The Prodigies War-Chapter 2679 Thunderflame Bamboo
Jun Huan spoke gently, “Our priority is to make sure you, Junior Brother, can join the Origin Sect Ancestral Court without a hitch. Everything else comes second.”
Lin Xun replied, “Senior Sister, teaching the Zhuang Clan a lesson won’t interfere with my chances of joining the Origin Sect.”
Jun Huan shook her head. “If our identities are exposed now, the entire Seventh Heaven Domain will have its eyes on us, and countless people will be eager to cause trouble. I know you’re not afraid, but the storms that will follow aren’t worth the risk.”
She paused, then added, “Besides, if we teach the Zhuang Clan a lesson now and Zhuang Shiliu finds out, he’ll make things difficult for you when you enter the Origin Sect. Don’t forget, he’s a deacon of the Origin Clarity Pavilion. And being the local power there, if he chooses to target you, it’ll stir up a lot of trouble.”
Lin Xun suddenly reached out and clapped her lightly on the shoulder, speaking in a serious voice, “Senior Sister, I’ve fought my way from the Great Thousand Battle Domain to where I am today. What trouble or storm do I have to fear? I know you’re looking out for me, but the Zhuang Clan has bullied you. I won’t let them off.”
His voice was calm, but left no room for refusal.
Looking at his handsome face so close to hers and hearing the unshakable resolve in his tone, Jun Huan was briefly stunned, caught in a daze. Then she slapped his hand off her shoulder with a smirk. “You’re doing this for me? What’s this? Do you like me?”
Lin Xun’s forehead twitched. He didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.
I’m talking about serious business!
How did Senior Sister twist it into this...?
“Alright,” Jun Huan said, her smile fading. “Just follow my lead on this matter. We successors of Fangchun Mountain have kept a low profile for years, enduring every kind of humiliation. But whether it’s me, Third Senior Sister, or Eldest Senior Brother, we all know that one day, when we’ve toppled the Ten Immortal Giants, no one in this world will dare look down on us again.”
Lin Xun was silent for a moment before nodding. “Fine, I’ll come back to reclaim the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land in the future.”
Jun Huan smiled faintly. “Good boy.”
Lin Xun: “...”
In my senior sister’s eyes, I am still a child?!
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, followed by an aged voice, “Excuse me, is Fellow Daoist Jun Huan here? I am Zhuang Xiuwu. I have come to pay a visit.”
Jun Huan and Lin Xun exchanged frowns. Why would the Zhuang Clan send someone here at a time like this?
“Don’t act rashly. I will ask why he is here first.” Jun Huan whispered before striding over to open the door.
Outside stood an old man in a luxurious robe with a neatly groomed white beard. When he saw Jun Huan, he immediately showed a look of shame. “Back in the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land, those bastards from my clan were terribly rude. I beg you to forgive them, Fellow Daoist.”
Jun Huan’s tone was cool. “If you’re here to apologize, then there’s no need.”
The old man, who had introduced himself as Zhuang Xiuwu, quickly explained, “Fellow Daoist, I already know the whole story. I’ve come to invite you to the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land. First, to apologise, and second, to make amends.”
Jun Huan raised an eyebrow. “And how do you plan to make amends?”
Zhuang Xiuwu bowed. “Fellow Daoist, I understand that you came seeking the assistance of our clan’s old ancestor, Zhuang Shiliu. I can arrange for your request to be granted. Furthermore, if you require anything else, please feel free to ask. As long as our clan can help, we will not refuse.”
From not far away, Lin Xun walked over and said coldly, “Your attitude has changed rather quickly. Why is that?”
Zhuang Xiuwu glanced at Lin Xun and smiled. “You must be Fellow Daoist Lin Xun, a disciple of Fangchun Mountain. My clan was in the wrong earlier, but by the time I learned of it, it was already too late. So I came here in person to apologize.”
Although he was an Immortal, he carried himself without a shred of arrogance when facing Lin Xun.
Jun Huan hesitated, but Lin Xun smiled and said, “Senior Sister, this elder has come in person and showed such sincerity, how could we refuse? Let’s go to Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land and take a look.”
Zhuang Xiuwu’s face immediately lit up. “Fellow Daoist, this way, please,” he said warmly, leading them forward.
Jun Huan was about to speak, Lin Xun lightly took her arm and followed after the old man.
“Senior Sister, whatever tricks he’s playing, if he’s sincere in apologizing, then it's fine. But if not...then he can’t blame us for showing no mercy.” Lin Xun sent a voice transmission.
Jun Huan was far too sharp not to see through Lin Xun’s intentions. “Junior Brother, I can tell that you’re practically hoping the Zhuang Clan will try something, aren’t you?”
Lin Xun only smiled without a word. Seeing this, she said nothing else.
......
Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land.
Stretching as far as the eye could see, a world of vast, rolling mountain ranges was clothed in endless seas of lush bamboo. Verdant and glistening, the groves swayed under an ethereal light, while the air shimmered with auspicious radiance and ancient primal chaos energy. Every blade of grass and every bamboo stalk seemed to be carved from crystal, like a scene from legend.
It was said the bamboo here contained chaos thunderflames, hence the name Thunderflame Bamboo. It was one of the finest divine materials in all of heaven and earth. Each stalk grew only one joint every thousand years, and it would take ten thousand years before it matured into usable material.
A stalk that had grown for a hundred thousand years could even give birth to immortal matter, becoming an immortal-grade divine material of incomparable value.
After bringing Lin Xun and Jun Huan into the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land, Zhuang Xiuwu’s demeanor relaxed noticeably. With a smile, he began pointing out notable sights and features along the way.
Jun Huan’s expression remained cool, showing little interest. Lin Xun, however, seemed very curious and constantly asked questions. In truth, he was genuinely awed.
This blessed land was truly worthy of the phrase ‘endowed with the essence of heaven and earth, nurturing the primordial source.’ Even the primal chaos energy saturating the air here far surpassed anything in the outside world.
In a place like this, even a pig could awaken its spiritual wisdom and step onto the path of cultivation! This metaphor was no exaggeration.
At least in Lin Xun’s eyes, this place was more than sufficient to meet the cultivation needs of even an Immortal. Growing up and training here from childhood, one would have no need to ever worry about failing to progress on the path of the dao! 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Compared to this, the Dragon Ridge Mountain Range in the Sixth Heaven Domain, where the Luo Clan resided, was simply not worth mentioning.
Long ago, the Luo Clan had also been entrenched in the Seventh Heaven Domain, occupying the Lianzhou Grotto Heaven, one of the twelve grotto heavens. Its divine beauty surpassed even the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land and it was ranked among the most supreme cultivation paradise in the Seventh Heaven Domain!
It was also at this moment that Lin Xun finally understood why the older generation of the Luo Clan remained so nostalgic for their days in the Seventh Heaven Domain.
Dragon Ridge Mountain Range simply could not compare with the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land, let alone the Lianzhou Grotto Heaven.
“Senior, do you happen to have any hundred-thousand-year Thunderflame Bamboo?” Lin Xun asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes as Zhuang Xiuwu spoke so fluently about it.
“Of course,” Zhuang Xiuwu replied without a second thought.
“May I see?” Lin Xun asked.
Zhuang Xiuwu paused, then smiled and took out a stalk of Thunderflame Bamboo, handing it to Lin Xun. “Please, young friend, have a look.”
The stalk was as thick as an arm, long and straight, its body a translucent emerald green. From time to time, a wisp of undying white Thunderflame flickered across its surface, radiating a terrifying aura of destruction. In the hand, it weighed a staggering one hundred thousand pounds!
After a brief examination, Lin Xun exclaimed, “This Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land truly deserves its place among the thirty-six blessed lands. It produced such a miraculous and unfathomable immortal-grade divine material. How could I bear to let it go? Senior, would you be willing to part with it?”
Beside him, Jun Huan’s expression froze in surprise, her eyes turning strange. Zhuang Xiuwu’s eyelids twitched. He hesitated, then let out a hearty laugh. “If you like it, take it. Treasures like this are rare, but I have quite a few.”
Though he spoke generously, his heart was bleeding. This particular Thunderflame Bamboo was over two hundred thousand years old and of inestimable value. It was one of his most prized immortal-grade divine materials. He took it out only to show off to the disciples of Fangchun Mountain.
Who could have guessed Lin Xun would shamelessly ask for it?! Zhuang Xiuwu felt both a painful ache in his heart and deep contempt. The current disciples of Fangchun Mountain were simply getting worse by the day.
At that moment, Lin Xun looked at him with surprise and said, “Senior, do you have other items in storage?”
A shiver ran down Zhuang Xiuwu’s spine. “Only ordinary things. Nothing compared to the treasure in your hands, young friend.”
Lin Xun hesitated, then looked a bit embarrassed and said, “Senior...I have an impertinent favor to ask...”
Zhuang Xiuwu’s face stiffened as he guessed what was coming, and he desperately wished he could silence Lin Xun immediately!
However, Lin Xun seemed completely oblivious and continued seriously, “Could you give me a few more? It’s not out of greed, but so I can gift them to my senior brothers and sisters when I meet them. That way they’ll see just how extraordinary the Emerald Bamboo Blessed Land really is...”
Zhuang Xiuwu felt his blood boil. This little brat...does he think a hundred-thousand-year-old Thunderflame Bamboo is common cabbage?
He could just ask for a ‘few’ whenever he wants?
Unfortunately, right now, he couldn’t afford to lose his temper. No matter how badly he wanted to smash that ‘emabarassed’ look off Lin Xun’s face, he had to swallow his anger.
The old man cleared his throat dryly. “If you truly want them, it’s no trouble at all. How about this? I’ll prepare a generous gift for each of you before you leave.”
Lin Xun replied modestly. “That would be far too much trouble.”
Zhuang Xiuwu remained silent. He feared that if he heard Lin Xun speak again, he might completely lose control. Meanwhile, Jun Huan watched quietly with a faint smile, neither stopping Lin Xun nor saying a word.
At last, as they reached a towering jade-green mountain, Zhuang Xiuwu smiled and said. “This is our clan’s finest place for receiving honored guests. Please, after you.” He stepped aside to let Lin Xun and Jun Huan pass first.
Lin Xun paused, gazing at the lone peak. “Impressive. It’s cloaked in layers of law power and protected by heavy formations. Ordinary people wouldn’t have a chance of entering.”
Zhuang Xiuwu smiled. “Naturally. After all, this is the very heart of our clan.”
Lin Xun smiled leisurely. “But once we step inside...it might not be so easy to leave again...”
He turned to Zhuang Xiuwu, “What do you think, Senior?”
