130: Xuanlei Valley

After the Shadow Scale Snake woke up, its body had grown to five zhang, its jet-black scales shimmered with dark gold patterns, and the small bump protruding on its forehead seemed to be faintly growing a horn.

Lin Feng gazed at the four-colored Sword Essence circulating within his Dantian, his fingertips lightly touching the bump on the Shadow Scale Snake's forehead.

He recalled the "Ten Thousand Spirits True Record" he had seen before at Senior Sister Xiao's place, and the records of the Shadow Teng Snake gradually coincided with the characteristics of the little snake before him.

Thinking about it, the Slug must also be the juvenile form of the Saint Healing Heaven Slug, and now, he was even more convinced that these two Spirit Beasts were extraordinary.

"I have already obtained four of the Five Elements." Lin Feng condensed four-colored Sword Essence in his palm, "Where should I go to find an Earth-attribute spiritual object?"

After organizing his thoughts, Lin Feng arrived at the Cloud Vast Pavilion. Upon entering, he saw his Master deep in thought facing an unfinished chess game, with the pieces densely scattered across the board like stars.

"Disciple has returned from his travels and has come specifically to pay respects to Master." Lin Feng performed the Disciple's salute.

Lu Yuchan did not look up, her fingertips tapping a white piece on the chessboard: "Spiritual power condensed but not released, sharpness restrained... This trip was certainly not in vain."

She suddenly looked up, her gaze like lightning, "It's just that what is too rigid is easily broken; you must understand the principle that water benefits all things without competing."

Lin Feng's heart stirred slightly. Although his Master did not explicitly point out the uniqueness of his Cultivation Technique, she had accurately perceived the changes in his spiritual power characteristics.

Lu Yuchan pushed a cup of tea over, the tea moving without wind: "Go to the Xuanlei Valley in the northeast. The thunderclouds there never disperse throughout the year, making it the best place to temper one's Heart-Nature."

She took out a purple jade talisman carved with cloud patterns, "Give this item to the Head of the Xiao Family and say it is a greeting from an old friend."

Seeing Lin Feng hesitate, she said indifferently: "Although thunder is violent, it can temper sharpness. For your current state, it might be just right."

Three days later, Lin Feng flew to the northern foothills of the Xuanlei Valley mountain range. In the distance came bursts of thunder, mixed with the explosive sounds of spiritual power colliding.

He restrained his aura and stood atop the wine immortal gourd, seeing two youths in purple robes engaged in a fierce battle with three black-robed Cultivators.

The older youth held a thunder halberd, lightning flowing at the tip of the halberd, forcing one black-robed Cultivator to retreat repeatedly. However, although his offensive was fierce, his footwork had already become chaotic.

Another slender Cultivator kept forming seals, spreading layers of lightning nets in an attempt to trap the other two, but her face was becoming increasingly pale.

"Juniors of the Xiao Family, still not surrendering!" The leading black-robed man sneered, and several streaks of black light flew out from his sleeves. The slender Cultivator could not dodge in time, her shoulder was scratched, and the thunder seal in her palm immediately dissipated.

Lin Feng observed the situation calmly. He saw the older youth, in order to protect his companion, dancing the thunder halberd wildly like a rampant electric snake, but losing more and more of his technique. The black-robed Cultivator seized the opening, and three streaks of black light aimed directly at the older youth's vital points.

At the critical moment, the spirit beast pouch at Lin Feng's waist suddenly bulged. The Shadow Scale Snake darted out on its own, the gold patterns on its forehead flickering, and it actually devoured all the scattered lightning spiritual energy in the arena.

This sudden turn of events made both sides of the battle pause in surprise.

Lin Feng took the opportunity to act. He flicked his fingertips, and three wisps of spiritual power accurately struck the Acupoints on the black-robed Cultivator's wrists. The direction of the black light shifted, brushing past the older youth's clothes.

"Who is it?" The black-robed leader looked toward the sky in uncertainty.

At this moment, the slender Cultivator staggered and fell to the ground due to the backlash of spiritual power, and the older youth's aura was also in disorder. Lin Feng slowly landed on the ground, the Shadow Scale Snake coiled by his side, its snake eyes coldly locking onto the black-robed people.

"Who are you, Your Excellency?" The black-robed leader stared warily at the Shadow Scale Snake, "Why interfere in the affairs between our Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and the Xiao Family?"

Lin Feng did not answer, only looking at the older Xiao Family youth who was struggling to support himself.

The older youth wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and cupped his hands, saying: "Many thanks for the help, Fellow Daoist. I am Xiao Yan, and this is my younger sister, Xiao Xue."

Lin Feng then saw clearly that the slender Cultivator was actually a young girl. She struggled to support her body, her dark hair disheveled, yet it could not hide her beautiful face.

"I am Lin Feng." He returned the salute simply, but his gaze did not leave the Shadow Scale Snake. This little fellow was licking up the residual lightning spiritual energy on the ground, looking very comfortable.

Xiao Xue coughed lightly and looked at Lin Feng and the Shadow Scale Snake: "Fellow Daoist's Spirit Beast can actually calm the backlash of lightning spiritual energy..." After speaking, she fainted.

Seeing that Lin Feng ignored them, the three black-robed Cultivators exchanged glances and suddenly threw out Talismans simultaneously.

Lin Feng formed a seal with his left hand, and several streaks of Ice Soul Divine Light shot out; the Talismans were immediately frozen and fell to the ground.

What was even more surprising was that the Slug quietly jumped out from Lin Feng's spirit beast pouch and landed beside Xiao Xue. A soft white light flashed, and Xiao Xue's deathly pale complexion gradually returned to a rosy hue.

"Go!" The black-robed leader, seeing that Lin Feng's strength far exceeded theirs, shouted and retreated quickly.

After Xiao Xue woke up, she was startled to see the Slug beside her, but after discovering that her injuries had improved, she thanked Lin Feng.

"If Fellow Daoist is not in a hurry, could you accompany us back to Xuanlei Valley to rest for a while?" Xiao Xue sincerely invited him, "If the Elders in the valley know of Fellow Daoist's kindness in helping us, they will definitely reward you heavily."

After recalling the Slug, Lin Feng looked up toward the depths of the valley, seeing the thunderclouds that never dispersed throughout the year slowly rotating, with purple lightning moving through them like a Dragon or snake.

What was even stranger was that the thunderclouds were not chaotic, but faintly formed some kind of profound formation, as if it were breathing in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi like a living thing.

"That is the Valley-Protecting Thunder Gang of our Xiao Family." Xiao Yan saw him watching intently and explained softly, "Since our ancestor established the clan here, these thunderclouds have never dispersed."

The Shadow Scale Snake suddenly raised its head and hissed, the gold patterns on its forehead echoing from afar with the lightning in the sky.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan's expression shifted slightly: "Fellow Daoist Lin's Spirit Beast seems to have quite a connection with our family's Thunder Gang."

The three walked to the valley entrance, where two huge pillars formed of lightning light crashed down, turning into a gate. The Disciples guarding the valley saw the Xiao siblings and hurriedly saluted: "Young Lord, Young Miss, who is this?"

"An honored guest." Xiao Yan took out a token, and the lightning gate opened in response.

The moment he stepped into the valley, Lin Feng felt the surrounding air suddenly become heavy. Several Elders dressed in purple robes were passing by a distant corridor, and upon seeing a stranger, they could not help but slow their steps. The leading Elder had white hair and beard, a thunder-patterned waist ornament swaying gently with his steps, and his gaze lingered on Lin Feng for a moment like lightning.

Several young Disciples were practicing thunder techniques in the square, and upon seeing Xiao Yan, they all stopped and saluted. But their attention was quickly attracted by the Shadow Scale Snake. A bold youth could not help but take two steps forward, only to be hurriedly pulled back by a companion.

"What... Spirit Beast is that?" Whispers drifted over with the wind.

"External guests are rarely seen in the valley, so it's inevitable that everyone is curious." Xiao Yan explained softly, "Since my father went into seclusion, all matters in the valley have been managed by the Grand Elder. He is an Elder who values rules the most."

Lin Feng nodded silently, his gaze sweeping across the edge of the square. There stood nine stone carvings of thunder beasts, and the patterns on one of the snake-shaped statues were actually seventy percent similar to the gold patterns on the Shadow Scale Snake's forehead.

When passing through the training field, a sturdy youth who was wiping a thunder halberd suddenly spoke: "Sister Xue, who is this?"

Xiao Yan answered first: "This is Fellow Daoist Lin Feng, who just helped us repel the enemy outside the valley."

The youth sized up Lin Feng for a moment, then suddenly slammed the thunder halberd onto the ground: "To be able to protect my sister Xue under the hands of that bunch of scum, you do have some ability." His voice was loud, drawing more Disciples to look over.

The pavilions along the way were all built with thunder-struck wood, and the copper bells on the eaves rang softly in the breeze. However, some buildings were as new as ever, while others appeared dilapidated.

Walking to the front of the guest courtyard, Xiao Xue suddenly lowered her voice: "One month later is the day the Thunder Pool opens. If Fellow Daoist wishes to watch the thunder, you might as well stay in the valley for a few more days." After speaking, she left in a hurry, her skirt hem bringing up tiny sparks of electricity as it brushed against the ground.

Lin Feng stood in front of the window, his fingers rubbing the purple jade talisman, looking at the surging thunderclouds in the valley.

What exactly was his Revered Master's purpose in sending him to Xuanlei Valley?