The rain arrived, dimming the sky at first with a gentle drizzle. Soon, dark clouds surged from the distance, an oppressive mass that brought heavier downpours, turning the ground into rivulets. The world plunged into darkness as if night had fallen in an instant—so dark that one couldn’t see their own outstretched hand, though it should have been daytime. The heavens and earth were shrouded in blackness, thick with rain.
Massive clouds collided, unleashing thunderous roars as golden serpents of lightning danced across the sky, illuminating the abysmal firmament with fleeting brilliance. The downpour intensified, flooding the land in a watery expanse. This was the rainy season; thunderstorms were no surprise, but the accompanying lightning was terrifying. Ferocious beasts and birds of prey across the wilderness had gone into hiding, fearing divine retribution. For those with spiritual awareness, defying the heavens too brazenly could invite lightning’s wrath—ancient demons and thunderstruck trees were not uncommon casualties.
Tens of miles from the Sky Mending Pavilion, two figures—one large, one small—stood unmoving in the rain, letting the downpour soak their robes as they gazed upward. It was Thunder Ancestor Mu Yan and Little Rascal, waiting for their moment. No mortal flesh could endure such lightning unscathed; they had to wait for the storm to wane. Moreover, the fabled Thunder Tribulation Nectar only manifested when the tempest faded, its final sparks dimming.
This was true heavenly lightning, a manifestation of divine wrath far beyond any mortal’s power. At last, the rain lessened, the thunderclouds churned, and the lightning’s fury abated—now was the time to seek the nectar.
“This is it!” Thunder Ancestor Mu Yan declared. Mounting a treasure artifact, he pulled Little Rascal skyward, charging toward the roiling storm to uncover its secrets.
The sky remained dark, the clouds flickering with residual lightning—still terrifying, especially up close. The blinding flashes made the hair on their necks stand on end.
“Ahhh! Why am I volunteering to get struck by lightning?!” Little Rascal wailed.
“Quiet! Focus on sensing the thread of life born from destruction!” Thunder Ancestor barked.
Trembling, Little Rascal stared wide-eyed at the terrifying bolts, his heart pounding. One misstep, and his body and soul would be obliterated. Yet, amidst the storm’s aftermath, an inexplicable aura lingered—a vital force hidden within the thunder, waiting to be seized.
“Concentrate. No mistakes,” Mu Yan urged.
Amidst destruction, life stirred. Though Little Rascal lacked the insight to grasp the profound laws at play, he could still perceive the energy.
“There!” He pointed.
**BOOM!** A colossal bolt struck, engulfing them both.
“AAAH—!” Little Rascal shrieked. Even Thunder Ancestor staggered, blood trickling from his lips as he bore the brunt of the strike.
“I’ve got it. You go down,” Mu Yan ordered. Though wounded, progress was swift—far smoother than his past near-death struggles to find even a single drop of the nectar.
He released Little Rascal, letting him fall freely before turning back toward the storm, bracing for another assault.
“Be careful, Elder!” Little Rascal cried as he descended, using the Golden Dragon-Shears to steady himself.
“Stay back!” Mu Yan roared, charging into the tempest. His battle robes disintegrated instantly, reduced to ash by the heavenly wrath.
The Thunder Ancestor’s body blazed with light as he advanced, redirecting the lightning with practiced skill. Yet, the celestial bolts were alive—swarming like tidal waves, battering him relentlessly.
**CRACK!** Another strike sent him flying, his body charred and bloodied.
Little Rascal watched in horror. No matter how strong one was, facing heaven’s fury was a hopeless struggle. Yet Mu Yan pressed on, collapsing and rising again, inching toward the heart of the storm.
“There… such potent vitality!” Mu Yan gasped, his cracked lips parting in awe. Through the chaos, he glimpsed a misty pool—a divine crucible where Thunder Tribulation Nectar was born.
“AHH—!” His shoulder was pierced, bone exposed, flesh seared black. Each step was torment, a descent into hell itself.
Finally, he reached the pool, seizing a wisp of life—just as his body began to fracture.
Little Rascal lunged, catching him mid-fall as a residual bolt scorched his own flesh.
“Quick! Help me refine the nectar!” Mu Yan gasped, his spirit nearly spent. In his palm swirled a wisp of violet mist, threatening to dissipate.
Little Rascal acted fast, summoning the Suan Ni Treasure Mirror to stabilize the essence while feeding Mu Yan two spirit herbs.
With a resonant hum, the violet mist condensed into a single, radiant drop—Thunder Tribulation Nectar.
“Success!” Mu Yan exulted, sealing it in a jade vial. The vessel glowed with vibrant energy, pulsing with life.
Collapsing to the ground, Mu Yan was a wreck—charred, bones exposed, barely clinging to life.
“Elder, you must take the nectar!” Little Rascal pleaded.
“No… This drop is for you. Let it forge your path in thunder,” Mu Yan insisted, pressing the vial into his hands.
Reluctantly, Little Rascal consumed the nectar. Instantly, overwhelming vitality surged through him, intertwined with thunder’s laws.
Behind him, a golden Suan Ni roared to life, its scales now streaked with violet. The beast’s power had multiplied, its thunderous cry shaking the earth.
For a day and night, Little Rascal meditated, awakening with lightning flashing in his eyes. The Suan Ni behind him had evolved, its roar unleashing a cataclysmic bolt.
“I’ve taught you all I can of thunder’s laws. The rest is yours to master,” Mu Yan said weakly.
Little Rascal’s cultivation had reached new heights. The Suan Ni’s power was now a devastating weapon, its ferocity unmatched.
Before him, a volcanic crater materialized, drawing the beast inside to nurture as a floating rune amidst molten energy.
The path of thunder was his to walk.
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