Chapter 824

The cultivation world of the "Donghuang Kingdom," Pingzhou.

"Pingzhou" is located in the southeast of the "Donghuang Kingdom" and is a relatively small prefecture. The strongest cultivation forces within it are only a few Nascent Soul sects.

And the "Thunder Cloud Valley," located in the west of Pingzhou, is a territory controlled by one of the Nascent Soul sects, the "Five Thunders Sect."

In its early years, the "Five Thunders Sect" had also produced a Soul Transformation cultivator, once ranking among the top sects in the entire "Donghuang Kingdom" cultivation world.

But because tens of thousands of years have passed, after that Soul Transformation Chen Chen Laozu passed away, the sect was never able to produce another Soul Transformation cultivator, and the foundation left behind had been mostly consumed by later generations.

However, as an old-school Nascent Soul sect with tens of thousands of years of heritage, although the "Five Thunders Sect" had long since lost its former glory, its strength still ranked among the top of the many Nascent Soul sects in the entire "Donghuang Immortal Continent."

To this day, the "Five Thunders Sect" still has five Nascent Soul cultivators and occasionally manages to squeeze into the top ten sects of the "Donghuang Kingdom," making it a relatively strong Nascent Soul sect.

On this day, outside a marketplace near "Thunder Cloud Valley," a young man in azure robes strolled to the entrance of the marketplace.

After passing the identity verification by the cultivators guarding the marketplace entrance, the azure-robed man soon walked into the marketplace and then went directly to the tallest pavilion in the middle of the marketplace.

The azure-robed man looked up at the "Five Thunders Pavilion" sign hanging high above and strode inside.

After speaking a few words to the cultivator who came to receive him, the azure-robed man was soon led to the second-floor hall. Immediately after, a white-clad man with cultivation at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment came before him.

The white-clad man scanned the azure-robed man sitting in front, felt the powerful aura emanating from him, and hurriedly stepped forward to bow and salute with a smile.

"This Senior, I am Wu Qiyun, the manager of the Five Thunders Pavilion here. May I ask what business brings you to us?"

After the other party revealed his identity, Song Qingming set down his teacup, nodded gently with a smile, and then a flash of spiritual light in his hand revealed a palm-sized silver token, which he sent directly into the hands of Wu Qiyun not far away.

"This... this is a sect Elder token. Why is it in your hands, Senior?"

Seeing the silver token Song Qingming took out, Wu Qiyun recognized at a glance that this was an item held only by the sect's Jin Dan Elders. A look of surprise appeared on his face, and he could not help but ask Song Qingming beside him.

Seeing the other party's surprise, Song Qingming was not surprised and slowly began to explain the process of how he obtained this item.

This silver token was found by Song Qingming on the corpse of a Jin Dan cultivator he discovered while collecting Heaven and Earth Divine Thunder in "Taiyuehu" of the Song Kingdom.

At that time, besides this sect Elder token, there were also some spirit stones, cultivation manuals, and other spiritual items on the other party.

Song Qingming had collected all these things. Just happening to pass through Pingzhou during this trip to the "Donghuang Kingdom" cultivation world, he came to the "Five Thunders Sect" where that person belonged, intending to help return these relics.

After hearing Song Qingming's explanation, a look of caution appeared on Wu Qiyun's face. He then bowed and said, "Senior, this matter involves a Jin Dan Elder of our sect. My cultivation is low, and I cannot make decisions on this matter. Please wait here for a moment, Senior, while I return to the sect to report this."

"Hmm! Little Friend, please do as you wish." Song Qingming waved his hand and lifted the teacup on the table to take a sip.

Seeing this, Wu Qiyun called a shop assistant from downstairs to help entertain Song Qingming, while he himself took the silver token and hurried away from the "Five Thunders Pavilion."

After half a stick of incense had passed, entertained by the shop assistant beside him, Song Qingming, who had already changed several cups of spirit tea, was thinking of getting up to walk around.

A handsome man in black robes suddenly walked up from the hall downstairs, bringing Wu Qiyun and several others with him.

The black-robed man walking in front scanned Song Qingming with a sharp gaze, said nothing more, and directly took out the silver token.

"Did you return this item?"

Feeling the aura emanating from the person, which was clearly beyond the scope of a Jin Dan cultivator, Song Qingming felt a trace of surprise, hurriedly stood up, stepped forward, and bowed.

"Greetings, Senior!"

"Senior is correct. This item was obtained by this junior unintentionally several years ago. Today, I happened to pass through your sect's territory, so I took the initiative to return it.

Besides this token, the rest of the items are here. Please take a look, Senior!"

After Song Qingming finished speaking, a flash of spiritual light in his hand revealed all the relics from the storage bag he had obtained at "Taiyuehu," and he quickly sent them before the black-robed man and the others.

Before that "Five Thunders Sect" Elder fell, he was only a Jin Dan initial-stage cultivator.

Before Song Qingming came, he thought that returning the other party's relics was not a big deal. He never expected that this matter would actually alarm a Nascent Soul Chen Chen Laozu of the "Five Thunders Sect," which truly surprised him.

After searching through these spiritual items, the black-robed man's gaze suddenly fell on a somewhat damaged jade pendant magic treasure.

"Dragon Creek Pendant... it really is Junior Brother Chen's relic. I did not expect him to have fallen outside for hundreds of years!"

The Chen-surnamed Elder who died at "Taiyuehu" was named Chen Mengtang, and he was a direct fellow apprentice of the black-robed man from the "Five Thunders Sect" before him, Zhao Mengyang.

Not only that, Chen Mengtang was also a descendant of Zhao Mengyang's master. Back when Zhao Mengyang had not yet broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, he and Chen Mengtang had an excellent relationship in the sect.

Zhao Zhao Jibai of years ago, after Chen Mengtang went out to travel and went missing, Zhao Mengyang, under his master's orders, took sect cultivators to the Floating Yunshan range cultivation world to search for him.

However, because he did not know the specific location where Chen Mengtang went missing, Zhao Mengyang searched the Floating Yunshan range for several years but still gained nothing, and in the end, could only return helplessly.

Zhao Zhao Jibai of years passed, and they were never able to find news of Chen Mengtang. This matter had always been a thorn in the side of their master and disciple.

Before Zhao Mengyang's master passed away, he still did not forget to instruct Zhao Mengyang, who had already formed his Nascent Soul, to be sure to retrieve the remains of his Junior Brother Chen Mengtang in the future.

Although his cultivation had broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, he was still unable to do anything about this matter. He had sent disciples to the Floating Yunshan range cultivation world several times to inquire for news, but the results were always nothing.

It was not until now that Song Qingming returned Chen Mengtang's relics that Zhao Mengyang finally had news of his Junior Brother who had been missing for hundreds of years.

Looking at the jade pendant magic treasure in his hand, Zhao Mengyang felt a wave of emotion; he had finally been able to fulfill his master's instruction from all those years ago.

Although Song Qingming had already explained in detail the process of how he found Chen Mengtang's remains when he returned the relics earlier, Zhao Mengyang still questioned Song Qingming carefully in person.

Regarding this, Song Qingming, whose heart was upright, naturally did not hide anything. He patiently explained the process in detail to everyone again and also informed them of the location where Chen Mengtang's remains were buried.

After all, Chen Mengtang's fall had happened hundreds of years ago. Song Qingming likely hadn't even been born then. No matter how suspicious the other party was, it was impossible for them to suspect him.

After clarifying the whole matter, Zhao Mengyang nodded slightly and put away Chen Mengtang's relics.

"I once promised my master that I would retrieve my Junior Brother's remains and place them in the sect's cemetery.

Little Friend Song, you were able to travel thousands of miles to return the relics of our sect's Elder to 'Thunder Cloud Valley.' You have indeed fulfilled a wish that has been hidden in my heart for many years.

This favor, whether it is I or the sect, should be remembered.

I wonder if you have any requests on this trip, Little Friend? You can tell me. As long as it is convenient for me, I will naturally use it to reward you!"

Chen Mengtang was a Jin Dan Elder of the Nascent Soul sect "Five Thunders Sect," so his status should not be too low. Before returning his relics this time, Song Qingming naturally thought that the other party would take out spiritual items to reward him.

However, at first, Song Qingming only thought that he could get some spirit stone rewards; he never expected that this matter would alarm a Nascent Soul cultivator to come in person.

Hearing Zhao Mengyang's words now, Song Qingming knew that the other party likely wouldn't be too stingy. After pondering for a moment, he bowed to Zhao Mengyang not far away and said slowly, "To tell you the truth, although this junior cultivates far away in the Floating Yunshan range, I am quite interested in the Dao of Thunder. I have always wanted to find an item that can carry and store Heaven and Earth Divine Thunder.

I wonder if your sect has any similar magic treasures? This junior would like to request one, or purchasing it with spirit stones is also fine."

Ever since he cultivated the "Heaven-Devouring Thunder-Controlling Art," because the technique required swallowing and refining Heaven and Earth Divine Thunder, Song Qingming had been wanting to find a magic treasure that would allow him to store these "Heaven and Earth Divine Thunder" at any time.

Otherwise, every time he found "Heaven and Earth Divine Thunder" in the wild, it was truly inconvenient to swallow and refine it.

Last time at "Taiyuehu," when Song Qingming was refining the Divine Thunder he had just obtained, he was suddenly attacked by Ma Wuchen. If it hadn't been for Song Qingyu helping him block the other party for a while, he would likely have failed.

However, there were not many sects in the cultivation world that practiced thunder-attribute techniques. Over the years, Song Qingming had inquired outside for a long time but had no results.

This time, having arrived at the "Five Thunders Sect," which was skilled in thunder techniques, he couldn't help but want to try his luck to see if he could get what he wanted here.

"Oh! So Little Friend also practices thunder-attribute techniques. No wonder when you first came in, I felt a trace of thunder-fire aura on you.

The spiritual item Little Friend wants to store Heaven and Earth Divine Thunder... although I don't know what you intend to use it for, this item is indeed difficult to find. I do not have such a spiritual item on me right now."

After Zhao Mengyang finished speaking, he paused and then continued, "However, since Little Friend has taken the initiative to make this request, I have heard that a Senior Brother in the sect has a similar magic treasure. But whether I can exchange it from him, I cannot guarantee to you.

If Little Friend insists on this item, I can try my best. If it doesn't work, then I can only exchange it for another spiritual item I can provide. Do you think this is feasible?"

"Thank you, Senior, for your help!"

Hearing Zhao Mengyang's words, Song Qingming did not hesitate and immediately agreed, then happily bowed to Zhao Mengyang before him. — Three days later, on a high mountain thousands of miles away from "Thunder Cloud Valley," a streak of azure flight light suddenly fell from afar. Standing on the mountain peak, Song Qingming scanned the surroundings. His originally empty left hand suddenly exerted force, gathering a streak of white thunder light that continuously emitted "crackle" sounds of agitation in his hand.

A moment later, a flash of spiritual light appeared beside Song Qingming, and a silver bronze lamp appeared out of thin air. After this silver lamp appeared, seven streaks of different-colored spiritual light immediately flashed on it, instantly illuminating the surroundings in colorful hues.

Before long, under Song Qingming's control, the silver bronze lamp shot out a streak of seven-colored spiritual light, pulling the white Divine Thunder in Song Qingming's hand into the bronze lamp.

"Hehe! It really works. The Five Thunders Sect is worthy of being a Nascent Soul sect with tens of thousands of years of heritage. This trip was truly not in vain!"

Seeing that the originally very agitated white thunder light became calm and docile after entering the silver bronze lamp, a look of joy immediately appeared on Song Qingming's face.

This silver bronze lamp was called the "Seven-Colored Lei Guang Lamp," a very rare third-tier top-quality magic treasure with the effect of controlling Heaven and Earth Divine Thunder. Its power was much stronger than the "Thunder Gathering Bead" Song Qingming possessed.

The "Seven-Colored Lei Guang Lamp" in Song Qingming's hand was the reward he received from Zhao Mengyang after waiting for several days outside "Thunder Cloud Valley."

Song Qingming, who had only been holding a glimmer of hope, did not expect that Zhao Mengyang would actually help him exchange for this spiritual item, and in the end, he didn't even accept a single spirit stone from Song Qingming, directly bestowing this magic treasure upon him.

One must know that a third-tier top-quality magic treasure on the market is worth at least thirty or forty thousand spirit stones, and this "Seven-Colored Lei Guang Lamp" is an even rarer magic treasure with unique supernatural powers.

For such a valuable spiritual item to be bestowed upon him so generously by Zhao Mengyang, Song Qingming felt surprised while also feeling the extravagance of these Nascent Soul cultivators from large sects.

Even after leaving "Thunder Cloud Valley" for a long time, Song Qingming still felt incredibly emotional, wondering if he had just become too accustomed to being poor over the years.

Regardless, this trip to the "Five Thunders Sect," which was originally unintentional, had indeed yielded Song Qingming quite a harvest.

Not only did he exchange some worthless relics from Chen Mengtang for the "Seven-Colored Lei Guang Lamp," a magic treasure very useful to him, but he also managed to get on familiar terms with a Nascent Soul cultivator like Zhao Mengyang and forge a good relationship.

Perhaps if he encountered any trouble in the future that required help, he could still use this connection with Zhao Mengyang and the "Five Thunders Sect."

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Song Qingming's face.

Afterward, he put away the "Seven-Colored Lei Guang Lamp" in his hand and took out his flying boat to jump on.

Before long, Song Qingming, stepping on the "Phantom Boat," transformed into a streak of white flight light and disappeared from the high mountain.

Nanzhou, Outer Sea.

On the vast, boundless ocean, a small boat only five or six zhang long was traveling alone on the sea surface, looking like a fallen leaf floating in the water from afar.

A woman dressed in a black long dress was standing alone at the bow, her gaze blankly watching the boundless ocean in the distance.

Not far behind the woman, there was a middle-aged man who was working hard to cast spells to control the boat's rudder. While carefully controlling the direction of the small boat, he looked somewhat puzzled at the woman standing in front.

It was not until the small boat approached a giant island that the middle-aged man carefully reminded her, "Senior Li, we will be arriving at Yuxuan Island very soon."

Hearing the middle-aged man's voice, the black-clad woman turned around and threw a bag of spirit stones to him.

"Trouble for you!"

After the black-clad woman finished speaking, she immediately transformed into a streak of flight light and left the small boat, then headed straight for the island not far away, soon disappearing into mid-air.

"Strange... in the past, she would always talk non-stop when coming here. It's only been a few decades, and her personality has changed too much!"

Watching the direction the black-clad woman left in, the middle-aged man shook his head and muttered to himself. He put away the spirit stones he had just received, changed direction, and left the vicinity of the island.

In a stone pavilion at the peak of the "Tai Xu Gate" on Yuxuan Island.

Liu Yang, dressed in white robes, was sitting beside a stone table in the pavilion, holding a bamboo slip and watching it carefully.

On the other side of the stone table, a young woman in white was looking down at a chessboard filled with pieces on the stone platform, a look of difficulty on her face.

Suddenly, a streak of black flight light flew in from afar and landed outside the stone pavilion, revealing a figure that Liu Yang found somewhat familiar.

"Senior Sister Li! You have returned."

Seeing Li Xuanyi walking over from not far away, Liu Yang immediately dropped the bamboo slip in his hand and ran toward her happily.

Seeing this, Li Xuanyi smiled slightly and stepped forward to return the salute to Liu Yang.

"Junior Brother Liu, have you been well? Is this a newly initiated Junior Sister?"

Seeing Li Xuanyi looking at the white-clad woman beside him, Liu Yang hurriedly introduced her, "Senior Sister, this is Junior Sister Jin Yao. She only came up the mountain twenty years ago; Senior Sister has not yet met her."

"Greetings, Senior Sister Li!"

Seeing the delicate-looking Jin Yao and then glancing at Liu Yang beside her, Li Xuanyi smiled and nodded slightly to them.

"I haven't returned for so long, and I didn't expect the sect to have another Junior Sister. I came in a hurry; I hope Junior Sister will not mind this small gift!"

After Li Xuanyi finished speaking, she took out a beautifully styled hairpin and gifted it directly to Jin Yao, immediately causing a look of joy to appear on the other party's face.

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Seeing Jin Yao grinning from ear to ear, Liu Yang immediately stepped forward and said to Li Xuanyi, "Senior Sister hasn't returned to the sect for so long; Master has missed you very much. He was even mentioning you in front of me a few days ago. I didn't expect Senior Sister to have truly returned today."

Hearing Liu Yang mention Master "Daoist Lingxu," the smile on Li Xuanyi's face immediately paused, and she asked, "Where is Master now? Has the old man been well all these years?"

"Master is not in the cave dwelling now; it seems he went down the mountain to fish. Senior Sister, wait a moment, I will take you there immediately."

After Liu Yang finished speaking, he took out his flying boat, loaded Li Xuanyi onto it, and passed through the "mountain-protecting formation" high in the sky. Before long, they arrived at the coast on a corner of "Yuxuan Island" below.

Just as the flying boat landed on a flat area, Li Xuanyi saw a simple old man wearing a bamboo hat sitting quietly on a white reef not far away, holding a long bamboo pole and looking at the water surface not far away.

"Junior Brother Liu, thank you for leading the way. There is nothing else here; you can go back first!"

"It's only been a few decades, Senior Sister; why have you become so polite to me, just like Senior Brother Song? When we were practicing together at the foot of the mountain, we talked about everything; why is Senior Sister so distant now?"

Feeling that Li Xuanyi's attitude toward him had changed greatly after returning this time, Liu Yang, who was somewhat slow to react, slowly felt a trace of confusion.

Seeing this, Li Xuanyi hurriedly squeezed out a smile and replied, "I have been in seclusion for all these years and haven't had time to come back to see you all; it does feel a bit distant.

Junior Brother Liu, please don't be angry with me. I also brought good things for you this time."

After speaking, a flash of spiritual light in Li Xuanyi's hand revealed a very exquisite third-tier mid-quality spirit talisman, which she sent into Liu Yang's hand.

"This spirit talisman was drawn by me personally some years ago; it can be considered a rare item, so I gift it to you, Junior Brother!"

"Senior Sister, what are you doing? Such a valuable item... I dare not accept it. Following Master all these years, I am not lacking in spiritual items. Senior Sister, please take it back!"

Seeing that the spirit talisman Li Xuanyi took out as a gift was somewhat valuable, Liu Yang hurriedly waved his hand to refuse, but Li Xuanyi did not pay attention to him and still stuffed the spirit talisman into Liu Yang's hand.

"By the way, Junior Brother Liu, you just mentioned Junior Brother Song. Has he come to the sect recently?"

Hearing Li Xuanyi's inquiry, Liu Yang hurriedly shook his head and said, "Junior Brother Song has not come to the sect. I saw him a few years ago when I went to the Thunder Origin Sea with the Fourth Senior Brother to attend a trading society.

At that time, Junior Brother Song specifically asked me to send his regards to Senior Sister and said that if Senior Sister needs any help, just send a message to find him.

Speaking of which, Junior Brother Song is truly a cultivation genius. When I saw him, Junior Brother Song's cultivation had already reached the peak of the eighth layer of Jin Dan. I estimate that if nothing unexpected happens, he should have already broken through to the ninth layer of Jin Dan."

"Oh! He has already cultivated to the ninth layer of Jin Dan so quickly? You are indeed right. With his spiritual root talent, he can actually cultivate faster than us. Master's eye for people was truly not wrong."

Li Xuanyi smiled and nodded. After bowing to bid farewell to Liu Yang, she turned and walked toward the location of "Daoist Lingxu."

Seeing Li Xuanyi walk over and sit quietly beside him, "Daoist Lingxu," who was holding a fishing rod, turned his head to look at her, then quickly returned his gaze to the sea surface.

The old and the young sat quietly on the white reef, letting the sea breeze blow and the giant waves crash beneath the reef, but neither of them reacted in the slightest.

It was not until a long time later that the fishing rod in "Daoist Lingxu's" hand finally reacted. With a flick of the bamboo pole, a giant fish over a foot long flew out of the water and landed directly in a bamboo basket that had been prepared not far beside him.

"Why, if I hadn't let them send a message to you this time, were you really not planning to come back to see this old man?" (End of chapter)