Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

In the days that followed, Thunder City remained bustling and prosperous, but an invisible undercurrent always surged around the Thunder War Marquis's residence.

The area in front of the Marquis's mansion was bustling with activity.

Various factions, including members of the royal family, nobles, powerful advisors, and business tycoons, all came to visit with lavish gifts.

Some wanted to find out the truth, some wanted to curry favor, and some were simply driven by awe.

Lei Zhan's old servant was busy with social engagements and dealings with various people.

Most visitors don't even get to see Blood Shadow's face; they can only leave behind valuable "gifts."

……

Inside the Hall of Elders, the debate over whether to grant Xueyin the right to inherit the "God-King level Hunyuan bloodline" never ceased.

Lei Zhan frequently shuttled between the elders of various factions in the Hall of Elders, explaining the advantages and disadvantages, and making every effort to mediate. He even went so far as to use the Emperor's favor and resources obtained from the Abyss Reward, secretly promising exchanges of benefits.

Each time he stepped out of the Hall of Elders, the weariness between his brows deepened, but the determination in his eyes shone even brighter.

In fact, as long as Xueyin fully joins the Thunder Ancient Kingdom, he can obtain a portion of the Hunyuan Bloodline and related cultivation methods...

However, that bloodline was not top-tier. In order to completely make the Blood Shadow Elder, a Chaos Realm cultivator, transcend and become a future God King, Lei Zhan wanted to plan a truly top-tier bloodline for him!
Aside from those who cannot cultivate outside of royalty, there are actually three other top-tier Hunyuan bloodlines that are no less powerful and equally domineering.

And what he sought for Blood Shadow was precisely one of those portions.

Clearly, in the Hall of Elders, the royal elders were arguing endlessly about whether the Blood Shadow was worth it.

……

Time slipped away quietly amidst the thunderous brilliance and undercurrents of the holy city, and March arrived in the blink of an eye.

Inside the quiet room of Zi Lei Xuan, the light of the Chaos Thunder Source Crystal in front of the Blood Hidden Elder was much more restrained and profound than when he first obtained it. The originally violent Chaos Thunder patterns, under the wrapping of the power of decay and prosperity, were like tamed dragons, presenting a strange and harmonious rhythm.

His aura grew increasingly profound, like an ancient stone mountain that had endured countless years, its exterior plain and rough, yet its interior contained the immense power of raging subterranean fire.

On this day, the atmosphere outside the quiet room was somewhat different from usual.

Reber stood quietly on the porch outside the door, his usually calm and serene demeanor now tinged with doubt.

The footsteps approached from afar, but they were not the familiar steps of Prince Lei Zhan. Instead, they were a lighter, yet more authoritative rhythm.

A master dressed in a silver-white robe adorned with lightning patterns, with a solemn expression and an aura that clearly reached the mid-level of the Chaos Realm, walked straight through the courtyard and arrived in front of the Purple Thunder Pavilion, accompanied by two Eternal True God-level attendants.

He held in his hands a scroll that was neither gold nor jade, flowed with purple-gold lightning, and exuded a vast and primordial aura!

On the scroll, tiny, dragon-like lightning runes flickered, radiating a chilling majesty.

"The Emperor's decree has arrived!" The priest's voice was clear and resonant, like thunder from the heavens, instantly spreading throughout every corner of the Marquis's residence.

Reber was shocked and instantly understood what this meant.

He almost fell to the ground, kowtowing deeply: "This old servant respectfully welcomes the imperial edict!"

All the servants and guards of the Marquis's mansion, no matter where they were, stopped instantly upon hearing this voice, which sounded like an imperial decree. They knelt down in the direction of Zi Lei Xuan, not daring to utter a sound.

The door to the quiet room opened silently.

The hunched figure of the Blood-Hidden Elder appeared at the doorway, still wearing the faded gray hemp robe, his cloudy eyes calmly looking at the priest holding the imperial edict.

He did not kneel like the others, but bowed slightly and said in a hoarse voice, "This old man, Xueyin, respectfully listens to the imperial decree."

The priest looked at the old man before him, whose aura was faint and who seemed as if he could be blown away by a gust of wind, without the slightest contempt in his eyes.

His exploits in the Thunder Punishment Abyss had already spread throughout the continent, and he knew all too well the terrifying power hidden beneath that seemingly ordinary body. The scroll in his hand weighed an immense weight.

The priest solemnly unfurled the scroll, and instantly, a vast, majestic pressure, like the primal will of thunder, enveloped the entire courtyard.

The scroll blazed with purple-gold lightning, and characters formed from pure lightning essence floated in the air. Each character seemed to contain the power to create the world, and the sound emanating from the characters resonated directly in everyone's souls:
The Emperor decreed:

"Xue Yin, a guest elder under the Fourth Prince Lei Zhan, was undergoing trials in the Thunder Punishment Abyss. He was entrusted with a critical mission and became a pillar in the midst of the storm."

"With my own strength, I will defeat the foreign enemy, protect the Heart of Thunder Source, seize the Chaos Thunder Source Crystal, display our national prestige in the abyss, and subdue the enemy chieftain outside the Holy City!"

"His outstanding achievements will shine for eternity!"

"He is granted special permission to enter the 'Ten Thousand Thunder Blood Prison' to draw upon the bloodline essence of the 'World-Devouring Thunder Dragon' to temper himself!"

"This edict shall take effect immediately upon delivery!"

"Devouring Thunder Dragon!" When these four words, imbued with supreme majesty, transformed into a thunderous Dao sound and crashed into everyone's soul, Reber's body trembled violently, and he almost cried out in alarm. As an old servant of the royal family, he knew all too well the weight of these four words!
This is no ordinary Hunyuan bloodline!
It was a terrifying existence that belonged to the overlord level among the God-King level Chaos Origin creatures, and its bloodline contained the supreme power to devour the thunder of all worlds and evolve the Chaos Thunder Prison.

It is said that this was captured, cultivated, and tamed by the Thunder Ancestor himself from an unknown place long ago, and its quantity is extremely rare!
His Highness Lei Zhan... actually managed to obtain this bloodline?! And it's not a second-best ordinary God-King level bloodline, but the top-tier "World-Devouring Thunder Dragon," the one most compatible with the origin of thunder and the most domineering in power!
Reber trembled, his gaze toward Blood Shadow filled with unparalleled awe and fanaticism.

If this person can withstand the erosion of the Hunyuan will, his future achievements will be limitless.

Because the bloodline of this Devouring Thunder Dragon is no less than that of the Thunder Primordial Bloodline, which only the royal family can cultivate. However, because the Primordial Will within the Thunder Dragon is too domineering and has a 30% greater risk of going out of control than the royal bloodline, many royal family members probably want to cultivate this bloodline!
The priest holding the imperial edict read the last two words, and the floating lightning-like characters slowly dimmed their light, merging back into the scroll. He respectfully presented the scroll to Elder Blood Shadow with both hands: "Guest Elder Blood Shadow, please receive the imperial edict!"

The Blood-Hidden Elder stretched out his withered hand and steadily accepted the heavy, purple-gold scroll that contained the opportunity to change his path.

It felt slightly heavy in his hand, and a pure, domineering aura of thunderous origin, seemingly capable of devouring everything, faintly emanated from his arm, only to be silently enveloped, analyzed, and isolated by the power of decay and prosperity. In the depths of his turbid eyes, the illusory image of decay and prosperity seemed to brighten for a fleeting moment.

The World-Devouring Thunder Dragon... devours the thunder of all realms...

His hoarse voice rang out calmly as he nodded slightly to the priest: "Thank you for your trouble, priest."

The priest quickly bowed in return: "You dare not. Now that Your Excellency has received the decree, I will immediately return to the palace to report. As for the location of the Blood Prison of Ten Thousand Thunders, a special person will guide Your Excellency there. Please take this imperial edict with you and do not forget it!"

After saying this, he and his entourage withdrew respectfully.

Once the priest had disappeared from sight, Reber excitedly scrambled to his feet, his voice trembling: "Congratulations, Your Excellency! You have received such an unparalleled blessing!"

He knew that the issuance of this imperial edict not only meant that Blood Shadow would obtain the opportunity it had longed for, but also that Blood Shadow's status in the Thunder Kingdom had been officially recognized by the Emperor and the highest levels of government.

From now on, as long as Elder Blood Shadow can survive the cultivation of the Bloodline of the Devouring Thunder Dragon, becoming another giant of the Thunder Ancient Kingdom will not be a problem!

As the Blood-Hidden Elder held the heavy, purple-gold imperial edict, ripples of longing stirred deep within his heart.

Just as Reber was excitedly preparing to send someone to quickly find Prince Lei Zhan to report the good news, a series of slightly hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

Lei Zhan is back.

His princely robes were still magnificent and dignified, with shimmering purple and gold thunder patterns, but the high spirits he had displayed upon returning from the abyss were now replaced by deep weariness.

His resolute face was tinged with an undeniable pallor, and his brow was slightly furrowed, as if he were bearing an invisible burden.

His steps were quick, yet slightly heavy. As he walked, the wide sleeves of his robe brushed against the carved pillars of the corridor, and folds were faintly visible at the cuffs.

Clearly, the power struggle within the Hall of Elders is far more intense and dangerous than it appears on the surface.

He must have paid an unimaginable price to gain ownership of the "Devouring Thunder Dragon" bloodline.

When he stepped into the courtyard in front of Zi Lei Xuan and saw the Blood Shadow Elder holding the imperial edict and standing quietly in front of the door, as well as the servants kneeling on the ground, excited, Lei Zhan's tired eyes suddenly lit up, like lightning piercing through the gloom!
"Hahahaha... Blood Shadow... It seems the priest has already arrived!" Lei Zhan strode forward, his voice hoarse with excitement, a genuine smile spreading across his face, as if his fatigue had been instantly dispelled. "Congratulations, congratulations! Lei Zhan has lived up to expectations! The Devouring Thunder Dragon is one of the most powerful primordial bloodlines in my Thunder Ancient Kingdom, its power is earth-shattering!"

The old man with the blood-hidden gaze lingered on Lei Zhan's pale face and cuffs, then bowed earnestly: "This is all thanks to Your Highness's great efforts, I will remember it forever."

He slightly raised the imperial edict in his hand, his hoarse voice filled with solemnity, "Your Highness's kindness will never be forgotten by Xueyin."

Lei Zhan quickly stepped forward and gently supported the Blood Shadow Elder with both hands: "You flatter me! You are my trusted guest, and Lei Yuan has helped me a great deal this time. This is the reward you deserve! I have only done my part."

He looked around and said to his servants, "Get up and return to your places."

The servants were relieved and respectfully rose and quietly withdrew, leaving only Lei Zhan, Xue Yin, and Lei Bo standing to one side in the courtyard.

Lei Zhan's smile faded slightly, and fatigue returned to his brows, but his eyes remained extremely serious.

He took a deep breath and solemnly said, "Blood Shadow, once the imperial decree has been issued, there will be no further changes. However, the strength of the Devouring Thunder Dragon bloodline also means that the primordial will it contains is extremely domineering, and its corrosive and corrupting power far exceeds that of ordinary God-King level primordial bloodlines. If we are not careful, we risk death and annihilation, becoming ignorant and mindless Thunder Dragon puppets that only know how to devour!"

He said in a heavy tone, "In order to successfully integrate this bloodline, I dare not be negligent. I have obtained all the essential secret techniques for cultivating the Thunder Origin Bloodline, as well as the most detailed and core insights on controlling the 'Devouring World Thunder Dragon' bloodline from the Elder Hall!"

As he spoke, Lei Zhan opened his right palm.

hum!
A dazzling purple lightning bolt appeared in his palm, within which was a three-dimensional "star map" woven from the pure laws of lightning!
This star chart is extremely mysterious and complex. At its core, there seems to be a miniature dragon-shaped phantom formed from endless lightning, swirling and roaring, exuding a ferocious aura that devours all things.

Surrounding the dragon shadow were tens of thousands of star trails composed of even more intricate and precise lightning runes. These star trails appeared static, but in reality, they were operating, being born, collapsing, and expanding in an extremely mysterious rhythm. Each change formed a strange relationship of confrontation and symbiosis with the roar of the core dragon shadow.

What's even more striking is that between the core dragon shadow and the surrounding stars, there is a layer of chaotic light membrane that is as thin as a cicada's wing yet incredibly tough. This light membrane not only blocks the boundless ferocity of the dragon shadow devouring the stars, but also slowly draws out the domineering power emanating from the dragon shadow, transforming it into pure energy that nourishes the operation of the rune stars.

"This is the Thunder Devouring Soul-Suppressing Diagram!" Lei Zhan's voice carried an almost devout solemnity as he pushed the Thunder Star Diagram in his palm toward the Blood Shadow Elder.

"It is not a simple secret method recorded in words, but an origin inheritance diagram condensed by several god-king ancestors who cultivated this bloodline at the beginning of my Thunder Ancient Kingdom. They comprehended the origin of the Devouring Thunder Dragon and combined it with the bloodline's corrosive characteristics. It is the foundation for cultivating this bloodline and the key to controlling its primordial will!"

Blood Shadow Elder's cloudy eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his body emitted a silent roar!

He clearly sensed the vast information and profound mysteries contained in this Thunder Star Chart. In terms of its value for cultivating the Devouring World Thunder Dragon bloodline alone, it far exceeded the five hundred billion cosmic sands he had previously obtained.

“Now, he’s yours,” Lei Zhan said.

The miniature lightning star map detached from Lei Zhan's palm and slowly flew towards the Blood Shadow Elder's brow.

The Blood-Hidden Elder did not resist and released his soul defense.

Om-!
In an instant, a massive amount of information, like a chaotic thunderbolt bursting its banks, surged into his sea of ​​consciousness—

The core essence of the "Thunder Devouring Soul Suppressing Diagram" is to focus on the divine soul as the foundation and visualize the core of this diagram—the soul of the Thunder Dragon that devours the world!
Instead of observing its form, one should perceive the imprint of its original will to "devour the thunder of all worlds"!

Each visualization is a soul-tempering experience of directly confronting the ferocious power of the primordial chaos!

Only by having one's own will as concentrated as thunder and as stable and indestructible as an eternal star can one resist erosion and, in the struggle, peel away, analyze, and absorb the thunderous devouring path contained in that imprint!
Victory strengthens the soul; defeat annihilates the soul!

Using his own divine power as a guide, he drew upon the power of thunder from the outside world, constructing "Ten Thousand Thunder Stars" within his body according to the trajectory shown on the star map!
Each "star" is a node constructed from thunder runes, serving as a buffer between its own power and the devouring power of the World-Devouring Thunder Dragon.

The more stars there are, the more mysterious their operation, the stronger the buffer and the higher the conversion efficiency.

It is both a fortress against the erosion of the Chaos Origin's will and the foundational framework for bearing and controlling the power of the Thunder Dragon in the future. (End of Chapter)