Leiming had left to find the Heavenly Thunder Liquid for Su Han. However, he worried that Qin Wushuang and Mu Qingyun might try sothing underhanded in his absence, so he had asked Liu Rui to co to Yaoguang Peak.
Liu Rui arrived with Lu Yunxian in tow. The siblings were overjoyed to see each other again.
However, Liu Rui did not allow them much ti for a reunion, instead summoning Su Han to speak with her privately.
In the Heavenly Thunder Palace, Liu Rui stared intently at Su Han. She was not one to mince words and got straight to the point. "Do you know how Heavenly Thunder Liquid is condensed?"
"I do not," Su Han answered honestly, shaking his head.
"Heavenly Thunder Liquid is an exceptionally rare Spiritual Liquid," she began. "To condense a single drop, one must first find a severe thunderstorm. Then, they must venture alone into the cloud cover and use imnse power to gather Thunder Light and liquefy it.
"Let alone how rare such a storm is, even if the conditions are t, Thunderbolt itself is one of the most terrifying destructive forces in the world. It is already incredibly difficult for a person to withstand such power, let alone gather and condense it. The slightest misstep can result in a catastrophic explosion, threatening the life of even a Supre Realm expert.
"Leiming suffered grave injuries in the past, and he has yet to fully recover. Collecting Heavenly Thunder Liquid in his current state is even more perilous. He originally had three years of life remaining. This undertaking for you will cut that ti by at least half. If any accident were to occur, the price he pays would be greater still."
Liu Rui’s words, each spoken with solemn gravity, struck Su Han’s heart and made it sink. He knew Heavenly Thunder Liquid was precious, but he never imagined its acquisition was so fraught with peril. His master was risking his very life for him.
This debt of gratitude... it’s imasurable!
As if that wasn’t enough, Liu Rui continued, "Do you know what price he paid to ask to protect you? Yaoguang Peak has been in decline for years, and his treasures are all but gone. The only thing he has left of value is his Heaven Rank Martial Technique, the ’Thunderbolt Seven Absolute Slashes.’ He took the initiative to offer it to in exchange for protecting you for a ti. I initially wanted no part of this trouble, but he pleaded so desperately that I eventually grew tired of his pleas and reluctantly agreed."
Su Han was unaware of any of this. Leiming had never intended for him to know, but now, Liu Rui was laying every single detail bare.
Su Han fell silent. He had never imagined his master had done—and sacrificed—so much for him.
"Do you know why Yaoguang Peak has beco this way? Or why Leiming only has three years of life left?" Once Liu Rui started speaking, she aid to strike straight at the soul.
Su Han silently shook his head, waiting for her to reveal the truth.
"The Demon Lord suppressed beneath Yaoguang Peak is nad Taiyin Demon Venerable. He is the previous sect master of the Heavenly Demon Cult in Mozhou!"
The realization shocked Su Han to his core. The Heavenly Demon Cult and the Seven Stars Sect were of comparable strength, one dominating Qingzhou and the other monopolizing Mozhou. As forces of righteousness and evil, they had been mortal enemies for years. To think that the Demon Lord suppressed beneath Yaoguang Peak was the forr leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult... Could it be that everything that happened to Yaoguang Peak and Master is connected to this Taiyin Demon Venerable?
"Twenty years ago," Liu Rui explained, "the Heavenly Demon Cult launched a major invasion into Qingzhou. Naturally, our Seven Stars Sect rose to et them, and the two sides fought relentlessly in a series of fierce battles.
"But no one expected Taiyin Demon Venerable to use the Golden Cicada Shedding Technique to slip away from the main battlefield. He infiltrated the sect, intending to destroy the Seven Stars mountain range and leave us caught between two fronts.
"At that ti, Leiming was the only Supre Realm expert guarding our ho front. He engaged Taiyin Demon Venerable in a battle of life and death, a fight that tore the land asunder and blotted out the sun and moon. In the end, Leiming fought desperately to stall him until the Sect Master could return. Eventually, Taiyin Demon Venerable was defeated and suppressed beneath Yaoguang Peak.
"That battle crippled the foundations of Yaoguang Peak, severing its connection to the Spirit Vein and turning it from a Spirit Peak into an ordinary one. It was also in that battle that Leiming was so grievously injured he nearly died. Though he managed to survive, his Origin Source was damaged, causing his life force to drain away more and more with each passing year.
"Today, people only know that Yaoguang Peak has lost its Spiritual Energy and fallen into decline. No one knows that if Leiming hadn’t risked his life back then, the Seven Stars Sect would likely have been destroyed long ago."
So that was the truth of what happened all those years ago!
Su Han had always sensed there was a story behind Yaoguang Peak’s decline, but he had never imagined it was so tragic. The one who had sacrificed the most was his own master, Leiming.
The disciples of Yaoguang Peak had been all but wiped out. The peak itself had lost its Spiritual Energy. Leiming himself was grievously wounded, his lifespan drastically shortened. On top of all that was the failure to recruit new disciples. All of it was a consequence of the sacrifices he had made.
Leiming might seem hot-tempered and brash, but he was, in truth, the most loyal and devoted of n.
"As Yaoguang Peak has declined over the years," Liu Rui went on, "the Sect has considered finding a new Spirit Peak to replace it. They are only holding back out of deference to Leiming. The mont he falls, Yaoguang Peak will surely be designated a forbidden ground, used solely for suppressing Taiyin Demon Venerable.
"Leiming was an orphan, raised by his own master, from whom he inherited the position of Peak Master. To him, Yaoguang Peak is his ho. Naturally, he doesn’t want to see it replaced. That’s why he hoped to train a disciple who could inherit his mantle. Unfortunately, his previous disciples couldn’t endure the desolation and eventually left for other Spirit Peaks.
"Now, with his life running short, he has likely placed his final hope in you. That is why he was willing to fight Qin Wushuang, offend the Sect Master, and stand against the other elders for your sake.
"He probably doesn’t even know if what he’s doing is right or wrong, but he is doing it anyway—with all his heart and without holding anything back."
At this, Liu Rui gave Su Han a profound look before stating her purpose.
"Leiming will never tell you these things himself, but I felt I had to, piece by piece. I hope you are soone who understands gratitude and will rember everything he has done for you.
"I don’t expect you to save Yaoguang Peak or restore it to its forr glory. I only hope that you will treat Leiming well. He might be a soft-hearted fool, but his devotion to you is beyond reproach.
"Think about it. I will honor my promise and remain here at Yaoguang Peak to protect you until he returns."
With that, Liu Rui turned and left the Heavenly Thunder Palace, leaving Su Han alone in the echoing silence.
The affair with the Empress had made him live by the adage, "once bitten, twice shy." But now, he had t a master who was wholeheartedly devoted to him. A sliver of his sealed heart began to open once more.
Master, I will grow stronger. I will not fail to live up to your expectations!
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