Chapter 40 | The Divine Ability Practitioner

“True Primordial Energy...”

When the spiritual golden snake appeared in Lin Changkong's hand, the expressions of many knowledgeable powerhouses both inside and outside the lake turned solemn, and the awe in their eyes as they looked at him deepened.

The second realm of a Divine Ability Master, the True Primordial Energy Realm.

Refining this wisp of True Primordial Energy was extremely difficult, requiring immense effort to gather the primordial energy of heaven and earth, followed by countless times of condensation and tempering before it could take shape.

And once this wisp of True Primordial Energy took shape, its power was beyond imagination.

True Primordial Energy was the advanced form of primordial energy, and also the foundation for future attempts to break through to the Divine Ability Grandmaster rank. Once True Primordial Energy was cultivated, not only would one's Divine Ability Feather Robe transform along with it, but even the divine abilities they unleashed would contain the power of True Primordial Energy. Its power was distinctly different from divine abilities activated by ordinary primordial energy before.

Now that Lin Changkong had refined this wisp of True Primordial Energy, in terms of strength, he could probably rank among the very best of the Divine Ability Masters in the entire Qingyuan Ward.

Lu Jin stared at the golden snake formed by True Primordial Energy in Lin Changkong's palm. He fell slightly silent before sighing, “Indeed, the younger generation is to be feared.”

Years ago, when Lin Changkong founded the Golden Gang Sword Hall, he was just like Lu Jin, only at the Feather Robe Realm, the first realm of a Divine Ability Master. At that time, Lu Jin's strength was even slightly superior to Lin Changkong's. But now, while Lu Jin was still trapped in the Feather Robe Realm, Lin Changkong had already taken a step ahead, refining a wisp of True Primordial Energy and becoming a True Primordial Energy Master.

But there was nothing to be done about it. Lin Changkong possessed a High-grade Divine Ability Bone and was a genius-like figure in his youth. Meanwhile, due to the “Spirit-Sealing Curse” contained in the Lu family's bloodline, Lu Jin could only rely on the talent of a Mid-grade Divine Ability Bone. He had fought hard until his sixties just to secure Thunderfire Hall as a foundation for the extremely ruined Lu family.

Having gone through countless life-and-death battles over the past decades, no one knew how many injuries were hidden inside his withered, aged body. This had long damaged his foundation and exhausted his potential, making it difficult for him to take even a single step forward.

“Hall Master Lu, it is not too late to withdraw now. Once I teach your ignorant grandson a small lesson, I will naturally spare him,” Lin Changkong said calmly, holding the golden snake in his palm.

Hearing this, Lu Jin narrowed his eyes. His aged face gradually turned cold and harsh, and his voice sank. “Since when is it your place to teach a child of my family a lesson?”

“Using your age to show off, not knowing when to advance or retreat.”

A cold light flashed in Lin Changkong's eyes. Wasting no more words, he willed it, and the golden snake in his hand hissed toward the sky. Instantly, the worldly primordial energy surged, transforming into a roaring torrent of primordial energy.

The golden snake opened its mouth and actually swallowed the entire torrent of primordial energy in one gulp.

Roar!

The golden snake's body swelled rapidly against the wind. In just a few breaths, under countless shocked gazes, it transformed into a hundred-zhang-tall golden giant python. The python's scales stood on end like thousands of golden sword blades, incomparably sharp.

Countless people watched in dazed awe. Was this the power of a Divine Ability Master?

In the next instant, the golden sword python formed by a wisp of True Primordial Energy dived down from the sky. The entire heaven and earth erupted with an ear-piercing rumble, as if a world-destroying golden giant sword had descended from the high heavens to wipe out all evil.

Such a strike caused many powerhouses to show deep wariness on their faces.

This was a full-force blow unleashed by Lin Changkong using True Primordial Energy. Could Lu Jin, a Feather Robe Master, block it?

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Lu Jin raised his head. The golden sword python rapidly enlarged in the reflection of his pupils, but his aged face did not change color because of this; instead, he appeared quite calm.

“True Primordial Energy is indeed very strong, but... I promised my grandson that I would secure a draw. As his grandfather, how could I disappoint him?”

Lu Jin extended an arm that resembled withered wood. Thunder and fire intertwined on it, forming lines of strange and ancient thunderfire runes. These runes seemed to penetrate deep into his flesh; with every vibration, they burned his flesh, bringing intense, scorching pain.

Boom!

The Thunderfire Feather Robe on Lu Jin's body seemed to burst into flames at this moment, simultaneously transforming into endless thunder and fire that surged into his withered wood-like arm.

That arm swelled rapidly against the wind.

In just a few breaths, it turned into a hundred-zhang-tall thunderfire arm, colliding fiercely with the diving golden sword python.

Yet, at the exact instant the two made contact, just when everyone thought a terrifying shockwave of primordial energy would erupt, a crack split open in the palm of the thunderfire arm. The crack was like a giant mouth, unleashing a powerful suction force that swallowed the golden sword python in one gulp.

The dazzling golden sword light that filled the sky vanished instantly.

Countless people stood dumbfounded, having no idea what had happened.

Even Zhou Xuan, Li Yan, and Yan Jing had looks of astonishment flash across their faces.

The hundred-zhang-tall thunderfire arm rapidly shrank, returning to normal.

Lu Jin lowered his head to look at his left arm. The arm was withered, with countless thunderfire patterns engraved within the wrinkles of his skin. However, at this moment, he could see that deep within the flesh of his left arm, a wisp of sharp golden sword light was frantically thrashing, attempting to break free.

Every time the golden sword light collided, it would cause cracks to split open in the flesh of Lu Jin's left arm, but soon, thunder and fire would gush from his flesh, forcibly mending it.

Lu Jin seemed to have turned his left arm into a special prison, and Lin Changkong's wisp of True Primordial Energy was trapped inside it.

“Lu Jin, what did you do?!”

At this moment, the dazed Lin Changkong suddenly snapped out of it. His face was no longer calm as before, and he barked sharply.

This was because he discovered that he actually could not recall his wisp of True Primordial Energy. In his perception, that wisp of True Primordial Energy was trapped inside Lu Jin's left arm.

The powerhouses present also stared at Lu Jin in astonishment at this moment, clearly shocked by his unique method.

“Nothing much, just a special divine ability that uses the physical body as a prison. This old man has cultivated bitterly for decades and gone through life and death; I'm bound to have a trump card or two,” Lu Jin said with a calm smile.

Lin Changkong's eyes were cold. “You want to use this to seal my wisp of True Primordial Energy? I'm afraid your old bones won't be able to handle it. Your left arm won't last long before all its flesh is sliced away by my True Primordial Energy.”

Lu Jin laughed. “Before that happens, your wisp of True Primordial Energy will also be heavily damaged by my thunderfire primordial energy. Even if you retrieve it afterward, you will have to spend several years re-nourishing it.”

Lin Changkong understood, turning somewhat furious. “You want to trade that arm of yours for my wisp of True Primordial Energy?!”

“This old body of mine is useless to keep anyway,” Lu Jin said.

Lin Changkong's expression fluctuated, his heart filled with shock and anger. He had not expected to be outmaneuvered by Lu Jin. Right now, his wisp of True Primordial Energy was sealed inside Lu Jin's left arm, and this old fellow intended to trade an arm for his True Primordial Energy.

For Lin Changkong, this was absolutely unacceptable.

To refine this wisp of True Primordial Energy, he had spent immense effort, and founding the Golden Gang Sword Hall over the years was also for this purpose.

If this wisp of True Primordial Energy was destroyed or heavily damaged by Lu Jin, then Lin Changkong's efforts over the years would go down the drain.

Thus, Lin Changkong took a deep breath. “What do you want?”

Hearing this, the powerhouses from all sides had rather strange expressions. No one had expected that Lin Changkong, who had been so dominant earlier, would actually start to soften.

Indeed, the older ginger was more pungent.

Many of the gazes directed at Lu Jin carried a hint of admiration. Being able to force a True Primordial Energy Master to back down while in a disadvantageous position was not something an ordinary person could achieve.

Lu Jin said calmly, “This old man has said, I only want a draw.”

He did not push too hard either, lest Lin Changkong be driven to desperation.

Lin Changkong's face changed rapidly before finally settling down. He took a deep look at Lu Jin and said, “I truly underestimated you, Hall Master Lu. I was careless this time, and I will accept this loss.”

“This round shall be considered a draw.”

Lin Changkong was indeed someone capable of refining a wisp of True Primordial Energy; seeing that he had failed, he made a decisive choice immediately.

A draw in exchange for his wisp of True Primordial Energy was not a loss.

Hearing this, Lu Jin did not say much either. He ran his fingertip across the flesh of his left arm, slicing it open directly. As the flesh split apart, the wisp of golden True Primordial Energy trapped inside instantly broke through the air and flew out.

Lin Changkong opened his mouth and swallowed the wisp of True Primordial Energy, only then completely relaxing.

He raised his head to look at Lu Jin, his eyes dark and gloomy as he said, “Hall Master Lu, for the sake of this draw, you even revealed your absolute trump card. But this kind of method won't be of much use next time.”

“So, was it really worth using it here?”

“Even with this draw, your grandson might not be able to live up to your expectations.”

Lu Jin did not speak, but merely lowered his head to look in the direction of the Lower Flag Platform. At this moment, Lu Ming also happened to look up, concern evident in his eyes.