At the break of dawn, just before the sunrise, the eastern sky was pale with the first light of day, tingled with a hint of purple.
Within a small courtyard, Wu Ming, dressed in a light brown robe and wearing a bamboo hat, stood in a relaxed and serene posture. Facing the horizon, he inhaled the purple qi, transforming it into golden nectar, which he swallowed three times.
Half an hour later, after completing his daily practice, Wu Ming did not stop. Instead, he moved to the center of the courtyard, slowly widening his stance, and began performing a palm technique.
Hu! Chi!
Each palm movement carried the sound of wind and thunder, resembling the roar of tigers and leopards. The force rippled through his bones and marrow, crackling with electric sparks, as he stepped in celestial patterns, displaying extraordinary prowess.
“Hmm… This Five Thunder Palm technique seems to have an internal cultivation method as well. For martial cultivators, it can forge the bones with thunder power, leading directly to innate abilities. For Daoist practitioners, it also benefits the convergence of the five vital energies. Truly impressive!”
After completing the set, Wu Ming wore a satisfied expression on his face.
Although Thunder Dao was considered the pinnacle of Daoist techniques, its cultivation was notoriously difficult. It had strict requirements for practitioners’ innate talent, with rules like “Seven Conditions for Refusal” and “Eight Conditions for Non-transmission.”
Even if one managed to learn the technique, entering its path was extremely challenging.
Firstly, one needed to either receive or create a thunder talisman, using peach wood or jujube wood struck by lightning to carve thunder talismans such as the Great Thunder Fire Talisman of Duti, the Immortal Capital Nourishing Talisman, the Demon-Slaying and Plague-Cutting Talisman, the Five Thunder Envoys’ Talisman, and the Five Thunder Chariot Talisman, which served as the central control hub.
Subsequently, one had to carefully practice during thunderstorms to accumulate thunder energy through techniques like capturing lightning fire and electric fire, storing the energy within the talisman. When applying the technique, one would then use visualization methods and spirit transformation techniques, often supplemented by thunder summoning techniques, palm seals, and celestial stepping methods. Only then could one truly master the Thunder Dao!
Such a cultivation process could easily consume half a lifetime.
However, this “Five Thunder Palm Technique” was created by a wandering cultivator who entered the Dao through martial arts. It had fewer restrictions and resonated more with martial cultivation principles. It followed the concept that “the human body is a great universe, where yin and yang naturally harmonize, and the key lies within oneself, allowing the body to generate electric sparks and palms to unleash thunder.” This approach greatly appealed to Wu Ming.
“Still, to advance in this technique, one must climb to dangerous peaks during thunderstorms to attract a thread of thunder energy as a catalyst, or collect other thunder-related items for assistance…”
Wu Ming recalled the description in the palm technique manual.
The creator of this technique, known as the Thunder Immortal, was originally a martial artist in the mortal world before attaining Dao cultivation, thus developing this unique path of martial Dao cultivation.
According to his writings, the Five Thunder Palm cultivation was broadly divided into five levels: Heaven, Earth, Cloud, Water, and Constellation.
Reaching the Earth Thunder level would make one capable of rivaling a true cultivator. It was said that the highest level, the Heaven Thunder Formula, represented the ultimate state of Dao-martial unification, a divine martial technique that could rival even a Celestial Master!
Of course, this was merely what the manual claimed, and Wu Ming still harbored doubts about its authenticity.
Moreover, this was purely an offensive Dao technique, not a fundamental cultivation path. Despite its immense power, it was still inferior to the “Huangting Yinfu Jing” by no small margin.
Yet, Wu Ming really liked it.
“Right now, my Five Thunder Palm is still at the most basic ‘Constellation Thunder’ level. To reach the ‘Water Thunder Formula’ stage, I must channel more and greater amounts of thunder energy into my body…”
Wu Ming pondered for a moment: “For other cultivators, harnessing thunder energy always carries the risk of being struck by lightning. But within the Pantheon Temple, one can exchange for thunder stones, magical artifacts, and even elixirs containing traces of thunder energy…”
Thinking of this, he felt an urge to cry.
Although his last mission brought significant gains, the reward of merit points was almost heartbreaking.
Just two hundred minor merits were earned, barely enough for a few entries using magical artifacts, making Wu Ming seriously consider whether he should sell off some of his “stock” to earn more merit points.
“The ‘Constellation Thunder’ level merely allows one to generate thunder sounds with every movement, nothing special. But at the ‘Water Thunder’ level, one can control rain, wind, and thunder, using lightning energy to injure opponents. As for ‘Cloud Thunder,’ it involves forming cloud talismans of thunder techniques within the consciousness sea, enabling spontaneous technique manifestation. This marks true entry into the Dao path, transitioning from martial arts to thunder Dao…”
After some contemplation, Wu Ming was no longer confused about his cultivation path.
“Wu Tiehu!”
“At your service!”
Wu Tiehu had also been doing morning exercises. Seeing Wu Ming’s terrifying skills, he had already stood respectfully aside, fully aware that Wu Ming could kill him in just a few moves.
“Prepare the horse carriage and head out of the city. We’re going to Longmen Gorge!” Wu Ming exhaled.
He had promised Wu Qing to leave, at least outwardly.
Longmen Gorge was not only the location of the Longmen Assembly but also the place where the white jiao was sealed, making it exceptionally significant. As the second day of the second lunar month drew near and the dragon’s energy began to stir, it was the perfect time for a visit!
…
On the main road.
Winter had just ended, and a few signs of spring were emerging by the roadside. This vitality hidden beneath the cold was very pleasing to Wu Ming, who slowly observed it with the carriage top open.
A bit of spring chill posed no problem. On the carriage sat a thin young man, his eyes shining like stars, captivating to behold.
“He’s coming!”
At the same time, Wu Ming’s lips curled into a strange smile.
“Make sure, it’s really him!”
A rider followed behind the carriage. Upon seeing the young man, his gaze sharpened, and he quickly turned, hiding behind a tall pine tree. He then secretly released a red bird.
This bird was extremely perceptive, flying without a trace. In an instant, it overtook the carriage, flew over ten miles, and landed in the backyard of a teahouse by the roadside.
A long, jade-like hand caught the bird, retrieved the message, and after reading it, the eyes smiled: “The target is here!”
“Everyone, get ready. We can’t afford to fail the task assigned by the master!”
The speaker was a swordsman in a green robe, his face slightly weathered by wind and sand, his eyebrows as sharp as swords, exuding a heroic aura.
Beside him were several oddly dressed and eccentric-looking individuals.
“Hehe… Since you, ‘Red Chain Sword,’ are personally here, success is guaranteed!” a kind-faced old woman in patched robes chuckled.
Strangely, the others kept a significant distance from her, as if she were a fearsome monster.
This young man, named Zhan Hongzhao, had once been a wandering swordsman with a reputation in several nearby prefectures. Somehow, he had now joined the Prince’s residence as a guest and protector.
The others were also individuals with unique skills, lured by the Wang family. Their full deployment this time showed the seriousness of the task.
“If that’s the case, then I’ll take the lead!”
Zhan Hongzhao bowed to all directions: “Shenpo, you go to the back to boil water. Guifu and I will be the waiters. Meiniang will be the tea-serving girl. We’ve been well-fed and housed by the master all these years. As the saying goes, ‘A thousand days of training for one day of use.’ If we fail, you know the consequences!”
Though his words were not harsh, everyone shivered simultaneously: “We dare not!”
“Good!”
Zhan Hongzhao smiled slightly. He was quite skilled in management. After a few arrangements, the teahouse began operating realistically, with several scattered customers entering for tea.
“Sigh…”
However, seeing this scene, Zhan Hongzhao sighed again.
Once one enters the martial world, one’s fate is no longer in one’s hands. This was a well-known truth. However, reaching his level, he knew that all the so-called heroes and martial artists, whether black or white, were just jokes when faced with greater powers.
What was the grandeur of the Eighteen Camps of Green Forest? Secretly, everyone knew they were just dogs raised by noble families.
Those who established their own strongholds fared even worse, often being completely wiped out for offending the wrong people or raiding the wrong goods.
Even if they remained obedient and stayed in the city, the royal law was always looming, causing chills.
Having seen more and more over these years, Zhan Hongzhao naturally felt empathy. After careful consideration, he finally chose to join the Wang family as a guest.
It sounded good, but in reality, who didn’t know he was just a high-level servant?
But what could he do?
With the Wang family’s backing and hundreds of acres of good farmland, no one would dare to covet his family anymore. He could also take care of his relatives, and several brothers who had been imprisoned were finally released.
“This kind of life may not be ideal, but it’s satisfying. I just hope it can continue forever, and no one, absolutely no one, can disrupt it!”
With this thought, Zhan Hongzhao touched his waistband, his eyes flashing with a hint of killing intent.
…
Who knows how long passed, but a horse carriage slowly appeared at the end of the main road, drawing closer and closer.
“Master, there’s a teahouse ahead. Shall we rest for a while?”
Wu Tiehu asked.
“Perfect!”
Wu Ming looked at the teahouse, his eyes flickered with a smile.
“Young master, please come in, please come in!”
The tea-seller on the street was a young woman in her prime, wearing a red cotton jacket with several buttons undone at the chest, revealing a large expanse of fair and delicate skin. Her eyes sparkled with allure as she spotted Wu Ming and greeted him enthusiastically.
The roadside teahouse was quite humble, just a tent set up with a few long tables and benches inside.
At the moment, several tables were already occupied. One table seemed to be merchants, while another was an old man and his granddaughter, the elderly man with white hair and the young girl, with bright black eyes that twinkled mischievously, appearing both clever and adorable.
“Bring us two bowls of hot tea and whatever snacks you have!”
Wu Tiehu entered the teahouse first, dutifully wiping the bench with his sleeve before inviting Wu Ming to sit down, then shouted out.
This combination resembled a local tycoon and his wicked servant on an outing, which was essentially what they were, drawing some attention before quickly returning to normal.
“Coming right up!”
The tea girl smiled, turned to the back, and soon returned with a swaying waist, placing two bowls of tea and several snacks on the table.
Wu Ming looked at the teacup and shook his head slightly.
In this world, tea drinking had various customs. The tea served now was “tea soup,” made by grinding tea leaves into powder, boiling them with water, and adding ginger and garlic. It was especially suitable for winter consumption. Those with better conditions might also add brown sugar, milk, and other ingredients.
“Wait a minute!”
As Wu Tiehu was about to drink, Wu Ming suddenly reached out to stop him, smirking slightly.
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