Thunder (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

The young cultivator was named Lei Yin. He was at Qi Refining Stage 9, only a hair's breadth away from Qi Refining Completion, and excelled in lightning arts.

He possessed the highest cultivation in the Law Enforcement Hall. He had slaughtered countless Evil Spirits in his daily duties, his ferocious reputation well known.

His pupils were golden, his bearing imposing. Staring at the Six-Winged Symbiotic Worm struggling ceaselessly in Ling Peng's hand, he said coldly, "Those heretical fiends actually dare to reach for cultivators of our Law Enforcement Hall? I don't care whether it was intentional or not—I'll make him pay a painful price!"

"Let's go!"

Before his words had faded, Lei Yin shot off atop a Flying Sword, with Ling Peng close behind.

The Wang Family.

Inside the main hall, Wang Shan's belly had swollen into an enormous ball. It expanded and contracted like a beating heart.

His entire body had become like a desiccated corpse. The sagging skin continuously split apart, exposing the stark white bones beneath.

"Ah... it's about to be born..."

Wang Shi watched the endlessly throbbing ball, a trace of maternal radiance appearing on her face. She held out her arms, intending to catch the infant about to burst from Wang Shan's abdomen.

"Where did this Evil Spirit come from? How dare it run wild in Vast Forest Market—die!"

Before the words had finished, a colossal fire dragon two or three zhang long streaked over, charging straight at the ball on Wang Shan's abdomen.

"Waa!"

An infant's cry rang out from inside Wang Shan's belly. Infinite resentment filled that cry as a gray-black wall of Spiritual Power instantly condensed, blocking the rapidly approaching fire dragon from the ball.

The fire dragon collided with the gray-black wall and, in an instant, scattered into countless flames that landed on the furniture inside the room and blazed fiercely.

Ling Peng flew above the house. Through the hole torn open by the fire dragon, he coldly watched the two people inside, whose condition was exceedingly bizarre.

Watching the ball pulse ever faster and the woman's frantic expression, he knew there was no time to lose. He snorted coldly.

A tiny fire lotus flew out from within him.

The fire lotus was tri-colored. Its stem was dark red, covered in countless fine veins; its lotus leaves were blazing red, with threads of magma flowing through them; its flower was pale red, crystalline and translucent like jade.

The Tri-Color Fire Lotus spun through the air, growing with the wind and rapidly enlarging. It pierced directly through the gray-black wall of Spiritual Power and was about to fall upon the ball on Wang Shan's abdomen.

The ball seemed to sense the Tri-Color Fire Lotus's threat. A huge crack swiftly appeared, and two tiny jet-black arms clutched at either side of it.

Whatever was inside could no longer wait for a normal hatching. It was about to enter the world ahead of time.

A huge crack likewise appeared in the woman's abdomen. Its interior was utterly empty, containing only dense resentment.

The infant arms gripped the edge of the crack. Then an even more venomous infant's cry rang out. One gray-black baby palm after another appeared on the Tri-Color Fire Lotus, and the magma flowing across its leaves suddenly slowed.

"Still struggling in vain? Die!"

A cold, stern voice rang out.

The sky above the Wang Family suddenly turned a vast expanse of white. The surrounding cultivators watching the scene instantly lost all sight. A thunderous boom erupted as lightning descended, turning the entire Wang Family into an ocean of lightning.

When it subsided, the Wang Family had become a region of black ash. The ball on Wang Shan's abdomen, along with Wang Shi, had been blasted to dust beneath the overwhelming thunder.

The two swept their Spiritual Sense over the courtyard and its surroundings. Only after confirming that there was nothing unusual did they descend.

"Junior Brother Ling, send people to inspect the surrounding area again later, lest any Evil Spirits have been overlooked."

"The Law Enforcement Hall cultivators conducting the inspection must fulfill their duties faithfully. They must not disrupt the normal lives of the surrounding cultivators, nor may they muddle through carelessly."

"Yes, Senior Brother Lei. I'll personally keep watch and guarantee that not a single Evil Spirit slips through."

Ling Peng nodded heavily.

Not far away, Lu Xuan stared gravely at the Wang Family courtyard.

He had sensed something the instant the lightning appeared, but he had not looked at it directly, so his eyes remained unharmed.

That Law Enforcement Hall cultivator had unleashed an art of such immense power, yet it had not affected Lu Xuan's Small Courtyard in the slightest. His control over Spiritual Power was evident.

Lu Xuan remained on high alert, with Talismans and Magic Tools at hand.

Fortunately, the cultivators who had come to eliminate the Evil Spirit were strong enough. No lingering Evil Spirit escaped and entered Lu Xuan's courtyard.

"The reporting method really is the best..."

Lu Xuan sighed. He too had heard the infant's cry. Though he had not been its primary target, it still left him dizzy and sluggish.

Had he faced that Evil Spirit head-on, Lu Xuan truly could not guarantee that he would have been able to dispatch it with ease.

Fortunately, he had previously employed the great art of reporting, borrowing strength to strike strength, drawing out two Qi Refining High Stage cultivators from the Law Enforcement Hall and smoothly dealing with Wang Shan, who had been invaded and corrupted by the Evil Spirit.

"When I reported it, besides describing Wang Shan's abnormalities, I also casually mentioned that Tan Xiaodong might have deliberately covered for him."

"Now that Wang Shan's infestation by the Evil Spirit has been confirmed, Tan Xiaodong has no way to clear himself. Even if it is ultimately proven that he had nothing to do with the Evil Spirit, he still cannot escape the charge of neglecting his duties."

Lu Xuan sat motionless at the table.

Wang Shan and the Evil Spirit had only just been dealt with, and this was a sensitive time. As his neighbor, Lu Xuan would naturally draw plenty of attention, so it was best not to make any moves for now. He only needed to stay home obediently.

Sure enough, before even half an hour had passed, three Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators came to question him.

"Sorry to disturb you, Fellow Daoist. The Law Enforcement Hall discovered a powerful Evil Spirit nearby tonight. After dealing with it, in order to prevent the possibility that it may have infiltrated the homes of nearby cultivators, and to ensure everyone's safety, we have no choice but to conduct a thorough inspection. We ask for your understanding."

The leader spoke to Lu Xuan with a smile.

"Three Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators—what a grand display."

Lu Xuan sighed inwardly and replied.

"It's no matter. Fellow Daoist, please inspect as you wish. I have no objections."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Fellow Daoist."

The lead cultivator cupped his hands toward Lu Xuan, then took a White Jade Buddha Statue from his Storage Bag.

The statue was about Three Inches tall, smiling with its fingers pinched in a mudra, shrouded in a hazy layer of spiritual light.

The cultivator circulated the spiritual energy within his body, formed a hand seal, and cast a spell. A stream of Spiritual Power struck the statue's surface.

At once, the hazy spiritual light flared brightly, sweeping over Lu Xuan's body and the courtyard where he stood like rippling waves.

As the faint spiritual light passed over him, Lu Xuan felt himself become clean and clear in an instant, his heart like a bright mirror, untouched by a speck of dust.

After the spiritual light swept through the entire courtyard, it withdrew back into the statue. The Buddha Statue continued to emit its hazy glow, with no sign of anything unusual.

"All right. No abnormalities were found. Sorry to have disturbed you, Fellow Daoist."

The lead cultivator put away the White Jade Buddha Statue and led the other two toward the next household.

"That's it?"

Lu Xuan was puzzled. He had been prepared for the possibility that the spirit plants in his Spirit Field might be exposed, but he had not expected the Law Enforcement Hall cultivators' inspection method to be so simple.

"So that Tan Xiaodong really did intend to fleece me last time."

"Seeing that I was merely a Rogue Cultivator Spirit Plant Master at Qi Training Stage 3, he used the excuse of an inspection to try to enter my house and conduct a thorough search."

"It was just that he probably never imagined what price he would pay for those few Spirit Stones."

Lu Xuan smiled and returned to the house.

Chapter 46 is under review. I'm reeling.