At Shaolin Temple.
The atmosphere was somber.Shaolinâs status in Ming had plummeted!
What was supposed to be a grand Dragon-Slaying Conference turned into a disaster.
First,Yuan Zhen,a ruthless villain,brought shame to Shaolin by committing massacres and causing chaos in the martial world.
Then,the three monks,Duâe,Duâjie,and Duânan,had to intervene,leading to their demise.
Shaolin lost face and suffered heavy losses.
The senior monks of the Kong generation gathered in the Great Buddha Hall,their expressions grim.Though Buddhism taught detachment,they couldnât achieve it.
âBrother Kongwen,are we just going to watch Wudang flaunt their power?If their conference to destroy the saber goes smoothly,Wudang will trample all over us!âa hot-tempered monk cursed.
âZhang Sanfeng was once a Shaolin disciple.Such ingratitude,forcing the three monks to perish,is truly despicable!â
Kongwen didnât scold the monk for breaking precepts.He remained silent.
After a long pause,Kongwen finally spoke,his eyes firm,âIn a month,we will go to Wudang!â
The monks were shocked.
âButâ¦â
The unspoken words were clear to everyone.Given Shaolinâs current strength,causing trouble at Wudang seemed suicidal.
Kongwenâs eyes were distant,âI will visit the Song Dynasty Shaolin.â
The monksâfaces changed.
Shaolinâs legacy was long,with branches in various dynasties.Though competitive,they rarely sought help from each other unless necessary.
But now,it seemed the only option.
Asking for help from other branches was better than being oppressed by Wudang.
The monksâeyes burned with anger,their fists clenched.
***
The martial world was in turmoil.Countless experts and factions turned their attention to Wudang,awaiting the grand event in a month.
Some were curious about Wudang,eager to see the eighth disciple and their skills.Others wanted to witness the destruction of the Dragon-Slaying Saber firsthand.Some harbored ill intentions,hoping to cause trouble.
Various factions discussed this major event in secret.
Dragon Guard Villa,Crescent Moon Villa,the Ming Cult,Ten Thousand Plum Manor,the Twelve Zodiacs,Evil Valley,and even some forces from the Sui Dynasty were all in motion.It was clear that Wudang would be bustling in a month.
***
Compared to the undercurrents among other factions,the atmosphere on Mount Wudang was somewhat peculiar.
A little monkey was single-handedly sparring with numerous third-generation disciples,while Song Yuanqiao and the others watched,occasionally offering pointers with serious expressions.
After discovering Jin Lingâs steel-like physique,the Seven Heroes of Wudang had enlisted him as a training partner for the third-generation disciples.
As a result,the disciples were quickly pushed to their limits,crying out in pain.
Jin Lingâs strength was no joke.
âTake this seriously!We have just over half a month before the other sects arrive at Wudang.Donât embarrass us.Show them the spirit of Wudang disciples!âSong Yuanqiao shouted.
The disciplesâfaces were resolute,while Jin Ling chuckled.The training was easy for him,providing a good opportunity to hone his combat skills.
After Ning Changgeâs advice,he had been diligently practicing day and night.
Jin Ling,understanding human nature,felt a strong sense of belonging to Wudang,as they treated him well.
Ning Changge,observing through his spiritual sense,couldnât help but smile.
He soared into the sky on a sword light,heading towards the back mountain.
Unlike Song Yuanqiao and the others,who were meticulously preparing for the conference,Ning Changge took it in stride.Though he made some preparations,he mostly let things unfold naturally.
With his current cultivation,he wasnât worried about any problems.
He treated it as any other day.
Daily cultivation,enlightenment,reading scriptures in the library,refining pills,and occasionally sitting on the cliffs,watching the sunrise and sunset,the clouds rolling by.With his deepening cultivation,his understanding of the natural phenomena grew.
Time passed slowly.
Ning Changgeâs mind became more tranquil,unaffected by the impending gathering of heroes.
On a rainy night,amidst pouring rain and thunder,Ning Changge held a Dao scripture,deeply immersed in study.He had already comprehended the Daoist texts of Wudang and the Five Mountain Sword Sect,transforming them into a foundation that would emerge at critical moments,guiding him in creating new techniques.
He was engrossed in theâXiantian Thunder Crystal Hidden Book.â
âTwo hands form the thunder array,the tongue is the thunder axe,the gallbladder is the thunderbolt,the heart is Marshal Deng,the gallbladder is General Xin,the kidneys are Marshal Zhang,the five organs are the five thundersâ¦â
âThe eight characters of Gou Lou Ji Li Deng Seng De Se are the names of the eight trigrams thunder gods,guarding the body with the fire of the trigrams,the hands and feet are the eight pillarsâ¦â
Ning Changgeâs eyes sparkled with enlightenment.
His understanding of the thunder in the world deepened.
âThere are five thunders in the world:Heavenly Thunder,Earthly Thunder,Water Thunder,Dragon Thunder,and Societal Thunder!â
âThere are also ten thunders:Jade Pivot Thunder,Divine Firmament Thunder,Great Cavern Thunder,Immortal Capital Thunder,North Pole Thunder,Supreme Unity Thunder,Purple Mansion Thunder,Jade Morning Thunder,Supreme Firmament Thunder,and Supreme Ultimate Thunder.â
âAlthough thunder techniques are a variant of the Five Elements,their mysteries are unique yet closely related to the Five Elements,thus forming the Five Thunders.â
âThese Five Thunders have both yin and yang aspects,thus forming ten thunders!â
As the various thunder techniques and Daoist texts he had read came to mind,Ning Changge suddenly felt inspired.He used his escape technique to ascend high into the sky,facing the thunder directly.
In the sky,thunder flashed,deep purple thunderbolts like divine axes,seemingly ready to split the sky in half,evoking awe.
Mortals feared the heavens.
But immortals did not.
Ning Changge stood with his hands behind his back,looking up with pride.With the Talisman of Heavenâs Insight activated,the essence of the thunder gradually revealed itself.The intense energy made his eyes sting,but he was unafraid.A cultivator must be fearless,seeking immortality to attain the Dao!
The thunder seemed enraged.
Crack!
Boom!
A thunderbolt struck towards Ning Changge,as if to punish this audacious being.
Ning Changgeâs body emitted a blue spiritual light,intertwining with the thunder,gradually neutralizing it.
Boom!
This action seemed to provoke the thunder further.More thunderbolts danced,engulfing Ning Changge.The power that even Heaven-Man masters feared did not intimidate him.He entered a state of profound enlightenment.
The essence of the thunder was being analyzed.
The blue spiritual light on his body evolved rapidly,becoming more resilient and mysterious.This was a protective technique.
Occasionally,thunder penetrated,but Ning Changgeâs body withstood it.
The Heavenly Phenomenon Body Refining Technique had made his body strong.
He didnât know how long had passed.
His insights blossomed and bore fruit,solidifying into reality.
***
[You have thoroughly studied thunder techniques and comprehended the thunder in the world.You faced the thunder directly,analyzing its essence,and during a rainy night,you achieved enlightenment,creating the immortal technique Jade Pivot Heavenly Thunder Method!][You have comprehended part of the thunderâs essence.During a great thunderstorm,you tested yourself against the thunder,revealing the mysteries of Evergreen Spiritual Power.Your Heavenly Phenomenon Body Refining Technique has advanced,and you have created the Kwai Wood Blue Light Shield!]
***
The golden sun rose.
Tianzhu Peak welcomed the morningâs purple aura.The torrential rain of the previous night had long disappeared.Ning Changge slowly opened his eyes.
They were filled with joy.
Enlightenment in the rainy night.
One was a thunder technique,the other a shield technique.
One was the most potent and destructive technique in the world,the other a technique for self-preservation,one offensive and one defensive,complementing each other perfectly!
Looking at the sunny Wudang after the rain,Ning Changge couldnât help but laugh heartily.
Such a beautiful scene called for a grand celebration!
Hearing Ning Changgeâs joyous laughter,the Wudang disciples felt their tension and anxiety dissipate.Song Yuanqiao and the others exchanged glances,seeing relief and admiration in each otherâs eyes.
The entire Wudang was on edge.
Only their junior brother remained calm,treating it as a normal day.Such a high level of composure commanded their respect!
A few days passed in a blur.
The month flew by,and the day arrived.The Wudang disciples donned new robes,and the entire mountain was refreshed.All preparations were in place.
Song Yuanqiao glanced towards the library and shouted,âOpen the mountain gates,welcome the heroes of the world!!â