The Oriole

The fall of the grotto was not an overnight event.

Like an inverted giant mountain, it slowly sank, and for every 10 feet it sank, countless bolts of lightning shot out from the cracks and struck the earth.

Lightning flashed above Lake Tai, and within a radius of tens of thousands of miles, dozens of bolts of lightning struck every breath, blasting cracks into the earth. At the same time, they also gave birth to unique lightning-attribute spiritual objects.

The waters of Lake Tai surged upwards, not because of Divine Ability, but because of the mournful cry of heaven and earth caused by the collapse of the cave.

The vast expanse of blue waves was drawn up and shot straight into the sky, colliding with the ruined palace that had fallen from the heavens, stirring up a cloud of mist. The scene was like the Milky Way tilting upside down, or the ocean hanging upside down.

"The sky... has fallen!"

It's unclear who was the first to shout, but their voice was filled with undisguised terror.

Fengyi looked up at the sky, his brows slightly furrowed.

His hand seals changed, and the Azure Nether Heaven-Suppressing Seal above his head trembled slightly, its bronze aura shrinking a bit.

This is not about lifting the blockade, but about reinforcing it—to prevent anyone from escaping in the chaos caused by the cave collapsing.

"Continue," he ordered calmly.

The seven Ye Clan from the Purple Mansion stepped forward again.

The remaining cultivators from the Gu and Lu families looked ashen-faced.

The game is sealed; there is no chance of survival!

At the same time

Between heaven and earth, several pairs of eyes opened simultaneously.

Within the Great Void, wondrous phenomena surged and churned.

Seven figures stood in different parts of the void, separated by tens of thousands of miles, yet their auras were like seven pillars supporting this world.

Clad in green robes and wielding a sword, he possessed a cool and aloof demeanor, surrounded by a subtle hint of autumn.

That was not a deliberately displayed aura, but a natural expression of the resonance between the Tao and heaven and earth.

It was none other than [Autumn Unfolds the Clear Firmament Heaven], Ye Zhanqiu.

The other person stood with his hands behind his back, his aura restrained, revealing no trace of cultivation level. He stood there, seemingly one with the world.

However, if you sense it carefully, you will find that the wind within a hundred feet around him is as if time has stood still, and every detail is clearly visible.

[Cloud Mist Qingming Heaven], Ye Qingming.

At the same time, on the northern horizon, a crimson light, like a blazing sun falling to earth, ignited the clouds within a thousand miles with its intense heat, eventually forming a glassy flame, an extremely compressed flame.

It was none other than Wang Lan Langya Wang Clan, a True Lord of the fire element lineage—[Langya Li Fire Heaven].

Standing beside him was a figure in light blue.

Ze Shu Xie Clan True Lord, Xie Zeming, [Zeming Illusory Sea Heaven].

He had a refined appearance and a gentle demeanor, but his eyes were as unfathomable as a deep pool.

The auras of the two True Lord intertwined, water and fire complementing each other, forming an invisible barrier that subtly blocked the direction of Great Peace Temple.

Opposite them, two more figures were slowly emerging from the Great Void.

[Great Peace Saves the World Heaven], Zhang Chen.

Arriving bathed in golden light, the radiant glow of the Fusang Radiance illuminated thousands of miles, with the phantom of a golden crow flapping its wings behind it, its brilliance dazzling.

[The Heaven of Withering, Flourishing, Life and Extinction], Zhang Xuan.

Holding a book, he stood atop the illusory shadow of the Jianmu.

The Daoist principles of life and death flowed around him, seemingly gentle, but actually concealing murderous intent.

A smile, as always, graced his lips, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"True Lord, True Lord," Zhang Chen nodded slightly, his tone calm, "Are you two going to block the way for my Great Peace Temple?"

Wang Lan gave a light snort, and crimson spiritual energy surged around him, as if compressed and as bright and pure as crystal.

"As Great Peace Temple knows, the Wang and Xie families are vassals of the Great Jin Dynasty, practically brothers and confidants. Today, the appearance of the Thunder Nether Heavenly Palace is a private matter for the Sima Clan. Fellow Daoists, please return!"

"Please return?" Zhang Chen chuckled lightly. "With the Thunder Palace now present, all four elements are complete (wind, thunder, mountain, and marsh). Regarding the world's order, whether it prospers or perishes, my Great Peace Temple has always been obligated to bear witness. This authority was already clearly defined; it's simply our duty. But you two—"

His gaze swept over Wang Lan and Xie Zeming, his tone calm but with a hint of sarcasm. "Why should the mighty heavens be so secretive and hesitant?"

"You two hope that Sima Canglan will achieve enlightenment?!"

Xie Zeming smiled slightly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze. "Fellow Daoist, you flatter us. We are only worried that the Great Peace Temple might use the Thunder Palace incident to commit treacherous acts."

"An act of treason?" Zhang Xuan finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Fellow Daoist, please tell me, where has my Great Peace Temple done anything wrong?"

Xie Zeming remained silent, but his smile deepened.

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

The four Golden Core True Lord faced off in the Great Void. None of them made a move, but they all knew that if they did, the heavens and earth would collapse.

The two True Lord of the Ye Clan remained silent from beginning to end.

They just watched.

Looking at the Purple Mansion battlefield on Lake Tai, looking at the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven falling from the sky, looking at the probing and clashes of the Golden Core from all sides in the Great Void.

"Father," Ye Zhanqiu suddenly spoke, his voice so soft that only Ye Qingming beside him could hear, "Sima Honglin is about to make his move."

"Hmm," Ye Qingming responded without asking any further questions.

What do we do?

"Look."

"Just looking?"

Ye Qingming finally turned his head and glanced at his son.

"The Sima Clan are fighting amongst themselves, the Great Peace Temple disciples each have their own schemes, the Wang Clan and Xie Clan each have their own stances... This drama is a rare spectacle, completely unrecorded." Ye Qingming's voice was calm and undisturbed. "How can you know who to help and who to kill in the end if you don't watch it all the way through?"

Ye Zhanqiu remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

He understood.

The father meant -- wait.

The Ye Clan will only make their move once everyone has revealed their hand, once the game has reached its final stage, and once the true winner has emerged.

On Lake Tai.

The bell tolls.

The melodious sound of bells emanated from the depths of the crack. Though not loud, it was clear and bright, like the morning bell of an ancient temple in the deep mountains, piercing through thunderstorms, torrential rain, and the vast emptiness for miles, echoing leisurely between heaven and earth.

With each chime of the bell, the crack widens by one inch.

As the seventh bell rang, a figure slowly emerged from the crack.

The man was dressed in a black royal robe, wearing a nine-tassel crown, with a gentle and refined face and a faint smile on his lips.

He walked on air, and with each step he took, a golden spiritual rain condensed beneath his feet to form steps that supported his figure.

Nine dragons roared out from the crack, pulling a jet-black royal carriage that stopped behind him.

The royal carriage was engraved with ancient runes, exuding an aura that compelled people to bow down in submission—a unique aura of the Sima Clan's imperial methods.

This man was Sima Canglan.

His demeanor was completely different from usual.

It is a restless transformation, a rising tide—like a cicada about to hatch, like a fledgling eagle about to spread its wings.

It was a profound state between the Daoist essence of the Dao of Alchemy and the subtle Minute Subtlety of a domain. It was not a water-elemental position achieved by borrowing power, but a Dao that had formed on its own. It was only one step away from ascending to a Heavenly Position, the thunder-elemental Heavenly Position!

From the Water element to the Thunder element!

Sima Canglan muttered to himself, his gaze burning as he stared intently into the depths of the crack.

"In its heyday, the Thunder Palace was domineering and incredibly powerful. Unfortunately, its arrogance led to its annihilation. My Sima Clan used your heads to establish our authority back then; today, I will use your very essence to achieve enlightenment."

He stepped into the crevice.

The king and the nine dragons followed closely behind, disappearing into the darkness shrouded in lightning.

On the shore of Lake Tai, Fengyi sneered and withdrew his gaze.

His task was not to interfere in the internal strife within the Sima Clan, but to ensure that no one from the Gu or Lu families escaped.

Whether Sima Canglan can obtain the origin from the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven and achieve true Heavenly Position is not a matter for him to worry about.

Within the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven lies a desolate and broken world.

The once magnificent palaces and pavilions are now nothing but ruins, and the once Spirit Vein springs and celestial veins are now just dried-up cracks. Dark purple thunderclouds permeate the area, and lightning strikes frequently.

I was intoxicated by a putrid aura, the result of a thousand years of loneliness and ten thousand years of resentment.

Sima Canglan walked slowly forward, with Wang Jia following behind. Nine dragons coiled above their heads, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

They stopped in front of a dilapidated palace.

The main gate of the palace has collapsed, leaving only a row of huge stone pillars standing alone.

The stone pillar is covered with ancient lightning patterns, and even after tens of thousands of years, faint lightning still flows within the patterns.

Sima Canglan's lips curled into a smile, "This is indeed the place, the source of the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven. I, the King, will gladly accept it."

Then, he raised his hand, and a golden rain of spirits flew out from his palm, transforming into thousands of fine threads that spread in all directions.

This is the application of the Sima Clan's water-related imperial art of "Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew."

The fine threads of spiritual rain pierced through the ruins, through the earth, through the layers of thunderclouds, extending towards the deepest part of the cave.

Found it.

At the very core of the cave, a huge ball of lightning floats in mid-air.

The lightning ball was a hundred feet in diameter, entirely purple-gold in color, and exuded a terrifying pressure.

Inside the lightning sphere, a human-shaped outline could be vaguely seen—a figure sitting cross-legged, surrounded by countless bolts of lightning, as if fused with the lightning sphere itself.

The Lord of the Thunder Palace, or rather, the remnant soul of the Lord of the Thunder Palace.

Ten thousand years have passed, and this once invincible powerhouse has long since perished. However, his obsession was too deep and his resentment too heavy, so much so that his soul did not dissipate after death. It merged with the thunderous source of the cave, transforming into a being that exists between life and death—a demon.

Sima Canglan's smile deepened.

He strode forward, heading towards the ball of lightning. Nine dragons followed closely behind, their roars echoing through the ruins.

However, when he was still a thousand feet away from the lightning ball, the ball suddenly began to tremble violently.

The humanoid silhouette inside the lightning sphere suddenly opened its eyes.

What kind of eyes were those? No pupils, no whites, only two blinding bolts of lightning burning in their sockets.

His eyes were filled with anger, hatred, resentment, and a madness that transcended millennia.

"Sima Shi"

Three words emanated from the thunder sphere, each word booming like thunder, shaking the entire cavern.

The voice was hoarse and dry, like rusty iron rubbing together, or like a roar coming from the depths of hell.

But that hatred was so clear it sent chills down one's spine.

Sima Canglan paused, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Oh? You still recognize the Sima Clan?" he said softly. "It seems that the battle that destroyed the palace back then left a deep impression on you."

"Deep?" A piercing laugh came from the voice inside the thunder sphere.

"I will never forget this, not even in death! I will remember it even if I become a demon! The Sima Clan, you betrayed us, took advantage of our misfortune, slaughtered my entire Thunder Palace Thunder Palace, and seized our foundation—I have waited ten thousand years, and finally you have delivered yourselves to my doorstep!"

The lightning sphere suddenly expanded, and countless bolts of lightning shot out from it, transforming into lightning dragons that lunged at Sima Canglan.

Nine dragons roared in unison and charged forward. Their roars mingled with thunder, causing the rubble in the ruins to shatter.

But a dragon is ultimately just a dragon, not a real dragon.

Before the Thunder Dragon, they retreated step by step, their scales charred black by the lightning, emitting mournful cries.

Sima Canglan remained expressionless and waved his hand.

Golden spiritual rain fell once more, this time not for perception, but for attack.

Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew, nourish all things with the power of water, but can also submerge everything with the power of water.

The spiritual rain fell on the thunder dragon, making a hissing sound, and actually dissipated the power of the thunder layer by layer.

But the remnant soul within the lightning orb clearly wasn't going to give him a chance to catch his breath.

"Ten thousand years of resentment, unleashed in a single moment!" the voice roared. "The juniors of the Sima Clan, you will be buried with me!"

The lightning ball expanded again, and this time, all the lightning in the entire cave began to converge on it.

The thunderclouds in the sky, the thunder veins in the earth, and the thunder patterns in the ruins—all the power of thunder was drawn and surged toward that purplish-gold ball of thunder.

The lightning ball began to transform, changing from a spherical shape into a human form.

A thunderous giant, hundreds of feet tall, stood up from the core of the cave.

Its body was entirely formed from lightning, with purple-gold lightning flowing across its surface, and every meridian and muscle was clearly visible.

Its face was blurry, only its eyes, burning with lightning, were fixed on Sima Canglan.

"Ten thousand years..." The Thunder Giant's voice boomed like thunder, "I can finally make my move again. Youngsters of the Sima Clan, how many of my moves can you withstand?"

Sima Canglan looked up at the hundred-foot giant, and the smile on his lips finally faded a little.

"As expected of the once invincible Lord of the Thunder Palace, even in death as a demon, he still possesses such power," he said softly. "However..."

He raised his hand and removed the nine-tasseled crown from his head.

The moment the crown detached, a terrifying aura rose from his body.

"Did you think I came here to die?"

Sima Canglan tossed the crown into the air, and it transformed into a golden light, hovering above his head.

The jade beads hanging from the nine tassels began to spin, each bead emitting a golden spiritual light, weaving together to form a large net that enveloped the thunder giant.

[Huanyu Nine-Streamers Suppression]

The most precious treasure of the Firmament Heaven in the past was brought by Sima Canglan.

The Thunder Giant roared and raised its fist to smash into the golden net.

Boom--!

The fist and net collided, and thunder and golden light exploded, causing the entire cave to tremble.

The rubble in the ruins was shattered into dust, and deep, bottomless cracks appeared in the ground.

The golden net developed cracks, but did not break. The Thunder Giant's fist was entangled in the net, and the lightning struggled within the golden light, but could not break free for the time being.

"Lord of the Thunder Palace, your era has passed," Sima Canglan said calmly. "Ten thousand years of resentment is nothing but an obsession. No matter how deep the obsession, it cannot defy fate."

"The will of Heaven?" The Thunder Giant's voice was laced with sarcasm. "You Sima Clan dare to talk about the will of Heaven? You're just lucky!"

"If it weren't for the infighting among those traitors in the Thunder Palace back then, how would your Sima Clan have had the opportunity to take advantage of the situation?"

"Good luck is also part of strength." Sima Canglan remained unmoved. "The victor is king, the loser is villain; this has been the case for all time. Thunder Palace lost, so they should accept their fate."

"Accept your fate?" The Thunder Giant's voice suddenly rose, "I refuse! I'd rather die than accept it!"

With a sudden burst of power, the golden net finally shattered. The nine-tasseled crown let out a mournful cry and fell from the sky, several of its jade beads breaking apart.

Sima Canglan's expression darkened, and he raised his hand to catch the crown.

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences." He snorted coldly and put his crown back on.

"Since you refuse to hand over your source, then I will take it myself!"

He vanished in a flash.

The next moment, he appeared above the Thunder Giant's head and pressed down with a palm.

In the palm of his hand, golden spiritual rain condensed into a huge rune, engraved with the four ancient seal characters "Imperial Grace of Rain and Dew," radiating a gentle yet irresistible spiritual light.

The Thunder Giant raised his hand to block, and the lightning collided with the runes, producing a piercing explosion.

The two sides are locked in a stalemate.

The forces collided, intertwined, and tore at each other at the core of the cave, neither willing to give an inch.

"You cannot kill me!" the thunder giant roared. "I have merged with the origin of this celestial realm; as long as this celestial realm exists, I will never die!"

"Is that so?" Sima Canglan's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then I'll take this entire grotto-heaven as well!"

He raised his other hand, his fingers loosely clenched.

A golden beam of light shot up from his palm, piercing through the dome of the cave, through the thunderclouds, through the heavy blockade above Lake Tai, and straight up to the heavens.

That's the direction of the Sima Clan's ancestral temple.

The pillar of light resonated with the ancestral temple—the vast and powerful trend of the nation's destiny Water Virtue, the accumulated illustrious fortune of the world's water veins, and the water element—these are the core foundations of the Jin Imperial House!

The Jin dynasty revered water, with the Luo River as its core source. The oath of the Luo River was to swallow the Three Yangs, overturn the world, and be vast and boundless!

During the Jin Dynasty, water was the most prominent element in the world! Whether it was the [marsh] element or any other yin element, they were all inferior.

These elements of Water Virtue fortune and national destiny are currently surging towards Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven along that pillar of light.

The Thunder Giant abruptly looked up, his eyes flashing with confusion. "You... you're insane? You actually dare to jeopardize the fate of the nation, the very destiny of a dynasty! That's the foundation of your Sima Clan! Aren't you afraid—"

"What are you afraid of?" Sima Canglan interrupted, his smile laced with madness.

"Unstable foundation? Fear of lost fortune? Fear of national ruin and death? I only seek a Heavenly Position! A Heavenly Position! One that is equal to the heavens, for only the heavens can reign supreme!"

They surged into the cave and collided with the body of the thunder giant.

This power, revered by the world and carrying the destiny of the nation, collided with the primordial essence of the Thunder Palace accumulated over millennia, unleashing a destructive force.

The thunder giant's body began to disintegrate.

"No--!" it roared in defiance, "I have lived for ten thousand years, not to be your stepping stone!"

But its struggles were futile. The overwhelming power of the nation's destiny was too domineering and strong to be resisted by any evil spirit.

The giant's body shattered inch by inch, transforming into the purest lightning power, which was absorbed by Sima Canglan little by little.

"Yes, that's it." Sima Canglan closed his eyes, feeling the thunderous essence surging into his body. "A little more... a little more..."

It'll be soon, very soon.

However, at this crucial moment, a gentle voice suddenly rang out from outside the cave.

"Sixth brother, you've worked hard."

Sima Canglan suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils contracting violently.

He knew that voice all too well.

[Spring Rain Hong Dharma Heaven], Sima Honglin!

Beyond the grotto heavens, within the Great Void.

A figure slowly emerged from the void.

The man was dressed in a black robe with gold patterns, wearing a crown that reached the heavens. He had a gentle face and a faint smile on his lips.

His aura was inconspicuous, and no fluctuation of cultivation could be seen, but the moment he stepped out, all the Golden Core True Lord present felt an invisible pressure, as if the sky were collapsing, enveloping everyone's hearts.

Sima Honglin, the true ruler of the Jin Dynasty.

His gaze swept across the Great Void, over the two True Lord of the Cloud Mist Ye Clan, over Wang Lan and Xie Zeming, over the Great Peace Temple, Zhang Chen and Zhang Xuan, and finally landed on the crack in the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven.

"Third Brother..." Sima Canglan's voice came from within the cave, tinged with a barely perceptible hint of panic, "Why are you here?"

"Sixth Brother is about to undertake something important, how could Third Brother not come to see him?" Sima Honglin smiled gently. "Moreover, the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven is of great importance, and Sixth Brother alone probably can't handle it."

"Third Brother will definitely come to help! He definitely will!"

He raised his hand and waved it gently.

An invisible force flew out from his palm and disappeared into the crack in the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven.

Inside the cave, Sima Canglan's expression suddenly changed.

He sensed that the source of lightning he was absorbing had suddenly become uncontrollable.

The power no longer flowed into his body, but was instead drawn outwards by a more powerful force.

Third Brother, you--

"Sixth Brother, don't rush." Sima Honglin's voice came from outside the cave, still gentle, yet carrying an undeniable authority. "You helped Third Brother draw out the Thunder Nether Source, so Third Brother will remember your contribution. The rest is up to Third Brother."

"You—" Sima Canglan's face turned ashen, "Third Brother, are you using me?"

"Use?" Sima Honglin chuckled lightly. "Sixth Brother, that's a harsh way to put it."

Third Brother is giving you a chance to enjoy the limelight!

Sima Canglan clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm.

He understood.

From the very beginning, Third Brother never intended for him to achieve the Heavenly Position of Thunder.

Borrowing the spring thunder, bestowing imperial arts, enfeoffing Huainan, and even tacitly allowing him to take the power of water and sit in the position of the second brother—all of this was a prelude, a scheme!

What Third Brother wanted was for him to be the blade, to draw out the origin of Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven for him, and to bear the backlash from the remnant soul of the Thunder Palace for him.

And he, Sima Canglan, was merely a pawn from beginning to end.

"Third Brother is quite the schemer." He gritted his teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

"Sixth Brother, you flatter me." Sima Honglin was still smiling. "Third Brother just thought a few steps ahead of you."

He raised his hand again, and this time, a golden seal appeared in his palm.

The seal is engraved with eight ancient seal characters that read "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous," exuding a chilling aura of power.

The Imperial Jade Seal!

The moment the imperial seal appeared, the world changed color.

Above Lake Tai, the Azure Nether Heaven-Suppressing Seal above Fengyi's head emitted a buzzing sound, and its bronze aura trembled violently.

That was the connection between Law Treasure of the same level, and also the awe of a lower-level being towards a higher-level one.

In the Great Void, True Lord (Wang Lan) and True Lord (Xie Zeming) exchanged a glance, both seeing a complex emotion in each other's eyes.

The Imperial Jade Seal flew out of Sima Honglin's hand and hovered above the crack in the Thunder Nether Grotto-Heaven.

Golden light poured down from the seal, like a golden waterfall, flowing into the depths of the cave.

Inside the cave, the Thunder Giant let out a final, mournful cry before its body completely disintegrated.

The ball of lightning, hundreds of feet in diameter, began to shrink, condense, and purify under the golden light, eventually transforming into a fist-sized purplish-gold bead.

Thunder and Darkness Origin!

Sima Honglin reached out, and the purplish-gold bead flew out from the crack and landed in his palm.

Sima Honglin didn't look at Sima Canglan again at this moment. His gaze fell on the source of lightning in his palm, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"The essence of Thunder and Darkness... I've got it."

He opened his mouth and inhaled, and the power of origin transformed into a purple-gold pillar of light, surging into his mouth.

"Today, I, [Spring Rain Hong Dharma Heaven], have attained the Heavenly Position of Thunder, drawing upon the vastness of spring scenery as my aid."

"From this day forward, water shall be my crown—"

As soon as he finished speaking, the waters of the Eastern Sea surged upwards, transforming into a water-blue crown that landed on the head of Sima Honglin's Golden Core Dharma Image.

"Spring scenery, add my imperial robe--"

Spring returns to the earth, all things revive, and countless green life forces surge forth from the earth, weaving a vibrant robe that drapes over the shoulders of the Buddha.

"Thunder, lashing the world—"

Fa Xiang raised his hand, and a hundred-zhang-long thunder whip condensed in the void. The whip was crackling with lightning, and with each swing, a bolt of lightning struck the earth, creating a crater a hundred zhang in diameter.

Middle Golden Core Stage... Peak of the Middle Golden Core Stage... Late Golden Core Stage!

The three methods combined lead to the ultimate Golden Core Elixir!

Every action embodies the Principle of heaven and earth!

Thunder roared in the sky, and a heavenly tribulation was about to descend.

Sima Honglin raised his hand and waved it, unleashing a bolt of spring thunder that shattered all the heavenly tribulation lightning.

Behind him, a hundred-foot-tall phantom slowly coalesced—it was his Golden Core dharma form, wearing a heavenly crown, a spring robe, and holding a thunder whip, majestic like a god descending to earth.

Faxiang opened his eyes and recited:

"Spring thunder startles all insects, and all things begin to revive."

"Rain and dew nourish all living beings; the emperor's grace extends to the world."

"Whip and thunder shatter illusions, sit alone in the Juntian, ruling over the eight directions."

Zhang Chen, the [Great Peace Saves the World Heaven], looked at Sima Honglin's Dharma image, a trace of pity and determination flashing in his eyes!

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind..." he muttered to himself, "But how long can this oriole remain smug?"

"So blatant, so domineering, the three paths united as one? Have you not heard of the Thunder Palace of yesteryear, or even... the Mingyang?"

Sima Honglin put away his Dharma form, turned to look at the True Lord present, and smiled.