White Lotus

Thunder Lord Manor could be called a millennium-old aristocratic house of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom. Its ancestors had been founding heroes of the kingdom.

Thunder Lord Manor had produced generations of outstanding talents, geniuses emerging one after another. It had flourished for a thousand years, with its influence spread throughout the land.

The Vermilion Bird Kingdom had an invincible army known as the "Thunder Nether Army." Stationed at the borders, the Thunder Nether Army defended the nation.

For a thousand years, the Thunder Nether Army had practically become Thunder Lord Manor's private legion. Its marshal had always been the "Thunder Lord" of Thunder Lord Manor.

Yet there was no such thing as a minister's merit overshadowing the sovereign in Thunder Lord Manor. For a thousand years, it had kept to its place and assisted the monarch.

That was precisely why it had continued to prosper, with talented powerhouses never ceasing to emerge.

Thunder Lord Manor stood in the southern district of Flame Capital, the leader among the many clans of that district.

Its residence was not as extravagant as Star Manor or Celestial Palace, but it possessed a solemn and majestic grandeur.

Viewed from the sky, its purple glazed tiles stretched everywhere, gleaming with flowing light, austere and weighty.

At this moment, within one of Thunder Lord Manor's deepest courtyards, Liu Qing respectfully led Li Yanfeng here.

Before them stood a plain thatched cottage. Within all of Thunder Lord Manor, it looked utterly out of place.

Only Thunder Lord Manor's own people knew that this was where their Thunder Lord recuperated in peace, a place ordinary people did not dare set foot in.

One could come here only upon being summoned by the Thunder Lord.

Clearly, Li Yanfeng and Liu Qing had been summoned this time. It was Liu Qing's first visit to this place as well, so she looked slightly nervous.

"Junior disciple Liu Qing, together with my husband Li Yanfeng, pays respects to the Thunder Lord."

She tugged at Li Yanfeng. With a face full of reverence, they knelt before the thatched cottage and bowed. The cottage door did not open, so naturally they did not dare enter.

"Mm." A hoarse voice came from within the cottage. The speaker was evidently quite advanced in years.

Yet that hoarse voice contained absolute authority, an aura forged only through decades of ruling.

Li Yanfeng controlled an entire city, yet here, he was effortlessly suppressed.

"Li Yanfeng." The Thunder Lord in the cottage called out.

"This junior is here." Li Yanfeng lowered his head.

"I have heard of you from them. You are willing to become one of Thunder Lord Manor's people, and you are quite sincere. I appreciate that and can accept you."

The Thunder Lord's voice was hoarse and devoid of emotion, but every word carried power.

"Thank you, Thunder Lord. For the rest of my life, Yanfeng will spill his head and shed his blood for Thunder Lord Manor." Li Yanfeng spoke with slight excitement.

"There is no need to profess your loyalty with words. I only look at actions."

"To be honest, your strength is quite impressive. Even in Thunder Lord Manor, you would rank among the notable figures. If you had been born into a prestigious house, you would already possess ten times your current authority," the Thunder Lord said.

Li Yanfeng kept his head lowered, waiting for the Thunder Lord's further arrangements.

"Once you break through this realm, you will be among Thunder Lord Manor's top ten powerhouses. I intend to make great use of you and grant you Thunder Lord Manor's Providence cultivation art."

Upon hearing this, ecstatic joy appeared on both Li Yanfeng and Liu Qing's faces.

They did their utmost to restrain their delight. Happiness had come too suddenly; even Li Yanfeng himself had been unprepared.

The only thing he could do now was kneel on both knees and say in a voice hoarse with excitement:

"Thank you, Thunder Lord. Yanfeng knows gratitude. The Thunder Lord knows how important a Providence cultivation art is to Yanfeng."

"I will not make empty boasts about how loyal I will be in the future. Please judge me by my conduct from now on. Should you be dissatisfied, Thunder Lord, please punish me at any time."

Every word he spoke was deeply heartfelt.

"That will not be necessary. You are no hot-blooded youth either. At your age, you can see the pros and cons clearly."

"Thunder Lord Manor can support you, and it can also cast you into eternal damnation."

"A wise man knows to do wise things. As for your capabilities, I trust you one hundred percent."

The Thunder Lord spoke with ironclad certainty. The casual pressure within his words made even Liu Qing break out in a cold sweat.

But no matter what, Li Yanfeng had truly never expected that before he had done anything for Thunder Lord Manor, he would receive the thing he had dreamed of.

He was a man who had risen from nothing. Having struggled his entire life without any background, he knew how difficult it had been to get where he was, how many hardships he had endured.

What hurt most was that although he possessed talent, without a Providence cultivation art, he had no way to enter the ranks of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom's foremost powerhouses.

Until today, when Thunder Lord Manor gave him this opportunity.

Li Tianming had once thought that his father joining with Liu Qing was merely about the Yanhuang Order and that bit of divine source. In truth, he had underestimated Li Yanfeng too much.

What Li Yanfeng wanted was power and a patron, an opportunity to become one of the nation's top powerhouses.

As for Liu Qing, after her father's death, her lineage had declined within Thunder Lord Manor. She needed a man to support her lineage.

"You have only just arrived in Flame Capital and are still unfamiliar with Thunder Lord Manor, so I will first give you a small task," the Thunder Lord said.

"Please instruct me."

"My granddaughter Xiao Xiao will soon participate in Yanhuang Academy's ranking battle."

"That child likes to go her own way. I need someone to protect her in secret. You also know that in my lifetime, I have suppressed quite a few people, including no shortage of desperadoes," the Thunder Lord said.

"Rest assured, Thunder Lord. I will regard her life as more important than my own." This was actually an easy task.

"Remember, unless she is in mortal danger, do not reveal yourself before her. Young people need tempering."

"Moreover, once you reveal yourself, with Xiao Xiao's temperament, she will no longer give you the chance to protect her."

"Understood." Li Yanfeng nodded.

His hand tightly clasped Liu Qing's.

The future seemed full of hope and sweetness.

Lin Xiaoxiao did not know that just after turning fifteen, when she had truly stepped out of Thunder Lord Manor and entered the outside world for the first time, her family had already found her a bodyguard.

After successfully clearing the trial, she had become an official disciple of Yanhuang Academy.

Therefore, she could move freely throughout the academy.

However, everyone knew that she only temporarily belonged to the "Hall of Myriad Beasts." Once the upcoming ranking battle ended, she might become a lofty disciple of the Heavenly Court.

Lin Xiaoxiao was naturally not visiting Yanhuang Academy for the first time. In fact, she had come at least dozens of times and had even lived in the academy's Heavenly Court for a period.

When she arrived again, the guarding instructor of the Heavenly Court merely smiled and let her enter.

"Xiao Xiao, after the ranking battle, getting directly into the Heavenly Court should not be much of a problem, right?" the guarding instructor asked.

"I'll do my best." Lin Xiaoxiao was a very endearing girl.

She had none of Thunder Lord Manor's ostentatious temperament and was extremely polite to everyone.

After entering the Heavenly Court, which was deeply mysterious to outsiders, she made her way with practiced ease to a courtyard.

The courtyard gate stood slightly ajar. Lin Xiaoxiao gently pushed it open and saw a sea of flowers within, their faint fragrance filling the air.

Many birds chirped crisply from the branches. In the distance stood artificial hills and flowing water, making the place seem like a paradise on earth.

These flowers, grasses, and trees had all been planted and personally cultivated by their owner.

That was exactly why they were especially fragrant and enchanting.

Lin Xiaoxiao followed a cobblestone path inward. The fresh scent of flowers, grass, and trees washed over her, making her feel exceptionally comfortable.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither drifted from ahead.

The melody was lingering and moving. Intertwining with the sea of flowers in the courtyard, it seemed to give soul to every flower, blade of grass, and tree.

Such music displayed its owner's lofty refinement and attainment, grace permeating every note.

Before Lin Xiaoxiao lay a clear lake. Fish of every size swam happily through it, as if dancing to the zither's melody.

Looking ahead, one could see a small pavilion in the lake.

In this bright, breezy hour, a woman in an elegant white dress sat within the pavilion, playing the zither.

Her slender hands seemed like sprites dancing over the strings, playing a beautiful melody.

The woman's white dress was a sheer gown with a blue base and pink trim. As she played, its long hem spread around her like clouds. A translucent, pale veil covered her face, faintly revealing the contours of her cheeks. Her nose bridge rose delicately, jade-like teeth showed between her lips, and her red lips curled upward in a charming smiling arc, like a crescent moon rising. Her cloud-like hair poured down like a cascading brown waterfall. Her skin was crystalline like the jade of a celestial pool. Her beautiful eyes shifted slightly, vast as autumn waters; within their black, moist depths lay an almost imperceptible hint of blue, deep and clear, like a lake hidden in the depths of grasslands—crystalline and pure.

Birdsong and floral fragrance, rippling lake waters, and lingering zither music—within such a scene, the white-dressed young woman playing her zither seemed like an immortal maiden in a painting.

As the breeze stirred, the woman resembled a pure white lotus blooming upon the lake.

"Xiao Xiao, you came. Did you successfully clear the trial?" At that moment, the zither music abruptly stopped.

The woman lifted the pale veil from her face and rose gracefully.

Her graceful figure was half-hidden within the sheer dress. Such a beautiful woman was truly untouched by a speck of dust, crystalline and pure.

"I succeeded." Smiling, Lin Xiaoxiao hurried over to the pavilion. "Sister Qingqing, your zither sounds so beautiful. I truly envy my brother for having such an elegant beloved as you."

"Xiao Xiao really knows how to talk." The woman smiled faintly. "We have not seen each other for half a year. Xiao Xiao has grown even prettier. So beautiful at only fifteen—one day, you will surely topple kingdoms and cities."

"Unfortunately, appearance offers no benefit to cultivation. I still hope people will recognize me through my strength," Lin Xiaoxiao said.

"Yes, yes. Xiao Xiao will definitely become an unmatched powerhouse in the future, even stronger than your brother."

"That's right. My goal is to surpass Lin Xiaoting and make him pay for bullying me when we were children. Hehe."

Before the woman, Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to relax somewhat, showing her quirky, mischievous side.

"No problem. I will absolutely support you and join forces with you to beat him up."

When the woman thought of him, her oval face flushed slightly, making her look delectable.

They chatted a while longer about the trial battle. The woman asked, "Do you understand all your opponents in the ranking battle? Are you confident?"

"I have some confidence. Twin beastmasters have certain advantages, but it still depends on the specific battle situation."

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes were resolute. It was clear that she deeply desired to become the number one disciple of the hall examination and catch up to her brother's glory.

"Sister Qingqing believes in you. Before long, we can cultivate together in the Heavenly Court."

"The Heavenly Court is much quieter than outside, and you can learn more things here. Take your brother, for example—he has gone into seclusion again recently. Once he emerges this time, he will probably break through again." The woman spoke proudly.

"That guy is improving again!" Lin Xiaoxiao pursed her lips.

Speaking of her brother, she suddenly recalled someone and remembered why she had come today.

"Sister Qingqing, do you know? A bad person appeared in the hall examination today," Lin Xiaoxiao said seriously.

"A bad person? Which bad person?" the woman asked with a smile.

It seemed that in her eyes, Lin Xiaoxiao was still a little girl.

"It was that bad person who tried to violate you three years ago, Li Tianming. My brother executed his lifebound beast. Do you remember?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked.

Upon hearing this, the woman's expression and bearing suddenly froze.

Her gaze changed many times. In the end, she pursed her lips, as if everything had become a matter of lightness.

"Didn't he go home? How did he appear?" the woman asked softly with a smile.

"He just appeared directly. It seems he obtained another Yanhuang Order back in his hometown."

"I heard he used the Blood God Contract to find a lifebound beast, successfully cleared the trial today, and returned to Yanhuang Academy."

When Lin Xiaoxiao spoke of this person, traces of disgust appeared on her face as well.

After all, she had heard from Sister Qingqing about this man's shamelessness.

"I see. Then congratulations to him." The woman nodded, with a hint of a smile still on her face.

"Sister Qingqing, that sort of person has actually returned. Don't you find it disgusting? Do you want me to teach him another lesson for you? After all, he almost ruined you three years ago," Lin Xiaoxiao asked.

"There's no need," the woman said.

"Why not?"

"Xiao Xiao, while living in this world, who does not act impulsively and make some mistakes?"

"Three years ago, he simply liked me too much, so perhaps he was swept away in a moment of madness."

The woman spoke gently.

"But he still could not just act recklessly..."

"To be honest, he has already paid the price and learned his lesson. After all, your brother executed his lifebound beast. Though he did something wrong, that should settle the score," the woman said earnestly.

"So I do not need to teach him a lesson?"

"Of course not. Actually, we used to be very good friends. I am genuinely happy that he has managed to pull himself together again."

"Since he has once more become an academy disciple, he can return to the right path. I would rather wish that through hard work, he achieves the success of his dreams in the future."

"Sister Qingqing, you are far too kind. You repay resentment with virtue. My brother is truly lucky to have found a girl like you." Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes were filled with respect.

The woman smiled. "All right, let us not talk about these old matters. I have learned a new piece. Would Xiao Xiao like to hear it?"

"Yes."

Not long after, beautiful zither music drifted through the courtyard once more. The woman played, gentle and beautiful as a painting.

It was not until evening that Lin Xiaoxiao finally departed.

After seeing Lin Xiaoxiao off, the woman returned to her room, her expression seeming somewhat colder.

She did not know from where she took out a sheet of black paper.

A blood-red flower was printed upon it, looking exceptionally bewitching.

The woman took up a brush, dipped it in white ink, then wrote upon the black paper—

"Offer a bounty to Blood Flower Hall to kill one person: Yanhuang Academy disciple Li Tianming, first level of the Spirit Source Realm."

"Reward: one thousand yellow Heavenly Pattern Jade."

"Bring this person's head to claim the reward."