Thunder Division

The Thunder Division was located beyond a broad plaza.

At the center of the plaza lay a circular Thunder Pool.

Purple lightning fluid drifted slowly through the pool, flashing with arcs of electricity.

From time to time, it gave off heart-quailing crackles of electric sparks.

The Thunder Division's main hall, the Divine Sky Thunder Palace, stood at the far end of the plaza, radiating majesty.

Dong Lin presented his plaque before the hall, and a young attendant within came forward to lead him inside.

Elder Zheng must have informed the Thunder Division of Dong Lin's arrival,

which was why someone had already been waiting in the hall the moment Dong Lin entered the Thunder Division.

"Young Friend Dong, please wait a moment. Elder Zheng should be back soon."

"May I ask how I should address you, Senior?"

"I am Xue Zhan, steward of the Thunder Division. If Young Friend Dong has any concerns regarding food, clothing, lodging, or other daily needs within the Thunder Division,

you may come to this old man. Please, have a seat. The Thunder Division has not had a newly promoted official disciple in many years."

Before long, Elder Zheng strode briskly in from outside the hall.

Dong Lin hurriedly rose to greet him. "This disciple greets Master."

"Sit, sit, sit. Sit down, Xiao Lin. Our Thunder Division has few people, and few rules as well."

Zheng Huayuan beamed as he looked Dong Lin up and down, then said with a smile.

"My old Zheng's Thunder Division has not opened for business in ages. Whenever I ask the Cavern Repository to approve more resources for me,

they always fob me off with that rotten excuse that no disciples have joined for years, so there is no need for additional resources.

Now let's see what else the Cavern Repository has to say. Xiao Lin, for now, follow Old Xue and settle into your residence in the Thunder Division.

In a couple of days, once the Sect Master and I have discussed it, we will hold a promotion ceremony for true disciples.

A few other old fellows have recently taken some prized disciples as well.

We discussed it and decided we might as well hold one grand ceremony together.

When the time comes, perhaps we will have you show off a little.

Prepare yourself, Xiao Lin. When the time comes, open their eyes for them.

That Mystic Spirit Heavenly-Thunder of yours has killing power close to Foundation Establishment. You are far fiercer than this old man was in my day.

Since the mountain is sealed, your senior brothers and sisters are all in the mountain. This afternoon, I will call them together, and we can have a gathering.

All right, I will come again this afternoon. Xiao Lin, go get settled first."

With that, Elder Zheng turned and prepared to leave.

"Oh, oh, right. I still have not given you a meeting gift after taking you as my disciple."

Zheng Huayuan rummaged through his storage ring for a moment and took out a smooth, rounded thunder pearl.

"Here."

Zheng Huayuan tossed the thunder pearl to Dong Lin.

"This is a Blackwood Thunder Pearl made from Millennium Dragon-Thunder Struck Wood. It can assist in cultivating Lightning Arts,

and you can also cast spells through this pearl to strengthen the power of your Lightning Arts."

"Thank you for your generosity, Master." Dong Lin caught the thunder pearl and examined it closely for a moment.

Holding the Blackwood Thunder Pearl in his hand, Dong Lin sensed a trace of lightning True Intent contained within it,

causing his comprehension of Lightning Arts to surge sharply.

It seemed as though every Lightning Art was within easy reach,

and Dong Lin even had the illusion that he had already comprehended the Great Dao of lightning.

Shaking his head, Dong Lin quickly cast that immature illusion from his mind.

I must not grow arrogant or complacent. The road of cultivation stretches on without end; I have barely even begun.

Following Old Xue, he found a side hall.

The hall was called Thunderwave Hall and stood at the front left of the Thunder Division's rear courtyard.

Dong Lin stepped inside and swept his gaze around, quickly getting the general layout.

There were two rooms on each side, with a main hall in the middle. A painting of a thunder dragon hung in the center.

"If you have any requests for alterations to this side hall, you can tell this old man, and I will find professionals to do the work.

When personal disciples first move into Black Mountain, the sect provides renovations free of charge.

After all, changing the style or adding a few furnishings does not cost much."

Dong Lin nodded.

"All right, I will trouble you, Old Xue. Once I plan it out carefully and have an answer, I will let you know."

After Old Xue left, Dong Lin carefully inspected each room.

The room at the front left was completely empty. Its walls seemed to have undergone special treatment and were extremely sturdy.

Even when Dong Lin used a Lightning Art, the walls were left without the slightest mark.

It was probably a room for practicing techniques.

The room at the rear left held two heavy, broad solid-wood bookshelves and could serve as a study.

Yet not a single book had been left on the shelves, and there was not even any dust.

The steward must have maintained it well.

The room at the front right contained a meditation cushion for cultivation.

A Spirit-Gathering Formation had been laid into the floor.

This Spirit-Gathering Formation seemed to be of a very high grade.

It could freely adjust the density of spiritual energy within a certain range.

Any setting between half and five times the normal concentration was possible.

"It can be set as high as five times the spiritual energy density around the Thunder Division?"

Dong Lin could not help clicking his tongue inwardly, marveling at how lavishly a great sect treated its prodigies.

The Spirit Chamber Dong Lin had inherited, a cultivation chamber for Foundation Establishment cultivators,

only gathered spiritual energy at three times the normal concentration.

One had to know that the initial spiritual energy on this mountainside already left the Spirit Chamber's spiritual energy density several streets behind.

At five times higher still, it could probably stand shoulder to shoulder with the spiritual energy density at the mountaintop.

Moreover, with a basic formation like the Spirit-Gathering Formation, every additional doubling of spiritual energy density

meant material costs and labor costs increasing dozens of times over.

Had he not become a personal disciple, Dong Lin would not have been able to enjoy such benefits for a long time.

The last room was filled with the lingering fragrance of medicinal pills.

At the center of the room stood a blue-green bronze pill furnace.

It seemed to be an alchemy room. The previous owner of this Thunderwave Hall appeared to have been an alchemist deeply versed in the Dao of pill refinement.

The fragrance of medicinal pills had fused with the room itself; even after so much time had passed, it still had not faded away.

Dong Lin was temporarily satisfied with the layout of this side hall and had no desire to alter it.

"I will stay here for now. When I have time, I will go to the Spirit Chamber and move over some of the things I use regularly."

In the blink of an eye, afternoon arrived.

Dong Lin came early to the main hall to await Master Zheng and the senior brothers and sisters under his tutelage.

Everyone gradually arrived at the hall, all studying Dong Lin with curiosity.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Zheng Huayuan swept his eyes around the room.

"Mm, everyone is here. Go ahead and introduce yourselves."

Dong Lin hurriedly rose, straightened his clothes, and gave everyone a deep bow.

"This junior brother is Dong Lin. Today, I was fortunate enough to enter Master Zheng's line. Greetings, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. I hope you will look after me."

The first person on the left below him was a burly young man.

He wore a black robe patterned with thunder marks. His features were resolute, his seated posture as straight as a spear, and faint currents of electricity seemed to crackle around him.

He rose with a booming laugh, the lightning aura around him pressing the surrounding air into near stillness.

"You are called Dong Lin, right, Junior Brother? I am your eldest senior brother, Lei Zhenxiao.

From now on, if anyone in the Heaven Sect dares bully you, just give them your eldest senior brother's name!"

Warmth filled Dong Lin's heart, and he quickly bowed again. "Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother!"

"Master said your talent is extraordinarily monstrous, Little Junior Brother.

In the future, you can spar with your second senior sister more often."

The clear voice belonged to Second Senior Sister Han Tingxue.

"Your Second Senior Sister's combat ability ranks among the best in the sect. In the last sect disciple grand competition, she took second place.

Little Junior Brother, spar with your Senior Sister more often, and your combat experience will surely advance by leaps and bounds."

Fourth Senior Brother Lu Heng said with a smile, untying a small jade bottle from his waist and tossing it over.

"This is our first meeting, so I do not have much to give you. This is a bottle of Blood Jade Spirit Pills.

They should be of some help to your current cultivation."

"Thank you, Fourth Senior Brother!" Dong Lin hurriedly caught it, gratitude filling his heart.

"Little Junior Brother, if you ever encounter any formation problems you do not understand,

come ask your Sixth Senior Brother! I finally have a junior brother!"

Zhang Shaoyou leaned over and spoke with an enthusiastic expression.

"Hahaha, Seventh Junior Brother, your Senior Brother Zhang has waited nearly ten years for a junior brother.

He finally got what he waited for. It seems the title of Little Junior Brother will be passed from Shaoyou to Dong Lin."

Eldest Senior Brother Lei Zhenxiao said with a laugh.

"Mm, Junior Brother Dong Lin, welcome to the Thunder Division." Third Senior Brother Jiang Qingfeng opened his eyes and nodded slightly in greeting.

Fifth Senior Brother Han Che also smiled shyly. "Junior Brother, if there is anything you do not understand in cultivation, you can ask me as well."