"Jianxian, I remember you haven't taken on a disciple yet, right? Perfect, you can take this young Daoist and teach him the Thunder Method!" said Daoist Miao Jian.

Daoist Jianxian was slightly surprised upon hearing this.

Daoist Miao Jian handed him the note written by Zhao Wuji.

After reading it, Daoist Jianxian quickly smiled wryly, "I'm hardly a good teacher, Sect Master, you must be joking."

Daoist Miao Jian glared at him, "How are you not a good teacher? Among the 'Jian' generation of the Pivot Mountain, who surpasses you in the Thunder Method? You just don't want to take disciples or interact with others.

Every day, you're either in the office checking documents or guarding the gates. Shouldn't your Thunder Method be passed down?" In the past, I couldn't do anything about it, but today, with the Sect Master's note, can't I handle you?

I say you're a good teacher, and that's that.

If you disagree, go find the Sect Master yourself!

"Upon hearing this, Daoist Jianxian's thick eyebrows almost knitted together."

Take a good look, this is a distinguished disciple from Mingzhi Mountain.

Can he really be your disciple for life? Just be his teacher for two years, teach him the Thunder Method.

If you still refuse, then I won't be the office head anymore.

I'll recommend you for the position, since I can't command you anyway.

"Cheng Xinzhan stood awkwardly to the side, not daring to speak."

Disciple accepts the command,"Daoist Jianxian sighed deeply and agreed." That's more like it!

"Daoist Miao Jian immediately beamed with joy."

Teach the young Daoist from Mingzhi Mountain well.

The Sect Master has said, results in two years.

You must put in effort, take him out on more field assignments, quick results!

"Daoist Miao Jian was overjoyed. The office was short on staff, and Jianxian was a quiet man. When practicing the Thunder Method, the phenomena were spectacular. Miao Jian had personally seen how decisive Jianxian was in field assignments, slaying miasma spirits and fog demons. But this man simply didn't like to go out, nor did he like to interact with others in the office. Despite his formidable combat strength, he was content with clerical work and guarding the gates. Now, with the Sect Master's note, one problem was solved and another was gifted."

Go on, go on, he's your responsibility now, I wash my hands of it,"Daoist Miao Jian issued the dismissal, seemingly afraid Jianxian might change his mind. Daoist Jianxian led Cheng Xinzhan out of the office hall.

Jianxian was a kind man; though he was reluctant to take on the task, once he accepted, he didn't show any displeasure towards Cheng Xinzhan. He kindly led him to a small, empty room." Xinzhan, from now on, you will practice in this office.

My office is diagonally across from yours.

"Cheng Xinzhan nodded,"Yes, Teacher.

"Jianxian seemed a bit unused to having a nominal disciple. It took him a while to realize Cheng Xinzhan was addressing him when he called him"Teacher.

""Oh, right.

You probably don't know much about our practices at the Nine Heavens Response Bureau.

Let me explain it to you.

"Cheng Xinzhan agreed, pulling over a chair for Jianxian to sit, while he stood respectfully. Seeing this, Jianxian quickly got up and brought another chair for Cheng Xinzhan to sit as well. The two sat facing each other, both feeling a bit awkward. But once Jianxian started teaching, the atmosphere eased."

Our founding patriarch believed that the Thunder Method is about executing heavenly laws.

Just having strong magical power is not enough; it doesn't capture the essence of the Thunder Method.

The patriarch believed that besides combat, the Thunder Method also emphasizes dignity, righteousness, and rules.

"Without grandeur, there is no imposing dignity. The patriarch believed that those who practice the Thunder Method should reside in high towers, wear splendid robes, and walk with the majesty of dragons and tigers. As for thunder tools, bells, cauldrons, towers, and statues are considered superior, while seals, flags, orders, and swords are secondary, with the rest being inferior."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded upon hearing this.

When he first saw the Nine Heavens Response Bureau, he was indeed awed by the imposing presence of the building.

And when he ascended to the ninth layer to the Divine Empyrean Jade Pure Hall, even though it was a vast and empty hall, the seemingly ordinary Sect Master sitting there was as imposing as a mountain.

As for thunder tools, he hadn't seen any yet, but if there were indeed bells and cauldrons that could contain thunder, it would surely be awe-inspiring.

"The patriarch believed that practicing the Thunder Method must be justified. Using thunder techniques based solely on personal likes and dislikes is not true Thunder Method; it's merely manipulating the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to mimic the power of thunder and lightning—a false Thunder Method. True Thunder Method requires a righteous heart, upholding the principles of rewarding good and punishing evil, whether it's bringing down nourishing rain or slaying demons."

"The patriarch believed that practicing the Thunder Method must follow rules and systems. One must not be cruel and kill indiscriminately, nor be overly merciful. Where there is drought, where there are demons, it's reported by the inspection offices or through prayers from the local people, reported to the bureau, where each office decides whether to act or not, then reports to the higher departments, up to the bureau head, who issues the orders. The offices act upon seeing the orders, going out to bring rain, alleviate floods, or slay demons."

"Based on the above, the Nine Heavens Response Bureau was established. It's said: Executing heavenly orders, controlling the pivot, conveying orders from above, deploying troops—that is the Thunder Method!"

Cheng Xinzhan had an epiphany!

This is the Thunder Method!

This is the meaning of the pivot!

Cheng Xinzhan bowed with his hands clasped, "Disciple is enlightened."

Daoist Jianxian also smiled, pointing to the vast office, "So, the disciples of our Nine Heavens Response Bureau, cultivation and official duties are integrated. In stillness, we sit in the office to cultivate dignity and understand the principles of the pivot. In action, we hold orders to execute the power of thunder and punish the lawless.

The Thunder Method is slowly cultivated between these states of stillness and action." I don't know why you, as a disciple of Mingzhi Mountain, came to our Pivot Mountain to learn the Thunder Method, and why the Sect Master set a two-year deadline.

But I must tell you, haste makes waste, especially in cultivating the Thunder Method.

If you don't understand dignity, righteousness, and rules, you will never master the Thunder Method.

I don't know, nor will I teach you any shortcuts.

We will proceed step by step.

Even if it's the Sect Master's order, I'm not afraid.

If you find it too slow, you can go to the office head or even the Sect Master to change teachers.

"Daoist Jianxian spoke solemnly. Cheng Xinzhan also spoke seriously,"Teacher, your words are pearls of wisdom.

Disciple will naturally obey.

If I learn slowly, it's due to my own dullness, not the teacher's fault.

"Jianxian nodded,"Good, then from now on, you will follow me in cultivation, whether in the office or on field assignments.

"Cheng Xinzhan agreed. In fact, after hearing Daoist Jianxian's explanation, he wanted to learn the Thunder Method even more, even if it wasn't just to dispel evil. Executing heavenly orders, justified actions—isn't that what a hero does!"

Let me explain more about our Nine Heavens Response Bureau.

The Nine Heavens Response Bureau originates from the ancient Thunder Department.

Our pivot system can be seen as a simplified version of the Thunder Department.

I've heard that the pivot system of the Divine Empyrean Sect at Bingfeng Mountain is even more complex, while the one at Dragon-Tiger Mountain is more simplified.

"The top level of the bureau consists of the Divine Empyrean Jade Pure Hall and the Five Thunder Court, both of equal rank. The Divine Empyrean Jade Pure Hall is the bureau head's office, while the Five Thunder Court is the residence of the Five Thunder Envoys, all of whom are high-ranking elders with profound Thunder Method skills, second only to the bureau head in terms of cultivation level."

Under the Divine Empyrean Jade Pure Hall are three departments: the Jade Pivot Department, the North Pole Department, and the Penglai Department.

The Jade Pivot Department handles the pivot, acting as the bureau head in his absence.

It oversees the Seal Office, the Inspection Office, and the Internal Audit Office.

The Seal Office is responsible for approving orders, the Inspection Office investigates any dereliction of duty or unauthorized actions within the bureau, and the Internal Audit Office handles internal affairs of the Jade Pivot Department.

"The North Pole Department handles combat, carrying out punitive actions. It includes the Demon-Slaying Office, the Demon-Cleansing Office, the Monster-Slaying Office, and the Defense Office. You and I are in the Demon-Slaying Office, responsible for slaying miasma spirits, fog demons, foul clouds, spirits, corpses, and evil ghosts. The Demon-Cleansing Office is tasked with eliminating demonic cults and their leaders, the Monster-Slaying Office deals with man-eating monsters, and the Defense Office combats all who defy the bureau's orders, including clearing out heretical sects and unauthorized worship."

The Penglai Department handles life and creation, carrying out acts of salvation.

It includes the Rain Office, the Clear Sky Office, the Plague-Cleansing Office, and the Enfeoffment Office.

The Rain Office is responsible for alleviating droughts, summoning clouds, and bringing nourishing rain.

The Clear Sky Office deals with floods, dispersing clouds and guiding water back to rivers.

The Plague-Cleansing Office eradicates plagues and disease-carrying insects.

The Enfeoffment Office oversees thunder tribulations, granting titles to benevolent spirits and fierce ghosts, allowing them to establish temples and cultivate.

"Cheng Xinzhan nodded, thinking how detailed the divisions were. He wondered how complex the pivot systems of the Divine Empyrean Sect and the ancient Thunder Department must be. And Sect Master Zhao had arranged for him to be in the Demon-Slaying Office, clearly aligning him with the Divine Thunder among the Five Thunders."

Our Demon-Slaying Office is divided into five branches: east, west, south, north, and central, each responsible for different regions.