Chapter 2068: Zijin True Thunder

Qinghuan Realm, Azure Cloud Palace.

Azure Cloud Palace was the most powerful cultivation sect in the Qinghuan Realm, boasting two Soul Transformation cultivators: Liu Hongji and Chen Hong.

In a secret chamber, Chen Hong stood before a massive formation, a pensive expression on her face.

Liu Hongji was away on a journey and could ascend to the Xuanyang Realm at any moment, leaving Chen Hong in charge of Azure Cloud Palace.

She hadn't expected that an ancestor from the Spirit Realm would proactively contact her, assigning her to cooperate with Deng Tianxin to reclaim half a page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book.

Chen Hong naturally dared not refuse and could only agree.

"The Heavenly Void Jade Book? The grand-ancestor from the Xuanyang Realm values it so highly. It seems I need to send out more people. If we can obtain a complete Heavenly Void Jade Book, our chances of ascending to the Xuanyang Realm will be much greater."

Chen Hong muttered to herself, her expression excited.

She took out a shimmering blue compass. Runes flickered as she cast a spell into it and instructed: "Disciple-nephew Li, issue an order to search for a special type of page that is impervious to blades and spears, and invulnerable to water and fire. There will be a generous reward for finding it. Also, personally go to the Deng family and invite Deng Tianxin here; I have an important matter to discuss with him. Send someone to look for Senior Brother Liu, tell him it concerns the sect's survival, and ask him to return as soon as possible."

She dared not be overconfident. Liu Hongji was already a Mid Soul Transformation cultivator; if he were to act, their chances would be much higher. However, she didn't know if Liu Hongji was still in the Qinghuan Realm. After all, cultivators at the Mid Soul Transformation stage could ascend to the Xuanyang Realm, and Liu Hongji had already stayed in the lower realm for many years, simply hoping for a smooth ascension to the Xuanyang Realm.

"Yes, Grand-ancestor Chen."

A respectful male voice came from the blue compass.

Putting away the blue compass, Chen Hong's slender brows furrowed. Her face showed a pensive expression as she murmured to herself: "Wang Mengbin, a lightning cultivator... I've never even heard of this person. Could he be a reclusive cultivator who rarely appears? Or did he come from another realm?"

Northeastern Qinghuan Realm, Golden Pearl Isle.

A tremendous thunderous roar echoed above Golden Pearl Isle, and from time to time, streaks of golden lightning pierced the sky.

A mass of white mist obscured most of the island. If any cultivators passed by and used their spiritual sense to investigate, they would absolutely not detect anything unusual.

On a steep peak, Wang Mengbin sat cross-legged on a formation. His entire body was enveloped by countless silver electric arcs, as if he were wearing an armor of lightning.

His hands formed seals, and his eyes were tightly shut. Streaks of silver electric arcs emerged from the nearby void.

After a while, Wang Mengbin opened his eyes. He opened his mouth and spat out a purple-golden electric arc, two fingers thick, which struck the ground.

With a loud bang, a massive crater, over ten zhang wide, exploded in the ground. Inside the pit, there was an intense heat and thick black smoke billowed.

The corners of Wang Mengbin's mouth curled slightly. He raised a finger, and a purple-golden electric arc materialized, emitting a wild and violent aura.

He had cultivated here for many years, refining some gold-attributed lightning power, which, combined with the True Violet Firmament Thunder, resulted in a new form of lightning power: True Purple-Gold Thunder.

With his superb Thunder Escape technique and the True Purple-Gold Thunder, he could move freely throughout the Qinghuan Realm.

"It's finally a success. Even if Deng Tianxin comes looking for trouble, I won't fear him."

Wang Mengbin muttered to himself, his face filled with confidence.

With a slight flick of his wrist, the True Purple-Gold Thunder vanished.

Wang Mengbin transformed into a silver streak of light and flew into the distance.

Not long after, he appeared above a vast valley, crisscrossed with paths. Inside the valley was a sprawling estate.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you've emerged from seclusion?"

A delighted female voice suddenly rang out as Zhong Yunxiu flew out from the estate.

Her aura was much stronger than before, but she was still at the Early Soul Transformation stage.

"Hmm, has anything unusual happened with the Deng family these past few years?" Wang Mengbin asked in a deep voice. He hadn't forgotten the Deng family.

"The Deng family has been very quiet these past few years, with nothing unusual happening," Zhong Yunxiu shook her head and said. "As for the realm teleportation array you mentioned, I sent people to search everywhere, but there's no news." Wang Mengbin had asked her to look out for realm teleportation arrays.

Wang Mengbin felt a little disappointed. He still wished to return to the Dongli Realm to see his family; to achieve such power and not return home felt like wearing brocade at night, unseen.

"Azure Cloud Palace is the Qinghuan Realm's top sect; they might know about realm teleportation arrays," Zhong Yunxiu suggested. "If not, you could borrow the Five Thunders Demon Slaying Array from Fellow Daoist Liu, or exchange for some thunder-attributed heavenly materials and earthly treasures." Wang Mengbin's cultivation method was unique, requiring thunder-attributed heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and she estimated that only Azure Cloud Palace could meet his requirements.

"Never mind, let's return to your Zhong family first," Wang Mengbin replied. "Your Zhong family has been in decline for many years; it's time to restore your ancestral glory. You can just help me collect thunder-attributed cultivation resources."

Wang Mengbin deliberated carefully, planning to help the Zhong family grow stronger and use their resources to collect the cultivation materials he needed. A slower pace didn't matter; he couldn't afford to provoke Azure Cloud Palace right now. Liu Hongji of Azure Cloud Palace was a Mid Soul Transformation cultivator, and Wang Mengbin certainly didn't want to confront him.

Zhong Yunxiu's face showed joy. It was the best possible outcome that Wang Mengbin was willing to help the Zhong family develop.

Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan flew out from the estate. Both were at the Late Nascent Soul stage. As Wang Mengbin advanced to the Soul Transformation stage, they also benefited. Zhong Yunxiu had given them a sum of cultivation resources, accelerating their cultivation speed.

"Senior Wang."

Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan bowed, their expressions respectful.

"Let's go! We should return to Thousand Spirit Mountain first!"

Wang Mengbin transformed into a silver streak of light and shot into the sky at an extreme speed. Zhong Yunxiu and the other two quickly followed.

Not long after, the four vanished into the horizon.

On a certain Ascension Platform in the Xuanyang Realm, a blinding spiritual light suddenly flared, and a tall, thin elder in a blue robe suddenly appeared on it.

A graceful young woman in a golden dress flew over and said with a smile: "Welcome, fellow Daoist, to the Xuanyang Realm. This humble one is Li Yunyu. May I ask your esteemed name?"

"This old man is Liu Hongji," the blue-robed elder asked politely. "May I ask, Madam Li, where is this place?" He hailed from Azure Cloud Palace in the Qinghuan Realm. An ancestor from Azure Cloud Palace had ascended to the Xuanyang Realm, established the Azure Cloud Sect, and set up a communication array. Only then did Liu Hongji understand the language of the Xuanyang Realm.

"This is Xuanyan Isle, part of our Golden Leaf Island Li family," Li Yunyu said politely. "From whom did Fellow Daoist inherit your cultivation? And how do you understand the language of the Xuanyang Realm?"

"This old man ascended from the Qinghuan Realm and belongs to the Azure Cloud Sect," Liu Hongji stated truthfully. He had been a Mid Soul Transformation cultivator for several centuries. He could have ascended to the Xuanyang Realm much earlier, but he simply wanted to have greater certainty, which was why he had remained in the lower realm for centuries. He had finally ascended to the Xuanyang Realm.

The Azure Cloud Sect had a good relationship with the Li family, so cultivators from the Li family should not make things difficult for him. Not every force possessed an Ascension Platform; any force capable of having one was certainly not weak. The Azure Cloud Sect used to have one but lost it after its decline. Azure Cloud Palace cultivators who wished to ascend to the Xuanyang Realm could only do so from specific locations, which would lead them to appear in the Li family's territory. A realm was vast, and ascending from different locations would result in appearing at different places within the Xuanyang Realm.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, please follow me," Li Yunyu said politely as she led Liu Hongji away. "We will arrange for someone to escort you to the Azure Cloud Sect. I have visited the Azure Cloud Sect before and had the honor of meeting Senior Chen, their Grand Elder."