Chapter 123: The Search for Thunder City

Su Ye clenched his fists tightly, his eyes igniting with waves of fury. He longed to rush forward and slap Jiu Zheng’s face until it was unrecognizable, yet he remained still. Turning toward the direction where Jiu Yeyue had vanished, he murmured, “I once saved you. Consider everything you’ve done today as repayment. We’re even now—no debts, no grudges.”

After speaking, he took two deep breaths, slowly calming himself.

He glanced at Ling Zhu beside him and noticed she seemed utterly unfazed. Curious, he asked, “Aren’t you angry? He insulted you too—did you catch that?”

Ling Zhu nodded calmly, “I did.”

“Then why aren’t you angry?”

“Maybe I’m just used to it. Ever since I was young, I've been cursed and scolded by countless people. The most common insults were about my looks—calling me ugly, a monster. Now, when I hear the word ‘monster,’ it doesn’t affect me at all.”

Suddenly, Ling Zhu pointed toward the still-visible Jiu Zheng and said, “Besides, there’s a blood aura hovering above his head. Within six months, he will face a life-or-death calamity. If he can’t survive it, he will die. I see no reason to bother with someone doomed to perish.”

Su Ye was struck with admiration. Clearly, he was far less composed than Ling Zhu. Yet, when he heard the last part, his interest piqued immediately. “You can tell if someone is about to face a great calamity? Is that even possible? I thought you weren’t allowed to use the Heavenly Secrets Technique casually?”

“That’s not the Heavenly Secrets Technique. It’s the ‘Emperor’s Fate-Reading Art.’ I only mastered it after following my grandmother for six decades,” Ling Zhu recalled thoughtfully.

A surge of delight welled up in Su Ye’s heart, washing away his earlier anger and resentment. He hadn’t expected anyone to have truly cultivated the Emperor’s Fate-Reading Art, an ancient secret technique said to be capable, at its pinnacle, of “determining an eighty-year fate from the gaze of a three-year-old.”

In other words, a mere glance at a three-year-old child could reveal the entirety of their fortune up to eighty years of age.

“Then quickly, look at me! Is there any blood disaster? Any great fortune?” Su Ye pointed at his chest eagerly, signaling Ling Zhu to begin.

Ling Zhu shook her head. “I’ve only practiced for a short time. Not everyone’s fate I can discern. Even though my grandmother had perfected the Emperor’s Fate-Reading Art, she couldn’t see through everyone.”

“But doesn’t everyone in the world have their own aura and destiny? How could it be impossible to read?”

“Maybe some people aren’t bound by the world at all. When my grandmother was young, she was imprisoned beneath the sea. She saw her end approaching but was saved by a mysterious figure who actually reversed her fate,” Ling Zhu recalled.

As they strolled through the streets, picking up needed supplies, Su Ye asked, “That’s strange. Someone could save your grandmother? She’s a Heavenly Secrets heir. That must have been a remarkable person!”

“Yes, very strange. It’s the most unforgettable event in her life. I once saw her soul imprint, which recorded a special phrase spoken by that figure. Su Ye, let me ask you—do you believe in gods?”

Su Ye paused. He had encountered wandering spirits and malevolent ghosts but never a god. However, his own cultivation through the “Three Thousand Flames of Huang” employed heavenly thunder, arguably a divine technique in legend. And Ling Zhu, as a Heavenly Secrets heir, would expect belief.

“There should be,” Su Ye nodded. “If someone can do what no one else can, then they must be a god.”

“I believe too. In my grandmother’s soul imprint, there’s a line from a deity. The god said to the heavens, ‘Hear the decree: On Earth’s plane, no matter how great the prodigy, they shall be severed from the celestial realms! The path to ascension shall remain closed!’”

Boom—

At those words, Su Ye’s mind roared as if thunder echoed in his sea of consciousness. The “Three Thousand Flames of Huang” within him churned uncontrollably, humming in resonant response.

Could a single sentence provoke such a powerful reaction?

For a moment, Su Ye stood frozen.

After what felt like an eternity, Ling Zhu shook him awake. He couldn’t fathom who could have uttered such a grandiose and domineering decree.

“Su Ye, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Your face is so pale,” Ling Zhu asked swiftly.

“I’m fine... Let’s go. Just a few more things to buy, then I’ll take you out for a meal.”

“Really? Yay! Hehe!” Ling Zhu’s excitement was like a ravenous little spirit.

Soon, after finishing their shopping, Su Ye took Ling Zhu out for a hearty feast.

He had planned to treat her to a hot pot to indulge her, but after consuming the equivalent of ten portions, Ling Zhu still wasn’t full.

Seeing the astonished glances from the waitstaff, she finally put down her chopsticks, inhaled deeply the aroma of the hot pot, and whispered, “I’m full now.”

Su Ye asked several more times, but she insisted the same, so he reluctantly left with her.

By evening, when Su Ye and Ling Zhu returned, they found Jiang Ziyang and several others gathered in the main hall. Among them was a familiar face: Ouyang Yunfeng.

They appeared to be discussing something important, a special map laid out on the table, with several people offering their opinions now and then.

When they noticed Su Ye’s arrival, they showed little surprise. Ouyang Yunfeng was the first to speak.

“Su Ye, you’re back!”

“Ha! The Young Alliance Leader has arrived! Welcome!” Su Ye and Ouyang Yunfeng shared a bond forged in life and death, so they were at ease.

Ouyang Yunfeng laughed heartily, stood, and warmly clapped Su Ye on the shoulder before introducing his trusted subordinates.

Most seemed ordinary, except one middle-aged man who stood out—tall, burly, muscles bulging, short hair, eagle-like eyes, exuding a terrifying beastly aura. His name was Steel.

Rumor had it Steel once served in a special military department at the Central Command, participating in secret operations. The details were classified, but his experiences were extraordinary.

Su Ye instantly remembered him.

Jiang Ziyang greeted warmly and then pulled Su Ye aside, lowering his voice.

“Xiao Ye, we were just talking about you! This time, the Young Alliance Leader was invited by me. The search for Thunder City isn’t something the Jiang clan can manage alone; we need your cooperation. The Thunder-Attracting Pearl is yours—state your position.”

“Clan Leader, I have no objections. We know nothing about Thunder City. I’m likely to face my mortal enemy there, so having more allies is safer,” Su Ye replied without hesitation. His purpose was not treasure hunting but reclaiming his lost six thunder veins.

He had worried about his strength before; Ouyang Yunfeng’s involvement reassured him greatly.

“Good—then it’s decided! We’ve already gathered much intel on Thunder City. Your Thunder-Attracting Pearl is key—not only for locating the city but also as a special key to unlock somewhere within it.”

Jiang Ziyang led Su Ye back into the hall, where Steel pointed out marks on the map.

“Brother Su Ye, this map is a replica left by the Yu family from their original search for Thunder City!”

Su Ye studied the map carefully. It was extremely complex, drawn with several colors—at first glance, like a child’s chaotic scribble.

In some special spots, strange flames were depicted.

“What do these flames represent?” Su Ye asked suddenly.

Ouyang Yunfeng chuckled. “Looks like Brother Su Ye truly is the top genius of Yang City, spotting the key immediately! There are four kinds of flames, each in a cardinal direction—likely four mountain peaks. They don’t indicate high temperatures or volcanoes but denote a rumored source of special power: the Gu Sorcerers.”

“Gu Sorcerers?” Su Ye frowned. He had heard of these terrifying beings—masters of venomous curses and arcane spells, formidable and cunning warriors.

“Four flames mean four different Gu Sorcerers, or rather, four distinct Gu families—”

Ouyang Yunfeng paused, fixing Su Ye with a grave gaze.

“There is only one place with the greatest concentration of Gu Sorcerers.”