"The secret of the Thunder Path lies within, lies within it all!" he shouted in his heart, both shocked and moved.
This was a kind of emotion that made his entire being tremble.
To hear the Way in the morning, one could die content by evening!
Just a bolt of lightning, Emperor Purple quickly faded, the thunderclouds lightened, restoring to the previous light purple clouds, lazily floating by.
The Purple Sky Divine Thunder, which just tore through the sky and shook the universe, that unstoppable Heavenly Dao’s might seemed like nothing but a grand, fleeting illusion.
Meng Wuyan still stood calmly in the pavilion, the sleeves of his dark green robe gently swaying in the breeze, no longer making the previous flapping sound.
His emotions gradually calmed down, and then a point of white light flew down from the mountain top.
The white light fell into Meng Wuyan’s hand, turning back into the Flying Message he had sent out before.
Meng Wuyan infused the message with his Divine Sense, immediately looking towards the blank end of it.
Not a single word, no trace of a Dharma Seal.
His heartbeat paused imperceptibly for a moment, deep disappointment surged in his eyes. What followed was a worry for the future, like vines wrapping around his heart; along with an indescribable weariness, quietly climbing onto his brow.
Meng Wuyan remained silent for a few moments, then slowly put away the Flying Message, looked up again, as if he could see the Purple Thunder Pool at the top of the mountain, and the Purple Extreme Hall by its side.
The mountain wind lifted a few strands of his hair, and eventually he sighed lightly, lifted his arms, bowed, and slowly turned around.
Step by step, he walked heavily and silently towards the path down the mountain, his figure quickly swallowed by rugged stones.
Main Hall of Evil Extermination Hall.
The hall was grand, yet devoid of luxurious aura. The giant, cold stone bricks radiated a deep black, iron pillars supported the dome, and the walls were engraved with massive talismans of suppression and demon extermination.
Zhong Dao sat at the lead behind the enormous Mystic Iron Writing Desk. His broad shoulders and back were straight like a solitary peak. The edge of the writing desk was sharp, as distinct as his character.
After finishing with a dossier in hand, Zhong Dao’s sharp eyes couldn’t conceal his icy anger as he gazed at the vast hall ahead, seemingly ready to scorch the air with his gaze.
"Petty politicking! Living without contributing!" Reflecting on the earlier situation, his Divine Sense was summoned into the Great Array for discussions with high-level officials on the main peak, Zhong Dao became even more infuriated.
The grudges in his heart swelled, and his experiences in the Flying Cloud Country’s officialdom resurfaced.
All those hidden desires beneath the facade, the open and covert struggles within the rules...
Wherever there are people, there is worldly strife; even in the Myriad Images Sect.
A deep disappointment and indescribable lonely fury turned into cold waves spreading from the depths of his heart.
His spine, straight and unyielding like iron, the deep vertical lines between his brows revealed the force of chisel-like determination.
The hall’s atmosphere was oppressive and heavy, the cultivator guards dared not make a sound.
The Guard Commander sighed silently, thought for a moment, and stepped lightly out of the line, taking out a Jade Slip from his bosom: "Reporting to the Hall Master, I have something to report. The first stage of the Xingyun Trial has reached a conclusion, a division announced the top name and issued a Magic Treasure Level Merit and Achievement Slaughter Tower as a reward."
Zhong Dao’s expression paused subtly; he clearly understood what a Magic Treasure Level top reward meant.
"Did this person pass the Three Questions of the Heart?" His gaze lingered on the Guard Commander, immediately exerting immense psychological pressure on the latter.
The Guard Commander instinctively lowered his head, his voice clearer and louder: "Master, please discern. This person’s surname is Ning, name Zhuo. He’s youthful and spirited, responding to the questions without evasion, showing steadfastness. When asked the last question, he directly replied, ’What to fear? What to regret!’."
"Hmm." Upon hearing this, a slight relaxation eased the deep vertical lines between Zhong Dao’s brows, and the icy anger in his eyes diminished a shade.
"Having such awareness and nature is commendable." Zhong Dao thought of himself, "Is there any investigative information?"
This was only logical.
In the first stage of the Xingyun Trial, should a cultivator secure the top spot, the Evil Extermination Hall would naturally follow up with a vigorous investigation, actively preventing disguised Demon cultivators from infiltrating.
The Guard Commander’s sense of atmosphere was rather keen; seeing Zhong Dao’s anger dissipate a little, he was truly pleased.
He continued, "Currently still in investigation, Ning Zhuo seems not to be from the Flying Cloud Country. However, according to the latest intelligence, he has exchanged for a Stone Token."
Zhong Dao: "Oh?"
His brows relaxed further: "It seems this child’s future is quite promising, his talent should be among the top of this Feiyun Conference. If true, he bears some resemblance... to me in my youth."
"It appears the Cultivation World... is not entirely filled with petty individuals. The Righteous Path is not without successors, new talents will inherit our will to uphold the Righteous Path. Steel-boned to carry duty, red hearts to illuminate history."
Zhong Dao nodded slightly, feeling much more relieved, and immediately instructed to thoroughly investigate Ning Zhuo, to clearly ascertain everything about him.
The Guard Commander saw that Zhong Dao had calmed down and sighed with relief, feeling glad to help ease his superior’s worries, he quietly returned to his post.
Just as Zhong Dao was about to deal with the next dossier, he suddenly looked up at the Guard Commander halfway there: "What were Ning Zhuo’s first two top names in the Xingyun Trial?"
The Guard Commander immediately stopped in place, stepped forward a few steps, and respectfully reported: "All were Confucian Cultivator trials. Yet Ning Zhuo is not a Confucian Cultivator."
"Oh?" Hearing this unexpected answer, Zhong Dao developed a new interest in Ning Zhuo.
Zhong Dao was well aware of the ways of the Confucian Cultivators.
"To attain the top name in a Confucian Cultivator trial as an outsider, shows this child’s upright nature."
"Not bad, not bad." Zhong Dao nodded, murmuring softly.
He waved at the Guard Commander.
The Guard Commander bowed and retreated, standing at his own post. He thought: Because of this event, his superior might have a favorable impression of Ning Zhuo.
"If I ever encounter Ning Zhuo in the future, just for today, I’ll have to let him treat me." The Guard Commander thought to himself. This was not his original intention, but it didn’t prevent him from secretly admiring Ning Zhuo.
Zhong Dao’s cultivation level, battle strength, and prestige were so high, being valued by him would allow a newcomer to take fewer detours.
Zhong Dao buried his head and handled a dossier, his efficiency noticeably higher than before.
During a leisure gap, he again recalled the recent Seven Peaks Conference, a flash of cold light crossing his eyes.
"They’re targeting Wen Ruanyu, Qin De is the key."
"We must closely monitor this person and also contact Duanmu Zhang to warn him of the Seven Peaks’ schemes."
Thinking this, Zhong Dao immediately wrote a Flying Message.
In the message was only one line — What I desire in life is what I desire in righteousness; if both cannot be achieved, could Brother Duanmu sacrifice life for righteousness?
He and Duanmu Zhang were already friends, such short words were enough.
In another Cave Mansion.
Ban Ji’s face was as cold as water, staring intently at the Jade Token in his hand.
The Jade Token was a Magic Treasure for communication, but no matter how Ban Ji urged it, there was no response.
He had lost contact with Silk Lady, unable to reach her.
"But Che Zhuzi is still around... Silk Lady’s situation might be dire."
"So how much information has Ning Zhuo obtained? Has he already detected me?"
"Damn it!" Ban Ji clenched his fist, his eyes flashing with hateful light.
He had already learned that Ning Zhuo had exchanged for a Stone Token, earlier than him. Currently, Ban Ji only secured two top names, just one short of the third.
"Silk Lady cannot be relied on, but what about the others?"
"Monk of False Words, Iron Corpse, Liu Qingyan, what are they doing? Can they not exert some semblance of influence?!"
Meanwhile.
In the Ban Family clan shrine.
Clang, clang...
A Mechanical Artifact almost filling the hall suddenly emitted worrying noises.
Normally, the slowly moving wooden blocks now kept falling one after another.
The watching cultivator noticed the anomaly and paid great attention, hastily inspecting.
"Something’s wrong on Ban Ji’s end."
"What on earth is he up to? Who did he provoke? Even his Qi Fortune is so severely suppressed?!"
"Check, quickly investigate clearly!"
The rear hall of the clan shrine quickly fell into a busy state.