Wang Ping

Cui Shuo had been excited—more than excited—these past few days.

He was excited because he had gained no small fortune in the Land of Beast Burial: a decent spirit artifact. This artifact could greatly increase his strength, giving him a few more scraps of confidence against the Qin Yu he had once feared.

What thrilled him even more was that the Lightning Fire that had caused such a tremendous uproar this time had fallen into the hands of the Heavenly Fire Sect!

Over the past month, he had heard far too much about the Lightning Fire. It was an existence even stronger than the Heavenly Flame obtained by their ancestor!

Although they had sacrificed a Dao Realm elder, Cui Shuo instinctively overlooked that. What did the death of one expert amount to if they could obtain the Lightning Fire? With this Lightning Fire, the Heavenly Fire Sect's status in the eastern region of the Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain would surely rise dramatically. Given enough time, surpassing the Tianlong Ancient Sect would not be impossible.

Thus, when Cui Shuo entered the Myriad Phenomena Pill Shop this time, he held his back even straighter. He became even more enthusiastic and reverent toward Senior Brother Wang. With Senior Brother Wang's cultivation and status, he would surely become a leading figure of the Heavenly Fire Sect in the future. When that time came, Cui Shuo's own status would naturally rise with the tide.

When he saw Zi Xun'er talking with a young man, he hurriedly turned his head toward the leading young man with a fawning smile. "Senior Brother Wang, isn't that Alchemist Zi, Zi Xun'er?"

The leading young man had long noticed Zi Xun'er. A smile appeared on his usually stern face. After giving Cui Shuo an approving glance, he strode directly over.

"Alchemist Zi, it has been a long time." The leading young man came to Zi Xun'er's side and spoke with feigned profundity.

Zi Xun'er glanced at the leading young man and asked in surprise, "Wang Ping, Fellow Daoist Wang?"

"It is indeed me." Delight appeared on the leading young man's face. He seemed especially pleased that Zi Xun'er still remembered him.

"Come, come, Yi Zhantian. This is Wang Ping, a heaven-blessed genius of the Heavenly Fire Sect. Fellow Daoist Wang Ping, this is Yi Zhantian of the Tianlong Ancient Sect." Zi Xun'er smiled sweetly as she introduced the two.

Wang Ping's expression changed slightly. Narrowing his eyes, he studied Yi Zhantian, who was dressed in white.

It had to be said that whether in bearing or appearance, Yi Zhantian surpassed Wang Ping by a notch. He stood over six feet tall, with sword-like brows and starry eyes. Though his body was lean, the aura he gave off was as solid as a boulder. His black hair fell over his shoulders, and he looked dignified yet retained the grace of a refined gentleman.

Yet what made Wang Ping wary was not Yi Zhantian's appearance or bearing, but his reputation. Throughout the eastern region of the Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain, his name was resounding.

It was said that Yi Zhantian's original name was Yi Zhaohui. Because he had obtained the Zhantian Legacy, one of the Tianlong Ancient Sect's strongest inheritances, his strength was incomparably formidable. Among the younger generation of the eastern Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain, he could rank among the top ten, and people respectfully called him Yi Zhantian!

Wang Ping had never expected the legendary Yi Zhantian to be together with Zi Xun'er. Moreover, the two appeared quite familiar with each other. This astonished Wang Ping. He had assumed Zi Xun'er was merely an inner disciple of the Guiyuan Sect, but now it seemed... Zi Xun'er was more extraordinary than he had imagined. A fierce possessive desire surged within him.

Only a woman like this was worthy of me, Wang Ping.

Yi Zhantian appeared easygoing. As he assessed Wang Ping, he smiled faintly and said, "So you are Wang Ping. Fellow Daoist Wang, the Heavenly Fire Sect has gained quite a fortune this time."

Wang Ping stared intently at Yi Zhantian. He found that Yi Zhantian's composure was calm and his gaze deep; it was not an act. This made Wang Ping feel a trace of admiration.

After all, the Land of Beast Burial lay within the Tianlong Ancient Sect's sphere of influence. Given the Tianlong Ancient Sect's past conduct, it could simply have declared that whatever was within its territory belonged to the Tianlong Ancient Sect. In that case, the Tianlong Ancient Sect and the Heavenly Fire Sect would inevitably become enemies. Yet Yi Zhantian remained as light as wind and calm as clouds, as though he were not a member of the Tianlong Ancient Sect at all. That breadth of spirit made Wang Ping look at him several more times.

Then Wang Ping gave a bitter smile. "It was bought with the life of a Supreme Elder of my Heavenly Fire Sect. What fortune could that be? The Tianlong Ancient Sect, on the other hand, gathers experts like clouds and possesses unfathomable strength." This was also the first time Wang Ping had heard of it, and he found it hard to believe. In these times, Dao Realm experts were figures capable of guarding an entire region. The Heavenly Fire Sect had established itself in the eastern Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain precisely because two Dao Realm experts watched over it. Yet for a single Lightning Fire, they had not hesitated to sacrifice one Dao Realm expert. This showed just how extraordinary the Lightning Fire was.

Yi Zhantian smiled faintly without denying it. As a top power in the eastern Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain, the Tianlong Ancient Sect's reputation had long spread far and wide. There was no need for empty pleasantries. He said with a faint smile, "Fellow Daoist Wang, you are too courteous. This matter concerning the Dao Mansion in the Land of Beast Burial has gathered many heaven-blessed geniuses from the east. As the host, I naturally must fulfill the duties of one. Ten days from now, I will hold a banquet at the Wu Kingdom's imperial palace. Fellow Daoist Wang, you and your junior brothers and sisters must honor me with your presence."

"Since Brother Yi is hosting a banquet, I will naturally attend." Wang Ping nodded in agreement. He was not worried that it would be a feast at Hongmen. Besides, meeting the eastern region's heaven-blessed geniuses would benefit his future travels.

"It is settled, then. I shall go make preparations first. Alchemist Zi, do not forget to convey this to Brother Tong for me." With that, Yi Zhantian took his leave.

After seeing Yi Zhantian to the entrance, Zi Xun'er put on a professional smile. Turning to Wang Ping, she asked, "Fellow Daoist Wang, what brings you here this time?"

Wang Ping fixed his burning gaze on Zi Xun'er and said, "It is nothing much. I heard that my foolish junior brother once offended Alchemist Zi, so I came to apologize to Alchemist Zi on his behalf. This is a token of my junior brother's sincerity. Please accept it, Alchemist Zi."

Zi Xun'er glanced at the tense-faced Cui Shuo. Without even looking at the Void Storage Ring, she said calmly, "It was a trivial matter. Fellow Daoist Wang, you are too courteous."

"My junior brother has been restless with fear these past few days. If Alchemist Zi does not accept it, I fear he will find it difficult to set his mind at ease." Wang Ping continued.

At this, Zi Xun'er accepted the Void Storage Ring Wang Ping offered her.

Only then did Cui Shuo let out a sigh of relief. Although he had suffered a heavy loss this time, it was worth it if the matter could be put behind him. Ever since the incident with Qin Xue, Cui Shuo had been on edge, while Qin Yong and Qin Feng had been so frightened that they did not dare step out the door, hiding within the Cui Family.

"I heard from my junior brother Cui that Alchemist Zi shares a close relationship with the siblings Qin Yu and Qin Xue?" Wang Ping glanced at Cui Shuo and asked with a faint smile.

"We are not particularly close. I merely found Qin Xue pitiful. As for Qin Yu, I do not know him." Zi Xun'er spoke slowly, a smile that was not quite a smile on her face.

"In that case, my junior brother will have nothing to worry about in half a month. Alchemist Zi, it has been a long time since we met. Why not give my junior brother an opportunity to take us and sample the delicacies of Tianwu Main City?" Wang Ping stepped forward, asking with great expectation.

Zi Xun'er smiled sweetly. "I appreciate Fellow Daoist Wang's kindness. Let us gather again at the imperial palace in ten days. How does that sound?"

"That works as well. By the way, Alchemist Zi, do you have any pills here that can temporarily increase one's strength? For instance, the Exploding Body Pill?" Wang Ping did not press the matter and instead asked.

After sending Wang Ping and his group away, Zi Xun'er returned to the loft and lazily reclined in a rattan chair, displaying every bit of her noble elegance. She took out the Void Storage Ring and swept it with her senses. Unable to help herself, she murmured, "What a lavish gift. Pity they do not know whether they live or die... Is Yi Zhantian's ambition too great, or is the Tianlong Ancient Sect about to make a move?... A banquet... Should I invite him? It would surely be exciting if he went, wouldn't it?"

Inside the inn.

Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes from meditation. His expression was calm. Raising his right hand, a wisp of pale purple spiritual energy emerged from between his fingers. This spiritual energy could also be called gangqi.

Although gangqi was also spiritual energy, it contained the power of attack, and was therefore called gangqi.

Over the past half month, Qin Yu had successfully entered the Gangqi Realm.

"As expected of the Mysterious Lightning Body. My gangqi actually contains dense Thunder Power as well. If I learn thunder Dao arts, perhaps I can unleash no small amount of power. Tong Yunfei is a member of the Golden Battle Clan. Even with his cultivation suppressed, he is still extraordinarily powerful. But with the Mad Demon First Transformation, I need not fear him. Still, the battle techniques of his Golden Battle Clan cannot be underestimated." Qin Yu murmured to himself.

"Unfortunately, time is too short. Even if I master thunder Dao arts in a short time, I fear I will not be able to display much power." As Qin Yu pondered, he turned his inner sight toward his dantian.

Compared to before, his dantian had expanded further. The spiritual energy filling it could be described as vast and surging. Staring at the Nirvana Seed within his dantian, Qin Yu sank into thought.

The ancient books he had read contained almost no detailed introductions to the Nirvana Seed. Thus, Qin Yu knew little about it and had to slowly explore and study it himself.

Recalling the final scene before he lost consciousness in that sealed place, as well as the lingering warmth that had come from his abdomen at the time, Qin Yu felt uncertain and alarmed. Along the way, he had heard countless people discussing how the Heavenly Fire Sect had obtained the Lightning Fire. Combined with what Xiong Tatian had said, it was likely true. But... what Qin Yu could not understand was this: if the Heavenly Fire Sect had obtained the Lightning Fire, then what was inside his body?

"From that final scene, it can be inferred that the Thunder Power should have perished together with that Demon Blood. The Nirvana Seed should only have absorbed a wisp of Thunder Power. But if that is so... what did the Heavenly Fire Sect obtain? Without Thunder Power, can it still be called Lightning Fire?" Qin Yu became increasingly confused.

After a long while.

Qin Yu's expression gradually became strange as he muttered, "Could it be that the Heavenly Fire Sect only collected the 'Lightning Fire' whose flames were formed from the fire of heaven and earth? Without the Thunder Power, it can at most be called fire of heaven and earth..."

"I wonder whether what I heard before was true—that the Heavenly Fire Sect sacrificed a Dao Realm expert just to collect the Lightning Fire. If it is true, then the Heavenly Fire Sect has suffered a tremendous loss. Sacrificing a Dao Realm expert in exchange for a flame of heaven and earth? This joke has gone too far..."

His thoughts raced, and Qin Yu became increasingly certain. That ancestral ape had likely entered the sealed place by accident and tried to seize the Lightning Fire, only to meet a miserable death. The true Lightning Fire was difficult to collect even for an ordinary Dao Realm cultivator... Therefore, what the Heavenly Fire Sect's ancestor had collected was definitely not the real Lightning Fire.

Qin Yu laughed. Once he killed Cui Shuo in half a month, he would surely offend the Heavenly Fire Sect. Therefore, he was quite eager to see the Heavenly Fire Sect swallow such a huge, silent loss.

"One can imagine the mood of that Heavenly Fire Sect ancestor. He is probably like a mute eating bitter herbs—he has a mouth but cannot speak, and can only swallow this loss whole..."

"If others were to learn that what the Heavenly Fire Sect collected was not the Lightning Fire, and that it had even sacrificed a Dao Realm expert, the Heavenly Fire Sect would surely become a laughingstock and might even face a calamity of annihilation! After all, losing one Dao Realm expert would greatly weaken the Heavenly Fire Sect's strength..."

"Forget it. I will set this matter aside for now. My urgent task is to see whether I can draw upon this wisp of Thunder Power. Even if I cannot, I must condense the Mysterious Thunder Power contained within the spiritual energy in my dantian. Only then can it become my trump card." Qin Yu muttered.