[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds":3,"chapter-commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Commanding the Five Thunders Across Two Worlds",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":12,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},2363129,4620,"Chapter 1: Chapter One: The Five Thunder Command","commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>In May, Yangcheng was already very hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scattered white clouds drifted in the sky; the sun poured down unchecked, filtering through dappled tree shadows into specks of golden light that still blinded the eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao stepped out of the university gym’s job fair; the air conditioning’s effect vanished instantly, replaced by a stifling heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’d it go?” A voice suddenly sounded beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not good,” Gu Zhao recognized the voice and shook his head. “Either sales or customer service.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang blinked in surprise. “Not a single one hiring programmers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There was one,” Gu Zhao nodded, then grimaced. “But they only take graduate students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft hah!” Zhang Hang burst out laughing, then slung an arm around Gu Zhao’s shoulder. “Why are you even looking for a job? Programmers work 996—why not just take over your old man’s business?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao was speechless. “My old man’s still strong—he doesn’t need me to take over yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then be a landlord!” Zhang Hang grinned slyly. “Play around for a few years, then take over!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao shot him a sidelong glance. “Can you have any ambition at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve got plenty of ambition!” Zhang Hang retorted firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang counted off on his fingers. “I’m bad at studying, can’t land a decent job—three or four grand a month, barely enough to cover medical bills after I wear myself out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I don’t work, I can spend my time on morning tea, gaming, livestreams, fitness—stay healthy, feel good, maybe even find a girlfriend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang looked at Gu Zhao. “Isn’t that way better than working?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao winced. “You’ve got houses—you’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao and Zhang Hang had been classmates since middle school, lived close by, got along well, and easily became friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both their families ran factories and businesses, but Gu Zhao’s family had operated steadily over the years, while Zhang Hang’s business had surged—so they owned more properties in Yangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I say, forget the job hunt—let’s make videos together. Explore shops in Yangcheng, go viral, then take ads. Have fun and make money!” Zhang Hang urged Gu Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not making shop-review videos,” Gu Zhao snorted. “Taking money to lie ruins my Dao heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang was speechless. “What century is this? Still cultivating a Dao heart? Even monks and Daoist priests now run martial arts schools and wellness centers to make money!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang pulled out his phone, opened Doukuai, and pulled up Gu Zhao’s account. “Look at your videos—your BGM and background have some flair, but what the hell are you even talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao glanced at the screen and said coolly, “The Three Lights True Qi Cultivation Method and the Heavenly Gang Talismans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang, “…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the point!” Zhang Hang complained. “Are you selling cinnabar and yellow talismans on Doukuai?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao ignored him and walked straight out the gate. “I won’t take ads. My grandfather taught me—if you want health and longevity, your spirit must flow smoothly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t even drawn a single stroke yet—get famous first! Three hundred followers won’t land you any ads!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang caught up to Gu Zhao, still pushing ideas. “If you want more followers, try making skits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao walked as he asked, “What kind of skit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang grinned. “Hero saves beauty—aren’t you trained by your grandpa? You move pretty well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s so old and clichéd!” Gu Zhao scoffed. “Who watches that anymore? Now everyone watches ‘I save the beauty, then get scammed and forced to pay compensation.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly like that—it’ll blow up!” Zhang Hang gave a thumbs-up. “You play the unlucky martial artist, I’ll play the guy who teams up with the girl to scam you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks a lot,” Gu Zhao said flatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Zhang Hang finally noticed Gu Zhao wasn’t heading to the cafeteria, but toward the school gate. “Aren’t you going to keep submitting resumes this afternoon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too exhausting. What’s the point? I’m sleeping this afternoon,” Gu Zhao said firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch with Zhang Hang, Gu Zhao walked into a small residential complex near campus and returned home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house was bought by his parents when he entered university, meant as a base outside his dorm—rarely used until this year, when he moved in for his internship and thesis writing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grew used to living there, moved nearly all his dorm belongings over, and now only needed to pick up his diploma from school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed his backpack onto the sofa, changed into loungewear, then went to the balcony, sat facing the sun, and naturally settled into meditation and Qi refining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao’s skills were all taught by his grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to his grandfather, their lineage had a transmission, but severed ties with orthodox Daoist sects long ago, surviving only in folk traditions—he believed these practices were part of traditional culture, too precious to let vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During Gu Zhao’s father’s generation, the crackdown on feudal superstition and economic reforms left no room for Dao cultivation or martial arts; they abandoned it early and plunged into business, achieving some success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By Gu Zhao’s time, living standards improved, the nation grew stronger, national confidence rose, and internet exposure sparked his interest in these traditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So under his grandfather’s guidance, he began learning—and trained for over a decade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now that his grandfather had passed, Gu Zhao had formed the habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat cross-legged, fingers forming the Shen seal, eyes half-closed, mind focused, breath slow and deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bathed in warm sunlight, he imagined the Sun’s True Qi flowing into his body, circulating within, becoming his own power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After roughly fifteen breaths, Gu Zhao ended his practice and opened his eyes, sensing his state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm… no change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course no change!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just clearer mind, brighter eyes, smoother breathing, refreshed—morning’s heaviness completely gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao stretched, preparing to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he suddenly felt a searing heat on his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, he quickly pulled out the wooden pendant hanging around his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a piece of lightning-struck jujube wood, half the size of his palm, reddish-black in color, with a divine figure and unreadable symbols carved on the front, and a talisman on the back enclosing the characters “Five Thunder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called it the Five Thunder Command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was passed down by his grandfather, said to be their lineage’s token—legend claimed their ancestor received divine transmission in a dream, opened his eyes to find a thunderbolt striking the neighboring jujube tree, and discovered the token within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao had worn this token for years, exposed it to sunlight many times—but when had it ever gotten this hot?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the Five Thunder Command in his hand, he suddenly felt it trembling in rhythmic pulses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on? It’s moving on its own!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao froze, mind blank, sensing a swirling aura around the token, a steady pull emanating from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively, he leaned closer, focusing his attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, his vision went black—and he vanished from the balcony, leaving only a fading cry: “Wō…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1158,"2026-06-21T06:19:08.116Z","Qwen3.5 397B","6573b8a55c52bd155e630b61b9cf62e46a30787593737095fff0c77af36cb4a6","commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-chapter-2",null,141,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcommanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-cover.jpg"]