Chapter 716 515 Clouds and Smoke

Zhu Lu Sea, Sect Spring Island.

Clouds drift above Sect Spring Island, the air damp with mist, a high bronze Dharma Altar stands tall, its lines complex and intricate, carved with various patterns of rain, mist, and thunderbolts. The color of the bluestone and bronze iron shone in reflection.

Li Qinghong had cultivated here for more than ten years. It was inconvenient to come and go, so she asked Zong Yan to build another Dharma Altar on this land, which was a reward for the people on the island.

She slowly stood up, with thunder flowing over her Jade Armor, and around her, the copper and silver statues flickered with Thunder Light, spurting towards her, flowing down from her jade sleeves on her wrists.

Li Qinghong had been in closed-door cultivation here, and over the past ten-plus years, her strength had gradually increased, her aura becoming more refined.

The sea brought rising water and thunder; it was a time when thunderbolts were abundant. With the addition of the Dharma Altar, without the need to go out in search of thunder and resonate with the internal Thunder Pool, these ten-plus years of work doubled in effect, equivalent to over thirty years of inland cultivation, just one step away from the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

She retracted her mana, stepping out on thunder, and beneath the Dharma Altar stood a young man, about twenty years old, also practicing Thunder Dharma, holding a spear in hand, standing quietly. Seeing Li Qinghong step down on thunder, he bowed and said:

"Junior pays respects to Aunt."

"Chengyi."

Li Qinghong nodded slightly. This junior was also a child of the Zhong vein, practicing Thunder Dharma, and had been following her, guarding the island overseas, and cultivating with the assistance of the Dharma Altar.

Li Chengwei was quiet and not much of a talker. With his hands clasped, he congratulated her:

"Congratulations to Aunt on your significant advancement in cultivation."

That was all he said, and Li Qinghong nodded slightly, gave some pointers on his cultivation, and then she took to the wind and flew away from the island.

'Considering the time, that Spirit Thunder shall be descending soon.'

Li Qinghong had collected Spirit Thunder with the aid of this Dharma Altar many times over the years, even though the sea and land names were unrecognizable to her, not allowing constant access. But from time to time, a venture out to sea sometimes brought her gains.

Li Qinghong took to the wind, her feet treading on thunder as she flew north, the Mysterious Pattern Bottle tied around her waist shining with dazzling brilliance, quite eye-catching.

The Mysterious Pattern Bottle, which contained eleven thunderbolts, remained stable and solid, its surface lines resembling thunderbolts shimmering even brighter, filled with translucent Thunder Light, the pale purple thunder glowing dully yet astonishingly.

Over the years, she had come to understand this Dharma Altar more and more.

The twelve statues around the altar each represented a region, seemingly the ancient thunder domains were all clearly demarcated; the owner of the thunderbolt that fell from a certain direction was predetermined.

The dragon-shaped statue in the southeast direction was the most active, providing the most information. Most of the thunderbolts she acquired over the years came from the southeast.

As she flew in the air, just about to turn towards the southeast, she suddenly looked back and saw a brilliant light rising above Sect Spring Island, while the Jade Talisman on her wrist emitted a warm glow.

Whenever Li Qinghong left Sect Spring Island, she would leave behind a Jade Talisman, in case something happened to the island during her absence. However, her mana would not last long, and since she had not specifically learned this technique, the Jade Talisman was only effective for a month or two.

'What is this... Fortunately, I haven't gone far.'

Li Qinghong turned back on thunder, quickly returning to the island, only to see Li Chengwei had already been waiting in front of the formation. He bypassed Zong Yan and the others, bowed and conveyed with a Secret Technique:

"Aunt, Third Uncle has entered the formation, seriously injured."

'Xizhi!'

Li Qinghong's heart skipped a beat, not bothering to speak more, immediately taking to the wind to the formation, passing through it. Zong Yan and the others barely opened their mouths before she disappeared like lightning.

Li Qinghong entered the Cave Mansion, just in time to see Li Xizhi sitting cross-legged, pale as golden paper, his body aglow resolving his injuries. Li Qinghong hurriedly activated the formation, shattered several Spirit Stones, and exited the arrangement.

Li Chengwei was waiting at the formation, whispering:

"Aunt... Third Uncle disguised himself, called me out with the Jade Pendant, and then took the opportunity to sneak into the formation. Apart from me, no one on the island knows."

Having heard this, Li Qinghong deduced, her expression becoming somewhat ugly as she muttered:

"There must be trouble. Be sure to seal the news and don't let others know that Xizhi is here."

Li Chengwei nodded and slowly withdrew. After he disappeared, Li Qinghong shook her head slightly, lost in thought.

...

Green Pond Mountain.

The bell of Green Pond Mountain rang three times, and the Rosy Cloud Boat, with its brilliant colors, fluttered its huge colorful wings, returning from various directions.

Upon the collapse of Zifu, the cultivators guarding the various areas were called back, and some cultivators who had not been at the Sect for many years also showed up, coming from the East Sea, the Southern Border, and even some from the Northern Sea.

"Yuanwu has fallen..."

Li Xuanfeng paused in the air, took a couple of turns in the mist, and landed on the summit. Ning Family Members stood properly and low, while Li Xuanfeng looked around; the green mountains in all directions were still lush, not like the golden landscape rumored.

When the news came back, it was said that enough gold and iron had fallen inside the peak to bury several people. Now that Yuanwu had fallen, the iron that spread all over the mountain had been collected and taken into the Sect.

Ning Heyuan burst into laughter upon hearing this news, and even joked that Yuanwu Peak wouldn't need to take iron from the Sect for a hundred years, just use what came from Yuanwu itself.

Listening to the Ning Family Members laughing together, Li Xuanfeng still pondered in his heart:

'It's time to make a move on the lake. I just don't know how things are with Xizhi.'

After waiting for a moment, the Ning Family Members dispersed into the peaks. Cave Spring Peak was arguably among the higher-ranked of the Thirty-Six Peaks, but since Yuan Su had no interest in promoting it, and the prominent members of the Ning Family had all gone to the Southern Border, its fame was not notable.

When Li Xuanfeng entered the Hall, he saw Yuan Su sitting at the head, with no one else around, obviously not daring to linger in front of him, except for Li Xuanfeng in his Golden Armor, bowing before him.