Zhang Yuge fell into a brief silence.
Wang Xiu continued, "The Path of Thunder is the most rigid, yang, violent, and domineering Daoist Magic in all the heavens. Without a Dao heart that soars upward, daring to sweep away all hardships and obstacles, it is impossible to go far on this path. I can feel that you once had such a Dao heart, Senior Brother Zhang! But why has it slowly disappeared?
"Is it because you feel my junior sister, with her Innate Thunder Saint Body, has far greater talent and potential on this path than you? Is that why you’ve thought of backing down?"
Zhang Yuge bit his lip lightly. "Isn’t that the case?"
"Then what do you think my constitution is, Senior Brother Zhang?" Wang Xiu asked with a faint smile.
"You?" Zhang Yuge was taken aback. He carefully sized Wang Xiu up for a moment and was shocked to discover that he couldn’t feel the slightest trace of a thunder-element constitution from him. It seemed Wang Xiu wasn’t even a Thunder Spirit Body... just an ordinary person. But how could that be?
Daring not to trust his own judgment, Zhang Yuge shook his head. "My knowledge is limited. I cannot recognize your extraordinary constitution, Brother Wang."
"Senior Brother Zhang, you don’t need to be so modest," Wang Xiu said with a laugh. "Just as you perceived, I’m an ordinary person. Never mind a Sacred Body; I’m far inferior to even your Thunder Spirit Body!"
Hearing Wang Xiu admit it, the surprise on Zhang Yuge’s face could no longer be contained. "Impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible," Wang Xiu said with conviction. "Senior Brother Zhang, we just discussed the essence of lightning. Now, let me ask you... what is the true meaning of the Path of Thunder?"
Zhang Yuge shook his head once again.
Wang Xiu said, "Four words: Man conquers Heaven!"
"Man conquers Heaven?" Zhang Yuge was puzzled.
"Exactly!" Wang Xiu continued. "When a cultivator reaches the peak of the Saint Manifestation realm and wishes to advance, they must undergo a tribulation. But have you ever wondered why it is specifically a Thunder Tribulation, and not a Wind Tribulation, Fire Tribulation, or Water Tribulation?"
Zhang Yuge fell into a long silence.
Wang Xiu said, "The Heavenly Dao obstructs one’s path with thunder. Only by shattering that thunder can one prove their Dao and become an immortal. This is the essence of the Path of Thunder..."
Up in the void, upon hearing this, Shen Buxing sneered, "Absurd! That’s complete nonsense!"
Beside him, the elderly Master Hao said quietly, "But your Saint Heir was indeed surpassed by an ordinary mortal, wasn’t he?"
"..." Shen Buxing was speechless. He gritted his teeth and said, "Even so, his theory is completely baseless. Only a fool would believe it!"
The words had barely left his lips when Zhang Yuge’s excited voice drifted up from below. "Brother Wang, are you saying that thunder... is inherently a lowly thing, something that must be trampled underfoot to ascend the Thunder Path?"
Wang Xiu was speechless. Is that what I meant? He was baffled for a moment, but he maintained an earnest smile. "Senior Brother Zhang, your insight is truly exceptional!"
Amidst the lively music and the fragrance of Sandalwood Incense, Zhang Yuge’s mind raced, his face gradually lighting up with excitement. "If the Thunder Path is , then constitutions must be as well... Thunder Spirit Bodies, Sacred Bodies—they are all illusions! As long as one’s Dao heart is strong enough, even the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder must obey... Just like you, Senior Brother Wang Xiu! Though you have an ordinary constitution, you can effortlessly command ten thousand bolts of thunder!"
"It seems you’ve understood, Senior Brother Zhang," Wang Xiu said with a satisfied nod.
The zither music quickened, its notes falling like a torrential downpour, making one’s heart surge.
Zhang Yuge was ecstatic. "In that case, this Thunder Spirit Body isn’t an aid, it’s a burden! What use do I have for this spirit body? I might as well cripple it and follow Brother Wang’s example! To command lightning with the body of a mortal!"
As he spoke, a resolute look appeared in his eyes. He raised his hand, gathering his mana to strike his own Dantian.
"Damn it! How dare you bewitch my Saint Heir with your demonic words! I’ll slaughter that charlatan!" Shen Buxing was startled and moved to intervene without hesitation.
He was utterly bewildered. What is wrong with my Saint Heir? He heard a few sentences and now he’s going to cripple his own spirit body? Has he lost his mind?
Obviously, having not witnessed the previous scene, Shen Buxing couldn’t possibly understand Wang Xiu’s status in Zhang Yuge’s heart. To Zhang Yuge, Wang Xiu was a presence that had completely crushed him on the Path of Thunder, someone so far ahead he couldn’t even hope to see his back.
In the next instant, however, the elderly Master Hao from Yuheng Cave Heaven frowned and stopped him. Pointing downward, he said, "Don’t panic. Let’s watch a little longer..."
Below, Wang Xiu’s pupils shrank when he saw Zhang Yuge’s actions. This is bad. This guy really does practice the Thunder Technique, doesn’t he? It only took a few sentences for his mentality to collapse? To just explode like that?
With his Perfected [True Explanation of Thunder Path], he could see at a glance where the problem in Zhang Yuge’s cultivation lay. He had intended to give Zhang Yuge a little reminder and help him regain his confidence. But... he hadn’t even finished talking, and this guy was already trying to cripple himself! If he actually let him do it, wouldn’t the Longhu Immortal Sect come after him with everything they had?
Wang Xiu’s figure flashed in front of Zhang Yuge. He grabbed his wrist and shouted, "Senior Brother Zhang, don’t be rash!"
Zhang Yuge struggled, shouting, "Brother Wang, don’t stop me! I have to improve! I have to get stronger! I am the Longhu Saint Heir, and I have every reason to become stronger...!" His agitation grew, and his struggles became more and more frantic.
Wang Xiu was puzzled. Why did he get so worked up all of a sudden?
He glanced back and saw Qin Guangling reaching the climax of his performance, shaking his head and swaying, completely absorbed in the music.
No wonder! With this kind of background music, who wouldn’t get hyped?
The corner of Wang Xiu’s mouth twitched, and he hurriedly shouted, "Stop! Stop playing!"
Qin Guangling was completely in the zone. Hearing the command was like being in the middle of... business, only to be told to pull up his pants. Orıginal content can be found at 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝕟𝕖𝕥