What was Qi and what was a spell?
This question had been deeply rooted in Xia Fan’s mind ever since he had seen another kind of “Starry Sky”.
In the eyes of outsiders, he might have been extremely hardworking, spending all his free time on cultivation. However, in reality, he had never forgotten to think and explore while cultivating Qi. Even though what he could do at that time was very limited, he didn’t follow his master’s instructions by the book but instead explored new things as much as possible.
For example, in order to trigger a complete spell, medicinal primers or materials were indispensable, and such things often had a direct or indirect connection with the spell itself, with no limitations in requirements. If this connection was seen as a reaction of consciousness to matter, where did it extend? A small piece of beeswax could light up a palm flame, and so could a large handful of wood. However, the latter was much weaker and had almost no practical value, which was why people chose the former as the standard herb, not that it was indispensable.
So, was there a material more suitable than beeswax?
Xia Fan didn’t know.
He didn’t have the energy to study every recipe, especially during his wanderings.
He only studied one spell over the years.
The Thunder Technique was the only spell that could be considered as an attack technique amongst all the spells his master taught him.
Another three succubi fell off the fiend’s stomach one after another.
Even if Xia Fan didn’t look up, he knew who the black ropes would come towards.
He didn’t even have a chance to touch the talisman paper.
In a second or two, the succubus would surround him, and even if he could get away with it, he would never be able to avoid the joint strangulation of several ropes.
Without the talisman’s guidance, it would at most be a twofold spell.
However, Xia Fan had no choice at that moment.
He touched his neck without thinking and ripped off the pendant around it. After handing in his medicine bag, he was only left with that. He made it into a pendant to carry with him in case of an accident.
Xia Fan believed that the material was a unique primer in the world, and no one apart from him had used it before.
This was his trump card!
Xia Fan raised the pendant, and the full process of the spell was formed in his mind—
“Thunder Technique, Monkey Style! Thunder Stimulation!”
For a moment, he felt that the succubus had pounced in front of him and the black rope above his head was in reach. Yet, compared to the great power of nature, they weren’t much different from being still. In the next instant, the two were close to him, but an extremely dazzling blue light struck and suddenly filled his entire field of vision!
…
“Falling thunder?” Ba Xingtian was a little shocked.
He only saw a white mark suddenly appear in the dark night as though it split the sky into two. Then, it landed at the opening in the wall.
It came and went quickly, almost disappearing in a blink of an eye. However, it wasn’t an illusion. With a deafening explosion, the entire Qing Shan Town seemed to shake!
After the thunder, a new flame appeared. It came from inside the city walls. Initially, it was just a speck of fire, but it soon spread into a roaring fire. With the lightning strike, the wooden beams were set on fire. Waves of heat and smoke surged and began to trigger new flames at the top of the wall.
A gigantic torch suddenly appeared in the middle of the western wall!
The bright light faded the shadows of everything around it. The succubus who had climbed up the wall seemed frozen in place. Meanwhile, the fiend wailed and struggled in the fire, attempting to get out and escape. However, in the face of the fire from heaven, it was a futile attempt.
Invigilator Shen Chun naturally knew why his boss was surprised. Of all the spells, the Thunder Technique was the technique of which the least number of people mastered. Not only very little was gifted with that skill, but there were also very few people who applied the spell. On the contrary, it was more effective in dealing with evil spirits than the Fire Technique. Hence the saying “when thunder appears, evil spirits will be removed easily”. The biggest problem with the Thunder Technique was the primer. The raw materials of the currently recorded lightning method involved lightning wood, which had the price equivalent to a gold leaf, regardless of the grade of the material. Because it was challenging to collect, one’s luck must be excellent to encounter it, making the Thunder Technique difficult in practice.
From learning to mastery of a spell, one needed repeated practice. If the primer was so rare that it couldn’t be found, how many could practice it?
However, the thunder was terrifying and did not look like the work of a rookie. Instead, it looked like the outcome of many years of hard-work and practice.
Xia Fan, as a candidate of the scattered clans, had no resources to practice the Thunder Technique. Either he had lied about his origin, or his luck was so good that he happened to run into a tree that had been struck by lightning. However, Shen Chun didn’t think the latter was likely. After all, the price of the thunderstrike wood was placed there. If a normal person had such an opportunity, they would simply sell the wood in batches and earn enough for several generations. Why would he still bother with the mystic examination?
“Sir…” He was about to ask for a thorough investigation on Xia Fan when he was interrupted by his boss’ loud laughter.
“Hahahaha. This year’s mystic examination is the most exciting!” Ba Xingtian touched his palm and said, as though he wasn’t concerned with how a member of the scattered clans was able to master the Thunder Technique. “I thought that with the city’s destruction, perhaps he would be forced to show something, but I never expected him to take the initiative to attack to prevent from getting caught in the situation. Moreover, he did it so well and was superior in terms of bravery and tactic!” After he said that, he looked at the short man. “So, you aren’t able to pick a fault this time, right? Just that I’m afraid that it is not easy to get the materials needed for the Thunder Technique…”
“It was only a thunderstrike wood. So what if he wanted even meteoric iron and jade?” The short man said, “Do you think I would lack these objects?”
“That’s true.” Ba Xingtian stroked his beard. “However, I heard that those who are naturally proficient in the Thunder Technique are fierce and violent in nature and difficult to get along with. The more talented he is, the harder to control him.”
“Isn’t that better?” The short man laughed softly. “If he’s at another’s mercy, anyone could replace him. Then, how could I defeat my siblings? But, it’s a pity…”
“What?”
“He’s not much of a listener.”
They looked at each other for a moment before laughing out loud.
Only Shen Chun listened with trepidation with chills going down his back. Based on the short man’s attitude, he felt that even if the Xia Fan was a listener, they would still want him. As for how Xia Fan got the thunderstrike wood, it wasn’t worth mentioning as compared to being a listener. If he had known that earlier, Shen Chun wouldn’t have followed the two of them to observe the mystic examination. However, Ba Xingtian was his boss. Who said that speaking the truth wasn’t another form of trust? Therefore, no matter what, he could only stay put at this moment.
“Alright.” Ba Xingtian stopped laughing and instructed Shen Chun. “The mystic examination ends now. Tell the people below to reset and clean up the mess.”
“Now?” He asked unexpectedly. “It’s just past midnight…”
“There’s no point continuing the examination. Even the fiend can’t pass the walls, do you think the succubi are still useful?” Ba Xingtian waved his hand and turned towards the stairs. “This is enough.”
…
When the thunder rang overhead Qing Shan Town, it also snapped Li out of her jumbled thoughts.
She pressed the bandage at her wound and slowly walked to the sealed window. She could vaguely see the flickering light from the flames through the wooden boards nailed on the window.
Even the Thunder Technique was used?
She could imagine how intense the confrontation had been.
This was the examination of mankind — gather all the Qi inducers and fight with all their might in an almost realistic exercise. Only the winner would be able to pass the obstacle and become a member of the Privy Council. This showed how unfathomable the creature she had to face was.
When Xia Fan invited her to go with him to the capital Shang Yuan, she realized that she felt immense fear. Although she sounded brave and wouldn’t fall in front of the other party, she couldn’t fool herself from her actual thoughts. Even Li herself was surprised that she wasn’t fearful of death, but she couldn’t sleep well whenever she thought of facing the monster that even her master wasn’t able to defend against.
This fear seemed to come from deep within her soul.
Li did consider leaving without bidding farewell after her injuries healed. After all, Xia Fan was unable to stop her. The journey to Shang Yuan was a long one. As long as she said everything she knew to Xia Fan before she left, she’d have kept her promise. After all, wasn’t Xia Fan’s request just that? He couldn’t have really wanted to stay with a fox demon, right?
The revenge against the Privy Council must be a long-term plan…
Until the sound of thunder.
To Li, the candidates in the town were timid and careless. Most of them eyed benefits and were nothing to her. However, this group was willing to bet everything and go all out in order to qualify in the combat on the Night of Great Desolation. This determination struck her like lightning and pulled her out of her concerns.
Indeed, so what if she worked with a mystic?
So what if she went to the capital?
What she wanted to accomplish was almost impossible. Was there any use of planning and following the rules?
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have someone willing to make contact with a demon. She should make good use of it instead of being indecisive.
The Privy Council of the capital was indeed terrifying. However, in order to find her master, it was a matter of time before she faced it directly. Otherwise, no matter how many candidates she scared away, the Privy Council wouldn’t be shaken.
As a demon, Li thought that she would never feel good about thunder. However, at this moment, she felt that the thunder wasn’t bad…
The human candidates could do it all, so how could she lose to them?
…
After the blue light dissipated, the succubi disappeared. Meanwhile, the fiend had a large opening on its abdomen. Black gas exuded with its wails as though it was the fiend’s blood.
Xia Fan withdrew his hand and could still feel the touch of his pendant on his fingers.
It was the answer he had been looking for for years.
As for the lightning of the Thunder Technique, was there a more suitable material than thunderstrike wood?
The answer was a magnet entwined with copper wire.
It wouldn’t work if any magnet or red copper was used. It would only work when one pulled the wire gradually and wound it tightly on the magnet.
If this was considered one of the reactions of consciousness to matter, Xia Fan felt that he had vaguely come in contact with it.
Or rather, it was just like what he had previously thought…
His common sense was operating in a form he did not know.
And to get the answer, he would have to go to the Privy Council.