Feeling the wild, electrifying thunder qi, Lin Xiao carefully channelled his inner strength along the meridians outlined by Great Azure Dragon Slash. The technique’s complexity typically made cultivation tougher.
Yet, under the thunder qi’s stimulation, his muscles and meridians surged with potential, easing the flow of power. The resulting force grew sharper, more potent.
Focus was critical—one slip could rupture his meridians.
It demanded endurance too—a hurdle that varied by individual.
After three days, he’d guided the power into his arms per the pattern, though fully unleashing Great Azure Dragon Slash remained out of reach.
Six relentless days of lightning-like torment tested his limits, but Lin Xiao’s tenacity refused to yield. He activated the array again, pressing on.
Day and night blurred as he sank into the technique, ignoring the pain, triggering two more arrays.
Six more days passed. Finally, he infused the power into the longsword gripped in both hands. With a fierce slash, a radiant azure beam erupted—dazzling and vast, stretching dozens of yards as a roaring azure dragon. Its thunderous cry slammed into the chamber wall.
Boom!
The iron chamber quaked, waves of force flooding the space. Lin Xiao summoned vitality to shield himself, but the confined room amplified the backlash. Unable to fully block it, he coughed up blood.
Injuring himself with his own attack—likely a first for anyone but him—underscored its might.
Above, in the palace, Elder Lei’s eyes snapped open, staring at the tower entrance with astonishment. “First time in, enduring twelve days of thunder qi—and causing such a ruckus. He’s mastered a powerful technique. I underestimated him.”
As Thunder Qi Tower’s guardian, no disturbance escaped him. Lin Xiao’s twelve-day stint and that commotion couldn’t hide from his senses.
“It’s been ages since someone qualified for the Thunder Sword Art. Hope this kid meets the mark,” Elder Lei mused, a spark of anticipation in his eyes.
Inside, Lin Xiao was oblivious to being noticed. The chamber’s thick walls muffled everything—even nearby rooms wouldn’t detect a thing.
Wiping blood from his lips, he chuckled awkwardly. “This technique rivals Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor’s. Good thing I didn’t use the Blood Dragon Anomaly—or the backlash might’ve crippled me. That’d be a laugh if it got out…”
Shaking his head wryly, he sat cross-legged, steadying his breath. Confirming no serious harm, he rose and left the chamber.
Stepping out, he saw disciples coming and going—none familiar. He slipped out quietly.
At the entrance, a stern gaze fixed on him.
“Breakthrough?” Elder Lei, the blue-robed guardian, asked.
“Got lucky—fluked it,” Lin Xiao replied modestly, bowing. To someone of Elder Lei’s calibre, a single-layer jump was trivial.
Unbeknownst to him, Elder Lei was already impressed, though his stoic demeanour hid it.
Reading Lin Xiao’s humility, Elder Lei nodded approvingly. “Gather more Thunder Beads. Next time, hit the second floor.”
“Thanks, Elder!” Lin Xiao bowed again, then exited the palace and valley.
At a junction outside, two youths awaited.
One he recognised—the green-robed punk he’d floored over the chamber. The other, in gold robes, bore a two-star badge and a dragon-tiger emblem matching Dragon Tiger Gate’s. His Heavenly Martial Eighth Layer aura was formidable.
“Dragon Tiger Gate—Wang Long?” Lin Xiao mused. Only Wang Long fit that profile.
“Brother Wang, that’s him—stole my chamber!” the green-robed youth whispered, pointing.
Wang Long’s furious gaze locked onto Lin Xiao. “Hmph, punk, you dare mess with my brother?”
“Huh?” Lin Xiao paused, then smirked. Wang Long, fresh from the tower, clearly hadn’t heard Dragon Tiger Gate was his now—or he’d be apoplectic, not just peeved.
“That chamber was mine first. But if I’d known he was your brother…” Lin Xiao grinned wider, “I’d have taken it anyway.”
“You!” Wang Long raged. This kid didn’t even know him?
“Ignoring me? I’ll show you who Wang Long is!”
Roaring, he unleashed a radiant palm strike, fierce ripples surging toward Lin Xiao.
“Swish!” Prepared, Lin Xiao whipped out his black mysterious iron staff. A swing unleashed a brilliant black arc, shattering the palm strike.
“Some skill, but dodging me? Naive!”
Wang Long sneered, drawing a massive golden blade. With a powerful slash, he struck hard.
Now at Heavenly Martial Seventh Layer, Lin Xiao’s strength had surged. Fearless, he poured vitality into a brutal counter-strike with the staff.
