Chapter 46: Bestowing the Thunder Seed

Gu Zhao did not stay in the Tower of Taishang Laojun to chat idly with Daoist Yan Song; instead, he pulled him away from the pavilion and led him to a relatively secluded grove nearby.

"What are you doing?" Daoist Yan Song asked curiously. "Is there something you can't say upstairs that requires us to come here?"

Gu Zhao spoke mysteriously, "Do you believe cultivation can lead to ascension? Do you believe gods and immortals exist in this world?"

Daoist Yan Song: (￣ー￣)

Daoist Yan Song looked at Gu Zhao as if he were an idiot. "Read fewer web novels and focus more on your cultivation; your future achievements may well surpass those of Daoist Zhang Zhishun."

Zhang Zhishun was a legendary figure in the modern Taoist sect who excerpted Taoist classics, extracted their essence, and combined them with his own cultivation insights to compile the "Qi Body Source Flow." He was also a Taoist master who had cultivated internal breath and true qi, and his realm was certainly not low.

Gu Zhao hummed and continued, "Just tell me, do you believe it or not!"

Seeing Gu Zhao's persistence, Daoist Yan Song could only say, "I don't know if ascension is possible, but with complete internal breath and abundant true qi, one can not only strengthen the body and walk on walls and eaves, but also cure illnesses, preserve health, and dispel yin evil and malevolent spirits. In ancient times, such a person could rightly be called a terrestrial immortal."

Gu Zhao asked curiously, "Are there yin evil and malevolent spirits in the modern era as well?"

"Where there is spiritual energy in heaven and earth, there are naturally yin evil and malevolent spirits, such as in forests, swamps, and other places where sunlight rarely reaches, as well as grave mounds, barren wastelands, battlefields, and piles of corpses—places lacking vital energy."

Daoist Yan Song explained, "Some feudal superstitious practices among the common people may seem to lack scientific basis, but they are actually due to these invisible and intangible energies that science cannot yet explain."

Gu Zhao understood.

However, spiritual energy is scarce in the modern era, so yin evil and malevolent spirits are naturally few as well; compared to the demons and monsters of the Otherworld, they are mere child's play.

Gu Zhao brought the conversation back on track. "Let's discuss that later. I have a serious matter this time and need your help."

Daoist Yan Song, unusually serious, nodded solemnly. "Speak!"

"I have provoked a fierce ghost with several hundred years of cultivation. Although he has not discovered me yet, I must prepare early, seek allies, and improve my cultivation," Gu Zhao said.

Daoist Yan Song: "..."

"If you truly encountered a fierce ghost with several hundred years of cultivation, I would advise you to go to the Provincial Security Hall; the Rongcheng City Bureau might not be able to protect you," Daoist Yan Song offered his suggestion.

Gu Zhao: "..."

"They cannot help me," Gu Zhao shook his head. "Only you can help me."

Daoist Yan Song was curious. "How can I help?"

"Help me kill ghosts; isn't that our Daoist priests' professional skill?"

"I would like to, but I am nearly eighty years old. If I could truly trade for a fierce ghost with several hundred years of cultivation, I wouldn't lose out, but I fear I am not even enough for that evil ghost to swallow in one bite."

"I can help you improve your cultivation."

"How will you help?"

"Like this!" Gu Zhao slightly moved his divine sense, and the thunder seed surrounding the Five Thunder Talisman suddenly flew out, instantly sinking into the position between Daoist Yan Song's eyebrows.

Daoist Yan Song's sea of consciousness was suddenly opened, and he "saw" a thunder seed floating deep within it. While a stream of information was transmitted, currents of electricity also emanated from the thunder seed, traveling down through his meridians.

A tremor in his chest activated his innate qi.

A tremor in his dantian caused his innate qi, mixed with the power of the thunder seed, to condense all the true qi within his body and begin absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the outside.

"Whoosh—Whoosh—"

The mountain wind blew, causing the surrounding green pines to sway. Daoist Yan Song remained silent for a long time, simply sensing his own body and the heaven and earth around him.

"How is it?" Gu Zhao asked.

Daoist Yan Song took a deep breath, like a long whale drawing in water, his lung capacity astonishing.

"It is too incredible!" Daoist Yan Song stared at Gu Zhao, his eyes full of shock. "A thunder seed? A magic treasure? Innate qi? Do gods and immortals truly exist in this world? Can we truly cultivate and ascend?"

Having finally reacted, Daoist Yan Song shook his head again. "Still, it won't work. There is too little spiritual energy in heaven and earth. Even our Qingcheng Mountain, which ranks fifth among the Ten Great Cavern Heavens, is not enough for me to draw in with one breath."

The world has undergone great changes; perhaps something happened, as written in web novels, causing the tide of spiritual energy to recede. Perhaps there were indeed people who cultivated to immortality in ancient times, but the current environment is unsuitable for cultivation.

"However, even in this environment, my cultivation efficiency from now on will be much faster than before; perhaps I can even live another ten years or more."

Daoist Yan Song could not help but sigh, looking at Gu Zhao with a mix of envy and regret. "You are lucky to have obtained such an extraordinary magic treasure, but you are also unlucky to have been born in the wrong era."

"You recovered your senses so quickly?" Gu Zhao asked in surprise.

"After all, I am a Daoist Priest. I have worshipped the Three Pure Ones for decades with sincere faith. Not only do I wholeheartedly believe in gods and immortals, but after cultivating internal breath, I also believe I can live a long life and ascend to the Immortal Realm. Is it not normal to recover my senses quickly?"

Daoist Yan Song stroked his beard and hummed proudly. "I am the one whom the thunder seed recognized as having a pure soul, full of righteousness, and extraordinary talent. In ancient times, I would have been the chosen one of heaven!"

Gu Zhao chuckled. "What did the thunder seed tell you?"

"It told me that you are my superior, who can bestow the thunder seed upon me and also take it back and fire me." Daoist Yan Song tugged at his beard; just moments ago he was the senior, but after merely agreeing to help, he had become a subordinate.

Gu Zhao smiled and clasped his hands. "I dare not, I dare not. In the future..."

"No, work is work, and life is life. During work hours, you are my superior." Daoist Yan Song waved his hand and even bowed deeply to Gu Zhao.

"The thunder seed also told me to perform good deeds and accumulate virtue, cultivate the Dao heart, eliminate evil and accumulate merit, and aid the Dao work, but all of this must be shared with you." Daoist Yan Song thought for a moment and continued, "Hmm, I can also contact you through the thunder seed?"

Having said this, Daoist Yan Song fell silent and used his divine 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 brought by the thunder seed. Upon actively contacting and sensing it, he could hear Daoist Yan Song's voice: "Can you hear me?"

Gu Zhao did not open his mouth but replied through the Five Thunder Talisman, "I can hear you."

"Ah, fun, fun!" Daoist Yan Song laughed. "This is much more convenient than a mobile phone; we can contact each other anytime."

Gu Zhao nodded; one could receive messages but also choose whether to read them immediately, so they would not be disturbed at all times.

"Tsk tsk, I never thought that after cultivating for decades, I would only now realize that the waters of this cultivation world are much deeper than I imagined!" Daoist Yan Song, sensing his own condition, said, "Now I believe you truly encountered a century-old fierce ghost."

"But I currently only have innate qi; my magic power is extremely empty. If you want to deal with the fierce ghost, I am afraid you will have to wait for me for a while."

Having said this, Daoist Yan Song asked Gu Zhao, "How many thunder seeds do you have left? Can you recruit more people? I know a few old Daoists who have cultivated internal breath; I just don't know if they can be recognized by the thunder seed."

"Only one, and I have given it all to you," Gu Zhao said. "To condense another thunder seed, one must slay evil ghosts, eliminate evil and accumulate merit, and condense the thunder seed using the evil qi from the fierce ghosts."

Daoist Yan Song nodded. "Then you will have to wait for me for a while."

Gu Zhao shook his head. "No need; I can take you to a place full of spiritual energy to quickly replenish your magic power."

"What place? The back mountain?" Daoist Yan Song seemed like a curious baby. "Could the Qingcheng Cavern Heaven among the Ten Great Cavern Heavens actually refer to the back mountain of Qingcheng?"

Gu Zhao moved his divine sense, enveloping Daoist Yan Song, and winked at him. "Guess?"

A moment later...

"Oh, my heavens!"

"Has the old Daoist ascended?"

"Have I, the Daoist, succeeded?"