Chapter 939: Owing Nothing (I)
Li Qinghong waited in the hall for a while before Li Chenghuai arrived with a youth. The young man wore a silver-feather thunder robe whose collar was embroidered with purple patterns. A sword hung at his waist, and his eyes shone with piercing light.
He spotted Li Qinghong the moment he entered and clasped his hands in a formal salute. His voice was clear and his speech was crisp and decisive as he said aloud, "Xi Zikang, a thunder cultivator from the Northern Sea, greets you, fellow Daoist!"
Li Qinghong nodded slightly and replied softly, "I am Li Qinghong. Well met, fellow Daoist."
"I have long heard of your great name." Xi Zikang had his black hair tied back, with a faint purple mark on his fair forehead. He appeared youthful and gave off a bright aura. His age was unclear, but his gaze was pure as he spoke gently, "I reside in the Northern Sea and have heard of the Zhao-Yue conflict. As I journeyed south, I wished to first pay a visit to your esteemed family."
Li Qinghong didn’t know his background, but the youth was courteous, and as a thunder cultivator, he naturally didn’t give off any ill feelings. She nodded and said, "Our household has encountered some upheaval. I apologize if the reception is lacking..."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xi Zikang considered his words before speaking in a steady voice, "My family has long resided in the Northern Sea, and have been cultivating the Profound Thunder Dao for over eight hundred years. We have some foundation but lack in Celestial Thunder arts. One of my purposes for this visit is to exchange for such arts with your esteemed family."
He had chosen a mild topic to open the discussion. Li Qinghong took a small sip of tea, feeling her thoughts settle. The Li Family had two Celestial Thunder arts, both derived from the Profound Thunderpool. One was the third-grade Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique; the other was an ancient method, the Cloud-Thunder Inquiry Technique. Both started from third-grade, neither reaching fifth-grade. Li Qinghong had also cultivated them.
There’s nothing that can’t be offered in exchange, thought Li Qinghong.
Simply put, the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique wasn’t considered powerful by the current standards of the Li Family. While it was strong for a third-grade technique, it shortened one’s lifespan and cut off descendants. What truly held value were the three Profound Thunders, the Purple Talisman Origin Light Secret Technique.
Moreover... could someone travel thousands of kilometers just for one technique? My arts stem from the Dao of Thunder Steering and Cloud Dwelling, so it’s not hard to guess. He’s probably here for the grotto heaven and is merely sounding things out.