66: Chapter 66 The Ten Directions Fierce Thunder Becomes Small

In the center of the scorched pit, Wang Shouren was still standing.

His skin was covered in dense cracks, and his entire body looked like a piece of shattered porcelain pieced back together, yet the crimson-gold light at the edges of those cracks was even more dazzling.

Slowly clenching his fists, he felt the unprecedented power within his body; that was not a mere increase in Qi, but a comprehensive transformation from his Physical Body to his Aptitude.

After a brief inner inspection, Wang Shouren's joy was readily apparent on his Face.

"Originally, after recultivating, my Meridians were twice as wide, but now, the toughness and width of my Meridians are more than ten times greater than before!"

What did this represent? A spell that ordinary Cultivators took ten breaths to release, he could do in a single breath, and its power would be even greater.

Fierce Thunder True Body, initially formed.

"This?" Hua Shaoyang's voice became shrill and out of tune, "How is it possible that he's not dead! By what right is he not dead!"

Elder Hua was silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "The Cultivation Technique he practices is extraordinary; it can absorb heavenly lightning for Body Refining. However, such high-grade, overbearing Cultivation Techniques tend to become increasingly difficult to Cultivate, and their resource requirements will increase hundreds of times. Without the support of a large Family or a major Sect, at most he will only reach Foundation Establishment and have no further future to speak of."

This was common sense in the Immortal Realm; it was equivalent to having two Cultivation Techniques—one high and one low—placed before oneself.

As long as one's Aptitude was sufficient, a low-grade Cultivation Technique only required accumulating ten years of resources to reach Foundation Establishment, whereas a high-grade Cultivation Technique required accumulating fifty or a hundred years of resources.

The low resources required by low-grade Cultivation Techniques also meant a low ceiling for the Cultivator, but as long as they grew strong quickly, there would still be opportunities to switch to another Cultivation Technique at an opportune time later on.

High-grade Cultivation Techniques had a high ceiling but required more resources. Such Cultivation Techniques were not prepared for ordinary people; only those with abundant financial and material resources would choose them.

Wealth, companion, method, land—there was a reason why wealth ranked first.

Looking over, Hu Shan slowly loosened the fingers he had kept behind his back, a flash of extremely complicated light crossing his eyes as he muttered to himself in a low voice: "The Wang Family, it's best not to offend them to the death."

The thunderclouds dispersed completely, and the daylight fell once more.

The rubble at the edge of the scorched pit was still emitting blue smoke, and the air was permeated with a scorching scent after being burned by lightning and fire.

Amidst the breathless and concentrated gazes of the crowd, that figure walked out of the scorched pit step by step.

The cracks on his skin peeled off piece by piece as he walked, looking like shattered porcelain revealing the warm white jade within. Where the cracks fell off, the newborn skin emitted a faint ivory luster in the sunlight, its texture well-proportioned and taut, covering a skeleton with just the right proportions.

Broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with slender limbs, every single muscle looked like fine steel left behind after being repeatedly tempered by heavenly lightning.

That Face, previously obscured by old skin, was finally revealed. His cheekbones were sharply defined yet retained a softness, and the black lotus at the center of his brows dotted him like ink.

The Loose Cultivators were dumbfounded, and a female Cultivator in the Ning Family's group blurted out subconsciously: "So handsome."

As soon as the words left her mouth, her expression changed drastically, and she looked around anxiously, fearing that her fellow clansmen would hear her, yet not a single member of the Ning Family turned to look at her.

Their gazes were entirely nailed to the young man walking out of the scorched pit.

"It really was him Undergoing Tribulation." Someone said softly; the voice wasn't loud, yet it appeared exceptionally clear in this dead silence.

Many people wore complicated expressions. That was the number one person of the Wang Family's third generation. Having been in secluded cultivation for two years, upon emerging he drew down the Lightning Tribulation and used heavenly lightning for Body Refining. Such talent, let alone in the Three Counties, was unheard of even if placed within the Spirit Sword Sect and the Baihua Sect.

Yet just moments ago, they had been watching from beneath the arena as the Wang Family was beaten so hard they couldn't lift their heads. Thinking about it now, if Wang Shouren had been there, the Wang Family might not necessarily have lost.

"It's a pity, it's already too late; the match is over. But why hasn't that arrogant Ning Chuan been seen? Wasn't he shouting the loudest just now?"

Elder Hua stood with his hands behind his back atop the crane's back, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he suddenly spoke, breaking the silence: "Your name is Wang Shouren? This old man is an Elder of the Baihua Sect. Are you willing to enter my Baihua Sect? With this old man personally recommending you, an Inner Sect Disciple quota is yours for the taking. With your Aptitude, achieving Core Formation in the future is not beyond expectation."

The crowd was once again startled.

An Elder of the Baihua Sect was personally recruiting him, and as an Inner Sect Disciple at that.

Ning Liandie had spent two years bowing and scraping in the Baihua Sect, yet to this day she was merely an Outer Sect Disciple.

Hu Shan's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly stepped forward, speaking before Wang Shouren could reply.

"Nephew Wang, the Baihua Sect only recruits female Cultivators. Although there are exceptions, it is still not the optimal choice.

My Spirit Sword Sect is the true orthodox path of the sword. Since you Cultivate lightning techniques, there is a superior lightning Cultivation Technique, the Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method, within the Scripture Pavilion of the Spirit Sword Sect, which is countless times better than you figuring things out through self-study.

After returning to the Sect, this official can recommend you to the inner Sect. This official is still capable of contending for an Inner Sect Disciple quota."

Standing behind the crowd, Ning Liandie watched as two usually lofty Foundation Establishment Cultivators scrambled to extend olive branches to the Young Lord of a country Family, feeling a complex mix of emotions in her heart.

She had exhausted all her wits just to enter the outer Sect of the Baihua Sect, putting on smiling Faces, enduring grievances, and attaching herself to Hua Shaoyang; yet using all her methods, she was still nothing more than a dog at the feet of an Inner Sect Disciple.

And Wang Shouren merely stood there, causing Elder-level figures from both Sects to compete to recruit him.

She unconsciously clenched her cuffs.

"Five Thunders Sword Canon Orthodox Method?" Wang Shouren felt somewhat like laughing inside. He had long since synchronized this Cultivation Technique from Tian Zhen, and a complete Divine Thought imprint was still stored within his mud pill palace.

"What is Tian Zhen's cultivation level now?" He suddenly spoke.

Hu Shan was startled, frowned, and said: "With a Single Spiritual Root, his cultivation speed is fast, and backed by Sect resources, Martial Nephew Tian has already reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining. Are you worried about past grievances with Tian Zhen?

There is no need for that. After entering the Sect, the past becomes like passing smoke. In the two years since entering the Sect, Martial Nephew Tian has never mentioned any grievances with the Wang Family; this official can guarantee that."

Wang Shouren cupped his fists: "The Wang Family thanks the two Seniors for witnessing this, and also thanks the Elder for your high regard, but I currently have no plans to enter a Sect."

Elder Hua's expression sank.

A trace of extremely hidden coldness also flashed in Hu Shan's eyes. Since this boy was unwilling to enter the Spirit Sword Sect, given time to grow, the Three Counties would gain yet another uncontrollable variable.

Wang Yaozu saw this clearly from the side, and his heart tightened.

Having lived for the better part of his lifetime, he was all too familiar with that look—it was a look that harbored killing intent.

Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators—if they truly wanted to do something unfavorable to Shouren, Sixth Uncle might not necessarily be able to stop them.

"However, the Wang Family belongs within the sphere of influence of the Spirit Sword Sect and will naturally follow the commands of the Spirit Sword Sect alone."

Wang Shouren's voice sounded once more, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Senior Hu is furthermore the county lord of this place. The grace of your righteous assistance today, the Wang Family will engrave in our hearts. In the future, when Senior returns to the Sect to report on your duties, this Junior will definitely personally visit the Spirit Sword Sect to pay my respects."

The coldness on Hu Shan's Face slowly melted away, and Wang Yaozu's clenched fists quietly relaxed.

Wang Chongyang stood with his hands behind his back atop the mountain rocks, a trace of an almost imperceptible smile rising on his aged Face as he thought inwardly: This child, the layout he arranged two years ago was a matter within the clan, and two years later, he even masters the boundaries of the game between the two Sects without the slightest error.

The Wang Family belonged under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Sword Sect, so their backing could only be the Spirit Sword Sect; they could not act like fence-sitters trying to please both sides, otherwise they would end up pleasing neither side.

Shouren rejected Elder Hua but gave plenty of Face to Hu Shan; even he himself might not always be able to achieve such sobriety.

Hua Shaoyang suddenly sneered, snapping his folding fan open with a slap: "People look down on our Baihua Sect. Elder, let's go. But before we leave—the matter of the wager, it's time to honor it, right?"

Wang Shouren frowned and looked at his father: "What wager?"

Wang Yaozu's expression dimmed, unable to suppress the surging guilt: "It's your father's uselessness. Hua Shaoyang used a Lifespan fruit as a stake, wanting Qingyan to follow him back to the Baihua Sect to be his Dao Companion.

When we disagreed, a best-of-three clan battle was settled. Shouyi won the first match; that Ning Liandie took medicine for a sneak attack and still ended up defeated in the end. But in the next two matches, the Ning Family produced a Ning Chuan whose Cultivation Technique was bizarre, and Shoucheng was beaten by him..."

He could not go on.

Wang Shouren's expression grew cold inch by inch.

Just as he was about to speak again, Wang Yaozu suddenly shuddered all over.

A jade plaque flew out from the Storage Pouch at his waist; that was the echoing jade plaque for the soul lamps of the Wang Family members. If a person was safe and sound, the jade plaque would be warm and lustrous with light.

At this moment, this jade plaque was suspended in mid-air, trembling violently, and a crack on the jade's surface was spreading at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Qingyan's life plaque!" Wang Yaozu cried out involuntarily.

Under the gaze of the crowd, the crack on the jade plaque extended all the way from the edge to the center, and finally stopped.