Jade Court Mountain was the most precipitous among the Li Family’s mountains, towering into the clouds. The courtyard on its summit was small, but it housed a Jade Well large as a pond, its surface inscribed with complex patterns, seeming ancient. Within, the well water was clear and cold, with flashes of Dharma Light.

Li Qinghong exhaled a white breath and opened her apricot eyes, which were hazy with purple light. With a push of her palms, she spurted out mana like thunder, her red lips parting lightly:

"The ’Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique’, truly a secret method altered by later generations...?"

Having practiced this method for six years and having read many other Qi Cultivation techniques, the simplicity and dominance of the Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique was unique. Its various incantations and hand signs, unheard of, often left Li Qinghong marveling at its indescribable brilliance.

Eagerly anticipating the profound and mighty powers of the "Xuanyin Thunder" in the future, she waved away the spell in her hand, swept her gaze around the courtyard, and whispered softly:

"Li Xihong!"

Immediately, hurried footsteps came from behind the house, and an eight or nine-year-old boy emerged, with gentle eyebrows and covered in sweat. He stopped in front of Li Qinghong, smiling as he said:

"Auntie!"

The boy before her, Li Xihong, was indeed the son of Li Yuanyun and the eldest brother of the Xi Yuegeneration. Although his father, Li Yuanyun, lacked a Spirit Aperture and did not cultivate, resulting in him having children earlier, his legitimate eldest son, Li Xihong, was already eight years old and possessed a Spirit Aperture. However, his talent followed that of his father’s lineage and could only be considered above average.

With Li Yuanyun having gone to the market, Li Xihong needed someone to look after him. Li Qinghong, being the blood sister of Li Yuanyun, was the most suitable. Naturally, Li Xihong was sent to Jade Court Mountain to undergo cultivation.

"Practice the spear."

With a casual grab, Li Qinghong fetched a wooden spear and placed it in Li Xihong’s hands, instructing the child to hold the long spear horizontally and stand there in isolation. Li Qinghong blinked her eyes, then inquired:

"The cultivation technique you’re practicing, is it the ’Upper Lang Wheel Nurturing Technique’?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Back to auntie! Indeed, it is."

Li Qinghong nodded silently. The "Upper Lang Wheel Nurturing Technique" was a Third Grade technique that Li Tongya had exchanged for the direct lineage of the family to practice. But as the recipient of the Talisman Seed in her family, she practiced the "Taiyin Breathing and Wheel Nourishing Scripture", something naturally not to be disclosed.

"Xihong, Xizhi, Ximing... I wonder which one will be graced by the immortals."

"Brother Jiao wishes to send Xizhi to the sect... I fear he may not receive a talisman, so it seems it’s between Ximing and Xihong!"

Lost in thought, Li Qinghong gazed as Li Xihong stood drenched in sweat, his hand holding the spear trembling with effort, his teeth clenched in silence.

She straightened Li Xihong’s arms, ready to offer guidance, when a voice thundered from beyond the formation:

"Loose Cultivator Ning Heyuan has come to pay a visit, calling upon the Li Family Mountain Master to appear!"

Startled by the shout, Li Xihong instantly drop his wooden spear on the ground with a clatter, wiped his sweat, and looked timidly at Li Qinghong.

Raising an eyebrow, Li Qinghong saw a young man dressed in green outside the formation. His storage bag and Dharma Sword radiated Dharma Light, and he was garbed in spiritual cloth woven from spiritual threads. Even the decorated jade stones were of the highest quality—a sight of utmost luxury.

"A loose cultivator? Trying to deceive your granny, huh!"

Li Qinghong sneered, leaping out of the formation, while Ning Heyuan continued with his prattle, murmuring:

"I’ve long heard of the great reputation of the Lijing Li Family, who are adept at swordsmanship. Heyuan has traveled a thousand miles precisely to challenge a noble peer with my sword, to prove my own Sword Dao..."

Before Ning Heyuan could finish his speech, a woman in a white dress, full of vigor, had flown out from the formation. Her eyes sparked with electricity, and her purple irises fixated directly on him with her lips pressed tightly.

"A female cultivator?!"

Expecting to see the sword-wielding young man of his imagination, Ning Heyuan faltered slightly, feeling utterly embarassed. In contrast, Li Qinghong let out a cold laugh, drew her spear, and smashed it down fiercely. Accompanied by the surging purple thunderbolt, the might was immense.

"Wait... ancient law... Miss!"

Ning Heyuan had no time to speak before hastily drawing his sword to block. Li Qinghong’s spear was already smashing down fiercely, accompanied in an instant by booming thunderbolts, stunning Ning Heyuan into disarray.

However, Ning Heyuan was no pushover. After being caught off guard at the initial exchange, he continued backing away for a while, with raincloud-like aura of clear water emerging around him, undulating unpredictably. The Sword Qi from his longsword was exceptionally skilled, blocking Li Qinghong’s aggressive attacks.

"Impressive cultivation technique, Mr. Ning..."

Seeing the Dharma Light around him, his Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and a high-grade Orthodox Law cultivation technique, Li Qinghong surmised and thought to himself:

"Green Pond Sect..."

Realization dawned, and given that Li Qinghong had just lost her father, she was already feeling indescribable frustration. Hence, her attacks became even more fierce, with True Yuan flowing from the Sea of Qi Acupoint. The "Long Sky Risky Sparrow" shone brightly, and her speed and offensive power both increased a notch.

Just as Ning Heyuan managed to resist Li Qinghong’s onslaught, he hadn’t expected that the white-robed female cultivator would grow stronger with each strike. Thunderbolts exploded, causing the sky to flicker between light and dark. This was his first time facing a Thunder Magic Cultivator, and both of his palms were tingling numbly. He chuckled bitterly and said,

"Isn’t it said that the Li Family is a Sword Immortal Family? Why use Thunder Dharma... This technique is also bizarre, with every movement bringing forth strange phenomena. If someone didn’t know better, they would think you were a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

As the two exchanged blows, Li Qinghong fought with increasing valor. Her eyes were filled with a dense purple hue, pushing Ning Heyuan back repeatedly. Left with no choice but to deflect her spear, Ning Heyuan’s longsword emitted a bright light, transforming into two rainbow glows, aiming for Li Qinghong’s face.

Li Qinghong moved her spear, bringing forth several purple spear flowers that casually collided with the rainbow glows in midair. She then freed one hand, traced a Thunder Talisman in the void, intricately drawn, and infused it with dark purple True Yuan, shouting,

"Dare!"

This spell was recorded in the "Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique," composed by predecessors without a designated grade. Li Qinghong had practiced it for years, and upon using it now, the Talisman soared like the sun and descended upon Ning Heyuan.

"Excellent!"

Seeing Li Qinghong employing a spell, Ning Heyuan also formed an Incantation with his free hand, releasing a clear and bright Mana, colliding with the Talisman.

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion rang out from clear skies, with purple electrical light and flames erupting. Smoke billowed, Mana surged in all directions, and with a thunderous roar, it rushed towards Ning Heyuan’s face. Ning Heyuan cursed under his breath and once again formed an incantation, gathering a bright light.

This light, like fog or rain, approached threateningly. Li Qinghong wielded her spear to block, and the dazzling thunder and sharp spear gleams were forcefully pushed several yards away. The flames and smoke also simultaneously calmed down, becoming silent.

Li Qinghong staggered back a dozen steps, her spear creaking, its Dharma Light dimming.

"Impressive spellwork!"

Li Qinghong stared intensely at the Mana light in Ning Heyuan’s hand, guessing that it must be an inheritance from one of Green Pond Sect’s main peaks, likely a Fourth or Fifth Grade spell.

The truly powerful spells inherited by the Three Sects and Seven Doors were not intentionally spread outside the sect, and compared to these, the spells circulated among Loose Cultivators and Noble Families were mere child’s play, most being low-caliber First or Second Grade tricks.

While the Dharma Light still peacefully rested in Ning Heyuan’s hand, he cursed softly and dispersed it with a wave, speaking somewhat dejectedly,

"Miss has formidable Thunder Dharma and Spear Technique... forcing me to use the ’Si Yuan Qian Light’... I was too complacent."

However, Li Qinghong had no fondness for the Ning surname of the Green Pond Sect. She simply memorized the name ’Si Yuan Qian Light’ and nodded coldly before responding,

"You may leave now. Forgive me for not seeing you off."

Ning Heyuan suddenly felt choked up. He opened his mouth, his emotions stuck in his belly, then, seeing Li Qinghong about to descend the mountain, he could only say,

"May I ask for the fairy’s name?"

Li Qinghong paused momentarily before finally speaking,

"Li family of Lijing, Li Qinghong."