22: Chapter 22 Fragments of the Thunder Emperor

Tian Zhen stood in the center of the grand hall, with the high-and-mighty Sect Master in front of him and two rows of Elders sitting upright on either side.

Sandalwood incense swirled inside the hall, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it had almost condensed into physical form. Massive stone pillars carved with coiled dragons supported a hundred-zhang-high dome, beneath which hung an ancient bell, its surface covered in profound lightning runes.

A majestic voice echoed through the grand hall.

“Tian Zhen, variant attribute lightning Spiritual Root, confirmed to be true. From this day forward, you shall enter the tutelage of the Spirit Sword Sect's Sect Master as his third Personal Disciple.”

This was the Sect Master taking a Disciple in person!

The gazes of all the Elders in the hall fell in unison upon the nine-year-old boy, filled with admiration, envy, and even a hint of jealousy.

A variant attribute lightning Spiritual Root—this was an Aptitude even rarer than a common Single Spiritual Root.

Lightning governed slaughter and was invincible among those of the same rank. Coupled with the Spirit Sword Sect's primary focus on the Dao of the sword, Sword Cultivators were the strongest in offensive power.

In the hundreds of years since the founding of the Spirit Sword Sect, they had never produced a Disciple with a single-attribute lightning Spiritual Root.

Tian Zhen knelt to the ground, his youthful voice sounding exceptionally crisp in the grand hall: “Disciple Tian Zhen bows in gratitude for the Sect Master's great benevolence!”

“Hu Shan is credited with a successful recommendation and is hereby promoted to an inner Sect deacon, to return to the Sect and report for duty once his term in Wanshan County ends. In addition, he is rewarded with one thousand Sect contribution points, two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and one High Grade Magical Artifact.”

Standing at the side of the hall, Hu Shan's face lit up with joy as he bowed in salute: “Many thanks, Sect Master!”

Wang Shouren's heart stirred slightly.

A High Grade Magical Artifact and two hundred thousand Spirit Stones—the weight of this reward far exceeded his expectations.

He did not know the exact value of one thousand contribution points, but since it was listed before these two items, its value was likely even higher.

It seemed Hu Shan had truly secured a monumental achievement this time; the High Grade Magical Artifact alone was worth more than the entire Wang clan's savings over more than a decade.

No wonder he had been willing to painfully part with a foundation establishment pill to appease the Wang family. Compared to this reward, what did a single foundation establishment pill matter?

In the grand hall, the apprenticeship ceremony was complete.

Just as the Sect Master was about to dismiss the assembly, a white-haired Elder suddenly spoke up.

“Sect Master, regarding Tian Zhen's Cultivation Technique, should we reconsider it? Do we truly want him to practice the Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method? He possesses a variant attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root; if he only Cultivates the Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method, it would be a bit too much of a pity.”

The Sect Master fell silent for a moment, his voice turning somber.

“It is precisely because he has a variant attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root that we cannot afford to take risks.

Over the past decades, how many Disciples with lightning-attribute Spiritual Roots has our Spirit Sword Sect lost?

That Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual has claimed the lives of three exceptionally gifted Core Disciples, one of whom was even the direct grandson of the previous Sect Master.

“There is no need to discuss this matter further. Tian Zhen's Cultivation Technique shall be set as the Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method.”

As the words 'Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method' entered his Sea of Consciousness, Wang Shouren's heart leapt violently.

What he Cultivated was the Azure Wood Thunder Formula from the Wang family's Scripture Pavilion. Though the name was unremarkable, it had been obtained by a Foundation Establishment ancestor of the Wang family after slaying a demonic Cultivator.

Of upper-middle rank and possessing both lightning and wood attributes, it was sufficient to Cultivate all the way to the Core Formation stage. In a small place like Baishan County, it was already considered top-tier.

It was precisely by relying on this Cultivation Technique that the power of his lightning techniques far surpassed that of Cultivators in the same realm, allowing him to contend for so long against four rogue Cultivators in formation at Qinhu Mountain.

Yet the Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method was a whole major rank higher than the Azure Wood Thunder Formula. It was a High Grade lightning Dao Cultivation Technique recorded by the Spirit Sword Sect, upright and grand, with a solid Foundation, and its Cultivation speed was even faster than his Azure Wood Thunder Formula.

The Sect's Elders had also said that the hope of reaching Core Formation by practicing this Cultivation Technique was much greater. But why did the Sect Master and that Elder seem unsatisfied with this in their conversation?

The Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual.

Over the past decades, several Disciples with lightning Spiritual Roots had died, even including the direct grandson of the previous Sect Master.

Even though they knew it was a path to death, people still went one after another to try.

Just what was the origin of this Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual?

Could it be... even more terrifying than the Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method?

His heart began to race.

An idea rose from the depths of his heart. At first, it was just a faint spark, but in an instant, it flared into a raging wildfire.

If Tian Zhen could browse that Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual, he, Wang Shouren, would be able to simultaneously perceive everything through the black lotus divine seed.

Such an Opportunity to peer directly into the core Legacy of the Spirit Sword Sect was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Yet he was also well aware that Tian Zhen had no Foundation in the Spirit Sword Sect yet. How could a nine-year-old child, who had just entered the Sect Master's tutelage, influence such a major matter?

Forcing the issue would only backfire.

But there was no harm in trying; the cost was small, and if it succeeded, it would be a massive Opportunity.

With this thought, Wang Shouren hesitated no longer.

Standing at the entrance of the Linggu Firm, his eyes closed slightly, the black lotus on his forehead twitched, and an extremely faint Divine Thought shot out along the invisible pathways deep within the lotus seed.

At the same time, in the grand hall of the Spirit Sword Sect's floating main peak.

Tian Zhen was prostrate on the cold black jade floor, his forehead pressed against the ground, waiting for the great figures above to finish their discussion.

His body remained in a bowing posture, not daring to move in the slightest.

The grand hall was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard, with only the rustling of robes as the Elders occasionally exchanged glances.

No one noticed that beneath the boy's lowered eyelids, an extremely faint black light flashed and vanished deep within his pupils.

That black light came and went quickly, like a dark shadow gliding across the water's surface.

Tian Zhen's body stiffened for an imperceptible moment before returning to normal—at least, so it seemed to onlookers.

Yet deep within his Divine Soul, a black lotus seed was glowing faintly.

Wang Shouren's voice did not directly appear in Tian Zhen's consciousness.

The lotus seed had only recently been planted, and its control power was limited; it could not yet transmit clear instructions across hundreds of miles.

But he could project an intention.

It was not 'you must do this,' but something far more subtle.

Like a seed falling into the soil of emotion, naturally taking root and sprouting.

Curiosity was silently magnified, and fear was gently brushed aside.

The ripples stirred by the words 'Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual' in the boy's heart expanded outward, ring by ring.

Tian Zhen slowly raised his head.

Beside him, Hu Shan frowned slightly, but was stopped by a glance from the Sect Master.

The Sect Master looked at his newly accepted young Disciple with great interest and asked, “Tian Zhen, do you have something to say?”

“Sect Master, Elders.”

Tian Zhen's voice was still a bit childish, yet exceptionally firm. “Disciple wishes to... take a look at that Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual.”

The entire hall fell into an uproar.

“Nonsense!” The white-haired Elder who had spoken on Tian Zhen's behalf just moments ago underwent a drastic change in expression.

He said sternly, “Do you know what that Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual is? Three Core Disciples with dual-attribute lightning Spiritual Roots died because of it! You are a mere child who has not even entered the threshold of Qi Refining, what are you looking at it for!”

Another Elder also shook his head and sighed, “Tian Zhen, this old man knows you have high aspirations, but that Thunder Emperors Fragmented Manual... forget it, that is not a Cultivation Technique, it is a death warrant.”

The Sect Master remained silent, merely gazing quietly at Tian Zhen.

Meeting the Sect Master's gaze, there was not the slightest retreat on Tian Zhen's youthful face.

He did not know why he was so persistent either; it was just that in that previous instant, he had developed an uncontrollable curiosity toward that legendary, forbidden Cultivation Technique.

That curiosity came without any reason, yet it was so intense.

“Disciple knows it is dangerous,” Tian Zhen kowtowed.

“Disciple does not dare to hope to Cultivate it immediately. I only... want to look at it, just a single glance.”