Chapter 46: The Furnace of Thunder and Flame
“Good child.”
“You are the first cultivator to pass my trial.”
The Thunderfire phantom smiled and continued, “As promised, I shall impart to you the Thunderfire Ten Thousand Sword Technique. I hope you will not disgrace it.”
The phantom extended his hand, pointing at Jiang Min’s forehead from afar.
A stream of light entered her brow, flooding her sea of consciousness with new information, causing it to swell painfully. After a while, she began to sort and absorb it.
Thunderfire Ten Thousand Sword Technique.
It consists of nine levels. When mastered, one can command thunder and fire, unleash a myriad of swords, and cut through heaven and earth.
After reading it, Jiang Min was a little stunned—this was not simply swordsmanship, but a tempering of the self. Only by forging one’s own sword aura and merging it with the essence of one’s weapon could the strongest techniques be unleashed.
No wonder the trial involved braving mountains of blades and seas of fire—for the path ahead would be even more painful and arduous.
Jiang Min also noticed that the first level of the Thunderfire Ten Thousand Sword Technique was not swordplay, but a method for refining treasures within the dantian.
It was called the Thunderfire Furnace Treasure Refining Method.
Practicing this method required transforming the dantian into a furnace powered by thunder and fire, refining treasure materials over years. Therefore, it was crucial to select materials that could withstand thunder and fire, or those that could evolve and grow. Jiang Min thought the peach branch might count as a growing material.
Moreover, this method refined both the treasure and the body, in two steps.
First, transform the dantian into a furnace to refine treasures.
Second, transform the whole body into a furnace to refine oneself.
Now, she wouldn’t even need to spend spirit stones to buy a dantian refining method from the scripture pavilion.
Delighted, Jiang Min glanced at the Thunderfire phantom, only to find him much more transparent after imparting the sword technique. Could it be…
Her joy vanished, replaced by seriousness and gratitude. She clasped her hands in salute. “Thank you for your gift, senior. I, Jiang Min, will cultivate diligently, fear neither hardship nor pain, and will not disgrace this powerful sword technique.”
“Those with five spirit roots are born to face hardship in cultivation, but with opportunity and effort, they may still reach the great Way. I hope I have not chosen wrongly,” the Thunderfire phantom said slowly. “If you reach the Golden Core stage and meet a worthy successor, set this trial and pass on my sword technique…”
Boom!
Above the great hall, a sudden thunderous roar erupted.
The Thunderfire phantom looked up and waved his sleeve. A ball of white light enveloped Jiang Min and the little grass, causing them to vanish, while he coldly snorted:
“My legacy is for those with fate, for those with great perseverance.”
“One qualified inheritor is enough.”
The phantom formed seals with both hands, and an immense, terrifying power burst forth from the stone sword behind him, sweeping through the entire underground hall.
Rumble!
Amid the roaring, the hall collapsed, turning to ruins, stones falling into the magma pool.
The Thunderfire phantom also faded away, as if letting out a long howl that echoed through the underground wasteland.
“When the earth sinks, heaven tilts, mountains fall, and seas dry up, only the Way endures, and life is unending.”
“I laugh and return to the heavens, next year I shall ride the wind and debate the ancients!”
“Hahaha…”
After the phantom disappeared, countless figures swept down from above the hall, all showing surprise.
All they saw were ruins and a magma pool, broken walls scattered, the blessed land destroyed by the Thunderfire phantom himself…
Outside.
In the cave where Jiang Min had disappeared.
A flash of white light appeared, and Jiang Min and the little grass returned, the echo of the phantom’s words lingering in her ears.
“Thank you, senior.”
Jiang Min bowed deeply toward the volcano, never forgetting the kindness of being taught the Way.
“Let’s go, we must leave the Five Finger Mountains and return to the Eastern Spirit Sect.”
Jiang Min knew that many cultivators had gathered here, so it was unwise to linger. Having gained so much, it was best to leave this place of trouble and begin the journey home.
By her calculations, she had been out training for about a year. It was time to return.
Upon hearing this, the little grass flew into her arms, and she dashed out of the Five Finger Mountains, her feet clad in Cloud-Chasing Boots.
…
A few days later.
Jiang Min once again passed by Xu Family Village.
She paused, recalling the old Daoist she’d met last year and his lifetime of experiences, wondering, “I wonder if Daoist Xu is well. I happen to have some good wine—let’s go see him!”
She arrived at the entrance of Xuanwei Daoist Temple, only to see a stooped old farmer worshipping Xuanwei Immortal Lord. Her divine sense probed the backyard, which seemed long uninhabited. She politely asked, “Elder, may I ask, where is Daoist Xu?”
The old man stood up, seeing Jiang Min’s extraordinary bearing and fine attire, he nervously replied, “Miss, Daoist Qingfan left a year ago, taking his disciple to wander the world.”
“I see… thank you, elder.”
Jiang Min thought, the world is vast, and it would be difficult to meet the old Daoist again and reminisce.
Since no one lived here but villagers still offered incense, she decided not to disturb them and sought another place to rest.
“Night is falling, I’ll stop at the city ahead.”
Jiang Min left Xu Family Village, traveling for three more hours until darkness fell and she saw city walls bearing the name Fengjiang.
“So this is Fengjiang City?”
Her gaze shifted, recalling the brother and sister from here, claiming to be direct descendants of the Li family of Fengjiang…
She found an inn in the city, rested for the night, and the next day, as she was about to leave, she encountered a long wedding procession—gongs and drums, joyous and lively.
“Fengjiang hasn’t seen such festivities in ages! Miss Jiang of the Jiang family is marrying Young Master Zhang of the Zhang family from Qishan. What a joyous event!”
Jiang Min had not planned to join the bustle, but hearing this, her eyes showed a hint of curiosity.
The Jiang family? The Zhang family?
Could it be…
She politely asked, “Madam, whose daughter from the Jiang family is getting married?”
The woman warmly replied, “Miss, you must be from elsewhere. It’s Miss Jiang Ziyi of the Jiang family, marrying Young Master Zhang Xun of the Zhang family from Qishan. They’ve been betrothed since childhood.”
Cultivator families were usually discreet, concealing their identities and appearing as ordinary families, so to most common folk, this was just a regular marriage between two prominent clans.
“So it is Jiang Ziyi!”
Jiang Min thought to herself.
She suspected that the Li family of Fengjiang was likely the family of Li Mao. Fate truly put her at odds with this Li family.
No wonder Jiang Ziyi acted with such impunity, and Li Mao had a strong background. The Jiang family of Fengjiang and the Zhang family of Qishan were at least Foundation Establishment families, united in strength.
“To be at odds with someone like Jiang Ziyi, an inner sect disciple, is indeed trouble. If I encounter her in the outer sect trial, she won’t let me go…”
“Two years until the trial. I must master the Wind and Thunder Body Technique and the Thunderfire Ten Thousand Sword Technique, raising my cultivation. Then, even if I do meet Jiang Ziyi, I’ll have the power to protect myself.”
The Wind and Thunder Body Technique she wished to learn complemented the Thunderfire Ten Thousand Sword Technique. If mastered, she could attack or retreat as needed, never lacking in strength.
As for learning talismans, that could wait—she lacked neither spirit stones nor resources now, only cultivation and strength. Once the threats were resolved, she could study the Way of Talismans.
Having sorted her thoughts, her path ahead became clear.
“After returning to the sect, I’ll first focus on breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Refining, then head to the scripture pavilion and acquire the Wind and Thunder Body Technique.”
The Wind and Thunder Body Technique she had longed for.
She had returned!
The poem of Lord Thunderflame, its first lines are drawn from ‘Essentials of Nature and Destiny’: “Heaven sometimes tilts, earth sometimes sinks, mountains sometimes fall, seas sometimes dry up. Only after attaining the Way may one ride the flying dragon, drive the purple mist, soar beyond the heavens, wander the great void, without limit or restraint, true essence eternal, no end. Looking back upon worldly joys, what pleasure compares?”
Upon reading these words, I was deeply moved and wished to share them.