In the boundless depths of the mountains, a sea of emerald green stretched to the horizon, like an endless ocean of green. Standing amidst it, as the wind blew and the forest swayed, massive waves of green, each a hundred zhang high, rolled from afar, awe-inspiring and magnificent…
Suddenly, a sound of wind breaking through the air echoed, and a figure flashed into view, gliding swiftly. It hovered in mid-air, wings slightly vibrating, gazing at the endless expanse of forest below with a faint, bitter smile. He hadn’t expected the forest beyond the Inner Academy to be so vast, even surpassing the Magic Beast Mountains that traversed the Jia Ma Empire in some aspects.
He sighed, recalling the Elder’s words about the harsh training environment. Xiao Yan felt a bit helpless. In these vast mountains, where could he find a swampy area? Scanning his surroundings, he heard low, ominous growls from the depths of the forest. The Purple Cloud Wings on Xiao Yan’s back flickered, and he transformed into a shadow, darting into the heart of the mountain range.
To find the place suitable for training as requested by the Elder, Xiao Yan spent almost a full day wandering through the mountains. Fortunately, his luck wasn’t as terrible as it could have been. By noon the next day, after a long trek, the desired training ground finally appeared before him.
It was a narrow valley between two mountains, likely made wet and marshy by water rushing down from the peaks. The deeper he went, the muddier the ground became, especially in the center, where the area was almost entirely covered in a swampy grassland.
Hovering above the swamp with the aid of the Purple Cloud Wings, Xiao Yan tossed a stone into it. Seeing the mud splatter up, a slight smile graced his face. The size of the swamp perfectly matched what the Elder had described.
The ancient, black ring on his finger shimmered, and the Elder’s ethereal form emerged. He glanced at the swamp hidden beneath the grass, satisfaction evident on his face. “This is perfect for practicing the Three Thousand Thunderbolt.”
“Are there any Magic Beasts lurking in the swamp?” Xiao Yan asked, noticing the occasional sinking of grass.
“Just some small creatures, no problem. They’ll be useful for your practice,” the Elder chuckled, landing lightly on a nearby tree. “Try moving through the swamp without hindrance.”
Xiao Yan hesitated but nodded, slowly descending. As he neared the swamp, his shoulders twitched, and the Purple Cloud Wings retracted. His body sank straight into the swamp.
As his feet touched the muddy water, a surge of energy burst forth, creating a sharp, resonant explosion. Large clumps of black mud were blasted up, but Xiao Yan did not get pushed away. Instead, he sank further due to the swirling mud beneath his feet.
His face changed slightly as he felt the strong suction pulling him down. He raised his palms, and a powerful, invisible force surged out, instantly creating two dents on the swamp’s surface. With this force, he pulled his feet out of the swamp. A shiver ran through his back, and the Purple Cloud Wings flapped out, helping him rise into the air.
Just as his feet left the swamp, the surrounding waters suddenly erupted. Black, arrow-like water shots pierced through the swamp, aiming at Xiao Yan in the air.
Surprised by the sudden attack, Xiao Yan forcefully pushed down, and the invisible force met the water arrows, scattering them into a spray of black droplets. His wings beat rapidly, and he hovered several meters above the swamp, eyeing the slithering serpentine creatures beneath. One particularly menacing black snake emerged, shooting a foul-smelling jet of black mud.
“Hehe, how was it?” the Elder teased, seeing Xiao Yan’s leg caked in mud.
“Explosive Step isn’t suited for this terrain,” Xiao Yan sighed. In such a soft, yielding ground, Explosive Step was almost useless, and the sinking only made things worse.
“Your Explosive Step is not a sophisticated skill; it merely uses the explosive force of qi against the ground to increase speed,” the Elder said with a light smile. “If you master the Three Thousand Thunderbolt, this swamp will be like flat ground. At its peak, you can even fly short distances purely by movement techniques.”
“Back then, the Wind Lightning Pavilion’s Master used the Three Thousand Thunderbolt to escape three Battle Sect experts and even severely injured one of them. This technique is immensely powerful, though it’s only a low-grade Earth Rank. Its speed, however, rivals that of a mid-grade Earth Rank.”
“If you master it, even a Dou Wang won’t be able to stop you,” the Elder added.
Xiao Yan’s heart burned with excitement. Mastering the Three Thousand Thunderbolt would greatly enhance his chances of obtaining the Falling Heart Flame.
He tapped his ring, and a silver scroll appeared in his hand. Running his fingers over the scroll, he could faintly hear the rumbling of thunder and the rush of wind.
“Teacher, how do I master the Three Thousand Thunderbolt?” Xiao Yan asked eagerly.
“The Three Thousand Thunderbolt is a coveted skill, even across the entire continent. I once tried to borrow it from the Wind Lightning Pavilion, but was refused,” the Elder said. “It is one of their most prized possessions. Each scroll requires immense effort, as they contain a thread of the Pavilion’s wind and lightning power, sealed by the Pavilion Master. Only by absorbing this power can one truly master the Three Thousand Thunderbolt. Hence, only senior elders and outstanding disciples who have contributed greatly to the Pavilion are allowed to learn it.”
“Wind and lightning power…” Xiao Yan muttered, “That’s why I can hear thunder and wind when I hold this scroll.”
“This power is the reason the Wind Lightning Pavilion has remained strong. It can only be absorbed when the sky is dark and filled with thunder, atop a mountain. However, it is very powerful and can be dangerous if not controlled properly. Many disciples have lost their souls trying to master it, but those who succeed gain incredible power, even stronger than the renowned Thunder attribute qi. This is similar to how Devouring consumes flames to boost qi strength.”
“Your current qi, enhanced by the Green Lotus Core Fire, is much stronger than ordinary fire attribute qi. You must have noticed?”
“Yes,” Xiao Yan nodded, noting the name of the Wind Lightning Pavilion. “How should I start my training?”
“Wait,” the Elder smiled.
“For what?”
“The wind and lightning,” the Elder said, looking at the darkening sky. “When the wind blows and the lightning flashes, absorb the power from the scroll. That’s the first step to mastering the Three Thousand Thunderbolt. Looks like it won’t be long…”
Xiao Yan looked at the ominous sky, nodding. The weather in the mountains was unpredictable, but they didn’t have to wait long. The next night, the sky, which had been painted with the setting sun, was suddenly covered by dark clouds. Strong winds whipped through the trees, and the sound of thunder rumbled ominously.
A flash of lightning illuminated the mountains, turning the night as bright as day. On the peak of a mountain, a young man in a black robe sat cross-legged, undisturbed by the wind. As the lightning struck, revealing a calm, serene face, Xiao Yan smiled. He spun his hand, and a scroll, colored like lightning, appeared. Ancient characters on the scroll glowed with a faint, silvery light.
“Three Thousand Thunderbolt!”
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