NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14 Heavenly Thunder Peak
Heaven and Earth lay quiet as Li Guanqi contemplated on his choice.
Lu Kangnian cast a protective yellow barrier around the youth, blocking anyone outside from observing or interfering. Everyone eagerly awaited to see which type of Spirit Root would be selected.
Elder Meng Linhai from the Heavenly Gold Peak grinned and boisterously declared, “Ahem, well… Patriarch.”
“Take a look at the object that kid carries on his back. Doesn’t it resemble a massive sword sheath?”
“We belong to the Great Xia Sword Sect, and in my estimation, this young man must have chosen the Metal Spirit Root!”
With these words, the other peak masters and elders found themselves unable to offer a rebuke.
Lu Kangnian chuckled and asked the other elders, “Based on your observations, what do you think?”
Elder Xu Zhengjie of the Thunder Peak grumbled beside them, “Sigh, what if he chooses Earth? If he does, I swear I’ll eat three pounds of yellow soil.”
Lu Kangnian’s five senses were exceptionally keen, so even if Xu Zhengjie muttered quietly, he could still hear it.
Lu Kangnian looked at Xu Zhengjie, gnashing his teeth, and transmitted his voice, “Hmph, very well! You’ll be in charge of cleaning up all the yellow soil around my Heavenly Pillar Peak this month!”
Xu Zhengjie’s face instantly contorted into a grimace…
Suddenly!
The sky over the Great Xia Sword Sect, previously bathed in a rosy glow, underwent a dramatic transformation! Dark clouds gathered, fierce winds swept in, and torrential rain poured down. Elder Lan He, taking a step in mid-air, waved her hand and effortlessly blocked all incoming rainwater.
“What’s happening…”
Rumble! Boom!
A pitch-black thunderbolt streaked across the sky, causing the heavens and earth to darken. Xu Zhengjie suddenly burst into laughter.
“Metal, my ass! The Thunder Peak’s Thunder Spirit Root is the most powerful!”
As the barrier dissipated, Li Guanqi, wearing an indifferent expression, looked at the somewhat helpless Lu Kangnian and respectfully announced, “I choose the Thunder Element!”
Lu Kangnian brushed away the traces of disappointment on his face, patted Li Guanqi’s shoulder, and said with a smile, “Haha, good, good, follow your heart’s choice.”
“I thought I might gain another disciple.”
Lu Kangnian glanced at the jubilant old man who was dancing about and expressed a touch of irritation, “It seems that we’ll have to allocate more resources to the Thunder Peak from now on.”
“Disciple Li Guanqi will enter the Heavenly Thunder Peak!”
“For awakening the Saint-Grade Thunder Spirit Root, he will be rewarded! Three Qi Condensation Pills, three low-grade spirit stones, five hundred merit points, and ownership of a branch of the Heavenly Thunder Peak!”
“Furthermore! Disciples of Thunder Peak will be allowed to ascend the Spirit-Raising Platform three times without paying any merit points.”
Li Guanqi quickly stepped forward and respectfully said, “Thank you for accepting me, Patriarch.”
Xu Zhengjie was even more elated and bowed, saying, “Thank you for your favor, Patriarch! I’ll handle matters at the Heavenly Pillar Peak!”
The elder arrived at the young man’s side, blocking the elders who still wanted to dissuade the youth, and swiftly departed with Li Guanqi. Accompanied by the young man, he soared through the air, heading straight for Heavenly Thunder Peak!
“Wow…”
The youth in the air couldn’t help but exclaim. This was his first time flying!
This marvelous feeling instantly rooted itself in his heart. The youth looked around silently, clenching his fist and secretly vowing to work hard in his cultivation, hoping to soar like this himself one day.
The old man smiled as he watched the youth gazing in all directions, as if he saw himself a hundred years ago.
Back then he was afraid of heights, closing his eyes as he was brought to the peak!
Li Guanqi noticed that the old man had been watching him and asked respectfully, “May I know the senior’s name?”
The old man chuckled and answered, “I’m the Second Elder of Thunder Peak, Xu Zhengjie. You can call me Elder Xu, or Old Xu, or even Old Drunkard.”
The youth cracked a half-smile and said, “Then I’ll address you as Elder Xu. anything else… would be too abrupt.”
Xu Zhengjie didn’t reply, but nodded at the youth’s respectful attitude.
The young man suddenly spoke, “Elder Xu, is the Great Xia Sword Sect really fine with accepting blind or disabled disciples?”
“Hahaha, you rascal, your eyesight might be poor, but your insight is sharp!”
“I really wonder what kind of person your grandfather is to have taught you to be such a peculiar character. I bet that thing behind you weighs around two hundred pounds?”
The young man shyly smiled.
“Five hundred pounds.”
“Uh… forget I asked. The Great Xia Sword Sect…”
The old man’s tone was very gentle, pausing for a moment before continuing.
“This is a sect worth entrusting your life to. So what if some are blind or crippled? Your heart has a clear path. Can imperfections restrain it?”
As the words fell, Li Guanqi felt a surge of vigor coursing through his entire being! What a profound belief! No wonder grandpa specifically asked me to come here
, he thought.The old man felt the youth’s enthusiasm and said, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to your lodge.”
“I have to go back to see if I can recruit some disciples. We may be few at Thunder Peak, but we’re very united.”
Whoosh!
Li Guanqi quietly enjoyed the moment, closing his eyes and feeling the wind in his ears. The two whizzed past a flock of geese, and he reached out to touch a goose’s wing, causing it to let out a quick cry and move slightly away from the two. He laughed, watching it scramble back into formation.
In no time, they saw a towering mountain peak, standing high above its neighbors.
It was no wonder Li Guanqi had heard people gossiping earlier that the Great Xia Sword Sect was also known as ‘Three Thousand Peaks, Eight Hundred Beautiful Waters!’
Hum!
A barrier infused with the thunder element appeared in front of them. Xu Zhengjie took out a jade slip, and a gap in the barrier opened. The Elder explained, “This barrier was put in place to keep out strangers to our sect. After the Peak Entry Ceremony tomorrow, they’ll give you your identity jade. In the future, you won’t see this barrier when entering Thunder Peak.”
On their way up the mountain, they saw countless tall pavilions and towers, and many mountain cottages.
The old man smiled and said, “Your cottage is up there, on the mountainside. It’s in a convenient spot close to anything you’d need.”
“Your cottage even comes with a small spiritual farm. The Sect Master values you greatly.”
Li Guanqi was quite curious and asked, “Why would the Sect Master give me so many rewards? Isn’t this a bit…”
“Excessive?”
The old man looked at him with a wry expression.
“It might seem a bit, but not at all…”
“The Great Xia Sword Sect hasn’t developed well over these many years, and its foundation is weak.”
“Otherwise, the rewards for you would be much more than this.”
“If it were other major sects, you’d have the option to choose from spirit stones, treasures, spells, secret techniques, and more.”
“Even if you wanted to wed a Sect Master’s eldest daughter, they’d give it to you!”
“But… this is the Great Xia Sword Sect. No matter what you want, you have to strive for it through your own efforts!”
“Alright, this is your cottage. I’ll head back for now.”
“Regarding everything about the sect, you’ll gradually come to understand in the future. Rest for today.”
“Young Guanqi, I’ll be leaving!”
Before the young man could react, the old man had already disappeared without a trace.
Just as he turned around, the young man saw a little girl who looked about six or seven years old squatting at the doorstep of the cottage. The little girl had two braids sticking up high, and she was wearing a colorful robe. Her eyes were round and watery, and her delicate face was extremely adorable. Squatting on the ground, she held a white bun in her hands and stared at him with wide eyes.
Li Guanqi scratched his head, wondering if someone’s child had gotten lost. He approached her and crouched down, but before he could say anything, the little girl swiftly tucked the bun into her arms and ran away. The look in her eyes seemed as if she was afraid he was going to snatch her bun.