Chapter 18: Lei Fa Gu Lu, the Pouring Begins

Among inner gate disciples, even those at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment cannot all easily pass the third barrier; most people, when they reach the Body Tempering realm, find their physical strength cannot reach its peak, so the increase of ten‑thousand‑jin strength is naturally limited. Those who can push their physical strength to the limit in every realm are undoubtedly the elite of the age, and that requires a great amount of time and resources to accumulate.

Zhang Wu stood where he was, secretly grateful that he had not competed for an opportunity in the outer gate of Qing Shan earlier. Otherwise, not only he but his whole family might have faced annihilation. In the Leize secret realm, only a handful of true disciples can break through the outer eight layers; most people treat it merely as a Body Refining ground, visiting occasionally, because Thunder Dao Principles are extremely rare in the outside world—easy to obtain in the early stages of a trial, but virtually impossible later.

Although everyone knows that the Leize secret realm is rich in resources and that passing its trials yields treasures, the prerequisite is actually getting through. Most true disciples are only in the later stages of Foundation Establishment or have entered the Spiritual Perception realm, which already marks them as top talents in the Cang Lan Dao Domain, yet at this stage breaking the sixth outer barrier is already difficult. Only senior sister Lin Xue, while still in Foundation Establishment, has smashed through eight barriers despite severe injuries. Those record rewards are virtually out of reach for them.

"Time is tight; we must clear the trial quickly," the outer gate disciples realized the outer gate assessment was about to begin, with only the last hour left. Zhang Wu and his companions immediately entered Leize, their hearts filled with unease. Yet at that moment a cold voice echoed from the sky: "Congratulations on breaking through the second barrier, you have earned five hundred spiritual stones and five strands of Thunder Dao Principle, you have again shattered the record, in the Body Tempering realm you have cleared two barriers in a row, gaining a chance for a Thunder Dao pouring."

Zhang Wu and the others fell into contemplation in the Leize basin, wondering whether Qin Yu, who had been a menial disciple these years, was merely pretending. The second barrier of Leize cannot be passed without thirty‑thousand‑jin of physical strength. They felt something unreal. When Qin Yu turned around, he unexpectedly spotted Zhang Wu and the others, their eyes meeting. Qin Yu saw the senior brother who had suggested he join the outer gate assessment in the life‑or‑death arena, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes, grateful for the advice.

Zhang Wu gave a wry smile; had he known Qin Yu was so powerful, he would never have dared invite him to the Grand Competition. He secretly rejoiced that next year Qin Yu would basically be able to rampage through the outer gate. He vaguely sensed Qin Yu was mocking him, and fear rose in his heart. So he forced himself to speak: "Junior brother, you've misunderstood. I suggested you join the outer gate assessment only hoping you could gain training in ***. Since you entered the Grand Competition because of me, I am willing to give you a Yellow‑tier spirit medicine, wishing you great results."

At that moment Zhang Wu felt a twinge of reluctance, and the junior brothers beside him wore shocked expressions; a Yellow‑tier spirit medicine is worth several thousand spiritual stones, and the finest even cost over ten thousand, yet he gave it away so casually. They quickly realized that Zhang Wu was currying favor with Qin Yu to avoid future accusations of scheming for the bronze sword and inheritance opportunity.

"Senior brother Zhang Wu is truly pitiful; he gave up before even seizing the opportunity and even handed out a Yellow‑tier spirit medicine," the disciples shook their heads and sighed, thinking one should stay grounded.

Qin Yu was surprised to hear that, thinking that the Xuan Yang Sect had so many good people? He recalled someone warning him on a forum that this world is survival of the fittest. He slightly bowed in thanks, then waved his hand to leave the basin, feeling a wave of dizziness. When he reappeared, everything was a gray haze, fog shrouding the view, his hand unable to see his fingers, yet the air tingled with faint thunderous rays brushing his skin.

"Huh? A disciple of the Body Tempering realm actually made it to Lei Fa Gu Lu?" a light exclamation rang out. A delicate young lady in a pristine long dress, carrying a bright lantern, walked slowly; her eyes shone bright as a full moon. Several lanterns lit up around her, both men and women, and at this moment her brows were slightly furrowed.

"Having luckily cleared the second barrier, you may leave now; don't be greedy. The elders here cannot intervene, and even if you crush the teleportation jade pendant, teleportation still requires five breaths, and you could die at any moment," a senior man scolded, deeming Qin Yu overly greedy for seeking the Thunder Dao Principle. They did not know how Qin Yu passed the second barrier, but they were sure there was some trick. Because in the Body Tempering eight layers, even the first barrier is hard to pass; even with physical strength at its peak, being one sub‑realm lower is like a heavenly trench, impossible to cross.

They thought Qin Yu might have cheated, or entered while Leize was weakened; someone had discovered this loophole before, but the benefits were halved. They were more eager to obtain the opportunities here, while the outer gate disciples perhaps only wanted to leave a reputation of a Body Tempering disciple who cleared Leize's second layer.

In the ancient road, thick fog enveloped them; they had to carry lanterns forward, unable to see the Thunder Dao Tablet in the sky, and unaware that Qin Yu was the record‑breaker. Qin Yu gave no reply, but gently asked the delicate young lady: "Excuse me, senior sister, what is Lei Fa Gu Lu?"

The girl blinked: "I am Ling Jing, a newly inducted inner gate disciple. You may have stumbled into Leize's second layer by chance, so the elders did not inform you." Lei Fa Gu Lu stretches for thousands of meters, bearing ancient oppressive pressure that can grind one's spiritual perception; every ten meters forward the thunder's power also increases. The third barrier requires traversing the first three hundred meters, then progressing sequentially. You have not yet reached Foundation Establishment, your spiritual perception is weak, making this place unsuitable and likely to damage your spirit soul.

Qin Yu grasped the gist, but excitement flickered in his eyes. This seemed like a good opportunity; if the ancient oppressive pressure could continuously compress his spiritual perception and trigger the Nirvana trait, wouldn't that be a Nirvana with each step? He had no need to worry about his life. Just as he was about to begin the trial, a cold voice echoed in his mind: "The Thunder Dao pouring is about to begin, please prepare to cultivate."