Hua Baili imdiately shared the situation with Ding Fan and Zhang Shanlian about Hundred Flowers Village.
In the year when the Qing soldiers entered the pass, the world was thrown into chaos, and the elders of the village led their clan to flee to this place. As the leading figure back then was a master of formations, he successfully isolated this land from the outside world, completely cutting off their contact with the outside.
Ding Fan nodded in acknowledgnt.
Through his conversation with Hua Baili, Ding Fan learned that there were also people in Hundred Flowers Village who practiced Martial Cultivation, but they were few in number. Most villagers valued the Cultivation of Zen instead.
Cultivation of Zen could be considered a form of Buddhist practice, a thod of Mind Cultivation. At this mont, Ding Fan understood why Hua Baili had little cultivation but was able to live for centuries. With such a pure and tranquil ntal state, living for hundreds of years was nothing remarkable.
Thereupon, Hua Baili arranged for the villagers to prepare food and drinks to entertain Ding Fan and Zhang Shanlian.
At this ti, Ding Fan and Zhang Shanlian indeed could not leave. Who knew if Gui Luo was lurking outside? Now, with Zhang Shanlian seriously injured and relying solely on Ding Fan's cultivation, there was no way he could withstand Gui Luo in a direct confrontation.
Since they couldn't leave, it was better to take a good rest here. It was unlikely that Gui Luo would imagine the two of them being treated with fine food and wine in this place.
The villagers were very sincere, and in no ti, each household prepared a dish and brought it to the village hall.
For a mont, the hall was filled with a rich array of dishes: Hundred Flowers Stewed Fish, Red Braised Fresh Shrimp, Roasted Lamb Chops... In addition, there were so fine wines brewed by the locals using various flowers.
Although Ding Fan and Zhang Shanlian had long since lost much dependence on food, the two still ate quite a bit.
The ingredients in the village were quite rare, and combined with the unique cooking thods of the locals, the food and drinks were very palate-pleasing.
Boom...
As everyone was eating, a thunderous roar ca from afar.
The noise was earth-shaking, and despite the distance, the intense sound was enough to shake one's courage. So children in the village and timid won were already sobbing with fear.
"What is that sound?" Zhang Shanlian asked, puzzled.
Hua Baili gave a wry smile. "Esteed guests, speaking of this noise, it has been over a hundred years. Back then, a huge teoric stone fell from the sky and landed on the back mountain of our village. Initially, no one paid much attention, but over ti, the rock would attract thunderbolts from the sky at certain intervals. Truth be told, five of our villagers have already been killed by the thunderbolts drawn by that stone."
A rock that could attract Mysterious Thunder from the sky?
Ding Fan's eyes suddenly brightened at this mont. He thought of a certain type of ore called Thunderstone.
The so-called Thunderstone is a kind of ore that attracts thunder from the sky to accumulate power. Generally, the longer the Thunderstone has been accumulating energy, the greater the stored power becos.
In the Cultivation World, such stones are extrely precious. These stones can rapidly expand the ridians within the cultivator's body, enabling them to quickly improve their cultivation.
The stone is exceptionally precious; even Cultivators at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage find it difficult to obtain a piece, yet now Hua Baili claims to have a large one. If that ore is truly Thunderstone, then it would indeed be a fortune.
"Where is the stone now?" Ding Fan stood up and asked.
To confirm whether the stone is indeed Thunderstone, the best thod is to see it personally.
"The stone is located in the mountain behind." said Hua Baili.
"Can you take to see it?"
Hua Baili was taken aback but then smiled gently. "Esteed guest, the location of that boulder is very dangerous. Over the years, many large pits have been blasted open beside the boulder. Although we have attempted to clear the stone, the cost has been substantial... That area has already been declared a forbidden zone by our villagers. With the power of the Mysterious Thunder, not even Heavenly Level Martial Artists are likely to survive there."
Ding Fan understood; Hua Baili ant to say that even Heavenly Level Martial Artists would not survive there, and being just over twenty years old, he stood even less chance.
"Without any deception, I believe that boulder may be the very type of ore I am looking for." Ding Fan did not hide the truth.
The reason Ding Fan dared to be truthful is partly that the people here are simple by nature, and Ding Fan did not want to deceive them, and furthermore, Cultivation seeks to develop one's ridians, while Martial Cultivation focuses on nurturing the dantian, two completely different paths of practice. Thus, even if the Thunderstone were given to soone from the Ancient Martial Sect, it would be of little use to them.
Upon hearing Ding Fan's words, Hua Baili pondered for a mont. "Esteed guest, the mountain behind is indeed too perilous. Once, a Heavenly Level individual from our village was killed by the Mysterious Thunder from the heavens. Please do not take the risk. Even if the stone is truly precious, it is not worth losing your life over it."
Ding Fan saw that Hua Baili was worried that an accident might happen if he ventured to the mountain behind.
Right now, Ding Fan could tell that if he didn't demonstrate his abilities, Hua Baili would not be at ease allowing him to investigate that boulder on the mountain behind.
Ding Fan pondered for a mont and then directly took out Nine Profound Iron from his storage ring.
"Swift!" Ding Fan made a Finger Decision, and the Flying sword imdiately ca to life, flying back and forth within the main hall.
"Flying sword?!" Having lived for several hundred years, Hua Baili had seen his share of wonders, but his eyes widened in shock upon seeing the Flying sword. "You... you can actually control a Flying sword!"
In his youth, Hua Baili heard from his clan that there were people in the world who could control Flying swords, but it had always been hearsay. This was the first ti he saw it with his own eyes.
At this mont, not only Hua Baili but also Zhang Shanlian on the side was utterly astonished.
Zhang Shanlian was a Profound Level Martial Artist, but even now, he had not yet reached the stage of controlling objects. Yet Ding Fan, a young man of no more than twenty-two or three years old, could already control a Flying sword!
Zhang Shanlian couldn't help but take another glance at Ding Fan; the Hidden Sects truly produce remarkable talents, and within just a few decades, a prodigy like Ding Fan has erged.
The villagers were all astounded to see Ding Fan control the Flying sword, as such a feat was exceedingly rare.
Ding Fan controlled the Flying sword to assure Hua Baili. "Village chief, you see, my cultivation should be sufficient to go to the mountain behind, shouldn't it?"
Hua Baili nodded.
Considering Ding Fan's level of cultivation, his mastery is formidable to a certain extent. Hua Baili had seen Heavenly Level peak figures before, and none of them could control a Flying Sword, yet Ding Fan could. From this perspective, Ding Fan's cultivation is unquestionably not weak.
With that alone, if Ding Fan cannot go, then who else would be able to?
"Honored guest, if you really can take that stone away or destroy it, then you would truly be helping the people of Hundred Flowers Village," soone in the crowd of onlooking villagers shouted.
"Yes, indeed, that Mysterious Thunder strikes without warning, and many of us here have suffered greatly from the thunderbolts…"
"Yes, honored guest, you must remove that stone."
"If we remove that stone, we can go back to farming on the mountain behind our village…"
Ding Fan displayed his Flying Sword skill, which for a mont indeed instilled considerable confidence in the villagers. People began to speak one after another.
Zhang Shanlian glanced at Ding Fan then whispered, "The Mysterious Thunder is still too dangerous, you should think it over carefully."
Zhang Shanlian is a Profound Level Martial Artist. He heard the sound of that thunder clearly, and judging by that noise, the power of such thunder was definitely not small. If Ding Fan was to forcefully proceed, it might not work out.
"I can do it," said Ding Fan indifferently.
Seeing Ding Fan's confidence, Zhang Shanlian's eyebrows slightly furrowed, but he did not say anything more.
In Zhang Shanlian's view, Ding Fan's behavior was utterly immature and overconfident.
Zhang Shanlian could see clearly that at this ti, no matter what he said, Ding Fan would not listen, so now he could only wait until Ding Fan reached the mountain behind and faced real danger before intervening to save him.
In doing so, he could teach Ding Fan a lesson to be aware of his capabilities in future endeavors.
"Village Chief, take there," Ding Fan stood up at this mont and spoke to the Village Chief.
The Village Chief originally wanted to persuade Ding Fan not to go; after all, the mountain behind was too dangerous.
But given the current situation, with the villagers having placed their hopes on Ding Fan, if he were to prevent Ding Fan from going, it would upset the villagers.
"All right. I'll take you there," the Village Chief stood up and said at this ti.
The Village Chief and all the villagers led the way in front, while Ding Fan followed closely behind them. They passed through the Flower Field to the foot of a small mountain.
"Over this small hill, behind it, is the giant boulder, surrounded by pits blasted out by thunderbolts. Once you're over the hill, you'll be able to clearly identify that stone," the Village Chief said.
Ding Fan used his Divine Sense to scout ahead.
Indeed, not far from here, there was a burst of extrely rich Spiritual Energy.
That Spiritual Energy was so dense that it was nearly materialized; for a mont, Ding Fan could be sowhat certain that the stone was probably the Thunderstone.
"You all wait here for ," Ding Fan dropped this line and was about to set off.
"Wait…" Just at this mont, Zhang Shanlian at the side called out to Ding Fan.
Ding Fan turned to look at Zhang Shanlian.
At this mont, Zhang Shanlian directly took out a Jade Pendant from his storage ring. "Take this with you."
Ding Fan received the Jade Pendant and used Divine Sense to examine it. The pendant was a Magical Treasure responsible for contact and location.
Ding Fan quickly understood Zhang Shanlian's intention; he wanted Ding Fan to use it to contact him in a ti of danger.
Ding Fan then put away the Jade Pendant and smiled at Zhang Shanlian. "Thank you."
Zhang Shanlian nodded as a response.
Ding Fan then no longer hesitated, his figure flickered, and resolutely he sprang to the top of the hill.
"How confident is your friend?" Seeing Ding Fan leave, Hua Baili walked over to Zhang Shanlian and asked.
Zhang Shanlian shook his head slightly. "Not very."
Zhang Shanlian's assessnt was quite objective.
Knowing that Zhang Shanlian had not known Ding Fan for a long ti, although Ding Fan had a formidable figure and was also knowledgeable in Formation, Zhang Shanlian did not believe Ding Fan's cultivation was strong enough to confront Mysterious Thunder.
Even solid rocks, under the roar of thunder, will turn into rubble; Ding Fan is but flesh and blood, how could he possibly withstand the blast of thunder...
"We should still call your friend down. It's better not to let anything happen," Hua Baili said with a grave expression at this ti.
Zhang Shanlian shook his head slightly. "I will ensure his safety," he said, pulling out a Jade Pendant identical to the one given to Ding Fan. "Young people... sotis, they really should learn what is called self-awareness…"
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