CHAPTER 953: CHAPTER 953: XUANTING THUNDER POOL

The sun rose, and the ghostly spirits outside the ancient temple vanished slowly with unwilling eyes.

Chen Nan was the first to walk out of the ancient temple, stowing away the Demon Suppressing Sword and the Shariputra, and stretched vigorously.

"Time to go, don’t bother about that monk!"

He turned to see Tang Zhirou attempting to help the drunken Xuan Hui and immediately scolded her without patience.

Tang Zhirou also found Xuan Hui somewhat blasphemous, but upon hearing from Chen Nan that Xuan Hui was surprisingly the current Buddha Son of the Buddhist Sect, she was even more astounded.

However, if one befriended the Buddha Son, the Qingshan Sect would have an ally in the future.

"Miss Benefactor, no need to worry, little monk... hic... little monk can walk by himself."

Xuan Hui’s eyes were blurry, his steps faltering, yet he actually managed to keep pace with Chen Nan.

Thus appeared a peculiar group of three people and one Earth Dragon, Tang Zhirou riding atop the Earth Dragon, Chen Nan walking beside, and Xuan Hui following behind Chen Nan.

Anyone who saw them would undoubtedly find this combination extremely odd.

Tang Zhirou finally realized why Chen Nan held such a strong opinion against Xuan Hui, as Xuan Hui’s mouth kept babbling non-stop along the journey, he seemed not drunk at all.

After midday walking, Xuan Hui sobered and looked around, asking, "Benefactor Chen, do you know where we should head next?"

"How should I know!" Chen Nan waved his hand impatiently, "Wasn’t I thinking to find someone to see if there’s a map? Yet, we haven’t encountered anyone."

"Map? The little monk has one!"

Xuan Hui strangely pulled out a map from his storage bag, amazingly showing the map of the Ancient Realm Secret Realm, including the ancient temple they were in last night.

Though the map was not complete, it recorded many places, all probably drawn by monks who entered the secret realm over generations.

"Why didn’t you take out the map earlier?" Chen Nan snatched the map, wishing he could just kick him.

Xuan Hui was full of grievances, "You didn’t mention it, how would I know you wanted a map?"

"Still daring to retort?" Chen Nan glared at him, feeling utterly helpless.

How did he end up with such teammates?

Quickly, Chen Nan found their current location on the map; the Ancient Realm Secret Realm was a place with mountains, rivers, large rivers, deserts, battlefields, and sect ruins, in no particular order.

It seemed like many spaces were forcefully merged into the Ancient Realm, a very strange phenomenon.

"Xuan Hui, where do you think others might be?"

Chen Nan studied for a while, identifying many spots with Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, but he was keener to find the others.

Or rather, he especially wanted to find Nie Xiaoyu.

"If the little monk guesses rightly, the three places are most likely Xuanting Thunder Pool, Mirror Flower Platform, and Water Moon Palace."

"Xuanting Thunder Pool is filled with countless thunder; deep inside, there’s Thunder Paste formed by the condensation of lightning, some cultivators use the thunder here for body refinement, while others aim to refine the lightning."

"Mirror Flower Platform is a magical place, like a mirror, allowing people to enter an Illusion Realm; whoever can break through the Illusion Realm shall gain rewards, or else be trapped in it forever."

"As for Water Moon Palace, nobody knows what lies within, as the palace is veiled by a grand formation, yet to be opened, but rumors say it holds Immortal’s inheritance!"

"Oh, before entering the Ancient Realm, the Elder told the little monk that some prodigies brought many Secret Treasures for breaking formations this time, precisely to crack the grand formation outside Water Moon Palace."

As the Buddha Son of the Buddhist Sect, Xuan Hui knew far more than Chen Nan, a Loose Cultivator, or Tang Zhirou, a cultivator from a minor faction.

He knew each opportunity within the Ancient Realm Secret Realm like the back of his hand.

Of course, the Ancient Realm Secret Realm still had countless unexplored places, yet it was unknown if they harbored opportunities or dangers.

Chen Nan looked at the three locations mentioned by Xuan Hui on the map, feeling somewhat grateful he saved this loquacious monk, for without him, how could he know so much?

However, these three places were in three different directions, requiring a choice.

Thinking for a moment, Chen Nan pointed to Xuanting Thunder Pool.

"Let’s go here!"

He chose the Thunder Pool because Chen Nan had inherited the Thunder Wing White Tiger’s bloodline divine ability, able to control lightning, yet his own control over lightning was too weak, often only useful for increasing speed during confrontations.

Therefore, he wanted to go to the Thunder Pool to see if he could amplify the power of the lightning, thus potentially gaining another powerful method.

...

Xuanting Thunder Pool was perpetually shrouded in lightning, the roar of thunder could be heard even a hundred miles away.

Approaching within ten miles, one would feel a tingling sensation on the skin.

Currently, outside the Thunder Pool, dozens of cultivators lingered at the edge, some were drawing a thread of thunder to refine their physique, while others took a bolt of lightning to refine it.

Yet all were extremely cautious, as the raging thunder could easily harm them.

However, cultivators entering the Ancient Realm Secret Realm all possessed ambition, thus knowing the risks, they still ventured forth fearlessly.

When Chen Nan and his group arrived, they witnessed such a scene.

Surveying the surroundings, Chen Nan saw no one from the Yuantian Sect, he sighed softly but it was within his expectations.

"Great Monk, wait here with my junior sister, I’ll go check inside the Thunder Pool."

Chen Nan instructed, then prepared to head towards the Thunder Pool.

The cultivators nearby heard his words, seemingly uninterested in the Thunder Pool’s danger, and snorted disdainfully.

"Where did this reckless man come from? The lightning is fierce, not something Foundation Establishment Cultivators can withstand, didn’t you see us all staying at the edge?"

"Still wanting to go into the Thunder Pool, do you think you’re the Little Thunder God?"

The Little Thunder God’s real name was Lei Zhen, born with Thunder Spirit Root, once ranked tenth on the Hidden Dragon List, now removed from the list after surpassing thirty years of age.

Chen Nan ignored his words, his steps unabated, he had nothing to explain to these frogs in the well.

He had obtained the Thunder Wing White Tiger’s Innate Divine Ability, giving him a degree of control over lightning, the lightning at the edge of the Thunder Pool couldn’t harm him, nor was it his target.

"Truly ignorant!"

That person mocked seeing Chen Nan unaffected by warnings, continued to jeer.

Others witnessing Chen Nan’s recklessness all wore faces of schadenfreude, truly thinking the Thunder Pool was a place to mess around?

But quickly, their expressions froze.

For Chen Nan, under everyone’s eyes, walked step by step into the Thunder Pool, the lightning striking him caused no harm.

Soon, his figure was submerged by the lightning.

The cultivator who initially ridiculed Chen Nan was dumbfounded, after a while, rubbing his eyes, still in disbelief.

"How is it possible? He appears to be merely a Foundation Establishment seventh layer cultivator, how could he enter the Thunder Pool?!"