What cultivation method to choose as one's primary focus actually varied in focus for each hall.
Take the Law Enforcement Hall, for example.
Within the Law Enforcement Hall, the most precious item by far was that supreme treasure, the Kui Niu Drum!
Although nobody in the Law Enforcement Hall was currently able to use the Kui Niu Drum, as a thunder-attribute supreme treasure, the effects it possessed were by no means comparable to ordinary treasures.
Coupled with the fact that it contained the power of thunder, the path of the Law Enforcement Hall was most suited for cultivation methods that either strengthened the physical body, yet the physical body great dao was difficult, difficult, difficult!
Therefore...
The vast majority of Law Enforcement Hall disciples chose thunder methods when selecting their primary cultivation methods.
Thunder methods prioritized killing and subjugation, and the Law Enforcement Hall happened to require strong combat capabilities as well.
Thus, True Immortal Qianyuan also hoped that Zhong Bai could choose a thunder method as his primary focus.
"As your master, I naturally put thunder methods first!
The Kui Niu Drum in the Law Enforcement Hall has miraculous effects for thunder method cultivation. Therefore, my disciple, if you can persevere, then choose a thunder method to cultivate."
Upon hearing about thunder methods, Zhong Bai felt excited while inevitably furrowing his brows.
Did he like thunder methods? Without a doubt, who wouldn't want to control heavenly thunder to punish demons and evil?
Yet... even though Zhong Bai was a cultivation novice, he knew thunder methods weren't something ordinary people could cultivate, given the requirements for both comprehension and aptitude.
"Master, can this disciple really do it?
This disciple has heard that cultivating thunder methods is hard to achieve for anyone without supreme talent, and this disciple..."
True Immortal Qianyuan was stunned. Where on earth did his foolish disciple hear this nonsense?
"Nonsense!
Whosoever instilled these concepts into you is simply alarmist...
It is true that thunder method cultivation is not something ordinary people can easily access, but that is because thunder method divine abilities have been precious items since ancient times, and ordinary sects simply do not have them.
At the same time, thunder method cultivation requires more than just comprehension and natural talent—above all, it requires perseverance!
Drawing down heavenly thunder brings a torment that ordinary people cannot endure. That is why your master asked whether you could persevere."
Hearing this, Zhong Bai basically understood. Ah, he had wasted his time reading webnovels in his past life...
"Master, this disciple was foolish just now. This disciple has the resolve to persevere.
I just don't know... what thunder methods Mount Mao has available for this disciple to choose from."
Rather than having his vision blurred by too many choices after entering the Scripture Repository Pavilion, it was better to determine his target in advance.
Hearing his disciple's inquiry, True Immortal Qianyuan also pondered.
"Although the thunder methods possessed by Mount Mao cannot compare to Longhu Mountain, which is famous for its Five Thunder Righteous Law, it still has several with formidable power.
The first is the Supreme Purity Divine Thunder Art cultivated by the contemporary Sect Leader.
However, the Supreme Purity Divine Thunder Art requires the Foundation Establishment realm to cultivate, so you needn't consider it.
The second is the Lightning Thunder Fist. This cultivation method is equally formidable in power, bringing flashes of lightning and peals of thunder with every move, but it has extremely high demands on the practitioner's state of mind; otherwise, it is prone to deviations into demonic cultivation.
The third is the founding cultivation method of the former Divine Firmament Sect, the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art!
This Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art is not a whit inferior to the Supreme Purity Divine Thunder Art, and can even compare with the Five Thunder Righteous Law of Longhu Mountain.
It was originally sent to Mount Mao for safekeeping a millennium ago when the Divine Firmament Sect declined.
As for other miscellaneous thunder method divine abilities, your master does not recommend them. Not only is their power weak, but they lack subsequent stages; incomplete items are not suitable."
Zhong Bai listened very intently, terrified of missing a single word. Even so, after listening, Zhong Bai still wore a somewhat complex expression.
"Master, you said the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art of the Divine Firmament Sect is so terrifying, why did Senior Brother Shi Jian, the personal disciple of the Sect Leader, choose the Lightning Thunder Fist?"
After asking the doubt in his heart, Zhong Bai awaited the answer.
Upon hearing this, True Immortal Qianyuan inevitably frowned.
"Where did you brat hear this news, and how do you know the Sect Leader's personal disciple chose the Lightning Thunder Fist?
Never mind, your master doesn't care where you got the news. The reason Shi Jian did not choose the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art is very simple.
Shi Jian is the personal disciple of the Sect Leader and a candidate for the future Mount Mao Sect Leader. Cultivating the Lightning Thunder Fist is fine, but...
Once Shi Jian chooses the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art, he loses the possibility of becoming a Sect Leader candidate.
How could Mount Mao possibly allow a Sect Leader who cultivates the ultimate arts of the Divine Firmament Sect to emerge?
Now you brat understand, don't you?"
Hearing this, Zhong Bai came to a sudden realization. The reason turned out to be so simple. Also, it was true that he had been taking things for granted, thinking that since the Divine Firmament Sect was gone, the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art belonged to Mount Mao.
"Then Master, if this disciple chooses the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art, will it not have an impact on the Law Enforcement Hall as well?"
"That won't happen. The various halls and pavilions aren't that strict with their requirements. The reason the Sect Leader is required to do so is simply because the Sect Leader represents the entirety of Mount Mao."
"In that case, this disciple understands. This disciple wants to try the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art!"
True Immortal Qianyuan smiled. "As you like. The Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art is likewise not as simple as you think. Back then, your master and your two other uncles from the Law Enforcement Hall also chose the Lightning Thunder Fist, and transitioned to cultivating the Supreme Purity Divine Thunder Art after reaching Foundation Establishment.
In any case, there isn't much experience to guide you.
Right, across all of Mount Mao for a hundred years, you are actually the first person who wants to cultivate the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art!"
"Uh..."
Zhong Bai was utterly speechless, yet he put on a brave face. Well, even if you break your teeth, you have to swallow them down.
"Alright, put everything else aside. You've just finished Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging, and your body is covered in filth—it's utterly reeking. Go wash up first, and tomorrow your master will take you to the Scripture Repository Pavilion to choose your technique."
"This disciple respectfully sends off Master!"
Zhong Bai bowed with his hands cupped, and True Immortal Qianyuan vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.
After his master left, Zhong Bai took a light sniff of his forearm, and his expression changed drastically in an instant.
"It really is stinking enough..."
That said, Zhong Bai wasn't overly anxious. Having broken through to Minor Success in Body Refining, Zhong Bai only felt an unquantifiable amount of power within his body.
The sensation of throwing a punch that produced a sonic boom was simply too fascinating.
The night grew darker and darker. After washing up, Zhong Bai lay on the bed with an excited heart.
Tossing and turning, he simply could not fall sleep.
Inside his mind, everything he thought about was the shadow of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art.
This was the guiding cultivation method that would truly step him into the world of cultivation. The mere thought that tomorrow he would acquire it and begin his cultivation journey made his heart even more feverish and restless.
"Geez, I've lived through two lifetimes and I'm still this excited. Fine, there's really no way to control it."
Zhong Bai completely gave up on sleeping and kept his eyes wide open until dawn arrived.
Early morning arrived.
Zhong Bai was practicing stance training and tempering his tendons and bones in the small courtyard when the door was pushed open and True Immortal Qianyuan arrived early.
With just a glance, True Immortal Qianyuan could tell Zhong Bai had probably been excited for a long time last night.
True Immortal Qianyuan could understand, after all, everyone had been young once. Back when he found out he was about to officially begin cultivation, that wave of excitement had surpassed Zhong Bai's current state by far.
Zhong Bai was actually exercising restraint...
"You're all prepared, aren't you, disciple? Your stance is passable, but your mind is empty and soulless.
Now, come with your master to fetch the thing that has captured your soul."
"This disciple kowtows in thanks to Master!"
Zhong Bai withdrew his legs in one smooth motion, quickly looking at his master with a beaming smile.
Qianyuan walked in front, and Zhong Bai followed closely behind. Even without turning his head, Qianyuan could sense his disciple's surging excitement.
The more it was like this, the more complex True Immortal Qianyuan's expression became.
If he had a choice, he actually didn't want his disciple to pick the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art.
Why had no one on Mount Mao chosen it for a hundred years?
Was there truly no reason? It was fine if the Sect Leader candidates didn't choose it, but why didn't anyone in their Law Enforcement Hall choose it either?
"The Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art is fiercely violent in the early stages, with low cultivation difficulty, but unpredictable changes in the later stages. Comprehending heavenly thunder and mastering the Purple Firmament Divine Thunder marks Great Completion!
Twenty years!
There is no time left. The early stages of the Lightning Thunder Fist cultivate too slowly. Disciple, please forgive your master..."
Following closely behind his master, Zhong Bai could not detect the changes in his master's facial expression.
At this very moment, he was filled with joy—the particularly happy kind of joy, just short of skipping and jumping around.
Not to mention that Zhong Bai didn't know; even if he were aware of this matter, Zhong Bai probably wouldn't change his choice. Who asked the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art to sound so full of prestige...
Hehehe, the new book will have stable updates. Don't worry, it won't be dropped.
Before you continue