Stored scriptures

In the Law-Observing Hall, the fighting was drawing to a close. All five cultivation manuals-three for Divine Thunder and two for Shock Thunder-had found their owners.

Xu Xuan paid a little attention to the woman in purple. If he wanted to seek out more Shock Thunder cultivation methods in the future, she would be his lead.

Only Luo Shunfu and Xiao Xueya were still fighting inside the hall. The two people the Thunder Edict Path's direct disciple had brought with him had been severely wounded by Blade Qi and fled outside.

The saber-wielding man from the Liao People had also expended a great deal fighting three opponents, but his profound cultivation had allowed him to hold them off. As he swung his enchanted saber, it sometimes bore down like Great Mountain pressing from above and sometimes drifted like a feather falling from a bird. Its weight obeyed his will, its speed followed no pattern.

Xiao Xueya laughed wildly. Golden thunder flowed along his saber, and the image of a divine figure crossing a river on a white horse seemed to come alive, lending greater power to his Blade Qi.

Seeing things turn against him, Luo Shunfu began fighting as though staking his life on it. Divine radiance streamed from his treasured armor, bringing wisps of rain and revealing streaks of bright blue lightning. It appeared to be a magical artifact of the [Sky Thunder] lineage.

The Thunder Edict Path's successor chanted loudly:

"Auspicious birds greet the boat; the Shangyang birds dance in the rain."

Then his chest swelled, and the thunder of clouds and rain spread from his armor. He deployed a talisman, and torrential rain appeared, bearing the intent of nourishing all four quarters.

Luo Shunfu's aura surged abruptly. Golden and blue lightning burst forth together, suppressing the Blade Qi opposite him.

"Just what I wanted."

The braided man from the Liao People was thoroughly enjoying the fight. Rather than dodge, he charged straight into it.

"Sacrifice to Heaven."

Xiao Xueya uttered the words softly, spring thunder seeming to burst from the tip of his tongue. Spiritual radiance gradually rose around him. The engraving on his treasured saber changed: the divine figure ascended a mountain, while below, a king offered sacrifices of a white horse, a black ox, and a red sheep before the seats of the heavenly and earthly gods.

His eyes turned white, as though he had lost his awareness, but the divine thunder around him grew stronger still, and voices of praise rose on all sides. With a single slash, he broke through layer upon layer of wind and rain, cleaving straight through Luo Shunfu's treasured armor and talisman.

The secret art used by this man from the Liao People did not resemble the Immortal Dao. It seemed closer to the shamanic way, though more akin to inviting a god to possess his body than the venomous gu and curses of the Wilderness of Witches.

The Thunder Edict Path's direct disciple was struck by the Blade Qi, half his body sliced open. A talisman immediately lit up on him and transported him out of the hall.

Xu Xuan watched with alarm. Xiao Xueya was only at Qi Refining, yet his overwhelming strength far surpassed every member of the younger generation in Red Cloud South. Even Daoist Xi Ming of the Longevity Monastery, whom he had encountered back then, probably could not have withstood that slash.

A magical duel came down to cultivation, tradition, secret arts, magical artifacts, and skill in wielding them. Xiao Xueya firmly surpassed Luo Shunfu in every respect. It seemed this manual would end up in his hands after all.

Xu Xuan had no intention of fighting for it. This was the hall's only sixth-grade cultivation manual, a prize that would burn the hands of anyone who held it. Besides, it belonged to the Divine Thunder lineage, which he could not cultivate.

For now, Xu Xuan merely studied the fight quietly, intending to leave as soon as he finished regulating his breath. There were still many secret arts in the neighboring Text-Receiving Hall, and he needed to check on Yang Yuanxin, whose situation remained unknown.

Having finished regulating his breath, Xu Xuan was about to leave when another person entered the hall.

He was a man in red-and-yellow robes at the Qi Refining Ninth Level, with a square jaw, a broad mouth, a dignified appearance, and an imposing air. Five-colored cloud qi followed above his head, round as a carriage canopy and supporting apricot-yellow Li Fire. Surprisingly, he did not cultivate thunder arts. Xu Xuan had no idea how he had entered.

As this man entered, the lightning before the hall fell still, then turned brilliant white. It became whips and bludgeons, heavenly prisons and immortal execution blades, revealing scenes of sovereigns stripped of their thrones and immortals banished to the mortal world. Twelve edicts also manifested, seeking to pass judgment on him.

Then bright golden Divine Thunder surged forth, transforming into heavenly dragons and treasured swords that sang praises of imperial virtue. Bright as the sun, perfectly rounded as the moon, radiant as the stars, and nourishing as the sea, it struck down the brilliant white lightning.

The brilliant white thunder dissolved into streams of liquid lightning. Some rose into the sky and entered the golden thunderclouds; some sank into the earth and entered the purplish-red thunder marsh.

Xu Xuan sensed something. This man's arrival seemed to have stirred a vision of the evolution of ancient traditions, though he did not know which lineage that brilliant white thunder belonged to.

Everyone still inside the hall grew tense at the man's arrival, but the man in red-and-yellow robes merely looked at Xiao Xueya and said leisurely:

"Xiao Xueya, your business here is finished. You may leave."

The man from the Liao People finally grew serious, not daring to show any disrespect, and replied:

"So you are an imperial descendant of the Li Kingdom. Forgive my discourtesy. We part here for now; we shall meet again another day."

With that, Xiao Xueya lingered no longer. He rode away on a mass of gray cloud upon which the heads of rats, foxes, snakes, and other beasts emerged, hideous and strange.

Xu Xuan had recovered from his injuries and also wanted to leave. The man swept his gaze around the hall and only looked satisfied after seeing that everyone belonged to traditions of the Li Kingdom.

The imperial descendant brought forth a jade seal, and purple qi spread out. Everyone present involuntarily bowed in obeisance, Xu Xuan included.

"A Purple Mansion Spirit Artifact."

Xu Xuan had met the True Person of Tip-Feng Mountain. There was no doubt that the jade seal's power was at the Purple Mansion Tier, but it was not directed at those present. Once Xu Xuan knelt and paid his respects, the pressure eased considerably.

"The rightful lineage of Great Li, entrusted with Heaven's mandate, respectfully requests that [Altar Thunder] bestow its teachings, to set the altars of state in order and make clear the laws and edicts."

The thunderclouds gathered above the hall and turned brilliant white, striking straight down upon the jade seal as though in anger. At the same time, a Dao Text resembling white jade descended into the man's hands.

Having obtained the book, the imperial descendant withdrew the jade seal's purple qi. Without another glance at those inside the hall, he left.

"How overbearing. So this is the imperial household of the Li Kingdom?"

Xu Xuan sighed inwardly. Everyone who had come to this hall represented a Purple Mansion cultivator, yet this imperial descendant had paid that no heed. He truly acted without restraint.

That brilliant white thunder must have been the so-called [Altar Thunder]. Xu Xuan had never heard of any lineage cultivating it. It had probably vanished entirely.

The others left the Law-Observing Hall one after another, no longer lingering.

Xu Xuan was about to head to the neighboring Text-Receiving Hall when a demon suddenly approached him. It was the winged demon who had obtained the [Divine Thunder] cultivation manual.

Somewhat wary, Xu Xuan looked over, his reverse scale rising. The demon hurriedly stopped and said in a friendly tone:

"Might you be a dragon prince of the Great Mist Marsh? I am Yun Cangyu, of the [Law-Observing Thunder Ghosts] lineage in You Province."

Yun Cangyu had already returned to human form, concealing his boar's head and leopard's tail. Even his human appearance was far from handsome, however: his face was dark red as a jujube, his eyes resembled bronze bells, and his fangs protruded.

"Indeed. I am Mu Youdu. What can I do for you, fellow Daoist?"

Xu Xuan frowned, not particularly eager to get too deeply involved.

"My clan once followed the Dragon Court. Seeing one of your noble blood, and with no fighting between us for now, I came to pay my respects."

Yun Cangyu sounded sincere, allowing Xu Xuan to relax his vigilance a little, though he remained guarded.

"You must be a direct descendant of a Dragon King, unlike those mixed-blood flood dragons and snakes banished from the Dragon Court before. Might I ask what happened?"

The other demon asked quietly. He clearly had a discerning eye, recognizing at once that Xu Xuan's bloodline came directly from a Dragon King.

"What else but distinctions between legitimate and concubine-born sons, and brothers turning on one another? Would you like to hear all the details?"

Xu Xuan looked at him, but Yun Cangyu hurriedly shook his head and covered both ears, repeatedly begging forgiveness. Then he lowered his voice and said:

"Prince Youdu, why did you not seek out our clan, instead joining those [Bing-Day Flame-Offering Crows]? Although [Bing Fire] manifests in the heavens as both the sun and lightning, our Thunder Ghost territory is still better suited to cultivating thunder arts."

"Ever since our clan was expelled from the Thunder Palace, we have followed the Dragon Court of the Great Mist Marsh. Only when [Mistcloud Heaven] closed a thousand years ago did our [Law-Observing Thunder Ghosts] lineage end up in You Province."

Yun Cangyu looked rather aggrieved. Paired with that face of his, the expression was truly frightening. Xu Xuan felt a jolt of alarm at the sight and merely said:

"I am deeply grateful that your clan holds such friendship toward us. However, I have already given the Fire Crows my word. Once the grotto-heaven's affairs are settled, I will certainly visit."

Xu Xuan was already considering how to take his leave when something suddenly occurred to him, and he asked quietly:

"Fellow Daoist Cangyu, did you see what that imperial descendant of the Li Kingdom did? What sort of tradition is [Altar Thunder]? It was hidden so deep that none of us could sense it."

Yun Cangyu looked somewhat surprised, but merely shook his head and said:

"Our [Law-Observing Thunder Ghosts] clan once held office in the Thunder Palace, so naturally we know something of [Altar Thunder]. But we must not speak recklessly here. It cannot be discussed."

"Spirit and Sky did not contend; Altar perished at the hands of Divine and Shock. Prince Youdu need only know that much. You may come to You Province another day, and we can discuss it in detail then."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a bolt of heavenly thunder descended, striking straight at Yun Cangyu. He swallowed it in one gulp.

"I still have important matters to attend to, so I will not enter the Text-Receiving Hall. Once [Surging Tribulation Heaven] truly opens, I shall meet with you again, Prince."

Yun Cangyu took his leave, and Xu Xuan returned his courtesy. The two demons parted.

Xu Xuan went straight into the Text-Receiving Hall to find Yang Yuanxin. He had not seen the Fire Crow outside, so she must still be inside. He wondered what difficulties she had encountered.

The Text-Receiving Hall was far more damaged than the Law-Observing Hall. Its roof had caved in, leaving it almost a ruin.

Xu Xuan crossed the formation and entered, only to find that Yang Yuanxin seemed to have been surrounded. Beside her stood Bai Su of Jade Flow Demon Mountain.

The two demons guarded a mass of flowing light as cultivators from several Immortal Dao lineages besieged them, all competing for it.

Yang Yuanxin had not cultivated for long and lacked sufficient cultivation. She scattered streams of red feathers mingled with fiery qi, supporting Bai Su.

This direct disciple of Jade Flow Demon Mountain was truly formidable. At the eighth level of Qi Refining, she possessed a wealth of techniques. As she played her zither, countless freezing currents surged forth, freezing every weapon, stream of water, and flame sent by their attackers.

Among the attackers, Xu Xuan even spotted a familiar face: Daoist Xi Ming of the Longevity Monastery. His cultivation had now also reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, but his strength fell far short of Bai Su's.

Xu Xuan privately reckoned that Bai Su was probably a shade stronger than Yun Cangyu. As for Lady Immortal Bai Xuan, he had no idea how high her cultivation might be. Even Yang Yuanxin, a Noble-Blooded Fire Crow, treated her with great respect.

"I'll help you."

Seeing someone from the Longevity Monastery, Xu Xuan had no intention of holding back. That sect had nearly harmed his disciple back then, and he had kept that grudge firmly in his heart.

Xu Xuan immediately revealed his true form and brought forth the [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl]. Coiling his flood-dragon tail around the treasured pearl, he drove it straight toward Daoist Xi Ming. Seeing Xu Xuan arrive, Bai Su understood his intent at once. Her freezing qi surged, seeking to keep every one of them trapped here.

Xi Ming was horrified, and those around him scattered like birds and beasts. But the treasured pearl came too quickly and exploded at once. A black cloud rose languidly, thunder and fire qi scattering in every direction as the smells of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur billowed upward.

Struck and wounded, Xi Ming gave a wail, summoned a gust of frosty wind, and fled in panic. Seeing their leader defeated, those around him also fled one after another.

Only then did Xu Xuan return to human form and approach Yang Yuanxin.

"Brother Youdu, you finally came! I nearly met my end here."

Yang Yuanxin patted her chest to steady her breathing, her gestures exaggerated and her expression frightened. Bai Su beside her laughed softly at the sight.

Xu Xuan repeatedly apologized, begging forgiveness for arriving late.

He knew the woman was only joking. Direct descendants of Purple Mansion cultivators rarely killed one another unless a mortal feud existed. Otherwise, they always left some room to maneuver, especially with Dao Yan watching outside.

"Brother Youdu, did you obtain a cultivation manual?"

Yang Yuanxin grew serious and asked him.

Xu Xuan took out the purple-jade Dao Text. Joy appeared on Yang Yuanxin's face when she saw it, but she merely told him to put it away safely.

"Thank you, Prince Youdu. I am Bai Su, from Jade Flow Demon Mountain."

Only then did Bai Su look over and greet him with a bow. Her expression was no longer as cool as before; it held a trace of a smile.

"I am Mu Youdu, currently without a home to return to."

Xu Xuan answered, though he felt somewhat puzzled. He did not know why Bai Su had avoided speaking to him when they first met and only now began a conversation.

"Brother Youdu, please don't take offense. A dragon prince from the Eastern Sea came ashore earlier and behaved frivolously, offending this elder sister of mine. That was why she didn't dare speak to you when she saw you."

With a bright expression, Yang Yuanxin went over and linked arms with Bai Su on her right. It seemed the two truly knew each other well.

"Oh, you."

Bai Su bent a finger and lightly flicked Yang Yuanxin's forehead, making the Fire Crow give several coquettish little huffs. Xu Xuan turned his head aside, not quite daring to look.

"What secret art did you and Fellow Daoist Bai Su obtain, Yuanxin, to make cultivators from several Immortal Dao lineages fight over it?"

Somewhat curious, Xu Xuan looked at the mass of flowing light.

Bai Su gently pushed Yang Yuanxin away, took out the flowing light, and explained carefully:

"The secret arts in this Text-Receiving Hall are at most fourth grade. They are not core inheritances, but their origins are ancient, making them worth studying."

"This is the [Spirit-Awakening Weapon-Absorption Art], a fourth-grade secret art involving the methods of nurturing weapons in the [Hearing the Nether] lineage."

Xu Xuan felt tempted. He had only ever heard Tiantuo mention the [Hearing the Nether] tradition and had no idea what sort of tradition it was. Even now, he had never heard of anyone cultivating it, so he asked:

"What wonders does this secret art possess? It is only fourth grade, yet it drew everyone into a fight over it."

Bai Su clearly knew something about it. Lowering her eyes, she said softly:

"This tradition does not reveal itself to the world. It has now fallen beneath the earth, so it is only natural that you do not know of it, Prince Youdu."

"The seat of [Hearing the Nether] is currently unoccupied, making it difficult for weapons throughout the world to awaken spirits. Only Purple Mansion Spirit Artifacts possess a little intelligence. Apart from those, the [Hidden Metal] lineage can also foster artifact spirits, but the results are poor, and the spirits are exceedingly stupid."

"This [Spirit-Awakening Weapon-Absorption Art] explains precisely how to nurture the Artifact Spirit of magical artifacts so that they can protect their owner. Such methods are very rare now."

Having finished, Bai Su brought forth a jade slip and copied every character within the flowing light onto it, then handed the light to Yang Yuanxin.

"Yuanxin discovered this secret art first. I have only made myself a copy. The original is yours."

Both Yang Yuanxin and Xu Xuan thanked her. After all, Bai Su had contributed the most to securing this secret art.

After the great battle, the Text-Receiving Hall had now collapsed completely, becoming a field of ruins. There was nothing left to search for.

The three left together and headed toward the exit. Yet when they reached the Daoist gate of [Nine Heavens Universalizing], they saw the Great Void ahead roiling, as though something unusual was happening.

Golden thunder rose on every side and bore down, rushing toward an iron-gray Dharma Body. Its head continually transformed into the likenesses of beasts-tigers and leopards, jackals and wolves-while the sounds of sacrificial rites rang out.

An angry shout came from within the Great Void, resounding throughout this world. They heard only:

"Luo Lingming, have you gone mad?!"