy raged wildly within.
Liu Xi reached out and gently touched its head. Beneath his palm, he could feel its despair—its deep, helpless sorrow.
"Don't be afraid," he said softly. "I'm here."
The violent lightning gathered madly atop the dragon's body, and Liu Xi, without hesitation, stepped closer. His hand brushed the golden scales, and in that instant, the lightning leapt from the dragon onto him.
Golden arcs snaked around him like living serpents, biting into his flesh, intent on tearing him apart.
But Liu Xi's expression remained calm. Though his entire body tingled and went numb, his movements never faltered. Within him, the cyan flame surged forth—its dual nature carrying both the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame's cleansing and the Void Devouring Flame's consuming might.
That terrifying lightning, enough to annihilate Dou Saints, was swallowed whole, refined into pure essence, and transformed into crystalline Dou Qi.
Yet this was only the beginning. The true source of chaos was within the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning itself. The backlash of its own thunderous energy tore apart the gathered spiritual essence, scattering what it had worked so hard to condense.
Its anguish deepened.
Liu Xi's Emperor Realm Soul spread outward, enveloping the entire dragon. Within that vast consciousness, he captured and restrained the berserk currents—the very forces preventing it from forming a soul.
"I'm going to draw it out," Liu Xi said quietly. "The pain will be immense—like your flesh being torn from your bones. Endure it. It'll be over soon."
Golden lightning wreathed his figure as he spoke, his eyes steady, voice serene. Each word resonated directly within the dragon's mind.
Then he acted.
The purifying power of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, the devouring might of the Void Devouring Flame—merged within the cyan fire that burst forth. It flared brilliantly as Liu Xi began the extraction.
The Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning's scream tore through the void. The agony of losing its power rivaled the torment of the backlash itself. Yet it resisted the instinct to lash out, its massive body trembling as it pressed itself low against the lightning sea.
Its vast strength was draining away. Its immense body began to shrink, but as its power waned, the backlash weakened too.
Pchh!
Liu Xi suddenly drew his hand back. A blinding arc of golden light coiled between his fingers—a compressed lightning essence, flickering with terrifying power.
It looked small, but the energy within made even Liu Xi tense. Wrapped in cyan flame to restrain it, that arc was but a fragment of the Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning's core essence—enough, if unleashed, to equal a 7-Star Dou Saint's self-detonation.
Behind him, the once colossal dragon had shrunken to barely a hundred zhang in length. Its breath was faint, its strength fallen to that of a mere Dou Zun.
Sealing the lightning arc with his cyan flame, Liu Xi turned back, summoning the spiritual power of his Emperor Realm Soul. Spiritual energy poured forth, flowing into the weakened creature as he performed the sacred Spirit Infusion.
"All right, easy now," he murmured. "Focus your mind. Let the spirit take shape in one breath."
The dragon's colossal frame quivered weakly. Its energy felt empty—drained—but within that void, something new began to bloom. The spirit that had struggled to form now solidified rapidly under Liu Xi's guidance.
This time, there was no more violent backlash. The process flowed smoothly, guided by his control and the faint stability his extraction had provided.
The Nine Mysterious Golden Lightning endured the process easily. Its eyes gradually brightened, the glow of pure awareness filling them.
And then, at last—consciousness.
Those golden eyes blinked for the first time, gleaming with life. The gaze within was no longer dull instinct but the unsteady curiosity of a newborn, seeing the world for the first time—uncertain, confused, yet brimming with joy and awe.
It turned those eyes upon Liu Xi—the first being it had ever truly seen. That image etched itself deep within its nascent soul, never to fade.
Around them, the Black Demon Lightning roared in unison, each streak of thunder bending and whirling as if to offer praise. The loyal bolts became blessings, descending upon their emperor in dark streams of light.
The black lightning merged into its golden scales, filling the emptiness within, restoring what had been lost.
Liu Xi smiled faintly, his hand resting against the creature's shimmering scales. The lively spark in its eyes, the distinct pulse of soul energy—he could feel it all clearly.
"Congratulations," he said softly. "Welcome to this world."
(End of Chapter)
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