Chapter 578 437: Journey to Ziyan (Part 2)

"To operate this Dharma Altar, one must have cultivated either the Mysterious Thunder Pool or the Winter Thunder Sound… If, after me, there is no one to inherit this practice, then this Path shall be severed."

As this thought flashed through her heart, another matter arose in her mind:

"This cultivation technique was gifted by Ling Yanzi from Ziyan Sect in those years… I've never gotten a clear answer about it. I fear I cannot delay any longer. Whether or not it was arranged by the Zifu, I must make a trip to Ziyan Sect!"

Li Qinghong reached into her storage bag and took out a token. This token shone with a violet luster, quite beautiful. She gazed at it for a moment:

"That year, Ling Yanzi left this token, allowing my family's disciples to enter Ziyan Sect. It just happens to be useful now!"

"For this journey, I shall first depart for Ziyan Sect to visit Ling Yanzi, then head toward the East Sea to gather thunderbolts."

Having resolved herself, she stood up, swept up a few letters by the altar, and casually flipped through them, a hint of joy appearing on her face as she thought to herself:

'Second Uncle has finally left the Southern Border!'

At once she rode the thunderbolt and flew away, descending upon Qingdu Mountain, where Li Xijun, having just finished cultivating, was drinking water in the courtyard.

Li Qinghong explained her intention. Li Xijun nodded silently, speaking softly:

"Situ Mo is trapped on the Jindou Path—just the time for travel. Since Aunt is going to the East Sea, she can meet Second Great Uncle on the way."

"As for Ziyan Sect…"

Li Xijun asked:

"Which junior from our household will you send?"

Li Qinghong pondered for a moment and replied softly:

"Most of the Chengming Generation are of ordinary talent. Chenghuai must remain at home… Only Yuexiang has slightly better aptitude…"

Li Xijun shook his head and said:

"Uncle Yuanjiao hasn't spoken. This matter cannot be accomplished. It's better to set it aside for now. Aunt, you may go ask Uncle Yuanjiao in the East Sea and return before it's too late."

"Very well."

Seeing this, Li Qinghong could only nod. She packed her things, rode the wind alone, while Li Xijun escorted her to the shore of Wangyue Lake, then picked up a sword technique, read it twice, closed the stone doors, and began meditating.

The spring breeze lingered on Qingdu Mountain, vegetation flourished, celestial towers and pavilions, with only a few wandering figures, all gradually submerged in the encroaching dusk.

…

Li Qinghong had just departed Qingdu when a fine continuous rain began to fall. Looking out, she saw endless stretches of dark clouds. The rain was not heavy, but fell persistently without pause. She rode the wind for ages and still saw no end to these clouds.

If not for the recent message from the Dharma Altar, Li Qinghong would have had no suspicion, thinking it nothing but spring rain. But seeing this now, she felt it was the omen of a failed Golden Core tribulation.

She traveled on the wind, passing through Yu Fu County and Dongli Mountain, soon seeing from afar the boundary of Ziyan Sect. In midair there stood a female cultivator, robed in Ziyan colors, fingers calculating the sky, dusky brows slightly knitted.

Li Qinghong approached on a current of electricity. The female cultivator quickly regained her senses, respectfully greeted her, and said softly:

"Disciple Shen Yanqing of Ziyan Sect pays respects to Senior. Might I ask..."

"Li Qinghong of the Li Family, Qingdu."

This female cultivator was at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, similar in age to Li Xijun. On hearing this, she was surprised:

"So it is Senior! Yanqing has long admired your name."

Li Qinghong's name was not well-known, so she took it as polite words, not expecting this female cultivator to step forward, her voice gentle:

"I've recently heard rumors that Senior has successfully established your Foundation. Thunder cultivators are already rare in the world, and even rarer among female cultivators who succeed in Foundation Establishment. I greatly admire you."

Li Qinghong sensed for a moment, then asked in surprise:

"You are also a Thunder Cultivator?"

"Indeed!"

Shen Yanqing curved her eyes with a smile and replied:

"Junior hails from the Shen Family of Xiuyue. Practicing under the Ziyan Sect, our own Perfected Person once received a thunder Dharma, so there has always been a thunder law inheritance in my clan."

"Ah, so you're a direct line of an Immortal Clan."

The Shen Family, being a Zifu Immortal Clan under the Xiuyue Sect in Xu Country, had a long legacy. This young woman's status was equal to that of Xiao Yuansi from the Xiao Family, quite distinguished. Yet Shen Yanqing showed no arrogance, eagerly welcoming Li Qinghong and asked:

"What brings Senior on this visit?"

Li Qinghong replied:

"I came to visit Senior Ling Yanzi."

Shen Yanqing understood, produced a purple token, and led her within. Soon, peaks rose up one after another, their heads lost amid dense purple clouds. These threads of purple Qi spun and curled, taking myriad forms, creating a transcendent Immortal air, with exquisite towers and pavilions throughout.

Ziyan Sect, occupying this wondrous domain, had for many years gathered a wealth of related cultivation techniques, rendering this Immortal Mountain a paradise for Immortal Sects. Often, cultivators from far lands or overseas would make arduous journeys to gather its Qi.

"This Ziyan Blessed Land is famed far and wide—six or seven parts of all the world's Ziqi emerges here. Any Ziqi Toaist Lineage considers this place a Holy Land of Cultivation. If Senior arrives at the right moment, when the sun rises, that is truly an Immortal sight to behold."

Shen Yanqing watched Li Qinghong admire the scene and laughed:

"The old Peak Master always boasted of his friendship with your noble family—it seems the day has finally come."

Li Qinghong had long heard from Li Tongya that Ling Yanzi had an unorthodox personality. She smiled slightly and saw Shen Yanqing softly say:

"Junior cultivates Sky Thunder, practicing the 'Cloud Sky Thunder Dharma.' If I can form my Taoist Foundation, I shall attain the 'Light Thunderfall'… May I ask, Senior, which Dharma is yours?"

Li Qinghong did not know why she was being asked, so replied politely:

"'Mysterious Thunder Pool.'"

'Mysterious Thunder Pool…'

Shen Yanqing pondered for a moment, frowning:

"I have not heard of that one…"

"It is originally from 'Winter Thunder Sound.'"

Li Qinghong added. Shen Yanqing nodded in realization and joyfully said:

"Ah, so it is also Sky Thunder! If fate allows, I hope to someday see Senior's Thunder Altar."

There was much revealed in these words. Li Qinghong became thoughtful and mused:

"So, Sky Thunder... It seems those who cultivate Sky Thunder all possess the technique of altar rites. The Shen family has a truly ancient tradition—this is worth inquiring further about!"

Seeing Li Qinghong smile and nod, Shen Yanqing beamed warmly, quickly growing closer, then said:

"We, of the Three Thunder Lineages, are not like others—we cannot endure Blood Qi. Thus, our fellow practitioners are especially close. When I achieve Foundation Establishment, I will demonstrate the Lightning Invocation Art for Senior!"

Li Qinghong started slightly, only now realizing thunder cultivators cannot ingest Blood Qi. In a flash, many past puzzles were answered, a sense of sudden enlightenment arising:

'No wonder! No wonder the South River lacks Thunder Law Lineages! Thunder Dharma has declined overseas and in South River! So it is—no wonder this young lady is so warm to me!'

Most of the elixir circulating throughout South River is forged with Blood Qi. If ingesting Blood Qi truly harms thunder cultivators, how could these Thunder Dharma lineages not decline? Among the Three Sects and Seven Doors, thunder inheritance is rare; rarer still is advancing to Zifu. Most clan and loose cultivators remain ignorant, so Thunder Dharma is even harder to master.

But Shen Yanqing went on:

"There are some elixirs of which, I'm sure, Senior is aware—if a Thunder cultivator takes Blood Qi, their cultivation will first accelerate, then soon slow, causing the unknowing to consume more eagerly, only to stagnate, unable to break through. Their lifespan greatly diminishes as result..."

Li Qinghong grew uneasy anew. Fortunately, when she was young, the Li Family was destitute, with no decent elixirs to take. Later, she was sent to the Fei Clan, which also lacked such resources.

When she began Qi Cultivation, Li Yuanjiao obtained the White Talisman, so the family's rare resources were diverted there. Li Qinghong only ever took one or two, perhaps from the Xiao Family at that, never much, so she survived. Later, Wang Xun revealed the truth, and she never took any again.

Even so, Li Qinghong now realized why her cultivation speed slowed at the third or fourth level of Qi Cultivation—it must have been due to those couple of elixirs.

She softly let out a breath, deeply grateful toward her grandfather Li Tongya, even as a small doubt arose in her heart:

"Could it be… Grandfather had already guessed something, so arranged everything step by step?"

She was lost in thought for a moment, but quickly corrected herself, and another flash of understanding arose:

"No wonder this young lady feels so close to me. If the Thunder Law Toaist Lineages cannot touch Blood Qi, they cannot use joint-cultivation pills to enhance either their cultivation or Divine Skills—thus, there are far fewer misgivings."

Shen Yanqing continued ahead, warmly introducing all that was wondrous about Ziyan Sect, while Li Qinghong's mind had shifted entirely, now walking amidst the purple clouds of the Sect with a sense of relieved happiness.