Cheng Xinzhan naturally didn’t feel any pain, but when he saw the look of surprise on Master Jianxian’s face, he knew it was about time.
He spoke up, “Master, it’s about time.”
Master Jianxian nodded and said, “Your talent is remarkable, and the absorption of Thunder Qi went smoothly. Let’s stop here for today. When you return, continue applying the Cooling Ointment to ease any discomfort before attempting to open your Thunder Acupoints again.
Don’t rush it. As for Thunder Techniques, the Thunder Qi within your body is still too sparse to perform any. Once you’ve accumulated more, I’ll teach you.
“Also, be prepared at all times.
We mustn’t miss the opportune moment.
When the next thunderstorm arrives, I’ll take you out of the sect.” Cheng Xinzhan acknowledged this and informed Master Jianxian of the location of his Wuyou Cave on Mingzhi Mountain.
He then asked another question,“Master, earlier when you used magic power to refine the Thunder Essence and sent it to my nasal acupoint, could this process be replaced with mental power?” Master Jianxian was slightly surprised by the question but nodded nonetheless,“Essence, Qi, and Spirit are the three treasures of the Dao body.
This means that mental power, magic power, and vital blood can all be used to refine external substances.
They are respectively known as Spirit Refinement, Magic Refinement, and Blood Refinement.
Generally speaking, Spirit Refinement and Blood Refinement are faster than Magic Refinement.
“For instance, flying swords or other treasures of the Purple Palace usually require Spirit Refinement. In urgent matters, Blood Refinement is used, and the demonic sects particularly favor Blood Refinement as it can enhance the ferocity of their treasures. “However, mental power is sensitive.
If used to refine something as volatile as Thunder Essence, the pain would be amplified and could easily harm the spirit.
Losing blood damages the body, and replenishing vital blood takes a considerable amount of time.
Hence, Magic Refinement is typically used.” Cheng Xinzhan cupped his hands in gratitude and then took out a pill bottle, presenting it to Master Jianxian with both hands,“Master, this is a token of gratitude prepared by my master—a bottle of Hundred Herbs Lung-Moistening Pills.
Please accept it.” Master Jianxian waved his hands repeatedly,“Teaching you is the Mountain Lord’s command.
How can I accept gifts from Mountain Lord Wen? Please take it back and convey my thanks to Mountain Lord Wen.” Cheng Xinzhan placed the pill bottle on a small table and said,“Master, my master said this is her personal gesture and has nothing to do with Mountain Lord Zhao’s arrangements.”
With that, he quickly stood up and took his leave, not giving Master Jianxian a chance to refuse. ———— Back in Wuyou Cave. He first took out a green branch from the cave rocks. He had obtained it while drawing talismans at the Miaojiang market.
It was just an ordinary spirit wood with no special properties. He drew out“Autumn Water”and carved the spirit wood into five small spoons, each capable of holding a single drop of Thunder Essence. He noticed that Master Jianxian’s spoons were also made of ordinary spirit wood, nothing extraordinary.
Then, he poured a drop of Thunder Essence from the gourd onto one of the spoons.
“Crackle!”
The Thunder Essence sizzled on the wooden spoon, but fortunately, the spoon remained intact. Reassured, Cheng Xinzhan dripped Thunder Essence onto all five spoons, refined it with magic power, and placed the spoons by the stone bed. He then immediately returned to his physical body.
The familiar sense of confinement returned. Among the hundred acupoints in his body, only the Heart Mansion and Purple Palace could be sensed. Now, there was also a faint coolness at his nasal acupoint.
He extended his thoughts, touching the Thunder Essence on the wooden spoon. As Master Jianxian had said, even after Magic Refinement, using mental power to touch it still brought a burning and numbing sensation. Enduring the pain, he wrapped the Thunder Essence with his mental power and sent it toward his nasal acupoint.
Though the process was uncomfortable, the mental power allowed him to gain a clearer understanding of the Thunder’s intent. When the Thunder Essence struck his nasal acupoint, an overwhelming pain, like a tidal wave, engulfed his body, causing the long-dormant flesh to tremble uncontrollably.
The pain didn’t come from the Thunder Essence striking the acupoint but from the Purple Fire Rotten Peach Miasma clogging the acupoint, which was agitated by the Thunder and began to move chaotically within. However, the pain-induced trembling couldn’t shake Cheng Xinzhan’s resolve.
His thoughts remained steadfast, capturing every tiny fragment of the Thunder Essence that shattered upon striking the acupoint, gathering them into a single strand and directing it into his meridians. But the meridians were still blocked by miasma, like an endless mountain range standing in the way.
The small strand of Thunder Essence traveled an imperceptibly short distance before dissipating within the mountain of true miasma. The dissolved true miasma formed a tiny drop of miasma water, lingering in the minute gap just opened by the Thunder Essence. His body shook like a sieve, but his thoughts radiated joy.
It worked!
Even though the amount of true miasma dissolved this time was minuscule. He pressed on, extracting the Thunder Essence droplets from the remaining spoons and directing them to strike his nasal acupoint.
Eventually, he began refining the Thunder Essence directly with his mental power, bypassing the process of entering the bamboo body and using its magic power to refine the Thunder Essence. Later, he even grew numb to the pain of refining Thunder Essence with mental power.
By the fourth day, he suddenly heard a shout,“Xinzhan, come with me out of the sect!” He quickly returned to the bamboo staff and left Wuyou Cave, finding Master Jianxian waiting outside the mountain. He flew over on a cloud and noticed a mass of dark clouds brewing to the north.
“Did you bring everything?”
Cheng Xinzhan nodded. The two then headed north. Beyond the Lotus Blessed Land of Mount Sanqing, the area grew desolate, with continuous mountains but few people.
Only reclusive elders resided here. Soon, they reached the edge of the Nine Heavens Cloud Restriction Array. After flying through the clouds for a while, they exited the sect.
“Boom—”In the distance, thunder rumbled within the clouds, creating a deafening noise.
“Sounds like Feng Thunder.
You’re quite lucky.” Master Jianxian smiled, noticing Cheng Xinzhan’s surprise. He added,“Once you’ve seen more, you’ll naturally learn to distinguish them.”
The two increased their speed and arrived just before the thunder struck. They were in a barren wilderness, dotted with low hills. No one was in sight.
Master Jianxian chuckled,“This time, the thunder is in the north, giving us an advantage.
The other two sects haven’t arrived yet.
It’s also possible that they’ve already collected thunder during the recent Awakening of Insects season, when spring thunder is frequent.
It would be best if they don’t come at all.” Master Jianxian led Cheng Xinzhan to the highest hill, prepared the guiding and containing tools, and waited for the thunder to strike. Before the thunder fell, however, a whooshing sound came from the southwest.
“Ah, someone’s here after all.”
Master Jianxian sighed. Three people approached from the distance. As they drew closer, Cheng Xinzhan could see them clearly.
They wore blue robes with silver embroidery and cloud-patterned crowns. The leader was an elderly man, accompanied by a young man and woman. “It’s the Shenxiao Sect.
Ah, familiar faces.
Annoying.”
Master Jianxian muttered to himself. The three arrived and, spotting Master Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan, the elderly man greeted warmly,“Master Jianxian, what a coincidence!” Master Jianxian forced a smile,“Master Yibi.”
Master Yibi was quite enthusiastic. Seeing few people around, he struck up a conversation.
“Is this your esteemed disciple?”
Master Yibi pointed at Cheng Xinzhan. Master Jianxian explained,“No, he’s a disciple from another branch of the sect.
I’ve been entrusted to teach him Thunder Techniques for a while.” Cheng Xinzhan bowed,“This humble disciple, Cheng Xinzhan, greets the master.” Master Yibi returned the gesture and introduced the young man and woman, both around twelve or thirteen,“Ah, I see.
Come, Master Jianxian, young friend Xinzhan, these are my two disciples, Meng Xuqi and Meng Xuyi.” The two handsome children, with similar features, each bowed. Master Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan returned the courtesy.
“Young friend, you seem unfamiliar.
Is this your first time collecting thunder with Master Jianxian?” Master Jianxian nodded. Master Yibi laughed,“My two good disciples are also out of the sect for the first time.
I think today, they should get plenty of practice.” Master Jianxian nodded again. At that moment, someone approached from the southeast, wearing purple and yellow robes.
“The Dragon-Tiger Mountain sect is here too.
All three sects have arrived.” Master Yibi remarked. Master Jianxian explained to Cheng Xinzhan,“The Bingfeng Mountain’s Pivotal Immortal Capital Dongyuan Mansion, the Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Pivotal East Pole Qingxuan Mansion, and our Mount Sanqing’s Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin Mansion—these are the three Thunder Dao Sects of Yuzhang, often spoken of today.
All inherit from the ancient Thunder Department.
The rest are not worth mentioning.” Two figures from Dragon-Tiger Mountain arrived, one older and one younger, clearly a master and disciple. “Master, you said there would be many people collecting thunder.
It doesn’t seem that crowded.” The boy named Meng Xuqi asked. Master Yibi smiled,“Because it’s the transition between mid and late spring, the time with the fewest thunder collectors.
I deliberately chose this time to bring you out.”
“Why is this the least crowded time?”
“In spring, the first thunder carries the intents of ‘Striving to be First,’ ‘Timing,’ and ‘Vitality.’ The Awakening of Insects thunder carries the intents of ‘Connecting Heaven and Earth,’ ‘Summoning,’ ‘Awakening,’ and ‘Startling Insects.’ Thus, these two times attract the most thunder collectors, especially during the Awakening of Insects thunder, which can last for days or even over ten days.
Most people have already collected thunder by now, and as the Awakening of Insects thunder subsides, the thunder aura on their bodies hasn’t dissipated, creating a gap for thunder collection.
In another half month, those who collected the first thunder will return, and the crowd will gradually increase.” Master Yibi, seeing that all three sects had brought newcomers, chuckled,“The transition between mid and late spring has fewer people, and the spring thunder’s momentum has mostly been released during the Awakening of Insects.
It’s the perfect time for beginners to collect thunder.
Hence, masters usually bring their disciples during this period.
This thunder even has a name—Master-Disciple Thunder.” Cheng Xinzhan listened and nodded inwardly. So that’s why Master Jianxian urged me to prepare thunder tools—to catch this Master-Disciple Thunder.
The two from the Celestial Master Mansion flew closer, their purple and yellow robes dazzling. The older one appeared to be around fifty, with a square face, thick black beard, and hair. The younger one, likely between Xuqi, Xuyi, and Cheng Xinzhan in age, had red lips and white teeth, wearing a purple-gold crown.
Being in Yuzhang and practicing Thunder Techniques, the newcomers were known to both Master Jianxian and Master Yibi. However, it seemed their seniority was higher, as both masters proactively cupped their hands in greeting.
“Master Quanhe, boundless longevity.”
Master Quanhe’s square face exuded authority, with thick eyebrows, tiger-like eyes, and a long beard that fluttered in the wind. His stern expression made him seem unapproachable. Yet, seeing the two sects that had arrived earlier greeting him, each with newcomers, he suddenly broke into a hearty laugh,“Master-Disciple Thunder, Master-Disciple Thunder.
Today, all three of our sects have come to collect this Master-Disciple Thunder.
What a coincidence.” Master Yibi cupped his hands in agreement,“Indeed, a coincidence.
Earlier, I was chatting with Master Jianxian, and both of us have brought disciples out for their first thunder collection.” Master Quanhe nodded,“Same here.
Come, Zhenjing, greet the two elders.” The red-lipped young Taoist cupped his hands,“Liang Zhenjing of the East Pole Qingxuan Mansion of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, greetings to both of you.” His attitude seemed somewhat casual and flippant.
Master Jianxian and Master Yibi remained expressionless, each returning the courtesy. “Alright, gentlemen, the thunder is about to fall.
Let’s not linger.
Each will rely on their own skills to attract the thunder.
As an old man, I’ll say one more thing: since it’s Master-Disciple Thunder, let’s follow the tradition and let the juniors go first.
We seniors will act before the thunderclouds disperse.
How about it?” Master Quanhe didn’t reprimand his disciple but instead sought to end the small gathering.
“Naturally.”
Master Jianxian and Master Yibi agreed. With that, Master Quanhe led the red-lipped young Taoist away, landing on the second-highest hill. Meng Xuqi and Meng Xuyi immediately showed displeasure,“We were here first…”
“It’s fine, let him have this one, let him have this one.”
Master Yibi soothed his disciples, then turned to Master Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan,“Master Jianxian, young friend Xinzhan, we’ll take our leave now.
Let’s chat again after collecting the thunder.” The two groups bid farewell, and the Shenxiao Sect headed to the third-highest hill. “The Dragon-Tiger Mountain sect has always been like this.
You’ll understand in time.
Today, that child is still young, so we won’t fuss over it.
The Shenxiao Sect’s Patriarch Sa once received guidance from a Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, hence they hold them in high regard.
But our Mount Sanqing doesn’t need to.
In the future, if you feel slighted, there’s no need to hold back.” Master Jianxian specifically told Cheng Xinzhan. Cheng Xinzhan nodded in acknowledgment.
He hadn’t taken the earlier incident to heart.
“Boom—rumble!”
The thunder roared, and the long-brewing rain finally fell, nourishing the earth. The thunder, like a celestial dragon, weaved through the clouds, its bright flashes occasionally illuminating the sky and land.
“Crack!”
Silver-purple thunderbolts fell, resembling upside-down light trees growing from the clouds. Sometimes there was just one tree, sometimes five or six, and at times, the branches intertwined, forming a vast light net. Though thunder was a common sight, experiencing it up close and with full concentration was a first for Cheng Xinzhan.
“Your magic sword belongs to the Metal element, which is naturally attuned to thunder.
Moreover, since you specifically sought it out, it must have other advantages.
Later, I’ll watch for the right moment.
Once enough thunder has spread over this area, I’ll signal you immediately.
Then, you’ll use your sword to touch the thunder.
The higher, the better.
Otherwise, if someone else’s guiding tool is above yours on the same thunderbolt, you won’t be able to collect it.
But it’s best not to enter the clouds, as the thunder’s power is concentrated there, which could damage your tool and sever the connection between you and it.
“The thunder will follow the magic power between you and your tool, drawn toward you. You must seize the moment and catch it with your gourd before it strikes your body. In the future, you might be able to receive thunder directly with your body, but for now, you’re not yet familiar with the thunder’s power.
Don’t test it with your body—it’s different from the Thunder Essence I gave you. “But don’t worry.
Just do your best.
With me here, nothing major will go wrong.” Amid the thunderous roars, Master Jianxian quickly explained. He had said this many times before leaving the sect and on the journey, but now, facing the thunder, he repeated it once more.
Cheng Xinzhan nodded. He gazed at the thunder, his right hand forming a sword gesture,“Gaozhen”floating by his side, his left hand gripping“Xianxing,”fully focused on the massive net hanging between heaven and earth.
The young man’s face was calm, his eyes reflecting the lightning, his heart as still as water. --- Note to Readers: 1. A fellow practitioner of Thunder Techniques pointed out that thunder is the pure Yang ancestral Qi, and there is no such thing as Thunder Qi. I apologize to this fellow practitioner and all devotees of the Thunder Ancestor.
The term“Thunder Qi”in this book is purely fictional, representing the magic power formed after thunder is refined within the human body. In the future, I will be more diligent in researching such content and thank the fellow practitioner for the correction!
2. In this book, the generational names of Dragon-Tiger Mountain are taken from the lineage established by the 30th Celestial Master, Xu Jing:“Shou Dao Ming Ren De, Quan Zhen Fu Tai He.
Zhi Cheng Xuan Yu Dian, Zhong Zheng Yan Jin Ke.
Chong Han Tong Yuan Yun, Gao Hong Ding Da Luo.
San Shan Yu Xing Zhen, Fu Hai Yong Hong Bo.
Qiong Long Yang Miao Fa, Huan Yu Zheng Xian Du.” Starting from the first generation of disciples at the mountain’s founding, these names are used for disciples, but not for Celestial Masters.
3. The generational names of the Shenxiao Sect are taken from the lineage passed down by Patriarch Sa of the Shenxiao Sect, representing the Tianshan Sect:“Gu Jian Dan Ri Yue Ming Zhao He Shan
Dao Yi Ding Qian Kun De Hua Guo Yi
Xu Wu Can Miao Xuan Tuo Kun Sheng Ling
Qing Jing Wu Yuan Shi Tong Du Le Ji
Xian Fa Ting Chan Yuan Da Yao Zhen