Fengyunlu

In that endless radiance, a beam of sword light shone like the first rays of dawn, glittering along the cracks and illuminating the place once again. The sun hung high in the sky, so bright that it was hard to open your eyes. For a moment, people were confused and wondered what had happened.

But within that light, a figure slowly emerged. He was slightly injured, with blood streaking from the corner of his mouth. He was the Martial Saint Jiang He, severely wounded by a single blow. Confused, he asked, "How did you find me?"

He sounded a little weak, obviously badly injured. Mo Wenjian's condition was not good either. He thrust out with his sword, and it felt like the whole world was chasing Jiang He. Although the "Heaven and Earth Are Merciless" move created by his senior brother Xie Qingshan was extremely powerful, he was not his senior brother after all. He did not have that kind of detached state of mind. If he used this move forcefully, he would kill the enemy first, but it was inevitable that he would get hurt. The power of the backlash made him suffer. In addition, the Martial Saint Jiang He was not an ordinary person. At the critical moment of the Jindan being broken, he resisted with an indomitable determination, and he was also injured by the sword. At the critical moment, he also injured Mo Wenjian, causing the sword intent in his mansion to be turbulent. The backlash of the Zonghengjianzang sword technique became more and more dangerous, and even a little out of control.

None of this was surprising. He had fought powerful enemies several times, using every possible tactic. Furthermore, many humble disciples were hidden within the Changli Sword, and his mansion was secretly protected by Moqiu, forcing him to split his attention and guard against possible reinforcements. Add all this together, and fight against the already formidable Martial Saint Jianghe. With one holding back while the other fought tooth and nail, it was a chaotic mess. There must have been something fishy going on in the mansion.

However, Mo Wenjian showed no signs of discomfort. It looked like he had wounded Jiang He with his sword, but at the critical moment, he held back. Only the Demon King noticed something was wrong. He was closest and could feel the turbulent edge the most.

He looked at Jiang He, then at Mo Wenjian. Although the Demon King didn't want to come, he had been tricked by Xu Yi and had no choice but to come to rescue his wife. With things already like this, and with the message from the Two Saints in the Clouds, he took action.

"Brother Canjian, I will spare your life, just retreat." The Demon King said, shaking his body and putting a hand on Mo Wenjian's shoulder. Countless true energy poured in instantly, giving him a great boost.

Mo Wenjian, receiving this boost, immediately dissipated the sword intent within him. His sword intent was completely suppressed, and his expression gradually calmed down. He turned to look at the Demon King and nodded gently. He couldn't delay any longer. If anything unexpected happened, he would lose control of his sword intent. Once the Hidden Sword Technique was unleashed, there would be no one left alive in Thundering Mountain.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Ji Yao in the distance calmly, then looked at Jiang He, his expression gradually becoming cold: "Goodbye."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Demon King also moved. Mo Wenjian swung his sword to clear the way, cutting through the obstacles and turning into a stream of light and disappearing. The Demon King was not willing to be left behind. He shook his cloak, and including Lei Xiao, the four brothers of Beichen Palace and a group of masters from his Immortal Demon Hall disappeared in an instant.

The Demon King took them in his cloak and led them away. He then reached out and pulled A-Li over. After a nod to Zhuang Mo, the two of them attacked one after another, unleashing endless demonic winds and a dark aura. A thick black fog instantly engulfed Thunder Mountain. Simultaneously, the Demon King vanished, dragging A-Li with him. Zhuang Mo vanished on the spot using his demonic spirit technique.

And just like that, the turmoil at Thunder Mountain was over. The Thunderbolt Hall disciples, led by Lei Gong, watched helplessly as the enemy retreated without making any move to stop them. Luo Hongchen and the others rushed to the rescue, but it was at this point that they chose to acquiesce. After all this was over, all that remained was to clean up the mess.

Luo Hongchen turned around first. As the Great Emperor, he had tacitly agreed to this. Lei Gong also knew that something must be going on. He floated up to him and bowed slightly with both hands: "Junior Lei Gong, greetings to Mr. Luo."

Luo Hongchen waved his hands quickly, but complained with a bit of fear: "Come on, you don't know the depth of your little thunder power, and you almost got into big trouble. Now let's go to the Thunder Pool first."

Luo Hongchen finished speaking and floated down, followed by Lei Gong. The two of them ignored others and entered the Thunder Pool one after another. Once inside, Lei Gong asked softly, "Grandpa Luo is deliberately indulging himself. Is there any way to resolve the crisis?"

Lei Gong's words held a profound meaning. He was referring to the enigmatic Thunder Pond Formation. This formation posed a significant challenge and must not be taken lightly. Furthermore, the immortal veins of Thunder Mountain were slowly but surely declining, and this was undeniable. Once these veins were destroyed, the entire Thunder Mountain would wither. Not only would the Thunderbolt Hall be doomed, but the surrounding people and creatures would also suffer.

Luo Hongchen understood the seriousness of the matter. He nodded and said mysteriously, "Don't worry, I, an old man, have a trick up my sleeve."

As soon as the words fell, the two of them jumped into the depths of the thunder pool. Luo Hongchen glanced around and found that the purple heavenly divine thunder that had been churning in the thunder pool had weakened a bit. Although he didn't know where they had gone, a closer look revealed that the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Pool seemed to be slowly disappearing.

The process was so slow it was almost imperceptible, but Luo Hongchen, as a Great Emperor, though he didn't practice thunder magic, was still somewhat aware of these changes. Lei Gong, as the head of the Thunderbolt Hall, was intimately acquainted with everything in Thunder Mountain, sensing every movement in the Thunder Pond. However, he had been severely injured and forced himself to move, leaving him weak. Furthermore, with Luo Hongchen present, as a junior, he felt hesitant to step out too much, despite being the landlord. Therefore, Luo Hongchen had previously allowed everything to go its own way. Although Lei Gong had harbored doubts, he said nothing and didn't intervene.

Luo Hongchen observed for a while, finally discovering the key lies in the mysterious formation and the nine golden lotuses resting quietly at the bottom of the thunder pool. These nine lotuses represent the power of Thunder Mountain's immortal veins, the embodiment of the immortal spirit, and the manifestation of all origins. It could be said that any small change in these nine lotuses would affect Thunder Mountain and even the entire Fuyang Mountain Range, causing unnecessary trouble. The extent of these troubles, and the severity of the consequences, depended on the specific changes in the lotuses.

Eight of the nine golden lotuses were still in good condition, the largest one standing proudly in the center, the other eight surrounding it in a circle. Not to mention the lotus leaves and flowerbed, the smallest one was a little wilted, its pistil dry, and its petals shrunken at the edges, and it looked like a petal was about to fall off.

Luo Hongchen knew he couldn't delay any longer. Once the petals fell, the golden lotus would be completely lost. Fortunately, the golden lotus still had some life left, not yet completely severed from the immortal veins of Thunder Mountain. As long as it was replenished or connected to the immortal veins of Thunder Mountain in a timely manner to repair it, the golden lotus's spiritual energy would be restored, and the decaying golden lotus would heal on its own.

But the first priority was to repair the Golden Lotus, and the key task was to cut off the mysterious formation's absorption of the entire Thunder Pond and Thunder Mountain's immortal vein power. Only in this way could they effectively repair and replenish the power. Otherwise, no matter how much they replenished, it would be in vain, and the immortal vein power would continue to be lost.

Speaking of that mysterious formation, Luo Hongchen couldn't help but frown. This formation dated back to ancient times, and he didn't know its secrets. But it held great significance, even the Cangyun Emperor, Bai Qianyi, held it in high regard. Before Luo Hongchen left the South Sea, Bai Qianyi personally sent a message, telling him that if he failed to hold the formation in the Thunder Pool, or if he arrived too late, he must protect the key to the Thunder Power and ensure its safety. The consequences of losing the Thunder Power would be disastrous.

As for the items taken from the formation, Luo Hongchen didn't intend to force them. Even if they were retrieved, they would be useless without the secret method. Only Lei Gong knew the secret method, which could temporarily break through the barrier between heaven and man. Using his secret method, he could guide the power of heaven and earth into the formation. Combined with the trace of mortal nature brought by Luo Hongchen's earthly power, he could temporarily protect the formation. Although the future was unknown, at least he could ensure that the immortal power of Leiming Mountain would not be consumed. This must not be lost, otherwise there would be endless trouble.

Furthermore, if Lei Gong was already dead by the time Luo Hongchen arrived, they would have to prepare for the worst. It was still unclear what was hidden within the mysterious formation, but Bai Qianyi repeatedly emphasized that it contained a method personally left behind by the Cangyun Sect's ancestor, Baidi.

Long, long ago, the world was less orderly. The boundaries between heaven and earth blurred, and demons and monsters roamed the world, bringing countless troubles to humanity. Yet, at the same time, the world also held some wondrous peaks and perilous locations, offering insights or aiding practitioners in their pursuit of spiritual perfection. Thunder Mountain is one such wonderland, emerging from the aftermath of an unknown war. While it harbors many secrets, the mysteries of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder have been passed down. Rather than completely erasing these treasures, the White Emperor preserved them as a testing ground, hoping that those destined to encounter them would find enlightenment there in the future.

History has proven Baidi's wisdom. Lei Xiong, the founder of the Thunderbolt Hall, found his destiny in Thunder Mountain. He practiced in seclusion within the Thunder Pond and eventually founded the Thunderbolt Hall, a sect whose traditions have been passed down for millennia. Although Lei Xiong did not achieve immortality, the teachings he left behind have been of great benefit to the later Taoist sects and human society.

The Thunderbolt Hall has been passed down for over thirty generations. While it hasn't produced any earth-shattering geniuses, its unwavering commitment to justice, its dedication to exorcising demons and upholding justice, and its commitment to helping the world is nothing short of remarkable. In modern times, the Thunderbolt Hall has even produced a master like Lei Gong. Furthermore, there's a mysterious junior within the hall, cultivating in secret, unknown to outsiders, yet even masters like Bai Qianyi have a sense of his own.

This was also why Bai Qianyi repeatedly urged Luo Hongchen to do her utmost to protect the Thunderbolt Hall. As long as Leiming Mountain was safe, both Lei Gong and that mysterious young man had the potential to achieve immortality. If any of them could take that final step, Bai Qianyi's centuries of hard work would be realized, and he could boldly pursue his dreams, even at the cost of everything.

Bai Qianyi's heart held not only the Xuan Sect but the entire world. This was the noble sentiment of the Great Emperor Cang Yun. His gaze extended beyond the Cang Yun Sect alone; he sincerely hoped that any sect within the Xuan Sect, as long as they held good intentions and harbored no harm, could break the barrier between heaven and man and explore the secrets of the Cang Road. For years, no one within the Xuan Sect had been able to break through this barrier, which was the reason for his continued patience. He feared someone might plot against the Xuan Sect, or even against the entire world. Otherwise, with the Great Emperor Cang Yun's cultivation, he would have attempted it long ago. Even if he failed, he would have left behind valuable experience and perhaps even paved the way for future generations.

Luo Hongchen pondered Bai Qianyi's words. If anything went wrong with the formation, and Lei Gong was killed, they could withdraw all the spiritual forces from the Thunderbolt Hall and the surrounding area. Then, by channeling a trace of their blood back through Fengchen, the power of the Cloud Phoenix would activate the method left by the White Emperor. After that, they could retreat unscathed and wait for everything to be completely wiped out.

As for the losses in the Fuyang Mountains, once Thundering Mountain returns, its immortal energy will naturally be replenished. This process is a bittersweet experience for the thousand-year-old lineage of the Thunderbolt Hall. They can only find another place to practice the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Art. Whether they succeed depends on their luck. Whether they decline or thrive depends entirely on chance. Others can only assist, not interfere.

Fortunately, Luo Hongchen arrived just in time to stop Lei Gong's desperate act. The disciples of the Thunderbolt Hall, deeply concerned for the well-being of the world, would rather see their sect destroyed than unleash the unknown threat within the mysterious formation. After all, it concerns the safety of the entire world, and no one knows what disaster it will bring.

"Grandpa Luo, what should we do?" Lei Gong asked. He and Luo Hongchen had already reached the edge of the formation. Lei Gong had explored this mysterious formation more than once, but each time he tried to enter, he was pushed back by a mysterious force. The surroundings were also extremely eerie, as if they harbored a terrifying murderous intent, as if forcing his way in would lead to ruthless destruction. Therefore, despite Lei Gong's numerous visits, he had never truly ventured inside. Even when Fengchen was refining his body, he repeatedly warned himself not to approach, even if guided or summoned by an external force.

Luo Hongchen frowned slightly and carefully observed a corner of the formation, noticing some fluctuations and the emanation of devouring power. He speculated that the demonic mound must have entered from here. As for how it had done so, or what it had done, Luo Hongchen had no idea. But he did know the key to the current repair.

Luo Hongchen pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Lei Gong, you use your secret techniques to channel the power of heaven and earth, and I'll complement you with the power of the mortal world. Let's see if we can temporarily stabilize this formation's engulfing momentum." Lei Gong nodded, took a deep breath, and began to practice his secret techniques. A shimmering light shone around him, drawing strands of the power of heaven and earth into him. Luo Hongchen, not slowing down, formed hand seals, and channeled the power of the mortal world into it like a thread. However, the mysterious formation proved incredibly stubborn, its devouring force remaining fierce. As the two struggled to hold on, a deep rumble erupted from the depths of the thunder pool, as if something was about to awaken. Luo Hongchen's face darkened. "Oh no! I'm afraid something's about to happen." As soon as he finished speaking, a massive black shadow soared into the sky from the bottom of the thunder pool. It was a thunder beast emanating an evil aura. This thunder beast, shaped by the resentment within the thunder pool, had awakened due to the unusual movement of the formation. Its bloody maw opened wide and it pounced upon Luo Hongchen and Lei Gong. Without time to think, the two men drew their swords to meet the enemy, and a new fierce battle began.