Director's Invitation

Returning to the cramped, low-rent apartment, Lin Feng locked the door, shutting out the surrounding noise and congratulations.

He first carefully put away the briefcase containing five hundred thousand federal dollars and three vials of intermediate gene repair fluid. This considerable sum and these resources would be enough to alleviate his worries about livelihood and basic cultivation for some time.

Then, he solemnly took out the black card, its surface cool to the touch, adorned with silver lightning patterns. His fingertips brushed over the small text on the back: "Looking forward to meeting you. -- Lei Lie."

The Director of the Martial Arts Bureau, one of Jiangnan City's top overt powerhouses, had personally invited him.

What did this mean? Appreciation? Recruitment? Or... had he seen through certain secrets about him? Like the System, or the anomaly of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade?

Lin Feng frowned slightly, quickly weighing the possibilities in his mind. Risks and opportunities went hand in hand. Refusal was out of the question; it would be tantamount to confessing. The only option was to face it head-on.

He hesitated no longer and dialed the old communicator, using the number on the card.

The call was answered almost the instant it rang, and a steady, capable male voice came from the other end: "Mr. Lin?"

"It's me, Lin Feng."

"The Director is waiting at the 'Thunder Listening Pavilion.' The address has been sent to your communicator. When would be convenient for you?" The other party's tone was respectful and highly efficient.

"Now." Lin Feng disliked dragging things out.

"Understood. A car will be downstairs in five minutes."

After hanging up, Lin Feng looked at the address received on his screen, located at the foot of the mountains on the outskirts of the city, his gaze slightly narrowing. He had heard of the Thunder Listening Pavilion; it was Director Lei Lie's private training ground, inaccessible to ordinary people.

He changed into clean casual clothes, letting his injured right arm hang naturally, took a deep breath, and adjusted his mindset. Facing such a powerful individual, one must be neither servile nor overbearing to earn respect.

Five minutes later, a low-key but sleek, clearly specially modified black car silently pulled up downstairs. A driver in casual clothes, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's, got out and opened the car door for him.

"Mr. Lin, please."

The car drove smoothly out of the city and into the densely vegetated West Mountain. Finally, it stopped in front of a secluded courtyard nestled by the water and surrounded by green bamboo. Above the courtyard gate hung an ancient wooden plaque inscribed with three bold characters: "Thunder Listening Pavilion."

As Lin Feng got out of the car, the courtyard gate automatically opened. An old man in a gray cloth robe, his aura contained, nodded slightly at him. "Young friend Lin, the Director is waiting under the lightning-struck wood. Please follow me."

Passing through the elegant courtyard and around a pool of clear water, Lin Feng sensed that the spiritual energy concentration here far exceeded the outside world, even being several times more potent than in the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's Beginner Training Room. He couldn't help but be inwardly astonished.

Deep within the courtyard, a massive ancient tree, requiring three people to embrace, stood before him. Its entire body was charred black, yet it still grew tenaciously, its branches like coiled dragons reaching towards the sky. Beneath the ancient tree, Lei Lie, dressed in a loose training outfit, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the scorched trunk as if listening to the lingering thunder in the wind.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around. His gaze was calm but possessed a power that could penetrate the soul, falling upon Lin Feng.

"Student Lin Feng greets Director Lei," Lin Feng said, cupping his fist in a standard martial artist's salute, his movements neither servile nor overbearing.

A faint smile appeared on Lei Lie's face. He waved his hand. "No need for formalities. There aren't many rules here." His gaze swept over Lin Feng's right arm, which was fixed in a splint. "How is your injury?"

"Thank you for your concern, Director. It's nothing serious. A few days of rest will suffice," Lin Feng replied.

"Mm." Lei Lie nodded and, without beating around the bush, got straight to the point. "Do you know why I wanted to see you alone?"

Lin Feng pondered for a moment and said, "Is it because of my performance in the assessment, and... the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade?"

"Yes, and no." Lei Lie walked to the charred ancient tree and ran his hand over the rough bark. "This 'Lightning Attracting Wood' has stood here for three hundred years, enduring ninety-nine lightning strikes without dying. Instead, it has nurtured a trace of thunderous vitality. I can feel that your fist intent contains a trace of the same origin, yet purer and more explosive, True Meaning of Thunder."

He turned around, his eyes like lightning, directly confronting Lin Feng. "That incomplete manuscript of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade sat in the library for over a decade, and no one could truly begin to learn it. Not only did you master it, but you also comprehended its true meaning in such a short time, even drawing upon the power of the Thunder Wolf Fruit... Tell me, how did you do it?"

The air seemed to freeze at that moment. The old servant quietly retreated to a distance.

What was coming was inevitable. Lin Feng's mind raced, running through the explanation he had prepared. He raised his head, meeting Lei Lie's probing gaze, and said frankly:

"To answer the Director, my meridians have been blocked since childhood, making cultivation difficult. This, however, has allowed me to control my own blood essence and strength far beyond that of ordinary people. After obtaining the incomplete manuscript of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade, I discovered that its method of channeling energy subtly resonated with my own condition. So, I attempted to adjust and complete it, combining it with my understanding of the perfect-level Basic Body Tempering Technique. As for the True Meaning of Thunder... perhaps it was a fluke, comprehended in a moment of life and death, under the pressure of the Wolf Emperor."

He attributed most of the System's credit to his own "special circumstances" and "life-and-death epiphany," the most logical and irrefutable explanation.

Lei Lie listened quietly, his eyes deep, giving no clue as to whether he believed him or not. He remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Execute a move, 'Thunderclap Break,' for me."

Lin Feng's heart tightened, knowing this was the most crucial moment. He took a deep breath, ignoring the injury to his right arm, clenched his left fist, and mobilized the blood essence within his body. Although he had taken the intermediate gene repair fluid and his injury had mostly healed, forcefully channeling energy still brought tearing pain.

His eyes sharpened, and he transformed the pain into power, thrusting his left fist forward fiercely!

"Screech!"

Even without exerting his full strength, clear arcs of electricity leaped and flashed at the tip of his fist. A fierce, pure, and unyielding thunderous artistic conception permeated the air. Though weak, its essence was extremely high!

After throwing the punch, Lin Feng's face paled further, his left arm trembling slightly.

A terrifying glint suddenly erupted in Lei Lie's eyes as he stared intently at the dissipating arcs of electricity from Lin Feng's fist and the lingering artistic conception. The calmness on his face was finally broken, replaced by an expression mixed with shock, sudden realization, and extreme admiration!

"Good! What a True Meaning of Thunder! Utterly pure, directly pointing to the source!" Lei Lie applauded, looking at Lin Feng with fiery eyes. "I understand! It's not that you fit the technique, but that your 'intent' has ignited the essence of the technique! You are a one-in-a-million 'Dao Comprehension Physique'! No wonder! No wonder you could adjust the technique yourself and comprehend the true meaning in a desperate situation!"

Dao Comprehension Physique?

Lin Feng was slightly taken aback, then understood. This was Lei Lie's way of finding the most reasonable and enviable explanation for his abnormal performance! It was more convincing than any excuse!

"Director, you flatter me. I was merely fortunate," Lin Feng said, seizing the opportunity. He breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. This hurdle had been cleared.

"No need for false modesty." Lei Lie was in high spirits, looking at Lin Feng as if at a peerless, uncarved jade. "A Dao Comprehension Physique, one in a million, is a gift from heaven to martial arts. It's even rarer that you awakened it during the Martial Novice stage!"

He walked up to Lin Feng, his expression becoming solemn. "Lin Feng, I met you today, firstly to confirm your talent, and secondly to extend an invitation."

"Please, Director."

"I wish to take you as a registered disciple and impart the Nine Heavens Thunder Spirit Art to you wholeheartedly, helping you truly embark on the path of thunder!" Lei Lie's voice was deep, filled with immense sincerity. "Will you agree?"

Lin Feng's heart trembled. A registered disciple! The Nine Heavens Thunder Spirit Art! Just by the name, he knew it was a top-tier technique far surpassing the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade! Lei Lie intended to groom him as a true successor!

This was a temptation he couldn't refuse. Not only would he receive a top-tier technique and guidance from a powerful expert, but he would also gain the protection of Lei Lie and the entire Jiangnan City Martial Arts Bureau. The threat from the Zhang Kuang family would completely vanish.

However, he didn't agree immediately. Instead, he calmly asked, "Director, what do I need to give in return?"

Lei Lie's eyes showed even more admiration. He was neither arrogant nor impatient, and he understood how to weigh things. This young man's disposition was also top-notch.

"You don't need to pay anything. Just promise me two things," Lei Lie said, holding up two fingers. "First, when you achieve success in the future, you must protect the peace of Jiangnan City. Second, you must not bully the weak and tarnish the name of our Thunder's righteous path."

These two conditions were reasonable and fair, and could even be considered the basic duties of a Martial Artist.

Lin Feng no longer hesitated. He took a step back, bowed, and said solemnly, "Disciple Lin Feng, greetings, Teacher!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Lei Lie laughed heartily, his voice shaking the courtyard. He was clearly overjoyed. "From today onwards, you are my registered disciple, Lei Lie! Once you officially enter the Martial Artist realm, I will hold an initiation ceremony for you and teach you the true method of the Nine Heavens Thunder Spirit Art!"

He stepped forward and helped Lin Feng up, looking at him with increasing satisfaction.

"Your injuries have not yet healed, so return and rest well for now. You can come to this 'Thunder Listening Pavilion' to cultivate at any time. Also, take this card," Lei Lie handed over a silver card with a lightning-wreathed "Martial" character emblem. "This is my secondary permission card. It allows you to access some resources of the Jiangnan City Martial Arts Bureau, including the Advanced Training Room, the Gravity Zone, and some Ancient Texts Library sections that are not open to the public. Make good use of it to prepare for the Martial Arts Examination!"

"Yes! Thank you, Teacher!" Lin Feng took the card, his heart surging. This was undoubtedly a godsend!

With Lei Lie's support and these resources, he was confident that he could elevate his strength to a whole new level before the Martial Arts Examination!

As he left the Thunder Listening Pavilion, the sunset was just right. Golden rays of light bathed the mountains.

Lin Feng got into the special car and looked back at the courtyard hidden among the green bamboos, tightly gripping the silver card in his hand.

A new journey had already begun.