...
A few days later.
Heaven Dou City, Moon Pavilion.
Yu Luomian once again arrived carrying a thick stack of title deeds and transfer documents for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's core properties in Heaven Dou City.
As he stood respectfully before Luo Nan, a trace of surprise flashed in Luo Nan's eyes.
Luo Nan casually leafed through the priceless title deeds in his hands.
They included some of the largest interconnected shop complexes in Heaven Dou City and two high-end auction houses that raked in massive profits daily.
There was even an enormous simulated cultivation ground established by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect near the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
"Elder Yu, your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect certainly has a huge appetite this time. You've really bled the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect dry over the past half-month, haven't you?"
Yu Luomian hurriedly bowed low, maintaining a humble demeanor:
"Your Excellency jests. This old man is well aware that all of this is due to your divine might."
"Had you not used thunderous means to cripple the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, how would we have dared to act so boldly?"
"These properties in Heaven Dou City rightfully belong to you, Your Excellency. I have brought them here today specifically for you to dispose of as you see fit."
Luo Nan set down the title deeds and glanced at Yu Luomian.
It had to be said—that old fellow Yu Luomian really knew how to play the game.
Not only had he perfectly executed Luo Nan's plan to use one party to destroy another, but he had also managed to keep a clear head after reaping massive benefits.
He hadn't let greed blind him; instead, he had the sense to voluntarily hand over the most valuable assets to put Luo Nan's mind at ease.
Luo Nan didn't mind letting a smart man who understood propriety and knew when to advance or retreat live a little longer.
"Elder Yu, you are very thoughtful." "
Luo Nan unhesitatingly stowed all those title deeds into his soul-guiding storage device, without the slightest show of refusal.
"Since this is a gesture of filial respect from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, I shall accept it without demur."
"Go back and tell Yu Xiaolie: from now on, just tend to your business in the Heaven Dou Empire and keep to yourselves. As long as you don't provoke Moon Pavilion, I certainly won't go out of my way to make trouble for you."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Excellency! On behalf of the entire clan, this old man kowtows in gratitude for your benevolence!" "
Yu Luomian realized that this move of his had finally paid off.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect—that battered vessel tossing in the storm—had finally managed to steady itself, at least for the time being.
Yu Luomian left Moon Pavilion, offering profuse expressions of gratitude.
With Yu Luomian's departure, the situation within the Heaven Dou Empire finally entered a relatively calm period.
The once-arrogant Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had shut its gates tight; a deathly silence hung over the place. Aside from the occasional muffled cough or wail, there was no sign of activity whatsoever.
The Clear Sky Clan—the world's number one sect—remained completely unheard of, hidden away in the deep mountains and ancient forests, as if the affairs of the outside world had nothing to do with them.
As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect—once known for its unyielding, rebellious nature—it now behaved like a tamed hunting dog.
They had completely bowed their proud heads to Luo Nan, meekly submitting to the authority of Moon Pavilion.
Of the Upper Three Sects, one was crippled, one was in hiding, and one had surrendered.
Across the entire Heaven Dou Empire, there was no longer a single faction capable of posing even the slightest threat to Luo Nan.
After a period of calm, Luo Nan finally decided to set about his own agenda.
In the inner chamber of Moon Pavilion, Luo Nan spread a piece of parchment map flat across his desk.
Drawn on the map in dark red ink was the outline of a vast, rolling mountain range that looked as though nine giant dragons were coiled together.
This was the map of the Nine-Dragon Mountain Range—something Luo Nan had obtained only recently, at great cost and through various covert channels!
Tang Yuehua walked in carrying a bowl of premium ginseng soup that had just been brewed, placing it gently beside the desk.
Observing Luo Nan's focused expression, she asked softly, "Luo Nan, are you planning to go out?" "
Luo Nan looked up, pulled Tang Yuehua into his embrace, and settled her onto his lap; he nodded with a smile:
"Indeed. Matters here in Heaven Dou City have largely settled down; Ning Fengzhi is currently too preoccupied to interfere, and I've thoroughly subdued Yu Luomian. It's time to attend to the real business at hand."
Luo Nan's gaze shifted back to the map of the Nine-Dragon Mountain Range.
"I've studied the map of the Nine-Dragon Mountain Range inside out; we can set off at any time."
His finger traced lightly over the area on the map marked in red—indicating extreme danger.
Tang Yuehua glanced at the map, taking in the menacing, sprawling outlines of the nine mountain ranges; a hint of worry flashed in her beautiful eyes:
"The Nine-Dragon Mountain Range? I've heard that place is incredibly perilous—ravaged by perpetual thunderstorms—so much so that even Titled Douluo are reluctant to set foot there."
"Won't it be too dangerous for you to go alone?"
"Don't worry, Yuehua." Luo Nan smiled confidently and planted a gentle kiss on her red lips.
"Others might fear lightning, but I certainly don't. You just stay here, take good care of our child, and wait for my triumphant return."
Tang Yuehua knew that once Luo Nan made a decision, it was set in stone; moreover, she held an absolute, unwavering faith in his strength.
She nodded obediently and gently straightened Luo Nan's collar:
"Alright. The child and I will be waiting for you at Moon Pavilion. You must come back safe and sound." A few days later.
Luo Nan arrived at the edge of the Nine-Dragon Mountain Range.
The Nine-Dragon Mountain Range was located approximately twenty kilometers due east of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's headquarters.
It was a place regarded by the world as a forbidden zone—a land of death abandoned by the gods.
Only the top-tier powerhouses of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect possessed the strength to venture here and temper their bodies using the ambient lightning.
The skies above the entire mountain range were perpetually shrouded in thick, black thunderclouds that seemed heavy enough to crush the earth beneath them.
Within the clouds, countless bolts of violent lightning—thick as water barrels and glowing with an eerie purple-blue hue—writhed, roared, and clashed like furious dragons made of thunder.
*Rumble...*
Deafening peals of thunder rolled on endlessly, threatening to shatter one's very soul.
The air was thick with the pungent scent of ozone and charged with wild, free-floating lightning energy.
No vegetation could survive here; everywhere one looked, there were only jagged, grotesque rocks—scorched black or even crystallized by the relentless lightning strikes.
Often, it wasn't just ordinary people; even Spirit Masters below the rank of Spirit Saint...
...would be instantly reduced to a charred husk by a random bolt of lightning the moment they stepped into the range, leaving not even a bone behind.
For this reason, the area remained completely uninhabited, becoming one of the rare "forbidden zones of life" on the Douluo Continent.
Yet, facing a terrifying thunderstorm that would make countless powerhouses recoil in fear, Luo Nan showed no trace of dread; instead, a look of fanatical excitement appeared on his face.
*Crack!*
A bolt of purple lightning, as thick as a water barrel, descended without warning and struck Luo Nan with tremendous force.
However, the scene of him being reduced to ashes—which one might have expected—never came to pass.
The moment that violent bolt of lightning touched Luo Nan's body, it seemed to encounter a terrifying, devouring vortex.
Instead of destroying him, it flowed directly along his skin and merged into his body!
...
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