Chapter 119: Thunder Pool

"I, the city lord, have brought the items; from now on it's up to you."

In the main hall of Cheng Zhu Fu, Zhao Tianhe took out a jade box and placed it on the table.

Tie Li's gaze lingered briefly; this jade box was much larger than the one he had received.

"Lord Zhao, rest assured, I'll open the jade box for you now," Yu Yao said with a smile.

Yu Yao took a pendant from his bosom; its shape matched the Fenglei Sect's seal exactly.

The moment they touched, the jade box opened automatically.

"What? How can there be nothing inside?" Zhao Tianhe snatched the jade box; it was empty.

Yu Yao's expression changed; he took the jade box from Zhao Tianhe to inspect it and confirmed it was indeed empty.

"Could it be that the Cheng family received an empty box?" Yu Yao said.

If that were true, a group of Soul Masters would cause so much trouble over an empty box?

Zhao Tianhe's eyes flickered, repeatedly lingering on Yu Yao.

"Enough, let's go."

After Zhao Tianhe and Tie Li left, Yu Yao's demeanor gradually returned to normal.

"The only time I can help you has become the last time I help you; but he cannot leave Baiya City, I will adopt him as a foster son, and he can still achieve greatness."

By the end, a hint of greed flashed in Yu Yao's eyes.

"Zhao Laoshi, aren't you curious where his jade pendant came from?" Tie Li said.

A city lord of Baiya City actually possesses a Fenglei Sect jade pendant that can open a Fenglei Sect jade box; the combination inevitably raises questions.

They were about to head to the Fenglei Sect ruins; if they could bring the pendant, there might be unexpected gains.

"I know what you're thinking, but you must not act against him," Zhao Tianhe said.

Tie Li was puzzled but said nothing further.

After returning to the inn to rest for a night, they set out the next day as usual toward the Fenglei Sect ruins.

Tie Li kept the jade box in his storage ring, unwilling to take it out lightly for fear of discovery.

When sufficient profit is at stake, all ties appear fragile; Tie Li did not know what treasure lay inside the jade box, so he dared not gamble.

On the journey, they occasionally encountered bandits or Soul Beasts, which were no big deal and could be dealt with easily.

As the two drew nearer to the Fenglei Sect ruins, Tie Li could feel the Thunder and Lightning Attribute growing ever stronger in the air.

The Fenglei Sect ruins lie on a mountain peak that stretches for thousands of meters, piercing the sky.

At the foot of the mountain, Imperial troops guarded the area; this locale is uniquely suited, a prime spot for Soul Masters with a wind martial soul or a thunder martial soul.

Such a fine place would not be abandoned, allowing some SoulMasterForce to profit.

Currently, the royal family is negotiating with several major domestic nobles, urging them to provide sufficient profit in exchange for the Fenglei Sect ruins.

When Tie Li reached the mountain base, his soul power began to surge, with faint purple arcs of electricity flickering around him.

"How does it feel?"

"Quite good."

Excitement shone in Tie Li's eyes; even without training in Leichi, merely meditating atop the peak would accelerate his cultivation considerably.

"Take me up the mountain first."

Rows of troops occupied the foothill, their armor and spears glinting coldly, demanding respect.

"Idle persons are not permitted to enter this area."

Before they lingered long at the foothill, a squad of soldiers appeared and blocked them.

"We come from the Tian Dou Royal Academy,"

Having said so, they produced the Token representing the royal house.

As a soldier, he could not possibly be unfamiliar with the royal emblem.

"Sir, please wait a moment," the leading soldier said, not daring to delay, and immediately summoned a higher-ranking officer.

Soon, under the soldiers' guidance, a general hurried over.

Zhao Tianhe gave him a brief briefing, then led Tie Li up the mountain.

As a general, he naturally understood the significance of the royal Token.

The closer they got to the peak, the more active their soul power became.

Soon they beheld a wasteland; this had once been the Fenglei Sect's stronghold, now reduced to ruins.

Occasionally, a few Soul Masters could be seen around the ruins, having paid a Gold Soul Coin, all here to search for treasures beneath the rubble, with only two hours allotted.

Further upward, a team formed by a Soul Elder blocked the only passage.

The only two undamaged sacred sites were the Wind Cavern and Leichi.

With Imperial orders in place, ordinary people find it hard to enter.

"Royal Token? Fine, let them pass."

Seeing Zhao Tianhe produce the royal Token, the leading general signaled the soldiers to let them through.

The soul power aura emanating from this general was no weaker than Zhao Tianhe's; at worst, he was a Six-ring Soul Emperor.

"Much obliged."

Zhao Tianhe was about to lead Tie Li onward when they were stopped.

"One Token permits only one person to enter; this is the order."

Zhao Tianhe's gaze shifted slightly; he hadn't expected entry to Leichi to be so restricted. Though Leichi held little allure for him, witnessing the former training sanctuary of the Fenglei Sect was still worthwhile.

"Da Li, take care yourself," Zhao Tianhe handed the Token to Tie Li.

"Hmm, thank you, Zhao Laoshi."

Holding the Token, Tie Li passed through this Soul Elder army, his soul power began to stir, guiding the direction of Leichi.

This feeling is very strange, even though it's your first time here, you just know the exact location of Leichi.

Even the ground has fine arcs of electricity surging out, like slender lightning snakes writhing.

The Thunder and Lightning Attribute in the air has reached an astonishing level, and the Purple Thunder Hammer Spirit uncontrollably manifested in Tie Li's hand.

Two yellow, two purple, four Soul Rings float up and down.

Tie Li walked forward step by step, the arcs in the air interweaving and colliding with the purple arcs on his body, allowing him to clearly sense the prickling on his skin.

"Is my Thunder and Lightning Attribute weaker than the lightning around Leichi?"

Just a hundred meters away from reaching Leichi, his body emitted repeated tearing sensations; if he continues forward, his physique cannot endure the shock of thunder and lightning and may be extinguished in the Lightning Light.

Tie Li sat cross‑legged on the spot, attempting to cultivate using the surrounding thunder and lightning, thinking he could gradually adapt, just as he once did in Baidi.

But Tie Li guessed wrong; the surrounding thunder and lightning had a distinct repelling feeling, constantly striking his body, preventing normal cultivation.

If he stays here any longer, not only can he not cultivate, but his physique may also suffer irreversible damage.

Tie Li's gaze shifted slightly, and he took out the jade box.

Although he doesn't know what's inside the jade box, for now he can only try his luck with it.

Having cultivated the Lei Long Meditation Method, Tie Li's soul power now contains a trace of the Yinlei Magic Dragon's characteristic.

This Lei Long Meditation Method was originally created as an exclusive meditation for the Yin Lei Mo Long Martial Soul.

(End of chapter)