"Brother Chu Feng, this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for you."
"That's why we can't leave. We can't let you miss this chance," Fumo Shaoyu said.
"Brother Shaoyu, I know you mean well."
"But there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
"Whether it's Zuoqiu Hanxun's past behavior or the reputation of that Zuoqiu Heavenly Clan's Clan Chief, everything points to them not being good people."
"That's why their actions today are extremely abnormal."
"I believe their kindness toward us isn't out of admiration for talent. Most likely, they want to use us," Chu Feng said.
The reason he had wanted to leave from the very start was precisely because he sensed something was off. His intuition had picked up on the scent of danger.
But Fumo Shaoyu had kept insisting on seeking justice, and with the Zuoqiu Heavenly Clan's Clan Chief present earlier, Chu Feng hadn't been able to say too much.
Still, Chu Feng had never felt at ease. He kept thinking they needed to find a way to leave this place of trouble. And now, perhaps, was the best chance to escape.
"Of course they're not that generous."
"Because he wants you dead," Fumo Shaoyu said.
"Brother Shaoyu, you..."
Hearing those words, Chu Feng was stunned.
He had assumed Fumo Shaoyu was simply too stubborn, focused on getting justice without thinking things through, completely unaware of the danger here. But Fumo Shaoyu's words completely overturned that assumption.
Clearly, Fumo Shaoyu had seen through the scheme as well.
But that only left Chu Feng even more confused. If Fumo Shaoyu had already figured it out, why was he still determined to stay?
"Brother, what do you mean?"
"How can you think the Zuoqiu Heavenly Clan wants to kill Chu Feng but still insist he stay?"
The most bewildered of all was Fumo Xin'er. But her question also voiced the very confusion in Chu Feng's heart.
"That, dear sister, is the price of not studying seriously in your daily life."
"If you'd spent more time at Grandma's side like I do, learning a thing or two, you wouldn't be so clueless," Fumo Shaoyu said, sidestepping her question and seizing the opportunity to needle her.
"Brother, stop picking on me and just tell me what's going on."
"This is a matter of life and death," Fumo Xin'er pressed.
"That so-called Heavenly Lightning Ancient Formation is a formation from the ancient era."
"It was created by Heavenly Bloodline cultivators of that time."
"It's used for secluded cultivation to break through a bottleneck, but... it can't be activated just like that."
"It requires a vast amount of heavenly treasures and rare materials to power it."
"Simply put, the cost is enormous."
"That single Lightning Orb alone couldn't possibly activate such a formation."
"But now that the Zuoqiu Heavenly Clan can activate it, that means they've spent an incredible amount of wealth."
"Having spent so much, though, they certainly wouldn't be generous enough to let Brother Chu Feng reap the benefits for free."
"If I'm not mistaken, they want Brother Chu Feng to serve as a Lightning Conductor."
"A Lightning Conductor? What's that?" Fumo Xin'er pressed further.
"Lightning Tribulation is a terrifying force. When one cultivates the Divine Punishment Mystic Art, the divine-level lightning tribulation it attracts is even more horrifying."
"But the lightning tribulation triggered through this ancient formation is far more terrifying still. If Zuoqiu Tiansheng tried to endure it himself, he likely wouldn't survive — he'd probably be killed."
"The role of the Lightning Conductor is to withstand the lightning tribulation's power on Zuoqiu Tiansheng's behalf."
"Simply put, the Lightning Conductor bears the lightning tribulation in his place, but all the ultimate benefits go to Zuoqiu Tiansheng."
"The end result is that Zuoqiu Tiansheng achieves his breakthrough, while the Lightning Conductor is reduced to ash."
"Since ancient times, Lightning Conductors have always been sacrificial pawns."
"But not just anyone can serve as a Lightning Conductor. It has to be someone with exceptional talent and a Heavenly Bloodline."
"Earlier, on top of that mountain peak, Brother Chu Feng sat on that Bloodline Testing Stone and manifested nine-colored lightning — his talent surpasses even Zuoqiu Tiansheng's."
"Naturally, that made him the perfect Lightning Conductor in the eyes of the Zuoqiu Heavenly Clan."
"However, they were probably afraid that once Brother Chu Feng learned the truth, he'd rather die than serve as Zuoqiu Tiansheng's stepping stone."