EFB Chapter 16: Profound Thunder Guiding Technique
Chapter 16: Profound Thunder Guiding Technique
During the midday break on the riverbank, the exhausted refugees huddled in the shadows, like a clump of withered grass ravaged by a storm.
"Young fortune teller, please tell my child's fortune... will we be able to find a doctor to cure his illness once we get to Tianxia City?"
An old woman with gray hair and a face etched with sorrow, tremblingly squeezed her way to Xuan Tianyi. In her withered hands, she clutched half a hard, rock-like grain pancake, its surface cracked, revealing its poverty.
"This old woman has nothing else but this half-cake... I beg you, sir, to have mercy and show me a way to survive..."
Her voice was soft, carrying the last vestiges of cautious hope of someone on the verge of despair.
She was holding a seven or eight-year-old boy in her arms. His face was flushed red, his breathing was rapid, his eyelids were drooping, and his breath was as weak as a candle in the wind.
Xuan Tianyi silently accepted the half-cold pancake. The rough texture on his fingertips made him feel a little heavy-hearted.
He didn't actually want to accept it, especially not this kind of "fortune-telling fee".
But the cold imprint of the rules in my mind is clear: divination is not done in vain, and the law is not applied in vain.
A "reward" must be received, even if it is only half a piece of coarse bread, in order to complete the cause-and-effect loop, cut off the tributaries of fate, and transform them into the source of life.
This system is so realistic it's almost cold-blooded.
"Auntie, let the child come closer."
Xuan Tianyi spoke slowly, gesturing for the old woman to place the child on a relatively flat rock in front of her.
He did not immediately take out the Wolf Eye Jade Coin, but first calmed his mind and focused his energy. The Eight Scenery Mystic Life Lamp Visualization Method quietly circulated, and the light of the Heart Lamp in his sea of consciousness between his eyebrows rose slightly. Suddenly, the scene of "Qi" that was invisible to ordinary people appeared in his vision.
The aura of fortune above the boy's head was so dim it was almost extinguished, exuding a deathly gray aura. Writhing within it was an unsettling, dark green aura representing illness and morbidity, like a poisonous vine, constantly eroding that faint spark of life.
However, at the very core of that aura of fortune, a tiny, yet incredibly tenacious, white dot of light continued to flicker slowly, like a spark that refused to give up in the face of despair.
"Life is not yet over..."
Xuan Tianyi felt somewhat relieved.
He sat down cross-legged, took out the three warm, lustrous jade coins with wolf-eye patterns from his bosom, and held them in his palm.
The jade coin felt slightly cool to the touch, and the trace of malevolent energy and spirituality remaining within it, lingered by the decaying wolf, resonated subtly under the illumination of the heart lamp.
He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into a state of clarity.
Information about the illness, the journey, and Tianxia City flowed through his mind, eventually turning into a clear question—will this child find a chance to survive after arriving in Tianxia City?
"Ding, thu, da."
Three jade coins flew out of my hand with a strange rhythm, landing on the bluestone in front of me, rolling several times before coming to a stop.
Two positives and one negative.
Xuan Tianyi opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the hexagrams. The vast knowledge of hexagram principles instilled in his mind automatically matched and deduced the hexagrams.
"Kan represents water, danger, and illness. Dui represents a marsh, joy, and dissipation or happiness."
He read the explanation in a low voice, his gaze falling on the old woman's suddenly clenched hands, her knuckles white. His tone was deliberately slow, carrying a reassuring quality.
"Auntie, don't worry too much. This hexagram shows the predicament of Kan (water), but the first line moves, transforming into the joy of Dui (lake). This means that although the child's illness is dangerous, like wading through deep water, it is not a dead end. Although the water of Kan is dangerous, it will eventually transform into the marsh of Dui and dissipate."
A light suddenly shone in the old woman's cloudy eyes as she stared intently at Xuan Tianyi's lips, as if they were her last lifeline.
According to the hexagram,
Xuan Tianyi continued, lightly touching the hexagram representing the "Dui" trigram with his finger.
"Upon arriving in Tianxia City, you may encounter someone associated with the Dui (兑) symbol. Dui represents the mouth and joy, and signifies speech, communication, and medicine. They may be a physician whose surname contains the 'mouth' radical, or a clinic located near waterways or markets. There may be a glimmer of hope."
These next few days, make sure to keep your child warm, conserve their water intake, and frequently moisten their lips and tongue to maintain their vitality.
"Dui...kou...waterside clinic..."
The old woman murmured repeatedly, her withered hands tightly embracing her grandson in her arms, tears streaming down her face—not of sorrow, but of the exhilaration of surviving a desperate situation.
"Thank you so much, little fortune teller! Thank you so much for your guidance! This old woman will remember it, she will remember it!"
Holding the child, she stepped back with profuse thanks, her back seemingly straightening a little.
[Complete one divination, establish cause and effect, trim a minor branch of destiny, and gain 22 Life Source Points.]
Current Life Points: 802.
802 points!
The cold system notification sounded in his mind, but it made Xuan Tianyi's heart skip a beat. A surge of scalding heat instantly rushed through his body, almost bursting out of his throat.
enough!
I've finally gathered the 800 Life Points needed to deduce the "Thunder Guiding Body Tempering Technique"!
For days, he had been teetering on the edge of life and death, casting his divinations amidst the hopeful and desperate gazes of refugees, and struggling to survive under the fangs of strange beasts... All the hardships, forbearance, and scheming seemed to have paid off at this moment.
That's more than just a number; it's power, the capital for survival, and in this goddamn world, a ladder to the future that you can truly hold in your own hands!
He forcefully suppressed his almost overflowing excitement, took a deep breath, and let the cool air fill his lungs, allowing his boiling blood to cool down slightly.
His face regained its calm, slightly aloof expression. He cupped his hands in a slight gesture towards the few faces that still tried to gather around him. His voice was soft, but clear:
"Ladies and gentlemen, today's divination is complete. You need to calm your minds, contemplate the secrets of heaven, and nourish yourselves. If you have any questions, please come early tomorrow."
His words carried an unquestionable tone.
Although the crowd looked disappointed, seeing his solemn expression and the mysterious aura surrounding him, they dared not disturb him and gradually dispersed in whispers.
Xuan Tianyi carefully put away the three wolf-eyed jade coins, his fingertips brushing across their smooth surface, sensing the faint spiritual fluctuations within.
As he stood up, his gaze inadvertently swept over a burly young man standing next to him, arms crossed, grinning sheepishly at him—Zhao Tiezhu.
This man was part of the temporary guard team. He was at the third level of Body Tempering and was considered quite skilled among ordinary refugees. As his name suggested, he was as honest and straightforward as a lump of iron. People were usually quite curious about this "Mysterious Little Diviner" but had never asked him for a divination.
Xuan Tianyi paused slightly, a bright smile of youth spreading across his face. He walked a few steps to Zhao Tiezhu and patted the other's strong, iron-like arm familiarly.
"Brother Tiezhu, watching the show? You look radiant today, your face glowing with good fortune! How about it, patronize my business? I'll tell your fortune, your love life, your future, your luck—I guarantee I'll be honest with you, young and old!"
Zhao Tiezhu was startled by the slap, then scratched the back of his head, grinned憨厚ly, revealing a set of slightly yellowed teeth from smoking:
"Hehe, Brother Tianyi, your divination is spot on, I, Old Zhao, am convinced. But I'm just a rough man, I don't have any grand ambitions. I'm content as long as I have food to eat following Captain Yan and I can survive to Tianxia City! Fortune telling? I'll come back to you when I really want to get married!"
"Agreed! Ready anytime!"
Xuan Tianyi smiled and agreed, waved his hand, and turned to walk towards a giant rock on the edge of the riverbank, far away from the crowd.
But the moment he turned his back to everyone, the sunny smile on his face vanished like the tide, and his eyes instantly became deep and unfathomable.
Under the extraordinary perception brought by the "Eight Views Mysterious Fate Lamp Visualization Method", the light blue aura of fortune above Zhao Tiezhu's head, which originally represented ordinary martial artists, was now surging silently.
A faint, almost imperceptible, grayish-black current of energy, which he instinctively felt was cold, filthy, and ominous, clung to the azure halo like a maggot clinging to a bone.
It was even slightly more saturated and active than when we observed it two days ago.
This black aura is definitely not the aura of calamity. The aura of calamity is mostly blood red or dark, and it will trigger the inner lamp to warn of impending danger.
This black aura was even more gloomy and hidden, carrying a sense of... decadence and distortion.
"Moreover, the degree of refinement of his blood and qi, and the subtle flow of energy... are definitely not the level three of body tempering he appears to be."
Xuan Tianyi sneered inwardly.
"Well disguised, but unfortunately, under the aura-observation technique, there are still some traces. I hope... it's not what I thought."
But for now, none of that matters.
The most important thing is—strength!
Behind the giant rock, in a corner obscured by shadows and scattered rocks.
Xuan Tianyi sat down cross-legged, and after confirming that no one was watching, he immediately focused all his attention on his sea of consciousness.
"system!"
Thoughts are like a drawn sword.
"Deducing the cultivation method! Based on the 'Basic Body Forging Technique,' and incorporating the essence of the Thunder Seed Jade Token, and adapting it to my current physical condition, I will deduce the most suitable Thunder Body Forging Method for me!"
[Host command received. Available Life Points detected: 802. Meets the requirements for the "Thunder Guiding Body Tempering Technique" deduction.]
[Deduction begins... Consuming 800 Life Points.]
[Deduction template confirmed: Basic Body Forging Techniques, Thunder Seed Jade Token (Zhen Gua)...]
[Optimizing energy flow path...aligning with lightning attributes...strengthening physical foundation...deduction in progress...]
boom--!
Deep within his sea of consciousness, the ethereal, floating, and faintly visible phantom of the innate Yin-Yang Tai Chi Bagua diagram suddenly burst forth with unprecedented brilliance!
The black and white yin-yang fish spun wildly at an unprecedented speed, merging with each other and giving rise to endless variations.
The faint, primordial, eternal light originating from chaos at the center has become somewhat clearer, projecting an ancient and vast Daoist aura.
Countless incomprehensible yet seemingly pointing directly to the origin of the Great Dao, mysterious runes, like stars in the heavens, lit up and disappeared in the sea of consciousness.
They intertwine, collide, and recombine, evolving into a series of dynamic scenes—
It is no longer a simple diagram of the flow of Qi and blood, but a series of human-shaped light and shadow figures full of powerful beauty and thunderous violence, making all sorts of incredible movements that are in line with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.
Sometimes standing still like a pine tree, drawing thunder into one's body; sometimes moving like a bolt of lightning, striking with lightning speed; sometimes shifting and leaping, transforming into a bolt of lightning...
Purple lightning is no longer a symbol of destruction; in the deduction, it is cleverly decomposed, transformed, and guided.
Some transform into countless tiny lightning needles, precisely stimulating the finest textures of the skin membrane and forging its resilience; others form high-frequency oscillating lightning patterns, vibrating the fascia from the outside in and clearing away impurities.
Some are like iron hammers forging divine weapons, carrying the power of destruction and rebirth, bombarding the depths of the bones time and time again...
It is not just a static guide, but also includes unique stance training, footwork, breathing rhythm, and even visualization techniques!
Each movement of light and shadow corresponds to the unique trajectory of the thunderous power within the body, subtly echoing the calming and insightful inner vision of the "Eight Views Mysterious Life Lamp Visualization Method," forming a perfect complement of movement and stillness.
Xuan Tianyi's consciousness was completely submerged in the torrent of this technique, as if he had personally experienced countless thunderous tempering processes. He could clearly feel the trembling of every inch of his skin, the expansion of every meridian, and the boiling of every drop of blood.
I don't know how much time passed; it might have been a moment, or it might have been a long time.
All the strange phenomena suddenly subsided, transforming into a complete, profound, and perfectly aligned cultivation technique information that was imprinted deep within his memory.
[Deduction successful!]
[Acquire exclusive body-tempering technique: "Mystic Thunder Guiding Technique" (Rank: Low-grade Spirit Rank - Upgradable)]
【Characteristics Description: Using the power of thunder as fuel and the physical body as a furnace, an indestructible body is forged. During practice, specific stances, movements, breathing, and visualization are required to draw the thunderous energy into the body, shake the blood and qi, cleanse impurities, and temper the skin, flesh, tendons, bones, marrow, and blood from the outside in.】
At its highest level, one can generate the true essence of thunder within one's flesh and blood, imbuing every movement with divine might, seamlessly integrating offense and defense, swift and fierce. It has an extremely high compatibility with the "Eight Scenes Mysterious Fate Lamp Visualization Method," complementing each other perfectly.
Low-grade Spirit Rank! Can be upgraded!
Xuan Tianyi suddenly opened his eyes, a faint purple lightning flashed in them, filled with indescribable shock and ecstasy.
Without any hesitation, he immediately took out the jade bottle containing the "Body Tempering Pill" that Yan Jun had given him, as well as the two remaining ordinary Qi and Blood Pills from his bosom.
Upon uncorking the bottle, a refreshing and invigorating medicinal aroma immediately filled the air.
The Body Tempering Pill was the size of a dragon's eye, with a warm and lustrous color like jade, and natural cloud patterns on its surface; it was clearly no ordinary item.
He tilted his head back and swallowed all three pills!
"Gulp..."
The pill entered his stomach and instantly transformed into two torrents!
The Qi and Blood Pill's medicinal power is gentle yet rapid, like a warm spring in spring, quickly penetrating into the limbs and bones, nourishing the minor damage and qi and blood deficiency caused by days of fighting and cultivation.
The effects of the Body Tempering Pill are completely different. It is like a dormant volcano suddenly erupting, with an extremely powerful and pure energy exploding in the dantian and turning into rolling heat waves.
It rushes into every meridian and every inch of flesh, bringing a burning, swelling, and even a slight stinging sensation. This is because the medicine is too potent, and the body is temporarily "overloaded."
"guide!"
Xuan Tianyi gave a low shout, pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and saliva was produced spontaneously.
He stopped sitting cross-legged and suddenly moved according to the starting posture of the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique"!
First Form: Thunderous Stance!
Stand with your feet slightly apart, shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and slowly lower your body.
This posture may seem simple, but it requires the spine to be like a dragon, with each segment connected, and the head to be empty, as if an invisible thread is gently lifting the whole person up.
Hold your hands loosely in front of your dantian, with your ten fingers naturally extended, facing each other but not touching. Let your mind sink into your dantian and connect with the dormant Zhen trigram jade token in your sea of consciousness.
At the same time, the "Eight Views Mysterious Life Lamp Visualization Method" was in full operation, and the light of the Heart Lamp in the Sea of Consciousness shone brightly, like the most precise lighthouse, illuminating every subtle change in his body, allowing him to clearly grasp every flow of the power of thunder.
"Boom!"
With a thought, the Zhen trigram jade token in his sea of consciousness suddenly shone brightly!
A blazing white lightning bolt, thicker, more condensed, and brimming with the aura of destruction and rebirth than ever before, was drawn down from the darkness and poured into Xuan Tianyi's body through his embracing hands!
"Well--!"
Even though he was prepared, Xuan Tianyi still grunted, and the veins on his forehead bulged instantly!
pain!
Indescribable pain!
The moment the lightning entered his body, it was no longer the unconscious, scattered impact he had experienced before;
Instead, guided by the exquisite route of the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique," it transformed into billions of red-hot steel needles, frantically piercing into the skin and membranes of the whole body along specific meridians and acupoints!
Every inch of skin, every pore, felt as if it were being torn apart, burned, and forged by a heavy hammer!
He could see that, under the force of the thunder, the dead skin, dirt, and even the finest impurities on the surface of his arms, torso, and legs were instantly carbonized and peeled off, turning into specks of grayish-black dirt that seeped out from his pores.
Numerous capillaries under his skin ruptured, and strands of blood seeped out, instantly turning him into a blood-soaked figure.
But then, the immense medicinal power provided by the Body Tempering Pill and the Blood Qi Pill surged forth, transforming into pure life energy that frantically repaired the damaged skin tissue.
Destruction and rebirth are locked in the most intense and brutal tug-of-war on this body.
Xuan Tianyi gritted his teeth, desperately guarding the clarity of his mind, and relying on the visualization of the Heart Lamp to suppress the pain that was almost driving him to the brink of collapse.
This is just the beginning!
The movement changes, from static to dynamic!
Second move: Thunderclaps in All Directions!
He suddenly straightened up, his hands, which had been clasped together, turned from palms into fists, one in front of the other, like a king lifting a cauldron, and surged upwards!
At the same time, the footwork was no longer a simple movement, but carried a strange tremor frequency. Each step resonated with the thunderous energy flowing in the body, producing a dull "thump, thump" sound like a drum.
Guided by the movements, the thunderous power within the body was no longer confined to the surface, but rather, like a tamed dragon, began to penetrate and vibrate deep into the muscles and fascia!
The muscle fibers were stretched, compressed, and vibrated at high frequency. The fascia network hidden under the skin was forcibly combed and connected by Lei Jin, producing a subtle "thump-thump" sound, like a bowstring being taut.
Third move: Thunder Shakes the Nine Heavens!
The movement changed again, the fists were spread out, turning the fists into palms, one up and one down, like pushing mountains and splitting rocks, tearing them apart violently to both sides!
His chest heaved, and a low growl, suppressing both pain and pleasure, burst forth from his throat, faintly carrying the sound of wind and thunder!
The lightning energy penetrated the body, beginning to affect deeper layers of bones and internal organs!
Although with his current cultivation level and the level of the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique," he is far from being able to temper his bones and internal organs, the aftershocks of the vibrations have already begun to slightly shake his bones and cleanse the stagnation on the surface of his internal organs.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Under the shock of thunder, the stimulation of medicinal power, and the unique guidance of the technique, the blood and qi in the body surged and roared at an unprecedented speed!
Like an oil depot that has been ignited, or like some kind of shackles that have been broken, it makes a roaring sound like a great river rushing by!
This sound is not an actual sound, but rather a surging sound perceived by cultivators when their blood and qi are vigorous to a certain degree!
Shatter! Congeal!
Shatter again! Solidify again!
Destruction precedes construction; life is born from death!
In the midst of extreme pain and destruction, new life is growing wildly.
Beneath the bleeding skin, a new membrane is forming at a visible speed, becoming denser and tougher, with a faint golden luster that is warm and smooth like jade, yet also has a metallic sheen.
Upon closer inspection, it appears as if countless extremely fine lightning patterns are winding and shimmering beneath the skin, mysterious and extraordinary.
After the initial three moves of the "Mystic Thunder Guiding Technique" were practiced nine times in total, the thunderous power within his body finally began to subside, and the surging medicinal power was completely absorbed—
"Crack... Boom!"
It was as if some invisible, solid barrier had been swept away by a torrent, and two barriers at that!
Xuan Tianyi's blood and qi surged suddenly, and the pale golden luster on his skin brightened a few degrees before quickly receding.
An aura far stronger, more solid, and carrying a hint of thunderous, explosive power emanated uncontrollably from his body, slightly pushing aside the rubble and dust on the surrounding ground.
He slowly stopped his stance, stood still, and suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes!
His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if crackling with electricity, before instantly returning to their deep depths.
"Body Tempering Level Two... no, it's the peak of Level Two! Skin and membrane tempering, perfectly flawless!"
Xuan Tianyi felt the surging and roaring power within his body, and an indescribable shock and ecstasy welled up in his heart.
This is not just a breakthrough in realm, but a subtle transformation in the level of life!
He looked down at his hands.
Her skin was fair, yet it had a subtle, jade-like luster. When she clenched her fists tightly, the air crackled slightly as she squeezed them together.
With a slight pulsation of qi and blood, the skin on the arms, chest, and other areas instantly tightened, and that pale golden luster reappeared, giving people a feeling of indestructibility.
"This strength..."
Xuan Tianyi walked to a half-person-high, hard, bluish-black river rock. He did not use his full strength, nor did he mobilize the weak lightning power. He relied solely on his physical strength, pointing his fingers like knives, and stabbed them into the rock!
puff!
The five fingers seemed to be inserted into a slightly firm piece of soil, sinking into the rock at the root!
With a flick of the wrist, a rock was forcibly scooped out, and with a gentle rub in the palm, it turned into dust that fell in a flurry!
"Far exceeding the two thousand jin of strength I remembered from my predecessor when he was at the second level of Body Tempering! At least... five thousand jin! Comparable to an ordinary martial artist at the fourth or fifth level of Body Tempering!"
Xuan Tianyi's heart was pounding.
Is it because the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique" is of too high a grade?
Is it because of the original blessing of the Thunder Seed Jade Token?
Or is it because he has undergone a second tempering on the original foundation, making his foundation incredibly solid?
Perhaps it's a combination of both.
But in any case, the surge in strength is undeniable!
With this power as a foundation, combined with the combat tactics and killing moves of the "Mysterious Thunder Guiding Technique," as well as the unpredictable divination and qi-observation techniques, one's survival capital on this perilous migration route is undoubtedly several times stronger!
He exhaled a long breath, his breath like an arrow, leaving a faint white trail in the air.
Just as they were about to savor this newfound power, several steady yet swift footsteps, accompanied by a concentrated and powerful aura of blood and qi, rapidly approached from afar.