The barrier of Yù Luán Mountain had been shattered by heavenly thunder.

A shadow of a sword flew through the night and silently entered the mountain.

Shen Chàngxuè lightly landed on the ground, and with a flick of his hand, the long sword that shimmered with cold light obediently returned to its sheath, resting in his grasp.

He looked up. The forest before him had been engulfed by flames; this was the very center of the sea of fire, the area most severely affected.

Shen Chàngxuè’s expression was devoid of a smile, his face dark enough to drip ink.

He furrowed his brows and raised his hand to cast a barrier around himself before stepping further in.

Branches burned by the fire fell, crackling as they plummeted. When they hit the barrier above Shen Chàngxuè’s head, they rolled off and tumbled down.

After walking for a while, Shen Chàngxuè noticed that visible lightning spiritual energy began to swirl around him.

They crackled and hissed in the air, and the remaining branches nearby bore scorch marks from the lightning.

As he ventured deeper, Shen Chàngxuè spotted a person.

Bái Rěndōng lay collapsed on the ground, already unconscious.

A swirling mass of shimmering lightning enveloped his entire body.

The lightning seemed to be incredibly excited, dancing around him as if it had finally found the true master of this world.

Shen Chàngxuè narrowed his eyes.

He did not pause his steps and walked straight over.

He reached the center of the sea of fire when suddenly, a torrential downpour began to fall from the sky.

The sound of the rain was piercing, and the downpour struck him like needles.

The barrier Shen Chàngxuè had set up could not shield him from the rain, and in the blink of an eye, he was soaked to the bone.

Controlled by the heavy rain, the mountain fire diminished significantly.

Shen Chàngxuè drew his sword and stepped closer to Bái Rěndōng.

As he approached, he tightened his grip on the sword. With a surge of strength from his palm, the sword’s blade gleamed with cold light, and water-like spiritual energy surged forth, enveloping the blade.

With a single swing, the shimmering lightning surrounding Bái Rěndōng instantly dissipated.

As the lightning dispersed, Bái Rěndōng lay on the ground, his body scorched, and the ground beneath him was charred black.

Yet, flashes of shimmering lightning still flickered across his body, and his entire form radiated a faint lightning hue.

The异灵根 had awakened.

Shen Chàngxuè’s grip on the sword tightened even more. The veins on the back of his hand bulged, trembling, and the water-like light on the sword quivered incessantly.

【Senior Brother!】

A discordant sound of the old tree outside the palace rustling in the wind reached his ears. The afternoon sun slanted onto the corridor, sliced into pieces by the eaves and pillars.

Shen Chàngxuè stood among them, hearing a call from behind him.

He turned around and saw a small figure in white, just like him, running towards him with a sword on their back.

It was a somewhat anxious and tense face.

This was the very face that now lay at his feet, unconscious and covered in burns.

【Senior Brother, where are you going?】

【Senior Brother, please don’t be angry.】

【Are you really not angry, Senior Brother?】

【Senior Brother, why are you always so calm?】

【Senior Brother, Senior Brother.】

In his memories, Bái Rěndōng had been very friendly, calling him “Senior Brother” again and again.

But Shen Chàngxuè’s eyes were as cold as frost, his expression icy, as he raised the sword in his hand once more.

The echoes of “Senior Brother” in his memories gradually grew distant and cold.

【Senior Brother.】

【Please, Senior Brother, don’t walk the same path as me.】

【I’ve heard Master say it, Senior Brother.】

【You’re nothing but a beast.】

The long sword fell, a flash of cold light, but just as it was about to strike Bái Rěndōng’s neck, it suddenly trembled violently.

A bolt of thunder struck down from the sky.

Shen Chàngxuè suddenly felt a tremendous force. His wrist jolted, and the sword was violently flung from his hand.

The sword spun in the air a few times before embedding itself far away in the scorched earth.

The lightning on Bái Rěndōng intensified.

Shen Chàngxuè snapped back to reality from his memories.

He looked up at the sky; that bolt of lightning hadn’t struck this side.

He squinted.

A warning from the heavens?

This person cannot be killed?

Shen Chàngxuè lowered his head. Bái Rěndōng was still face down, unconscious, showing no signs of waking.

Shen Chàngxuè listened closely to the sounds around him.

No one.

He bent down and flipped Bái Rěndōng over. He reached out and grasped the other’s neck.

He applied pressure with his hand. Gradually, Bái Rěndōng’s face turned blue and purple as he groaned intermittently, his body spasming.

Another bolt of heavenly thunder struck down from behind.

Shen Chàngxuè felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and once again, something forcefully flung him away.

He was forced to release Bái Rěndōng.

He looked down. The force that had flung him away was immense; his wrist and palm were dislocated, the area where they connected caved in, looking quite horrific.

Dislocated.

Shen Chàngxuè didn’t care; he reached out and popped his dislocated hand back into place, the bones making a loud, crisp sound.

It sounded painful, but his expression was indifferent, as if he felt nothing.

The rain poured down even harder, soaking him completely. The raindrops turned his hair into strands, dripping down from the ends, and his eyes behind the hair grew dimmer in the rainy night.

Bái Rěndōng lay flat on the ground, his blue-purple complexion quickly returning to normal.

He coughed a few times, looking like he was about to wake from his slumber.

Shen Chàngxuè’s ears perked up; he suddenly heard more people arriving at the mountain top.

The voices were still distant, but they were conversing.

Shen Chàngxuè heard one person stepping on the burnt charcoal wood beneath them, along with the voice of Elder Guāng Hán.

Guāng Hán Mountain was the closest to this mountain top.

He was speaking with Elder Bái Yú, and they were discussing how Elder Qián Yào was also on his way here.

Shen Chàngxuè glanced at the handprint he had left on Bái Rěndōng’s neck and felt a sense of unease.

He cast a deep sleep spell on Bái Rěndōng, turned, and extended his hand: “Listen to the sorrow.”

In the distance, the sword that had just been flung away began to tremble, buzzing. Soon, it pulled itself from the ground and flew back into Shen Chàngxuè’s hand.

Shen Chàngxuè tucked the sword behind him and glanced up at the sky.

There was a figure in the air.

It was Zhōng Yǐnyuè.

The moment he saw her, the cold resentment that had been frozen on Shen Chàngxuè’s face melted away significantly.

---

Zhōng Yǐnyuè hurriedly flew back to Yù Luán Mountain on her sword.

The mountain fire on Yù Luán Mountain had become uncontrollable.

After two bolts of thunder had struck down, there was no more sound, and the fire was raging fiercely.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè stopped in mid-air, extending her hand to cast another layer of barrier, then threw out four talismans, sending them flying in all directions to stabilize the foundation of the barrier, while also summoning a flood within the barrier to control the flames.

However, the mountain fire caused by the heavenly thunder was truly immense, and this alone could not completely extinguish it.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè gritted her teeth and continuously cast several water talismans, shouting, “Rain come!”

The torrential rain poured down within the barrier.

The mountain fire gradually subsided.

After working hard for a long time, Zhōng Yǐnyuè finally extinguished all the flames on the mountain top.

She let out a sigh of relief.

Just as she was beginning to relax, the fire suddenly flared up again, roaring back to life in the blink of an eye!

“!?”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè was startled. Her eyes widened, and she nearly exclaimed, “What the hell!”

“Master!”

A shocked Zhōng Yǐnyuè looked down to see Wēn Hán and Lù Jùn flying on their swords below him.

Both were still disciples and couldn’t fly as high as he could.

“Master, what’s going on!?” the two asked in a panic, “Why is there such a huge fire?”

“Let’s talk later!” Zhōng Yǐnyuè shouted at them, “This place is dangerous; go find somewhere else to take shelter!”

“Go somewhere else… how can we go somewhere else!” Wēn Hán said, “Junior Sister and Junior Brother Bái haven’t returned to the palace, and there’s such a big fire right now! Master, I want to search in the fire!”

Sū Yùyíng hasn’t returned?

Zhōng Yǐnyuè suddenly remembered that Sū Yùyíng had come back with Bái Rěndōng!

If the first two bolts of thunder were to awaken Bái Rěndōng’s heavenly thunder, then Sū Yùyíng…

Zhōng Yǐnyuè felt a sense of dread.

He extended his hand, about to cast a spell when suddenly, lines of water light appeared on the fiery ground.

These water lights transformed into several slender beams, orderly spreading outwards, eventually forming a magical array.

“Rise.”

Within the magical array, spiritual light surged.

The mountain fire extinguished in an instant.

The magical array continued to glow. Zhōng Yǐnyuè looked down; in the center of the array stood a figure.

She wore white, one hand holding a whisk, the other hand extended forward, forming a hand seal.

That was the hand seal that activated this magical array.

She retracted her hand, quietly standing amidst the scorched earth, like a bright moon.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè landed on his sword. He sheathed his sword and took a few steps forward, bowing respectfully to the person: “Thank you, Senior Sister Líng Zé, for your assistance.”

The person was indeed Elder Líng Zé.

Elder Líng Zé had a very cool demeanor. Although she was beautiful, she appeared cold and distant, very aloof.

Elder Líng Zé nodded, lowering her long lashes as she put away her whisk: “No need. Junior Brother is a talisman practitioner; although he can use spells from various spiritual roots, their power cannot be too high except for the lightning removal technique. Ordinary mountain fires are manageable, but this kind of mountain fire cannot be extinguished.”

“If I hadn’t intervened, Yù Luán Mountain would have likely burned to the ground. Helping each other as fellow disciples is nothing to be concerned about; Junior Brother need not take it to heart.”

Wēn Hán was confused: “What’s different about this kind of mountain fire…?”

“Heavenly thunder descends; it must be different.” Zhōng Yǐnyuè raised his head and reprimanded softly, “Speak less.”

Wēn Hán hurriedly lowered his head, falling silent.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè thanked her again: “Regardless, thank you, Senior Sister Líng Zé.”

“No need.” Elder Líng Zé replied, “Junior Brother knows this well. The descent of such heavenly thunder is a significant matter. Just after the grand ceremony concluded, such heavenly thunder appears… it’s likely that someone under your guidance has encountered trouble.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè fell silent.

He certainly knew what was going on.

There were only a few people on Yù Luán Mountain, and at this moment, no one should be breaking through their realms to face the thunder tribulation; heavenly thunder should not descend upon their mountain top.

In the original text, although the descent of heavenly thunder carried ominous implications, such ominous signs warning Tiān Jué Men would fall upon Shàng Xuán Mountain.

Yù Luán Mountain was merely an end point; there was no reason for it to strike at their home.

That left only one possibility.

Someone had awakened their spiritual root.

“Drawing in heavenly thunder must be due to a peerless lightning spiritual root, just like Junior Brother.” Elder Líng Zé bowed to him, “Congratulations, Junior Brother; a lightning spiritual root is a rare sight in a hundred years.”

“Senior Sister overpraises; this is merely the fortune of the disciples, unrelated to Yù Luán.” Zhōng Yǐnyuè hurriedly supported her, saying, “Regardless, let’s go look for them; I indeed have two disciples who have yet to return.”

With that, he turned and said, “Go find Sū Yùyíng and Bái Rěndōng.”

Wēn Hán and Lù Jùn hurriedly agreed, turning to leave when suddenly, a rustling sound came from the nearby charred wood.

The group immediately looked over.

Before long, Shen Chàngxuè emerged from the charred wood, covered in dirt and carrying the unconscious Sū Yùyíng on his back.

Upon seeing Zhōng Yǐnyuè, Shen Chàngxuè paused for a moment, nodding, “Greetings to the two Elders.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè was also taken aback: “What are you doing here?”

Seeing Sū Yùyíng, Wēn Hán rushed over to help her down from Shen Chàngxuè’s back.

Shen Chàngxuè handed Sū Yùyíng over to him, then respectfully bowed to Zhōng Yǐnyuè, saying, “It was my own decision. Seeing the thunder and fire fall on Yù Luán Mountain, I was worried, so I came here to help the Elder extinguish the fire. Although my skills are lacking, I am also a water spiritual root.”

Shen Chàngxuè indeed had a water spiritual root.

“Thank you for your concern.” Zhōng Yǐnyuè said, “You’re not injured, right?”

“Elder, don’t worry; it’s just some dirt I got on me, not injuries.”

“That’s good,” Zhōng Yǐnyuè sighed in relief, “I’ll go look for Bái Rěndōng; you head back to the mountain. You two as well, take Sū Yùyíng back to the palace.”

Wēn Hán and Lù Jùn nodded, just about to take Sū Yùyíng back when Shen Chàngxuè said, “I’ll go with the Elder.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè was stunned: “Huh? But…”

“Elder, don’t worry; I’m fine.” Shen Chàngxuè smiled, “I still want to stay with the Elder a bit longer.”

“…Alright.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè couldn’t think of a way to refuse, so he had to go along with him.

Seeing this, Wēn Hán said, “Then I’ll go too! After all, I’m the Master’s eldest disciple; something so big happened on the mountain, I should accompany you! Junior Sister can be taken care of by Lù Jùn!”

As he spoke, he looked at Lù Jùn.

Lù Jùn felt that what he said made sense and replied, “Master, I can take care of Junior Sister well on my own!”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè had no choice: “Then you can come too.”

Wēn Hán hurriedly ran over.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè turned back to Elder Líng Zé and bowed, smiling helplessly, “Senior Sister, please don’t mind.”

“It’s nothing.”

Elder Líng Zé’s expression remained unchanged as she pulled out a golden jade mirror from somewhere.

This jade mirror was not a mirror that could reflect one’s face but a round mirror the size of a palm made of gold and jade. The jade was flawless, almost reflecting a person’s face. The jade was surrounded by a circle of golden threads, hence it was called the golden jade mirror.

This was a magical treasure that every elder of Tiān Jué Men possessed, capable of receiving messages from others at the fastest speed.

“Junior Brother has made great progress recently; it’s only natural that the disciples like you.” She put away the golden jade mirror, saying, “I just received a message from Senior Brother Qián Yào. Near your Yù Luán Mountain gate, they have found that young brother Bái.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè’s heart sank.

How did he get here!!

“Let’s go take a look.” Elder Líng Zé glanced at him, her tone indifferent, “The seven elders of Tiān Jué Men, aside from you and me, have all gathered there.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè: “…”

It would have been better to let him enter the Spirit Machine Pavilion to awaken!