Chapter 55: The Venerable of Five Thunders

Of course, even without her warning, Chu Han had no desire to remain in this wretched place. He cut a bloody path through the horde of zombies, nearly reaching the exit when a sudden change occurred. From within a secret chamber, an overwhelming force seemed to pull him back, a suction so powerful he could not resist. Clenching his teeth, he pressed forward, but the exit drew farther and farther away.

Leng Ye noticed the situation as well and was shocked. She tried to rush in to help Chu Han, but he shouted to stop her, "Don't come in! Leave now, quickly. I will make it out, I swear!"

Even so, Leng Ye seemed intent on charging inside regardless. Chu Han, seeing this, gritted his teeth, raised his fist, and summoned a surge of thunderous power. With a loud shout, he struck the ceiling above. A tremendous explosion followed, sending countless stones crashing down and blocking the exit. Leng Ye, who had not yet made it out, witnessed the scene.

"Big Brother Chu, I'll be waiting for you. You must survive. Please, you must come out alive..."

Tears streamed down Leng Ye’s cheeks. She knew Chu Han had done all this to protect her, and the thought only deepened her sorrow. If she had not come here with Xiao Tianlong and the others, perhaps none of this would have happened. If she had tried harder to stop the duel, maybe things would be different. But life offered no ifs.

After saying this, Leng Ye dragged her weary body away. There was nothing more she could do by staying. All she could do was silently pray for Chu Han’s survival.

Meanwhile, inside the secret chamber, Chu Han relaxed only when he saw Leng Ye was safely outside. Even if he were to die here, he would not have another perish with him. Sealing the entrance would also prevent the zombies from escaping.

He had fought his way for so long that his inner strength was nearly depleted. Now, battling these zombies felt far more difficult, and the force within the chamber showed no sign of relenting.

"Very well. Since you want me so badly, I might as well see what you are."

Chu Han stopped resisting and allowed the suction to carry him deep into the chamber. Inside, he found it vastly different from the others: the space was immense, and a long tunnel stretched before him.

As soon as he entered, the chamber doors shut, cutting off the zombies outside. Only then did he breathe easy. Before he could make sense of the situation, a jade pendant from his spatial ring floated out and hovered in the air.

"This..."

Chu Han was stunned. The items in his spatial ring never moved on their own, yet this jade pendant, which he vaguely remembered looting from a disciple of the Nine Dragons Pavilion, drifted out. He had never figured out its origin or purpose and had simply kept it in his ring. Now that it had emerged by itself, it seemed the pendant was likely connected to a master of the Severing Path Realm.

Before he could consider further, the pendant floated down the tunnel, emitting a soft, milky light. Chu Han hurried after it, eager to discover what secrets the tunnel and the pendant might hold.

He followed the pendant for more than ten minutes, until a glowing, milky-white orb appeared ahead. The pendant floated straight into the orb, while Chu Han hesitated. Though wary of danger, he had no way back now. He might as well investigate. With a resolute bite of his lip, he darted into the sphere of light.

The instant he entered, the white light inside dazzled him, forcing him to shut his eyes. Only after a long while did he dare open them again. All around him was a sea of white: a space shaped by true energy.

Before him sat a man in red, cross-legged on the ground, holding the jade pendant with a gentle, doting expression.

"Who are you? Why did you bring me here?"

Chu Han did not dare let down his guard, adopting a defensive stance as he spoke. He could sense nothing of the man’s cultivation, which meant the man was vastly his superior—enough to make Chu Han feel as though he faced a great enemy.

"Don't be nervous. I have been dead for countless years—you see now only a fragment of my soul, incapable of harming you. As for why I brought you here, sit down and we shall speak."

The man’s voice was hoarse. Though Chu Han remained cautious, he sat, showing respect to such a powerful soul remnant.

"Senior, forgive me. If you brought me here because I intruded upon your tomb, I can only apologize. I will leave at once and covet nothing of yours."

Chu Han quickly spoke. Even though the man claimed he could do nothing, there was always a chance he was being deceived.

The man only shook his head, saying nothing, his gaze fixed on the jade pendant in his hands. Chu Han remained silent as well; the two sat facing each other in wordless stalemate.

"Where did you get this jade pendant?" the man finally asked, turning the topic to the pendant.

Chu Han answered honestly: he had taken it from a disciple of the Nine Dragons Pavilion, but did not know how they acquired it.

"I see. Since the pendant has come to you, it means fate has brought you together. I can sense you cultivate the Thunder Emperor’s Art—very good. It is the strongest technique between heaven and earth, though you possess only a part. The complete Thunder Emperor’s Art holds the power to destroy worlds."

With one look, the man saw through Chu Han’s cultivation method, leaving him astonished.

Chu Han knew he practiced only a portion of the Thunder Emperor’s Art. In his past life, he had searched endlessly for its remainder without success—perhaps this man knew where the rest was.

"Senior, may I ask your name? Do you know where the rest of the Thunder Emperor’s Art lies? If you do, please tell me—I would be eternally grateful."

Chu Han quickly stood and bowed deeply. If he could find the missing part of the Thunder Emperor’s Art, he would have hope for revenge and could suppress the system, reclaiming his place in the Supreme Realm.

But the man shook his head. "My name is the Five Thunders Sovereign. I have been dead too long, my memories lost. I do not know where the rest of the Thunder Emperor’s Art lies. I remember only my title—my true name has faded from memory."

Hearing this, Chu Han sat in disappointment. Yet, learning the man was the Five Thunders Sovereign meant he was likely not a master of the Severing Path Realm, but perhaps a half-step Supreme—only such figures would call themselves by such titles, and perhaps he was even a Supreme master.

"I do not know how much longer I can endure. Since you have brought the pendant here, fate has indeed bound us. Keep this jade pendant well; it will be of great use to you one day. I must now depart for where I belong. Farewell, young man—I hope you make full use of what I have given you, and walk your path to the end."

As he spoke, the Five Thunders Sovereign stood and placed the jade pendant in Chu Han’s palm. As Chu Han was about to speak, the soul remnant vanished. An instant later, a splitting headache overwhelmed him, as if some foreign power were pouring into his mind.