"The first round of assessment tests one's Temperament and wisdom. The timid dare not linger, and the rash do not grasp its meaning. Only those with both intelligence and courage can assemble the Seals of Heaven and Earth and complete the first round of assessment. This has already eliminated a large number of candidates."

Qi Xiu toyed with the Cang Fa Fei Cui in his hand, his gaze contemplative as he slowly analyzed, "And this second round tests one's talent and comprehension. While the Shenxiao Sect does not place talent at the top of its criteria for recruiting Disciples, such talent and comprehension are indeed the core essentials for Disciples of prestigious, large sects. Without them, even if you are given the True Scriptures and secret methods of a great sect, you will not be able to comprehend or cultivate them. Joining a great sect would then just be to disregard one's youth and waste one's life. To cultivate the Palm Thunder in one year. Those who can achieve this standard are either prodigies or extraordinary individuals. The assessments of the Shenxiao Sect may seem capricious and arbitrary on the surface, but in fact, they are calculated and brutal trials. This assessment must have been devised by an old hand, grinning with a mouth full of yellowed teeth."

"To cultivate Thunder Magic in one year, the Shenxiao Sect is deliberately making this difficult, aren't they?" Zhu Mo frowned as he looked at the Cang Fa Fei Cui in his hand, shaking his head repeatedly. "Even an ordinary Initiate Realm method might not be cultivated in one year, let alone Thunder Magic, which is said to be the most difficult of all techniques. Never mind one year; even five years would be pushing it. Moreover, we lack the Gang Qi of the Thunder Path, making the cultivation of Thunder Magic inefficient. Difficult, difficult, far too difficult."

"It's alright," Yan Baizhe offered words of consolation from the side, hearing Zhu Mo's sigh. "My seven brothers and I can cultivate this Thunder Magic together using the Daliang Secretly Transmitted Army Formation. In one year, it might indeed be possible to achieve it. During our cultivation, we can impart the essence and secrets to you, so do not give up so easily."

Having established a good foundation of cooperation in the first round of assessment, their relationship had already grown deep. The people of Daliang are forthright and value loyalty; Qi Xiu is cultured and gentle; Zhu Mo is kind-hearted and magnanimous. Having spent time together, they had already become very good friends.

"Ah, how could I impose like that?" chuckling with a grin as he grabbed Yan Baizhe's hand, Zhu Mo's eyes almost turned into slits. "Such a bother, such a bother."

"Does that look like the expression of someone worried about troubling others?" Qi Xiu glanced at Zhu Mo with slight exasperation, shaking his head and chuckling.

For others, the requirement to cultivate Palm Thunder in one year was an exceptionally difficult challenge. But for him, it was no more than asking a blacksmith to forge iron, a carpenter to carve wood, a gardener to tend flowers, or him, Qi Xiu, to focus on secluded cultivation. Still, I can't be too ostentatious. It pays to be cautious. Attracting envy will only lead to unnecessary troubles. I'll just aim to complete it right at the one-year mark.

Time was pressing, and the task was monumental. Almost immediately after learning the content of the second round of assessment, most candidates who passed the first round had already left the stepped plaza.

Lake Heart Island was quite large. Although its peripheral waters concealed dangers, harboring hundreds of terrifying aberrations, aside from those black ancient trees that restricted Escape Skills and Escape Light, there was nothing dangerous on the island. It was obviously a place for the candidates to engage in seclusion and deep cultivation.

Qi Xiu, Zhu Mo, and the group of Daliang wolf riders found a spot below a raised slope. The terrain here was open, scattered with rocks, and quite clean and dry. A babbling stream flowed through the middle of it. It was a fine spot for secluded cultivation.

Sitting cross-legged, Qi Xiu took out the Cang Fa Fei Cui, which faintly swirled with Lei Mang, and held it in his palm. Immediately, incandescent bolts of lightning surged out of the jade. Like small white snakes, they slowly burrowed into Qi Xiu's flesh. Thunder sound filled his mind, and a lengthy scripture of Thunder Magic, nearly five hundred characters long, appeared word by word.

This is true Thunder Magic. Quietly grasping the essence of the Thunder Dao Skill named Palm Thunder, Qi Xiu's expression gradually deepened in concentration. Years of diligent and steadfast cultivation had become a habit. The moment he began to cultivate, he could quickly enter the right state. In some respects, this itself was a Divine Marvel that most people could only dream of.

"The Innate sky has its way; the law of the Dao is the law; it is called rightful majesty, hence the descent of thunder..." Reciting each word of the 'Palm Thunder' scripture in his heart, Qi Xiu's breath became deep and steady, his closed eyes slightly fluttering.

For him, compared to others, the only challenge in cultivating 'Palm Thunder' was the initiation. Once he could achieve initiation, and this Dharma Gate appeared on the proficiency panel, he could then focus exclusively on intense cultivation.

As Qi Xiu's breathing deepened, he entered a profound state of cultivation. Beside him, Zhu Mo and Yan Baizhe looked on with surprise and astonishment.

He entered a meditative state so quickly? The human heart is fickle, teeming with distracting thoughts. To enter a state of focused cultivation, even monks of the Buddha Sect who spend their time with ancient images of Buddha need moments of silence to calm their minds and clear away distractions. For someone like Qi Xiu to close his eyes and directly sink into cultivation was extremely rare.

No wonder. Regardless of how hard Zhu Mo and Yan Baizhe racked their brains, they would never have fathomed that the man before them, with an aura as deep and profound as the ocean, entirely inscrutable, had been, just over two years ago, an impoverished scholar who relied on selling his calligraphy and could only afford meat once every month or so. In over two years, he had not dared to relax for a single day, not even a moment. The proficiency Divine Marvel was the greatest aid in Qi Xiu's achievements today, but it was his unwavering, stone-piercing willpower that was his true pillar, allowing him to reach this point.

Seeing Qi Xiu had begun his cultivation, Zhu Mo and Yan Baizhe also started to delve into this Thunder Magic. They sat down, forming a special circular arrangement. The seven Yan brothers—Yan Baizhe and his six siblings—sat with palms facing each other, their breaths in sync. Simultaneously, a pale red divine radiance spread from their bodies, coalescing in the void into an ancient and mysterious formation, teeming with an aura of iron and blood.

Great Righteousness and Unity Formation!

Daliang Secretly Transmitted Army Formation!

Once this formation was set, those within could unite their thoughts and connect their minds. The cultivation of one would act as the cultivation of seven. The cultivation of seven would then be the cultivation of forty-nine! However, the operation of this formation greatly drained the mind and spirit, so, unless in a safe place, it was rarely used by the Daliang wolf riders.

Resting his chin in his hand, watching Qi Xiu and Yan Baizhe each display their Divine Skills as they comprehended the Palm Thunder, Zhu Mo's round face showed a trace of difficulty. If I'm the only one lagging behind, it'll be somewhat embarrassing. If I can't catch up with them in comprehending and understanding the skill, then I'll act as their protector instead.

His eyes brightened as if he had found his purpose. Zhu Mo then got up, various protective Great Formations flashing through his mind. Although there are no Demons and Monsters on Lake Heart Island, those other examinees are no pushovers. Those who passed the first round and made it here are all intelligent and courageous. If a couple of them can't comprehend the Thunder Magic and are about to fail the assessment, vicious thoughts might emerge. They might adopt a 'if I can't pass, neither can you' mentality and go around causing destruction. This possibility is very high.

Rubbing his hands and surveying the surroundings, Zhu Mo stepped forward, and a cornerstone of a Great Formation thunderously settled into place.

「In the blink of an eye, three or five months had passed.」

Immersed in the practice of Thunder Magic, Qi Xiu had only opened his eyes three times during this period. The first time was because he had successfully achieved initiation in the Palm Thunder. When he opened his eyes, he saw Zhu Mo standing at a distance, holding a flag, his body surrounded by glowing spiritual light. Several layers of formations appeared faintly above his head, and the surrounding area had clearly been solidified into an iron plate by several Great Formations. A few figures with gloomy gazes had spotted the densely layered Great Formations from afar and, finding it difficult to make a move, left with a flick of their sleeves.

The second time he opened his eyes was because the seven Yan brothers had encountered a problem in their cultivation. He awoke just in time to assist them with a Suppressing Talisman to stabilize the turbulent Qi within their bodies, preventing a backlash from the Thunder Magic.

And today, he opened his eyes for the third time.

Both palms facing up, fingers naturally extended, Qi Xiu slowly opened his eyes. A strand of the most rigid and Yang Divine Marvel arose from his heart palace. It passed through the lungs and kidneys, wandered through the liver and spleen, eventually returning to the heart palace. Lowering his gaze, Qi Xiu slowly infused his Hunyuan Gang Qi into this strand of Divine Marvel. In an instant, this strand of Divine Marvel flared with intense dominance, gathering at the center of his palms via the three Yang meridians in his hands.

RUMBLE—

The Thunder sound boomed, deafeningly. The Lei Mang condensed in his palms crackled, resembling a lychee-sized, vermilion, glazed orb, exuding an extremely oppressive and terrifying majesty. Utterly splendid, utterly dangerous.

Hearing the Thunder sound, Zhu Mo and the seven Yan brothers all looked over in unison.

"You've done it?"

With joyous expressions, the group quickly came to Qi Xiu's side, their eyes fixed on the Palm Thunder in his hand.

"Lao Qi, you're incredible! You managed to cultivate the Palm Thunder so quickly!" Zhu Mo, surprised that Qi Xiu had quietly succeeded on his own, laughed and playfully slapped his shoulder. He was genuinely happy for his friend.

"I haven't fully cultivated it; I've just finally grasped the essential parts of this Thunder Magic." Dissipating the Lei Mang in his palm, Qi Xiu slowly stood up. After sitting motionless for five months, his tendons and bones had almost ossified. As he suddenly stood, a series of sharp cracks echoed from his body. "Give me two days. I need to sort out what I've comprehended during this time. In two days, I'll explain the method to you. This Palm Thunder isn't actually difficult to cultivate once you grasp its key essence."

Hearing his casual offer to explain the essence of the Palm Thunder, Zhu Mo and Yan Baizhe didn't say much, merely exchanging a smile. Zhu Mo even playfully punched Qi Xiu's chest.

"I won't even bother saying thank you."

「At the same time.」

Within the Shenxiao Sect Gate.

Atop a lofty mountain peak wreathed in clouds and mist.

On the purple-gold surface of a pool, as smooth as a mirror and without a ripple, a tiny, faint disturbance suddenly appeared. Two elderly Daoists seated beneath a huge lotus leaf opened their sleepy, intoxicated eyes. They struggled to straighten their backs and glanced at the Thunder Pond before them.

"Hmm? Five months? Whose youngster is this? Quite insightful."

"The thunder light is clear and dignified, bright and eye-catching, dry and scorching... such complete Yang energy. A hundred-year-old virgin?"

"Perhaps he has cultivated the True Scriptures of a Pure Yang Daoist Inheritance. This youngster isn't bad. He has insight and a good foundation. If he can pass the three trials, he can become my Disciple."

"Your Disciple? Don't make me laugh! You've had too much cheap wine. You've already taken six Disciples, and you still want more? What, are you trying to gather seven to host two mahjong tables?"

"If I don't take him, will you? Think you can beat me? Want to spar?"

"Hey, you old rascal! Believe it or not, I'll call for backup right now! I'll summon both our masters and have a public showdown!"

"A showdown it is! Master! Someone's crashing the party!"

"Master! Someone's insulting your voice, calling it a drake's quack!"

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