Not long ago, although the seven-colored tribulation cloud over Baihuagu had dissipated, the shock it brought had already disturbed various factions.
Almost the moment the lightning tribulation appeared, the gazes of the top powers in the Northern Region shifted unanimously toward Baihuagu, a place that had always remained detached from the world.
In the Zichen Palace of the Dahuang Dynasty, Ji Liuyun sat atop the Dragon Throne, draped in profound black imperial robes.
Her breathtakingly beautiful face, which was seventy or eighty percent similar to Jing Linglong’s, was currently covered in a layer of frost.
Cold light flickered in her deep phoenix eyes.
“Baihuagu… the seven-colored lightning tribulation…”
Ji Liuyun’s fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the Dragon Throne.
Below the hall, a Shadow Guard dressed in black combat gear and wearing a silver mask knelt on one knee.
He reported the gathered intelligence without missing a single word.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the informants we placed around the outskirts of Baihuagu, it is confirmed that the lightning tribulation was indeed the legendary seven-colored version.”
“Furthermore, after that tribulation appeared, Baihuagu activated its mountain-protecting array and turned away all outside visitors. Our people are unable to investigate any further.”
Ji Liuyun fell into deep thought after hearing the report.
She had personally witnessed the unfathomable strength of Su Yuexi, the Valley Master of Baihuagu, outside Heavenly Capital City not long ago.
Now, such a terrifying lightning tribulation had appeared within the valley.
Linking these two events together made her suspect that Baihuagu was hiding an unknown secret.
Especially…
A name that she hated with a passion involuntarily surfaced in Ji Liuyun’s mind.
Lu Ning.
The last place that devil had appeared was inside that plain green carriage driven by Su Yuexi.
Although Su Yuexi had later displayed the terrifying power of the peak Great Completion stage and forced everyone back, Ji Liuyun had an intuition.
She felt that it wasn’t Su Yuexi’s true power, but rather a secret technique that overdraws one’s life force.
There had to be another reason for Lu Ning’s current strength.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left in such a pathetic manner.
And after leaving, the most likely place for him to go was Baihuagu.
It just so happened that such a terrifying lightning tribulation had appeared there.
‘Could it be… that devil is inside, healing and breaking through?’
This guess caused Ji Liuyun’s heart to sink.
She knew very well how terrifying Lu Ning was at his peak.
If he really recovered his peak strength in a place like Baihuagu, it would be an unpredictable disaster for the entire Dahuang Dynasty.
More importantly, her older sister had been completely infatuated with Lu Ning.
Although she had regained her sanity, her memories were currently in a state of confusion.
If her sister found out that the devil she longed for was in Baihuagu, there was no telling what crazy things she would do.
‘No! I must nip this in the bud before things spiral out of control!’
“Shadow Seven.”
Ji Liuyun’s voice was cold.
“I am here,” the kneeling Shadow Guard replied respectfully.
“I will give you three days,” Ji Liuyun said.
“I want you to personally infiltrate Baihuagu. At all costs, investigate the source of that lightning tribulation for me.”
“If you can bring back the person who triggered the tribulation, I will reward you handsomely.”
“Yes!”
After receiving her orders, Shadow Seven’s figure flickered and vanished into the shadows like a ghost.
Despite Shadow Seven’s departure, the unease in Ji Liuyun’s heart did not dissipate.
She felt that things were not that simple.
Su Yuexi was an extremely calculating woman with terrifying strength; Shadow Seven’s mission was likely fraught with danger.
She needed another insurance policy.
“Yun Nanny.”
Ji Liuyun’s voice rang out again.
“This old servant is here.”
An aged figure appeared silently beside her.
“How has my sister… been lately?”
Ji Liuyun’s voice carried a hint of exhaustion.
A complex emotion flashed through Yun Nanny’s clouded eyes.
She bowed slightly and replied respectfully, “Reporting to Your Majesty, ever since the Princess woke up that day, she has been in seclusion and refuses to see anyone.”
“It’s just…” Yun Nanny paused, appearing somewhat hesitant.
“Just what?”
“It’s just that the Princess seems to have remembered something recently. She has been asking the palace staff about ‘An Ning’.”
Hearing the name “An Ning” caused Ji Liuyun’s body to tremble.
She knew that was an alias the devil had once used.
‘She… still remembers that name?’
“Yes,” Yun Nanny nodded.
“Even though the Princess lost those memories, that name seems to have been carved into the depths of her soul, impossible to erase.”
“However, Your Majesty does not need to worry,” Yun Nanny continued.
“The Princess may have an obsession, but she is not an unreasonable person. Just yesterday, she took the initiative to enter the imperial ‘Phoenix Ancestral Land’ for a trial.”
“She said she wants to become stronger — strong enough to personally capture that little liar who deceived her and demand an explanation. Presumably, her cultivation will reach a new level once she emerges from the ancestral land.”
Hearing this, the anxiety in Ji Liuyun’s heart finally eased slightly.
She knew the Phoenix Ancestral Land was the most important forbidden area of their imperial family.
It not only contained the purest Phoenix origin but also held the inheritances and trials left behind by past ancestors.
Any imperial child who could walk out of there alive was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses, with limitless future achievements.
The fact that her sister chose to enter the ancestral land on her own meant she had stepped out from the shadow and rediscovered her own pride and purpose.
This was a good thing for the Dahuang Dynasty.
But for that devil, it might not be.
The corners of Ji Liuyun’s mouth slowly curled into a mocking arc.
‘Lu Ning, no matter where you hide, the day my sister emerges from the ancestral land will be the day you die.’
….
Meanwhile, at the Holy Lord Peak of the Xuantiān Holy Land…
Dressed in a white palace gown, the cold and elegant Holy Lord of Xuantiān looked at the recording stone in her hand, which captured the celestial phenomenon over Baihuagu.
Her gorgeous face was currently filled with disbelief.
She cried out, her voice trembling.
“This legendary lightning tribulation… back then, only a monster with that devil’s talent could attract it. There’s no mistake. It’s really him…”
Below the hall, the Master of Wanjian Mountain Manor and the Mistress of Miaoyin Pavilion looked equally grim.
They had paid a heavy price to ambush Lu Ning back then.
They thought they had eliminated the threat forever, but they never expected that this devil not only survived but was also causing such a massive stir time and time again.
First, he heavily injured a peak Great Completion expert with a single palm outside the Heavenly Capital.
Now, he had attracted such a terrifying lightning tribulation in Baihuagu.
‘Is this devil’s recovery speed not too fast?’
“What should we do now?” the Mistress of Miaoyin Pavilion asked, her voice shaking.
They had offended Lu Ning to the point of no return.
“There is no need to panic!”
The Holy Lord of Xuantiān suppressed the fear in her heart and shouted sternly.
“Pass down my orders! Immediately send people to contact the other righteous sects. We shall head to Baihuagu together to besiege the devil!”
“This time, we absolutely cannot give him any chance to rise again!”