Thunder Sovereign

Chapter 3 Thunder Sovereign

After a day of martial arts training, Baili Qingfeng's body was exhausted, but his special physique had already restored him to normal during the several dozen minutes he spent hurrying home.

"You're back. Did you spend the whole day training martial arts at your Second Grandfather's? How did it feel?"

His father, Baili Hong, was watching television in the living room.

Their family was not particularly well-off, but thanks to Wuhe City's coastal economic prosperity and flourishing commerce, they had still bought a nineteen-inch color television.

The television was broadcasting news of the Kingdom Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement regarding the Aurora Empire's attack on a border convoy.

"Very good. Second Grandfather said for you to go over tomorrow."

"Oh, all right. It's about time I paid your Second Grandfather a visit. Since you've decided to train, train properly. Don't go crying about hardship and exhaustion after three or five days and refuse to continue."

Baili Hong said.

"I understand."

"Mm. This past year, you seem to have grown up quite a bit, like a real adult now. I can't keep managing you the way I used to. As long as you know what you're doing, that's enough."

"All right."

"Qingfeng, are you here? Come carry out the dishes."

Baili Die's voice came from the kitchen.

"All right."

Baili Qingfeng went into the kitchen and carried the dishes out one by one.

The Xia Kingdom had only broken free from The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets' colonial rule and declared independence fourteen years ago. That period had been utter chaos, nearly escalating into a war that swept across the entire country. His mother had died amid that turmoil, so all the household affairs were handled by Baili Hong and Baili Die.

"Qingfeng really went to train martial arts with Second Grandfather?"

Baili Die asked at the dinner table.

"Yes."

"That's a pity. Actually, Qingfeng, I think you have real talent for music. That song you sang three days ago sounded wonderful, much better than the songs playing on those records. Add a few more songs, and you could even find a big company to release an album."

"Three days ago, that song..."

Baili Qingfeng's thoughts drifted back to three days earlier.

What song had he hummed?

Long Time No See...

It commemorated that youthful longing which had never even begun.

He listened to songs, learned songs, practiced songs, and wrote songs, all to get closer to her. Yet apart from the nodding acquaintance of fellow Music Club members, their lives never crossed paths again until the world was destroyed.

"How did that song go again? Would you suddenly appear at the café on the street corner? I would wear a smile, wave and exchange pleasantries with you, sit down and chat with you. How I wish I could meet you, see how you've changed lately, no longer speak of the past, merely exchange pleasantries, say just one thing to you, just one thing: Long Time No See..."

Baili Die softly hummed a section.

Even Baili Hong, an adult who understood nothing about music, found the melody decent. Since it was supposedly written by his son, he immediately commented, "Pretty good."

Only afterward did he reveal his real purpose. "Qingfeng, are you dating someone? Or do you like some girl?"

"No. It's only a song; it shouldn't be taken seriously. Besides, I didn't write this song. I happened to hear it somewhere."

"I see."

"Really?"

Baili Die was somewhat unconvinced.

"Really."

As Baili Qingfeng spoke, he gathered the bowls and chopsticks, then stood up. "I'm done eating."

Watching Baili Qingfeng leave, Baili Die said regretfully, "Actually, I think Qingfeng would have a promising future as a music creator."

"Oh? Then, as his elder sister, give him more support. Martial arts can be a hobby, but making it a career is not the way. Back when Xia was fighting for independence, your Second Grandfather even served as a Royal Bodyguard. Isn't he still making a living teaching a few students at home now?"

"Sure! Qingfeng has started dressing himself up since entering university, and he's pleasant-looking too. He's perfect for the artsy young man route. I happen to have studied arrangement, so I'll get this song worked out and let my good sisters give their opinion."

Baili Qingfeng went upstairs and turned on the computer on his desk.

This world was larger than that one. The planet's diameter was forty-nine thousand kilometers. Besides yellow, black, and white people, there were humanoid races such as Mermen, Cavemen, and Beastmen. These humanoid races were not friendly toward humans. Furthermore, the First World War in this world had broken out in 1925. There had been no Second World War, and the atomic bomb had never emerged under the pressure of wartime. In military matters, this world generally lagged behind that world's 1980.

The allocation of funds and manpower had allowed civilian technology to develop by leaps and bounds, likely matching that world's 1990. The most obvious signs were the emergence of computers and mobile phones.

Baili Qingfeng turned on the computer he had bought last year with his extra income of six thousand yuan and typed in the two characters, "Wang Gang."

A moment later, he found useful clues.

Wang Gang, elder of the Iron Sword Sect, master of Tiger's Roar Fist, renowned martial arts grandmaster, president of the Miro City Martial Arts Association, deputy leader of the Miro City Special Operations Group, Level 3 Warrior...

"Miro City, capital of Daluo Province, four hundred and twenty kilometers from Wuhe City."

Baili Qingfeng then entered the three characters, "Jiang Ziheng."

There was a great deal of information.

Owner of Jiang's Martial Hall, Dragon Form Fist master, senior director of the Sumen City Martial Arts Association, special consultant to the Judicial Group, Level 2 Warrior...

Sumen City was Wuhe City's neighboring city, eighty-one kilometers away. Like Wuhe City, it fell under Xia Hai Province, one of Xia's twelve provinces.

"Level 2 Warrior Jiang Ziheng, Level 3 Warrior Wang Gang... Good."

Baili Qingfeng committed them to memory.

Next, he searched for information related to martial arts.

The amount of information on the internet was immense. After searching around, he found not only Rushing Thunder Force and Thunder Breath, but even the long-lost Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method from Second Grandfather's place.

Baili Qingfeng was left somewhat speechless.

Perhaps what he was practicing was nothing more than commonplace goods.

Had he known, he would not have told his father and would have secretly found some prestigious major sect to train with.

For example, this sect, Nanxiang Martial Arts Academy. Just hearing the name showed how grand it was. And this one, New Oriental Martial Arts Hall—eight million disciples brimming with vigor? Three thousand masters with formidable skills? Incredible, incredible!

Unfortunately...

He could only look on with longing.

Commonplace goods it was, then. He had already entered Second Grandfather's door; even with tears in his eyes, he had to keep practicing.

"I'll memorize the Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method. Didn't Second Grandfather's copy become incomplete? I'll fill it in for him."

Baili Qingfeng looked through the Thunder Sovereign Visualization Method. This Visualization Method involved visualizing an Ancient Thunder Beast in one's mind, drawing the thunderous power within the Thunder Beast to nourish the spirit and stimulate the Flesh Body...

However, this Visualization Method did not provide the core visualization image of the Ancient Thunder Beast.

Didn't he know what a Thunder Beast looked like?

No matter.

Baili Qingfeng searched for the words "Ancient Thunder Beast" again, and soon, images of Thunder Beasts appeared one after another.

Yet every single Ancient Thunder Beast looked different?

Heaven knew which one was a real Thunder Beast and which was fake.

Baili Qingfeng searched for a long time before picking out the most imposing and majestic one. He focused and memorized it, then turned his attention back to the Thunder Sovereign Spirit Refinement Visualization Method.

The entire method had ten realms, described in great detail.

After memorizing it and pondering it briefly, Baili Qingfeng felt that it seemed...

"Pretty simple. Then let's give it a try."

Baili Qingfeng was a man of action.

When he wanted to do something, he did it. He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

The Thunder Sovereign Visualization Method began.

Who knew how much time passed before Baili Qingfeng opened his eyes again.

"The first realm of the Visualization Method: entering stillness. Focus the mind and enter the visualization state within three minutes, cast aside stray thoughts, tame the monkey of the heart and the horse of the mind, and maintain it for over half an hour. That proves one has mastered the first realm of the Thunder Sovereign Visualization Method..."

After saying that, he glanced at the alarm clock on his desk.

One hour and six minutes.

"I've mastered the first realm. It really is simple. Continue. Let's try the second realm."

The second realm of the Visualization Method, Internal Reflection: use powerful spiritual intent to illuminate oneself and sense the subtle changes within one's own body.

Three hours later.

"Done. Also very simple. Did I see a pirated copy? Or is this Visualization Method especially easy in the early stages, only to trap people until they ache for death and yearn for life later on? Like downloading a dirty movie—lightning-fast until ninety-nine percent, then the final one percent has insufficient resources?"

Baili Qingfeng was somewhat troubled. Then he recalled the Thunder Sovereign Visualization Method, afraid that the tenth realm might contain the words "payment required."

Fortunately, he found nothing.

So he focused on the third realm.

External Awareness.

Internal Reflection and External Awareness, inner and outer converging, could make one's external senses sharper. One could perceive an enemy's gaze, killing intent, and hatred.

Baili Qingfeng practiced it...

At last, there was a little difficulty.

By his rough estimate, it would take two or three days to master.

This result instead made him breathe a sigh of relief.

As long as it was not one of those cultivation methods that guaranteed entry through the first nine heavens, only to divide the tenth heaven into ninety-nine minor realms.