Volume One: The Beginning of Immortality Chapter Twelve: The Mysterious Thunder Technique

This time, Cai Kun was determined to fight in earnest. It seemed that seventy percent of his power could not harm his opponent; yet this boded well—Zhou Yue could now unleash his full strength.

“Great Sun Radiance!”

“Young man, even I hesitate to use this move lightly. I had planned to save it for the top hundred, but to deal with you, I must reveal my ultimate card ahead of time.”

Cai Kun raised both hands above his head, and from his palms, a sun the size of a football coalesced. The space itself trembled; there was no doubt this was a deadly technique.

A miniature sun hurtled toward him. Zhou Yue wanted to dodge, but his legs would not obey. Under the overwhelming brilliance of the spell, his legs trembled uncontrollably—not so much from fear, but from sheer tension; in that moment, he forgot to command his body to move.

“Cut.”

As the small sun descended, Zhou Yue crossed his arms to block it. The searing heat scorched his hands, then exploded, blasting him seven or eight meters away. His clothing was burned away at the sleeves, and his wrists were laced with countless blood vessels.

“As expected of someone at the sixth level of Qi Training—truly formidable,” Zhou Yue thought.

“But it’s not enough.”

He knew hesitation would mean defeat; he had to end this quickly.

Still standing? Cai Kun could not believe it. How could Zhou Yue, after surviving the slashing power of the Great Sun Radiance, still move?

Impossible—utterly impossible. He was only at the fourth level of Qi Training; how could he withstand such a move? Yet Cai Kun’s eyes did not deceive him. Had Zhou Yue not cultivated the Invincible Body Tempering Technique, undergone herbal baths, and consumed body tempering pills, he would have surely died.

“How is this possible? Is Zhou Yue really only at the fourth level of Qi Training? He could withstand that attack?”

“Amazing! No wonder he’s Elder Chu’s disciple—well done!”

“Zhou Yue is simply not human…”

The onlooking outer sect disciples were abuzz with discussion.

This battle was unlike the previous one with Fan Tao, who was ranked only in the seven hundreds. This time, Zhou Yue faced a challenger from the top two hundred—a focal point for many outer disciples, so their excitement was understandable.

Yet amid their chatter, Zhou Yue knew he must now go all out—or defeat would be his.

He darted forward step by step, closing in on Cai Kun. Cai Kun, wielding his spirit sword, slashed at Zhou Yue.

Their contest of sword and fist was evenly matched for a time. Had Zhou Yue not feared Cai Kun’s sword, Cai Kun would have fallen long ago, for Zhou Yue carried no spirit weapons or magical treasures.

Cai Kun took several punches, while Zhou Yue bore a few sword cuts.

Thankfully, half an incense stick’s time later, Cai Kun’s stamina and spiritual energy began to wane, while Zhou Yue’s condition only improved—his attacks grew sharper, as if the earlier exchange had merely warmed him up.

After half an incense’s time, Cai Kun’s defeat became inevitable. Zhou Yue seized the moment, delivering a fatal punch, and Cai Kun fell again. This time, Zhou Yue did not hesitate—he pressed his weight atop his opponent.

“Do you admit defeat?” Zhou Yue shouted.

“Yes…yes…I admit defeat…” Cai Kun gasped weakly.

“What? The fourth level of Qi Training actually won?”

“Zhou Yue, incredible!”

“No wonder he’s Elder Chu’s disciple—his strength is extraordinary!”

“… …”

For a moment, the outer sect disciples of the Hundred Arts Sect cheered for Zhou Yue.

How close! Without the Invincible Body Tempering Technique, I never could have won, Zhou Yue thought.

“Zhou Yue is victorious!” announced the elder overseeing the Dragon-Tiger Rankings.

“Zhou Yue, why do you use only physical techniques and not spells? We are cultivators, not mere martial artists,” the elder pressed.

“Reporting to the elder, I obtained two manuals in the scripture repository—one did not meet my cultivation requirements, and the other was for body tempering. Thus, I could only use physical techniques,” Zhou Yue replied.

“Oh, so that’s the reason. In that case, I shall grant you a scroll of the Profound Thunder Technique. Study it well, and in future, use less physical combat—don’t let others mistake us for humble martial artists.” The elder produced a scroll from his storage pouch and presented it to Zhou Yue.

“Your disciple Zhou Yue is deeply grateful.” Zhou Yue calmly accepted the Profound Thunder Technique.

Gaining another spell, Zhou Yue felt a surge of joy—at last, he could set aside the brute force of physical combat.

Upon returning to his cave, Zhou Yue began studying the Profound Thunder Technique, which comprised three levels: the first, Summoning Thunder, could call forth heavenly lightning to strike a target; the second, Thunder Sphere, allowed him to form a thunderball between his hands, its power tenfold greater than Summoning Thunder; the third, Thunder Sever, let him condense a blade of lightning at his palm, and with a flash, charge at his opponent—the blade could pierce even refined iron.

While cultivating Profound Thunder, Zhou Yue also continued to practice the Invincible Body Tempering Technique. This technique also had three levels: the first made his physique comparable to the ninth level of Qi Training; the second, invincible below Foundation Establishment; the third, body like refined iron, form like Vajra—able to withstand a full-force attack from a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

At present, Zhou Yue had only reached the first level of the Invincible Body Tempering Technique, and not yet perfected it. Such was its monstrous difficulty.

After several days’ cultivation, Zhou Yue brought the Profound Thunder Technique to minor mastery.

The Invincible Body Tempering Technique was not only a body tempering method, but also a Qi Training technique—a dual cultivation of body and magic, its effects profound.

The incantation for cultivating the Invincible Body Tempering Technique:

Thunder rolls mightily,
Cleansing marrow and veins,
Dao resonating thunderously,
Body like profound thunder,
Supreme profound thunder,
Tempering my form…

As the incantation instructed to use thunder to temper his body, Zhou Yue thought to try summoning profound thunder for this purpose.

He tried, and unexpectedly, under the assaults of summoned thunder, his Invincible Body Tempering Technique reached perfection within days. However, the technique also warned: one must balance its fierce energy with gentle arts or nourishing treasures, lest excessive force lead to ruin.

In his first month, Zhou Yue faced several challenges—all ending in victory. The message was clear: Zhou Yue was not to be trifled with.

With the first month’s end, Zhou Yue received the benefits of being in the second tier: his cave was upgraded to a location with richer spiritual energy, he gained contribution points, and was awarded a vial of spiritual spring water. This spring was far superior to the one Su Xiaosheng had discovered half a year prior—no side effects, no pill toxins, it boosted cultivation and, more importantly, tempered the fierce energy brought by the Invincible Body Tempering Technique. Balancing this inner force was crucial. Sadly, there was only a single vial—how wonderful it would be to have more.

Upon inquiry, Zhou Yue learned that even this small vial of spiritual spring water cost five hundred contribution points. For a servant disciple, ten years of saving would not suffice to buy it.

Fortunately, Zhou Yue had ample points, but did not plan to spend them on spring water—instead, he would purchase herbs to refine pills, thereby earning more points, and ultimately buying more spring water.