Observing the Laws

Outside the palaces, heavenly lightning surged beneath gathering Dark Clouds.

There were two halls in all. Only lightning cultivators could enter the central main hall, whose inscription read [Observing the Laws]; this was where cultivation methods were imparted. Beside it stood a side hall called [Text-Receiving], which housed all manner of spells.

This place contained only Foundation Establishment cultivation methods. These were merely a few of the outermost palaces, the first to be shaken loose and separated from [Surging Tribulation Heaven]. Entering them did not truly count as entering the grotto-heaven's inner repository of the Dao.

But only by first obtaining a cultivation method and reaching Foundation Establishment in this path could one reap greater benefits when the grotto-heaven truly opened.

Both palaces were bright blue throughout, vast beyond the reach of the eye. Their flying eaves bore images of strange beasts of every kind-azure oxen, Thunder Sparrows, and even coiled flood dragons-all so vivid they seemed alive.

The direct descendants of the various factions entered the Text-Receiving Hall first, while the lightning cultivators they had brought were sent into the Law-Observing Hall to comprehend its cultivation methods. Xu Xuan and Yang Yuanxin therefore split up for the time being.

The Law-Observing Hall seemed to possess intelligence, choosing whom to admit. Many immortal clans and demon mountains had come inadequately prepared: those they brought either lacked aptitude, had insufficient foundations, or came from unsuitable backgrounds. None of them could enter.

So far, only three people had entered. The first two had caused little stir, but the third was different.

He was a rugged man in black robes, his head shaved save for a hanging braid. His narrow robe closed left over right, and he wore tall boots. A gilded saber rested on his back, engraved with an image of a divine figure crossing a river on a white horse.

His cultivation stood firmly at the eighth level of Qi Refining. With his deep foundations and imposing bearing, he was clearly no rogue cultivator, but a direct descendant of some faction who happened to cultivate Thunder Arts.

As he entered, the hall doors swung wide. Golden divine thunder spilled around him like quicksilver across the ground, taking the forms of divine figures beating drums and guards arraying banners. Each bore a golden mace or raised an axe, while voices rose in praise of imperial virtue.

"He cultivates the [Divine Thunder] path, with a proper lineage behind him, and has gained its recognition. I wonder which faction he belongs to?"

Tiantuo finally spoke. With no Purple Mansion cultivators surrounding them for the moment, he had relaxed somewhat.

Divine thunder was bright Jin, while the shock thunder Xu Xuan cultivated was a deep purple. Dao Yan had explained this to Xu Xuan earlier.

"I want to go inside. You won't trigger anything, will you?"

Xu Xuan hesitated because of Tiantuo. He was the remnant soul of a Purple Mansion cultivator, and bringing him inside might provoke a reaction from the Law-Observing Hall.

"Just seal me with the clear qi first."

Tiantuo sounded somewhat helpless as he said quietly:

"Your ancient stele has an exceptionally high Divine Status. It can conceal every trace of me. But while I'm suppressed, I won't be able to see outside. Be careful."

Xu Xuan agreed and stirred the clear qi to envelop Tiantuo. From now on, he would have to rely entirely on his own judgment.

Two more entered then. The first was a young man in bright blue treasured armor, his cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refining. The second was a demon with a pair of fleshy wings that stirred wind and thunder. Both entered without provoking any unusual manifestations.

Xu Xuan waited no longer. He headed straight toward the Law-Observing Hall and reached its doors.

Heavenly lightning stirred and fell upon the sea of clouds, transforming it into a thunder marsh somewhat like the one within Xu Xuan's qi sea. Roars echoed as purple lightning shot skyward again and again, bursting apart before falling back down.

The liquid lightning condensed into a god with a human head and a dragon's body. He beat his belly to sound the thunder, its rumbling like a thousand mountains collapsing.

This manifestation surpassed even that of the man cultivating divine thunder, instantly drawing considerable attention. Xu Xuan dared not linger and hurried inside.

The Law-Observing Hall was extraordinarily spacious. A sea of clouds formed its ceiling, and its walls were nowhere to be seen. Lightning flickered within it, and gusts of wind and driving rain actually swept down.

Including Xu Xuan, six people were now inside. It seemed the time had not yet come, for the inheritances had yet to appear.

Xu Xuan looked around. Three of those admitted were likely direct descendants of Purple Mansion lineages: the saber-bearing man, the youth in bright blue treasured armor, and the fleshy-winged demon. All three had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining.

The remaining two had somewhat weaker auras. One was a woman in purple at the eighth level of Qi Refining, her true features hidden behind a mask. The other was a silver-robed man holding a spear, at the seventh level.

After a short while, six more entered in succession. Their cultivation was somewhat weaker, so they could only sit around the perimeter, while the six who had arrived earlier occupied the inner circle.

Once twelve had gathered inside, the thunderclouds overhead responded and began accumulating lightning.

The way to receive an inheritance here was to undergo a tribulation. Hold out long enough, and a drum would sound, followed by the descent of a scripture.

Everyone's expression shifted. Fighting was not forbidden here. What if they underwent their tribulation first and obtained a cultivation method, only to be surrounded and attacked?

In the end, the saber-bearing man moved first. With a cold snort, he stepped into the boundless thunderclouds above the hall and began undergoing his tribulation. Only then did the others follow suit, though some remained still, apparently waiting by the stump for a rabbit to come along.

These thunderclouds possessed intelligence. They sent down lightning according to one's cultivation and could assess root bone and aptitude, bestowing inheritances upon the most promising.

The saber-bearing man had the easiest time of them all. Standing firm with his saber, he repeatedly cleaved apart the bolts of bright blue lightning. His treasured blade was extraordinary-another ancient artifact, and one that even surpassed Xu Xuan's [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl].

The winged demon had already revealed his original form. He had a blue face, tusks, a single horn, and a leopard's tail, with a head like a pig and a body like a ghost. His hands and feet were reddish gold. He, too, cultivated the Divine Thunder path, and every movement raised a storm of wind and lightning.

Xu Xuan initially relied on his artifact, bringing out the [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl] to withstand the assault. But as time passed, the lightning grew stronger, forcing him to reveal his original form and become an azure flood dragon.

His flood dragon body bore jade horns and was covered in Green scales, save for a single reverse scale at his neck, deep ash-gray in color.

After transforming, Xu Xuan felt much of the pressure ease. His body was resilient and naturally attuned to lightning, allowing him to withstand the surging heavenly bolts.

The saber-bearing man progressed fastest. His lightning tribulation was already drawing to a close, and though it had consumed much of his strength, his vitality and spirit still seemed abundant.

A golden Dao Text descended directly before him. Delight crossed his face as he stored it in his spatial container.

In an instant, three people surrounded him: the youth in bright blue treasured armor and two elderly cultivators who had arrived later. The three seemed acquainted and had clearly prepared to deal with him well in advance.

"Xiao Xueya, you come from Northern Liao, not our Li Kingdom. You think you can take this sixth-grade Scripture of Facing Heaven and Giving Thanks for Thunder without asking us?"

The youth in bright blue treasured armor spoke first, challenging the saber-bearing Xiao Xueya.

He was Luo Shunfu of the Thunder Edict Path. He had just passed his lightning tribulation and obtained a cultivation method, while his two companions had remained idle throughout. Clearly, they had planned this.

Xiao Xueya snorted coldly and said with a trace of mockery:

"Luo Shunfu, are all you people from Southern Li so lacking in straightforwardness? If you failed to win recognition and want to seize it by force, just say so. I may be alone, but what have I to fear?"

With that, he slashed his saber. Hazy blade qi descended with streaks of golden lightning, hurtling straight toward Luo Shunfu's face. The youth barely managed to block it, looking thoroughly discomfited.

"Xiao Xueya, you have no manners! Since you attacked without warning, I have no choice but to show you the methods of our Thunder Edict Path."

Despite his furious shout, Luo Shunfu did not advance. Instead, he sent the two cultivators beside him forward while he held the rear, earning an even more disdainful look from Xiao Xueya.

The highest-grade method here is this sixth-grade Scripture of Facing Heaven and Giving Thanks for Thunder. With it, we can find its Purple Mansion chapters in the grotto-heaven later. We must obtain it.

Luo Shunfu had already received a fifth-grade divine thunder cultivation method. Another fifth-grade method had been taken by the winged Thunder Ghost, but that was merely a variation of his own sect's method and required no attention.

The Thunder Edict Path cultivated divine thunder. Their True Person had already issued orders: they must obtain this Scripture of Facing Heaven and Giving Thanks for Thunder.

His faction was, after all, a Purple Mansion lineage devoted to Thunder Arts. Including Luo Shunfu himself, they had managed to place three people inside, all to target Xiao Xueya.

The four immediately clashed, stirring the clouds as spell-light of every color surged. For some reason, Luo Shunfu's lightning carried a bloody glow and lacked purity. Xiao Xueya's blade qi pressed it back as golden thunder raced about and voices rose in praise from every direction.

Luo Shunfu brought out a talisman, golden light streaming from it. Only by joining forces with the two beside him, who summoned lightning and thunder, could the three withstand Xiao Xueya.

Xu Xuan had also reached the most critical moment. His lightning tribulation gradually subsided, and a Dao Text like purple jade descended. He hurriedly put it away, but before he could examine it, two figures had already surrounded him.

One was the silver-robed spearman. The other was a wolf-headed demon with a human body, one of the six who had arrived later. Working together, they locked onto Xu Xuan.

The silver-robed man had attempted the tribulation but failed to endure it. The wolf demon had intended to seize an inheritance from the start and had waited without undergoing a tribulation himself.

"Are you a lord from the Dragon Court? This lowly demon is called Cang Shi. I serve Star-Picking Plain and have no choice but to offend you. I hope you will not hold it against me, my lord."

The wolf demon spoke first, looking at the [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale] on Xu Xuan's neck. His voice was respectful, but his aura remained firmly locked onto Xu Xuan.

The silver-robed man belonged to the Immortal Dao and clearly had no such misgivings. Pointing his spear at Xu Xuan, he laughed.

"Great Mist Marsh stays out of worldly affairs. Anyone who emerges is considered to have left the Dragon Court. Plenty of mixed-blood flood dragons have been killed over the years. Why stand on ceremony?"

"I am Zhang Mingyuan of the Zhang Household of You Province. I came seeking the Marsh Thunder Dragon-Treading Scripture. Please don't make things difficult for me, dragon scion."

With that, Zhang Mingyuan attacked with his spear. His bearing fell far short of a direct heir to a Purple Mansion lineage, however. Clearly, he belonged to a collateral branch of the Zhang Household and had come only because he cultivated lightning.

The wolf demon had no patron and had been captured by Star-Picking Plain to serve them. Naturally, someone who had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining was shrewd. Though Great Mist Marsh kept apart from the world, who knew what backing this dragon scion might have? It was best to offend him as little as possible.

Xu Xuan returned to his half-human, half-flood-dragon form and said gravely:

"I represent the [Bing-Day Flame-Offering Crows] lineage. Are you truly determined to fight me?"

Zhang Mingyuan was less discerning and actually laughed outright.

"The Fire Crows may be powerful, but their reach doesn't extend to You Province. My Zhang Household has joined forces with Star-Picking Plain. Dragon scion, you had best take this!"

With that, he thrust his spear, trailing streaks of purple lightning. He, too, cultivated [Shock Thunder].

The spear was a middle-grade Foundation Establishment artifact. Its tip seemed fashioned from some kind of cold jade, and as it stabbed forward, flowing cold light turned into flurries of silvery snow.

Xu Xuan summoned a Dharma Sword: [Cinnabar Thunder]. After Tiantuo's alterations, however, its appearance had changed completely. Its formerly silvery-white blade was now red and carried a hint of demonic aura, leaving its original design wholly unrecognizable.

His sword moves had changed entirely as well. He wielded it freely, following his heart. Sword qi poured down like the celestial river, accompanied by unceasing thunder, cutting apart every flake of icy snow and every bolt of lightning.

Zhang Mingyuan grew anxious. He drove his artifact harder, intensifying its cold aura, and roared:

"Cang Shi, why aren't you helping me? Have you forgotten Star-Picking Plain's orders?"

Only then did the wolf demon reluctantly join the fight. Even so, he held back, clearly troubled by the prospect of offending either side.

He merely revealed his original form: an enormous Green-furred wolf clad in scales. Bright blue lightning surrounded him. He cultivated neither Divine Shock nor the other thunder, but some unknown variety, and his attacks came with the patter of windblown rain.

Xu Xuan and Zhang Mingyuan fought in close combat, their purple lightning colliding to raise peals like heavenly music. The rumbling poured forth like rushing rivers, scattering the surrounding clouds. Zhang Mingyuan's cultivation proved insufficient, and in the end, he was hurled into the distance.

Cang Shi's cultivation seemed somewhat deeper. At first, he had tried to avoid fighting, but when he saw Zhang Mingyuan about to lose, he had no choice but to summon a grand talisman bearing the seven stars of the Northern Dipper and press it down upon Xu Xuan.

The talisman scattered starlight, obstructing the circulation of Xu Xuan's qi and making his spellcasting sluggish.

Zhang Mingyuan immediately charged back. Cold qi streamed from his spear as he drove it straight toward Xu Xuan. Purple lightning condensed into a single point at its tip and merged with the silvery snow. Clearly, he had unleashed a killing move.

Xu Xuan revealed his flood dragon body. With sword qi as his clouds, he drove thunder and wielded lightning, summoning the [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl]. His dragon body leaped and circled around the treasured pearl.

Purple lightning struck the pearl, making the [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl] tremble violently. Xu Xuan lifted it with his jade horns, like a dragon playing with a precious pearl.

Thunderfire qi rose as the pearl began spinning atop Xu Xuan's horns, faster and faster. Thunderfire shot out toward Zhang Mingyuan and Cang Shi, forcing both to retreat.

Cang Shi's body was large, and the thunderfire formed from [Thunderclap Flame] and [Righteous Heart Thunder] blasted through half of it. Howling in agony, he hastily recalled the Northern Dipper grand talisman to protect himself and Zhang Mingyuan.

Driving the [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl] was extremely taxing for Xu Xuan as well. In only a few dozen breaths, it had nearly drained him dry. Seeing that the talisman still held, he swallowed a pill and steeled himself.

The [Upper Firmament Thundercloud] within his qi sea began churning. The Thunder-Sleeping Insect awoke, resonating with the awakening of insects, while Cinnabar Thunder stirred eagerly and helped rouse the thunder.

Xu Xuan directed the [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl] with his spiritual sense, silently reciting the formula. The pearl landed upon the opposing grand talisman. Thunderfire collided and exploded with a tremendous crash, sending up a cloud reeking of saltpeter and charcoal.

[Thunderclap Flame] belonged to the [Ultimate Fire] path. It was the fire of thunderclaps, neither scorching nor burning, its nature like lightning. Bolstered by thunder, it exploded in an instant, overturning the surrounding dark clouds and shattering the Northern Dipper grand talisman.

Xu Xuan held the sword in his dragon jaws. [Cinnabar Thunder] rang out as he unleashed [Great Thunder-Prayer Radiance]. A speck of chaotic purple sprang into being at the sword's tip, mingling with the sword qi as it poured down.

Zhang Mingyuan bore the brunt of it. His silver robe tore apart, his left arm was nearly severed, and he lost consciousness. Just as disaster was about to claim him, a talisman on his body lit up and swept him out of the Law-Observing Hall in an instant.

Cang Shi had already returned to human form and hidden behind Zhang Mingyuan. Though badly wounded as well, he still had some strength left.

Xu Xuan's expression was grim. He lowered his dragon head as the Thunderfire Pearl flew back. Cang Shi acted decisively, dropping into a bow.

"My lord, please don't strike. I'll do it myself."

With that, Cang Shi hardened his resolve and slammed his head into the Thunderfire Pearl, obliterating half his face.

Seeing this, Xu Xuan let the matter rest. After all, the wolf demon had held back, and there was no need to press him too hard.

Once the wolf demon judged his wounds severe enough to answer to his masters, he gave a low chuckle with his half-ruined face and said quietly:

"My mountain is Pale Moon Mountain in You Province. If you ever visit, my lord, I will certainly hold a welcoming feast and offer Spirit Treasures to repay your kindness today."

Cang Shi was still shaken. He had no life-saving talisman like Zhang Mingyuan's, and his Northern Dipper grand talisman had already shattered. If Xu Xuan wanted to kill him, escaping would be difficult indeed.

Xu Xuan let him leave, but suddenly remembered something and said quietly:

"You can go, but leave your cultivation method behind."

Naturally, Xu Xuan would not pass up such an opportunity to collect cultivation methods. Cang Shi did not mind in the slightest.

Clearly, this wolf demon did not treasure his lineage's inheritance as cultivators of the Immortal Dao did. He might even have picked up his cultivation method from some unknown place.

Cang Shi handed Xu Xuan a jade slip and hurried away, terrified that this dragon scion might change his mind.

Traces of the battle lay all around, thunderfire scattered and starlight falling. With no time to celebrate, Xu Xuan hurriedly swallowed pills to restore his magical power, wary of another attack.

There were five cultivation methods in this hall: three for divine thunder and two for shock thunder. Luo Shunfu and Xiao Xueya were the main contenders for the divine thunder method, while the winged demon had also begun fighting another cultivator.

As for shock thunder, the other method had fallen into the hands of the masked woman in purple. Her cultivation was profound, and with a Heavenly Net Umbrella, she had struck down a cultivator who tried to seize it. For the moment, no one else dared provoke her.

When she noticed Xu Xuan looking over, displeasure flashed in her eyes and she glared back. Xu Xuan hastily withdrew his gaze and settled down to heal, turning his attention to the scriptures in his hands.

What Cang Shi had given him was a third-grade [Sky Thunder] cultivation method, the Rainfall Spirit-Walking Art. The purple-jade Dao Text was the higher-order version of Xu Xuan's current cultivation method: the fifth-grade [Shock Thunder] Marsh Thunder Dragon-Treading Scripture.

The lightning gradually subsided, and the fighting in the Law-Observing Hall drew to a close.

(End of chapter)