Black Shadow

Cao Xuan was a steward of the Outer Sect Three Divisions.

Xiao Xinghe had been able to enter Zheng Huayuan's tutelage and become a registered disciple

thanks to the guidance of this Brother Cao Xuan.

It was also from Cao Xuan that Xiao Xinghe learned the Thunder Division intended to accept registered disciples.

Later, step by step, he passed the selection,

and worked with Cao Xuan to get rid of several Heaven Sect disciples who lacked backing yet possessed modest talent,

and who might have threatened Xiao Xinghe's selection.

After Xiao Xinghe successfully became a registered disciple, Cao Xuan also provided him with intelligence and special resources that could only be learned after ascending Black Mountain.

Xiao Xinghe had vaguely sensed that there might be something wrong with Cao Xuan,

but they had already done many dirty deeds together. They were grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

By then, wanting to get off the pirate ship was already a little too late.

Hurrying to reach Foundation Establishment and fighting for that sliver of a chance to become a personal disciple had also been Cao Xuan's idea for Xiao Xinghe.

Unfortunately, Dong Lin had appeared out of nowhere and ruined Xiao Xinghe's plans.

As for Su Lin, her talent was mediocre, and for the time being, she posed no threat to Xiao Xinghe.

After all, the Su Household stood behind Su Lin as a powerful backer, making Xiao Xinghe unwilling to move against her lightly.

And with her Lineage's support, Su Lin hardly needed to venture out for experience.

Within the mountain ranges governed by the Heaven Sect, the Heaven Sect Law Enforcement Hall monitored everything within the sect.

Making a move inside the sect was like a tadpole chasing a duck—looking for shit.

After Xiao Xinghe left, Cao Xuan turned and entered the inner room.

He searched out a piece of jade, then took a talisman from his robes and activated it without hesitation.

Once the talisman activated, a red glow lit up from within the jade.

After lasting for three breaths, it went out.

This was Cao Xuan's secret means of contacting the outside world, encrypted through layers upon layers of spells,

and though it had been hidden within the Heaven Sect for years, the Heaven Sect had never detected it.

Atop a towering peak that pierced the clouds, mist churned while fierce astral winds howled.

An ancient bamboo hut flickered in and out of view.

Within the hut, dim lamplight illuminated a weathered face.

A black shadow stood to one side, swaying unsteadily in the chill wind leaking through the crack in the door.

"That brat who was luckily rescued seems to have become quite a force within the sect in barely half a year."

"You wiped out only three people, left two whose cultivation was completely crippled for them,

and even let one little one escape. With such carelessness, how can you ever accomplish anything great?"

"It was a pity I couldn't act at the time. That old one was too tight-lipped.

I had planned to leave a little one alive for my useless son to threaten, but we happened to run into a steward.

And he was the publicly acknowledged number one steward of the Heaven Sect's Outer Sect Six Divisions, a man with the makings of an elder. What rotten luck. We've truly stepped in blood-drenched shit.

I wonder whether Wang Wenhai noticed anything."

"Not a single thing that needed erasing was left behind. He shouldn't be able to see anything."

"That old bastard surnamed Xuan was jumping about so happily, yet he never discovered a single clue.

He didn't even know Dong Xiaotian had a son. It's laughable to the extreme.

I thought those two were such deep friends, but in the end, Dong Xiaotian had even been guarding against that old bastard."

"Hmph. Raising a tiger breeds calamity. It would have been fine if that brat had remained obedient, but with talent this astonishing, he cannot be allowed to live."

"This matter still needs careful planning. I have yet to understand the inside story behind the Heaven Sect sealing its mountain.

Still, we can only wait obediently for five years. I doubt that brat can stir up any great waves in five years."

"Five years from now, the Heaven Sect will surely send additional manpower to reclaim and manage so many resource sites.

There's no need to worry that brat won't come out."

"The Heaven Sect is quite willing to part with things. They abandoned several important resource sites just like that, without a shred of hesitation."

"After all, two pavilion elders appeared carrying the sacred artifact. The Empire is powerful now,

and the emperor has just purged the Imperial Capital's interior and seized real power. It seems he wants to do something."

"Once this matter is dealt with, you and I should not contact each other again."

"Scared?" The black shadow gave two low chuckles.

"You're determined to defect to the Devil Race. If this is exposed, I cannot bear the infamy of being called a human traitor."

"Hmph. This land can no longer contain me. Blood Shadow has been searching for me.

After I help you settle this in five years, it will be time for me to leave."

"Better not to meet again. That place isn't so easy to survive in either. As long as you've thought it through."

For the advancement ceremony three days later, Dong Lin began seriously cultivating the Thunder Summoning Art.

Though the Thunder Summoning Art was merely an introductory Lightning Arts spell, its conception was lofty.

Once cultivated to great depths and one gained mastery over Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder, fighting across realms would be as effortless and elegant as drinking water.

Borrowing the might of Heaven greatly enhanced the spell's power. This was why Lightning Arts could enjoy such convenience even in the Qi Refining Stage.

Ordinary spells only came into contact with methods of linking Heaven and Earth to increase spell strength upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm.

With the Blackwood Thunder Pearl's aid, Dong Lin's cultivation progress advanced a thousand miles in a day.

If the Thunder Summoning Art could speak at this moment, it would surely be deeply moved.

After being neglected by its master for so long, it had relied entirely on being "sweet" enough to receive its master's "favor" after such a long silence.

Even when Dong Lin had not been cultivating the Thunder Summoning Art, his insight into and proficiency with it had been steadily increasing during this period.

"The grade of this thunder pearl must be at least Earth Grade. Such a tiny pearl has such astonishing effects."

One had to know that Earth Grade treasures corresponded to the level of Golden Core True Persons.

If it were an offensive artifact, someone at the Qi Refining Stage would not even be able to wield it.

Only supportive artifacts like this could be used across realms by cultivators, though they often could not unleash the artifact's full effects.

"A Nascent Soul Realm master truly spends lavishly!"

With the thunder pearl's assistance, Dong Lin's cultivation efficiency with the Thunder Summoning Art had at least doubled.

One had to know that Dong Lin's original cultivation speed for the Thunder Summoning Art had already been astonishing.

After doubling again, that terrifying speed was so shocking it left tongues clicking. Even calling him a monster would likely be insufficient to describe its outrageous extent.

Dong Lin, who had already traveled a long way beyond the major accomplishment realm, could now clearly sense that he was not far from completely mastering this spell.

Still, three days was a little too short.

At the perfected realm, the Thunder Summoning Art could allow one to comprehend a trace of True Intent of Thunder.

Once any True Intent was grasped, it would greatly increase a cultivator's power when casting spells of that type.

Generally, completely mastering a True Intent was one of the hallmarks of a Golden Core True Person.

Some heavenly prodigies could comprehend a trace of True Intent early through superior immortal arts at Foundation Establishment Perfection or Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Once True Intent was grasped, it would continuously deepen the cultivator's understanding and control of it.

It would also pave a broad, level road toward achieving the Golden Core Realm.

If Dong Lin could comprehend the True Intent of Thunder in advance while still at the Qi Refining Stage, then at least before breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm,

there would no longer be many obstacles on Dong Lin's path of cultivation.

Whenever someone could comprehend True Intent before reaching the Golden Core Realm, the sect would generally invest sufficient resources

to swiftly add another Golden Core cultivator to its ranks.

One had to know that even for an Immortal Sect with deep foundations like the Heaven Sect,

Golden Core Realm cultivators were still a terrifying force that could not be overlooked.

The Foundation Establishment Realm was the foundation stone of a sect, while Golden Core cultivators were high-end combat power that could not be ignored anywhere in the cultivation world.

As for Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, one could count them across the entire world. They were the true foundation of immortal sects, the guarantee that an immortal sect could stand firm in the world.