116: Chapter 116 Preparation

Outside the window, bamboo shadows danced, and sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting mottled spots of light.

"News travels fast," Deacon Wu huffed. "You Outer Sect Disciples are always exceptionally keen on treasure hunting and exploration."

Lin Xuan did not argue, simply listening quietly.

Deacon Wu glanced at him, paused, and his tone softened slightly.

"There is indeed unusual activity at Thunderfall Ravine. It is not just a rumor."

"A month ago, the Earth Vein Department and the Spirit Beast Peak jointly organized an investigation. Seven people, led by a Deputy Department Head of the Earth Vein Department, went in and stayed for three days."

Lin Xuan listened intently.

"The outer perimeter investigation went smoothly, and they indeed found quite a few good things," Deacon Wu said, extending his withered fingers and counting them one by one. "Three stalks of thunder essence ganoderma; over twenty stalks of purple light grass; and a type of symbiotic 'thunder sound moss,' which was rarely seen before, but several clusters were discovered this time."

"But further in, past a dried-up creek valley, it became impossible."

Deacon Wu lowered his hand, his expression becoming a bit more serious.

"The lightning storms over there are too frequent and completely irregular. One moment the sky is clear for ten thousand li, and the next, a bolt of lightning as thick as a water bucket strikes down; there is nowhere to hide.

A Deacon at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in the investigation team was accidentally grazed by it. His defensive Magical Artifact shattered on the spot, half of his body went numb, and it took him seven or eight days of recovery to get better."

"Additionally…" He paused. "On the Spirit Beast Peak side, someone heard a beast roar during a gap in the lightning storms. It didn't sound like an ordinary First Rank Yao Beast; the sound was very deep, accompanied by a 'crackle' of electricity, and it could be heard clearly from very far away."

Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat.

A beast roar, accompanied by the crackle of electricity...

"Did the Senior Brothers from the Spirit Beast Peak see clearly what kind of Yao Beast it was?" he asked.

Deacon Wu shook his head. "No. That thing is very alert; as soon as the investigation team approached the edge of the lightning storm zone, the roar stopped. The people from the Earth Vein Department used their Divine Sense to scan it several times, but they didn't detect anything. Either it is hiding too deep, or it has some means to block Divine Sense."

He looked at Lin Xuan with a faint, knowing smile. "How about it, have you guessed something?"

Lin Xuan did not hide it. "When this Disciple first entered the Sect, I once saw a record about Thunderfall Ravine in an old notebook in the Library of Emerald Bamboo Peak. Many years ago, a Disciple saw a Yao Beast there suspected to be a 'Purple Lightning Sable'."

Deacon Wu was silent for a moment.

"Your memory is quite good," he said calmly, neither denying nor confirming.

But Lin Xuan understood.

Deacon Wu did not directly say "yes," but his attitude had already explained a lot.

The Yao Beast deep within Thunderfall Ravine was very likely a Purple Lightning Sable. Even if it was not the same one, it was a powerful thunder beast with a similar Bloodline, or its descendant.

And the value of a Purple Lightning Sable...

Lin Xuan calculated quickly in his mind.

A First Rank High Grade Peak Yao Beast; if it could be tamed, its combat strength would far exceed that of an ordinary Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator.

If he could share its innate talent—the signature abilities of a Purple Lightning Sable, 'Thunder Escape' or 'Purple Lightning Break,' either one would be enough to transform him.

But the prerequisite was that he had to have the life to go in, the life to get close, and the life to tame it.

Deacon Wu seemed to see through his thoughts and sighed.

"You Cultivate thunder arts, so it is understandable that you are interested in Thunderfall Ravine," he softened his tone. "There may indeed be the Opportunity you need there. But Lin Xuan, remember—"

He held up three fingers.

"First, the danger of Thunderfall Ravine is real; it is not child's play. Although the Sect will organize subsequent explorations in the form of missions, and will definitely have high-level forces clear out the real dangers first, before that, Qi Refinement Stage Disciples can only operate in the outer perimeter at most."

"Second, even if the core area is opened in the future, not everyone will be able to enter. Cultivation, combat strength... everything will be audited. You have just entered the Qi Refining Middle Stage; it is enough to collect some spirit materials on the outer perimeter. Want to go deeper? Raise your Cultivation to the Late Stage of Qi Refining first."

"Third," Deacon Wu looked at him deeply. "Treasures are good, but life is more important. Thunderfall Ravine will not run away; after the thunder vein revives, it will be active for at least several years or even decades. You can afford to wait; there is no need to rush in during the most dangerous time."

Lin Xuan listened earnestly and nodded. "This Disciple understands."

Deacon Wu watched him for a moment, and confirming he was not just giving lip service, his expression finally softened.

He pulled a yellowed piece of animal skin from his Storage Pouch and spread it out on the wooden platform beside him.

It was a hand-drawn map.

The edges of the paper were worn and frayed, and the ink had faded slightly, but the lines were still clear.

The map was marked with mountain ranges, creek valleys, forests, iconic rocks, and several red circles drawn with cinnabar ink.

"This is something I drew casually when I was young, while following a Senior from the Earth Vein Department into the mountains," Deacon Wu's voice was filled with nostalgia. "At that time, Thunderfall Ravine was not this fierce; at least the outer perimeter was considered safe. These red circles are the relatively safe collection points I marked."

He pointed to a spot on the bottom left of the map:

"Here, on the leeward slope, patches of electric light grass grow. The quality is good, but take note that on the seventh and twelfth days of every month, lightning storms will sweep across the valley entrance; do not run into them."

He then pointed to a spot to the right of the center:

"Here, at the end of the creek valley, there is a huge blue-gray rock. In the crevices under the rock, one can often find fragments of thunder-patterned stone. Although they are not large, the advantage is that they are stable; I have gone five or six times and had gains every time."

Finally, he pointed to a curved dashed line on the top right of the map:

"This line was the 'safety cordon' from back then. Inside the dashed line, I have never been, and I do not suggest you go. It was like this back then; now that the thunder vein has revived, it will only be more dangerous inside."

Lin Xuan looked at the map carefully, firmly committing every mark and every line to memory.

"Many thanks, Deacon Wu." He thanked him solemnly.

Deacon Wu waved his hand, rolled up the animal skin, and stuffed it into his hand.

"Take it; it is of no use to me anyway." He paused. "Lin Xuan, the years you worked in the herb garden, you were steady, diligent, and not impetuous. I remember that."

"This map is a bit of selfishness from this old man. But remember—"

He looked into Lin Xuan's eyes, saying each word clearly:

"Act according to your ability."

"Do not let me give this in vain."

Lin Xuan gripped the roll of animal skin map that still held the warmth of the Deacon, was silent for a moment, and nodded heavily:

"This Disciple will remember."

When he left the warm cellar, the setting sun was already slanting to the west.

Golden sunlight spilled onto the herb fields, dyeing the patches of spirit plants a warm orange-red.

Liu Qingyan was still busy in Zone C, and Xiao Huo on her shoulder had finished eating its nut and was lazily licking its paws.

Lin Xuan did not disturb her and quietly left through the side door.

When he returned to his small courtyard on Emerald Bamboo Peak, it was already close to dusk.

He sat on the stone stool in the courtyard, spread out the animal skin map, and by the last of the daylight, looked over it carefully once more.

Thunderfall Ravine, about eighty li deeper into the back mountains of Emerald Bamboo Peak, had complex terrain, with high mountains and deep valleys.

There were several relatively safe collection points on the outer perimeter, all clearly marked by Deacon Wu.

The core area was deeper in that dried-up creek valley; a circle was drawn on the map with a dashed line, and next to it were two words: "Enter with caution."

Lin Xuan stared at those two words for a long time.

Then, he carefully put the map away into the deepest part of his Storage Pouch.

With a thought, he entered the Spirit-Taming Tower Space.

The thunder essence fruit tree stood quietly in the center of the spirit field, its canopy like a cover, with lush branches and leaves.

That fruit had already grown to the size of an adult's fist.

The purple-gold thunder patterns on its surface were as deep as if carved, and faint electric light flowed between the patterns.

The exotic fragrance was so rich it almost solidified; just by being near it, one could feel that pure and majestic vitality of the Thunder Spiritual Energy.

Lin Xuan reached out and gently touched the skin of the fruit.

It felt slightly numb to the touch, with a warm heat.

He sensed the state of the fruit—it would take about another month until it was fully mature.

After a month, if he consumed this thunder essence fruit, Qi Refining Level 6 would be within reach.

By then, he would prepare with all his might for the trip to Thunderfall Ravine.

He needed to prepare more Second Rank Talismans.

The Pangolin's [Earth Perception] and burrowing ability still needed continued intensive training.

The Herb-Seeking Mouse's talent for tracking thunder-attribute spirit materials also needed to be honed further.

Also, he needed to ask Chen Hao if there were any new, life-saving Magical Artifacts recently released by the Artifact Refining Peak...

Lin Xuan exited the space and stood in the courtyard.

The night grew darker, and the lights of Thousand Talisman Peak and Rising Sun Peak in the distance lit up one by one, connecting into a brilliant river of light among the mountains.

He looked toward the deeper, more distant north.

There, the direction of Thunderfall Ravine.

Mountain shadows were layered, and the twilight was deep.

But Lin Xuan knew that in that mysterious valley shrouded in thunder light, there lay the Opportunity he had been pursuing for so long.

The Purple Lightning Sable.

Heaven And Earth Treasure.

And, the path to becoming stronger.

No rush.

He had already waited for three years; he could afford to wait one more month.

Outside the window, the night wind brushed through the bamboo forest, rustling.

Lin Xuan withdrew his gaze, returned to the Quiet Room, and sat cross-legged.

The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art circulated, and Thunder Spiritual Energy surged through his Meridians.

Within his Dantian, the purple thunder seed pulsed slightly; every pulse echoed the plan in his heart.

One month.

One month later, Thunderfall Ravine.

He silently set the time.

Then, he closed his eyes and immersed himself in silent Cultivation.