Chapter 2 Zhang is afraid of thunder

  The Tianlei Taoist Temple's Ziguang Pavilion is a sacred place where elite disciples in the internal energy cultivation period can practice, and it can be said that more than 80% of the Ziguang Pavilion's disciples can enter the foundation-building period boundary. Therefore, the Ziguang Pavilion is a place where low-ranking disciples within the sect would do anything to squeeze into. As for the division of cultivation realms, starting from the internal energy cultivation period, they progress in sequence: internal energy, foundation building, core formation, and nascent soul, with each realm further divided into initial, intermediate, advanced, and peak stages. Except for the internal energy period, every subsequent advancement is extremely difficult, but successfully advancing will increase one's magical powers and prolong their lifespan. Moreover, according to legend, breaking through the nascent soul peak stage can lead to becoming a deity - ah, to become a god? The mere thought of it sets one's blood boiling, which is why countless people embark on the journey of cultivating the truth.

  Zhang Pa was two years old when he went up the mountain, and after that, he was afraid of everything. He would cry out loud every day, which annoyed everyone, so naturally no one liked him or wanted to talk to him. As he grew older, he was directly assigned by the sect leader to guard the entrance of the Ten Thousand Beasts Cave, where everyone ignored him.

  The Tianlei Divine Art is an introductory Daoist technique. Whether or not the disciples have a natural talent depends on how well they practice the Tianlei Divine Art. Generally speaking, if one can reach the middle stage of Qi Refining by the age of 15, they are considered to be an outstanding disciple and can enter the Ziguang Pavilion for further cultivation.

  Zhang Pa was only 13 years old when he reached this level, which shocked many people. Although his masters disliked his timid and fearful nature, they had to admit that he had some natural talent.

  It's worth noting that others who cultivate have their masters or senior brothers to guide them, but Zhang Pa, due to his unlucky personality, had no one willing to talk to him. He was a man who didn't act like a man, always cowering and losing face, so naturally, no one would explain how to cultivate to him.

  Zhang's complete reliance on one person's fanciful thinking, diligent study and bitter practice to reach such a realm is indeed astonishing. The thirteen cultivators of the Purple Light Pavilion have decided that once he has achieved some results in refining his energy, they will teach him the Quiet Mind Decision, solidify his heart and clarify his ambition, which can also be considered as cultivating talent for Tianlei Mountain.

  But Zhang didn't know any of this, he only knew that no one wanted to talk to him, he only knew that the books in the hidden pavilion could be read freely, and he only knew that the only ones who truly liked him were three small dogs.

  Zhang Pa was educated by his master, but he felt somewhat disheartened and lost interest in practicing his skills. He went to the side of a spring to prepare food for three small dogs. Just as he was busy, the sky turned dark and the wind started to pick up. Zhang Pa's face changed color, and he carefully looked at the sky, secretly thinking it was not good. He quickly ran back to the thatched hut, covered himself and the three small dogs with a quilt, tightly covered his ears, and continuously recited scriptures in his mouth.

  The sky outside is getting darker and the wind is getting stronger, the originally clear sky is suddenly covered with dark clouds, then a flash of lightning cuts through, a loud rumble echoes in the air, thunder, it's raining.

  The thatched hut was small, but it was very sturdy. Outside, the thunder and lightning were intense, with strong winds and heavy rain, but the thatched hut remained standing firm. However, while it could withstand the wind and rain, it couldn't block out the thunderclaps. Inside, Zhang Pa was shivering under his quilt, and every time a clap of thunder boomed outside, he would shudder violently. A moment later, the thunderstorm grew even more intense, with louder thunderclaps, until finally, Zhang Pa could no longer bear it. His chanting of scriptures was interrupted, and he suddenly threw off his quilt and let out a loud cry.

  The mournful sound accompanied by thunder reverberated through the mountains for a whole hour, slowly weakening. The rain gradually subsided, and the thunder faded away. At this point, Zhang Pa was already unable to move, his face deathly pale as he lay in bed, his hands and feet limp, his entire body weak, and his forehead covered in cold sweat, occasionally twitching slightly.

  A few miles away, the main peak of Tianlei Mountain, a disciple whispered, "That waste is going to be called again." "Waste, afraid of thunder, it's better to die." There are also kind ones, "Is he okay?" "What can happen? For more than a decade, this virtue has been the same every day. What's the point of being afraid if you're dead? It's better to die early and be free from fear."

  Zi Guang Ge, the Great Master Zhen Tian Dao flew in mid-air, surrounded by misty vapor. Not far away, a giant sword stood suspended in the air, its body shining brightly with occasional flashes of lightning. The Great Master Zhen Tian Dao held his hands in a secret hand seal and struck towards the giant sword. The giant sword began to shrink, the lightning flashes decreasing until it shrunk to three feet long, the lightning on the sword disappearing, turning into an ordinary iron sword. The Great Master Zhen Tian Dao's heart stirred, and the iron sword instantly returned to its scabbard. Only then did he slowly exhale, descending downwards.

  In the first floor hall of Ziguang Pavilion, a Taoist in a white robe was tasting tea. Tian Tiandao hadn't even entered the house when he felt his presence and called out loudly: "Master brother has such elegant pursuits, come to my place for tea." The Taoist in white robes chuckled: "The Heavenly Thunder Technique can be practiced like this, absorbing thunder power and electric energy, it's just that you have this skill, younger brother."

  Zhen Tiandao's face slightly flushed, but he humbly said: "You're teasing me again, brother. This is just a foolish person's foolish method." He changed the subject and asked Su Pao Daoist: "Brother Zhenruo, you came to my place on a rainy day, not just to praise me, right?"

  Zhenruo Zhuangmen chuckled and looked towards the Wan Shou Cave: "To say, it's also pitiful for him, what can he do?" Zhen Tian Dao Ren knew who he was talking about, sighed and said: "The disciple of Chuan Gong is still in the middle stage of Lian Qi, alas, but his use of magic is clever."

  "Mid-level? The Heart Calming Technique can't be practiced anymore, let's wait another two years and see, if it really doesn't work out, we'll have to use the Heaven-Defying Treasure Mirror to send him down the mountain and live a happy life." said Zhen Ru, the sect leader.

  "Reversal of Heaven Treasure Mirror? You want to erase his memory?"

  "Once you enter our sect's gate, you are a disciple of our sect. I couldn't just watch him suffer for his entire life." The sect leader was being somewhat insincere.

  Zhen Tiandao sighed and said, "At the age of thirteen, he had already reached the middle stage of Qi refining, and yet no one had guided him, he had achieved it all by himself. He indeed has a natural talent, but unfortunately, in these three years, there has been no progress, what a pity."

  Just as Zhēn Rú was sipping his tea, he changed the subject and asked: "How has Zhēn Yī been lately?"

  "Ha! How was it? Playing with that big snake, huh? It's been a year since I brought him back, and Tianyi has almost moved into the Cave of Ten Thousand Beasts. Speaking of which, that snake is indeed formidable. Despite being injured and having restrictions in the Beast Refining Cauldron, he still refused to submit. And Tianyi, that fool, gets hurt every other day, eating up all my medicinal pellets. Yesterday, he came back with internal injuries again, so I sent him out to dig for herbs."

  Zhenru's expression was serious: "It's already a stroke of luck that we can capture such a divine object, in my opinion, it's better to use the Beast Refining Cauldron to get rid of it as soon as possible. Who knows if this snake will recover from its injuries one day? I even doubt whether the Beast Refining Cauldron can still hold it."

  The True Heavenly Daoist nodded: "En, I'll try to persuade him again."

  "Tell him that if he can't make up his mind within half a month, I'll take drastic measures to subdue him. Having the snake become a divine being is far better than destroying Heaven's Thunder Mountain."

  The rain gradually stopped, and three little dogs were scratching at the door, wanting to go out and play. Zhang Fei was still lying in bed, and after a half-day's rest, he barely recovered some of his strength and got up to meditate. After nine cycles of circulating his internal energy throughout his body, he finally felt fully restored, and went downstairs to open the door for the dogs. However, in his heart, he couldn't help but scold himself - why was he so cowardly, becoming afraid like this just from hearing thunder?

  Zhang Pa decided to temporarily give up the Wind God's Wings and focus on cultivating the Thunder God Technique. The master who transmitted the technique said that as long as I reached a higher level, he would teach me the Quiet Mind Trick, and after cultivating the Quiet Mind Trick, I wouldn't be timid anymore and wouldn't be afraid of anything.

  From that day on, Zhang feared concentrated hard training Tianlei Gongfa, unaware of the passage of half a month, feeling as if he had grasped something, perhaps his Gongfa had made great progress. He was overjoyed in his heart and wanted to try out his skills, when suddenly, Master Zhenyi arrived.

  Zhenyi Shibo knew how to open the seal of the Wan Shou Dong, so usually Zhang Pa would just pay his respects and leave. But today Zhenyi Shibo wanted him to enter the Wan Shou Dong Tian together with him. Zhang Pa did not dare disobey.

  Again entered the cave, also known as Wan Shou Dong Tian. At the front of the three forks in the road, Master Zhenyi led Zhang to walk towards the small path on the left side, this road is much farther than going to Shen Pan, and walked out for more than two miles before seeing another mountain cave.

  Shinichi waved his hand to lift the seal, allowing Zhang Pa to enter with him. Zhang Pa was hesitant and fearful, not daring to move forward. Shinichi's master scolded, "What are you afraid of? You're not going to capture monsters, just stand at the entrance." Zhang Pa had no choice but to follow him into the cave.

  Zhang was afraid that the cave was transformed by the Beast Cauldron, and inside it was trapped a giant snake, the snake was extremely ferocious. Master Zhen Yi wanted to form a life-and-death bond with the giant snake.

  He cautiously entered the cave, and Shinichi handed him an umbrella, instructing: "When I say let go, you drop the umbrella, got it?" Zhang Pa nodded in understanding.