Lightning flashed and thunder boomed, bathing the courtyard in dazzling white. The rain that had been brewing for so long came pouring down, sweeping across the sky with a roar and drenching Li Chongkang and the others.
They seemed oblivious, making no effort to shield themselves. Yet whenever a raindrop the size of a bean was about to strike, an invisible layer of energy would bounce it away, keeping them completely dry.
After surviving the first lightning tribulation, the most significant and important change was that magical power arose on its own, protecting the body at all times and allowing one to ride the wind and command the clouds, looking down from on high.
Rain splashed, and white spray rose like mist. Meng Qi lifted the horsetail whisk in his hand and draped it over his arm, then chuckled. "Since you fellow Daoists enjoy discussing matters in the courtyard, this old Daoist will have to join you. Just now, we spoke of leaving a few people behind in hiding, to await an opportunity and help the Ninth Prince obtain that extraordinary item. Now, this old Daoist would like to ask: which of you are willing?"
His final six words rang out like spring thunder, each one shaking the spirit. The Ninth Prince, Xiao Kun, and the others all shuddered and came fully to their senses.
They looked at one another. After a dozen breaths, they finally understood what had happened, and all fell into thought.
Staying in the Capital City would undoubtedly be extraordinarily dangerous. They could not afford the slightest exposure, and their lives would be completely unlike the prominent ones they had led before. But everyone present was a Capital City master, rooted here for decades, some for generations upon generations, and many were reluctant to leave. Besides,