Struck by Lightning Again

"Heh! Payment based on labor!"

Chen Zongfu explained, "It specifically depends on the quality of the spiritual items collected! Of course, the composition of cultivators within Red Sun Valley is extremely complex. There are captives, applicants, and naturally, members of cultivation families within the sect, as well as people from smaller sects affiliated with us."

"Even the captives get spirit stones! So, while mining here is a bit arduous, it is still much better than wandering around outside as a rogue cultivator."

"I never imagined the personnel here would be so complex! If not for you telling me, Brother, I truly would never have guessed!"

Li Yunjing exclaimed in admiration.

This really exceeded his understanding.

"Heh! That is why there are countless hidden sentries inside Red Sun Valley; they are actually there to deal with internal situations! As for the outside world, we naturally have ways to handle external enemies."

Chen Zongfu smiled mysteriously, not delving further into the matter.

"I see!"

Li Yunjing understood, nodding with a smile, and he did not press for more.

It was a taboo subject, after all.

Along the way, the two walked toward the mining area.

Li Yunjing felt it again—divine senses sweeping over his body from time to time.

The defenses here had tightened once more.

It seemed that, just as Chen Zongfu had said, the internal inspections here were far, far stricter than those for the outside.

Along the path, Li Yunjing actually saw several groups of cultivators emerging from the residential area, heading toward the mine shafts.

The cultivation levels of these cultivators did not seem particularly impressive; they appeared inferior even to the four outer sect disciples he had killed.

In truth, this was the norm in the cultivation world.

Li Yunjing had forgotten that the miscellaneous disciples recruited by the Divine Firmament Dao Sect all possessed mid-grade spiritual roots!

And in other families or sects, those with mid-grade spiritual roots were the backbone of their organizations.

They were by no means comparable to the expendable cannon fodder.

Those who had fallen to the point of mining were the true bottom-dwellers of the cultivation world.

This was Li Yunjing's first time venturing out, and he had yet to realize the invisible benefits of being a disciple of a major sect!

In time, Li Yunjing would come to know what a great fortune it was to have joined the Divine Firmament Dao Sect!

After the two walked around the outside of the mining area, Chen Zongfu took Li Yunjing to the canteen for a meal.

The standard of hospitality was poor compared to the Elegant Fragrance Garden!

It seemed the living conditions in Red Sun Valley were indeed inferior, far behind those within the sect.

Li Yunjing's palate had been spoiled recently, and the "plain tea and simple rice" here did not quite suit his tastes.

After a simple meal, Li Yunjing suggested resting for a while. Chen Zongfu understood and arranged for him to stay in a three-courtyard residence.

Upon arriving, Li Yunjing looked around and found it quite decent.

It must have been a very high-standard accommodation.

The temperature inside the courtyard was cooler than outside, likely due to a formation set up to isolate the scorching heat of the surroundings.

Furthermore, there were even rare green plants in this three-courtyard residence.

This left Li Yunjing quite surprised.

Such conditions naturally made Li Yunjing very grateful to Brother Chen.

"Hahaha! This is where the mining area hosts important figures from the sect."

Chen Zongfu explained with a smile, "Every ten or twenty years, some big shot always comes by, so this is the best residence I, as your brother, could arrange for you!"

"Many thanks, Brother Chen!"

Li Yunjing showed a look of gratitude and said in a deep voice, "In the future, if Brother Chen is transferred back to the sect, you must come find me!"

"Hahaha! Easily done! Easily done!"

Chen Zongfu laughed; this was exactly the response he wanted.

Having achieved a satisfactory result, Chen Zongfu left in a leisurely manner, reminding Li Yunjing to get some good rest.

After seeing Chen Zongfu off, Li Yunjing inspected the house and finally returned to the bedroom.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, his mind wandered as he began to review the events that had occurred in Red Sun Valley, especially everything regarding Deacon Fang.

In the end, Li Yunjing concluded that this Deacon Fang was neutral.

In this matter, Deacon Fang was unwilling to offend either side and had truly washed his hands of the affair.

This was good; at the very least, Li Yunjing had one less trouble to worry about.

That night, Li Yunjing spent his time meditating and practicing qi.

Suddenly, a thunderous "boom" echoed through the sky.

"The autumn thunder is here!"

The clap of thunder shattered Li Yunjing's focus, pulling him from his deep meditation.

"My Storage Bags—they won't be washed away by the rain, will they?"

Li Yunjing opened his eyes, his brows knitting together slightly.

He stood up, pushed open the door, and stepped under the eaves, gazing up at the dark, cloud-choked void and the silver serpents of lightning that flickered through it.

Extending his hand beyond the shelter of the roof, he felt the "pitter-patter" of raindrops hitting his palm, and a sense of urgency gripped him.

He was terrified that the downpour would become too heavy and scatter the place where he had hidden his treasures.

Those were the spoils of four Storage Bags!

Especially that nameless giant python; its entire body was a treasure, and the dismembered carcass was packed away inside one of those bags!

Yet, no matter how anxious Li Yunjing felt, it was useless; there was no way he could leave at a time like this.

Seeing that the rain showed no signs of intensifying, Li Yunjing felt his heart settle slightly.

He realized that the rain would wash away the scene of his killing, effectively erasing every trace he had left behind.

This thought brought a flicker of joy to Li Yunjing.

He no longer had the heart to return to his room to meditate.

He simply stood there, staring blankly into the void at the lightning that flashed intermittently.

Hmm? Why is my heart fluttering? Surely this lightning isn't going to strike me again, is it?

Suddenly, a tremor ran through Li Yunjing's heart, and he immediately turned to head back inside.

But with a deafening "BOOM," a silver serpent tore across the sky and descended straight toward the courtyard below.

"Damn it! You thieving heavens! You're striking me again?"

The shock of the lightning bolt left Li Yunjing feeling as though there was nowhere left to hide in this vast world.

With a thunderous crash, a brilliant silver light exploded all around him.

Li Yunjing's eyes were stung by the glare, leaving him unable to see a thing.

Without any warning, the lightning had struck, and Li Yunjing felt nearly numb.

The next instant, his entire body tingled, as if countless bolts of electricity were coursing through his limbs.

Yet, unlike the last time, when he had been struck and nearly died, he suffered no injuries at all. Instead, he felt a strange, soothing sensation, much like an electric massage.

What is going on? Could it be that I have a conductive constitution?

At the thought of this possibility, Li Yunjing's mind went blank.

As if in response to his thoughts, blue sparks began to "crackle" and dance incessantly across his right hand.

"This..."

Li Yunjing was stunned. Could he really be like those people who get shocked just by touching a car door?

Was he destined to be a conductor forever?

At this thought, Li Yunjing let out a mournful sigh: "Does this mean I can never go out on a rainy day again?"

"This is fucking depressing!"

Li Yunjing cursed in anger and flicked his right hand. The blue lightning crackled and popped, flying from his fingertips and slamming into a poplar tree with a loud "BOOM."