Inside the hall.
True crimson treasure fire burned, and sounds of wood and stone melting occasionally came from the Pill Furnace. As Xu Xuan listened to Pingxiu speak of ancient times, the Divine Ability within him seemed to resonate, its thunder nature rising.
"In ancient times, the Thunder Palace had roughly two principal duties. The first was to preside over heavenly tribulations. Whenever cultivators broke through, starting from Foundation Establishment, they had to endure tribulations to temper themselves, staking their lives against the Thunderbolt. The second was to uphold Dao Virtue. But this Dao Virtue was not the Dao Virtue of cultivators—it was the Dao Virtue of heaven and earth."
"If true cultivators of old sought immortality, all manner of calamities and tribulations would descend upon them. The two most terrifying were thunder tribulations and demonic tribulations."
"You cultivate altar thunder, fellow Daoist. Surely this is not unfamiliar to you?"
"The two paths were altar thunder and withering qi."
Pure silver light flashed through Xu Xuan's eyes, and something stirred in his heart. He was naturally well acquainted with altar thunder. Its true essence lay in administering punishment on heaven's behalf, slaying the rebellious in accordance with the times, replacing heaven's will with one's own, and subduing the world's cultivators through Dao Virtue and the might of punishment.
As for withering qi, its path was that of demonic trials—the many ordeals along the road of cultivation. It was not a demonic path like blood qi or baleful qi, and its exalted standing surpassed that of many Immortal Daos.
"Withering qi was only branded demonic later. In ancient times, it was a supreme immortal tradition, whose purpose was to hinder and temper cultivation."
"Had the Altar Thunder Path not rendered so many great services to this world, perhaps it too would