Several days later, the gate of the quiet pavilion suddenly opened, and Han Li, who had been in seclusion for six days, stepped out. Though his face bore the look of fatigue, a smile could not be concealed in his eyes. It seemed that the recent efforts in crafting the talismans had yielded significant results. Today was not the day when Mu Qing taught him the art of controlling lightning; Han Li had simply come out to ease the persistent tension in his nerves. After all, relaxation was the true path to restoring both body and mind. The area of Mu Jing Cave was not much smaller than that of Xueyan Palace. Han Li slowly walked through the garden in front of the pavilion and began to explore various parts of the cave. Half an hour later, he appeared at a side gate, gazing at the constantly flickering emerald glow on its surface, and lowered his head, murmuring thoughtfully. He had already passed through most of the areas of the cave many times over. Yet several places, sealed by protective spells, remained elusive. In particular, two of these sealed areas were so tightly guarded that even Han Li found them intimidating and deeply curious. This is one of the outlying pavilions known as the "Cui Yin Garden." However, through the subtle streams of pure wooden spirit energy seeping out from the dense array of seals, he deduced that this place was likely a medicinal garden. What kind of rare herbs and fruits would a fully evolved immortal king like Mu Qing so highly value? Han Li found himself growing increasingly curious. Yet, upon recalling Mu Qing's seemingly casual warning from that day, he chuckled to himself and ultimately set the thought aside. With such stringent seals in place, how could Mu Qing possibly overlook this location? Though it now appeared deserted, he might have been under constant surveillance from the very beginning—how could he possibly carry out any subtle maneuvers? Han Li shook his head quietly, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked off in another direction. He did not linger outside for long; by the time one hour had passed, he returned to his quiet chamber with a relaxed demeanor. ...For the next half-year, Han Li continued to repeat the monotonous daily routine, day after day. It was unclear whether he truly possessed a natural aptitude for the way of thunder and lightning, or whether the technique of summoning thunder—far from as difficult as the one taught by Mu Qing and the others—was simply more accessible than expected. Over this period, Han Li had mastered the method to an astonishing degree, with only minor refinements remaining. Mu Qing was greatly delighted by this progress and, as the two-year period drew to a close, extended invitations once again to the six-footed elder and the graceful woman, inviting them all to gather at the Wood Spirit Hall. Three days later, Han Li met these several immortal kings once more at the Wood Spirit Hall. However, this time, Yuan Yao and Yan Li did not arrive, leaving him with a slight sense of disappointment, especially given the subtle expectations he had harbored. The earth-blood elder still appeared as two indistinct figures in crimson robes, arriving together as before. "Indeed, Master Han has already mastered the ritual of summoning the divine, protective thunder. Mu sister, are you not exaggerating?" the silver-haired woman exclaimed, clearly skeptical. At that moment, she sat alone on one side of the hall. "This is a matter of great significance," she said, "how To be honest, I was genuinely surprised that Mr. Han could so quickly master the most crucial aspect of the Lightning Conduction Art—the Ritual of Summoning Lightning. Afterward, I learned that Mr. Han's true spiritual artifact is the Golden Lightning Bamboo, a precious object. With that in mind, it's no wonder he can so effectively control the Divine Protective Lightning. "Wood Qing chuckled softly in the dark glow. "Using Golden Lightning Bamboo as one's true spiritual artifact? Mr. Han, you must have quite the boldness. Didn't you know that such a choice makes one highly susceptible to counterattacks from the Divine Protective Lightning? It's truly remarkable that you've survived this long." The white-haired beauty blinked, then turned sharply, fixing her gaze on Han. "Counterattack from Divine Protective Lightning? I seem to have never encountered such a thing. Could you kindly explain, Master?" Upon hearing this, Han himself was genuinely taken aback. "Is it possible that Miss Wood never mentioned this to Mr. Han?" The white-haired woman frowned, turning to Wood Qing. "I've already investigated this matter thoroughly." Master Han's blessings are profound, and the protective divine thunder he commands is remarkably stable, showing no signs of counter-effect whatsoever—thus, there is no need to mention this matter at all," Wood Qing replied lightly. "Hmph. That's just what you say. We haven't seen it with our own eyes!" The woman with silver hair snorted, then glanced at Han once more before speaking coldly. Wood Qing smiled gently, just about to add more when the six-legged attendant suddenly spoke up. "Enough with the small talk. Master Wood invited us here—not merely to exchange words over a cup of tea. We must see with our own eyes whether Master Han has truly mastered the art of thunder incantation." The six-legged attendant's tone was calm and composed, devoid of any emotion. Yet upon hearing these words, both Wood Qing and the silver-haired woman fell silent, their expressions sharpened. Among the two clad in crimson robes, one stepped forward with a smile. "Master Han, since you've learned the art of incanting the protective divine thunder, why not demonstrate it to us right now?" "Heard that both of you have said this, Han Li suppressed his astonishment at the remarks and slightly bowed, saying, 'As the elders have instructed, I will carry out your wishes immediately. However, the power of the lightning ritual is considerable. As for this location...' Han Li glanced around the hall. 'You're right, Master Mu. Though our Wood Spirit Hall has some protective spells, they cannot withstand the full might of the Divine Exorcising Lightning. Perhaps we should go outside and observe from there.' Mu Qing nodded and rose to walk toward the hall doors. The other several immortal kings exchanged glances and then followed suit. Han Li naturally stepped out as well. The earth-origin creatures stationed at the hall entrance were surprised to see so many immortal kings gathered, yet none dared to approach and inquire. In a short while, the group halted on an open space before the Wood Spirit Hall, all of their eyes now fixed upon Han Li." Under the watchful gaze of so many high-level beings, Han Li sighed inwardly, yet maintained a composed demeanor. A shimmer of green light flashed across his body, and suddenly he rose into the air, hovering steadily only when he reached a height of over twenty paces. With a swift gesture of his hands, a deep, resonant roar erupted. Countless slender golden arcs shot out, swirling around his body. Gradually, these arcs thickened and expanded rapidly outward. In a short while, amid the astonishing flashes of lightning, a vast circular grid of electricity slowly took shape. At the same time, under the impetus of Han Li's hand seals, a series of strange, glowing characters surged forth from his palms and vanished into the surrounding arcs. A mysterious phenomenon unfolded! At the very instant these characters were absorbed, the thick arcs suddenly seemed to dissolve silently, like bubbles, fragmenting into a luminous, golden haze several dozen feet in diameter. Within this glow, Han Li's form became blurred, yet his murmured, indistinct southern-ming incantations continued without pause. And as the golden aura spun, the golden runes within surged and rolled erratically, emitting a low hum that grew steadily louder and increasingly sharp, until it became piercing. Suddenly, a thunderclap! At the very moment the golden light intensified, the aura vanished completely into thin air. Han Li reappeared, his body once more visible. One hand pressed into a series of gestures, the other gently spreading his five fingers upward. At a height of a span above his palm, a solid, perfectly golden sphere—about the size of a clenched fist—hovered motionless in the air. This sphere was unremarkable, its surface etched with uneven, rune-like patterns, and it radiated a dim, dull glow, barely showing any spiritual pressure at all—appearing merely like an ordinary object. Upon seeing the golden sphere, the king of the beasts below was filled with astonishment, his eyes gleaming with various expressions of wonder. Yet Han Li himself looked deeply serious, his hand gently pressing the sphere in midair, his fingers barely flicking. "Pffft!" The golden sphere instantly shattered into a beam of golden light, shooting upward into the sky. Then, with a flash, it vanished. At nearly the same time, in the other hand of Han Li, a sharp "crack" sounded, and as the lightning flashed, a large golden seal symbol rose toward the sky and disappeared. A thunderous roar erupted. Suddenly, fierce winds surged through the upper air, dark clouds gathered, and a golden sun emerged and flickered through the clouds. From within the golden sun, a powerful aura surged upward—so overwhelming that it seemed capable of destroying the very heavens and earth. On the surface of the golden sun, countless streaks of lightning flashed incessantly, and the thunder rolled on, deep and continuous. The beautiful woman, the blood-robed figure, and others all turned pale. "Stop! Cease your ritual lightning spell. That's enough—there's no need to fully unleash the true power of the Divine-Exorcising Thunder," one suddenly said in a firm voice. It was the Six-Legged One. Han Li was startled by this, yet could only offer a wry smile and said, "My lord, it's too late to stop now. I have not yet mastered the control of this technique." "It cannot be halted now," said Han Li, as his words fell. Suddenly, amid one thunderclap after another, the golden sun burst forth a colossal beam of golden light, thick as a water cistern, which flashed and vanished in an instant, striking precisely upon the empty ground before him. A startling sight unfolded. Where the beam passed, the previously flawless, steel-like blue stone floor—maintained by magical seals—faded silently, its surface crumbling into ash, revealing a dark, gaping hole several dozen feet in diameter. The golden beam remained suspended in the air for several breaths, then, as the sun's brilliance flickered and faded, it vanished mysteriously. After unleashing this strike, Han Li's face grew pale, and with a gentle flutter of his wings, he drifted downward slowly. At that moment, the clouds began to part, and the sky resumed its original appearance. As he moved, a man dressed in crimson robes and a graceful woman with white hair appeared beside the great hole, both bowing slightly and gazing downward. To the blackened entrance, a strong scent of burnt material rose immediately, and the depth of the cave seemed endless, stretching beyond sight. "Indeed, he has mastered the art of summoning divine lightning. The terrifying power of the辟邪神雷 is truly no exaggeration—had we not been prepared, we would have dared to meet such a blow." The white-haired woman, her expression filled with amazement, murmured softly. Yet the blood-robed figure gazed steadily at the entrance, his eyes flickering with thought, as though pondering something beyond what was immediately apparent. Six-footed and Wood Qing, however, did not approach to examine it closely. One could instantly gauge the strength of Han Li's lightning technique merely by a glance, while the other had already witnessed Han Li's performance on several occasions—thus, there was no need for them to make a show of coming over. "Friends, do you find Han's lightning technique satisfactory?" Wood Qing smiled lightly. (Second update!)