The Legend of the Great Desolation: I Am the Fortress

boom! ! !
The ten-thousand-foot-long spear collided with the giant snake's tail, causing plasma to surge. The golden horned electric snake's tail trembled first, and then it was blasted away by the ten-thousand-foot-long spear, causing the entire golden horned electric snake to tumble and retreat.

"Hmph! You're quite strong!"

Lei Zhan also stopped his retreating figure, and with a long spear in his hand, he drew a circle and directly cleaved away the large number of nine-horned electric snakes that surrounded him.

"Hiss~~~" The Golden Horned Electric Serpent hissed and roared in response to Lei Zhan, transforming directly into a terrifying black bolt of lightning that was difficult to detect with the naked eye. Its terrifying speed caused Lei Zhan's vision to blur.

"Hmm?" Lei Zhan dared not be careless. The speed of the Golden Horned Lightning Serpent, which exceeded the limits of the Heavenly Dao, alone made him extremely cautious.

Moreover, this nine-horned electric serpent has already evolved slightly towards the Golden Serpent Divine Thunder, and its terrifying power is difficult for even a fully-fledged cultivator to resist.

"Boom~~~"

Lei Zhan, wielding a silver spear with a faint manifestation of spatial and temporal power, immediately blocked the fierce strike. After blocking, the spear in his hand suddenly spun, transforming into a furious slash, causing the surrounding space and time to fold in layers, like a mirror filled with numerous cracks.

"broken!"

With a thought, Lei Zhan shattered spacetime, and numerous cracks completely enveloped the Golden Horned Lightning Serpent. The space, already riddled with cracks, instantly crumbled—this was the spacetime secret technique Lei Zhan had first comprehended—the Star Shattering Style!

"Roar~~~"

The golden-horned electric snake, its form slightly dimmed, roared to the sky, but its anger was tinged with pain. Clearly, being forcibly enveloped by the shattered spacetime had caused it considerable harm.

"It seems this Golden Horned Lightning Serpent is growing increasingly hostile towards me." Lei Zhan looked at the somewhat apprehensive Golden Horned Lightning Serpent and suddenly smiled. "However, a Golden Horned Lightning Serpent whose speed surpasses the limits of the Heavenly Dao is still considered a Nine-Horned Lightning Serpent, and its intelligence is even higher. Then let's try out my newly created Mind-Controlling Secret Technique!"

Wow~~~
With a thought, Lei Zhan unleashed a wave of mental energy that spread outwards. This ethereal mental energy instantly expanded, completely enveloping the surrounding space for tens of thousands of miles.

In an instant, all the nine-horned electric snakes, including the golden-horned electric snake, were hit, and none of them could resist. They were completely in a daze, as if they were about to fall asleep.

The methods and secret techniques created and developed through enlightenment over thousands of years are naturally not merely substitutes for the functions of Chaos Elixir and Thousand Rotten Divine Fruit, nor do they only serve to tame the Nine-Horned Electric Serpent.

Just like the "New Nine Directions Qi Cultivation Method" created by Lei Zhan through the black bead, which was originally just a method that could only cultivate a second-grade Golden Core, it was directly deduced to the first-grade Golden Core level after being deduced by the black bead.

The method that Lei Zhan comprehended through studying the "Nine-Horned Electric Serpent Escape Technique" is actually a secret technique of mental power—mental power bewitching.

This bewitching technique is effective not only against the Nine-Horned Lightning Serpent, but also against cultivators.

In the past, Lei Zhan had also created some rather ordinary bewitching techniques, which could only be effective against cultivators with weak Dao hearts. People like Shao Yan Chou were simply unable to resist them.

Now, under Lei Zhan's sudden enlightenment, this mental manipulation technique has undergone a complete transformation. With the terrifying mental power at the fifth level, it is even more powerful.

"Come here!" Lei Zhan looked at the golden horned electric snake, which was in a daze and almost asleep, and said softly.

call out!
Black lightning flashed, and in an instant, the electric snake with golden vertical horns appeared directly in front of Lei Zhan, its originally angry and ferocious appearance becoming incredibly docile.

"The nine-horned lightning serpent has begun to evolve into the Chaos Divine Lightning..." Lei Zhan looked at the huge lightning serpent in front of him with a dreamy gaze, "It has only begun to evolve into the Chaos Divine Lightning, yet it already possesses a speed that surpasses the limits of the Heavenly Dao."

"If I were to use this Golden Horned Lightning Serpent to cultivate the Nine-Horned Lightning Serpent Escape Technique, although I would have to sacrifice the terrifying power of the Golden Horned Lightning Serpent, I should be able to achieve a speed that surpasses the limits of the Heavenly Dao thanks to it."

"However... the only problem is that my current lightning body might be unable to withstand the terrifying power unintentionally emitted by this golden horned lightning serpent..."

After a moment of contemplation, a fiery glint appeared in Lei Zhan's eyes. The speed that surpassed the limits of the Heavenly Dao was something he could not ignore even now.

It should be known that speeds exceeding the limits of the Heavenly Dao are generally only achievable by world gods.

Wow~~~
Lei Zhan suppressed the myriad thoughts in his mind, and with a wave of his hand, he directly put away the golden-horned electric snake in front of him. He glanced at the large group of nine-horned electric snakes around him who were still in a daze, and then disappeared from the spot.

……

It took a full three months.

In the endless chaos, a ship flashing with azure lightning pushed aside a large amount of gray chaotic mist and arrived in the chaos surrounding the Three Realms.

"came back."

Lei Zhan stood on the wooden boat, looking down into the distance.

In the far distance, Lei Zhan could clearly perceive two supreme stars suspended deep in the void, echoing each other and radiating light and heat.

"Fortunately, the trip to the Earth Fire Domain to obtain some Nine Flames Essence went without any major incidents. That dangerous place is truly perilous."

Lei Zhan felt a slight sense of apprehension towards the Earth Fire Domain. Even a powerful figure like the World God of Bei Xiu was reluctant to venture into such a perilous and deadly place, partly out of concern for the accelerated dissipation of his soul and true spirit, but also because the depths of that dangerous area were far too treacherous.

"Fortunately, I've achieved my goal. I've obtained quite a bit of Nine Flames Elixir alone. I can exchange it for some treasures with the Three Pure Ones and Suirenshi." Lei Zhan smiled slightly.

Although the Earth Fire Domain was dangerous, Lei Zhan only took a stroll around the outer perimeter and directly obtained nearly 50 million catties of Nine Flame Essence.

Even when exchanging at the Demon Subduing Palace, 10,000 jin equals 100 merit points. To exchange for 50 million jin of Nine Flames Elixir, one would have to spend a terrifying 500,000 merit points!

……

In a chaotic place very close to the Three Realms.

A medicinal herb field lay in the chaos, beside which stood a thatched hut, and two people sat facing each other.

One of them was the white-haired and bearded Bodhi Patriarch, while the other was dressed in simple clothes with messy hair and beard, just like an old farmer in the fields, but his eyes were vast and distant, making people feel at peace.

'Whoosh!'

A wooden boat flew in from afar and arrived at the foot of the medicinal herb field. Lei Zhan stepped off the boat and smiled.
"Master." "Shennong."

“Build it up,” Patriarch Bodhi nodded and smiled.

"Lei Zhan." Shennong nodded slightly. "You two, master and disciple, are the fastest to arrive here. But my elder brother and the Three Pure Ones will probably arrive soon as well."

“Your senior brother and Tathagata will probably send an incarnation over here,” Bodhi said with a smile.

"Mm." Lei Zhan nodded and sat down next to the thatched hut as well.

"You just informed us about the Nine Flames Elixir..." Shennong turned to look at Lei Zhan, "Could it be that you found the Nine Flames Elixir in the Chaos during your trip away from the Three Realms?"

“Yes.” Lei Zhan smiled slightly. “I discovered a dangerous place and obtained quite a bit of Nine Flames Elixir. Even if the Dao Ancestors use it, it’s enough for forty or fifty Dao Ancestors to upgrade their Golden Core to the second grade.”

The third-grade ancestral immortal golden cores within figures like Shennong, Fuxi, the Three Pure Ones, Tathagata, and Bodhi Patriarch were successfully upgraded to the second-grade golden core level with the help of the "Ice and Fire Tempering Golden Core Technique." Their terrifying comprehension of the Dao should have given them strength comparable to ancestral gods.

Although elevating them to the level of Second-Class Ancestral Immortal only allows them to barely rival Ancestral Gods in terms of cultivation, at such a high level, each of them now possesses strength comparable to the threshold of a top-tier Ancestral God!

As for the Nine Flames Elixir and the Ice Heart Essence, these top experts from the Three Realms had met several times over the years.

More than a thousand years ago, after Suiren and his companions returned from searching for the Ice Heart Essence in the Endless Ice Sea, they had exchanged many treasures with Shennong at the edge of his medicinal field.

Now, they have enough Ice Heart Essence, but the lack of Nine Flame Elixir continues to trouble them.

Most of the true gods and Dao ancestors in the Three Realms possess extremely strong comprehension of the Dao. If more of them could elevate their third-grade golden cores to the second grade, they wouldn't necessarily reach the threshold of top-tier Ancestral Gods like the Three Sovereigns of Humanity, the Three Pure Ones, and Tathagatas. At the very least, they would possess Ancestral God strength comparable to that of ordinary levels, which would undoubtedly greatly enhance the strength of the Three Realms.

"Forty or fifty?" Shennong and Bodhi exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with shock.

"You actually managed to gather so much in just one trip?" Shennong looked at Lei Zhan with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"The Ice Heart Essence that my elder brother and the others obtained last time was only about 30 million catties. We used another 5 million catties to upgrade our Golden Core, so there are only 25 million catties left."

"Now that you've brought so much more, we can suddenly have twenty-five more powerful individuals comparable to leaders!"

"Twenty-five more powerful individuals, comparable to leaders, have appeared all at once..."

Bodhi Patriarch was also shocked. You must know that in the past, there were only a handful of people in the entire Three Realms who could possess the strength of an Ancestral God.

However, after Lei Zhan rose to prominence, the top forces in the entire Three Realms experienced a tremendous surge.

"Not only that, I also managed to acquire some good things by chance. However, I can only do so after everyone has arrived." Lei Zhan looked at the two people in front of him with a smile.

"Good stuff?" Bodhi and Shennong were both taken aback.

"What good stuff?"

A voice came from the chaos, followed by three or four figures.

"They're all here."

Lei Zhan smiled and looked over, only to see Suirenshi wearing animal skins, the Three Pure Ones in Taoist robes, and Tathagata in bright yellow monk's robes walking towards them.

Behind the three, Hou Yi, dressed in a straw hat and cloth clothes, also entered.

"Naturally, it's something that can change the future of our Three Realms." Lei Zhan looked at the curious Suirenshi and said with a smile:

"This time, I returned from the Chaos with nearly 50 million catties of Nine Flame Elixir. The first thing I've done in gathering everyone here is to discuss the matter of improving Golden Cores. After our last discussion, all of you agreed to find powerful and reliable top-tier Dao Ancestors under your command. Now that we have enough Nine Flame Elixir and Ice Heart Marrow, our plan can continue."

"Fifty million catties?"

Later, Suirenshi and the others were all surprised; fifty million catties was no small number!

"Yes, it's a pity that we are currently limited by these two chaotic treasures, and we can only provide enough for a few of our subordinates to break through by practicing the 'Ice and Fire Tempering Golden Elixir Technique'." The Three Pure Ones shook his head, feeling regretful.

“Ice Heart Marrow is easy to deal with; at worst, we can take some risks and go out into the Endless Ice Sea again. But the Nine Flames Essence…” Suirenshi’s gaze was gentle, “Leizhan has taken nearly 50 million catties this time, so the place where the Nine Flames Essence was discovered probably can’t be visited a second time.”

"Nine Flame Essence... I discovered that the place where I obtained the Nine Flame Essence is also an extremely dangerous place. That place is even more terrifying than the Endless Ice Sea. Trying to obtain it here... is very dangerous!" Lei Zhan's expression was solemn.

Although Lei Zhan didn't finish speaking, the meaning behind it was clear to the powerful figures present, who were not fools.

"Fifty million catties...that's enough for now." Buddha clasped his hands together, his gaze serene. The Demon-Subduing Palace has undergone a thousand years of training, and the current leader of Buddhism has long since undergone a complete transformation in both strength and state of mind.

"We only need enough power to eliminate those who threaten the Three Realms, and we can't protect them forever. If we really want to improve our Golden Core, we have to fight for it ourselves."

“What the Buddha said is correct,” Suirenshi nodded.

Each of them here is a powerful cultivator who rose from humble beginnings; naturally, they won't remain mere caretakers of the Three Realms forever. Even if they do offer guidance and training, it's merely out of affection for the younger generation.

As for the True Gods and Dao Ancestors who were previously at the same level as them, the only help they could offer was because they were all born in the Three Realms and were on the same side.

"Hmm." Lei Zhan looked at the powerful figures in front of him and nodded slightly. "Then the matter of advancing to the Golden Core stage is settled."

"Now, I shall tell you the second thing I have to say," Lei Zhan said slowly. "This matter is indeed related to the future of our Three Realms."

...(End of chapter)