The Lightning Tribulation Begins

The man behind the Demon Empress?

After hearing this, Lu Li lost all interest.

As the saying goes, those with different paths cannot make plans together. No matter how powerful a female demon might be, he had no interest in her.

"I am deeply grateful for Senior Sister's kindness. However, I only wish to focus on my cultivation for now. I will consider other matters only after I have attained the Golden Core path."

Lu Li cupped his hands and politely declined.

"Very well."

Hearing his response, Green Lotus nodded slightly, put away the medicine bottle, and giggled, "Then I wish Junior Brother an early breakthrough to the Golden Core stage!"

"And I wish Senior Sister an early ascension to become the number one Demon Empress of the Demon Sect!"

Lu Li replied with a smile.

"I shall accept that blessing." Green Lotus stood up, smiling brightly. "Junior Brother Lu, continue your cultivation here. I won't disturb you any further; I still have to return to my patrol. Oh, and remember, this is a secret between us—don't you go telling anyone else!"

With that, she winked her beautiful eyes at him.

"Rest assured, Senior Sister, my lips are sealed."

Lu Li nodded.

"Good! I trust you! I had a pleasant time chatting with you today. See you next time!"

As she spoke, Green Lotus waved her hand, retracting the Jade Lotus.

"Safe travels, Senior Sister."

Lu Li immediately stood up and cupped his hands in farewell.

Green Lotus waved her hand dismissively, flicked her wrist, and a White Bone Greatsword flew out from her sleeve.

Hum.

The greatsword vibrated, erupted with green light, and wrapped around her before soaring into the sky.

Finally, she was gone.

Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment of contemplation, he prepared to return to the Black Water Pool to continue his cultivation.

He also needed to check on that Ten Thousand Ghost Banner.

And he still had to deal with the low-grade Spirit Ghost in his sleeve.

Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice suddenly rang out: "Junior Brother, it seems your luck is not only good in terms of fortune, but your romantic luck is quite impressive as well."

Lu Li paused mid-step, turned his head, and instantly recognized the newcomer.

It was Bai Jinfei!

"Senior Brother, why are you here? Weren't you in Ten Thousand Demon City?"

Lu Li was somewhat surprised.

"Haha, someone sent a flying sword message telling me you had a dispute with Li Jing, so I rushed back immediately. What, did my sudden return get in the way of you and Senior Sister Green Lotus becoming intimate?"

Bai Jinfei said with a mocking smile.

"Senior Brother, you jest. Senior Sister Green Lotus and I have only just become friends; our relationship is not that deep."

Lu Li shook his head.

"I understand, I understand. Just friends, right? Your relationship will deepen in the future."

Bai Jinfei winked, flashing a smile that every man understood.

Then, he drifted over in one step and, with a casual flick of his hand, produced two jars of wine.

"Come, this is Hundred Immortal Brew I bought in Ten Thousand Demon City. Want to try some?" Bai Jinfei generously handed over a jar and sat down.

It seemed he had something to discuss.

"This... thank you."

Lu Li pondered for a moment, took the wine jar, and sat down as well.

Pop.

Bai Jinfei flicked his finger, popping the lid off the jar.

He then opened his mouth and inhaled, drawing a transparent stream of liquid from the jar into his mouth.

Gulp, gulp.

In a few swallows, half the jar was gone.

Lu Li followed suit, opened his lid, and took a swig.

Hmm... it felt like drinking Sprite mixed with ghost peppers, but the taste was actually quite good.

At this moment, Bai Jinfei tossed out a Black Jade Formation Disk.

Hum.

The round Black Jade Formation Disk flew up, bloomed with black light, and transformed into a massive black barrier that enclosed both Lu Li and himself.

Within the canopy, tiny silver stars emitted a fluorescent glow, illuminating the surroundings.

"Junior Brother, you've stirred up massive trouble this time!"

Bai Jinfei's expression turned solemn, his words startling.

"How does Senior Brother interpret this?"

Lu Li's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.

"You killed Li Jing's younger brother; Li Jing will definitely find someone to take revenge on you! He is the closing-door disciple of True Lord Yellow Spring and holds high prestige among the true disciples, second only to Green Lotus!"

Bai Jinfei said with a grave face.

"Oh? Please, Senior Brother, elaborate."

Lu Li took another sip of wine.

Come to think of it, he didn't know much about the situation within the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect; he didn't even know the Sect Master's surname, given name, or what they looked like.

"The entire sect is headed by the Sect Master, who is in the Void Refinement Realm, followed by the Supreme Elders, all of whom are in the Spirit Transformation Realm. Below them are the Elders, positions held by those in the Nascent Soul and Golden Core realms. Generally, Elders with real power are in the Nascent Soul Realm. Those with Golden Core cultivation only hold nominal titles. Below the Golden Core level are us, the Foundation Establishment true disciples, who are roughly divided into five factions."

Bai Jinfei said in a deep voice.

"Five factions? That many?"

Lu Li was slightly stunned.

This was truly a case of a shallow pond with too many turtles.

A mere group of Foundation Establishment true disciples had actually managed to form five factions?

"These five factions have existed for a long time, their roots intertwined and complex; it's hard to explain clearly. You only need to know that the one with the most power right now is Green Lotus. This Green Lotus could break through to the Golden Core realm at any time, but she deliberately refuses to do so, intending to win over more people to build momentum for herself and continue serving as the Chief Disciple for the next decade."

There seemed to be a hint of admiration in Bai Jinfei's tone.

In an instant, Lu Li's heart stirred.

Could it be that everything Green Lotus said earlier was true? Was she really planning to climb step by step to the very top and become the first female Demon Emperor of the Demonic Sect?

"Senior Brother, who exactly is this Senior Sister Green Lotus? Is she the Sect Master's daughter?"

Lu Li asked curiously.

"Not at all. Green Lotus is merely the disciple of a Nascent Soul Elder. However, she is adept at social maneuvering, incredibly tactful, and possesses supreme aptitude. Even the Sect Master appreciates her greatly, so he allowed her to become the Chief Disciple of our Yin Underworld Ghost Sect."

Bai Jinfei explained.

"And what about Li Jing?"

Lu Li asked again.

"Li Jing's master is True Lord Yellow Spring. Above True Lord Yellow Spring is a Supreme Elder in the Spirit Transformation stage. Plus, he has vast family wealth and is generous with his spending, so many have pledged their loyalty to him. He is also coveting the position of Chief Disciple."

After finishing, Bai Jinfei gulped down the remaining half-jar of wine.

"Chief Disciple?"

Lu Li's heart stirred.

"That is the face of our Yin Underworld Ghost Sect. Within the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, the ten great demonic sects often have exchanges. When that happens, it is the Chief Disciple who represents us. If they are casually rewarded with a treasure by some great power, it could save them decades or even centuries of bitter cultivation. Every year, the sect also bestows numerous cultivation resources, and they receive guidance from Supreme Elders or even the Sect Master. In short, the benefits are endless!"

Speaking to the end, a look of envy appeared on Bai Jinfei's face.

So that was it!

No wonder this Green Lotus was recruiting people everywhere, even going so far as to lower her own status to win over a small fry like him.

Lu Li suddenly realized.

It seemed Li Jing was indeed pursuing her quite relentlessly.

"Junior Brother, you killed Li Jing's brother. If Li Jing doesn't do something about it, he will be looked down upon and his reputation will be severely damaged. When that time comes, the position of Chief Disciple won't be his."

Bai Jinfei flicked his hand, produced another jar of wine, tilted his head back, and began to gulp it down.

"A piece of trash like Li Jing, who would even covet a single Spirit Ghost—he can be the Chief? I'd be better suited for it myself."

Lu Li frowned, his face showing disdain.

"Haha, Junior Brother, we are a Demonic Sect! In the Demonic Sect, whoever has the biggest fist, whoever has the most money, and whoever people listen to—that person becomes the boss!"

Bai Jinfei wiped his mouth and laughed heartily.

"..."

Lu Li had nothing to say.

After pondering for a moment, he asked: "So, does that mean I killed Li Jing's brother in error? Should I have handed over the Spirit Ghost?"

"No."

Bai Jinfei shook his head, a sharp light shining in his slightly drunken eyes: "You didn't kill him in error! We are people of the Demonic Path; if you aren't satisfied, you fight. Don't be afraid of a damn thing! Junior Brother, you did well this time! You have both courage and strategy! Once the Master finds out, he will surely be very pleased with you!"

"By the way, Green Lotus tried to recruit you—you didn't agree, did you?"

He immediately asked right after.

"I did not."

Lu Li shook his head.

"It's good that you don't, Junior Brother. Don't be fooled by Green Lotus favoring you with all those hints and suggestions; in her eyes, all men in this world are filthy and hideous. She's just putting on an act. She... is actually bent."

At the end of his sentence, Bai Jinfei let out a helpless sigh.

Bent?

Female gender, female preference?

Lu Li arched an eyebrow, suddenly piqued with interest: "How do you know, Senior Brother?"

"It's a long story."

Bai Jinfei shook his head, sighing with deep emotion.

His expression was somewhat bitter.

It looked like this was going to be a sad story.

Lu Li was just about to ask him to spill it so he could cheer himself up.

Just then.

BOOM.

A thunderclap that shattered the sky suddenly erupted.

Lu Li felt his entire body's blood and bones tremble.

"What happened?"

Bai Jinfei was startled; he flicked his hand and stowed away the formation disk.

Immediately, the two of them discovered in shock...

The sky was collapsing!

The gloomy sky of the entire Ten Thousand Ghost Cave was cracking apart, falling down in massive chunks like a shattered biscuit!

Streaks of intensely powerful silver lightning, like broadswords and sharp axes, tore through this underground world.

A vast, terrifying aura of total destruction descended, suppressing everything in its path.

It was as if the end of the world had arrived!

Seeing this, Bai Jinfei's face changed, and he exclaimed:

"Oh no! It's a Lightning Tribulation! The tribulation has come early! Master has begun to transcend the tribulation!"