Chapter 598

Chapter 598: The Hao Family Estate

The Wantu Mountain is surrounded by thunder all year round, with legends telling of an ancient Thunder Beast that fell here. Its horns, weathered over time, have the power to attract lightning, although the exact reasons remain unknown.

Li Hui activated his lightning escape, connecting one lightning gathering place after another, and finally crossed through the storm to reach Wantu Mountain. He didn’t dare to linger, quickly searching for a popular location and rapidly moving toward the city.

Just thirty breaths after he left, a green-haired giant ape descended from the sky, shattering half a peak with a punch, and roared, “Evil Dragon, why is this kid escaping so smoothly? Have Heluo calculate his destination quickly!”

Amidst the rumbling, a black dragon crashed down, shaking off the dirt and gravel from its body, and said, “Heluo calculated that this kid is headed to the Hao Family in Mufeng City. He’s even faster than our legal forms when traveling; something is definitely wrong.”

The green ape furiously responded, “A little brat has escaped from the Heavenly Gate with such precision! No hesitation whatsoever. Didn’t Heluo say that this kid is possessed?”

The black dragon shook its head and replied, “Heluo said that no matter how it’s calculated, this child is still Li Sifan; there’s absolutely no sign of possession. It’s precisely because of that it’s strange. When did he provoke such existence? His insight in cultivation is not inferior to ours.”

“Let’s go to Mufeng City.” The green ape leaped into the air.

Mufeng City is the largest city under the control of the Nine-Mystic Great Family, the Hao Family. With a large population working hard and sweating abundantly, its advantageous geographical position ensures that traveling cultivators from north to south must pass through, making it bustling and prosperous.

Li Hui ran rapidly, erasing his traces by directly hiding in the electrified areas within the city.

Within the Hall of Treasure and Wonders, the Purple Lanterns crackled loudly, suddenly releasing a burst of golden electric light as a young figure emerged.

“This place is…” Li Hui looked down at his bare body, realizing that figuring out where he was didn’t matter as much as getting some clothes.

The hall featured numerous spirit treasures and magical artifacts, most of which were protected by array rings, except for the Purple Thunder Heart Lantern used for illumination, which wasn’t safeguarded.

Who would have thought that someone could cultivate the Yang Thunder Dao Body and leap out from the wick of the Purple Thunder Heart Lantern? Truly a bizarre tale.

“Could it be a merchant selling spirit treasures?” Li Hui glanced around eagerly, his eyes landing on an exquisite Dao robe and a very cool-looking armor, wanting nothing more than to take them with him.

However, the array locked tightly around the hall meant that even if he could grab them, he had to be cautious and not create unnecessary complications.

“Alas! I’m penniless and don’t know when the pursuers from the time line will arrive. I need to prepare in advance.” Li Hui smacked his forehead, wondering where he could get money. This isn’t Wutu Continent; it’s the Nine-Mystic Continent from six hundred years ago. He was entirely clueless and had to just keep moving.

Before long, after he slipped out of the main hall, he found countless pavilions and towers that screamed luxury, far surpassing the grandeur of the Great Summer Palace.

“Wait a second! Why is it so quiet here?” After wandering through several courtyards without seeing anyone, he discovered a hot spring pool built from jade stones and thought, “Since I’m here, I might as well enjoy a bath!”

As soon as he leaped into the hot spring, he immediately felt something extraordinary—the bottom of the pool was covered in Dao Trace Stones, making it feel as if he were stepping on various Dao Principles. Such extravagance surpassed all expectations.

“Goodness! In such a residence, even a pig could become refined.”

Li Hui felt so comfortable that he didn’t want to move. Just as he was sprawling out and indulging in the hot spring’s benefits, he suddenly heard footsteps, followed by a voice saying, “You all leave! I need to fast and bathe.”

A fragrance like orchid drifted on the breeze.

“Someone’s coming…” Li Hui reacted quickly, sinking to the bottom of the pool. He dashed from stone to stone, sending mist billowing from the pool to obscure his figure and erase his tracks.

Soon, Li Hui spotted a delicate form walking down the jade steps into the pool, and he gasped, nearly choking on the water. He thought, “My goodness, how can there be such a perfect and flawless woman in the world? One cannot help but want to cherish her, more powerful than any Heavenly Demon’s Illusions. This is truly terrifying; this woman specializes in trials together. If I wasn’t sensitive to calamity power, I might have charged right over.”

At first glance, the woman appeared pure but had deep allure hidden within. Without makeup, she appeared even more enchanting, lightly playing with the water while lost in thought, completely unaware that someone lurked nearby, observing her intently.

Li Hui covered himself, musing, “Li Sifan, you’re bold! At just fourteen, you dare to face off against beauty. No, wait, I’ve fallen into a trap.”

“Who?” The woman frowned and stepped back. Upon careful inspection, she found nothing amiss, sighed, and said, “I’ve been too on edge lately. Hao Wentong shouldn’t have the guts to harm me. My great-grandfather’s old injury has resurfaced and runs deep; even the servants have noticed something’s off.”

Li Hui felt a quiet sense of relief. This woman was exceptionally cautious, constantly channeling energy to influence everything around her; she considered men mere toys in her hands.

“Her fortune seems connected to the entire city; she must be one of the most powerful individuals here. However, nearly half of her fortune has shifted, showing signs of extreme instability, indicating that something has happened recently that greatly affected her.”

Just then, a maid hurriedly rushed in, stopping at a distance from the hot spring pool, reporting, “Miss, Evil Dragon Master and the green ape from the Heavenly Gate have come to visit, saying a rogue disciple has sneaked into the estate and requires immediate investigation.”

“The Heavenly Gate masters? What do they want?” The woman looked displeased and waved her hand, saying, “They come to me for such trivial matters? We have so many servants, offerings, and guest elders. Are they just feeding off of us? Have Second Offering deal with the Heavenly Gate masters and don’t disturb my thoughts.”

“But…”

“Spit it out if you have something to say!”

“But Miss, Second Offering has already searched other places; we are only missing your courtyard…”

“Humph, let him search again. Do you think I’m blind? There’s not a corner inside or out of this estate that escapes my senses.”

“Understood, I shall obey.” The maid quickly retreated, not daring to say more.

As tranquility returned to the courtyard, the woman suddenly kicked toward Li Hui, casually donning elaborately designed garments, and turned with a cold gaze directed at the pool’s surface.

“Pfft…” Li Hui emerged, coughing up a spray of water and sputtering, “Cough, cough, that was a fierce kick! You almost turned me into a eunuch!”

“I thought something was off; upon reflection, I realized there’s much more mist in the hot spring than usual.” The woman stood on the water’s surface, looking down at the boy with disdain, and said curiously, “Evil Dragon Master and the green ape aren’t pushovers. To track a Wuxiang cultivator all the way to my Hao Family’s Mufeng City is truly bizarre.”

“No, I’m sorry! I just accidentally stumbled into this place,” Li Hui said, stepping back cautiously, feeling an intense sense of danger radiating from her.

“No man has ever seen my body.” As the woman took a step forward, purple light suddenly illuminated the courtyard, startling Li Hui: “This is bad!”