Chapter 412: Turning Gule to Mix with Roses

"Afraid to go further? You're overthinking it." Akjin stood up, as if he had been waiting for Wang Feng for a long time. He smirked. "I passed the second turn of the Thunderbolt Path two years ago. Now I can handle the third turn."

"So you were waiting here specifically for me?"

"Of course, just for you!" Akjin laughed heartily. "Gule has already moved ahead. His limit far exceeds the third turn. Even if we let you pass, you'd lose for sure. But someone offered a high bounty on you..."

"So you're planning to kill me here?" Old Wang chuckled. "No offense, but you don’t have the guts."

"Given your current prominence in the alliance, no one would dare touch you elsewhere." Akjin roared with laughter. "But where are we now? This is the Thunderbolt Path! Kill you, dump your corpse in any lightning field, and even if someone finds your corpse, it'll just be a charred lump. They’ll think you bit off more than you could chew and perished in the storm. What's that got to do with me?"

"You still have to kill me first..." Old Wang sighed. "If your captain Gule were here, it might be a fair fight. But just the three of you? Aren't you afraid I'll flip the script?"

"Would your ice bees even fly here? Here, you're a declawed tiger. Forget the three of us—any one of us could finish you!" Akjin laughed mockingly. "As for Gule, he's just a mindless idiot. Aside from his single-minded cultivation, he's good for nothing! We don't need him to deal with you!"

As he spoke, he flicked his wrist, and a giant ball of lightning instantly coalesced in his palm, crackling with energy. In this thunder zone, a Lightning Mage's power was far more formidable than on the ground!

"Enough talk. Brothers, let's finish him. A bright future awaits us!" Akjin called out. The two Lightning Mages behind him also released their soul energy—one conjuring a long lightning whip, while the other charged up crackling energy, seemingly preparing a powerful lightning array technique.

"Now!"

Boom!

The instant he spoke, a terrifying bolt of lightning struck the platform—not aimed at Wang Feng, but descending from above, slamming into Akjin and sending him flying backward. He didn't even have time to cry out before tumbling down the stone steps.

The other two Sakuman disciples were still stunned when a lightning-wrapped blue figure descended from the sky.

Gule landed heavily before them, his blue eyes burning with focus. "Stopping at the second turn and sending me ahead... I knew something was off!"

"Captain!" The two paled.

"Letting Rose take the Thunderbolt Path was my greatest concession," Gule said coldly, hands clasped behind his back. "Who ordered this?"

"..." The two exchanged glances, their lightning magic fizzling out instantly. Under Gule's piercing gaze, their eyes darted away nervously, clearly torn between fear of him and their hidden master.

Though they didn't answer, their fearful hesitation made Gule sigh inwardly. They were still Sakuman members, after all. Different goals, but no reason to kill.

"No answer? Then leave." Gule's voice was icy. "Tell Reik Miller both teams are down to their last members. The outcome will be decided between me and Wang Feng. He can wait below for the result!"

Relieved, the two bolted like their lives were on the line.

Old Wang had been casually watching the show. Soon, only he and Gule remained on the platform. He grinned. "Honestly, if you'd teamed up with them here, you might've had a chance."

Gule scoffed. The thought had never crossed his mind.

"You're confident." The gloom on Gule's face lightened. Free of the crowd and their plots, a rare, pure smile appeared.

Facing Wang Feng was what he truly wanted. He hadn't planned to duel on the Thunderbolt Path—it felt like bullying—but Wang Feng seemed surprisingly at ease.

His gaze fell on the two Puppets beside Wang Feng. Frankly, Puppets this human-like were rare, giving Gule a weird, indescribable feeling.

"Puppetry, substitution, energy transfer... You're full of tricks." He saw through Old Wang's methods effortlessly, his insight remarkable. "But using Puppets to divert heavenly thunder? How long can they last?"

"What about you?" Old Wang countered. "How far can you go?"

"Farther than your Puppets, certainly. If you've no other cards to play, I suggest you quit now." Gule smiled faintly, eyeing the two Alchemy Golems with a hint of regret. "Such fine Alchemy Golems... It'd be a shame to see them destroyed."

"Ha!" Old Wang laughed. "Gule, wanna make a bet?"

A flash of light flickered across the lightning mark on Gule's forehead. "What kind of bet?"

"Now it's just the two of us left. Let's continue our climbing race!" Old Wang grinned. "If I win, you stop following Ye Dun. That guy is all bark and no bite—great at scheming, useless at getting things done."

Gule was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Wang Feng to try to "poach" him. Though his path differed from Ye Dun's, he wasn’t exactly close to Wang Feng either—especially given the latter’s cocky attitude.

Gule shook his head, unsure what Wang Feng was up to.

"Alright, alright, let me rephrase. If you lose, you call me boss and follow me!" Old Wang clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "Also, I know your soul seed is the rare Thunder God species, and you're on the verge of a breakthrough, desperate for a Thunder Pearl to pass this hurdle. Let’s raise the stakes!"

Gule was stunned. It wasn’t surprising that Wang Feng knew about his Thunder God species, but how did he know about his impending breakthrough and the need for a Thunder Pearl? This was a secret even Ye Dun didn’t know—only a few elders in Sakuman’s Holy Sanctuary knew. Where had Wang Feng gotten this information?

Moreover, while the Thunder Path indeed held great opportunities—like the Thunder Pearl—it hadn’t appeared in decades. What was Wang Feng getting at?

"How do you want to play this?" Gule found himself intrigued.

"Simple. I’ll help you get the Thunder Pearl, and you come to Rose to follow me!"

If anyone else had said this, Gule would’ve slapped them without hesitation. But coming from Wang Feng… He glanced at the Puppets, then back at Wang Feng, his thoughts drifting to Dragon City.

In the Dragon City ruins, the highest-scoring member of the League of Blades was Hei Wukai, followed closely by Wang Feng. The latter had amassed an impressive number of tokens, exchanging them for military merits and rewards—though no one openly acknowledged it, dismissing it as mere luck.

But really… Try "getting lucky" like that. Besides, his Ice Bees, aerial tactics, these incredible Alchemy Golems, and the relentless pursuit from both the League of Blades and even the Nine Gods—if he were just a loudmouth, how could he have survived this long?

"You’re so indecisive. You in or out? If I lose, I’ll acknowledge you as my boss. Fair, right?"

Gule couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t believe for a second he’d lose. "If you lose, you’ll be dead. I don’t need any extra stakes."

"Passing up free extortion…" Old Wang sighed, snapping his fingers. "Your vice-captain was right—you’re a real hardhead. That’ll cost you, haha! But I like it!"

"Shall we go now?" Gule gestured toward the third turn of the stone steps ahead.

"Move out!"

Entering the third turn of the Thunder Path, the steps seemed narrower than before. The surrounding thunderforce grew more violent and concentrated. The currents in the air no longer merely flickered randomly but slashed through the dark clouds like bolts of lightning.

The surroundings were black as pitch, with countless silver-serpent-like flashes weaving through the roiling thunderclouds, accompanied by deafening thunderclaps. It felt as if they had truly stepped into the heart of a storm.

Gule led the way, his body drawing in the surrounding lightning. Dozens of bolts were absorbed, some digested, others redirected. His body functioned like a conduit for thunder, blue skin crisscrossed with snaking silver currents—like runes or erratic currents skimming his surface before being channeled downward through his feet into the steps. With each redirection, the lightning mark on his forehead flashed, growing purer and brighter.

This was his training—channeling thunder to temper his body and soul. Only those with the Thunder God species could endure such refinement. An ordinary thunder mage attempting to absorb such violent natural lightning would be fried to a crisp in moments.

He moved neither fast nor slow, measured and controlled in his lightning redirection, showing no signs of strain.

In contrast, Old Wang seemed to be faring much worse.

The thunder pressure in the third turn was a tier stronger than before, but such pressure had minimal effect on the Insect God species. The real threat came from the lightning above.

Like Kela’s "spell resistance," the so-called insulating material of the Puppets was only relative—far from absolute. Worse, Puppets lacked soul power, meaning they couldn’t expel lightning like Kela could. Though only small amounts of lightning were drawn to them, it accumulated quickly. At first, Old Wang used their connection to help disperse it with his soul power, but as the lightning gathered faster, he couldn’t keep up.

The two Puppets soon became encased in crackling spheres of lightning. The concentrated energy made them lightning rods, yet their sturdy bodies—devoid of vulnerable souls—somehow endured, following Old Wang onto the third turn’s resting platform. But they were scorched black, their self-repairing outer layer visibly damaged.

Gule had just arrived as well. The third turn hadn’t been too difficult for him. Seeing Wang Feng close behind but with his two Puppets in such a sorry state, he asked coolly, "Continue?"

"What, can’t handle it?" Old Wang patted the blackened Puppets, looking oddly energized. "I’m full of energy!"

"……" Gule was torn between annoyance and amusement. After a quick breather, he said, "Then let’s go!"

The fourth turn of the Thunder Path was even narrower. The once several-meter-wide steps now allowed only three or four people to walk abreast. The thunder pressure intensified further, the clouds darker than ever. Visibility dropped to less than five meters, the air thick with the constant rumble of thunder. The lightning above no longer gathered predictably but lashed out randomly.

Observing and dodging the gathering lightning had become meaningless; reaching this point required sheer lightning resistance to push through.

Gule had clearly traversed this section before. The lightning mark on his forehead was no longer flickering but had turned into a radiant silver glow. At this stage, he no longer dared to actively absorb the lightning and could only defend himself. His whole body had transformed into a "man of lightning," yet his steps remained steady as he advanced step by step.

Behind him, Wang Feng was clearly struggling, and luck wasn’t on his side either. Gule sensed at least three powerful thunderbolts striking the area where Wang Feng was. He heard the puppet shatter—it must’ve been wrecked—yet he could still feel Wang Feng following closely behind.

Not daring to look back and break concentration, Gule pressed forward cautiously, finally stepping onto the fourth turn’s platform.

Wiping sweat from his brow, he saw Wang Feng had vanished behind him.

Gule smirked. Wang Feng was a smart man; he knew when to advance and when to retreat. It seemed the earlier sound of the puppet shattering wasn’t a mishearing. With only one puppet left, Wang Feng must have chosen to turn back. In the end, Sakuman had won this challenge...

Honestly, after the initial amusement, Gule felt somewhat hollow. As Sakuman’s top Thunder Wizard and foremost genius, competing against a non-Thunder Wizard from another Holy Sanctuary on the Thunder Path? How was this any different from bullying newcomers who had just joined Sakuman’s Holy Sanctuary? A hollow victory...

But the constant competition had pushed Gule to reach this point much faster than before, and it even felt easier than usual. He glanced ahead at the fifth turn of the Thunder Path.

That was the Thunder Cliff, a challenge only for ghost-level experts—a limit Gule had long wanted to test. This might be the breakthrough he needed. Honestly, seeing Hei Wu Kai break through to ghost level made him jealous. Now, with his condition optimal and energy to spare, he took a deep breath, ready to charge forward in one go. But then, in a flash, Wang Feng burst out from the thundercloud-covered steps of the fourth turn.

He actually made it?

Gule was stunned.

His earlier judgment had been correct. Only one puppet trailed Wang Feng now, and it was a wreck. Its clothes were shredded to rags, revealing its charred, pitch-black skin riddled with holes. Through the gaps, the shimmering alloy of secret gold and silver could be seen.

Though he didn’t fully understand, Gule could tell this was no ordinary craftsmanship. He gaped at Wang Feng, his mind swirling with chaotic thoughts. Meanwhile, Old Wang grinned at him, "Why’d you stop again? Keep going!"

Snapping back to reality, Gule saw Wang Feng was genuinely preparing to ascend the fifth turn. He froze for two or three seconds. "You’re still going? You only have one puppet left..."

"Up we go, up we go!" Wang Feng’s eyes widened. "We haven’t decided this yet, have we? Out here, if I say I’ll be your big bro, I damn well mean it. Trying to quit now? Tough luck!"

Gule’s expression turned solemn. Making it this far, he already held deep respect for Wang Feng—at the very least, the man had guts. People might think he’s all talk, but that was just surface-level. There were plenty of hypocrites around, but for a non-Thunder Wizard to come this far? That took real guts and skill.

At this moment, Gule felt a spark of respect. But he had no retreat either—as a disciple of Sakuman, he had to fight for his faction no matter what.

Yet, to his surprise... Wang Feng still wanted to press on, determined to settle the match with him? Even with only one puppet left?

Ye Dun hadn’t supported his plan for a fair duel, but one remark about Wang Feng had left a lasting impression on Gule: *Don’t buy into luck. Underestimate anyone, but never underestimate Wang Feng. A nobody clawing his way up and making it big? He must possess extraordinary qualities beyond the norm—far more than just inventing fusion runes!*

Back in Dragon City, when Ye Dun had said this, the other four siblings had thought he was overestimating Wang Feng—including Gule at the time. But now, Gule couldn’t help but feel genuine admiration. Whether Wang Feng had other tricks up his sleeve or not, his sheer audacity alone made him worth befriending. "You’re dead serious, huh?"

"Hah, I’ve always been serious. I just don’t get why people never seem to think so."

"Still going?" Gule chuckled. If Wang Feng was this determined, urging him to concede would only come off as disrespectful.

"Your big brother—I’m claiming that title!"

"Then do you want to rest first? Let your puppet recover a bit?" Gule remained noncommittal.

"Not gonna cheat you. Let’s go, go, go!"

Gule inhaled sharply, eyes flashing. Neither wanted an unfair edge—like the fools people often called them—but it left Gule feeling utterly at ease.

"Alright, let’s go!"

The fifth turn of Thunder...

Gule still took the lead. Going first was actually a disadvantage, akin to volunteering to "clear the mines." But Gule had no intention of exploiting Wang Feng’s position. If Sakuman’s top Thunder Wizard had to rely on trailing behind Wang Feng to win on the Thunder Path, it’d be no different from losing.

By now, the thunderclouds had thickened to the point of nearly obscuring vision. Beyond two or three meters, nothing was visible. The stone steps beneath their feet blurred, and everywhere they looked, silver serpentine lightning danced. Lightning strikes came faster—every few steps, they took a brutal hit. Every ten steps or so, a massive thunderclap awaited them.

What was even more deadly was that the pressure from the thunder here had also begun to grow terrifying, making Gule feel like he was carrying another massive boulder on his back, pressing him down until he couldn’t straighten his waist and even gasping for air.

This wasn’t his first attempt at the fifth cycle of the Thunder Path, but in the past, he had barely managed to climb a dozen or twenty steps—thirty at most—before being forced to retreat.

Legend had it that Thunderclap Cliff was a training ground for Ghost Initial Thunder Wizards, but as a Thunder God's descendant, Gule could forcibly attempt it, treating it as his own trial to break through to the ghost level. Yet, in reality, it wasn’t that easy.

His trip to Dragon City hadn’t brought him any breakthroughs. In the two or three months since, Gule had been cultivating in seclusion at the Holy Sanctuary of Sakuman, accumulating deeper soul power. Though he could feel his progress, he still hadn’t reached the threshold for a ghost-level breakthrough. Instead, the joint assault on the Nether Sacrifice with Ye Dun and the others had left a festering guilt in his heart, making him doubt himself.

But today…

Thirty steps—he scaled them effortlessly. What had once been his limit now felt manageable. Wang Feng’s relentless drive had inspired him, even dispelling much of the psychological burden from the Nether Sacrifice incident. At least for now, he wasn’t dwelling on it, instead feeling the courage to push forward to the summit.

Forty steps…

Here, the climb began to take its toll. The lightning mark on his forehead was glowing at its brightest, and his entire body coursed with violent electricity, now reaching his saturation limit. His ability to discharge and assimilate the lightning could no longer keep up with its increasing intensity.

By past experience, this was the point where he should turn back. Going further would not only exceed his limits but also risk leaving him without the strength to return—a boundary and rule well-known to any Thunder Wizard who frequented the Thunder Path.

But this time, Gule didn’t think about any of that.

He could still sense Wang Feng behind him, which struck him as miraculous. He had no idea how Wang Feng, with only one Puppet left, was managing to keep up. But at this moment, he had no energy to spare for such thoughts.

He couldn’t lose! Gritting his teeth, he pressed on.

Fifty steps…

This was already beyond his peak performance. The thunder energy coursing through him had clearly exceeded his control and saturation limit, now erupting violently across his body. The once-godly aura of lightning cloaking him had turned into a ragged mess.

Gule felt his robes tearing apart—these were Sakuman’s Thunder Wizard robes, specially enchanted against lightning, yet now they couldn’t withstand the onslaught.

Battling against the crushing thunder pressure, he barely managed to lift his head. But in the roiling black clouds, he couldn’t see beyond the next three steps. The stone stairs stretched endlessly upward, with no end in sight.

Thunder magic differed from water or fire magic—it was the most ferocious. When it raged, lightning struck lightning, striking down everything without distinction, even itself if it deemed it unworthy…

“Huff… huff… huff…” He wheezed desperately, sucking in deep breaths to clear his mind, scrambled by the ceaseless lightning. Each step forward was a struggle.

At this point, Gule had no energy left to look ahead or behind, nor to think about victory or defeat. Though he hadn’t counted, he knew this was his best performance yet—definitely past fifty steps, maybe even sixty or seventy…

Turning back was no longer an option. His stamina was spent. The only way was to press forward, gambling everything on reaching the top.

He had to make it up there!

Biting his tongue until it bled, the sharp pain jolted his spirit awake. A blood rite technique forced a Thunder Shield into existence, lightening his body momentarily. He seized the chance to climb a few more steps, but then—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Here, the lightning bolts—thick as a man's wrist—rained down one after another, each finding its mark unerringly.

Gule’s Thunder Shield lasted only seven or eight hits before shattering. The thunder here was terrifying in its power—each strike alone felt close to his limit, let alone the relentless barrage.

He struggled upward, but then—

BOOM!

Another deafening thunderclap. A flash of white light, and Gule could no longer feel pain. Darkness swallowed his vision, his consciousness teetering on the edge for an instant as he toppled backward—only to be caught by a large hand steadying him from behind.