New Talent: Son of Light

New Talent—Son of Light

Inside the Immortal Hall, one day later.

"This concludes today's lecture." Marquis Zhenlei spoke calmly as he looked at the crowd below.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Over a thousand geniuses bowed respectfully.

"Lu Ming, come with me." Marquis Zhenlei rose first, followed closely by his disciples. Lu Ming blended into the group as well.

Before long, the group arrived at an ancient silver-gray hall carved with patterns of various exotic beasts.

Inside the grand hall.

Marquis Zhenlei sat upon his throne, his black eyebrows slanting downward like an inverted figure eight. Faint silver lightning surged around him, and especially in those silver eyes, it seemed as if wild bolts of lightning were about to strike straight into Lu Ming's heart. Of course, that was only Lu Ming's illusion.

Even though Marquis Zhenlei had not deliberately released his pressure, the gap between their levels of life was simply too immense. The life aura he naturally exuded was enough to create such an intimidating effect.

Upon the throne, Marquis Zhenlei looked at Lu Ming with silver eyes. A faint smile appeared on his stern, rugged face as he said, "You mastered the third form, 'Tiger's Roar,' in just a year and a half. It seems your affinity with this type of secret technique is indeed exceptional."

All the disciples, including Lu Ming, listened obediently.

In truth, the main reason Marquis Zhenlei valued Lu Ming and was willing to accept him as a disciple so early was this matter of "affinity."

The Eight Forms of the Thunder Beast was not truly comparable in profundity to the powerful secret techniques created by genuine experts. After all, this secret technique involved only the Lightning Origin Law and did not include the higher-ranked Time Origin Law. The reason it held a somewhat special position within the Jinlan Dojo was merely because Marquis Zhenlei had personally created it.

When powerful experts chose disciples, talent and temperament were one consideration, while whether their paths suited each other was another. Lu Ming's extraordinarily high affinity with the Eight Forms of the Thunder Beast undoubtedly made him the most suitable disciple among geniuses of his level.

"There are still three years until the next Genius Battle. Over the next three years, I will guide you with all my strength and have you learn the fourth form, 'Dragon's Cry,' as soon as possible." The first two forms of the Eight Forms of the Thunder Beast were relatively simple. Generally, one had a chance to grasp their basics upon reaching the ninth level of the Lightning Domain. But starting from the third form, there was a qualitative leap.

The prerequisite for mastering the third form—Tiger's Roar—was stepping through the threshold of the Lightning Origin Law, along with several other difficulties. Lu Ming himself had only just learned it not long ago!

The fourth form—Dragon's Cry—was dozens or even hundreds of times more difficult than the third. It required a far deeper comprehension of the Lightning Origin Law, and one also had to grasp the special artistic conception known as "Dragon's Cry."

Of course, greater difficulty also meant greater power.

"This disciple certainly will not disappoint Teacher." Hearing that Marquis Zhenlei would personally guide him with all his strength for the next three years, Lu Ming secretly rejoiced.

This kind of one-on-one targeted "special training" was not something the Immortal Hall's public lectures could compare to.

"The Jinlan Dojo has always cultivated geniuses according to their talent. The greater one's talent, the more resources one receives. Now that you have become my disciple, you have already proven your talent. Next, the dojo will raise all your benefits and privileges. In addition, I will personally give you some cultivation resources." Marquis Zhenlei's voice continued to echo through the hall.

"Thank you, Teacher." Lu Ming's heart immediately burned with excitement.

With Marquis Zhenlei's status, even a little of what he casually bestowed would be enough for a Stellar level youngster like him to use freely.

"As for secret techniques, I will directly grant you the Five Chapters of Thunder. You may receive it through the Virtual Universe. Also, the resources within this World Ring should be enough to last you quite some time." As Marquis Zhenlei spoke, he casually tossed out an ancient ring that was nearly completely transparent, with only faint golden patterns of exotic beasts upon it. It swiftly floated before Lu Ming. Delighted, Lu Ming immediately put it away with care.

The Five Chapters of Thunder sounded like a systematic set of secret techniques personally created by Marquis Zhenlei. It might even be his signature art. As for this enormous World Ring, the wealth inside was surely an astonishing amount.

"Mm. You should encounter a few trivial matters next. Handle them properly, then prepare to begin my special training." Before leaving, Marquis Zhenlei specifically gave Lu Ming this reminder.

"Trivial matters?" After some thought, Lu Ming had already roughly guessed what he meant.

Sure enough, over the next few days, he gradually received many congratulatory emails through Alice on the Virtual Universe network. These emails were mostly from people within various factions who had good relations with him.

Some were congratulations from fellow members of the Jinlan Dojo from his generation, while others came from the Heilin Empire's royal family and the other two major factions. Naturally, the "congratulations" offered by these factions were not merely empty words. They came with actual gifts.

"These people are certainly well informed. I was only just accepted as Marquis Zhenlei's disciple, and they've already started making moves..." Lu Ming did not take it too seriously, but neither did he reject the goodwill of these factions.

"No wonder Marquis Zhenlei chose to accept disciples in public." As he accepted these gestures of goodwill, Lu Ming could not help thanking this teacher once more.

To Marquis Zhenlei, he had merely gained another Stellar level "young disciple." But to Lu Ming, he had truly gained a powerful backer.

Who was Marquis Zhenlei? He was a genuine Immortal level expert, and one of the Jinlan Universe Kingdom's three hundred marquises. Even within the entire Jinlan Universe Kingdom, he absolutely counted as an important figure.

With such a connection, the Lu Family, whose strongest combat power was merely a Universe level expert, would naturally enter a period of secure and rapid development.

Of course, the Lu Family's development had not been slow even before this.

"Helping the clan leader advance to the Domain Lord level won't be easy. It would be simpler and faster to cultivate auxiliary lifeforms such as the Cloud-Soaring Vine. In addition, I can buy another batch of eighth-stage Universe level slaves to guard the ancestral planet..." With the immense wealth Marquis Zhenlei had just bestowed upon him, problems that could be solved with money were no longer problems at all.

Two days later, after handling the relevant matters, Lu Ming officially entered a state of "special training" under Marquis Zhenlei.

"Lu Ming, if you wish to achieve something in the Peak Genius Battle, you cannot have any major shortcomings in any area..."

As a warrior, one had to be strong in close combat. But a warrior's opponents would not only be other warriors. One might encounter Controllers skilled in Psychic Weapons, or even more unconventional opponents such as illusionists.

Naturally, different opponents required different methods of dealing with them.

For example, against a Controller, one needed a powerful Movement Technique in order to constantly close the distance through agile maneuvers before landing a killing blow. Against an illusionist, one needed firm willpower and powerful secret techniques to guard the soul, so as to resist the enemy's "soul invasion."

As a warrior, one could be unskilled in Soul Attack methods, but one's soul defense methods absolutely could not be too weak.

To achieve all this, one undoubtedly needed to learn the corresponding powerful secret techniques. The Five Chapters of Thunder was precisely such a complete set of secret techniques encompassing every aspect.

Although it seemed there was much to learn, the foundation of every profound secret technique ultimately relied on one's comprehension of laws. The deeper one's understanding of Origin Laws, the easier it naturally became to learn all kinds of secret techniques.

With Marquis Zhenlei's one-on-one guidance, Lu Ming's rate of progress in strength would undoubtedly undergo another qualitative transformation.

Before long, it was time once again to refresh a new talent.

I wonder what new talent will appear this time? Lu Ming felt faint anticipation in his heart.

"Bzzz—" Suddenly, splendid purple radiance flooded Lu Ming's sea of consciousness.

"Purple?" Lu Ming's heart stirred at once as his consciousness began to sense the basic information of the new talent.

"Son of Light?" The new talent's effect was simple and direct. Its main ability was to greatly enhance the user's affinity with the Lightning Origin Law.

But since it was called Son of Light, its effect was naturally far more powerful than the previous Advanced Lightning Affinity!

I wonder whether I'm stronger now than those so-called 'favored children' of the Lightning Law? Lu Ming had a feeling that this talent was far from as simple as it appeared on the surface.