The White Lotus Sect is a religion that has been passed down since the Southern Song Dynasty. In truth, I was rather ignorant and uninterested, so I didn't know much about it.
There seemed to be various other trivial circumstances, but what most concerned me now was the White Lotus Sect's position in the martial world. Although the White Lotus Sect had almost lost its foothold as a religion, it was different in the martial world.
The current strongest candidate in the martial world!
The White Lotus Sect is currently classified as neutral between the righteous and the evil in the martial world. To be more precise, it is so uninvolved in martial affairs and so indifferent that it is difficult to categorize it as good or evil. Nevertheless, the fact that the White Lotus Sect's martial arts are powerful is widely known in the jianghu.
It's said that even during the Hongwu Emperor's reign, attempts were made to suppress the White Lotus Sect, but the sect's leader and guardians were so terrifying that the emperor had to be cautious. Unlike the Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, and the Eight Evil Sects, the White Lotus Sect was known as the strongest in the shadows.
' Damn... What kind of misunderstanding is this? '
I thought this far and then understood what Sanjie Li Guang meant.
' If it's the White Lotus Sect's martial arts, it's understandable that someone could become a master at such a young age? '
Sanjie Li Guang had made the most rational inference based on his knowledge. I could confirm this from his next words.
"As a member of the White Lotus Sect, I cannot accept you into our martial hall."
I quickly replied.
"I am not a member of the White Lotus Sect."
Sanjie Li Guang's expression didn't change. It wasn't a cold, icy look; he just stared at me with an indifferent gaze. It was strange, but the moment I met his eyes, I felt as if I was being sucked in.
"If you haven't taken the Holy Lotus, no one can achieve such supreme martial arts at your age."
"What is the Holy Lotus? What is it?"
"You're playing dumb."
Swoosh
Sanjie Li Guang grabbed the spear next to him. At that moment, every cell in my body sent out intense danger signals, and I felt as if a line had been drawn from the top of my head to my waist, making the area tingle. It felt as if I was being cut into two pieces, and I quickly suppressed a scream and took three steps back.
Thud
But Sanjie Li Guang still hadn't moved; he was just holding the spear. I was sweating profusely and swallowed hard.
' What was that just now? Killing intent? But it felt... '
Too real!
I had genuinely felt as if I had been cut in half.
It was hard to judge by the realm of killing intent.
Then, Sanjie Li Guang stroked his neatly trimmed beard and said, "You don't seem to be just a guardian who has taken the Holy Lotus. To accurately perceive the range of intangible qi..."
"Intangible qi...?"
"To understand your weapon is one thing, but to comprehend its spirit and become one with it is another. Once you achieve this, you can wield intangible qi."
Although Sanjie Li Guang explained kindly, the chilling indifference and coldness in his tone made my teeth chatter. Even though he wasn't using killing intent, I instinctively knew that if he swung his spear, my body would disintegrate in the air.
' I can't understand that realm... It's fundamentally different from sword qi or sword flames! '
If I stay like this, I'll die.
Sanjie Li Guang has already judged me as a member of the White Lotus Sect.
Moreover, he doesn't seem to feel any guilt about killing a child.
I gritted my teeth and shouted.
"Wait! I am really not a member of the White Lotus Sect. I can prove it!!"
"Prove it... How do you plan to prove it?"
"That's..."
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
How can I persuade Sanjie Li Guang?
If I were to use the Thunder Spirit Eight Techniques, Thunder Spirit Sword Technique, or Thunder Spirit Treasure, Sanjie Li Guang would think that my cultivation had leaked. The realistic barrier I had been thinking about made my spine shiver.
But, I came to the Green Dragon Martial Hall knowing I would have to take this risk.
I have to muster the courage even if I die here!
"... You'll see when I demonstrate my martial arts."
I don't know what to do now. I'll try to persuade him as best I can.
"Martial arts demonstration..."
"The place is too narrow here. I'll show you outside."
Without waiting for his answer, I burst out of the Wulong Hall and ran down to the spacious training ground in front. This is where the instructors and the three disciples usually line up to show their achievements to Sanjie Li Guang.
Whirl
I took a spear from the training ground and stood in the center. Sanjie Li Guang stood at the door of the Wulong Hall, watching me with interest.
' Watch carefully. '
I focused my mind and, recalling the time when I had eliminated my weaknesses under the guidance of Xiantian Daoist, I began to perform the Thunder Spirit Eight Techniques slowly but with concentration on each movement. Although my specialty is swordsmanship, the Thunder Spirit Eight Techniques, the strongest spear technique, had always been my object of admiration.
Ssssssh!
From Thunder Spirit Piercing Heaven to Thunder Spirit Solitary Rotation, the eight techniques were performed as quickly as if they were strung together. While performing the Thunder Spirit Eight Techniques, I glanced at Sanjie Li Guang, but his expression didn't change.
So, I put the spear back and drew my sword to perform the Thunder Spirit Sword Technique even faster. Since this was my specialty, I could move with more confidence. When I was halfway through the Thunder Spirit Sword Technique, I could feel a slight change in Sanjie Li Guang's expression.
Rumble
Finally, I unleashed the Thunder Cloud Palm, causing the training ground to vibrate with thunder qi. My movements ended with the final gesture.
A demonstration of everything I possess!
"......"
Silence and stillness filled the air. In this space, there were only Sanjie Li Guang and me. Sanjie Li Guang crossed his arms and seemed to be thinking about something, appearing vulnerable. However, I couldn't move or run away due to the intangible qi emanating from him.
After about an hour, Sanjie Li Guang spoke.
"Who are you?"
His voice wasn't as definitive and polite as before. Rather, it was an intense voice filled with considerable anger and gloom. As expected, a normal person would turn pale, thinking that the other party would attack like a madman after a moment. Given that it's Sanjie Li Guang, I might die here.
I said calmly.
"As you can see, I am not a member of the White Lotus Sect."
"It seems to be true. Taking the Holy Lotus prevents one from achieving Thunder Spirit."
Sanjie Li Guang spoke as if spitting out the words and then seemed to calm his emotions in silence. Then, he turned and suddenly sent me a mental message.
[ If you are confident that you won't lie even a little, follow me. ]
It wasn't just a simple demand for a confession but seemed to carry a heavier meaning. I nodded slightly and followed him into the building. As I followed him at a distance of about ten feet, I realized one thing.
Sanjie Li Guang is different.
He is fundamentally different from the peak experts I have seen so far.
Of course, it was regrettable that I couldn't understand what exactly made him different at my current level.
Creak...
We headed to a different room from the one I had seen earlier. When Li Guang opened the door, there was a bleak and dark room. Li Guang seemed to be bringing warmth back to the room after a long time, placing some kindling in the hearth and inviting me to sit in a chair.
"Sit there."
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if this was a trap, but I sat down, erasing my hesitation.
' The gap is too great. '
The disparity between Li Guang and me, which I had confirmed with intangible qi, was even greater than I had imagined. Although I don't fully understand, the difference felt as vast as the sky and the earth, more so than when I clashed with the Iron Blood Sect's chief elder. If I were to fight Li Guang with all my might, I would surely not survive, so a trap seemed meaningless. From my perspective as a low-level practitioner, it seemed unlikely that Li Guang would use a petty trap.
Crack...
The room gradually warmed up as the fire burned. Li Guang sat across from me, resting his chin on his hand, and then said,
"Tell me in detail. Where did you learn the Thunder God Style?"
What?
I was inwardly perplexed by the sudden mention of a name I had never heard before. I expected Li Guang to fly into a rage, thinking I had stolen his martial hall's secret techniques, but instead, he mentioned the "Thunder God Style," which I had never heard of.
' Could it be that Sanjie Li Guang's martial arts are not his original creation but derived from the Thunder God Style, a separate lineage? '
Or perhaps Sanjie Li Guang referred to his martial arts as the Thunder God Style. After pondering, I said,
"The person who taught me these martial arts has already passed away. Before he died, he told me to find Sanjie Li Guang, so I came here."
"Passed away? Why?"
"He fell ill."
I took a gamble. It was too risky to tell Sanjie Li Guang the truth about my reincarnation and the transmission of the Heavenly Rock Secret Manual. The story of dying and coming back to life was too absurd, and no martial artist would teach their true techniques to someone like me. I decided to bluff and show some courage.
"What was his name?"
It worked!
Indeed, Sanjie Li Guang's martial arts were not his original creation but derived from the Thunder God Style. I was inwardly elated but remained calm.
"He never told me his name."
"... That could be."
Sanjie Li Guang muttered bitterly and then asked,
"How did you achieve such profound internal energy?"
"After my master passed away, I wandered the world and was fortunate enough to take a thousand-year-old snow ginseng in Huangshan."
"Show me your wrist."
Swoosh
Sanjie Li Guang grabbed my wrist and took my pulse. He closed his eyes as if detecting the nature of the powerful internal energy raging inside me and finally let go after a while. A moment later, he said,
"It's true. There is an extreme cold qi circulating inside you. But it is balanced with a yang qi. What is this?"
"In fact, there was another medicinal herb next to it, and I took it together to survive."
"Is that so."
Sanjie Li Guang sat quietly for a while and then said,
"Your master was undoubtedly one of the inheritors of the Thunder God Style. However, he must have died of an illness without achieving Thunder Spirit."
"......"
"If that's the case, you and I are fellow disciples. If you are willing to serve me as your master, perform the Nine Kowtows here."
Nine Kowtows!
I was startled by Sanjie Li Guang's words. At first glance, it seemed like a common ceremony for accepting a fellow disciple, but it was not. The Green Dragon Martial Hall never forced the Nine Kowtows on any disciple, not even the instructors. I had only heard that Zhen Xiaoqing had formally performed the Nine Kowtows.
In other words, the Nine Kowtows are not a simple ceremony. Unlike other disciples taken in for profit, it means he has chosen me as a true successor to his true techniques. The reason Zhen Xiaoqing was the only one to perform the Nine Kowtows was clear.
Naturally, I performed the Nine Kowtows without hesitation. When the nine kowtows were over, Li Guang said,
"Stand up. From now on, I am your master, and I will continue to transmit the Thunder God Style to you."
"Yes."
He didn't seem to doubt me. After all, Zhen Xiaoqing, who had received his true techniques like a son, had taught me for three years, almost like a closed-door training. If the Thunder God Style was a separate lineage, it made sense that he wouldn't doubt me.
"Baixiong, you must have heard from your master that the Thunder God Style is a lineage passed down by many and a martial sect that shocks the heavens. Since you have great potential, strive to achieve the pinnacle of the Thunder God Style."
"Yes."
Although I had never heard of a lineage passed down by many and a martial sect that shocks the heavens, I couldn't ask what it meant. It was natural for a lineage to pass on the history of the sect, and not knowing it could raise suspicion.
But I quickly changed my mind and took another gamble.
"Actually, I have a dull mind and didn't remember the history of the lineage well. Could you tell me again?"
"Hmm... Given your young age, that's understandable."
No matter how powerful my martial arts seemed, I was still a young child in appearance. It was natural for him to let it slide, thinking I was too young to remember. Instead of questioning my martial arts, he seemed willing to tell me about the lineage's history.
"How much do you know about the White Lotus Sect?"
"My master didn't mention much about the White Lotus Sect. In fact, I heard about it for the first time today."
"Is that so? He must have been someone who didn't care about the White Lotus Sect's grudge."
"Grudge?"
I almost gasped at his next words.
"Yes. The Thunder God Style was a guardian martial arts lineage of the White Lotus Sect, but it was purged and forced to leave the mainland half a century ago. Although they may be operating in the shadows to avoid the attention of the jianghu, their roots are in the White Lotus Sect."
"......!!"
"Of course, I only heard this from my master, so I don't have a direct grudge against them. However, you must remember that they used and betrayed the martial artists of the Thunder God Style."
Thunder God Style!
It was a martial arts lineage that had inherited the guardian martial arts of the White Lotus Sect.
After a power struggle within the White Lotus Sect, they were forced to leave the mainland and, to survive, chose to scatter across various places rather than form a new sect. I held back my surprise and asked,
"Wouldn't it have been better to form a large sect to seek revenge?"
"The power of the White Lotus Sect leader is beyond imagination. Rather than confront them head-on, the previous generations preferred to cultivate their martial arts and remain hidden in the jianghu."
Come to think of it, Xiantian Daoist of the Wudang Sect had also mentioned the White Lotus Sect leader. When he saw my formidable internal energy, he said that only the White Lotus Sect leader could surpass me. Given that my internal energy, which I had gained from taking the thousand-year-old snow ginseng multiple times, was at a formidable level, I could imagine the incredible martial arts of the White Lotus Sect leader.
"How powerful is the White Lotus Sect leader?"
"The White Lotus Sect leader has never been defeated in 200 years. The leaders of the White Lotus Sect have always been superior to the top experts of the orthodox sects in the mainland. It's safe to say that the martial arts of the White Lotus Sect are the best in the world."
"Wow..."
Is it that powerful? No wonder Xiantian Daoist mentioned the White Lotus Sect leader!
Sanjie Li Guang said with his usual indifferent expression,
"I deeply reflect on the grudge of the previous generations. If you were definitely a member of the White Lotus Sect, I would have cut you down on the spot."
"What do you mean by achieving Thunder Spirit?"
"When the Thunder Dragon Skill reaches its peak, it grants resistance to all diseases, extends one's lifespan, and fills the body with thunder qi. This state is called Thunder Spirit, and you probably achieved it by taking the thousand-year-old snow ginseng."
"Oh..."
After learning the Thunder Dragon Skill, I had experienced a continuous discharge of thunder qi. That was what Thunder Spirit meant.
"Those who take the Holy Lotus can gain formidable internal energy but cannot achieve Thunder Spirit, which is why I believed you."
The Holy Lotus must be a medicinal herb distributed by the White Lotus Sect. While I was trying to remember this new knowledge, Sanjie Li Guang had a peculiar expression.
"However, there is another flow inside your body besides the Thunder Dragon Skill. What is it?"
In this situation, lying wouldn't work. I answered honestly,
"Xiantian Skill."
"Xiantian Skill! One of the Five Great Skills of the Wudang Sect?"
"Yes. It was just a cultivation method, but during my travels, I had the chance to learn it from a Wudang Sect eccentric."
I don't lie.
"Hmm... If you had the Xiantian Skill, you could have become a core disciple of the Wudang Sect. Why did you come to me?"
"Because it was my master's wish."
Sanjie Li Guang had a somewhat proud expression. After all, even if the Green Dragon Martial Hall is large and prosperous, it can't compare to the Wudang Sect, which boasts the highest prosperity among the Nine Great Sects. Knowing that I had given up the chance to be a Wudang Sect elder's disciple to come to him, he must have felt good.
"Very well. From today, you are my direct disciple, and you should respect Zhen Xiaoqing as your senior brother. Based on your skills, I will give you the position of instructor, and for now, you will learn from me one-on-one."
"Yes."
I was happy that the conversation went so well.
I had somehow become a direct disciple of Sanjie Li Guang!
' ... Well, if I hadn't sought revenge after my second death. '
By doing something unnecessary, I had lost the opportunity to deeply learn the Green Dragon Martial Hall's techniques. I couldn't help but regret my actions when I finally returned to the Green Dragon Martial Hall after all the hardships.
As the conversation came to a close, Sanjie Li Guang told me various stories about the White Lotus Sect and the Thunder God Style. During this time, I gained considerable knowledge about the White Lotus Sect.
The White Lotus Sect was originally a righteous religion and a major contributor to the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The Hongwu Emperor had also joined the White Lotus Sect. However, after founding the empire, he changed his attitude and began to suppress the White Lotus Sect indirectly. Although he didn't directly kill White Lotus Sect members, he arrested or pressured them whenever they tried to expand their influence.
In the end, the White Lotus Sect had no choice but to become a secret society and was driven to the southern part of the continent. The south, where various ethnic minorities gathered, was a place where the imperial influence couldn't easily reach. There were also unconfirmed rumors that the White Lotus Sect had absorbed the descendants of Zhen Wuliang, who had been the Hongwu Emperor's rival.
Sanjie Li Guang said,
"By the way, Xiaoqing said she was going to meet a friend."
I almost laughed. This stern and cold Sanjie Li Guang calling Zhen Xiaoqing by a nickname! It meant that their relationship was closer than with other disciples in the martial hall. I imagined that Sanjie Li Guang would take care of Zhen Xiaoqing even if he abandoned all other disciples.
"I also want to meet my senior brother."
"Is that so?"
After a moment of thought, Sanjie Li Guang said,
"Then go and bring her. She should be with Changtian Jianlong now."
"Really?"
"Although it's a bit of a bother to take away her personal time, it's more important to introduce you as the new Thunder God Style disciple."
Sanjie Li Guang must have misunderstood, but what surprised me was something else.
With Changtian Jianlong!
That meant Zhen Xiaoqing's friend was none other than Nan Gonghuan, the Changtian Jianlong. Come to think of it, Nan Gonghuan had also come to Guanzhong to meet someone, but I didn't expect it to be this.
In any case, this was a chance to meet Changtian Jianlong face-to-face. I felt a thrill.
"Yes, I will definitely bring my senior brother."
"They should be at the Cao family's residence among the Six Great Families of Guanzhong."
The Six Great Families of Guanzhong referred to the six most influential merchant, art, and martial families in the Guanzhong region. Among them, the Cao family was a merchant family known for its excellent financial resources.
"Not at an inn or tavern?"
"I don't know either. Xiaoqing said she would be there, so go and bring her back."
"Yes."
Swoosh!
I left the Green Dragon Martial Hall and ran swiftly, using my lightness technique. Sanjie Li Guang must have guessed my skills, so he trusted me to bring Zhen Xiaoqing back. I thought as I leaped across the rooftops,
' This is good, this is good. '
I would also get to see Nan Gonghuan and his fiancée, Murong Yan! Thinking it was a lucky day, a smile crept onto my face. At this point, I still thought this errand would be simple.