Chapter 49: The Summoning of a Thousand Thunderbolts!

Facing the encirclement by Wu Chang, Liu Shan, and the Mist Demon, Chi Yuan neither panicked nor tried to flee. Instead, he studied the two halves of the Shadow Mask with surprise.

“Wu, young hero, you understand the art of forging magical tools?”

Wu Chang replied casually, “Somewhat.”

Chi Yuan shook his head solemnly. “This isn’t merely ‘somewhat.’ You’ve bypassed the flaws in the demon transformation method, bringing this half-finished product nearly to completion. You even figured out part of my intention and caused that aspect of its power to manifest prematurely.”

“And all this was done casually in the wilderness. When it comes to forging, I’m no match for you. But it makes sense—Wu, young hero, you hail from the Tang Sect, known for crafting such exquisite mechanical hidden weapons. Being skilled in forging is unsurprising.”

Wu Chang shrugged. “At this point, even if you flatter me, I won’t stop until I’ve defeated you.”

Chi Yuan laughed. “No need for flattery. I’m just delighted by this hunt. If we had met years ago, I’m sure we would’ve been good friends.”

“Five years ago?”

Five years prior marked the massacre of Huai Valley Village by the Black Mountain bandits.

Chi Yuan’s expression grew distant, as if recalling something. After a moment, he regained composure and said:

“Yes, if I had known you then, perhaps everything would have been different. But some things, once set in motion, are hard to turn back.”

“Though I have studied the art of demon transformation and forging, I come from orthodox Taoism. I’m not defenseless without my magical tools. Wu, young hero, be cautious.”

With that, Chi Yuan formed hand seals; lightning flickered in his palm as he unleashed a bolt of palm lightning.

Wu Chang barely registered the flash before seeing the Mist Demon evaporate into nothingness.

The Shadow Mask displayed a notification:

“Shadow: Mist Demon has been dispersed; reformation requires 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.”

Lightning magic is the ultimate counter to demons. Chi Yuan’s overwhelming power crushed the Mist Demon before Wu Chang could even react.

“Wu, young hero, do you find my lightning magic pleasing to the eye?”

Chi Yuan shook his robe, releasing countless strands of lightning. Electric arcs spiraled from beneath his garment, swirling around him before converging on the Taoist crown atop his head.

Wu Chang narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue in admiration. It wasn’t just pleasing—it was dazzling. The oppressive aura emanating from Chi Yuan rivaled that of Doctor Charles of the Moonlight Sanatorium.

Doctor Charles was a minor elite monster in a B-rank dungeon, with stats ranging from level 17 to 19.

This oppressive aura was from Chi Yuan’s true form alone. Coupled with three magical tools capable of transforming into demons, in a C-rank dungeon, he would be an overwhelmingly powerful hidden boss.

Wu Chang took two steps back, increasing the distance, then ordered Liu Shan to attack Chi Yuan.

Liu Shan moved swiftly and struck viciously. Unlike trimming tree demon branches, he was more adept at fighting humans—a perfect test for Chi Yuan’s prowess.

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While sending Liu Shan to attack, Wu Chang fired a shot toward Chi Yuan to prevent another instant palm lightning kill, using gunfire to cover Liu Shan’s approach.

Chi Yuan dared not face Wu Chang’s hidden weapon head-on, so he took cover behind a large boulder, unable to counterattack Liu Shan.

Liu Shan took advantage, using agile footwork to close in behind the boulder, preparing for close combat.

Suddenly, a thunderclap exploded from behind the boulder, nearly shattering eardrums.

When Wu Chang’s ringing ears subsided, he saw Liu Shan had returned to the mask to accompany the Mist Demon.

“Shadow: Liu Shan has been dispersed; reformation requires 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.”

Trouble!

Wu Chang shook his head to clear the dizziness caused by the ringing. Chi Yuan wouldn’t create such a commotion just to deal with Liu Shan.

If he were Chi Yuan, he would use the thunder’s shockwave to launch a sneak attack.

He hurried to the edge of the sacrificial altar, backing against the wooden structure, cautiously watching his surroundings.

Only the wooden altar, an insulator, allowed him to safely turn his back.

After three or four breaths, inspiration struck; he turned sharply to the side.

Chi Yuan had somehow closed to within fifteen meters, palm lightning flickering, ready to strike.

Wu Chang quickly changed position to the other side of the wooden altar, blocking a direct line of attack.

Now embodying the Western gunslinger persona, Wu Chang circled the altar like a pillar.

Chi Yuan’s sneak attack foiled, he abandoned subtlety and charged.

Surrounded by lightning, Chi Yuan ran with blurred afterimages, matching Liu Shan’s speed.

As he ran, the lightning trailing him accelerated, splitting into two shadows that flanked him—forming three Chi Yuans running side by side.

Their synchronized movements made it impossible to distinguish the real one.

Chi Yuan’s intention was clear: choose one and see if you can hit the real me.

This trick would be threatening against a Tang Sect disciple wielding a traditional hidden weapon, powerful but slow—taking five breaths to reload.

If the shot missed, the disciple would be vulnerable to close combat before reloading.

But Wu Chang was not a Tang Sect disciple, nor did he use traditional hidden weapons.

When Chi Yuan closed within seven steps, Wu Chang transformed into a cowboy, pulling the trigger ten times in rapid succession, emptying six silver bullets and his four points of energy instantly.

Chi Yuan, charging to within two meters, was struck by three bullets in an instant, collapsing with disbelief.

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Clutching his chest wound, Chi Yuan smiled wryly.

“So your hidden weapons can fire like a repeating crossbow…”

“Of course. Who would reveal that right after meeting?” Wu Chang said matter-of-factly.

This gambit was pure coincidence.

When they first met at the Ban Mountain Ghost Inn, before triggering the hidden side quest, Wu Chang noticed the resentment entwined in Chi Yuan’s magical tools and suspected ill intent. He planned a contingency.

He deliberately hinted his weapon’s slow reload speed to lower Chi Yuan’s guard, setting up a surprise attack.

Once the side quest triggered, and Chi Yuan explained the source of the resentment on his tools, Wu Chang temporarily trusted him, avoiding battle.

Yet he never corrected his earlier lie. Instead, it inspired him greatly.

Throughout the dungeon, he sensed faint observation.

Initially believing it was some evil spirit spying, he maintained the lie to protect his secret.

Whether fighting the Mist Demon in Chen Family Village, ambushing the Liu brothers, or dueling Liu Shan, regardless of witnesses, he deliberately displayed his weapon’s slow firing and reload.

Clearly, his performance worked. Chi Yuan, who had been watching him closely, discerned the hidden weapon’s characteristics, leading to today’s triple-charge deception.

And Wu Chang’s subsequent emptying of his magazine.

Coughing up blood, Chi Yuan gasped weakly, “Looks like I lost.”

Wu Chang replied politely, “What a pity.”

Chi Yuan: “But I want to try once more.”

Wu Chang: “?”

A foreboding feeling rose within Wu Chang. He hurriedly ejected the magazine and began reloading to finish Chi Yuan.

But this time, his reload was truly slow.

Chi Yuan spat four words: “Summon the Thousand Thunders!”

In the next moment, lightning struck down from above them.

The dazzling light transformed the world into an unbearable white.

Boom!