Chapter 475

Chapter 475: Breaking the Seal

One million top-grade spirit stones—if displayed, they would form a small mountain.

What kind of purchasing power did one million top-grade spirit stones represent? One only needed to recall the frenzy among cultivators at the auction in the Alchemy Cauldron Building to understand.

When Ye Yun traveled from the Jin Kingdom to the Great Qin Empire, Duan Chenfeng had handed him over half the national treasury’s spirit stones. This included tens of millions of high-grade spirit stones—equivalent to hundreds of thousands when converted to top-grade ones—along with over two hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones. Such wealth was possible only in the unregulated Jin Kingdom. In the Great Qin Empire, this amount was unimaginable. Ordinary sects couldn’t produce such riches; only the imperial family or super sects like the Misty Sect and Divine Grace Palace might possess it.

Yet Jun Ruolan, a mere disciple of the Misty Sect, casually demanded a million top-grade spirit stones. How could Ye Yun believe her?

“Fine. Produce them, and I’ll yield, taking only the Thunder Wood,” Ye Yun said flatly. He doubted her claim and cared little for any potential Thunder Seed. With the Lightning Element Law, he believed he could eventually command all Divine Thunders.

Jun Ruolan retorted, “Hand over a million stones without seeing the Thunder Seed? Ye Yun, your greed deafens even the heavens.”

Ye Yun laughed. “Then break the array yourself.”

Jun Ruolan waved a hand. “Though I won’t give the full amount, I’ll show goodwill with a portion.”

With a flick of her sleeve, a river of spirit stones materialized, crashing down before Ye Yun into a ten-zhang-high pile—all top-grade.

“Twenty thousand top-grade spirit stones as a pledge. Aid me in finding the mysteries of thunder in the treasure area, and the remaining eighty thousand are yours,” Jun Ruolan declared, her face indifferent as if scattering pebbles.

Ye Yun stared at the pile in disbelief. Twenty thousand top-grade stones, given without hesitation. Who *was* Jun Ruolan? No mere elite disciple, surely.

Yet he didn’t refuse. With a sweep of his hand, he stored the stones into his Thunder Sound Metamorphosis ring.

“My thanks,” he said, clasping his fists.

“Remember your oath. Now, break the array,” Jun Ruolan replied coolly.

“Senior Sister Jun,” a Misty Sect disciple stammered, gaping at the transaction, “when did Master grant you such wealth?”

Jun Ruolan’s gaze turned icy. “Is that your concern?”

The disciple, Hu Qing, trembled, bowing deeply. “This lowly one overstepped. Punish me, Senior Sister!”

“Enough. Speak only when permitted,” she dismissed.

Hu Qing retreated, relief palpable.

Ye Yun observed silently. Jun Ruolan’s authority was clear—casually dispensing riches and cowing disciples. Someone powerful backed her.

“Proceed, Ye Yun,” Jun Ruolan ordered.

“When the array breaks, violent lightning may erupt. Shield yourselves,” he warned.

“Unnecessary. Our Thunder Avoidance Talismans suffice,” she replied.

Hu Qing hesitated. “But Senior Brother She… his injuries… the talismans might not protect him.”

Jun Ruolan glanced at the wounded disciple crumpled on the ground. “His condition is hopeless. End his suffering.”

“*What?*” Ye Yun and Hu Qing exclaimed together.

“Must I repeat myself?” Frost laced her voice.

Hu Qing wiped sweat from his brow, approaching the injured disciple.

“Senior Brother She… forgive me.”

A fist flashed with light and shadow.

*Crash!*

The disciple’s body shattered, spirit extinguished.

Ye Yun inhaled sharply. Jun Ruolan’s ruthlessness chilled him. His guard heightened instantly.

Pale but resolute, Hu Qing returned to Jun Ruolan’s side.

“Your distraction is removed. Focus on the array,” she said, tone unchanged.

Ye Yun turned to the thunder-forged tree. A flick of his fingers sent a wisp of pure Thunder Spirit Qi—no trace of the Lightning Element Law—into its trunk.

The tree shuddered. Its crown darkened into roiling storm clouds, thunder booming as lightning erupted.

*Boom!*

A hundred-mile radius dissolved into a Thunder Sea. Mountains, rivers, flora—all illusions now, replaced by howling lightning matching the core area’s Purple Mansion Thunder in ferocity.

Ye Yun frowned, sensing pressure from the storm.

Unseen by him, Jun Ruolan’s lips curved in a faint smile.