Chapter 74

As long as he could condense a thread of mystic energy, he could condense a second, a third... up to the hundredth thread!

Lu Li had now mastered the secret of condensing mystic energy. He spent half an hour and easily condensed over a dozen threads of mystic energy. The *Thunderbolt Mystic Skill* at its peak requires the continuous release of nine threads of mystic energy, amplifying the power nine times to achieve the effect of doubling the strength.

Although Lu Li had over a dozen threads of mystic energy, it was impossible for him to release them continuously, even two threads at a time.

This was because it took time for the mystic energy to circulate. If he circulated them separately, he couldn't control so many threads simultaneously. If he circulated them all to his palm, they would all explode at once.

This was like bombs. It was easy to make nine bombs explode simultaneously, but making them explode one by one was impossible. If one bomb exploded, it would trigger the others...

Mystic energy was similar to bombs, suddenly exploding to give Lu Li a second boost in strength. Lu Li tried several times to circulate two threads of mystic energy to his palm, but they always released simultaneously.

Releasing two threads of mystic energy together only amplified the strength once, without a cumulative effect. Because of multiple releases of mystic energy, Lu Li's mystic power was greatly depleted, and he had to start cultivating mystic power again...

Lu Li found himself in a dilemma again. With no one to guide him, he could only repeatedly review the *Thunderbolt Mystic Skill*. He had read through the entire skill dozens of times, but apart from a section of obscure and difficult text, he had already comprehended the rest.

He tried again and again, and when his mystic power was depleted, he would cultivate more. Once his mystic power was sufficient, he would try to condense mystic energy again, repeating this process...

Time passed bit by bit. Five days after the return of the Elder of the Liu family and the Patriarch of the Zhao family, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted in the north!

The roar was so loud that it seemed to make the entire northern sky tremble. Although it felt very distant, it was exceptionally clear, and all the people of Wuling County could hear it clearly.

The roar carried boundless sorrow, boundless despair, and boundless anger, causing many ordinary people to kneel in fear, thinking that the gods were angry.

"What's that sound?"

Lu Li immediately came out, his gaze turning to Lu Ling. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "It should be the roar of the Beast Emperor, the final roar!"

"Neigh~"

Little Bai, who was in the corner, also opened his eyes. He let out a strange cry and suddenly darted outside, his small eyes filled with confusion and sorrow.

"Whoosh!"

Lu Li rushed over, blocking Little Bai and picking him up, asking, "Little Bai, what's wrong with you?"

"Neigh~"

Little Bai wriggled restlessly in Lu Li's arms, his eyes still filled with confusion and inexplicable sorrow.

Lu Li stroked Little Bai's mane to calm him down. He looked at Lu Ling, who, after some thought, said, "Could Little Bai be related to the Beast Emperor? It should... be impossible, right? Perhaps the Beast Emperor is about to die, and all the mystic beasts are becoming agitated."

A powerful Beast Emperor that could rival a Human Emperor and a tiny Little Bai, no bigger than a fist, could not possibly be related.

Lu Li accepted this explanation and continued to gently stroke Little Bai to calm him down. After a while, Little Bai finally settled, but his eyes lost their luster, looking sickly.

Lu Li placed him in the corner and took out a few fire jade stones, but Little Bai didn't even glance at them, curling up and falling back asleep.

"The Beast Emperor is dead!"

Lu Li ignored Little Bai and turned to Lu Ling, saying, "Sister, when do you think the battle will break out? Do you have a good strategy?"

"Within three days."

Lu Ling was very certain. She countered, "What's your current combat strength? Do you have the confidence to face a mid-stage Divine Sea Realm warrior?"

"Yes!"

Lu Li nodded and said, "For an early-stage Divine Sea Realm, I can easily kill them with my bloodline divine skill. For a mid-stage Divine Sea Realm, one or two wouldn't be a problem. For a late-stage Divine Sea Realm... I don't know how strong they are, so I have no confidence."

"Then there's no problem."

Lu Ling nodded slightly and said, "The Liu family has two Soul Pond Realm experts and at least seventy Divine Sea Realm warriors. Although the four major families are attacking together, their experts have already surpassed the Liu family, but we don't need to deal with too many experts. Those targeting us should only be a few early to mid-stage Divine Sea Realm warriors, and it's unlikely that a late-stage Divine Sea Realm warrior will appear."

"In that case, I'll continue to comprehend the *Thunderbolt Mystic Skill*. This skill is profound and quite challenging."

Lu Li turned to go back to his room, but Lu Ling called him back, saying, "You still have a thousand contribution points. It's a waste to keep them. Go exchange for Blood Refinement Pills to enhance your strength, and get a few healing pills as a backup."

"Right!"

If the Liu family were to fall, the contribution points would be useless. Lu Li hurried out and went to the Alchemy Hall to exchange for Blood Refinement Pills.

To his surprise, the Blood Refinement Pills, which originally required thirty contribution points each, had been doubled to sixty points each due to the Liu family's actions against him. Now, he could exchange for them at just fifteen points each, not only without the doubling but also halved.

After the steward explained, Lu Li understood.

With the battle about to begin, if the Liu family lost, all the pills would be given to the Zhao and Lu families for free. It was better to exchange them cheaply to their own family members to boost their combat strength in the short term.

After the Elder returned, he immediately announced this new rule, halving the contribution points required for all mystic weapons and pills, and canceling the doubling of contribution points for guest experts.

Lu Li still had eleven hundred contribution points. After exchanging for a few healing pills, he exchanged the rest for Blood Refinement Pills, getting over sixty in total.

He returned home with over sixty Blood Refinement Pills, too eager to eat, and immediately began to refine them. Last time, he refined twenty Blood Refinement Pills, increasing his strength by over ten thousand pounds.

At first, refining one Blood Refinement Pill increased his strength by two thousand pounds, but as he refined more, the effect diminished, though each pill still added nearly a thousand pounds.

This time, refining over sixty Blood Refinement Pills would further weaken the effect, but even with the reduction, he was sure to gain at least two to three thousand pounds of strength.

Lu Li's physical strength had already reached thirty thousand pounds, and with the power amplification from the Divine Sea Realm using mystic power, he could at least reach forty to fifty thousand pounds!

If he could gain another two to three thousand pounds of strength this time, and then release his bloodline divine skill along with the *Thunderbolt Mystic Skill*, Lu Li couldn't even imagine how strong he would be...

A hundred thousand pounds? Two hundred thousand pounds?

This would be an incredibly terrifying strength, even a peak Divine Sea Realm warrior wouldn't have such power.

Strength alone doesn't determine a battle, but having absolute strength is a very terrifying combat power.

Lu Li refined five Blood Refinement Pills at once. Although it was painful, time was too urgent, and he had to seize every second to enhance his combat strength.

Rumble~

In the evening, thunder rumbled in the sky, and heavy rain poured down, accompanied by strong winds. This was the first spring thunder, and the spring rain was even more violent than summer rain.

Lu Ling closed the windows and doors, listening to the storm outside. Her eyes showed a hint of seriousness as she murmured, "Is this heavy rain washing the battlefield clean, preparing for a more intense battle?"

...

PS: Second chapter, students, have you voted for your recommendations?