Chapter 46: Chapter Forty-Six: Bestowing the Thunder Seed

Gu Zhao did not stay to chat with Daoist Yan Song in the Tai Shang Lao Jun Pavilion; he pulled him away from the pavilion to a relatively secluded grove nearby.

“What are you up to?” Daoist Yan Song asked curiously. “Can’t you say whatever it is up in the pavilion?”

Gu Zhao spoke in a mysterious tone, “Do you believe cultivation can lead to ascension? Do you believe there are immortals in this world?”

Daoist Yan Song: (￣ー￣)

Daoist Yan Song looked at Gu Zhao as if he were an idiot. “Stop reading so many online novels and focus more on your cultivation. Your achievements might still surpass Daoist Zhang Zhishun.”

Zhang Zhishun was a legendary figure in modern Daoism who compiled the “Qi Ti Yuan Liu,” extracting the essence from Daoist classics and blending it with his own cultivation insights; he was also a high-level Daoist who had cultivated true qi within, and his realm was certainly not low.

Gu Zhao grunted, then pressed, “Just tell me—do you believe it or not?”

Seeing Gu Zhao’s persistence, Daoist Yan Song reluctantly said, “I don’t know if ascension is possible, but when your internal qi is complete and your true qi is full, you can strengthen your body, scale walls and rooftops, cure illnesses, nurture life, and dispel yin and evil influences. In ancient times, calling such a person a terrestrial immortal wasn’t an exaggeration.”

Gu Zhao asked curiously, “Are there yin and evil influences in modern times too?”

“The heavens and earth have spiritual energy, so naturally they also have yin and evil influences—places like marshes and forests that never see sunlight, graveyards, wastelands, battlefields piled with corpses—all places lacking in vital energy.”

Daoist Yan Song explained, “Some folk superstitions may seem unscientific, but they exist precisely because of these invisible, intangible energies—science simply hasn’t explained them yet.”

Gu Zhao understood.

But spiritual energy is scarce in modern times, so yin and evil influences are likewise minimal—compared to the demons and monsters of other realms, they’re child’s play.

Gu Zhao brought the topic back. “We’ll talk about that later. I came to you for something serious—I need your help.”

Daoist Yan Song grew unusually serious, nodding solemnly. “Speak.”

“I’ve provoked a ghost with several hundred years of cultivation. Though it hasn’t noticed me yet, I must prepare early—find allies and strengthen my cultivation,” Gu Zhao said.

Daoist Yan Song: …

“If you truly encountered a ghost with several hundred years of cultivation, I suggest you go to the Provincial Public Security Bureau—Rongcheng City Bureau might not be able to handle it,” Daoist Yan Song offered his advice.

Gu Zhao: …

“They can’t help me,” Gu Zhao shook his head. “Only you can.”

Daoist Yan Song asked curiously, “How can I help?”

“Help me kill the ghost—aren’t that’s what Daoist priests do?”

“I’d love to. At nearly eighty, if I could trade my life for a ghost with several hundred years of cultivation, I wouldn’t mind—but I doubt I’d even be enough for it to swallow in one bite.”

“I can help you strengthen your cultivation.”

“How?”

“Like this!” Gu Zhao subtly moved his spiritual sense; the thunder seed encircling the Five Thunder Talisman shot out and instantly sank into Daoist Yan Song’s third eye.

Daoist Yan Song’s mind-sea suddenly opened, and he “saw” a thunder seed hovering deep within, transmitting information while streams of lightning surged from the seed, traveling down his meridians.

A jolt struck his chest, activating his primordial qi.

His dantian trembled; primordial qi mixed with the thunder seed’s power condensed all his true qi and began absorbing external spiritual energy from heaven and earth.

“Whoosh—”

The mountain wind stirred, and the surrounding pines swayed. Daoist Yan Song remained silent, utterly absorbed in sensing himself and the surrounding heavens and earth.

“How is it?” Gu Zhao asked.

Daoist Yan Song drew a deep breath, like a whale drinking water—his lung capacity astonishing.

“Incredible!” Daoist Yan Song stared at Gu Zhao, eyes wide with shock. “Thunder seed? Magic treasure? Primordial qi? Are immortals real? Can we truly cultivate and ascend?”

Here, Daoist Yan Song finally snapped back to reality and shook his head. “Still impossible. Spiritual energy is too scarce. Even Qingcheng Mountain ranks fifth among the Ten Cavernous Heavens—and still, it’s not enough for me to draw in a single breath.”

The world has changed beyond recognition—perhaps something happened, like in those online novels: the tide of spiritual energy has receded. Maybe ancient times truly had cultivators who became immortals, but this environment is no longer suitable for cultivation.”

“Still, even in this environment, my cultivation efficiency will be far faster than before—I might even live another decade or two.”

Daoist Yan Song couldn’t help sighing, gazing at Gu Zhao with both envy and regret. “You’re lucky to have obtained such a remarkable magic treasure—but unlucky, too, born in the wrong age.”

“You came to your senses so quickly?” Gu Zhao asked in surprise.

“I’m a Daoist priest—I’ve worshipped the Three Pure Ones for decades with sincere faith. I truly believe in immortals, and since cultivating internal qi, I’ve believed I could live a hundred years and ascend to the Immortal Realm. Isn’t it natural that I snapped back quickly?”

Daoist Yan Song stroked his beard, chuckling proudly. “I’m the one the thunder seed deemed pure of soul, full of righteous qi, and exceptionally gifted—in ancient times, I’d have been the chosen one!”

Gu Zhao chuckled. “So what did the thunder seed tell you?”

“It told me you’re my superior—you can grant me the thunder seed, or take it back and fire me.” Daoist Yan Song tugged his beard. Just moments ago he was the elder, and now, after agreeing to help, he’d become a subordinate.

Gu Zhao smiled and bowed. “No, no—I’m not worthy—”

“No, work is work, life is life. During work hours, you’re my superior,” Daoist Yan Song waved him off, then bowed deeply to Gu Zhao.

“The thunder seed also told me: perform good deeds, cultivate the Dao heart, eliminate evil to accumulate merit, and assist Daoic progress—but all must be shared with you.” Daoist Yan Song paused, then added, “Also, I can use the thunder seed to communicate with you?”

Saying this, Daoist Yan Song fell silent, using his spiritual sense to sense the Five Thunder Talisman through the thunder seed.

The next moment, the Five Thunder Talisman deep within Gu Zhao’s mind received the message from the thunder seed, activated its resonance, and he heard Daoist Yan Song’s voice: “Can you hear me?”

Gu Zhao didn’t speak aloud—he replied through the Five Thunder Talisman: “I hear you.”

“Wow, this is fun!” Daoist Yan Song laughed. “Way more convenient than a mobile phone—always connected.”

Gu Zhao nodded. He could receive messages but could choose when to read them—no constant interruptions.

“Hmm, after decades of cultivation, I only now realize how deep the waters of cultivation truly are!” Daoist Yan Song felt his own state. “Now I believe you really encountered a hundred-year ghost.”

“But I only have primordial qi now—my magic power is completely empty. If you want to fight that ghost, you’ll have to wait a while.”

Daoist Yan Song asked Gu Zhao, “Do you have any more thunder seeds? Could you recruit others? I know a few old Daoists who’ve cultivated internal qi—I don’t know if they’d be accepted by the thunder seed.”

“Only one. I gave it all to you,” Gu Zhao said. “To condense another thunder seed, you must slay evil ghosts, eliminate wickedness to accumulate merit, and condense the thunder seed from the ghost’s malevolent energy.”

Daoist Yan Song nodded. “Then you’ll have to wait a while.”

Gu Zhao shook his head. “No need. I can take you to a place rich in spiritual energy to rapidly replenish your magic power.”

“Where? The back mountain?” Daoist Yan Song asked like a curious child. “Does the Qingcheng Cavernous Heaven among the Ten Cavernous Heavens actually refer to the back mountain of Qingcheng?”

Gu Zhao’s spiritual sense enveloped Daoist Yan Song and he winked. “Guess.”

Moments later…

“My heavens!”

“Did I ascend?”

“Am I… a Dao Master now?”