Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, illuminating the entire courtyard. The rain that had been brewing for a long time poured down, sweeping across the sky and drenching Li Zhongkang and the rest.
They seemed to be unaware of it and did not try to cover themselves. However, when the bean-sized raindrops were about to hit them, they would always be bounced off by an invisible layer of air, unable to touch them at all.
After going through the first Thunder Trial, the most obvious and important change was the self-generation of mana, the ability to protect oneself at all times, and the ability to ride on the wind and mist.
The rain splashed and the white foam turned into mist. Mengqi raised the horsetail whisk in his hand and placed it on the crook of his arm. He chuckled and said, "Since all of you like to discuss matters in the courtyard, the Daoist can only accompany you. Just now, I mentioned that we need to leave a few of you to hide and wait for an opportunity to appear to cooperate with the Ninth Wangye to obtain that extraordinary item. Now, the Daoist would like to ask, which of you are willing to?"
The last six words were like thunder in spring, shocking the Ninth Wangye, Shiao Kun, and the rest, causing them to tremble and completely wake up.
You look at me, I look at you. After a dozen or so breaths of time, they finally figured out what had happened and fell into deep thought.
Staying in the capital would definitely be extremely dangerous, and they could not afford to expose themselves. It would be completely different from the illustrious life in the past. However, everyone present was a master in the capital who had been rooted here for decades or even more than a dozen generations. Many of them were reluctant to leave. Moreover, after leaving the capital, they would be unfamiliar with the place and would be hunted by the imperial court. It would not be very comfortable.
For a moment, they had many thoughts and could not make a decision. The sound of rain in their ears isolated the noise of the mortal world.
"I'm willing to stay in the capital and assist the Ninth Wangye," Li Zhongkang's expression changed a few times before he gritted his teeth and said.
If there was a turning point in the situation and Taoism reappeared in the past, the person who would ascend to the throne and hold the authority would definitely be the Ninth Wangye, Shiao Kun. It was better to help now than to add flowers to brocade in the future!
With Li Zhongkang taking the lead, Bi Zhongde and the Wind Fire Temple's master, Lu Si, expressed their determination to hide in the capital.
"Well, the three of you are truly role models for Taoism. Please accept the Daoist's bow." Mengqi bowed and turned to look at Shiao Kun. "If I want Grand Tutor Pei to leave the capital and personally take charge of the rebellion, I'm afraid it's not enough to rely on you. The Daoist plans to meet the world's most powerful person tomorrow."
Grand Preceptor Pei Daotong, a Seventh Tribulation Perfected Being, was able to create things out of the void in this world and roam the dark. Ever since the fall of Dao Sect's Heavenly Master Xu, he was truly the number one person in the world.
Shiao Kun was stunned at first, and then the corner of his eyes twitched. He said in surprise, "Senior, please be careful. Grand Preceptor Pei's Jade Emperor Divine Fist is world-shaking and cannot be underestimated. Let's wait for you to recover to your peak before making a decision."
Shiao Kun was stunned at first, then his eyes twitched. He said in surprise, "Senior, please be careful. Grand Tutor Pei's Jade Emperor Divine Fist is famous and cannot be underestimated. Let's wait for you to recover to your peak."
Thinking back to what happened just now, he and everyone present were sure that Grand Tutor Pei only had the strength of a First Tribulation Perfected Immortal. But judging from how easily he passed the tribulation as if it was a game, his past reputation was not false. He still had some accumulation, but something went wrong that caused him to lose his realm and cultivation. He was slowly recovering to his peak.
Li Zhongkang and the others nodded and agreed with the Ninth Wangye. Judging from how Grand Tutor Pei had passed the tribulation during the break of the discussion, as long as he was given enough time, he could at least recover his original strength, let alone a Seven Tribulation Perfected Immortal. Six Tribulation Perfected Immortal was already one of the few in Taoism. He must not take the risk!
Mengqi waved his horsetail whisk and smiled. "Rest assured, Ninth Wangye. Everyone, rest assured. We will only meet for a while. It's not a head-on fight. I have my own plan."
After that, he walked through the rain and returned to his room. He had made up his mind.
The rest of the people looked at each other, feeling heavy and worried.
…
Deep in the palace, in the imperial study.
The emperor, Xiao Xuan, who was wearing a robe with nine dragons playing with pearls, stood by the window with his hands behind his back. He looked at the rain that had not dissipated for several days and pursed his lips.
He was nearly seventy years old but did not look old at all. His flesh and skin seemed to contain a huge amount of power and his eyes were as deep as the sea. He looked like he was in his early thirties and others would probably think that they were brothers if they stood together.
The Grand Tutor Pei Daotong sat calmly on the armchair given by the emperor and looked at Xiao Xuan's back. He did not have the slightest restlessness, like a towering mountain.
He took care of himself meticulously. The hair on his temples, lips and chin were not messy at all. He looked like a steel sculpture and his eyes were so majestic that no one dared to look him in the eye.
In front of Pei Daotong was the desk that Xiao Xuan used to mark the memorials. There was a glass lamp in the center of the desk. It was pale gold in color and the lamp oil was transparent. Now, the flame was like a bean, swaying with the wind, causing the surrounding light and darkness to constantly change, which was quite strange.
"We haven't found a Taoist Sect's Lightning Retribution Master in the past two days?" Xiao Xuan did not turn around. He was still looking out of the window at the dark clouds and drizzling rain.
Pei Daotong said calmly without a trace of emotion, "Yes, I suspect that someone leaked the news. The heavens have changed."
Xiao Xuan suddenly let out a long sigh, turned around and looked at the side of the desk.
"Yes, the heavens have indeed changed. What do you teach me, Venerable One?"
In the imperial study, there was another person besides the Emperor Xiao Xuan and the Grand Tutor Pei Daotong!
At the side of the desk stood a monk in a gray robe. He was looking at the glass lamp with a handsome face and a faint smile on his lips. He looked calm and relaxed.
Hearing Xiao Xuan's question, the monk in the gray robe smiled slightly. "Your Majesty, don't panic."
Xiao Xuan frowned and asked in a deep voice,
"Venerable Ananda, what do you mean?"
The monk in the gray robe, who was called Venerable Ananda, smiled and said,
"Let's wait and see."
…
The rain was like silk, and the dark clouds gradually dispersed. Pei Daotong left the palace in a sedan chair, accompanied by Xiao Kun of the Nine Kings.
He closed his eyes as if he was sleeping, but he was actually thinking about the changes in the capital in the past few days to grasp the key points.
The master had many followers and the team was huge, so they did not move fast. It took them a while to leave Vermilion Bird Avenue and turn to Qingyang House. At this point, Xiao Kun and Pei Daotong had to part ways.
Due to the continuous rain for many days, there were few pedestrians around. They held oil paper umbrellas and walked carefully. When the wind blew, the water on the ground rippled and there was no dust at all.
At this moment, Pei Daotong, who was in the sedan chair, suddenly opened his eyes. Lightning gathered in his eyes, as if they were surrounding a supreme god, reflecting the entire scene of the secluded street next to him.
A Taoist Qing Yun in a black robe was walking slowly. He held a bamboo hat in his hand and bathed in the drizzle as if he was enjoying nature.
One step, two steps, three steps. The world seemed to be stretched infinitely, and both sides seemed to have suddenly become smaller.
A Perfected Cultivator! Xiao Kun of the Nine Kings was startled, frightened and worried.
"Just one tribulation …" Pei Daotong whispered and stretched out his right hand. Countless silver lights intertwined and condensed into a thunder arrow with ancient patterns. It was a divine arrow with a tangible touch.
Just as he was about to shoot the Thunderbolt Arrow, he saw Meng Qi smiling lightly, looking relaxed.
The sky suddenly darkened, and dark clouds gathered as if to crush the capital. Countless silver lightning converged into one and struck down. The terrifying momentum separated Pei Daotong and Mengqi on both sides.
Boom!
The lightning exploded, and the silver light flowed like water, surging toward Pei Daotong.
Mengqi, who was suffering from the heavenly punishment, did not notice it at all and took another step.
Boom!
Another thunder fell, mixed with gold and silver, and its power was even more powerful than before.
In the rolling thunder ball, Meng Qi, dressed in a black robe and surrounded by electric arcs, stepped out and took another step.
Boom!
The sky was furious, and five golden thunderbolts struck at the same time.
Xiao Kun was dumbfounded and murmured to himself,
"Second tribulation … third tribulation … fourth tribulation …"
One step, one thunder tribulation, one breath, one ascension!
Pei Daotong saw Mengqi walking slowly toward him. With the thunder and lightning on him, he felt his momentum was taken away, and the divine arrow in his hand could not be shot out.
In the end, the dark clouds seemed to have come to the surface. The thunder and lightning formed a sea, rippling in circles. The deeper one went, the more terrifying it was.
The colorful sea of thunder and lightning slowly separated, and Mengqi appeared not far away from Pei Daotong, holding his bamboo hat.
As he put on the bamboo hat, he smiled and said,
"The Daoist has also gone through seven tribulations."
Pei Daotong's eyes turned cold, and the thunder arrow was finally shot out. It penetrated Mengqi, but his figure was like a bubble, slowly dissipating.
If not for the thunder aura, what happened just now was really like a dream.
