White Lotus

The Thunder Venerable Mansion is arguably a thousand-year-old prestigious family in the Vermilion Bird Country, with its ancestors being meritorious founders of the nation.

The Thunder Venerable Mansion has produced generations of talented individuals, flourishing for a millennium, with its influence spread throughout the country.

The Vermilion Bird Country possesses an invincible army known as the "Thunder Nether Army," stationed at the border to defend the nation.

For a thousand years, the Thunder Nether Army has essentially become the Thunder Venerable Mansion's private legion, with its marshal always being the "Thunder Venerable" of the Thunder Venerable Mansion.

However, the Thunder Venerable Mansion has never been accused of having too much power and threatening the sovereign. For a thousand years, they have been law-abiding and supportive of the king.

This is precisely why they have been able to continuously prosper, with a constant stream of talented powerhouses.

The Thunder Venerable Mansion is located in the southern district of Yandu, serving as the leader among the various clans in that area.

While its mansion might not be as extravagant as the Star Mansion or Star Palace, it compensates with its solemn and grand atmosphere.

Looking down from the sky, the entire place is covered in purple glazed tiles, shimmering with brilliance, exuding an imposing and weighty presence.

At this moment, in the deepest courtyard of the Thunder Venerable Mansion, Liu Qing respectfully led Li Yanfeng to this location.

Before them stood a simple thatched hut, which seemed out of place in the entire Thunder Venerable Mansion.

Only those within the Thunder Venerable Mansion knew that this was the resting place of their "Thunder Venerable," a place ordinary people dared not tread.

One could only come here if summoned by the Thunder Venerable.

Clearly, Li Yanfeng and Liu Qing had been summoned this time. It was Liu Qing's first time visiting this place, so she appeared a bit nervous.

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

She tugged at Li Yanfeng, her face filled with reverence, and knelt before the thatched hut to pay her respects. The hut remained closed, and they naturally dared not enter.

"Mm." A hoarse voice emanated from within the thatched hut, indicating the speaker was very old.

However, this hoarse voice contained absolute authority, an aura forged by decades of dominance.

Li Yanfeng, who controlled a city, was easily suppressed here.

"Li Yanfeng." The Thunder Venerable inside the hut called out.

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

"I have heard about you from them. You are willing to become one of us in the Thunder Venerable Mansion and have shown great sincerity. I appreciate you and can accept you."

The Thunder Venerable's voice was hoarse, devoid of any discernible emotion, yet each word carried immense weight.

"Thank you, Thunder Venerable. Yanfeng will dedicate his life to shedding blood and sweat for the Thunder Venerable Mansion." Li Yanfeng said, slightly agitated.

"There's no need for verbal displays of loyalty. I judge people by their actions."

"Honestly, your strength is quite good; you could be ranked within our Thunder Venerable Mansion. If you came from a prestigious family, you would have ten times the influence you have now." the Thunder Venerable said.

Li Yanfeng kept his head down, waiting for the Thunder Venerable to continue.

"Once you break through this realm, you will be among the top ten powerhouses in our Thunder Venerable Mansion. I plan to utilize you greatly and bestow upon you our Thunder Venerable Mansion's Heaven's Will Cultivation Method."

Upon hearing this, both Li Yanfeng and Liu Qing's faces lit up with overwhelming joy.

They did their best to control their elation; happiness seemed to have arrived too suddenly, catching Li Yanfeng completely off guard.

All he could do at this moment was kneel on both knees and say, his voice hoarse with emotion:

"Thank you, Thunder Venerable. Yanfeng knows gratitude. Thunder Venerable knows how important the Heaven's Will Cultivation Method is to Yanfeng."

"I won't make empty promises about my future loyalty. Please, Thunder Venerable, observe my future actions. If you are not satisfied, please punish me at any time."

Every word he spoke was heartfelt and sincere.

"That won't be necessary. You are not a hot-headed youth; at your age, you can discern both benefits and drawbacks."

"Our Thunder Venerable Mansion can support you, and it can also lead to your downfall."

"Wise people do wise things. In terms of ability, I trust you one hundred percent."

The Thunder Venerable spoke with finality. The casual yet immense pressure conveyed in his words made Liu Qing break out in a cold sweat.

But regardless, Li Yanfeng never expected to receive something he had always dreamed of without having done anything for the Thunder Venerable Mansion yet.

He was a self-made man who had struggled his entire life without any background, and he knew how arduous his journey had been, enduring countless hardships.

What was most painful was that despite his talent, he couldn't break into the ranks of the top powerhouses in the Vermilion Bird Country because he lacked the Heaven's Will Cultivation Method.

Until today, the Thunder Venerable Mansion had given him this opportunity.

Li Tianming once thought that his father's union with Liu Qing was as simple as the matter of the Yanhuang Token and the Divine Source, but he had underestimated Li Yanfeng.

Li Yanfeng sought power and backing, and the chance to become a top national powerhouse.

As for Liu Qing, after her father's passing, her family's influence within the Thunder Venerable Mansion waned, and she needed a man to support her family.

"You've just arrived in Yandu and are not familiar with the Thunder Venerable Mansion, so I'll give you a small task first," the Thunder Venerable said.

"Please instruct me."

"My granddaughter, Xiaoxiao, is about to participate in the Yanhuang Academy's ranking battle."

"This child likes to act independently. I need someone to protect her in secret. As you know, I have suppressed many people in my life, including desperadoes," the Thunder Venerable said.

"Rest assured, Thunder Venerable. I will absolutely value her life more than my own." This was actually a simple task.

"Remember, unless it's a life-or-death situation, don't reveal yourself in front of her. Young people need to gain experience."

"Besides, if you show up, knowing Xiaoxiao's temper, she won't give you another chance to protect her."

"Understood." Li Yanfeng nodded.

He tightly gripped Liu Qing's palm.

The future seemed filled with hope and sweetness.

Lin Xiaoxiao had no idea that just as she turned fifteen and stepped out of the Thunder Venerable Mansion into the outside world for the first time, her family had already found her a bodyguard.

After successfully passing the trial, she was now an official disciple of Yanhuang Academy.

Therefore, she could move freely within the academy.

However, everyone knew she was only temporarily affiliated with the Myriad Beasts Hall. After the upcoming ranking battles, she might become a high-and-mighty Heavenly Mansion disciple.

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't visiting Yanhuang Academy for the first time. In fact, she had been there at least dozens of times, even living in the academy's Heavenly Mansion for a period.

When she arrived again, the guarding Senior Master of the Heavenly Mansion greeted her with a smile and let her in.

"Xiaoxiao, will it be alright to enter the Heavenly Mansion directly after the ranking battles?" the guarding Senior Master asked.

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

She possessed none of the arrogance of the Thunder Venerable Mansion and was polite to everyone.

After entering the Heavenly Mansion, which was mysterious to outsiders, she skillfully made her way to a courtyard.

The courtyard gate was ajar. Lin Xiaoxiao gently pushed it open and saw a sea of flowers inside, with the lingering fragrance of blossoms everywhere.

Many birds chirped crisply on the branches, and in the distance, there were rockeries and flowing water, making it seem like a paradise.

These flowers and trees were planted and personally cultivated by the owner, which was why they were exceptionally fragrant and captivating.

Lin Xiaoxiao walked along a cobblestone path, the fresh scent of flowers and trees filling the air, making her feel very comfortable.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither came from ahead.

The melody was melodious and moving, harmonizing with the sea of flowers in the courtyard, as if the plants had come alive.

Such music displayed the owner's high cultivation and artistic attainment, exuding elegance in every note.

Ahead of Lin Xiaoxiao was a clear lake, where various goldfish were swimming joyfully, as if dancing to the music.

Looking further, a small pavilion could be seen in the lake.

In this beautiful, sunny weather, a woman in a simple, elegant white dress was playing the zither in the pavilion.

Her slender fingers moved like sprites across the strings, playing a beautiful melody.

The woman's white dress was a sheer gauze with a blue background and pink trim. As she played, her long skirt swayed around her like clouds. Her face was covered by a transparent, light-colored veil, vaguely revealing the outline of her cheeks. Her nose was slightly upturned, her teeth were pearly white, and her red lips curved upwards, forming a charming smile like a crescent moon. Her cloud-like hair cascaded down like a surging brown waterfall. Her skin was as radiant as the jade of the Heavenly Pool. Her beautiful pupils flickered slightly, vast and clear like autumn ripples. In their dark, moist depths, a barely visible blue hue could be seen, deep and pure, like a lake in the depths of the grassland, crystal clear and clean.

Amidst the birdsong, the fragrance of flowers, the rippling lake, and the melodious music, the sight of this white-dressed maiden playing the zither was like a fairy from a painting.

As the gentle breeze stirred, the woman was like a pure white lotus blooming in the lake.

"Xiaoxiao, you're here. Did you pass the trial?" At this moment, the music stopped abruptly.

The woman lifted the light-colored veil from her face and gracefully stood up.

Her graceful figure was faintly visible through the sheer dress. Such a beautiful woman was truly immaculate and translucent.

"I passed." Lin Xiaoxiao smiled and quickly walked to the pavilion. "Sister Qingqing's music is so beautiful. I'm so envious of my brother for having an elegant lover like you."

"Xiaoxiao, you're so eloquent." The woman smiled slightly. "It's been half a year. Xiaoxiao has become even more beautiful. At just fifteen, you're already this lovely. You'll surely be stunning in the future."

"It's a pity that appearance doesn't help much with cultivation. I still hope to be recognized for my strength," Lin Xiaoxiao said.

"Yes, yes. Xiaoxiao, you will definitely become an unparalleled powerhouse in the future, even more formidable than your brother."

"Of course! My goal is to surpass Lin Xiaoting and make him pay for bullying me when we were kids, hehe."

In front of the woman, Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to relax a bit, revealing her mischievous side.

"No problem, I'll definitely support you and join forces to beat him up."

When the woman thought of him, her oval face flushed slightly, making her look even more captivating.

They chatted for a while longer about the trial. The woman asked, "Do you know your opponents in the ranking battles? Are you confident?"

"I have some confidence. Twin Beast Masters have some advantages, but it still depends on the specific situation."

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes were firm. It was evident that she desperately wanted to become the First Disciple of the Palace Examination and achieve the same glory as her brother.

"Sister Qingqing believes in you. Soon, we can cultivate together in the Heavenly Mansion."

"The Heavenly Mansion is much quieter than the outside world. We can learn more here. For example, your brother has gone into seclusion again recently. When he comes out this time, he'll probably break through again," the woman said proudly.

"My brother, he's going to improve again!" Lin Xiaoxiao pursed her lips.

Speaking of her brother, she suddenly remembered someone and the purpose of her visit today.

"Sister Qingqing, do you know? A bad person appeared during the Palace Examination today," Lin Xiaoxiao said seriously.

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

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

"It's the bad guy from three years ago who tried to assault you, named Li Tianming. My brother killed his Companion Beast, do you remember?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked.

Hearing this, the woman's expression and demeanor suddenly froze.

Her eyes shifted many times, and finally, she pursed her lips, as if everything had become trivial.

"Didn't he go home? How did he appear?" the woman asked softly, her face smiling.

"He just appeared directly, as if he got the Yanhuang Token back home again."

"It's said he found a Companion Beast using the Blood God Contract, succeeded in passing the trials today, and has returned to Yanhuang Academy."

Lin Xiaoxiao's face showed some disgust when she spoke of this person.

After all, she had heard Sister Qingqing talk about his shamelessness.

"Is that so? Then congratulations to him." The woman nodded, still with a smile on her face.

"Sister Qingqing, you don't find it disgusting that someone like that is back? Do you want me to teach him a lesson again? After all, he almost ruined you three years ago," Lin Xiaoxiao asked.

"No need," the woman said.

"Why?"

"Xiaoxiao, in this life, who doesn't make impulsive mistakes?"

"Three years ago, he loved me too much, so he was momentarily blinded by his passion."

The woman said gently.

"That doesn't mean he could act recklessly..."

"To be honest, he has already paid the price and learned his lesson. After all, your brother killed his Companion Beast. Even though he did wrong, it's settled now," the woman said seriously.

"So I don't need to teach him a lesson?"

"Of course not. Actually, we were once very good friends. I'm actually very happy that he can get back on his feet."

"Since he has become a disciple of the academy again, he can get back on the right track. I wish him even more that he can achieve his dreams through hard work in the future."

"Sister Qingqing, you are too kind. Repaying malice with kindness. It's truly your brother's luck to find a girl like you," Lin Xiaoxiao said with respect in her eyes.

The woman smiled and said, "Alright, let's not talk about these old matters. I've learned a new song. Do you want to hear it, Xiaoxiao?"

"Yes."

Not long after, beautiful zither music once again drifted through the courtyard. The woman played the zither, her movements as graceful as a painting.

It wasn't until evening that Lin Xiaoxiao finally left.

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

She didn't know where she found a piece of black paper.

A blood-red flower was printed on the paper, looking very alluring.

The woman picked up a brush, dipped it in some white ink, and then wrote on the black paper--

"Bounty" for the Blood Flower Hall to kill one person: Li Tianming, a disciple of Yanhuang Academy, Spirit Origin Realm first level.

"Reward: One thousand Yellow Heavenly Pattern Treasure Jade."

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