"Boom!"

The sky thunder seemed enraged by Ling Ji's provocation, sending down several bolts of lightning in quick succession, determined to assert its untouchable authority.

Zhou Cen, positioned on the outer edge, activated his protective shield, gripping a talisman tightly, ready to leap forward at the first sign of danger, eager to prove his loyalty to Ling Ji.

But...

The expected energy impact did not occur. His shield stood quietly, unchallenged by the thunder, sparking not even a flicker.

Zhou Cen couldn't help but look up, his mouth twitching involuntarily.

Had it not been for his deep-seated reverence for thunder, he might have mocked it out loud.

This thunder, grandly posturing as it descended, had failed to make any impact. Except for the first bolt, the rest exploded in midair, causing nothing but a deafening noise that left their ears ringing but inflicted no real harm.

This was entirely unlike the cold, relentless, and overwhelmingly powerful image thunder usually projected.

It was as if... A mighty overlord had met a stronger foe, instantly transforming from a fierce wolf to a docile puppy, baring its fangs but posing no real threat.

Zhou Cen's gaze swept over Ling Ji, recalling past encounters with celestial tribulations, confirming his suspicion.

This thunder was holding back.

Zhao Jiong, also observing Ling Ji's unscathed state, sneered internally. Even thunder, representing heavenly justice, now adjusted its intensity based on its target.

Life truly was full of challenges.

Xing Miao was equally puzzled. As someone who often communicated with the heavens, she understood the power contained within thunder better than anyone.

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This wasn't punishment; it felt more like... a warning.

She reflected on Ling Ji's actions and words but found nothing blatantly disrespectful to the heavens that warranted such a warning.

Unable to decipher the heavens' intentions, Xing Miao decided to focus entirely on protecting Ling Ji. She was the key her master had painstakingly found and must not suffer any harm.

Though the others weren't as tense as Xing Miao, none dared to relax their vigilance.

Heaven's will was unpredictable, and the intensity of the thunder could increase at any moment.

However, amidst the protective circle of people, Ling Ji showed no signs of tension or fear.

She felt a surge of blood in her chest, a voice in her mind urging her to act... as if disaster would strike if she did nothing. Ling Ji scoffed, dismissing the vague premonition.

No one could force her to act against her will, not even the heavens.

Seeming to sense her defiance, the lingering thunderclouds began gathering again, darkening the sky, the lightning within crackling more fiercely.

This time, the thunder's power multiplied exponentially. If the earlier strikes were child's play, this was a deadly duel between adults.

"Thud." Jin Hong's legs gave out, unable to withstand the thunder's pressure, and she fell to her knees.

Ling Ji turned at the sound, seeing Jin Hong's flushed face, straining to stand but sinking deeper into the ground, tears of frustration streaming down her cheeks.

"Get up." Ling Ji reached out, pulling her up effortlessly. The oppressive force pinning Jin Hong vanished suddenly, as if it had never existed.

Jin Hong blinked in confusion, looking at Ling Ji. "Master?"

Ling Ji's expression hardened. "Stay away from me. It's targeting me." She then addressed the others standing nearby, "All of you, move back."

"I want to see what it can do for me!"

The black-clad girl stood defiant, her eyes fierce and wild, her neck bell shaking violently in her anger, emitting a long, resonant sound.

In a distant, clean room, a white-haired youth watching through a long-range mirror couldn't help but glance at his companion. "The girl has quite the temper."

The elegant youth in green with a jade hairpin sighed, his eyes filled with helplessness. "Tell me about it."

The girl had been stubborn since childhood, resistant to persuasion, making it harder to manage her than ascending to the heavens.

"Now you understand my past struggles," he muttered, dealing with one troublesome demon was tough, let alone two at once. His life had been a constant battle.

"...You’ve survived," the white-haired youth comforted, suppressing a smile.

"Easy for you to say," the green-clad youth retorted, rolling his eyes and rubbing his temple. He then pulled out a dark blue phone from his wide sleeve, found a number, and dialed.

The clouds above pressed lower, the thunder within promising to obliterate everything. Just its presence was terrifying, causing the weaker ones to tremble uncontrollably.

"Ring, ring."

A sudden phone ring drew everyone's attention away from the ominous thunder.

Zhou Cen, meeting the gazes of his comrades, calmly pulled out his phone. Seeing the caller ID, his pupils contracted.

He glanced at Ling Ji, preparing to fight the thunder, and quickly answered the call, covering the mouthpiece. "Hello?"

Through the long-range mirror, the elegant youth nearly lost their composure at Zhou Cen's furtive manner. Taking a deep breath, he chanted a calming mantra thrice before speaking on the phone, "Give the phone to Ling Ji. I need to talk to her."

"Uh?" Zhou Cen thought he misheard, glancing at Ling Ji again, then hastily stepped away and whispered, "Are you sure? She seems ready for a fight."

Though unaware of the specifics of their past, Zhou Cen sensed from Ling Ji's murderous aura that the call might end with his phone destroyed.

"Yes, give it to her," the youth insisted.

Reluctantly, Zhou Cen composed himself, approaching Ling Ji with a gentler demeanor. "Lady Ling Ji," he said, voice softening, "Chief Jie Zhi wishes to speak with you."

"Who?" Ling Ji didn't react immediately, but as she did, her right hand had already grabbed the phone. "Jie Zhi!"

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