Thunder

Chapter 37: Thunder

Lu Zhaojin didn't quite understand what he meant by truly offending the dynasty. "Didn't I offend the dynasty by killing Zhao Huaishui?"

Zhao Rong scoffed, "How can a county magistrate from a backwater region represent the dynasty?"

Lu Zhaojin's brow twitched slightly as he asked, "I heard Mount Qi is about to be renamed Qishan Commandery, isn't it?"

Zhao Rong maintained his attitude, "So what if it's renamed Qishan Commandery? A backwater is a backwater, it can never escape that."

Lu Zhaojin didn't know why they held such a strong prejudice against Mount Qi, but even if he was curious, he couldn't be bothered to ask further. He was here to kill, not to ask questions.

The Cold Edge sword was unsheathed, and a cold wind seemed to blow through the area. Probationary Centurion Chai, who had been trying his best to conceal himself, was illuminated by a sword light. He didn't have time to cry out before his head was severed.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 35768]

Zhao Rong, however, remained calm. He watched Probationary Centurion Chai being killed before his eyes without even blinking. In the next instant, the True Martial Saber was drawn from his waist. "White Tiger Roars to Heaven Saber."

Blade energy surged, like a white tiger charging forward, its momentum overwhelming. Where it passed, tables and chairs were split in two, and a crack appeared on the floor.

This was Zhao Rong's hidden trump card, honed over the years, intended to turn the tide in a life-or-death situation.

"Lightning Speed."

Lu Zhaojin's eyes narrowed. The Cold Edge sword was completely enveloped in lightning. As he swung it, it even emitted a deafening thunderclap. The white tiger was annihilated within the lightning.

Zhao Rong could see nothing else before his eyes but that blinding white flash of light, which was his last memory.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 40768]

Tonight was a great harvest, earning EXP to his heart's content.

[Lu Zhaojin]

[Bone Age: Sixteen]

[Root Bone: Medium]

[Realm: Seventh-Rank Mid-stage]

[Heart Method: Flowing Water Art (Perfected), Jade Purity Heart Method (70/100)]

[Techniques: Brute Ox Stance (Perfected), Gale Sword Art (Perfected), Golden Body Technique (25/100), Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art (Perfected)]

[EXP: 40768]

[Behind: 0]

The Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art could break through to the Perfected realm. He wondered if it would allow him to comprehend Sword Intent like the Gale Sword Art.

Lu Zhaojin didn't know if swordmasters in this world could comprehend multiple Sword Intents, but he had the system, so there shouldn't be any problems.

Additionally, the Jade Purity Heart Method could also reach Great Accomplishment. It would still take some EXP to reach complete perfection.

Lu Zhaojin scanned his surroundings, confirming there were no living people left. He then decided to go find the group from the City Lord's mansion.

However, when he went to their hiding place, it was empty.

Lu Zhaojin observed the traces around him and muttered, "They're quite cautious..."

He didn't know which faction these people belonged to, whether they were friend or foe.

Lu Zhaojin didn't dwell on it. Things would work themselves out. Now was the time to improve his own strength.

He returned to the inn.

Lu Zhaojin's original room had been destroyed by Lin Qi. The innkeeper had given him a top-notch room and assigned a waiter to be at his beck and call day and night. It seemed he had been thoroughly intimidated by Lu Zhaojin's God of Slaughter appearance that day.

Lu Zhaojin sat cross-legged on the bed and brought up his character panel.

[Consume 20000 EXP to upgrade Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art?]

Confirm.

[Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art (Perfected)]

[Comprehended Sword Intent #183: Thunder]

Lu Zhaojin could no longer hear the system's prompts.

As the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art broke through to the Perfected realm, Lu Zhaojin's consciousness felt like it had fallen into an abyss. He was lost for a long time before opening his eyes again, finding himself floating on a mountaintop.

The reason he said "floating" was because he was currently in a soul state, witnessing the feat of Sword Saint Liu Ci creating the "Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art."

Sword Saint Liu Ci wore a black robe, his long hair unbound and flowing in the wind. He held a sword as black as ink, and even before he unleashed his power, a sharp aura emanated from it.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, thick as ink, as if the heavens were about to collapse.

Lightning flickered within the clouds, moving at extreme speed, traversing from the horizon to directly overhead in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, a hole was blasted through the dark clouds by a bolt of lightning, and the electricity flowed out like liquid.

Liu Ci sensed something and, mimicking the swift electric light, unleashed a sword strike as fast as lightning, aiming it towards the sky.

Lu Zhaojin also looked up at the sky, his eyes widening abruptly. The dark clouds above were actually split open by a crack, and the electrical fluid seeped out from the fissure, like a rain of light.

Liu Ci leaped up, flying into the clouds and rain, following the lightning as he danced with the pitch-black longsword.

The lightning raged, its roar echoing through heaven and earth, as if it couldn't believe this lowly mortal dared to challenge divine might.

For a time, the scattered lightning intensified, and in the blink of an eye, it formed into a torrent that enveloped Liu Ci.

Liu Ci showed no fear, his longsword still dancing. The lightning itself began to follow his sword, eventually transforming into a dragon of lightning, letting out a deafening roar.

"Heaven-Shaking Thunder."

Lu Zhaojin watched it all, the final world-ending Ninth Sword of the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art being completely seared into his mind.

This Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art was one sword faster and stronger than the last, and this ninth sword seemed to draw out all the momentum accumulated from the previous eight, combining it with Thunder Sword Intent to unleash terrifying destructive power.

Only then could it be worthy of the title of the most lethal swordsman.

Lu Zhaojin opened his eyes, and lightning seemed to flicker within them. Arcs of electricity flashed and vanished around his body, a fearsome power brewing within him. He wondered who would be lucky enough to receive this sword strike from him.

Lu Zhaojin suddenly thought of Zhao Jinzhi, planning to use this sword strike on him when they met, to avoid his Master stepping in to fight for him.

There were still about twenty thousand EXP left.

Lu Zhaojin didn't hesitate and directly upgraded the Jade Purity Heart Method.

[Jade Purity Heart Method (75/100)]

[EXP: 18268]

[Realm: Late Seventh-Rank]

His body trembled slightly, his realm advancing to Late Seventh-Rank, his True Qi becoming even more profound.

Within his dantian, True Qi swirled like a thick mist.

He continued to use EXP to upgrade the Jade Purity Heart Method.

[Jade Purity Heart Method (97/100)]

[EXP: 668]

Although he hadn't reached Perfected, the True Qi in his dantian had completely atomized, even condensing into a bit of pure energy liquid, which was Gang Yuan.

This was something he hadn't expected; the Jade Purity Heart Method actually allowed him to refine Gang Yuan at the Seventh-Rank realm.

This was the dividing line between Seventh-Rank and Sixth-Rank.

Compared to Gang Yuan, True Qi was utterly incomparable.

Refining Gang Yuan was also the beginning of a qualitative change.

It even allowed for brief aerial suspension.

Now, Lu Zhaojin just needed a more advanced Heart Method to completely refine his True Qi into Gang Yuan.

Furthermore, reaching the Extreme Realm with the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Art allowed him to comprehend another Sword Intent – Thunder.

Gale Sword Intent allowed Lu Zhaojin to strike faster, even unleashing sword light invisible to the naked eye, creating an element of surprise.

In contrast, Thunder Sword Intent focused on destruction and devastation. Those struck by Thunder Sword Intent would have their injuries erupt from within before spreading throughout their bodies, making it particularly terrifying.

This upgrade gave Lu Zhaojin several more trump cards, increasing his confidence in facing the Son of Destiny.