Chapter 149: Chapter 44: Sweeping Heaven and Earth with Thunder (Part 2)
They simply accepted Su Zhou’s identity as a Dragon Vein—the National Preceptor’s words had not gone unheard, so no one questioned it now.
"Grandmaster Su, we are deeply indebted to you and will surely repay this kindness!"
At that, all the Martial Artists present had a sudden realization and bowed in unison. Those whose friends and brothers were injured went even further, dropping to one knee. They sincerely cupped their fists in salute to Su Zhou and lowered their heads. "Grandmaster Su, you are truly a hero to the people! To risk life and limb for all of humanity—such a noble deed!"
"We wish to follow Grandmaster Su! We would go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"
Even high-ranking elders like Li Daoran and Weilie cupped their fists and bowed to Su Zhou in thanks. They did so not for themselves, but for Su Zhou, who had fought the National Preceptor so fiercely and at any cost to protect the Divine Soldiers. They did it to honor this truly righteous act.
If humanity endures, such a righteous act will be remembered even a hundred, or a thousand, years from now. It will be sung in poems and told in legends!
"HAHAHAHA!"
Upon seeing everyone kneel and bow, offering him their most sincere gratitude, Su Zhou watched the Holy Water in the large cauldron stir once more with gentle, sacred ripples. He couldn’t help but let out a heroic laugh. "It was not I who saved you. You saved yourselves!"
"Enough talk! Help your injured brothers up here!"
Late that night, Su Zhou’s wounds had completely regenerated. He had accepted a large pile of Half-Spirit Plants and pills as gifts of gratitude, and had even replenished his nutritional reserves with a great feast. After telling Zhou Buyi, Li Daoran, and the others that he was going to a mountaintop to meditate for a while, he set off alone for a summit in the Taibai Mountain Range.
A golden-red glow spilled from the mouth of the Volcano, illuminating the clouds in the dead of night. As dark clouds churned, a seemingly endless snow drifted down between heaven and earth. Su Zhou stood alone on the deserted summit, gazing into the distance. He watched the winding Jade River emerge from the foot of the mountain and flow toward the far side of the snowy plains, where it met the horizon.
At this moment, Su Zhou’s mind was more tranquil than ever before. He surveyed the world around him and let out a soft laugh.
Then, Su Zhou held out his hand, and a sphere of cyan-jade light appeared in his palm. Without hesitation, he swallowed the orb of light, closed his eyes, and stood on the summit with his hands clasped behind his back.
In an instant, an explosive sensation shot through him, making his tongue—and indeed every organ in his body—jolt as if hit by an electric current or an extra-strength can of soda. Along with it came the entire life of the National Preceptor.
Countless memories flashed past like scenes from a spinning lantern before dissipating. Su Zhou watched them calmly, but was slightly disappointed to find that he couldn’t see every detail clearly. All he could see were the Daoist’s thought processes and inspirations as he synthesized his Thunder Technique, and his joy upon finally transforming it into a legacy.
’This is my own Dao, greater even than the techniques of the Elder Sages!’
It was a very strange, yet joyous sensation... Su Zhou felt as if he were the National Preceptor of that time, privy to every inspiration and every minute detail of thought that had crossed the man’s mind... Of course, therein lay the greatest danger. If his mind wavered, his own thought patterns could be overwritten by the National Preceptor’s.
But Su Zhou was already mentally prepared. Besides, he had already defeated the National Preceptor’s will in direct combat; the strength of his own mind was not something a vanquished foe could alter.
And so, he could feel it—the omnipresent ’Thunder’ that permeated the space between heaven and earth.
[—The Yin and Yang of the four seasons are the foundation of all things.]
[Jia Wood is Yang. Thunder is the breath of Yang Qi. Therefore, one draws upon the Divine Wood Qi to condense the Innate Thunder Aspect. Use Yang to nurture Thunder, and Thunder to nurture the Spirit, thereby achieving the Yang God. With it, one can cross the bitter sea of suffering, master the Five Extremes, command the six qi of heaven and earth, grasp the cycles of transformation for all things, and understand the impetus behind the movements of men and gods.]
The ’Five Extremes Divine Thunder True Technique’ was, in essence, the culmination of the National Preceptor’s research on the Immortal Banyan Tree, combined with the mastery he had achieved in his own Thunder Technique. For the National Preceptor, the most critical step was to ’borrow the pure Wood Qi and Life Force from the Divine Wood’ and convert it into a current of Innate Extreme Yang True Qi. He would then use this Innate True Qi to nurture his True Spirit of Thunder and his Soul. Finally, his entire being would ascend to become an ’Innate Thunder Spirit Yang God,’ allowing him to step into the Innate Tier.
In essence, this step was even more powerful and difficult than when the Demon Emperor borrowed the power of the Immortal Divine Tree to become a Coiling Dragon. The latter had merely transformed himself into one of the Divine Wood’s Beloved, becoming a subordinate of the Divine Tree. The National Preceptor, however, was using the Divine Tree’s power to walk his own path toward the Sublimation of the Essence of Life—a path he had already paved and was on the verge of completing!
If converting Wood Qi to Extreme Yang True Qi weren’t so much slower than the Demon Emperor’s direct absorption of Wood Qi, the National Preceptor would have reached the Innate Tier decades ago. He would have swept through this world and become a Land True Immortal!
"This fellow truly was a genius among mortals."
Even Yara acknowledged the National Preceptor’s Talent. "With its own power, it was attempting the Sublimation of the Essence of Life at the mere Awakening Tier—a process that should only begin at the Leader Tier. If it had succeeded, its accomplishments wouldn’t have been limited to the Extraordinary Tier. It might have even surpassed the Leader tier."
"As it happens, Su Zhou, you have the Wisdom Tree, don’t you? You don’t need to completely transform into an Innate Thunder Spirit. Just borrow the Wisdom Tree’s power, use this method to strengthen your Soul, and master the Thunder Technique... Are you thinking my Secret Technique is stronger? Su Zhou, I don’t need a second ’me.’ I need you to be you, walking your own path!"
’Even if you did offer it, I wouldn’t trust it. Who knows what kind of tricks you’d have up your sleeve.’ Bantering casually with Yara, Su Zhou smiled and turned his attention back to the National Preceptor’s legacy.
