Taking a Master

Because of the uniqueness of Dong Lin's divine sense, the time he needed to begin the Dao Xuan Heart Sutra had been greatly shortened.

Though Dong Lin had spent quite a while getting started with the Dao Xuan Heart Sutra—a full two months—that had all been the fruit of his tireless,

day-and-night study and cultivation.

Yet unlike the difficulty of beginning the Heart Sutra, the Thunder Summoning Art was hardly any easier.

Even without spending much time cultivating it, Dong Lin had successfully reached the major mastery realm.

Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder linked heaven and earth, its power boundless.

Dong Lin vaguely sensed that the might of this Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder could certainly pose a great threat to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Another ten days passed, and Dong Lin arrived at the sect's Spirit Field on schedule.

With his strength greatly increased, Dong Lin intended to use this opportunity to test the power of Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder.

By now, Dong Lin's divine sense could cover an area nearly thirty meters around him.

His efficiency in killing strange insects had consequently risen by quite a bit.

Thanks to proper protective measures, the sect's full ten mu of Spirit Fields contained only a dozen or so strange insects.

Over the previous pest-clearing sessions, Dong Lin had successfully developed a move from the Thunder Summoning Art: Thunder Net.

With this move, Dong Lin could bind the strange insects he captured.

After gathering all the strange insects in an open patch of ground, Dong Lin silently connected with heaven and earth, brewing Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder.

This Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder required a much longer windup than ordinary spells.

Even when cast at full strength, it took ten breaths before a bolt of Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder could descend.

Today happened to be overcast, providing Dong Lin with considerable convenience in casting his spell.

The strange insects bound by the Thunder Net and driven into the clearing were crashing about wildly, ready to break free of the Thunder Net at any moment.

"Two late-stage Profound Locusts? Looks like I can earn at least a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones this time."

Dong Lin nodded in satisfaction as he looked at his harvest.

Two breaths passed. The lightning essence was still brewing, yet two late First Rank Profound Locusts had already broken through the Thunder Net,

rushing at high speed toward Dong Lin, the creator of the Thunder Net, who was still in the windup of his Lightning Arts.

The enraged Profound Locusts beat their wings furiously, stirring up violent currents of air and sending dust swirling across the sky.

The sharp, piercing hiss of air friction rang out.

It was plain to the naked eye that these Profound Locusts were not to be underestimated.

The final breath passed.

"Thunder! Descend!"

A bolt of lightning tore through the oppressive sky.

In an instant, lightning essence surged across the clearing before Dong Lin.

All thirteen strange insects, including the two late First Rank Profound Locusts, were reduced to ashes in an instant.

Dong Lin, whose face had been full of smiles and satisfaction at the power of his spell, froze in shock.

"Damn it! My Spirit Stones!"

The fragile shells underwent the baptism of that sky thunder, leaving not even dregs behind.

Dong Lin stared helplessly at the scorched earth before him.

In the distance, two figures flew toward Dong Lin.

They moved with astonishing speed, landing upon the patch of earth Dong Lin had blackened with lightning within several breaths.

One was an elderly man in a moon-white Daoist robe; the other was a dark-faced, burly man with the shoulders of a tiger and back of a bear, clad in heavy armor over his upper body.

The two studied the marks left by the lightning strike for a moment.

"It truly is Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder at major mastery, nearing perfection. Good! Good! Good!"

The burly man looked Dong Lin over with satisfaction, then turned to the old man beside him.

"Old Zheng, what did I say? I told you this thunder had something special about it."

"Not bad. Middle Qi Refining Stage, is it? Such outstanding talent in Lightning Arts—

why have I never heard Immortal Arts Hall mention a new disciple with exceptional lightning-element affinity?

Young friend, which inner sect division do you belong to?"

Based on the Black Tier Daoist robe Dong Lin wore, Fifth Elder Zheng Huayuan had mistaken him for an inner sect disciple.

Normally, only inner sect disciples who had achieved some cultivation would be issued such a Black Tier Daoist robe during the Qi Refining Realm.

Of course, Dong Lin had successfully advanced to become an Apprentice Inner Disciple two months earlier.

He had achieved success in cultivating the Dao Xuan Heart Sutra, but had not yet had time to visit the Merit Affairs Hall and change his inner sect rank.

Only upon officially becoming a Yellow-Rank Inner Disciple would he be assigned to one of the inner sect's divisions and enjoy the corresponding benefits.

"Reporting to the two elders, I am Apprentice Inner Disciple Dong Lin. I only advanced into the inner sect two months ago and have not yet been assigned to a division."

"Dong Lin?" The burly man stroked his chin and thought for a moment.

"Old Zheng, Elder Xu, who passed down cultivation techniques a few months ago, seemed to mention an exceptional case.

His elemental affinity was not high, yet he had affinity with the lightning element and was specially awarded a Thunder Summoning Art.

I even looked into it specifically. He was the orphaned son of one of Old Qing's subordinates who died unexpectedly in battle.

Good heavens, major mastery in the Thunder Summoning Art in two months? And they call that low elemental affinity?

Isn't Immortal Arts Hall trying to hide talent for itself?"

"Oh, I seem to recall something. Rongsheng did mention him in passing.

Once I heard his elemental affinity was ordinary, I did not look further. Who would have thought we nearly buried a fine jade?"

Zheng Huayuan stroked his beard and said with a smile.

"Dong Lin, would you be willing to take me as your master?"

The burly man stepped two paces closer to Dong Lin and patted him on the shoulder.

"Why aren't you thanking him quickly? This is the Fifth Elder of the Elder Hall of our Profound Dao Celestial Sect, Zheng Huayuan. He specializes in Lightning Arts

and is the only cultivator of Lightning Arts among all the sect's elders.

If you wish to delve deeply into Lightning Arts, entering Elder Zheng's line would be the best possible choice."

An elder of the inner sect's Elder Hall, said to be so high in the heavens that one never saw their head or tail?

They say that to take residence in the Elder Hall, one must not only make outstanding contributions to the sect,

but must also reach the Nascent Soul realm. A Nascent Soul ancestor—someone who could change heaven and earth with a single thought. I knew these two were no ordinary figures.

Dong Lin secretly marveled.

"This disciple Dong Lin pays respects to Master."

Elder Zheng nodded. "Rise. From this day onward, you are my seventh disciple.

Come see me tomorrow at the Profound Mountain Thunder Division. Take this token.

Show it to Elder Feng, who guards the mountain, and he will send you up the mountain.

At the moment, I must discuss some matters with Chief Steward Li and the Sect Master."

"This disciple obeys."

Dong Lin accepted the passage jade token Elder Zheng tossed over.

After watching the two leave, Dong Lin pondered for a moment before remembering who that burly middle-aged man was.

He was Li Lei, chief steward of the Four Outer Sect Divisions. Dong Lin had only seen Chief Steward Li once during a collective outer sect event.

The surprise had come so suddenly that Dong Lin's mind was still somewhat dazed.

Dong Lin had originally intended to keep a low profile, develop steadily, and cultivate earnestly.

Who would have thought that while practicing his spell, he would be spotted by elders flying overhead?

Unlike other sects, the Heaven Sect did not distinguish between inner sect elders and outer sect elders.

Thus far, apart from several transmission elders self-appointed by Immortal Arts Hall, the sect had only six elders—the true giants of the sect.

Figures so weighty that a stomp of their feet would make this stretch of heaven and earth tremble three times over.

At this time, the elder on rotation in the outer sect was Elder Zheng.

The sect's outer sect was overseen in rotation by the elders of the Elder Hall, with the rotation changing every five years.

Elder Zheng had only been on rotation for less than half a year when the sealing of the mountain occurred.

He must now be so overwhelmed by the enormous volume of affairs caused by the sect's upheaval that his head was spinning.

Sometimes, when heaven closed a window for you, it turned around and opened a city gate.

Being able to take such an influential Heaven Sect giant as his master

would provide tremendous protection for Dong Lin's future cultivation and personal safety.