Chapter 965: Fanning the Waves (I)
After a few exchanged words, a muffled boom rang out, and a woman stepped into the hall. Everyone rose to their feet as Shen Yanqing hurried forward.
“It has been many years, Senior.”
Now that Shen Yanqing was aware of the grotto heaven matter, she didn’t smile too warmly. Li Qinghong, however, nodded with a pleasant smile, “Yes, it has been some time.”
They guided her to a seat, and Shen Yanqing softly said, “I should have come to visit long ago, but so many matters delayed me. Our family could not remain untouched amid the chaos in Jiangbei. Only now, with things finally settling down, could I come to pay my respects.”
She drew a jade box from her sleeve and placed it gently on the table. “I’ve brought the Celestial Thunder sacrificial method I mentioned to you back then. Our thunder arts originate from the Northern Palace Profound Thunder Art, one of the twelve Daos from the Zhou era.”
Li Qinghong listened carefully and asked, “The Dao of Thunder Steering and Cloud Dwelling is likely not among them, is it?”
Their own Dao of Thunder Steering and Cloud Dwelling was no secret, and since that lineage was passed down from Yanyang Temple, it likely did not date back to the Zhou era.
As expected, when Li Qinghong asked, Shen Yanqing nodded and said, “It’s not among them. The Dao of Thunder Steering and Cloud Dwelling was established in later generations. The Twelve Thunder Palaces were originally lineages tasked with overseeing justice and morality across the realm. Now, everything has been lost... Even their Dao lineages are untraceable. Only a few techniques remain.”
Wei Danying, sitting nearby, let out a soft sigh and interjected, “If the Twelve Thunder Palaces still existed, how could the world have fallen to this state?”
Li Qinghong made no comment, but Shen Yanqing’s expression grew somewhat strange. She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Our sect’s lineage holds the Thunder Palaces in the highest regard... but in truth... based on what we’ve uncovered over the years, that might not be entirely justified.”
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Shen Yanqing spoke softly, “According to the ancient records left behind, the Thunder Palaces were rather tyrannical. Their thunder chariots patrolled the lands, and wherever their envoys passed, thunder would rumble, killing thousands...”
She paused, then continued, “What’s more, the Thunder Palaces held dominion over mortal tribulations, casting thunder down upon people without warning. Cultivators who were progressing smoothly would be suddenly struck by profound lightning just before a breakthrough. Agony was the best outcome, and those with great karmic sins often lost their lives... The world has suffered under them for far too long...