Chapter 34: Valley of Purple Lightning and Gale-Force Thunder

The journey from the Thunderous Marsh to Heaven Dou City was neither long nor short.

For Bai He and Bai Chenxiang, it was nothing more than a stroll after a meal. But for the seven members of the Purple Lightning family, it was undoubtedly the longest and most agonizing trek of their lives.

"Grandfather, look at that cloud. Doesn't it look like a clumsy dog chasing its own tail?" Bai Chenxiang’s crisp voice rang out ahead.

"Now that you mention it, it really does," Bai He replied, hands behind his back, looking up at the sky with a feigned air of serious evaluation. "Though that dog's legs are a bit short. You can tell at a glance it can't run fast—certainly not one of our Speed Attack clan."

The conversation between grandfather and granddaughter was light and carefree, like two feathers drifting down onto the hearts of the Purple Lightning group—yet it pressed down so heavily that they could barely breathe. They felt as if the pair were not watching clouds, but mocking them, implying that they were the very clumsy dogs chasing their own tails.

Zi Dianxiong’s teeth ground together audibly. He had never imagined that a five-ring Spirit King like himself would one day be driven to such a plight. He began to reflect on why he had been so greedy for that stalk of Thunder Saliva Grass, and why he had provoked this pair. If he could turn back time, he swore he would rather challenge a 50,000-year spirit beast than set foot in the Thunderous Marsh again.

In the midst of this extreme torment, the tall, imposing silhouette of Heaven Dou City finally appeared on the horizon.

The guards at the city gate were stunned by such a peculiar procession, then showed strange expressions, wanting to laugh but not daring to. The seven men in purple, carrying a massive wolf corpse, looked sallow and dejected, like soldiers retreating in defeat from a battlefield. Yet, walking ahead of them were an old man and a young girl, as relaxed as if they were strolling through their own back garden. The combination was bizarre no matter how one looked at it.

The news spread like wildfire through the circles of spirit masters in the southern part of Heaven Dou City.

"Did you hear? The Purple Lightning family entered the city carrying a massive spirit beast corpse!"

"The Purple Lightning family? The influential branch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Did they go hunting together?"

"Hunting? My foot! Did you see the look on their faces? Do they look like they had a successful hunt? My cousin’s uncle told me they offended someone and are being punished as laborers!"

"Who has the ability to punish the Purple Lightning family? The leader is Zi Dianxiong, a five-ring Spirit King!"

"I don't know, just an old man and a little girl. It’s absolutely eerie!"

The gossip was like invisible steel needles pricking Zi Dianxiong’s heart. He could feel the eyes of onlookers behind the windows of the shops they passed, watching the drama with malicious glee. His dignity as a Spirit King was crushed into the dirt at this moment, trampled underfoot, and spat upon.

Finally, under the baptism of countless stares, they arrived before a courtyard that looked unremarkable but exuded a sharp, formidable aura. Above the gate, two characters were carved in a sweeping, dragon-like script: "Speed Hall."

Bai He stopped and turned around to look at the seven members of the Purple Lightning family, who were ashen-faced and teetering on the brink of collapse. He nodded with satisfaction.

"That will do. Just leave it there." He pointed to an open space in the yard, his tone as casual as if he were ordering a servant. "Be careful with your movements. Don't break the paving stones; they are quite expensive."

Zi Dianxiong felt as if he had been granted a reprieve. Abandoning all pretense of a Spirit King's poise, he roared with his last remaining strength, "Put it down! Everyone, be careful!"

With a dull thud, the corpse of the Wind-Thunder Demon Wolf landed in the courtyard of the Speed Hall, kicking up a cloud of dust. The seven members of the Purple Lightning family collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, drenched in sweat as if they had just been fished out of water.

Bai He ignored them, walked to a stone table, poured himself a cup of tea, and downed it in one gulp, letting out a refreshed sigh. Bai Chenxiang, meanwhile, curiously circled the massive carcass, occasionally reaching out to touch the tough scales or poke at the sharp claws, as if admiring a work of art.

After a long time, Zi Dianxiong finally recovered. He struggled to his feet and walked over to Bai He. The face that had once been arrogant and overbearing now showed only deep exhaustion and reverence. He straightened his wrinkled, sweat-stained robes and bowed deeply to Bai He.

"Senior, your orders have been carried out," he said, his voice raspy. "It was our own blindness that led us to offend you. Now that the punishment has been served, may we ask if you could show mercy and grant us a way out?"

The words were difficult to utter. It meant placing his fate and the fate of the entire Purple Lightning family into the hands of this old man.

Bai He sipped his tea, skimming the foam with the lid, not even lifting his eyelids. "A way out?" he said slowly. "When did I say I wanted to cut off your path? I merely asked you for a small favor. What, are you unhappy about it?"

"Happy! Very happy!" Zi Dianxiong hurriedly replied, fearing that if he were a second too slow, the old man might change his mind.

A long silence settled over the courtyard. Only the rustling of leaves and the heavy breathing of the Purple Lightning members could be heard. This silence was more suffocating than any roar. Zi Dianxiong felt his back soaked in cold sweat.

He knew the man was waiting—waiting for him to offer enough sincerity to be satisfied. But what could he offer? Gold spirit coins? To a Spirit Douluo-level powerhouse, such worldly things were likely beneath notice.

His gaze subconsciously drifted to the little girl still squatting by the wolf corpse. Those clear eyes, that ethereal aura, that monstrous speed and talent—a thought, like lightning piercing the dark, suddenly exploded in his mind!

He knew what the other party wanted! Or rather, he knew what he possessed that the other party could not refuse!

Zi Dianxiong’s heart began to pound uncontrollably. This was a massive gamble, staking one of his family's most important secrets. If he won, they would not only resolve today's death trap but perhaps forge a connection with a Spirit Douluo. If he lost, the Purple Lightning family would be doomed.

His eyes struggled and weighed the options. In the end, the instinct for survival conquered family rules. He looked up, a flash of desperate madness in his eyes, and bowed again to Bai He—this time, his forehead nearly touched the ground.

"Senior!" His voice trembled with excitement. "I know that with your status and strength, you would never intend to make things difficult for us juniors. Today's events were caused by our own greed. Your punishment is for our own good."

"To express the apologies of the Purple Lightning family, and to offer a true welcoming gift to this young lady," Zi Dianxiong gritted his teeth, as if using every ounce of his strength, and said in a low voice: "The Purple Lightning family is willing to offer entry rights to the Purple Lightning Wind-Thunder Valley for the young lady to cultivate for one month! I only ask that you let this matter pass!"

As the words fell, the man behind him, Zi Dianchen, suddenly looked up and gasped in shock, "Third Uncle! You cannot!"