Swallowed Star: Lord of the Wolf

With a slight thought, Xu Yang unleashed a pure life force mixed with the Dao of Destruction, which flowed from his true form and gathered in the center of the quiet room.

As the light shifted, a figure gradually solidified.

This was an elderly man of average height and with a thin face.

His hair and beard were all white, like frost and snow, meticulously combed and tied back with an antique wooden hairpin. His face was deeply wrinkled, like ravines sculpted by time, but it did not show signs of old age or decay; instead, it exuded a composure and wisdom born of a life of experience.

The most striking feature was his eyes. The whites of his eyes were tinged with the turbidity of having experienced life and death, while his pupils were unusually bright. Deep within them seemed to lie a vast, churning sea of ​​blood, with occasional flashes of scarlet light before quickly returning to calm.

He wore a faded linen robe, washed clean and without any patterns, as simple as a country schoolteacher.

This is the identity Xu Yang created for his third body—"The Blood-Hidden Elder".

“Blood Concealment…” Xu Yang murmured, his voice echoing in the quiet room, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

This body possesses a powerful aura, reaching the peak of the Chaos Realm, and its divine body strength is also perfectly at the top of the Chaos Realm. The only shortcoming is the lack of a suitable and powerful secret treasure or weapon that matches the combat power of a peak Chaos Realm cultivator.

However, Xu Yang didn't care much.

At his level, ordinary Chaos Realm weapons, unless they are embryonic forms of a God-King that have been nurtured for a long time and contain primordial Dao patterns, or true God-King level treasures, will have extremely limited effect on improving his strength.

Weapons are more of an embellishment or a medium for performing certain secret techniques.

In the form of the Blood Hidden Elder, relying on the two supreme Chaos Mysteries of "Branch of Blood" and "Life and Death," combined with the will of the God King, he was invincible in the Chaos Realm.

If faced with an insurmountable enemy, the three bodies can instantly merge into one, unleashing a transcendent power of the Chaos Realm, sufficient to handle most crises. The power of the Chaos Realm transcendence originates from one's profound control over the fundamental Dao and the supreme will of a God-King.

"It's time to set off." The Blood Shadow Elder's voice was hoarse yet calm, carrying the texture of years of experience.

He took a step, and his figure disappeared silently into the quiet room, as if he had never existed.

Above Xuanhu City, the city's protective array seemed to have vanished.

The Blood-Hidden Elder did not tear through the void. He was enveloped in a faint, almost imperceptible blood-red halo. This halo distorted the surrounding space, allowing him to traverse an endless distance with a single step, yet his speed did not appear particularly exaggerated.

It seems slow but is actually fast, as fast as a flash of light.

This demonstrates a profound and meticulous mastery of the art of escape. Even though Xu Yang had not deliberately studied the art of escape, once one mastered one method, all methods became clear. Naturally, his escape techniques would not be lacking either!

……

I don't know how many countries I've crossed, or how many dangerous places I've traversed.

The void ahead suddenly changed.

An immense, ancient, and unimaginably majestic aura, like an invisible giant wave, swept in from the depths of the void. At the core of that aura was the purest and most potent source of lightning!
Domineering, destructive, yet containing the great power of creation and order!

At the edge of the horizon, a colossal city whose magnificence defies description stands at the very end of the endless horizon!
Thunderous Ancient Kingdom Holy City!

The entire holy city was shrouded in a layer of pale purple aura. Countless thick purple, gold, and even silver-white lightning dragons swam and roared above, radiating a destructive pressure that sent shivers down one's spine.

"The Thunder Ancestor truly lives up to his name." The Blood Shadow Elder stood in the void, muttering to himself, "Just this grand formation alone gives me the feeling that it could easily kill me..."

This Holy City Formation was set up by the Thunder Ancestor. Let alone someone who is only at the Chaos Realm, even a God King would be beaten to death and reincarnated!

Swish!
With one step, I arrived at the gates of the holy city.

In my perception, within the city, there are ancient divine and demonic auras like hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with pillars of energy soaring into the sky and astonishing pressure!

Deep within, the Blood Shadow Elder sensed an aura that was almost equivalent to "heavenly might"!

That aura was vast, profound, and ancient, carrying an unparalleled majesty that overlooked eternity and controlled the birth and death of thunder! It seemed to be integrated with the entire holy city and the very origin of the Thunder Holy City! Although the owner of this aura seemed to be asleep or in some special state and had not fully awakened, its very existence was like the ultimate sword hanging over the holy city and even the entire ancient kingdom!

"A monarch... or rather, an existence that is infinitely close to a monarch..." The Blood Shadow Elder felt a chill in his heart.

The foundation of this ancient Thunder Kingdom is indeed unfathomable!
It is far beyond the reach of ordinary countries.

He subconsciously concealed his aura even more thoroughly, like a stream flowing into the sea, completely inconspicuous.

……

The entrance to the holy city was bustling with activity.

Countless flying treasures, ships, and even cultivators riding enormous beasts of various shapes lined up in long queues, undergoing strict inspection by the city guards.

These city guards were at least at the early stage of Eternal True God, and the squad leaders were at the peak of Eternal True God. They had a fierce aura, wore standard battle armor engraved with lightning runes, and had eyes as sharp as lightning.

The Blood-Hidden Elder did not choose to enter the city in a high-profile manner. He was like an ordinary rogue cultivator who came to the Holy City seeking opportunities or trade, silently joining a caravan composed of dozens of Eternal True Gods.

The caravan leader, a middle-aged peak Eternal True God with a powerful aura and a shrewd smile, was enthusiastically explaining the rules of the Holy City and the possible opportunities to his team members.

As the procession moved slowly forward, the Blood Shadow Elder felt the surging crowd around him.

The eternal true God is really just commonplace here... because he can be found everywhere.

Occasionally, a Chaos Overlord exuding immense power would descend from above, riding in a magnificent chariot or commanding a terrifying beast, drawing countless awe-inspiring and envious glances.

The entire holy city was filled with an atmosphere of tension and excitement.

"The Thunder Punishment Abyss... the Heart of Thunder Source... its allure is indeed astonishing." The Blood Shadow Elder understood. He didn't doubt the inherent appeal of Thunder Holy City, but the sheer number of powerful figures gathered at its gates far exceeded his expectations!
After a lengthy and complicated investigation, the Blood Shadow Elder successfully entered the Holy City.

Instead of rushing to find a place to stay or gather intelligence, he strolled leisurely along the wide Thunder Street like a true traveler, taking in the legendary holy city with great interest.

There are shops on both sides of the street.

There's the "Divine Thunder Pavilion," specializing in selling all sorts of divine weapons and secret treasures imbued with lightning attributes. There's the "Nine Heavens Pill Workshop," which refines and sells lightning-based elixirs. There are restaurants offering a variety of delicacies infused with lightning energy. There are even dojos openly teaching lightning-based secret techniques…

The air was filled with the clanging of clashing divine weapons, the exotic aroma of elixirs, the enticing scent of delicacies, and the thunderous shouts emanating from the training ground, creating a vibrant and powerful scene. The Blood-Hidden Elder appeared casual, but in reality, his divine kingly will, like an invisible spiderweb, silently covered a vast area, capturing every soul fluctuation, every conversation, and analyzing the information contained within.

"...Have you heard? Three days ago, 'Lord Purple Lightning' defeated seven strong opponents of the same level in a row at the 'Thunderclap Arena,' and his fame was unparalleled! It is said that he has been noticed by the commander of the 'Thunder Prison Army' and wants to recruit him into the Thunder Prison Army!"

"'Thunder Prison Army'? That's an elite force directly under the royal family! It seems the competition for this Abyss opening is far fiercer than ever before, even attracting their attention!"

"Hmph, what is Marquis Zidian? He's just relying on the power of his family's secret treasure. The real ones worth paying attention to are those old monsters who have been in seclusion for many years and the chaotic giants who have come from other ancient kingdoms! For example, the 'Nine Fiends Demon Lord,' I heard he has already arrived and is staying at the 'Heavenly Thunder Villa'!"

"And then there's the 'Azure Wave Fairy,' who is said to cultivate the rare 'Soft Water Transforms into Thunder' technique, whose methods are unpredictable and mysterious, making her a popular candidate this time..."

"With the opening of this abyss, everyone must rely on their own abilities, life or death is irrelevant! For the sake of the Heart of Thunder Source, a bloodbath is likely to ensue..."

These are the common people's discussions, talking about influential figures and possible dangers. Even eternal true gods, and even weaker void true gods, are talking about this!

The Blood Shadow Elder continued walking, turning into a relatively narrow and slender but still bustling street.

His gaze fell upon a rather large tavern ahead. The tavern was constructed entirely of a deep purple lightning-struck wood, and a huge plaque hung at the entrance, bearing three large characters written in a flamboyant style: "Thunderous Intoxication."

The tavern was bustling with noise and chatter.

Cultivators of all kinds gathered here, clinking glasses and engaging in lively discussions. The air was filled with a strong aroma of wine and a faint, strange smell of blood. This smell of blood, far from being nauseating, carried a strange vitality and allure, as if it could resonate with the qi and blood within the cultivators' bodies.

In the Blood Shadow Elder's turbid eyes, that scarlet light flickered almost imperceptibly.

He stepped inside.

The tavern has a very large interior space, divided into several floors.

The lower level was the noisiest, filled with all sorts of cultivators, from Void Gods to Eternal Gods. The Blood-Hidden Elder found a relatively quiet spot near a corner and sat down.

This location offers a wide view, allowing you to observe the entire lobby without drawing attention.

"Sir, what would you like to order?" A quick-witted waiter, dressed in a short jacket and with an aura at the peak of the Void True God realm, immediately came forward with a professional and enthusiastic smile on his face.

"What's the most famous wine here?" the Blood Shadow Elder asked in a hoarse voice.

The waiter's eyes lit up, and he immediately straightened his back, introducing the wine with a hint of pride: "Sir, our shop is called 'Thunderous Intoxication,' and our most famous drink is undoubtedly Thunderous Intoxication! However, this wine needs to be reserved in advance, otherwise you won't be able to drink it! There is another wine that is also very popular, and everyone loves to drink it. This wine is called 'Blood Thunder Spring Brew,' which is made from spring water from the depths of 'Blood Thunder Valley' on the outskirts of the Holy City, which has absorbed ten thousand years of blood and evil energy and pure thunder essence, supplemented with eighty-one kinds of thunder-attribute spiritual fruits, and brewed by our manager himself using a secret method for a hundred years!"

"It bursts forth like thunder upon entering the mouth, surges like a sea of ​​blood through the throat, and bursts forth with vitality upon entering the stomach. It can even stimulate the body's qi and blood, and temper the divine body! It's a unique skill of our shop! It's just... the price is a little bit expensive." The waiter rubbed his fingers together.

"Oh? Blood Thunder Spring Brew?" A glint of interest flashed in the Blood Shadow Elder's cloudy eyes. "Then bring me a pot."

"Alright! Please wait a moment, sir!" Seeing how readily the unassuming old man agreed, the waiter's smile widened, and he quickly turned to fetch the wine.

Soon, a pot of dark red wine, with faint sparks of electricity dancing in the liquid, was served.

The wine pot itself is carved from a blood-red, patterned stone, and feels warm and smooth to the touch.

The Blood-Hidden Elder poured himself a cup.

The liquid is dark red, viscous like blood, and exudes a strange mixed aroma—the domineering power of thunder and the rich life force of blood.

He picked up the wine glass and took a sip.

Crackling~~~
A slightly violent surge of lightning power exploded in his mouth, as if countless tiny electric snakes were drilling into his limbs and bones. Immediately afterward, a scorching surge of blood energy rushed down his throat like a flood bursting its banks.

This power carries a strong life force, as if it can nourish and strengthen the cultivator's original essence and blood.

"This is indeed interesting," the Blood Shadow Elder thought to himself.

The bloodthirsty aura and life essence contained in this wine, catalyzed by the lightning, formed a peculiar mixture. For an ordinary Eternal True God, it would indeed have a great nourishing and tempering effect. But for him, this amount of energy and insight into the laws was like a trickle flowing into the ocean, insignificant.

However, this wine is indeed quite interesting and worth trying.

He put down his wine cup, seemingly closing his eyes to rest, but in reality, the will of the God-King had already extended out like invisible tentacles, capturing every conversation in every corner of the tavern.

Especially the discussions among the Eternal True Gods from different factions, whose auras were relatively powerful. This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people; you might find the information you need here!

"...Have you heard? Something happened at 'Thunderclap Courtyard' last night!"

"Thunderclap Villa? Isn't that the Crown Prince Lei Hao's temporary palace outside the city? What happened?"

"There are assassins! It is said that at least three Chaos Realm experts joined forces and sneaked into the villa under the cover of night."

"What?! How dare you? Is His Highness the Sixth Prince alright?"

"Fortunately! His Highness is protected by the 'Purple Lightning Guards,' and it is said that there is also an unfathomable elder secretly overseeing the battle. The fighting is extremely fierce... The villa is mostly destroyed, and it is said that many Eternal Guards have died..."

"Hiss... Who's so bold as to make a move right under the feet of the Holy City?"

"Who else could it be? Hmph... Tell me, who would be the least willing to see him succeed?"

"You mean...big...or...whoever?"

"Shh! Watch your mouth! Is this something we should be discussing? Be careful what you say!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Let's drink!"

This news caused the Blood Shadow Elder's brow to twitch almost imperceptibly.

The prince was assassinated?

Isn't this a competition for a spot in the Thunder Source Heart competition?

How did this get back to the assassination attempt on the prince?
Is there some hidden story that I don't know about?
This made Xu Yang even more cautious; this Holy City was truly a melting pot of all sorts of people! (End of Chapter)