Biding Our Time and Building Our Strength

Purple Firmament Peak.

A gentle mountain breeze carries the refreshing sounds of rustling pines and Lei Ming.

At this very moment, on a white jade stone platform Purple Firmament Peak, more than twenty agile young Lightning Bear were gathered.

These Lightning Bear were all under a hundred years old, with glossy fur like satin, and their eyes gleamed with an arrogant and unrestrained spirit. Their cultivation had all reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Some of the Lightning Bear even had Dao of Alchemy glow appearing on their heads.

They sat upright on the prayer cushions, their eyes burning with longing as they gazed intently at a secluded cave abode above the mountain path.

"I heard that a new ' Lightning Spirit ' is about to condense at the Thunder Pool in the back mountain today. I wonder which of my kinsmen will be favored this time?"

A burly young Lightning Bear with three Dark Gold lightning patterns on his chest spoke in a low voice, deep and resonant, filled with undisguised envy.

"It's incredibly difficult, as difficult as climbing to the heavens!"

The other, slender Lightning Bear beside him shook its head and sighed, "The Lightning Spirit of Purple Firmament Peak are not like those muddled elemental monsters outside."

"This peak was the secluded cultivation place of Ancestor Shi Jian before he attained enlightenment. Its Daoist essence is deeply ingrained, and its spiritual energy is boundless."

"Furthermore, it is rumored that... a supreme Lightning Spirit senior who was once on very good terms with the Ancestor passed away on this peak, and his Indestructibility true Spirit Dao intent merged into the depths of the mountain's soul."

Therefore, the Lightning Spirit born from this peak naturally contains the ultimate understanding of the Dao of Lightning.

"If one can form a life-bond partnership with it, not only can one cultivate a heaven-defying Great Dao Thunder Method out of thin air, but one can also receive nourishment from the Lightning Spirit, cleansing impurities from the body and reversing the shackles of the bloodline!"

"In the past hundred years, among our twenty-four divisions, only three have gained the approval of Lightning Spirit."

"Those three cousins, aren't they all out there, battling powerful enemies from various clans? Some have even formed their Golden Core in just a hundred years!"

Upon hearing this, all the young Lightning Bear felt their hearts burning and their breathing quickened.

Refine your bloodline!

For the Demon Race race, bloodline is an insurmountable barrier, an insurmountable lock of fate.

Although Lightning Bear is a supreme overlord, its bloodline still retains the mottled and mixed aura of ancient beasts, or perhaps the mixed Blood Qi of other bear species.

Without extraordinary fortuitous opportunity, even if one cultivates to the point of enlightenment and attains the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Immortal Foundation in their lifetime, that is already the limit of their bloodline.

However, the Lightning Spirit of Purple Firmament Peak can help them break free from these shackles, allowing their bones and bodies to infinitely transform into the orthodox Dao body of Divine Firmament!

What an incredible stroke of luck!

For this reason, all the unruly young geniuses within the entire Divine Firmament Plain, spanning millions of miles, regard stepping into Purple Firmament Peak to seek out Lightning Spirit companion as the highest honor of their lives!

"Buzz--!"

Just as the younger generation was whispering and discussing, a sudden change occurred at the Purple Firmament Peak.

The purple clouds suddenly collapsed inward, transforming into a blinding pillar of lightning a hundred feet in diameter, which shot straight into the depths of the cold pool behind the mountain!

The icy pool churned, and thunderous liquid splashed everywhere.

Amidst the endless, dazzling purple-gold lightning, a petite and exquisite figure, its entire body woven from Pure Yang Divine Lightning, slowly emerged from the depths of the lightning liquid, like a newly born immortal.

That Lightning Spirit resembled a Six-Winged thunder sparrow, with eyes as pure as glass, and its body flowing with the mysterious and unfathomable Purple Firmament Heaven Divine Script.

With just a gentle flap of its wings, the void Principle of the entire mountain peak rippled with joy.

"The Lightning Spirit has been born!"

The young Lightning Bear on the stone platform rose in unison, their faces filled with fervor and piety. They each drew upon their purest innate Thunder Essence, transforming it into colorful rays of light that reached out towards the mountaintop.

However, the Thunder Spirit Sparrow circled several times in the void, its bright and clear eyes looking down at the group of geniuses Fang Yi, revealing an arrogance and discerning look that came from the pinnacle of the Great Dao.

It did not land on any of the bears, but merely let out a clear cry, flapped its wings, and transformed into an elusive purple-gold chain, disappearing straight into the vast sea of clouds deeper into the back mountains.

"Failed again...?"

Several prodigies stiffened slightly, their faces showing bitterness and resentment, yet none dared to utter a disrespectful word.

Divine beings possess spirits and choose their masters to follow.

To gain it is an immense stroke of luck; to lose it is simply bad fate.

Only by cultivating more diligently and refining one's Dao bones to a purer state can one hope to gain a sliver of favor when the Lightning Spirit manifests again.

At the foot of the mountain, a stream flows gently.

With the opening of Blessed Land and the consolidation of the lineage throughout Divine Firmament Plain, not only did the younger generation of the clan receive the best nourishment, but it also attracted countless cultivators from outside the realm to flock to the area.

The four gates of Divine Firmament Lightning City are wide open day and night.

Thunder sword cultivators of the Human Realm, feather wind messengers of the Heaven Realm, wave-riding giant demons of the Vast Realm, and even the Yin thunder ghost cultivators of the Nether Realm...

Countless Spirit Transformation and Nascent Soul Transformation experts, clad in robes of various colors, descended into the city, carefully concealing their auras as they entered.

On both sides of the street, there are rows of fairy buildings.

The Dao of Alchemy, the Refining Pavilion, and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion stand side by side, while ancient shops of all kinds hang towering signs to welcome merchants from all directions.

A hundred years ago, this place was a bloodthirsty military camp that only knew how to kill and fight; now, it has evolved into the most prosperous and largest Dao of Lightning Trading Holy Land in the entire western part of the Beast Realm!

"Take a look! I'm exchanging fourth-tier ' Cold Marrow Ice Lightning Jade ' from the far north for two jars of Pure Yang Lightning Spirit Liquid!"

"The ' Nine Firmaments Flying Shuttle ' newly arrived by the Heavenly Wind Chamber of Commerce boasts unparalleled speed among its peers. It can be exchanged for 30,000 cubic meters of Divine Firmament Lightning Crystal!"

"A fragment of a thunder talisman from the Profound Lightning Ancestral Court —the highest bidder wins!"

The sounds of hawking, haggling, and the clash of Divine Sense rose and fell, converging into a surging, bustling atmosphere of the mortal world.

Rare treasures from all the heavens and Nine Realms circulate and are exchanged here, and countless exquisite crafting and alchemy techniques are transformed and grown through collision.

Every transaction incurs taxes, which eventually accumulate into a vast fortune; the presence of every powerful being from another world subtly elevates the Lightning Bear Line's standing and reputation throughout the Nine Realms.

The sky was deep and the twilight was vast.

On the Ascension Platform behind the Divine Firmament Heaven Hall, two figures stood with their hands behind their backs, overlooking the magnificent, ever-burning city below, illuminated by dazzling lights and sparkling with lightning.

The mountain wind blew Shi Xiao's Nine Heavens Thunder Robe, making it flutter loudly.

A century of time has not left its mark on his face; instead, it has transformed his former fierce and ruthless nature into an unparalleled majesty as deep as a still pool and as imposing as a mountain.

Behind him, Shi Lei rested his hand on a jade folding fan, his narrow eyes reflecting the myriad lights of the city, his expression calm as still water.

"Elder brother, the time for our centennial meeting has come."

Shi Lei spoke softly, breaking the silence of the peak. "My mother sent a letter from Li Bear Plains in the Dao Realm, saying that Lightning Plain thirty million li, is now completely impregnable."

"Several royal families from the Dao Realm secretly tested the waters several times, but were all forced back by Mother, who killed many of their Nascent Soul warriors."

"Now, within the Divine Firmament Plain, the grand tax collection of the twenty-four tribes has been completed, and the taxes levied from all sides have more than doubled compared to ten years ago."

"The number of Nascent Soul Nascent Soul from other races who have attached themselves to our clan has now exceeded eighty. If we add the Dao Spirit Bear Human Legion, our Divine Firmament Line can immediately raise an arm and summon over ten thousand elite war demons!"

Shi Xiao listened quietly, his gaze piercing through the void and landing on the distant, churning, nine-colored thunderclouds.

After a long silence, a faint, cold smile appeared on his lips:

A tall tree catches the wind, and the wind will surely destroy it.

Shi Xiao turned around, his deep eyes piercing Shi Lei's face, his voice deep and powerful. "Second brother, in the past hundred years, how many of those spies hiding outside have you caught?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Lei lightly tapped his folding fan against his palm, a sinister chill flashing in his eyes:

"The Sword Sect's spies in the Human Realm have killed seven groups of thirty-six people; the Peregrine Falcon Guards of the Space Heaven Clan in the Heaven Realm have eliminated several hidden sentry posts."

"As for our own Beast Realm, it's not entirely peaceful either."

"Perhaps it's not what the higher-ups intend, but there are quite a few greedy people below; the Tiger Sha and Black Eagle families have some of their subordinates secretly setting up checkpoints on the border to intercept and kill our clan's caravans."

"There's no need to worry too much internally; the lower-ups are just greedy and demanding bribes."

"As for the outside world, these scoundrels are nothing more than spying on our clan so they can know my father's whereabouts as soon as possible."

Shi Xiao snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, saying coldly, "The Old Profound Lightning Beast Emperor is nearing the end of his life, and the Dao of Lightning of the Nine Realms is in ruins. How can they not be afraid?"

"They fear that the banner of Zhongtian Divine Firmament will truly be carried by my Lightning Bear Line, and that the Beast Realm will truly be able to reunite the Dao of Lightning inheritance."

At this point, Shi Xiao slightly raised his gaze and looked towards the far east, billions of miles away.

That's the direction of the Profound Lightning Ancestral Court.

"Judging by the years, Father has been in seclusion in the deepest part of the Profound Lightning Transformation Lei Yuan for over a hundred years, hasn't he?"

Shi Xiao's voice softened slightly, revealing an indescribable sense of awe and anticipation.

"That makes a full one hundred and ten years."

Shi Lei also suppressed his smile, nodded solemnly, and said, "Father has only used less than 20% of the six hundred and sixty years of fortuitous opportunity for transformation."

"But with Father's physical body that can devour the heavens and the earth, coupled with the endless Dao treasures plundered from the Lightless Dead Realm, it is Non-Self comprehension to know exactly where Father has reached now."

"No need to speculate."

Shi Xiao's eyes flashed like knives, his sharpness fully revealed. "What we brothers must do is to firmly establish a foundation for Father in this mortal world!"

"Defend our people's 60 million-mile-long legacy, conserve our strength, and hone our fierce army!"

"When Father shatters the Lei Yuan and returns to the Nine Realms..."

Shi Xiao raised his hand and made a grasping motion. Ten thousand bolts of Purple Heaven Purple Firmament True Lightning roared in response from the heavens, transforming into a sky full of shattered aurora light.

"That will be the time when my Lightning Bear Line, with its sword aimed at the Dao of Divine Firmament Fruit, sweeps across the vast universe!"