Thunderclap Fire Art

Several thousand Great Luo Pill Dao disciples hovered in the air if their cultivation was high, while those with lower cultivation stood on the slopes, all of them staring dumbly at the more than twenty mountaintops burned into barren white ground. Though the rear mountains of Spring Return Valley held no important herb gardens, they had plenty of wild vegetables, melons, and fruit planted there, serving as the disciples' main daily food supply. This fire had burned everything clean. More than twenty peaks still belched thick black smoke, and the disciple in charge of the kitchens was already rolling on the ground, wailing to heaven, "Heavens! How are we supposed to make dinner today?"

Great Luo Pill Dao had nearly three thousand disciples whose cultivation had not yet reached the point of fasting. They could not possibly have everyone endure on Grain Abstinence Pills; more than two thousand people went to the kitchens for meals each day. Preparing food for over a thousand people every day was no small workload, and this blaze had thoroughly burned away the vegetable gardens, small cultivated fields, and fruit groves painstakingly opened up by the kitchen disciples. How could the kitchen steward disciples not be heartbroken?

Lin Xiao had already sheathed the Crimson Dragon Sword. Yao'er fiddled with her fingers, head lowered as she stood before Daoist Danling, Dan Fusheng, and Danxia. In a deeply aggrieved murmur, she said, "This can't be Yao'er's fault. If anyone is to blame, blame those mountain chickens. Yao'er used her sword to chop them, but instead of obediently standing still for Yao'er to chop, they kept burrowing all over the place. Yao'er didn't notice that they kept drilling into grass nests and thickets~~~ So~~~ one slash~~~ two slashes~~~ three slashes~~~" Her fingers counted faster and faster, while her voice grew softer and softer.

"Ahem, ahem!" Daoist Danling gave a light cough and coldly asked, "Yao'er, how long did you chase those mountain chickens?"

Yao'er rolled her eyes, her head nearly buried in her chest. "Wuwu, Yao'er chased them... for a quarter of an hour."

Dan Fusheng's face twitched, and he lowered his head deeply. His heart ached sharply. His disciple—a cultivator with fairly refined cultivation who had learned quite a few spells—had held a flying sword while chasing several mountain chickens for a quarter of an hour and still failed to catch them! If word got out, would Dan Fusheng still have the face to meet anyone?

Without warning, Yao'er raised her head. Tears filled her eyes as she pointed at Lin Xiao in grievance. "Sect Master Martial Uncle, it's that junior martial brother's strange sword that should be blamed! Why did wherever it struck catch fire? Yao'er didn't notice either! Later, several mountain peaks caught fire, and Yao'er wanted to put it out, but it was already too late!"

Lin Xiao's face twitched, and he lowered his head as well. Listening to Yao'er's accusation, he truly felt that his Crimson Dragon Sword was the chief culprit behind everything. Well, if the Crimson Dragon Sword had been an ice-element flying sword, it probably would not have caused such enormous trouble, right? Lin Xiao blamed himself, felt stifled, and was thoroughly annoyed that the Crimson Dragon Sword had to be a fire-element flying sword.

"Hehe, what's wrong, little fellow? You like this little girl?" A teasing laugh suddenly sounded from nearby. Lin Xiao turned his head and happened to see Jiang Zizai making faces at him, his brows dancing and eyes flashing. Jiang Zizai narrowed his eyes at Lin Xiao and chuckled softly. "Ah, young people! Mm, back then, this old Daoist was young too." A trace of wistfulness flickered across Jiang Zizai's face. He gave Lin Xiao's shoulder a hard pat, swayed once, and vanished into thin air. A voice as fine as an ant's whisper entered Lin Xiao's ears. "This is your household business; this old Daoist will not interfere. If you have time at midnight tonight, come to this old Daoist's residence for a talk. Mm, this old Daoist has been arranged to stay in the guest retreat below Brocade Peak to the southeast."

Lin Xiao silently remembered Jiang Zizai's words.

Daoist Danling also announced Yao'er's punishment at the same time. "Face the wall and reflect for one month. During this month, Danxia will be responsible for teaching Yao'er all kinds of restriction spells."

With a sweep of his large sleeve, Daoist Danling looked toward Daoist Danyu again. "Junior Brother Danyu, leave the valley at once and purchase... mm, calculate how much food the valley will consume before the vegetable gardens and orchards in the rear mountains recover, then buy back a great deal of it." Daoist Danling glared fiercely at Yao'er, then glanced intentionally or otherwise at Dan Fusheng and Danxia before sighing. "Mm, Junior Brother Danfu, Junior Sister Danxia, you must teach your disciples properly. By all means, do not squander their talents!" After saying that, Daoist Danling shot Lin Xiao a vicious glare.

Dan Fusheng said nothing, while Danxia gave Daoist Danling an entirely undisguised eye-roll. Danxia thoroughly despised Daoist Danling's habit of using an opportunity to make an issue of things. She vaguely sensed that Daoist Danling was somewhat jealous of Lin Xiao and wanted to use the trouble Yao'er had caused to make something of Lin Xiao. How could Danxia tolerate such a thing?

With a cold laugh, Danxia took Yao'er's hand and nodded. "Yao'er, reflect facing the wall for one month. Your mistress will happen to teach you some common restriction techniques, so you will not make today's mistake again in the future. Mm, Xiao'er, starting tomorrow, you will attend lessons with Yao'er as well. Mm, your mistress has never properly taught you." Danxia said pointedly, "Originally, these matters are the duty of your master and mistress. There is no need for others to worry idly about them! Hmph!" With a light stamp of her foot, she crushed a mountain rock at her feet to pieces. Then, head held high, Danxia led Yao'er toward the cold pool in the rear mountains.

Dan Fusheng raised his head and gave Daoist Danling several strange chuckles.

Daoist Danling twisted his mouth and slanted his eyes at Dan Fusheng for a while. After several "hmph hmph" sounds, he summoned a cloud, leaped onto it, and drifted away.

Seeing that Daoist Danling had already rendered his decision regarding the great fire in the rear mountains, the Great Luo Pill Dao disciples scattered in a chaotic rush. Only the kitchen steward disciples and the white-robed Daoist boys remained, staring at the more than twenty peaks burned white and wanting to cry without tears. Yao'er's month facing the wall was her punishment, but for them to reclaim vegetable gardens and orchards on those twenty-odd mountaintops, how could it be done without at least half a year? The person who had caused the disaster had barely been punished, so why did it feel as though they, who had done nothing wrong, were the ones being punished?

Lin Xiao also shook his head. Carrying his longsword, he drifted away; he had no interest in listening to the lamentations of these unfortunate fellow disciples. "Mm, Sect Master Martial Uncle's order is rather interesting. If Senior Sister Yao'er learns all kinds of restriction spells, won't it become much easier for her to catch mountain chickens and wild rabbits in the future?" As he lightly bounded between the mountain ridges, Lin Xiao pondered Daoist Danling's strange order. Was this punishing Yao'er, or making it easier for her to sneak food in the future?

However, regardless of Daoist Danling's intentions, Lin Xiao truly liked Great Luo Pill Dao. He had even come to love this sect filled with human warmth. Unlike the cold and heartless cultivation sects he had imagined before, Great Luo Pill Dao was truly a warm place. Lin Xiao had even felt here the flavor of a home that Spring Return Hall had never given him.

That night, Lin Xiao set up a long table in front of his little wooden hut. Upon it, he neatly placed the Lin family genealogy and several dozen memorial tablets of varying sizes.

Beneath the Lin family genealogy was Lin Shan's memorial tablet, and beside Lin Shan's tablet was Lin Yao's. Below them were the tablets of Hu Zhutie, Mr. Wei, and other elders of Spring Return Hall. Lin Xiao set out fresh fruit, several steamed buns, and a flask of rice wine, then lit three sticks of incense to offer sacrifices to the deceased. As for Hua Wuniang, Lin Xiao had deliberately forgotten her. The dead had gone, and his hatred had faded, but Lin Xiao was not broad-minded enough to offer sacrifices to the enemy who had poisoned his birth mother.

At the end of every month, Lin Xiao would light candles and incense, set out an offering, and express a small part of his feelings.

Lin Xiao still did not know whether people went to another world after death, but he had always remembered what Lin Shan had told him: the Lin family's ancestors had to have descendants offering them sacrifices.

Kneeling on the ground, Lin Xiao respectfully kowtowed several times before the memorial tablets. Then he prostrated himself and silently prayed, "Father, Elder Brother, uncles, the sect has avenged you. Beneath the Nine Springs, you can rest in peace. From now on, Xiao'er will not let you lack offerings of incense and flame." A stone basin stood before the long table. Lin Xiao burned several bundles of spirit money inside it before slowly rising and sweeping his gaze over each tablet.

After bowing once more to the long table, Lin Xiao retreated several steps and raised his head to examine the sky. He then used his movement technique and raced toward Brocade Peak in the southeast, swift as a galloping horse.

A small whirlwind rose from the flat ground, and the two Daoists Ming Xin and Ming Xing suddenly appeared before Lin Xiao's wooden hut. They walked to the long table and carefully examined the memorial tablets placed upon it, faintly mocking smiles appearing on their faces. Ming Xin slowly said, "Spring Return Hall of Guihua City? Heh, interesting, interesting."

Ming Xing shook his head. "It has nothing to do with our Yin Specter Sect. This is Jimo Sect's trouble. Do not meddle."

Ming Xin nodded and smiled faintly. "Precisely, precisely. An eighteen-year-old Golden Core Stage expert—if he can survive this time, that will still be Jimo Sect's trouble."

Ming Xing smiled slightly and said calmly, "Then there is no need to warn them."

Ming Xin nodded with a smile as well. "Only a fool would warn them. We merely need to report it to the sect master." The two exchanged smiles, raised their sword lights together, and went off to patrol the mountains once more.

Brocade Peak, southeast of Spring Return Valley, was a place of clear mountains, beautiful waters, and bright scenery. A spotless jade-green mountain stood there, and at its foot lay a small lake roughly two hundred zhang across. The lake water was crystal clear, its bed filled with clean white sand. Slender water grass sprouted from cracks between the sand and stones, swaying gently with the ripples in a delightful sight. Fish swam back and forth through the lake, occasionally leaping above its surface. Specks of waterlight flashed, and the crisp sound of splashing water added several touches of life to tranquil Brocade Peak.

By the lake beneath the mountain, within a grove of slender bamboo, stood more than a dozen small and exquisite retreats. The retreats were entirely made of white jade and constructed through Daoist arts and ritual refinement. Not a single seam could be seen upon them. Their designs were novel and transcendent, carrying something of an immortal residence's flavor. This was where Great Luo Pill Dao entertained honored guests, and few people came here in ordinary times.

When Lin Xiao arrived at Brocade Peak, he happened to see Old Daoist Jiang wearing a rain cape, holding a fishing rod, with a small fish basket hanging at his waist. Barefoot, he emerged from the bamboo grove. Upon seeing Lin Xiao, Old Daoist Jiang lightly nodded, signaling for him to follow. It was the moonless end of the month, and stars filled the sky. Brilliant silver radiance illuminated heaven and earth. Without a word, Lin Xiao followed behind Old Daoist Jiang, treading the soft white-sand path as they slowly headed toward the lake. Gradually, without realizing it, Lin Xiao's steps had matched Old Daoist Jiang's walking rhythm.

Old Daoist Jiang walked with every step steady as a mountain, his gait concealing an exceedingly mysterious flavor. Lin Xiao did not notice at first, but gradually came to his senses. Like a puppet, he was stepping whenever Old Daoist Jiang stepped, almost perfectly copying every minute movement he made. A clear, cool current suddenly surged from his sea of consciousness, washing over Lin Xiao's body and mind from above to below. Lin Xiao gave a clear shout and abruptly halted his steps. With a "buzz," a ring of fine wind spread out from around him, making the surrounding grasses and trees rustle.

Old Daoist Jiang turned back and glanced at Lin Xiao in surprise, then nodded approvingly. "I used the unorthodox Phantom Soul Seizing Forbidden Art to control you. I originally thought you would follow this old Daoist to the lake like a puppet. Who would have thought that after merely thirty-five steps, you would awaken?" Old Daoist Jiang nodded repeatedly. "Little fellow, the depth of your foundation is truly something this old Daoist has never seen in his life."

Somewhat wary, Lin Xiao retreated two steps and bowed. "Why is Senior making sport of this junior?" Having served as a doctor at Spring Return Hall for so long, Lin Xiao was no greenhorn fresh from the cradle. He had heard plenty from patients seeking treatment about the sinister tricks of the martial world, and the principles behind the treachery of human hearts applied equally well in the cultivation world.

"There is no need to be afraid. This old Daoist merely likes to joke with young people like you." Golden light flashed through Old Daoist Jiang's vertical eye as he smiled. "Back then, that little ox-nose Danling was also controlled by my Phantom Soul Seizing Forbidden Art. He foolishly followed this old Daoist around for a full day and night before waking up. Little fellow, you are far stronger than Danling. Mm, if not for the Spiritual Energy in today's cultivation world being so thin, then surely..."

Shaking his head, Old Daoist Jiang continued toward the lake. As he walked, he said, "The Dao of Heaven cannot be fathomed, nor can Heaven's heart be fathomed. One cannot say whether such matters are good or bad. If you can cultivate to the Mahayana realm, refine spirit and return to emptiness until reaching that supreme state, and ultimately transcend the mortal world to ascend, it may not necessarily be any better than now. In these three thousand zhang of mortal dust, in the countless worlds of Jambudvipa, living beings struggle and speak of their bitterness, yet do not know whether transcendence might bring good fortune—or misfortune. Who can say clearly?"

Lin Xiao could not understand Old Daoist Jiang's lament. His time in cultivation had been too short, and he could not even grasp many of the most basic "principles." Yet he sensed that Old Daoist Jiang bore him no ill intent. After lowering his head to ponder for a while, he resumed walking and followed him. Given Old Daoist Jiang's reputation, identity, and status, he would not plot against a junior like him, would he? Besides, this was Spring Return Valley, Great Luo Pill Dao's territory. Old Daoist Jiang had invited him out late at night, and along the way Lin Xiao had encountered several groups of patrolling disciples. They all knew where he was going, and Old Daoist Jiang would not be foolish enough to harm him here. Thus Lin Xiao relaxed and followed two zhang behind Old Daoist Jiang with his hands clasped behind his back.

When they slowly reached the small lake, Old Daoist Jiang gave a soft shout. The sand and stones beside the lake churned, gathering into a small stone bench. Lin Xiao's eyes nearly leaped from their sockets. With a single shout, he could draw upon the power of earth and form it into shape, yet Lin Xiao had not sensed the slightest fluctuation of magical power. This old Daoist's cultivation was indeed unfathomable. He truly deserved to be one of the three most renowned independent cultivators in the cultivation world today. Lin Xiao envied him for a moment, then simply sat down beside Old Daoist Jiang on the sandy ground.

Old Daoist Jiang unhurriedly threaded bait onto the hook, gently swung the fishing rod, and cast the hook into the lake.

Old Daoist Jiang said nothing, and Lin Xiao said nothing either. The starlight filled the sky. Lin Xiao hugged his knees with both arms, rested his chin upon them, and quietly watched the float bob gently on the lake's surface.

A quarter of an hour, two quarters of an hour~one hour~two hours~

The starlight faded from the sky, and a pale strip of fish-belly white emerged in the east. Dew covered Old Daoist Jiang's rain cape, as well as Lin Xiao's hair and clothes.

"Mm!" With a soft grunt, Old Daoist Jiang suddenly flicked his fishing rod. The slender transparent fishing line drew a long arc through the air. As the morning wind swept by, the line trembled gently and emitted a faint buzzing hum. Three large fish, bound together in a clump, were dragged from the lake on the hook. The three desperately writhing fish traced an arc through the air and flew into the fish basket Old Daoist Jiang had tossed beside the lake. The basket shook lightly several times. Old Daoist Jiang had already put away the rod and line, casually setting the rod beside him.

"Mm, while watching this old Daoist fish, your breath remained entirely undisturbed and your eyes stayed clear and spirited. You do not know why this old Daoist called you here, nor why this old Daoist fished on his own, yet you could still maintain such bearing. Mm, little fellow... not bad." After praising Lin Xiao again, Old Daoist Jiang suddenly asked with a smile, "You are now cultivating in Great Luo Pill Dao. Do you know what it is that you seek?"

"What does this junior seek?" Lin Xiao looked at Old Daoist Jiang in astonishment. Just as he was about to answer, his voice abruptly caught, and he froze there.

What do I seek? This question was so simple, yet Lin Xiao could not answer it.

What was it that he sought through cultivation?

Or rather, what had he sought ever since growing up?

Lin Xiao stared blankly at Old Daoist Jiang. Sweat drenched his whole body, and a single sentence from Old Daoist Jiang had thrown his mind into complete turmoil.

"Th-this junior does not know what this junior seeks." Lin Xiao opened his mouth and finally answered Old Daoist Jiang's question honestly.

"This old Daoist thought as much." Old Daoist Jiang pursed his lips and nodded. "The first time this old Daoist saw you, I marveled at what a fine piece of pure gold and uncut jade you were. Great Luo Pill Dao has truly had good fortune this time, obtaining a disciple of such fine aptitude. Yet this old Daoist saw that you yourself were muddled and dazed, as though you possessed neither fire in your heart nor thoughts in your mind. It seemed as if your entire being was hollow and empty. Such a mindset is suited for cultivation, yet also unsuited for cultivation. That is why this old Daoist gave you this reminder."

Lin Xiao stared blankly at Old Daoist Jiang, not knowing what to say.

"It is good that your temperament is currently like this, with your heart hollow and empty. At the very least, you need not fear heart demons causing chaos. Yet an empty heart is also not good. Cultivation is an act of defying Heaven. When one acts against Heaven with no attachment whatsoever in one's heart, breaking through realms naturally becomes easy. But if you have no attachment at all, then whenever difficulties and dangers arise along the Dao Path, you will easily give up. That is no good either."

Old Daoist Jiang spoke at length. "Therefore, a cultivator's heart must be like the bright moon, unstained by the slightest dust, yet it must also possess a small measure of attachment. Only then will one have the drive to walk that endless Dao Path."

With a sigh, Old Daoist Jiang shook his head. "There are countless cultivators, yet their hearts are all filled with various attachments. Some seek longevity, some seek strength, some seek high office and generous salary—there are countless strange and bizarre attachments. Yet you, little fellow, do not even know why you cultivate. How absurd is that?"

Lin Xiao's heart trembled. He recalled what Lin Shan had told him and was just about to explain it clearly to Old Daoist Jiang, but suddenly felt that what Lin Shan had instructed him was truly somewhat embarrassing to speak aloud. Thus he lowered his head and said nothing more. He thought of the genealogy and Lin Shan's memorial tablet offered on the table before his wooden hut, and told himself, This should count as an attachment too, right?

Then his thoughts naturally turned to Yao'er.

At the thought of Yao'er's face and her slightly foolish gaze, Lin Xiao's whole heart melted into a pool of warm liquid. Warmth echoed within his heart. Lin Xiao abruptly raised his head and said softly, "Actually, this junior now also..." As he spoke, Lin Xiao suddenly felt guilty, lowered his head with little confidence, and his handsome face had already turned bright red.

Old Daoist Jiang's gaze flickered as he chuckled softly. "Little fellow, you have your own thoughts as well. That is good! Mm, liking a woman and then cultivating in order to remain together with her until heaven grows old and earth grows barren—this notion is not bad. Moreover, cultivating for love suffers far less interference than other intentions. The love between man and woman, if it does not change, is originally the purest attachment in this world. Very good, very good!"

After giving Lin Xiao an approving look, Old Daoist Jiang took three palm-sized jade slips from his sleeve and tossed them to him. He said calmly, "This is the Thunderclap Fire Art, most suitable for those of pure fire constitution to cultivate. Once mastered, your astral energy will naturally carry thunderclaps of heavenly lightning. When your sword light emerges, demon-subduing thunderbolts will follow it like a shadow. Furthermore, it contains an exceedingly powerful Lightning Summoning Art, capable of using pure yang true fire to draw down enormous heavenly lightning and strike one's enemy. Take it back and study it carefully. There are only a few young people this old Daoist has ever found pleasing to the eye. This is your destined affinity, so there is no need to thank this old Daoist."

Grabbing Lin Xiao by the shoulder, Old Daoist Jiang casually flung him away as if tossing a bundle of straw. Lin Xiao let out an "Aoo~~~" cry, feeling his body drift through the air beyond his control. Then he landed lightly upon the ground—directly before his own wooden hut.

"What an incredible method!" Lin Xiao blankly held the three jade slips and stared at them for a while. He had no idea why, after giving him the Black Tortoise Ring, Old Daoist Jiang had spent half the night talking nonsense with him before finally giving him the Thunderclap Fire Art as well. Since even Old Daoist Jiang called the Lightning Summoning Art exceedingly powerful, one could imagine just how formidable it truly was. Why was he treating Lin Xiao so generously?

Beside the small lake, Old Daoist Jiang leisurely tucked the fishing rod beneath his arm, lifted the fish basket, and slowly rose, preparing to return to the bamboo retreat and stew the three large fish into a pot of delicious fish soup.

One of the Daoists among his five disciples appeared amid a cloud of green smoke. He respectfully bowed to Old Daoist Jiang and said, "Master, why are you treating this boy so generously? Master has yet to fully comprehend the mysteries of the Black Tortoise Ring, yet you bestowed it upon him—that is one thing. But the Supreme Clarity Thunderfire True Art is a secret cultivation scripture Master obtained from an ancient great cultivator's cave abode after narrowly escaping death nine times. Why have you passed it on to him as well?"

Old Daoist Jiang glanced indifferently at the Daoist and said coldly, "Heaven's heart cannot be fathomed. Beneath Heaven and Earth, we are all ants. Heaven's will is most compassionate; even if the primordial wilderness faces extinction, the heavenly secrets will always leave behind a thread of life. What this master has done is merely leave Great Luo Pill Dao a thread of survival. Disciples, remember this: cultivators must never take matters to extremes."

The vertical eye between Old Daoist Jiang's brows spun rapidly as he warned coldly, "To be ruthless toward others is to be ruthless toward oneself. Leave a thread of mercy in all things, and there will still be a chance to smooth things over in the future."

With a long sigh, Old Daoist Jiang looked up at the gradually brightening sky and muttered in some surprise, "When I observe with my divine eye, everyone in Great Luo Pill Dao bears a field of deathly aura between their brows. Why is it that only this boy has crimson light soaring ten thousand zhang between his brows, an unusual sign of long-lasting fortune? I have left him a thread of life—could he truly escape this fatal calamity?"

The Daoist stood respectfully at the side with his hands tucked into his sleeves, though an astonishing Killing Intent flickered between his brows.