Chapter 121: Divine Firmament! Thunder Technique!

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a somber atmosphere filled the air.

Boom—

The thunder rumbled louder and louder, deafening in its intensity.

Lightning streaked across the heavens, bathing the entire forest in a crimson glow.

The thunder grew ever more fierce, as if a colossal clash had erupted between heaven and earth.

The thunder's roar reverberated through the valley like mighty war drums, commanding and powerful.

Its sound echoed throughout the ravine, spreading far and wide, awakening a majestic righteousness and boundless awe amid the silence.

“Ah!”

At the sound of the thunder, two Water Patrol Yakshas suddenly screamed in terror and collapsed to the ground.

Clutching their heads with fear-stricken eyes, they were utterly terrified.

This oppressive and solemn thunder was overwhelmingly magnificent.

Its terrifying might shattered the spirits of these two Water-dwelling demons at the Entry Dao realm, leaving them utterly broken!

This was no ordinary thunderstorm.

Shenxiao Sect...

Suddenly it dawned on him!

He recalled a piece of news he had purchased earlier at the Whispering Wind Teahouse.

The Shenxiao Sect would open its entry assessment on the fifteenth day of the sixth month this year; all who could reach the assessment site were eligible to participate.

Looking at the two Water Patrol Yakshas, frightened witless and severely injured by the thunder rolling across the sky, Qi Xiu calculated the date with his fingers.

Today was precisely the fifteenth of June!

These Yakshas, desperate to flee, recklessly led him straight to the Shenxiao Sect’s assessment grounds.

They were fated to encounter this calamity.

They had inadvertently trespassed within the boundaries of this great orthodox sect.

A single thunderclap had rendered them senseless.

Their souls nearly shattered by the thunder’s shock, the two Yakshas foamed at the mouth like rotting flesh, convulsing on the ground.

Moved by a rare moment of compassion, Qi Xiu waved his hand and stored them away inside his elixir pouch.

“The Shenxiao Sect is the second-largest orthodox sect in the Greater Dianchuan Province, second only to the Great Zen Temple, famed as a martial sanctuary.

Similar to the Spirit Light Treasure Sect, which specializes in talismans.

The Shenxiao Sect is renowned for producing thunder path cultivators.

Its disciples are all brave and battle-hardened, masters of thunder magic, commanding the battlefield with ease.

It is the only sect that eagerly engages with the mortal realm, taking pleasure in hunting demons and evil cultivators.

It is also one of the few sects in Greater Dianchuan Province that strongly supports the High Family’s Demon Subjugation Edict.

Legend says that during the medieval era, the Shenxiao Sect’s killing intent was so intense it was once branded a demonic sect.

Later, due to certain pressures, it reverted back to orthodox teachings.

Because of the sect’s deeply ingrained warlike spirit, the Shenxiao Sect primarily evaluates potential disciples based on their disposition before considering conduct or talent.

Therefore, recruitment involves a grand and rigorous assessment, selecting the best even among those with special skills.”

Recalling the information he had once read about the Shenxiao Sect, Qi Xiu’s initial intention to leave gradually waned.

Since he had come this far...

Why not give it a try?

The Shenxiao Sect was an unparalleled orthodox sect with roots tracing back to the medieval era, long predating the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty.

As the saying goes, it is always good to lean against a sturdy tree for shade.

If he could enter the Shenxiao Sect, he would no longer need to run all over the place, dodging misfortune.

He could focus honestly on honing his skills.

As he thought this through, Qi Xiu’s heart gradually softened.

He had traveled this path step by step, relying solely on himself.

He knew all too well the hardships of being a lone cultivator.

If he had a sect and mentors to rely on, his cultivation progress would undoubtedly accelerate.

Moreover, the thunder path, the specialty of the Shenxiao Sect, had long been his cherished aspiration.

Compared to other sects,

Thunder magic was notoriously difficult to master and extremely draining.

But its power was immense—each strike struck the soul!

Thunder cultivators and sword cultivators at the same realm were hailed as the twin kings of killing arts.

At the same cultivation level, it was exceedingly rare for anyone to surpass these two.

But precisely for this reason,

Sword and thunder cultivation methods were rarely circulated in the market, usually only surviving as incomplete fragments or techniques fraught with great risks.

Just like the “Body-Breaking Formless Sword Qi” that Qi Xiu practiced.

Is this sword technique powerful?

Extremely so.

It was subtle and unpredictable, without shadow or form.

Specialized in piercing protective true energy, it was incredibly difficult to defend against.

But this technique’s true power only manifested in Qi Xiu's hands.

Ordinary cultivators who practiced it would at best produce three or four strands of Body-Breaking Formless Sword Qi before dying of exhaustion, making it hardly worth the effort.

They would be better off cultivating other methods.

“I only stumbled into this assessment area by chance.

I have no idea what the specific tests entail.”

Rubbing the jade finger ring on his thumb, Qi Xiu pondered silently.

A great orthodox sect like the Shenxiao Sect would never make its entry assessment easy—it must be extremely challenging.

After all, they accepted disciples with skills, but the minimum standard was at least the Entry Dao realm.

Letting a group of Entry Dao cultivators fight each other—it would surely be thrilling.

Just as Qi Xiu considered how to glean information about the assessment, a faint rumbling sound reached his ears.

His earlobes twitched, and he slightly turned to glance over his right shoulder.

That sound... is it coming toward me?

Sure enough, before the thought faded, at the edge of his vision appeared a figure astride a black-scaled warhorse, trailing thick black smoke, clad in jet-black battle armor, charging through the void.

Clang clang clang—

Dragging a blade nearly a yard long, its edge sparking fiercely as it sliced through the air.

One rider, one horse!

The thunderous hooves struck like an army crushing down upon Qi Xiu.

The terrifying aura they radiated felt like thousands of troops bearing down on him.

“Surrender the Earth Seal, and I will spare your life!”

A hoarse voice issued from beneath heavy face armor; the black rider raised the long blade, pointing it directly at Qi Xiu.

“Are you talking to me?”

Looking around the empty void with a smile, Qi Xiu slowly folded his sleeves.

“If not me, then who?”

Crimson, savage eyes gleamed through the gaps of the mask as the rider slowly rotated the blade, the sharp edges whistling, causing even the void to tremble as if about to be cleaved.

Qi Xiu’s smile remained undiminished as he stepped forward.

Nine primordial pearls within his body erupted with terrifying energy.

His aura spread, distorting the surrounding air.

A torrent of fierce energy surged toward the heavens, as if to churn the very sky.

“Once again—are you speaking to me?”

Struck by this unparalleled and fierce aura, the black rider and his black-scaled warhorse suddenly flickered and distorted for a moment.

“Huh?”

Sensing this anomaly keenly, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes and surged forward with a thunderous momentum.

Pop—

Like a bursting bubble.

The imposing black rider, warhorse, and armor suddenly dissipated like dust in the wind.

Only a bare-chested, wiry little man, resembling a monkey, remained, grinning awkwardly at Qi Xiu.

“Alright, you nearly fooled me.”

Realizing instantly that this monkey-like man was a master of illusion cultivation, Qi Xiu’s fingertips flashed golden light.

Talismans transformed into restraining chains, swiftly binding him.

“Mercy, mercy, good sir!”

Feeling the overwhelming suppressive power of the golden chains, Li Lingzi hastily begged for mercy, while quietly activating his technique, trying to break free.

“Don’t struggle; my golden chains only tighten with resistance.”

Just as Qi Xiu said, the chains made of “Sealing Talismans” reacted to the struggle, their suppressive power intensifying, squeezing Li Lingzi’s body with cracking sounds, bones nearly crushed.

“I’m not struggling, I’m not...”

His face darkened, organs feeling crushed, Li Lingzi quickly gave up resistance.

“You’re just an ordinary person yet dare to participate in the Shenxiao Sect’s entry assessment.

Your illusions are impressive; you almost tricked me.

What’s your name, and where did you learn this?”

Holding Li Lingzi, Qi Xiu sized up the wiry man.

He had no protective true energy.

Clearly, just a mortal not yet at the Entry Dao realm.

Yet, such a mortal dared to take part in the Shenxiao Sect’s assessment.

Moreover, his mental fortitude was strong.

An ordinary man using illusions to extort Entry Dao cultivators—such audacity was rare indeed.

“I am Zhao Wuyai, a direct disciple of the Mantian Sect.

Please spare me, elder; killing a mortal would dirty your hands.”

Grinning slyly, Li Lingzi reported his sect and hurriedly continued begging.

“Mantian Sect? Does such a sect exist?”

Suspicious, Qi Xiu glanced at Li Lingzi and closed his eyes to recall the books and records he had studied.

There seemed to be no record of any so-called Mantian Sect.

“You don’t know.

My sect is a secret, passed down in a small branch with only three to five disciples per generation.

It’s so small you wouldn’t have heard of it.”

Li Lingzi hurriedly explained.

Hmm?

That sounded strangely familiar.

Qi Xiu’s expression darkened as he realized he had heard almost the exact same words before.

“It seems I have to use some methods to make you behave.”

Grabbing Li Lingzi by the back of the neck, Qi Xiu transformed into a swift water-shadow and sped toward a secluded spot.

Water patrol light travels a hundred miles in a thought.

In an instant, Qi Xiu found a narrow cave hidden behind a waterfall.

With a splash,

He threw Li Lingzi down onto the hard ground.

The scrawny man grimaced in pain but, seeing Qi Xiu’s stern gaze, dared not resist.

“Let me think... how did I arrange those medicinal talismans before?”

Rubbing his palms, Qi Xiu’s hands emitted eerie talisman light—some pale green, some ghostly blue, some dim yellow, some dark crimson.

These were talismans forged from deadly poisons.

Watching Qi Xiu’s back, with strange lights flickering on his hands, Li Lingzi swallowed nervously.

Half an hour later.

Holding a medicinal talisman glowing with shifting blue-gray light and wearing a satisfied expression, Qi Xiu nodded slightly.

“It’s been a long time since I tortured anyone; I wonder if my skills have slipped.

Here, try this—‘Piercing Heart, Scraping Bone, Five-Viscera Itch Talisman.’

This talisman combines sixteen deadly poisons.

Those hit by it will suffer unbearable itching in their viscera, impossible to scratch, and excruciating bone pain as if being torn apart.

Even Entry Dao demons cannot endure it long.

Let’s see how long you last.”

Once, Qi Xiu had mercilessly tortured the Entry Dao demon Golden Wealth King to the brink of collapse.

Now, reviving his old craft, he wore a gentle smile.

Sometimes, one must review the past to learn anew.

Terrified, Li Lingzi screamed as Qi Xiu approached wielding the talisman.

“I swear, I’m not a disciple of the Mantian Sect.

My name is Li Lingzi; I used to be an opera performer.

Later, the troupe’s business declined, and the old troupe master fell gravely ill.

Before he died, he passed me a set of ancestral facial masks.

All my illusions come from one of those masks.”

“Facial masks? What kind?”

Qi Xiu furrowed his brow, instinctively asking.

“It’s called the Thousand-Face Mask.”

...

(End of chapter)