Chapter 35: Discussing Talent in Thunder Technique, We Brothers Are the Best in Sanqing Immortal Sect!_1
Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Discussing Talent in Thunder Technique, We Brothers Are the Best in Sanqing Immortal Sect!_1
[Ding!][Detected someone bragging. Congratulations, Host, for gaining +16 Mana.]
Wang Xiu’s face was a mask of pure admiration. "In my humble opinion, throughout all of Thunderclap Peak, when it comes to talent in Thunder Techniques, Senior Brother is second to none!"
Ji Jinglei slapped his thigh vigorously. "Haha! That’s a given!"
"Junior Brother, I’m not just bragging to you!
"Look at my good-for-nothing, lecherous old dad, or Ji Ba, Ji Thirteen, and that whole bunch of bastards. The only thing they have on me is being born a few hundred years earlier.
"If we were from the same era? Would they even get the chance to bully me?
"I’d send each of them flying with a single backhand slap!"
[Ding!]
[Detected someone wildly bragging, triggering a critical hit and reaching the System’s high threshold. Congratulations, Host, for gaining +48 Mana and +48 Mana Quality.]
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Heavenly Calamity Curse Full Mastery Card!]
At this moment, the more Ji Jinglei looked at Wang Xiu, the fonder he grew of him. If it weren’t for his lack of say in the Ji Family, he would have wanted to marry his own sister off to Wang Xiu right then and there.
"Junior Brother!" Ji Jinglei patted Wang Xiu’s shoulder. "In terms of talent for Thunder Techniques, you are not beneath me. If our talents were combined, we could easily crush everyone on Thunderclap Peak!"
This time, the System’s prompt did not sound.
Wang Xiu patted Ji Jinglei’s back in return, his eyes brimming with tears as he said excitedly, "Of course we could!"
...
Although Wang Xiu had successfully condensed a large Thunder Ball on his first attempt at the Palm Thunder Technique, cultivating a Thunder Technique involved more than just successful condensation. There were intricacies to consider: how to condense the Palm Thunder Ball faster, how to do so using less Mana, how to make the Thunder Ball more stable, and how to throw it with greater speed and accuracy.
In these respects, Ji Jinglei actually had more experience, and every word he spoke sparked countless insights and improvements for Wang Xiu.
After all, with the Perfection-level Taiyi Thunder Control True Canon at his disposal, all it took was for Ji Jinglei to say something like, ’You could bind ten crossbows together for continuous firing,’ and Wang Xiu would instantly have the inspiration for a ’Gatling gun’.
Then, Wang Xiu would subtly and quietly convey these inspirations back to him.
For example:
"Senior Brother Jinglei, I have an idea."
"Senior Brother Jinglei, what do you think of this? Could it be improved further?"
"Senior Brother Jinglei, I can’t believe it can be done like this. You’re a genius!"
"This has been incredibly enlightening, truly enlightening!"
"A single discussion with Senior Brother Jinglei is worth more than ten years of studying the Imperial Scriptures!"
...
Time passed, and both Wang Xiu and Ji Jinglei made rapid progress in their mastery of the Palm Thunder Technique. Of course, Wang Xiu’s progress was greater, reflected not just in his spells, but also in his Mana. During this time, Ji Jinglei, unknowingly guided by Wang Xiu, bragged so much that he blew Wang Xiu straight from the Seventh Heaven of Foundation Establishment into the Eighth Heaven.
For a moment, even Ji Jinglei began to believe that he was a one-in-ten-thousand talent with a Dragonhide Destiny. And Wang Xiu was the fated storm, his destined benefactor.
Otherwise, why was it that when I was with Ji Yan, Ji Ba, and those other turtle-brained grandsons, I always got tricked and called brainless? Yet, when I’m with Junior Brother Wang Xiu, it’s like my mind has been unlocked! Inspirations flow like a spring, and epiphanies erupt every minute. Clearly, my father and brothers are wrong when they say I’m a blockhead. I’m not a blockhead at all! As long as I’m with Junior Brother Wang Xiu, I’m a bona fide genius!
The Palm Thunder Technique itself was not difficult. Wang Xiu only took half an hour to master it completely. While it would be a stretch to say it was at Perfection, he had definitely achieved Major Accomplishment in it.
After some subtle prompting from Wang Xiu, Ji Jinglei began teaching him new, basic Thunder Techniques.
Arc Step!
This was a basic movement skill for disciples of the Thunder Sect, focusing on wielding thunder to enhance one’s explosive speed in combat. It was named for the arcs of lightning that burst from the user’s legs when executed. Compared to the Palm Thunder Technique, its difficulty was significantly higher.
Learning this movement technique, Wang Xiu appeared to be ’clumsy and struggling,’ and the frequency of his questions to Ji Jinglei noticeably increased. Sometimes, the questions he raised were so complex that even Ji Jinglei only had a partial understanding and couldn’t provide a perfect answer.
However, Wang Xiu was proving himself to be the destined benefactor for the ’Child of the Hidden Dragon,’ just as Ji Jinglei believed. Even with Ji Jinglei’s fragmented explanations, Wang Xiu was still able to burst forth with an abundance of insights. Moreover, when he shared his own detailed insights with Ji Jinglei, their mutual understanding proved to be a perfect match, and both of them began to improve at a rapid pace.
Arc Step, the Thunder Strike Spell, the Wind-Thunder Spell, the Thunder-Fire Spell...
In just one day, Wang Xiu had cultivated these basic Thunder Techniques to a considerable level, reaching Major Accomplishment. Although he only displayed proficiency at the level of ’Initial Glimpse’ or ’Barely Minor Accomplishment,’ it was enough to astonish Ji Jinglei, who couldn’t help but marvel at his talent.
Fortunately, in Ji Jinglei’s view, since his ’awakened’ self could discuss the Dao with Wang Xiu as an equal, he too must be a peerless genius on the same level as his junior brother.
If Junior Brother Wang can do it, so can I!
That night, Wang Xiu did not return to Spirit Turtle Peak, instead staying in the Wind and Thunder Tower.
「The next day.」
Ji Jinglei immediately pulled Wang Xiu aside to begin practicing higher-level Thunder Techniques.
Yes, higher-level Thunder Techniques.
The Thunder Sect’s techniques were divided into three tiers: basic, higher-level, and ultimate. The basic Thunder Techniques were relatively simple and could be learned by almost anyone. Higher-level Thunder Techniques, on the other hand, were much more abstruse and were typically taught only to Inner Sect Disciples. Furthermore, an Elder was often present to oversee their practice to prevent any accidents. For example, the Wind-Thunder Talisman Sword Art that Ji Zidian had used to kill the Malicious Ghost was a higher-level Thunder Technique.
As for ultimate Thunder Techniques, they were, as the name suggested, the pinnacle of the art. Under normal circumstances, only True Disciples of the Thunder Sect would be carefully taught these skills. Ordinary disciples who wished to learn would have to pay exorbitant fees to borrow the manuals from the Scripture Pavilion or the Wind and Thunder Tower. And without the support of the Thunder Sect’s resources, they were extremely difficult to master. Ji Zidian’s Seven Steps Dragon Slaying Technique was one such ultimate technique, and a powerful one at that.
Normally, the mission Ji Yan had given his sons was only to guide Wang Xiu in practicing basic Thunder Techniques. However, the feeling of guiding Wang Xiu was just too incredible. This junior brother was not only a sweet-talker, but his destiny was also a perfect match for Ji Jinglei’s. By teaching him Thunder Techniques, he himself could achieve enlightenment and breakthroughs with gleeful ease. This was such a wonderful assignment that Ji Jinglei didn’t want it to stop, even if he wasn’t being paid!
"Junior Brother!" Ji Jinglei said. "Cultivating higher-level Thunder Techniques is a bit more difficult, but I believe that if we join forces, we can learn them on our own. We don’t need those old geezers to act as our protectors."
Wang Xiu nodded earnestly. "You’re absolutely right, Senior Brother!"
"Alright then!" Ji Jinglei nodded seriously. "I will first teach you the Thunder Talisman Sword Technique, which is the simplest among the higher-level Thunder Techniques."
The Thunder Talisman Sword Technique involved drawing a thunder talisman in the void with Mana, then empowering one’s sword qi with it to slay demons and fiends. It was essentially a simplified version of the Wind-Thunder Talisman Sword Art.
With a strong foundation in basic Thunder Techniques, learning the Thunder Talisman Sword Technique was as easy as eating a meal for Wang Xiu. Before long, he had ’crossed the threshold’ of this higher-level technique and was sitting with Ji Jinglei, discussing the Dao, validating their insights, and improving together.
The Thunder Talisman Sword Technique, the Wind-Thunder Talisman Sword Art, the Thunderclap Exorcism Spell, the Flickering Lightning Steps...
One by one, Wang Xiu rapidly learned, absorbed, and mastered the higher-level Thunder Techniques, even managing to provide feedback and insights to Ji Jinglei. This made the youth, who had been languishing unrecognized in the Thunder Sect, absolutely ecstatic.
It’s such a perfect match! My destiny and Junior Brother’s are simply too compatible! ’A golden scale is no creature of a simple pond; upon encountering wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon.’ If Junior Brother isn’t my wind and clouds, then who could he be?
"Junior Brother." Ji Jinglei’s eyes were filled with expectation. "Do you need a Dao companion? Just say the word.
"I’ll introduce you to my little sister. She just turned fifteen, the same age as you.
"Let me tell you, her looks are absolutely top-tier in the entire Sanqing Immortal Sect. I’ll arrange for you two to meet someday. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied."
...
Ji Jinglei had barely finished speaking when the temperature on the seventh floor of the Wind and Thunder Tower, which had been bustling with energy just moments before, suddenly dropped by more than a dozen degrees.
Ji Yan had come to check on their progress. He had walked in just in time to hear Ji Jinglei’s offer.