Teaching the Thunder Art, Refining a Sword with Lightning

"Senior Brother, this thunder art?"

His words were unfinished, but his meaning was clear.

Xuanming did not turn around. Diverting part of his attention, he offered the explanation he had prepared long ago. "I comprehended this lightning through studying the Nine Hundred Dao Scriptures. It is called the Five Thunders Art. Watching the rain and listening to thunder these past days has been my way of practicing it. So far, the results seem quite good."

This was the persona Xuanming had fashioned for himself: a man of exceptional comprehension. It was half truth and half falsehood, Void mingled with reality. Only this way would the other Daoists harbor fewer doubts and more readily accept the fine things he brought out later.

Xuan Tong grew excited at his words. Quite good? That hardly did it justice. Against an opponent of the same realm, lightning had sprung from his palm with unmatched dominance, effortlessly crushing the Chu clan's Conquering Fist.

At that moment, Senior Brother Xuanming had seemed like a god of Thunderclap who presided over punishment, rewarding good and punishing evil, inspiring awe and fear in all who beheld him.

Granted, this was partly because Senior Brother Xuanming's comprehension of the Five Thunders Art surpassed Chu Yunfei's understanding of the Conquering Fist. Yet a single falling leaf heralded autumn: it still showed that the Five Thunders Art's potential and quality were no lower than those of the Chu clan's Conquering Fist.

The Truth-Seeking Abbey had gained another Abbey-Guarding Master Art.

"Your comprehension is unrivaled, Senior Brother. I am truly impressed."

After offering his heartfelt praise, Xuan Tong continued, "Who would have thought that so many layers of scheming lay behind Chu Yunfei's challenge? Had you not been alert enough to detect those hidden currents and attained the rank of True Person—and had Chu Yunfei not been exceptionally clever himself—our Truth-Seeking Abbey might truly have fallen into their trap and found itself in dire straits."

Xuan Tong's mind raced, his thoughts surging as he imagined all sorts of possibilities. The more he considered them, the more frightened he felt in hindsight.

Fortunately, with Xuanming having set the tone, he did not outsmart himself this time. Remembering something, he said delightedly:

"Now that the schemes of those behind this have been exposed, the Chu clan is involved and running investigations, sharing the burden with our Truth-Seeking Abbey. Surely the mastermind will soon be dragged into the light, and the truth will emerge like stones revealed by receding water."

Xuanming's gaze was profound. He did not deny it, but said slowly, "Feathered robes forever bear the hues of mist and rosy clouds, untouched by the mortal world's peach and plum blossoms. A Daoist should place the Great Dao first. Whatever the truth may be, we who dwell in the mountains must devote ourselves to cultivation. Only through Heart-Clearing and Spirit-Calming can we pierce conspiracies; only by strengthening ourselves can we live peacefully in the wilderness and face all things with composure."

"The Chu clan has deep roots in Fengyang Commandery. With them involved, we can avoid much trouble and cultivate in peace. We need only lend them aid when they require it."

Xuan Tong praised him. "You truly see things clearly, Senior Brother."

Once Xuan Tong's business was finished, the two Daoists did not leave.

Xuan Yu bowed with his hands clasped, his expression serious and his manner meticulous. He asked sincerely, "Please teach me the thunder art, Senior Brother."

"Very well!"

Xuanming agreed without hesitation.

He did not ask why.

He set no tests.

He simply nodded, directly and without fuss.

Xuan Tong froze, and Xuan Yu was stunned.

The Dao was not lightly transmitted, nor were arts lightly taught.

Even masters and disciples held things back from one another. A master always kept something in reserve, lest he stuff his disciple full only to starve himself.

All the more so between fellow disciples.

The Five Thunders Art was clearly of extremely high quality. Were Xuan Yu in his place and possessed such an art, he would repeatedly examine and test even a personal disciple before teaching it. Assuming others would act as he would, he had prepared himself for rejection or trials and imagined all sorts of possibilities.

Instead, events suddenly took a sharp turn and landed on an outcome he had considered utterly fanciful:

An immediate agreement, without the slightest effort!

Such a precious Daoist art was to be taught just like that!?

Senior Brother Xuanming had not a trace of misgiving, and Xuan Yu had not been prepared for this at all.

His lips trembled. Xuan Yu opened and closed his mouth several times before finally asking, "Why?"

Atop the mountain, wind and rain swept through the air, and lightning danced.

Xuanming did not answer immediately. A trace of reminiscence appeared on his face. After a moment, he finally rose, turned toward Xuan Yu, and said frankly, "Though I am the abbey master's son, my mind was once clouded, and I lived in a muddled daze. Inevitably, I suffered bullying where my father could not watch over me."

"Though you speak little, Junior Brother, you are upright and impartial, fair in all your dealings. You always treated me with respect, regarded me as your senior brother, and several times taught those who bullied me a lesson."

"You gave me a wooden peach; I repay you with precious jade. I have always remembered that kindness. If you wish to learn the Five Thunders Art, Junior Brother, then I will teach you."

Anyone else might have climbed the pole offered to them and sought more benefits, or spoken vaguely to seize the chance to claim a favor.

But Xuan Yu was honest and would not pretend. Though he desperately wanted the Five Thunders Art, he still told the truth. "I simply happened to be there and saw what was happening. I could not bear it, so I lent a hand. It does not deserve such a generous repayment, Senior Brother."

His eyelids stirring slightly, Xuanming raised his gaze to Xuan Yu. "Do good deeds without asking what lies ahead. Follow your heart, without asking whether it leads east or west."

"Whether to help was your decision, Junior Brother."

"Whether to repay you is mine."

"Besides, I know your character well. You would never use the thunder art recklessly. This art will not have been entrusted to the wrong person, so how could I have any misgivings?"

Though he had not interacted much with Xuan Yu, the bonds of youth always left a deep impression.

By teaching him the thunder art, Xuan Yu would gain something tangible, while he would repay that kindness and make his Dao Heart clearer. Each would gain what he needed, killing two birds with one stone.

They had had little contact in the past, but over these last two years they had interacted more, allowing him to see this junior brother's character more clearly.

With matters explained so fully, Xuan Yu did not stand on ceremony. His expression solemn, he bowed and said earnestly, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

With their business concluded, Xuan Tong and Xuan Yu departed.

After descending Dao-Treasuring Peak, the two Daoists turned back at the same time. Gazing at the summit, where only wind and rain could be seen and no human figure remained visible, they exchanged smiles.

"A hundred years of yearning, three generations of pursuit. At last, our Truth-Seeking Abbey has produced a True Person."

"Indeed! To behold the earth's three thousand worlds, one must climb eight hundred winding turns to the lofty peak. Even after becoming a True Person, Senior Brother Xuanming still pursues cultivation tirelessly, his Dao Heart devout. You and I must work hard to follow in his footsteps."

"You are quite right, Junior Brother Xuan Yu."

Outside Floating Cloud County, rain poured down in torrents.

As he traveled, Chu Yunfei looked back toward Floating Cloud Mountain, hidden behind the curtain of rain, and said with feeling:

"One day, the Great Roc rises with the wind, soaring straight upward for ninety thousand li. This Truth-Seeking Abbey is about to rise."

Hearing this, Chu Dong also glanced back at the mountain in the rain, then turned and continued on his way. Only after taking three steps did he say, "The conflict between the aristocratic clans and the sects is growing sharper by the day. The Truth-Seeking Abbey has shallow roots and has yet to become embroiled in those messy affairs. If we can befriend them, our Chu clan will be able to advance on the offensive or retreat on the defensive."

Seeing Chu Yunfei remain silent, Chu Dong glanced at him and offered reassurance. "Rest assured. True Person Xuanming saved your life, and the Chu clan acknowledges that debt. We will certainly treat them sincerely. Only then, should our two sides truly form a secret alliance in the future, will our relationship be harmonious and firm."

Only then did Chu Yunfei's expression ease.

He knew all too well how his own clan conducted itself.

What he had just done was merely to secure a promise from his eldest uncle. That way, he could win more gifts of thanks for the Truth-Seeking Abbey, a small expression of his gratitude toward True Person Xuanming.

Atop Dao-Treasuring Peak.

Chu Yunfei and Chu Dong had yet to travel beyond three hundred li, and Xuanming heard the conversation between uncle and nephew with perfect clarity.

His appreciation for Chu Yunfei deepened.

A man who remembered kindness and repaid it had limitless prospects.

As for the conflict between aristocratic clans and sects, Xuanming kept it in mind but had no intention of taking action.

First, he did not understand the situation.

Second, Daoist cultivation centered on peace and purity.

So long as it did not involve the Truth-Seeking Abbey or harm innocent commoners, he would pay it no heed. If storms came in the future, he would meet soldiers with generals and rising waters with banks of earth.

As long as he continued to achieve progress in cultivation, he could quell any storms sweeping in from all eight directions with a turn of his hand.

Of course, if the Chu clan wished to forge friendly ties, Xuanming welcomed it. One more friend meant one more road open to him. But Junior Brother Xuanxu would concern himself with all that. Each Daoist had his own duties; he need only cultivate in peace and serve as the Truth-Seeking Abbey's mountain-anchoring stone.

The Void and Emptiness trembled faintly. Wind and rain darkened the sky, and deep within the thunderclouds, Thunderclap roared and struck the Peachwood Sword.

By casting the sword into the depths of the thunderclouds, Xuanming was borrowing the power of Thunderclap to temper it and purge its impurities.

Essence Refining Cultivators used Dharma Artifacts.

Qi Refining cultivators used Spirit Artifacts.

Spirit Refining Cultivators used Dharma Treasures.

Though refining artifacts with Thunderclap was perilous, the benefits were equally immense. It could purify materials, shorten the refining process, resonate with the spiritual mechanisms of Heaven and Earth, and draw upon the power of wind and thunder for reinforcement.

Were it not for his unusual Primal Chaos Method and his mastery of the Five Thunders Art, Xuanming would not have dared attempt this.

Since the beginning of summer, whenever a thunderstorm came, he would send the Peachwood Sword into the thunderclouds to temper it.

Gathering his thoughts, Xuanming cleared his heart and focused his spirit, continuing to watch the rain and listen to the thunder. Soon, he became absorbed in it, forgetting both himself and the world.

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