Chapter 19: Commanding Thunder and Lightning

"Forget it — I'll leave it to the Dao Effigy in my mind to accelerate my comprehension of the thunder technique."

He resumed his cross-legged meditation posture, letting his consciousness drift before the mysterious Dao Effigy in his mind, continuously driving his thoughts to visualize and rehearse the thunder technique.

Li Qingyun had come to a clear-eyed understanding of himself.

In terms of cultivation, he could only be called thoroughly mediocre right now. His Dao Bone and Spiritual Root went without saying — nourished after the fact by Dharma Power, they had improved by the tiniest sliver, but only marginally better than when he had been a complete washout.

In terms of comprehension, he could barely be called average. The wisdom and experience accumulated from his previous life helped somewhat, but not by much.

Fortunately, the mysterious Dao Effigy gave him comfort.

After "murmuring" the [Thunder Seal] incantation a dozen or so times in his mind, a faint ripple of light finally slowly surfaced on the dark, solidified invisible wall behind the Dao Effigy — like a lightning symbol imprinted upon water.

"It works after all!"

Li Qingyun's heart leapt with joy. He gathered his focus and inwardly observed that single "Z"-shaped lightning rune.

In an instant, his comprehension of the thunder technique surged at a rate ten times faster than his own unaided study — like a great flood breaking through every obstruction.

It was merely a low-grade spell, after all. Before the mysterious Dao Effigy, it seemed hardly worth mentioning.

One hour later.

Hum!

In a fleeting moment, a flash of insight struck Li Qingyun — he felt his understanding of [Thunder Seal] had reached some profound depth.

His fingers suddenly moved with rapid precision, forming hand seals, their shadows flickering like illusions. All six thunder seals were completed in an instant, smooth as silk, while from his lips there seemed to rise the sound of a clear peal of thunder.

"Drive the thunder, command the lightning — at my order, thunder, come!"

Crack!

A thread of electric light burst forth from the void before him — thin as a grass rope, yet carrying a faint trace of celestial might. The lightning struck through the drifting mountain mist, blasting open a patch of clear air.

The thunder technique was complete!

"By using the Dao Effigy in my mind as the object of visualization — unifying seal, incantation, and intent — I actually bypassed that Shénxiāo Demon-Subduing Daolord and successfully summoned lightning!"

At this moment, faint lightning runes flickered faintly across Li Qingyun's body. The mountain mist swirled, and the pool's breeze stirred the young man's dark hair, lending him an inexplicable air of spiritual authority.

This feat of commanding thunder and condensing lightning had been accomplished in half a breath — a sign of extraordinarily deep comprehension.

Most crucially, that Shénxiāo Demon-Subduing Daolord who had been indifferent to him could now be completely bypassed and ignored!

Otherwise, if he had to "build a relationship" with that Daolord, who knew when he would ever successfully summon lightning — it could have taken until the cows came home.

In his heart, he felt a few more degrees of reverence — and even a faint, creeping wariness — toward the mysterious spectral Dao Effigy in his mind.

He always felt something was off about it, yet he had no choice.

He continued his practice, driving the lightning. Deep within the night mist behind the mountain, the spring pool area rang out from time to time with a low, muffled rumble of thunder.

"At present, with one furnace of Dharma Power, I can drive lightning three times. The power is still fairly ordinary for now, but it can split rocks and intimidate ghosts — I've at least taken a first step toward having some means of protecting myself on the path of cultivation!"

By now the night was deep; midnight had long since passed.

Li Qingyun had spent most of his Dharma Power practicing the thunder technique, which meant it was a perfect time to sit in meditation and cultivate the Treasure Furnace Qi Absorption Art.

Wisps of clear qi drifted from the crown of the mysterious Dao Effigy in his mind, while within his body, sparks of Dharma Power continuously regenerated. A new day's meditation had begun.

He also noticed that while seated in meditation, his Dharma Power recovered very quickly — nothing like the "sluggish" pace of the very first time he had condensed Dharma Power.

For instance, the first time he had cultivated one furnace of Dharma Power, it had taken roughly three hours.

But once the Qi Sea had formed the "Treasure Furnace," spending one furnace of Dharma Power on a technique and then regulating his breathing normally required only a little over fifteen minutes to fully restore it.

And with the aid of the mysterious Dao Effigy during meditation, his recovery speed doubled again. In the future this would save him a great deal of recovery time, and even without Pills, his "endurance" in battle was greatly assured.

At dawn the sun rose in the east, melting the dew and dissolving the frost. By noon, the autumn sun shone high, casting its light across the mountain's maple trees in brilliant, blazing crimson.

Daoists came and went to the pool to wash and bathe, laundering their robes. Laughter and conversation rang through the mountain forest from time to time, yet none of it disturbed Li Qingyun's cultivation.

From the early hours of the morning until noon, he completed his daily cultivation "homework" — a full twelve hours.

Not only could he now drive the thunder technique with considerable fluency, but his internal Dharma Power had also grown by more than eight furnaces, putting him very close to the second level of the Qi Refining Stage.

"That's enough for today. After sitting in meditation all night, I'm actually hungry — perfect timing to head to the dining hall."

Li Qingyun rose and stretched his stiff, tingling limbs.

He felt his endurance was a little stronger than yesterday.

With his Dharma Power doubled, the nourishment it provided had also somewhat strengthened his physical constitution.

"Junior Brother, hold on a moment — pardon the interruption!"

Just as Li Qingyun was lightly stepping away from the spring pool and about to enter the maple forest path, a figure shifted nearby, and a young Daoist with thick brows and a square face stepped out, calling after him.

Li Qingyun paused and clasped his hands toward the thick-browed Daoist with a smile. "What guidance does Senior Brother have for me?"

His gaze swept over discreetly and landed on the disciple token at the thick-browed Daoist's waist, which bore the two characters for "Scripture Hall."

The newcomer was a formal disciple of Lingbao Temple, his token indicating he was registered under the Scripture Hall. Moreover, judging by his Dharma Power aura, Li Qingyun estimated his cultivation to be around the third level of the Qi Refining Stage.

This thick-browed Daoist was already considered an elite disciple of Lingbao Temple on Maple Mountain.

The thick-browed Daoist looked Li Qingyun over and broke into an increasingly friendly smile, introducing himself:

"I'm Zhao Yifan. Last night I happened to be on a nearby peak gathering qi in cultivation, and I noticed lightning flashing from time to time over by the spring pool. Out of curiosity I came to take a look, and found that you, Junior Brother, were practicing the temple's [Thunder Seal] technique. I wanted to get acquainted with you, but seeing how focused you were on your cultivation, I didn't want to disturb you — so I waited until now."

Zhao Yifan said with an easy familiarity, "I still don't know Junior Brother's name. You're heading to the dining hall, I take it? I'm hungry too — why don't we go together!"

Li Qingyun understood Zhao Yifan's intentions at once and smiled in reply. "My name is Li Qingyun. I've only just grasped the surface of the thunder technique — hardly worth Senior Brother's high regard!"

"Ha, Junior Brother Qingyun, there's no need to be so modest. In my eyes, your thunder technique already carries considerable power. I was wondering, Qingyun — have you decided yet which Dao Master you wish to take as your teacher?" Zhao Yifan had naturally noticed Li Qingyun's token, and a gleam of interest lit his eyes — he was clearly trying to recruit someone for the Scripture Hall.

Under the concealment of his Qi-Suppression Technique, Li Qingyun's cultivation aura was maintained at the level of a stirring qi-sense — below the first level of the Qi Refining Stage.

People like He Xiao and Yin Huan, who were still "outsiders," couldn't see through him at all. Only cultivators with some cultivation of their own could sense that his qi-sense was unusually vigorous.

And Li Qingyun's [Thunder Technique], guided by the mysterious Dao Effigy, had already reached an initial usable state — in Zhao Yifan's eyes, that was already quite impressive.

Competition among the various Dao Masters and stewards within the temple was fierce. Any disciple showing even a hint of talent and potential would receive overtures.

Lingbao Temple had an unspoken rule: once a cultivator entered the path, condensed one furnace of Dharma Power, and stepped into the first level of the Qi Refining Stage, they could choose from among the temple's various Dao Masters to take as their teacher and receive more advanced guidance.

It was rather like going from a "temporary worker" to a "permanent staff member."

Disciples could choose their Dao Masters, and Dao Masters also selected their disciples — promising seedlings were naturally welcome everywhere.

"Senior Brother Zhao, I came up the mountain and entered the temple on the strength of Master Lu's Dao Affinity Token..."

Li Qingyun didn't say everything — he merely dropped a gentle hint, enough for Zhao Yifan to understand.

With the mysterious Dao Effigy in his mind bolstering him, he was in no rush to take any Dao Master as his teacher. Before his Qi-Suppression Technique was fully mastered, a Dao Master of deep cultivation might see through his true situation at a glance.

Faced with Zhao Yifan's enthusiastic recruitment, Lu Nanling served as Li Qingyun's perfect shield.

"Heh, Junior Brother, you're overthinking it. The temple has no rule that says whoever's Dao Affinity Token you used to enter must become your teacher. The Scripture Hall has a wonderful atmosphere — you should give it some serious thought, Qingyun..."

"Mm. My cultivation is still shallow. I'll wait a little longer."