52: Chapter 52 Thunder Covers the Sun

Seven days later.

The sky was gloomy, and a storm was approaching.

Wudang Mountain summit.

A peculiar palace stood tall atop the peak.

This was the site of the Wudang Mountain wonder: the Thunder Fire Refining Hall.

A cold wind brushed against the face.

It felt somewhat chilly.

At this moment, two people were standing in the wind.

“Little Bai Zhu, I didn't expect that after several years, your cultivation would have reached such heights!”

Daoist Qingwei said with a sigh of emotion.

“It is only because my Senior Brothers were modest and let me win!”

Bai Zhu smiled and replied humbly.

Daoist Qingwei also praised with satisfaction: “Not arrogant in victory, nor discouraged in defeat. Good, very good!”

Hearing Daoist Qingwei's praise, Bai Zhu bowed slightly: “Daoist, you overpraise me!”

“By Zhenwu above, this old Daoist is not lying. It has only been a little over two months since the Spiritual Qi revival, yet you have already birthed Internal Energy. Furthermore, at the assembly, your explanation of Martial Dao cultivation was profound and thorough. Such talent is truly extraordinary!”

Daoist Qingwei looked at Bai Zhu, his affection for the youth evident in his expression.

At the Daoist Discourse Assembly, Bai Zhu had defeated everyone and claimed the top spot.

And that wasn't all.

He had also generously shared the process of cultivating Internal Energy.

The dangers involved, the precautions, and the principles.

It was all perfectly logical and clear.

Not only was the younger generation greatly inspired, but even old Daoists like Qingwei benefited immensely.

Those young Daoists now held Bai Zhu in the highest esteem.

There was even a subtle trend of regarding him as the Eldest Senior Brother.

All Daoists under heaven are one family, and 'Eldest Senior Brother' is also another title for the leader of the Daoist community.

If Bai Zhu were to become the Eldest Senior Brother, then once this older generation passed on, the leadership of the Daoist community would naturally fall to him.

Now, Bai Zhu had not only won the championship in one fell swoop but had also shown an extremely magnanimous side.

This set a benchmark for the younger generation of the Daoist sects.

For a thousand years, the conduct of the Daoist Eldest Senior Brother has basically influenced an entire generation of the Daoist path.

And now, Bai Zhu's actions left the older generation extremely satisfied.

Faced with Daoist Qingwei's praise, Bai Zhu felt a bit embarrassed.

“You're actually shy!”

Daoist Qingwei immediately teased: “Hahaha, the mountain wind is a bit cold. This old Daoist can't compare to a young man like you, so go ahead and wander around on your own!”

With that, Daoist Qingwei laughed heartily, turned around, and began walking down.

The path at the summit was not easy to walk, but Daoist Qingwei was not affected in the slightest, descending the peak with fluid grace.

Seeing Daoist Qingwei depart, Bai Zhu turned his gaze toward the great hall before him.

The Thunder Fire Refining Hall.

A wonder of the ages.

Bai Zhu had specifically stayed behind to witness it.

The dark sky grew even more oppressive.

It felt heavy enough to make one breathless.

But this low pressure did not last long.

A rolling sound of thunder rang out.

Within the dark clouds, a flash of bright white vanished in an instant.

“It's coming!”

Bai Zhu's eyes lit up, and he widened his gaze.

He could feel the staggering energy in the sky.

And it was getting closer and closer.

Until a certain moment.

Crack!!!

Rumble!!!

A clap of thunder instantly lit up the sky.

Blinding light filled his entire field of vision.

Then.

For the first time, Bai Zhu witnessed the wonder of the Thunder Fire Refining Hall.

A silver-white bolt of lightning cleaved through the world, striking directly onto the bronze hall before him.

In an instant.

The roof of the hall emitted a dazzling light.

Golden flames soared into the sky.

Amidst the divine mystery, there was a sense of soul-shaking awe.

Rumble!

It didn't stop there.

In the next moment, another bolt struck, and the golden flames rose even higher.

“It truly deserves its name as a wonder of the ages!!!”

Bai Zhu was as excited as a child, watching the scene without even blinking.

But, it was precisely because of this.

That he experienced the most unforgettable moment of his life.

Within those rolling golden flames, a dazzling ball of lightning suddenly emerged.

Streaks of crackling electricity continuously manifested.

Boom!!!

The violent sound instantly drowned out everything else.

Bai Zhu watched the scene in disbelief.

Dozens of silver-white lightning strikes descended like whips.

The dazzling lightning ball suddenly flared with light, and silver-white whiskers like tentacles danced continuously.

The entire space was filled with static electricity that made one's whole body go numb.

Bai Zhu watched in disbelief as his disheveled hair stood on end.

And in the next moment.

The silver light filling the sky suddenly retracted.

Before Bai Zhu could react, it surged toward him with a roar.

It instantly sank into his chest and vanished.

“I...”

Bai Zhu felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his whole body trembling.

His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed into a faint.

The sudden, explosive thunder also startled everyone on Wudang Mountain.

The Disciples on duty scrambled up to investigate.

When the unconscious Bai Zhu appeared before the Disciples' eyes, the entire Wudang Mountain erupted in chaos.

Subsequently.

That wasn't all.

Even Daoist Taixu, far away at Laojun Temple, rushed over in a hurry.

Five days later.

Many Disciples of Laojun Temple arrived and, under the guidance of Daoist Taixu, escorted Bai Zhu back to the mountain.

...

Three days later.

Laojun Temple.

A layer of thick, dark clouds shrouded the entire Laojun Temple.

From time to time, muffled thunder rumbled, making people's hearts skip a beat.

At first, these dark clouds didn't attract much attention.

Thunder on a cloudy day was, after all, all too common.

But ten days later, it caught people's attention.

Because these dark clouds had shrouded Laojun Temple for a full ten days.

The black clouds weigh down on the city, as if to crush it!

With each passing day, the dark clouds grew a bit larger.

Coupled with the silver-white lightning that rolled through them from time to time.

It suddenly drew the attention of many netizens.

At this juncture.

The back mountain hall of Laojun Temple.

Several figures were looking up at the sky.

Taixu and Taixuan were among them.

“Senior Brother, what do you think is going on with this kid Bai Zhu!?”

“Is he Undergoing Tribulation, or is he about to achieve Ascension?!”

Taixuan looked at the rolling thunder in the sky with a face full of shock.

This place was the center of the entire mass of dark clouds.

He could constantly feel the violent power of lightning in the sky.

“By the Three Pure Ones.”

Daoist Taixu also looked at the sky with a heavy expression.

After a moment, he slowly said in a deep voice: “This old man doesn't know exactly what happened, but I believe Bai Zhu should be at a most critical juncture. If he passes, there will be peace; if not...”

He didn't continue, but the hearts of everyone around him sank.

“Alas!”

A sigh made everyone feel even more somber.

In the hall behind them.

Bai Zhu's eyes were tightly shut, and his body was floating in mid-air.

His entire body emitted a silver light, and fine streaks of silver-white lightning manifested from time to time.

Striking the ground and leaving it scorched black.

...

At the same time.

The wonder at Laojun Temple also attracted the attention of some people.

During this period, abnormal phenomena were being discovered all over the world from time to time.

These abnormal phenomena were often accompanied by some miraculous items.

The dark clouds that had lingered over Laojun Temple for ten days were gradually being recognized by people as such a wonder.

“Such a grand wonder, not dispersing for days but instead growing more intense—there's bound to be some shocking good stuff there!”

Several dark figures were quietly lurking in the back mountains of Laojun Temple.

With the great changes in heaven and earth, martial arts could be cultivated, and the human body had once again gained the ability to Breakthrough its limits.

As the place with the richest heritage of martial arts, China was naturally being targeted.

This group of people were precisely infiltrators.

“Laojun Temple is a Daoist Holy Land, its martial arts heritage must be profound, and since this wonder was born here, there's likely a treasure emerging! As long as we get any one thing, we can definitely go back and enjoy life! The girls back home are as gentle as water, it makes one so nostalgic.”

Greed flashed in the leader's eyes, and his voice was full of temptation.

In an instant, the eyes of the entire team lit up, and their expressions grew excited.

“Kojima-kun, please give the order!”

A team member urged in a low, eager growl.

“Good!”

Kojima-kun waved his hand: “Up the mountain!!!”

“Hai!”

A low growl followed.

The several figures all dropped to the ground and began crawling toward the mountain peak.

Under the cover of the dark clouds and the sound of thunder, their movements were extremely stealthy.

Not easy to detect.