In the depths of the Martial Hall's back mountain lay the Thunder Bamboo Forest.
As Wu Xinghai departed, Li Xuan walked directly towards the Thunder Bamboo Forest, his gaze fixed on the lush greenery, a flicker of ardour in his eyes.
The Thunder Bamboo Forest spanned roughly three li, and the sound of thunder would occasionally roar within its bounds.
Fortunately, a formation barrier, erected by Wu Xinghai and two others, surrounded the area. Otherwise, the mere sound of thunder would have disturbed the entire Martial Hall.
According to Wu Xinghai, the Thunder Bamboo Forest had existed since ancient times. The Soul Yang Thunder Bamboo wood collected by the Martial Hall only came from the outer periphery. The deeper one ventured into the forest, the stronger the thunderous pressure became. Even Wu Xinghai and his companions could not explore its innermost depths.
However, for Li Xuan, it was a natural sanctuary for cultivation. Especially since his physical body had already broken through to the Transcendent Realm, and could no longer improve.
But Li Xuan could use the Thunder Bamboo Forest to temper his physique to its absolute limit.
As the martial arts tournament progressed, Li Xuan's cultivation within the Thunder Bamboo Forest proceeded in tandem. The thunderous energy within this forest was exceptionally potent. Even with Li Xuan's robust physique, he could only sit cross-legged at the edge to temper his body.
From the depths, Li Xuan could feel an inexplicable pressure radiating outwards.
Streams of lightning, resembling serpentine bolts, coursed through Li Xuan's body. As he absorbed their energy, a violent force simultaneously hammered and refined his physique.
With the passage of time, Li Xuan's robes had disintegrated into dust. The strong, defined lines of his powerful physique were exceptionally clear.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
On this day, Li Xuan suddenly appeared within the Martial Hall. It wasn't a voluntary appearance, but rather Wu Xinghai, Wu Xingyao, and Wu Xinghui appearing at the edge of the Thunder Bamboo Forest, forcibly rousing Li Xuan.
Seeing the increasingly unrestrained aura emanating from Wu Xinghai, Li Xuan immediately understood.
"Fellow Daoist Li Xuan, we entrust the Martial Hall to you. We have made all the necessary arrangements for its affairs. We hope to see you again in the future," Wu Xinghai said.
Li Xuan nodded slightly at his words, then solemnly replied, "Rest assured, esteemed sirs, I will take good care of the Martial Hall!"
Wu Xinghai and the other two nodded with satisfaction. In just over half a month, Li Xuan's aura had become even more terrifying. With Li Xuan guarding the Martial Hall, they were completely at ease.
At the back mountain of the Martial Hall, the Thunder Bamboo Forest.
After Wu Xinghai and his two companions were guided away by a beam of light, Li Xuan, having completed his handover with the three elders of the hall, returned to the Thunder Bamboo Forest.
Of course, Li Xuan also gave each of the three Grand Elders of the hall a spiritual seal. Should any major event occur in the Martial Hall, Li Xuan would be aware of it immediately.
After a month of cultivation, Li Xuan could clearly feel the advancement of his physique. Although not as significant as before, there had still been progress.
After all, a physique at the Transcendent Realm was already considered an invincible existence. To achieve even a slight improvement was no easy feat.
The years of cultivation were immeasurably long.
Although Wu Xinghai and his companions had entrusted the Martial Hall to Li Xuan, their arrangements after their departure, coupled with their silent ascension, meant that little news had been divulged.
As a result, Li Xuan was not overly concerned with the normal operations of the Martial Hall. A full year passed, and Li Xuan's cultivation within the Thunder Bamboo Forest had progressed from the edge to the central region.
In this central area, the thunderous energy was even more formidable. If it were an ordinary cultivator of the Breaking God Realm, they would likely struggle to withstand even a wisp of this energy. Yet, Li Xuan felt no threat, but rather a sensation akin to bathing in sunlight.
"The thunderous pressure here no longer poses a threat to me, but I can venture into the depths to see what lies there," Li Xuan said, walking leisurely, his gaze thoughtful as he moved towards the inner recesses of the Thunder Bamboo Forest.
As he walked, the surrounding thunderous energy continuously poured into Li Xuan's body, where it was absorbed and refined.
"The thunderous pressure here is beginning to intensify. It seems the depths are not far," Li Xuan murmured, his gaze shifting as he proceeded further in.
Soon, Li Xuan reached the central area of the depths.
In the next moment, a look of shock appeared on Li Xuan's face.
In the very center, a spiritual sword was embedded. The sword crackled with lightning, clearly indicating that the thunderous energy of this forest originated from it.
"Little Master, are you cheating? There aren't many lightning-attribute spiritual swords in this world, especially not of the Ming Sword level," the voice of the Heavenly Dao Pen sounded in Li Xuan's mind.
A lightning sword of the Ming Sword level!
Li Xuan's eyes blazed with ardour. This was a level above Dao Swords.
Perhaps sensing Li Xuan's covetous intent, the lightning sword flashed with a surge of electric light, forming a thunderous array around itself.
"Little Master, this lightning sword is sentient and seems to be wary of you," the Heavenly Dao Pen stated.
Li Xuan gave a wry smile. He had merely shown a sliver of greed, and the lightning sword was already so defensive.
"Little Pen, how can I obtain it?" Li Xuan asked in his mind.
A Ming Sword-level lightning sword was something Li Xuan would never let slip by. Furthermore, since the Evil Emperor on the sixth level had been suppressed, Li Xuan had not yet prepared himself to enter the seventh level.
If he could obtain this lightning sword, Li Xuan would certainly feel more confident facing what lay ahead.
The Heavenly Dao Pen paused for a moment before replying, "Little Master, you can forcibly claim it. After all, the spiritual sword poses no threat to you. However, this might cause the sword to harbor resentment. The second option is to make it acknowledge you as its master, though that would still require an effort."
"Both require effort..." Li Xuan mused, his gaze returning to the lightning sword.
*Hummm!*
The moment Li Xuan looked at the lightning sword, it let out a deliberate hum. The surrounding thunder raged, a fearsome spectacle.
"Little Master, there is actually a way to obtain it without resorting to force," the Heavenly Dao Pen suddenly spoke again.
Li Xuan immediately nodded, "What way?"
The Heavenly Dao Pen replied, "Little Master, you can trick it."
Li Xuan: "..."