Chapter 129: Breakthrough 2

A massive vortex of spiritual energy had formed at the center of the four mountain peaks, continuously drawing in energy from the surrounding environment. During these past few years, the four arrays atop the peaks had been accumulating this energy, but as it was now being rapidly depleted, the true spectacle of the Yunduan Mountain Range was finally revealed to the outside world.

The rotating energy storm triggered a series of violent tempests, filling the sky with flickering purple lightning runes. These electrical currents were incredibly volatile, and the towering, hundred-meter-tall trees on the summits became their primary targets. From time to time, bolts of lightning two meters wide would strike these giants, forming pillars of light that connected heaven and earth.

As time passed, the thunderclouds began to compress. The accumulated charge gathered until it transformed into a vast sea of thunder. The entire sky became an ocean of lightning, raining down purple bolts upon the earth. The ground trembled under the incessant booming, scorched black by the strikes; in areas hit repeatedly, the earth had even begun to melt into pools of molten lava.

This phenomenon, visible for a thousand miles, affected the entirety of the Yellow Maple Valley territory. As time flowed on, news of the spectacle spread throughout the entire State of Yue.

The first to notice were the disciples within the sect, who had been isolated from the outside world during their eight years of seclusion.

"Uncle-Master Qin, look! What is happening out there?"

Qin Lan was in the plaza, instructing his disciples; it was his turn for the routine lecture. His talent was decent, and having been unable to leave the valley for the past six months, he had spent his time in constant cultivation. Three years ago, he had reached the thirteenth level—the peak of Qi Condensation—and received a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Valley Master's wife. Relying on that pill, he had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage in one go, proving himself quite fortunate. Currently, every Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Yunduan Mountain Range was required to lecture for two hours every month. Aside from major festivals like the Spring Festival, the plaza was booked solid for thirty days a month through a rotating schedule of elders.

Following the direction of the disciple's finger, Qin Lan looked toward the sky. Because the Yunduan Mountain Range sat at the center of the storm, the phenomenon was less distinct from within, yet the thunderous roar continued to echo into the valley. While the defensive arrays usually emitted a rumbling sound, this was significantly more intense.

"I do not know," Qin Lan replied.

The disciples turned their gaze beyond the valley. The outside world, which was usually obscured by the arrays and veiled in mist, now appeared clearly before them. Instead of clouds, they saw an endlessly churning sea of lightning. The purple glow grew increasingly blinding until the entire valley was stained violet.

Outside, aside from the mortals, the first to notice were the nearby markets. However, the people there were already accustomed to the occasional thunder from that direction. Although this time the thunder was much denser and louder, they dismissed it as an anomaly and paid it little mind.

Yet, this massive phenomenon drew in vast amounts of spiritual energy, siphoning it from the surrounding environment toward the Yunduan Mountain Range. Such peculiar fluctuations could be sensed by those above the Golden Core stage, though pinpointing the exact location required the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The first to arrive was Old Ancestor Linghu, who was only a few hundred miles away. The Yellow Maple Valley itself lay within the affected area, and the swirling clouds began to converge toward a single point. After a moment of sensing, Old Ancestor Linghu locked onto the location of the Yunduan Mountain Range. He burst through the doors of his secret chamber, the heavy gates shattering into dust under his immense spiritual pressure.

He flew rapidly toward the Yunduan Mountain Range and soon arrived outside the array. As he charged toward the mountain at the heart of the anomaly, the defensive array finally activated. Though its spiritual energy had become sparse, the array’s defensive mechanism was designed to draw upon the surrounding lightning. It channeled the energy of the gathering heavenly tribulation directly toward him.

"What?"

The moment he was targeted, Old Ancestor Linghu’s intuition screamed a warning. He felt as though he were a mere ant caught in the grip of a true titan. In an instant, the roaring lightning coalesced into a purple dragon and struck him. The force of the blow sent him spitting blood as he plummeted from the sky.

He crashed into the ground with a thud, blasting out a deep crater several meters wide—an impact crater in the shape of a man with arms outstretched. Fortunately, the heavenly tribulation was still in its initial, brewing stage, and its power was not yet at its peak. Moreover, the tribulation was only reacting to his presence, not specifically targeting him as a transgressor. Thus, the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator suffered only minor injuries and climbed out of the crater after a moment.

However, he looked utterly wretched. Blindsided by the strike, he was scorched black. His robes were reduced to tattered strips hanging off his body, revealing his wrinkled, exposed skin—a sight that was somewhat painful to behold.

"Thank goodness no one saw that."

Old Ancestor Linghu hurriedly pulled a robe from his storage pouch, threw it on, and straightened himself. He looked up, only to find a crowd of disciples staring at him from within the array. The lightning dragon had been far too conspicuous, and even from a distance of nearly ten miles, the disciples had been watching. To a cultivator, ten miles was hardly a hindrance; they had seen the entire spectacle of the Old Ancestor’s undignified exposure.

Mortified, and having originally intended to guard for Lin Yang, the Old Ancestor fled in a hurry.

"Elder Qin, who was that old man?" a disciple asked curiously.

"How should I know? And do not gossip about that senior," Qin Lan scolded. "That senior was able to survive such a powerful lightning dragon; he must be at least a Golden Core cultivator. If you spread this and offend him, even the Valley Master might not be able to protect you."

Though Qin Lan had witnessed the entire incident, he warned his disciples to keep quiet. In his mind, if that senior hadn't been blocked by the array, he likely would have come in to teach them a lesson.

"Understood, Elder."

Following Qin Lan's command, the disciples dispersed. Qin Lan left the plaza, returned to his own cave dwelling, and activated his defensive array.