Chapter 470

Chapter 470: Forgotten Self and World

A crowd stared dumbfounded as Ye Yun and Yun Tianxing vanished into the space distortion, entering the treasure area.

"Many have already gone in. We should try too," a cultivator muttered.

"With what? Do you possess powers to endure the heavenly tribulation or treasures to resist the Purple Mansion Thunder?"

"Even without them, I must try. This Thunder Falls Valley opening differs completely from past records. Beyond the core area, there are barely any decent treasures—not even Thundercloud Grass, let alone Thunder Wood."

"True. Ancient texts mention the core’s vicinity being the fiercest thunder zone, where Thunder Wood forms over millennia. Yet now there’s nothing—most peculiar."

"Then we must hurry to the core area! The true treasures surviving ten thousand years of thunder must lie there. Yun Tianxing and Ying Wujun have already entered—who knows what they’ll claim?"

"But the Purple Mansion Thunder is unbearable. I thought our cultivation levels could withstand it without Thunder Avoidance Talismans, but I was wrong. Even if we survive, our strength would dwindle to a fraction."

"We must still try."

Three cultivators stood at the edge of the Purple Mansion Thunder zone, torn between eagerness and fear.

"I’ll take the risk." The first cultivator gritted his teeth and charged in.

Boom!

A Thunderous Strike erupted instantly. A purple lightning bolt thicker than a child’s arm struck his back.

The sixth-level Golden Core stage cultivator collapsed, a charred hole piercing his torso. No blood flowed—all had vaporized.

"Junior brother!"

The two outside lunged forward instinctively but froze at the thunder zone’s boundary.

Boom!

A stronger thunderbolt smashed the fallen cultivator’s skull, scattering blackened fragments. His spirit vanished with a great crash.

The thunder ceased, skies clearing as if sensing no life remained below.

"Junior brother!"

The two trembled, not daring to step closer. This Purple Mansion Thunder far exceeded their sect’s ancient descriptions.

Dozens of Golden Core cultivators exchanged uneasy glances. Earlier entrants had merely been blasted out—now the thunder killed outright. For most, their Thunder Falls Valley journey had ended.

None dared cross the threshold.

"We’ve arrived—the core area!"

Voices echoed as a glowing sphere surged into the thunder zone, ignoring the cascading strikes. The sphere rolled steadily through the Purple Mansion Thunder, disappearing into the space distortion.

The crowd gaped. Just as they’d resigned themselves, this mysterious sphere—holding unknown occupants—had breached the impossible.

A new figure drifted into view: a graceful woman holding a flower umbrella. Divine Thunder struck her umbrella harmlessly as she glided into the treasure area.

The spectators nearly lost their minds. When had traversing the thunder zone become trivial? What origins did that sphere and umbrella-wielding girl have? What supreme treasures could shrug off Purple Mansion Thunder unscathed?

Finally, after half a day, no more cultivators could enter the treasure area. This brought slight relief to the dozens of Golden Core stage cultivators – clearly very few could pass through.

Suddenly, as people murmured in contemplation, the distorted spatial passage to the treasure area rippled faintly. The space shuddered briefly before returning to normal, all distortions vanishing completely. The entrance had disappeared.

After exchanging helpless glances, the crowd finally dispersed.

Though the spatial passage had closed, changes were occurring within the treasure area itself.

Upon entering the twisted passage, Ye Yun and Yun Tianxing didn’t materialize in any specific location. Instead, they found themselves in a lightless tunnel stretching endlessly into darkness.

The instant he entered, Ye Yun noticed Yun Tianxing’s absence. No companions surrounded him, no whispers echoed – only oppressive silence in the pitch-black space.

Ye Yun tried channeling energy to create light, but the darkness devoured all illumination. He gripped the Purple Shadow Sword firmly, yet couldn’t perceive its form in the void.

Even when producing a firestarter, no sparks answered his efforts. This realm rejected all light.

Frowning, Ye Yun estimated he’d walked an hour through the void. At his normal pace, he should’ve traversed Thunder Falls Valley’s entire length by now. Yet the darkness stretched infinitely onward.

He halted abruptly.

"Ancestor, do you hear me? What is this place?"

The Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice resonated within him: "This space defies reason. Light cannot exist here. My spirit perception extends barely three zhang. No energy remains – not even spiritual energy."

Ye Yun’s brow furrowed. "Without spiritual energy, how do I breathe? How survive?"

The Ancestor chuckled darkly. "Are you truly breathing?"

Startled, Ye Yun realized no air entered his lungs despite his efforts. As a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, he shouldn’t survive beyond an incense stick’s burning time without breath. Yet he’d wandered here over an hour without suffocating.

"How?"

"Though dark, this remains Thunder Falls Valley’s domain," the Ancestor replied. "Sit. Still your breath and thoughts. Seek the laws of thunder hidden within."

Hesitating briefly, Ye Yun sat cross-legged. True qi circulated through him as he entered the rare state of forgotten self – an achievement he’d attained only handful of times during his cultivation. Each occasion had granted him insights into the laws of heaven.

Now he sat motionless, existence narrowing to a wisp of consciousness. Even his physical form seemed to dissolve like morning mist.