The voice sounded thoroughly exasperated. There was no denying it — Hu Lei felt a stab of genuine regret after hearing those words.
He had been too impetuous. The Purple-Light Thunder was indeed one of his trump cards, and in battle it worked splendidly for launching surprise attacks.
But now that he had already deployed it, it would be far less effective as a killer move if he ended up clashing with Jiang Chen later.
Even if he could still use it, the other side would certainly be on guard.
The thought made Hu Lei's stomach churn with vexation, and he couldn't help shooting a glance at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen smiled coolly. "A mere Purple-Light Thunder — what can it do to me? I could stand right here, take a direct hit from your Purple-Light Thunder, and it still wouldn't do a thing."
That remark instantly set Hu Lei's teeth on edge. His brows shot upward. "Kid, you really are the fearless kind that comes from pure ignorance. The Purple-Light Thunder carries devastating electrical force — once it strikes, even ghosts and gods would suffer terribly. And that's before the explosion. Its destructive power is comparable to a peak Heaven Rank cultivator's most powerful blow."
Jiang Chen chuckled. A peak Heaven Rank blow — so what? Not long ago, he had crossed hands with Feng Yi, the divine servant of the Jaya Divine Venerable. Now there was a half-god.
If a half-god hadn't given him pause, why would he fear a cultivator at the ninth-level peak of the Heaven Rank?
Besides, Jiang Chen himself possessed the Golden Cicada bloodline. Lightning could not touch him. Immune to all poisons, impervious to all thunder — that was precisely what the Golden Cicada bloodline offered.
So the Purple-Light Thunder truly held no terror for him.
Jiang Chen did not actually want to entangle himself with Hu Lei. However, Gan Ning had been beaten up by the man, and he owed it to his junior brother to restore both face and dignity.
If he simply left with Gan Ning without saying a word, it would look as though he feared Hu Lei.
An idea struck him, and Jiang Chen spoke in an unhurried tone. "Hu Lei, why don't we make a bet?"
"What kind of bet?" Hu Lei asked coldly. He had always regarded Jiang Chen as a cunning and calculating fellow, so the moment the word "bet" came up, his guard went up immediately.
"Nothing complicated. I stand right here and let you hit me with a single strike of your Purple-Light Thunder. Then you stand in place and let me return one blow. What do you say?" Jiang Chen said with an easy smile.
"You're serious?" Hu Lei almost thought the other man had lost his mind. Take a direct hit from the Purple-Light Thunder and still be alive afterward?
"Completely serious." Jiang Chen nodded, glancing around at the growing crowd. "More and more onlookers are gathering. As much as I'd like to put you flat on the ground, I'd rather not do it in front of so many people. I'll save you at least a little face."
Hu Lei flew into a rage that tipped into laughter. "Put me flat on the ground? Kid, do you even rehearse your boasting?"
He naturally did not believe Jiang Chen was trying to spare him any face. Instead, he was certain it had to be some kind of scheme. He had heard time and again that Jiang Chen was a master of stratagem — perhaps this bet contained some hidden trick?
Hu Lei turned the proposal over in his mind again and again but could find no flaw.
Jiang Chen smiled. "I even offered you the first strike, and you still don't dare. So much for facing me in a real fight, Hu Lei. Is this the level of the so-called greatest genius of the Duowen Sacred Land?"
Hu Lei erupted. "Kid, I was merely being generous enough not to take advantage of you. Since you're so determined to seek your own death, then I, Hu Lei, will grant your wish!"
He was clearly furious now.
Gan Ning grew nervous. He sidled up to Jiang Chen and whispered, "Senior Brother, that Purple-Light Thunder…"
"Don't worry. If I were afraid of it, I wouldn't have made such a bold claim. Gan Ning, step back and rest — watch how I handle this," Jiang Chen reassured him.
Seeing that Jiang Chen was set on going through with it, Gan Ning held his tongue. He knew that Senior Brother Jiang Chen's abilities were extraordinary. Things that made no sense to him might well be small matters in Senior Brother's eyes.
Hu Lei spoke up abruptly. "If it's a bet, then there ought to be some stakes."