89: Chapter 89 Thunderous Tide

When Zhang Wen walked out of the Martial Arts Field, the lingering charm of the purple lightning on his fingertips had not yet dissipated.

The overbearing nature of the Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder was already known to all, but if he kept the "Ten Thousand Rivers Return to the Ocean" hidden deep in his Bloodline, wouldn't it be a waste?

Besides, this talent could absorb all water-type spiritual power in the world, embracing everything like a river or sea.

What would it look like if these two powers were twisted into one?

This thought had taken root in Meteorite Valley, and now, after Elder Feng pointed out the subtlety of Thunder Power, it grew like wild grass.

Thunder and water: one is a sharp blade that splits the firmament, the other a deep ravine that contains all rivers.

He needed an answer, one that could merge these two trump cards.

He thought of his teacher, Lin Mo, whom he had apprenticed under specifically because of his expertise in elemental Fusion.

Deep in the academy, the entrance to Lin Mo's place remained quiet. Zhang Wen's hand paused as he reached to knock, but he eventually knocked anyway.

"Come in."

Inside, Lin Mo was using Qi to guide a wisp of flame, tracing winding fire patterns in the air.

Seeing Zhang Wen enter, he casually dispersed the flame.

"Elder Feng was full of praise for you at the Martial Arts Field today; it seems your Thunder Power has improved again."

Zhang Wen did not respond, walking straight to the desk, his gaze falling on the glass cup filled with rainwater.

"Teacher, Disciple has been thinking lately that the power of a single element is ultimately limited. If two powers could complement each other..."

His fingertips moved slightly, and a wisp of purple lightning quietly emerged, exploding into fine sparks in mid-air.

Immediately after, he calmly drew a wisp of water vapor from the glass cup, letting it circle the Lightning Radiance.

This was the limit of what he could do; any more, and the aura of Ten Thousand Rivers Return to the Ocean would be exposed.

"Just like this."

Zhang Wen raised his eyes, his gaze carrying a deliberately suppressed urgency. "If Thunder and water could be fused into one technique, would it be stronger than using them separately?"

"Disciple wishes to use it as... a backup plan for handling crises."

Lin Mo put down his hand and picked up a teapot to pour a cup of tea for Zhang Wen; tiny tea hairs floated in the pale golden tea soup.

"Thunder and water may seem hard and soft, but they actually contain the Dao of mutual generation."

"Look at this rain. Ordinary rain nourishes things silently, but when it meets lightning, it can bring withered wood back to life, stimulating stronger vitality—this is the foundation of the Fusion of two elements."

He tapped his fingertips on the table, and water vapor suddenly rose from the teacup, condensing into a small cloud in mid-air.

Lin Mo flicked his finger, and an imperceptible Lightning Radiance fell into the cloud; the water vapor instantly turned into fine rain.

Each raindrop was wrapped in a wisp of pale golden Lightning Radiance, falling into the celadon plate on the table with a crisp "patter" sound.

"Water is the form, Thunder is the bone."

Lin Mo pointed to the raindrops containing Lightning Radiance. "Water can carry Thunder, making Thunder Power more than just a reckless strike."

"Instead, it becomes a dense net that can spread over a large area and penetrate through the water flow."

"Conversely, Thunder can add sharpness to the water's momentum. Water arrows wrapped in Lightning Radiance can easily pierce defenses that ordinary water currents cannot."

To combine the two elements: "The key is 'seeping' and 'wrapping'."

"Let the Thunder Power seep into the gaps of the water molecules like silk threads, then use the water's momentum to twist these lightning threads into one, retaining the water's agility while carrying the Thunder's overbearing nature."

"Like those raindrops just now, they look like water, but touching them feels like the sharpness of Thunder. This is the most basic method of Fusion."

Zhang Wen looked at the raindrops wrapped in Lightning Radiance in the celadon plate, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his knees as a scene from the depths of Meteorite Valley flashed through his mind.

At that time, to kill the Star Pattern Beast, he had activated his Ten Thousand Rivers Return to the Ocean talent, drawing surrounding water vapor into water-binding ropes.

Before that, he had just used Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder, and residual lightning power remained in the air.

The moment the water binding wrapped around the Star Pattern Beast, the water vapor inexplicably carried a hint of numbness.

The Vicious Beast, which could have broken free, slowed down for half a breath—he had thought it was a coincidence at the time, just the aftermath of the Tribulation Thunder.

Now, looking at the jumping Lightning Radiance in the raindrops, Zhang Wen realized.

It was not a coincidence.

The water vapor drawn by Ten Thousand Rivers Return to the Ocean had quietly absorbed the residual lightning breath in the air; the two talents had completed a rough but real Fusion without him noticing.

That numbness was the trace of the initial Fusion between Thunder and water.

"Disciple understands."

Zhang Wen nodded, subconsciously condensing a wisp of Thunder Power at his fingertips and drawing water from the table, trying to make them touch.

Lin Mo watched the subtle reaction as the purple lightning and the water droplet entwined at his fingertips, a flash of surprise in his eyes, followed by a gentle smile.

"Take your time to ponder. The path of elements fears impatience above all else."

"Besides, my 'Flame of the Silent Sea' is a talent where water and fire coexist, so I am quite familiar with the ways of elemental Fusion."

Lin Mo tapped the table, and a cluster of eerie blue flames rose from the ice flower in the water bowl, water and fire entangled but not interfering with each other.

"Although your Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder is overbearing, if it remains pure Thunder Power, it will take more effort to explore the path of Fusion."

Zhang Wen's heart tightened, but he remained calm, bowing his head as he spoke.

"Disciple understands. It was just a sudden realization during Cultivate, so I came to ask Teacher for advice, not out of impatience."

He tightened his grip; Lin Mo's remark, though casual, felt like a needle pricking the secret of his Ten Thousand Rivers Return to the Ocean.

The teacher had long seen through it; the Fusion of single elements is inherently difficult, and he wasn't trying to dampen his confidence.

Thinking about it, the secret of his two talents had become an advantage others couldn't reach.

Lin Mo watched his tense shoulders relax, thinking he has resolved his confusion, and smiled.

"It is good that you have this mindset. On the path of Cultivate, it is always right to have a few backup plans."

Zhang Wen said goodbye. Walking out of the bamboo forest, the evening breeze carried water vapor across his cheek.

He raised his hand, and a wisp of purple lightning and a drop of clear water appeared in his palm. This time, the Thunder was not violent, the water not slow; they gently touched in his palm, emitting a faint halo.

This was his future trump card.

As for dinner... perhaps he should find a quiet place to figure out what to call this first move of "Thunder and Water Fusion."

When his stomach growled, he suddenly thought, "Startling Thunder, Falling Tide" sounds pretty good? It sounds loud, and it's the kind that can fill his stomach.