Chapter Seventy-Six: The Three Mansions of Yuzhang's Thunder Path

Cheng Xinzhan naturally felt no pain, but when he saw an expression of surprise appear on Master Jianxian’s face, he knew it was about time, so he spoke up,
“Master, it should be enough.”
Jianxian nodded, saying,
“You have excellent aptitude, and the ingestion of thunder essence has gone smoothly. That will suffice for today. When you return, continue applying the cooling balm to ease any discomfort, and attempt to open the thunder aperture again only after you feel better—don’t rush it. As for thunder arts, you still have too little thunder essence in your body to wield them. When you’ve accumulated more, I’ll teach you.
“Also, always be prepared. The timing must not be missed. When the next thunderstorm arrives, I’ll lead you out of the sect.”
Cheng Xinzhan agreed, told Master Jianxian the location of his Worry-Free Cave on Meiji Mountain, and then asked another question, “Master, just now you used magical power to refine the thunder liquid and sent it to the nasal aperture. Could this be done with spiritual power instead?”
Jianxian was a little surprised but nodded and replied,
“Vitality, spirit, and essence are the three treasures of the Daoist body. That is to say, spiritual power, magical power, and blood essence can all be used to refine external substances. Each method has its own name: spirit refining, magical refining, and blood refining. Generally, spirit refining and blood refining are faster than magical refining.
“For example, flying swords or other treasures of the Purple Palace usually require spirit refining, and in urgent matters, blood refining is used. The demonic sect favors blood refining, which strengthens the killing aura of their treasures.”
“But because spiritual power is sensitive, refining something as violent as thunder liquid with it amplifies the pain and can easily damage the spirit. Loss of blood harms the body, and replenishing blood essence in the Daoist body takes time. Thus, magical power is usually employed.”
Cheng Xinzhan bowed in thanks, then took out a pill bottle and respectfully offered it to Master Jianxian,
“Master, this is a gift prepared by my teacher—a bottle of Hundred Herbs Lung-Moistening Pills. Please accept it.”
Jianxian waved his hands repeatedly, “Teaching you is the mountain lord’s instruction. How could I accept another gift from Lord Wen? Take it back, and thank her for her kindness.”
Cheng Xinzhan set the pill bottle on the small table, saying, “Master, my teacher said this is her personal intention, unrelated to how Lord Zhao arranges things.”
He then promptly rose to take his leave, not giving Jianxian the chance to refuse.

———

Back in the Worry-Free Cave.

He first took a section of green branch from the cave stones—a simple piece of spirit wood he acquired in the Miao market while drawing talismans. Nothing special, just ordinary wood.
He drew out “Autumn Water,” and carved the spirit wood into five small spoons, each just large enough to hold a drop of thunder liquid. He saw that Master Jianxian’s spoons were also ordinary spirit wood, nothing special.
Next, he poured a drop of thunder liquid onto one of the spoons from his gourd.
“Crackle!”
The thunder liquid exploded on the wooden spoon, but the spoon survived unscathed.
Relieved, Cheng Xinzhan placed thunder liquid on all five spoons, refined it with magical power, and set the spoons beside his stone bed, immediately returning to his physical body.
The familiar sense of restriction came over him—of the hundred apertures, only the heart palace and Purple Palace were perceptible, but now there was a cool sensation at the nasal aperture as well.
He sent his mind toward the thunder liquid on the spoon.
As Master Jianxian had said—even after magical refining, touching it with the mind still brought a burning, numbing sensation.
He endured the pain, wrapped the thunder liquid with spiritual power, and sent it toward his nasal aperture. Though unpleasant, the spiritual power allowed him to comprehend the thunder’s essence more vividly.
When the thunder liquid struck the nasal aperture, a tidal wave of pain flooded his body, making it tremble uncontrollably.
This pain didn't come from the thunder liquid striking the aperture, but from the Purple Fire Rotting Peach miasma lodged there; startled by the thunder, it began to stir and rampage within the aperture.
Though his body trembled, Cheng Xinzhan’s mind remained steady.
His thoughts never wavered; he captured every particle of thunder liquid shattered by the strike, gathered them into a bundle, and sent them into his meridians.
Yet the meridians were still blocked with miasma—like endless mountains barring the way. The tiny bundle of thunder liquid advanced only a minuscule distance before dissipating into the miasmic mountains. The dissolved miasma formed a minute drop of miasma water, lodged in the crevice newly opened by the thunder liquid.
His body shook like a sieve, but his mind radiated delight.
It worked!
Even though the miasma dissolved was so little this time.
He pressed on, using the remaining thunder liquid from the spoons to strike the nasal aperture.
Later, he simply refined the thunder liquid directly with spiritual power, skipping the process of entering the bamboo body and refining it with magical power.
Eventually, he became numb to the pain of spirit-refining thunder liquid.
By the fourth day, he suddenly heard shouting,
“Xinzhan, follow me out of the sect!”
He quickly entered the bamboo staff and left the Worry-Free Cave, finding Master Jianxian waiting outside the mountain.
Riding a cloud over, he saw thunderclouds brewing in the north.
“Did you bring everything?”
Cheng Xinzhan nodded.
The two headed north. Beyond Sanqing Mountain and Lotus Blessed Land, the terrain grew desolate, mountains stretching endlessly but few people—only reclusive elders resided there.
Soon, they reached the edge of the Nine Heavens Cloud-Forbidden Array, flying through the clouds for a long while before exiting the sect.
“Rumble—”
Thunder rumbled in the distant clouds.
“Sounds like abundant thunder. You’re lucky today.”
Master Jianxian smiled, seeing Cheng Xinzhan’s surprise, and said, “Once you’ve seen it often enough, you’ll learn to distinguish it.”

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They quickened their pace, arriving at the site before the thunder struck.
It was a barren wild, dotted with low mountains. No one was in sight; Master Jianxian chuckled,
“This time the thunder falls in the north, which is fortunate for us. The other two sects haven’t arrived yet—perhaps they harvested during the recent Awakening of Insects festival when spring thunder was abundant, so they might not come at all. That would be best.”
Master Jianxian led Cheng Xinzhan to the highest peak, prepared the guiding and receiving instruments, and waited for the thunder to descend.
But before the thunder struck, a piercing sound came from the southwest.
“Sigh, someone’s here after all,”
Master Jianxian sighed.
Three people approached, and as they drew near, Cheng Xinzhan could see them clearly.
All were dressed in blue robes with silver embroidery, wearing layered cloud caps. The leader was an elderly man, accompanied by a young man and woman.
“They’re from the Divine Sky Sect—familiar faces, how troublesome.”
Master Jianxian muttered to himself.
When the three arrived, they too sought a peak, immediately spotting Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan.
“Daoist Jianxian, what a coincidence!”
The elder greeted them warmly.
Master Jianxian forced a smile, “Daoist Yibi.”
This Yibi Daoist was quite affable; seeing the small crowd today, he wanted to chat.
“Is this your promising disciple?”
Yibi indicated Cheng Xinzhan.
Master Jianxian explained, “No, he’s a disciple from another branch, entrusted to me to study thunder arts for a while.”
Cheng Xinzhan bowed, “Cheng Xinzhan, at your service, Daoist.”
Yibi returned the gesture, then pushed the young man and woman forward, saying,
“Oh, I see. Come, Jianxian Daoist, Xinzhan, these are my two disciples: Meng Xuqing and Meng Xuyi.”
The two handsome children, with similar features, bowed in turn.
Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan reciprocated.
“You’re a new face. Is this your first time harvesting thunder under Jianxian’s guidance?”
Jianxian nodded.
Yibi laughed, “My two disciples are also venturing out for the first time. I think today, let’s let them try their hands.”
Jianxian nodded again.
Just then, another group arrived from the southeast, their robes a blend of purple and yellow.
“The Dragon-Tiger Mountain sect is here as well. All three have arrived,”
Yibi remarked.
Jianxian explained to Cheng Xinzhan, “The Mountain Blade division of the Celestial Capital Cave, Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Eastern Extreme Azure Palace, and our Sanqing Mountain’s Nine Heavens Numinous Palace—these are the three thunder palaces of Yuzhang, passed down from the ancient thunder division. The rest are not worth mentioning.”
Two from Dragon-Tiger Mountain arrived—a master and disciple, it seemed.
“Master, you said there would be many harvesting thunder today, but there aren’t many, are there?”
Meng Xuqing asked.
Yibi smiled, “Now is the transition between spring and summer, the time when thunder harvesters are fewest. I chose this moment to bring you out.”
“Why is it so few now?”
“In spring, the first thunder contains the laws of ‘initiative,’ ‘timing,’ and ‘vitality’; the Awakening of Insects thunder holds ‘penetration,’ ‘summoning,’ ‘awakening,’ and ‘shaking insects.’ So those are the busiest times for thunder harvesters. The Awakening of Insects thunder lasts several days or even over ten, so most people have already harvested. Now, as that thunder wanes, most still hold thunder mysteries within, creating a gap for thunder harvesting. In another half month, those who harvested the first thunder will resume, and crowds will swell again.”
Yibi glanced at the three sects, all bringing novices, and chuckled, “The spring transition is the best time for beginners to harvest thunder, so it’s customary for masters to bring their disciples. The thunder at this time is nicknamed ‘master-disciple thunder.’”
Cheng Xinzhan listened and nodded to himself. So that’s why Master Jianxian was eager for him to prepare thunder instruments—to catch this ‘master-disciple thunder.’
The two from the Celestial Master’s Palace approached, their purple-yellow robes splendid. The elder looked around fifty, square-faced, with thick black beard and hair; the younger was between Meng Xuqing, Meng Xuyi, and Cheng Xinzhan in age, with rosy lips, white teeth, and a purple-gold crown.
Since they were all in Yuzhang, cultivating thunder arts, Jianxian and Yibi knew them, though their seniority seemed higher, so both respectfully greeted him.
“Daoist Quanhe, boundless longevity.”
Daoist Quanhe had a commanding presence, thick brows, tiger eyes, and a flowing beard, his face stern and not easily approachable. But seeing the two sects greet him, each with a novice, he suddenly smiled,
“Master-disciple thunder, master-disciple thunder—today all three sects are harvesting it. What a coincidence!”
Yibi replied, “Indeed, a coincidence. We were just chatting; both our sects are bringing juniors for their first thunder harvest.”
Quanhe nodded, “The same here. Come, Zhenjing, greet your elders.”
The rosy-lipped young Daoist bowed, “Liang Zhenjing of Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Eastern Extreme Azure Palace, greetings.”
His manner was rather casual.
Jianxian and Yibi maintained composure and returned the gesture.

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“Well then, the thunder is about to strike, no need for long conversation—let’s each guide the thunder as best we can. One more thing: since it is master-disciple thunder, let the juniors go first. Before the thunderclouds disperse, we elders can act. Agreed?”
Quanhe showed no displeasure at his disciple’s attitude; rather, he was ending the conversation.
“Of course,”
Jianxian and Yibi agreed.
Quanhe took his young disciple to the second highest peak.
Meng Xuqing and Meng Xuyi showed indignation, “We were first…”
“No matter, let him go this time,”
Yibi soothed his disciples, then said to Jianxian and Cheng Xinzhan, “Daoist Jianxian, Xinzhan, we’ll take our leave and catch up after the thunder harvest.”
The two sects bid farewell; Divine Sky Sect took the third highest peak.
“Dragon-Tiger Mountain is always like this. You’ll see in time. That child is still young today; no need to mind it. The Divine Sky Sect’s Ancestor Sa was once instructed by the Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, so he respects them especially. But we Sanqing Mountain need not—it’s fine to stand your ground if you feel slighted.”
Master Jianxian spoke specifically to Cheng Xinzhan.
Cheng Xinzhan nodded—he hadn’t taken offense.
“Rumble-rumble!”
Thunder crashed, and after long brewing, the rain finally began to fall, nourishing the earth.
Thunder dragons swam through the clouds, flashing lightning illuminating the sky and land.
“Crack!”
Silver-purple thunder struck, descending like a tree of light from the clouds—sometimes a single tree, sometimes five or six, sometimes branches interwoven into a vast web of light.
Thunder was nothing new, but to experience it so closely and with total focus was a first for Cheng Xinzhan.
“Your sword belongs to the metal element, naturally attuned to thunder. You sought it out specially, so it must have unique properties. When I give the signal—once enough thunder has spread across the region—use your sword to touch the thunder. The higher the better; if someone else’s guiding instrument is above yours, you’ll lose out. But avoid entering the cloud itself—there, thunder is thick, and it can damage your instrument or sever your connection.
“The thunder will be drawn by your magical power to your instrument. Be sure to catch it with your gourd before it strikes your body. Later, you may be able to receive thunder directly with your body, but not now. The thunder I gave you before is not the same.
“Don’t worry—just do your best. With me here, nothing serious will happen.”
Thunder roared as Master Jianxian spoke quickly—he’d said much of this before, but in the face of thunder, repeated it again.
Cheng Xinzhan nodded, gazing at the thunder, right hand forming a sword seal. “High Truth” hovered by his side, left hand gripping “Manifest Form,” eyes locked on the vast net suspended between heaven and earth.
The youth’s face was calm, eyes reflecting lightning, heart tranquil as still water.

The following points must be explained to all readers:

1. Readers versed in thunder arts have pointed out that thunder is the primordial yang energy, and there is no ‘thunder essence’ as described. I apologize to those readers and to all adherents of the Thunder Ancestor. In this novel, ‘thunder essence’ is purely my invention, referring to the magical power formed after thunder is refined by the human body. Henceforth, I will research more thoroughly on related topics and thank the reader for their correction!

2. In this novel, the Dragon-Tiger Mountain generation poem is:
“Guard the Dao, illuminate virtue,
Perfect truth, restore harmony.
Sincerity proclaims the jade canon,
Loyalty expounds the golden code.
Soaring rivers contain primordial essence,
Great heights crown the grand cosmos.
Three mountains thrive ever stronger,
Blessed seas surge with mighty waves.
Vaulting heavens spread wondrous law,
Universal realms bear witness to the Celestial Capital.”
It was established by the thirty-first Celestial Master, Xu Jing. In this novel, it is used from the founding disciples onward, but only for disciples; the Celestial Master’s own generation is not included.

3. The Divine Sky Sect’s generation poem is taken from the lineage of Ancestor Sa of the Tian Mountain branch:
“Lone shoulders carry sun and moon, shining bright on rivers and mountains.
Righteousness fixes heaven and earth, virtue transforms the nation.
Emptiness comprehends subtle mysteries, extricating suffering for all beings.
Clarity awakens origin, crossing together to joy’s end.
Immortal law listens to Chan’s fate, great medicine yields true smoke.
Divine treasures descend upon the world, auspicious clouds manifest wonders.
Orchid opens in the dust, myriad phenomena flow naturally.
Golden light shines purple energy, nine heavens turn to illusion.
Times ever changing, transcending the ordinary alone.”

4. The three palaces mentioned are all from the thunder division, adapted for the three sects. The Nine Heavens Numinous Palace is a real site at Sanqing Mountain; the other two are assigned to the remaining sects as my own invention.

5. If any part is inappropriate, please let readers point it out.

(End of chapter)