Before thoseYellow Heaven Sectdisciples could react, blackWater Dark Thunderhad already seeped silently to their feet.

TheYellow Heaven SectandTianshi Mansionshare the same origins. Although they developed separately after their split, many aspects remain similar.

For example, disciples of lower cultivation realms all favor theGolden Barrier Talisman.

When facing opponents of similar cultivation levels, theGolden Barrier Talismanprovides highly reliable defense.

But now, theseYellow Heaven Sectdisciples were facing Lei Jun'sWater Dark Thunder.

This was a product of hisLife-Bound Five Thunder Talisman.

Superior grade.

Although theGolden Barrier Talismandefense was strong, it was like metal encountering strong acid—the blackWater Dark Thundercorroded it in an instant.

Then, everyone was struck by a silent thunderbolt.

Zhong Yunfei, who was at theMiddle Heavenscultivation stage, had personally struck her with aSoul-Suppressing Talismanof supreme quality.

Though it had a time limit, it would suppress Xia Qing's soul for a while, keeping her unconscious.

Lei Jun didn't try to use hisSuperior Tranquility Talismanto remove the spiritual power of Zhong Yunfei'sSoul-Suppressing Talisman.

It was better if she remained unconscious.

Lei Jun grabbed Xia Qing and entered the forest.

Doubling back, he headed towardQiántiān Peak.

After searching near the main peak for a while and still finding no trace of Lei Jun, Zhong Yunfei was puzzled:

"Where did that brat run off to?"

Considering his earlier courage in volunteering to guard the outer altar ofQiántiān Peak, it was unlikely he’d flee down the mountain after the formation broke.

Or had he found a hidden spot and was quietly hiding?

As Zhong Yunfei pondered this, someYellow Heaven Sectdisciples reported resistance at the base ofQiántiān Peak. The enemy's cultivation was at least at theAltar Stage.

Visually, it was a tall, young Daoist.

Hearing this, Zhong Yunfei rushed over.

But all he found were three deadYellow Heaven Sectdisciples—Lei Jun was nowhere to be seen.

Zhong Yunfei frowned, scanning the area: "Did that brat really escape down the mountain?"

Deliberately revealing his location to theYellow Heaven Sectdisciples, Lei Jun hid again, blending into the night breeze.

At this point, besides the still-unconscious Xia Qing, he also carried aYellow Heaven Sectdisciple's corpse.

This one had died fromDaoist Gao'ssingleFlame Talisman.

Lei Jun carried the corpse up the mountain, carefully avoiding the summit path, and left the body in the forest at the peak. After setting the scene, he quietly retreated.

He circled to the back of the mountain.

Calculating angles and distances, Lei Jun took out aSpirit Talisman.

This was another by-product from when he developed theFive Thunder Talisman, or rather, a preliminary version.

A combination of theFlame Talismanand theWind Talisman.

Lei Jun called it theFire Flight Talisman.

A hybridbasic Spirit Talisman, it consumed immensemanaand mental focus.

TheFire Flight Talismanrequired almost as much energy as theFive Thunder Talisman, even more than aLinked Flame Talisman.

Precise aiming and control were crucial.

Lei Jun closed one eye, raised his thumb between himself andQiántiān Peak, pretending to calculate distance.

Then he activated theFire Flight Talisman.

In the wind, a thin red beam rose from behind the mountain, flickering through the forest, and flew toward the cracked summit ofQiántiān Peak.

Lei Jun controlled the trajectory carefully to avoid the summit entrance.

The red beam landed successfully in the forest atop the peak.

Then...

Boom!

The forest exploded, flames and smoke billowing skyward.

Down the mountain, Zhong Yunfei heard the blast, turned back in surprise, and saw flames erupting nearQiántiān Peak'ssummit.

"AFlame Talisman?" aYellow Heaven Sectdisciple beside him wondered, "The outer altar on this summit is ruined—no one fromTianxu Sectwould be foolish enough to defend it..."

Zhong Yunfei took a deep breath. "Someone's still on the mountain!"

Amid the chaos, the elders couldn't determine the whereabouts of their disciples.

Seeing the sudden eruption of fire atopQiántiān Peak, it seemed like aYellow Heaven Sectdisciple had engaged an enemy.

Who would hide on the ruinedQiántiān Peak?

Unable to find Lei Jun, Zhong Yunfei considered a possibility.

"The safest place is the most dangerous one..."

Could that brat be hiding right under their noses in the abandoned outer altar?

Though uncertain, Zhong Yunfei decided to check. He rushed toward the summit entrance.

At the summit's blaze, Zhong Yunfei examined the area.

It wasn't an ordinary fire—the lingering spiritual energy confirmed it was caused by aFlame Talismanfrom aTalismanic Branchcultivator.

He found the corpse of aYellow Heaven Sectdisciple and signs of a brief struggle.

But no sign of the enemy.

Scanning the area from above, Zhong Yunfei saw no one flying or hiding in the woods.

He was sure he'd arrived quickly enough that even anAltar Stagecultivator couldn’t have fled in time.

Ordering the disciples to search, Zhong Yunfei's eyes turned toward the cracked, dark mountain belly.

Far below, Lei Jun watched his handiwork.

Satisfied with the accuracy, he nodded, ignored the aftermath, and left with Xia Qing still unconscious.

Zhong Yunfei, believing the enemy had fled down the mountain, searched futilely. Meanwhile, Lei Jun, concealed by rocks, headed back to the main peak.

Whatever Zhong Yunfei did next aroundQiántiān Peakwas no longer Lei Jun's concern.

Just like with Li Ming during theCloud Sea Immortal Poolincident.

If nothing happened later, well… that was unfortunate—no, actually, it was better for everyone.

If something did happen, everyone would see it was Zhong Yunfei's choice to go up the peak.

Staying vigilant for threats, Lei Jun no longer worried aboutQiántiān Peak.

Carrying Xia Qing, he returned to the base ofTianxu Mountain'smain peak.

The effect of Zhong Yunfei'sSupreme Soul-Suppressing Talismanwas fading with time.

Originally, theYellow Heaven Sectdisciples guarding Xia Qing had to reinforce it periodically with new talismans.

Lei Jun now took out hisSuperior Tranquility Talisman, dispelling the suppression on Xia Qing's soul.

After some time, Xia Qing gradually woke.

"…Lei-shidi?" she asked uncertainly.

Lei Jun nodded. "It's good you're awake, Xia-shijie."

Xia Qing looked around. "I… you…"

Lei Jun explained, "I stumbled upon someYellow Heaven Sectcultivators who had you captive. I ambushed them and rescued you, but theSoul-Suppressing Talismanwas strong. It took severalTranquility Talismansto wake you."

Xia Qing thanked Lei Jun, though she remained tense. "Where's that traitor Zhong Yunfei?"

"Zhong-zhanglao? I didn't see him. Just you and someYellow Heaven Sectthugs."

Lei Jun feigned surprise. "You called Zhong-zhanglao… a traitor?"

Xia Qing nodded. "He sabotaged theEight Extremes Mountain Guarding Formationand ambushed me!"

Lei Jun leaned back. "That's… shocking. Zhong Yunfei?"

"We must stay alert," Xia Qing warned.

"Right, right—"

Boom!

A thunderous explosion erupted behind them!

FromQiántiān Peak, a column of air shot skyward, summoning a massive lightning bolt to strike the mountain.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com