Chapter 76

Facing a direct strike to the face, Zhou Shuo instinctively raised his left-hand sword-in-sheath to block, but the black threads, like spiritual snakes, slipped past his defense, slid to his palm and wrist, pierced his skin and entered his body instantly; a surge of yin cold flooded into his arm's meridians.

Translation: Facing a direct attack to the face, Zhou Shuo instinctively raised his left-hand sword-in-sheath to block, but those black lines slipped like spirit snakes, evading the sword's block, sliding to his palm and wrist, piercing the skin and entering his body instantly; a surge of yin cold rushed into his arm's meridians.

We need to keep it concise but include all info. Let's craft: "Facing a direct attack to the face, Zhou Shuo instinctively raised his left-hand sword-in-sheath to block, but those black lines slipped like spirit snakes, evading the sword's block, sliding to his palm and wrist, piercing the skin and entering his body instantly; a surge of yin cold rushed into his arm's meridians."

Check we included all: Facing a direct strike to the face, Zhou Shuo instinctively raised his left-hand sword-in-sheath to block, but the black threads, like spiritual snakes, slipped past his defense, slid to his palm and wrist, pierced his skin and entered his body instantly; a surge of yin cold flooded into his arm's meridians. Yes.

"Thunder law again!" Zhou Shuo felt the reaction within his body, lifted his gaze to the oncoming attacker, and saw a youth about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in white Daoist robes, a dab of vermilion on his forehead, his features cool and handsome, quite the handsome young man—well, that's not important; what matters is that this guy also uses thunder law, and the reaction his attack provokes is exactly the same as Zhang Chulan's thunder law, only the sensation differs—one cold, one hot, one yin, one yang.

Translation: "Again, Thunder Method!" Zhou Shuo felt the reaction within him, looked up at the attacker, saw an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old wearing white Daoist robes, a dab of vermilion on his brow, his features clear, cold, and handsome, quite the handsome young man—well, that doesn't matter; what matters is that this guy also uses Thunder Method, the reaction from his attack exactly matches Zhang Chulan's Thunder Method, only the sensation differs—one cold, one hot, one yin, one yang.

We need to keep it concise but include all. Let's craft: ""Again, Thunder Method!" Zhou Shuo felt the reaction within him, looked up at the attacker, saw an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old in white Daoist robes, a vermilion dot on his brow, clear‑cold handsome features, quite the handsome young man—well, that doesn't matter; what matters is that this guy also uses Thunder Method, the reaction from his attack exactly matches Zhang Chulan's Thunder Method, only the sensation differs—one cold, one hot, one yin, one yang."

Check we included all: yes.

"How's Zhang Chulan?" the cool, handsome young man glanced at Zhang Chulan, who had just broken free of the green lightning attack.

Translation: "How's it going, Zhang Chulan?" the clear‑cold handsome youth glanced at Zhang Chulan, who had just escaped the green‑thunder attack.

Check: includes "cool, handsome young man", "glanced", "Zhang Chulan who had just escaped the green lightning attack". Good.

"Honorable Mountain Uncle." Zhang Chulan felt the cold receding within his body, endured the shuddering sensation, and instinctively looked toward the sturdy Daoist who had been struck by lightning alongside him; he saw that the Daoist, whose eyes had just been bloodshot, now had a pale face, curled up on the ground, shivering from the cold, his condition far worse than his own.

Translation: "Uncle Rongshan." Zhang Chulan felt the cold receding within him, endured the shuddering sensation, and instinctively looked at the sturdy Daoist who had been struck by lightning alongside him—seeing the sturdy Daoist whose eyes had just been blood‑red now pale‑faced, curled on the ground, trembling violently, his condition far worse than Zhang Chulan's.

Check: includes all.

"Honorable Mountain Brother." The cool, handsome young man, hearing Zhang Chulan's words, instinctively also glanced at the nearby Daoist, almost blurting it out.

Translation: "Senior Brother Rongshan." the clear‑cold handsome youth, hearing Zhang Chulan's words, instinctively also looked toward the nearby Daoist, almost blurting it out.

Check.

"So you're Zhang Lingyu, Yin Five Thunder—no wonder…" Zhou Shuo looked at the handsome Daoist who had blurted out "Honorable Mountain Brother," couldn't help blinking his eyes; he was the tenth closed-door disciple of Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei, and Baidu says he has a thing with Xia He, and Xia He's interest in thunder law likely stems from him—tsk tsk.

Translation: "So you're Zhang Lingyu, practicing Yin Five Thunder—no wonder." Zhou Shuo blinked at the handsome Daoist who had just blurted "Senior Brother Rongshan," the tenth inner disciple of Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei; online rumors say he's involved with Xia He, and her interest in Thunder Method likely stems from him—tsk tsk.

Check includes all.

"Who are you?" Zhang Lingyu stared at his injured elder brother, who was shivering from the cold, narrowed his eyes at Zhou Shuo, and a cold glint flashed in the corner of his eyes.

Translation: "Who are you?" Zhang Lingyu gazed at his shivering senior brother, squinting at Zhou Shuo, a cold glint flashing at the corners of his eyes.

Check.

"Hehehe!" Zhou Shuo looked at the fresh, handsome young man and gave him his most benevolent smile; although this guy is quite good‑looking, anyone in the world who is more handsome than he is should be an object of his jealousy.

Translation: "Hehehe!" Zhou Shuo greeted the fresh‑looking young man with his most amiable smile; although the guy is handsome, anyone in the world more handsome than him should be an object of his jealousy.

Check.

"Little Uncle Lingyu, he's Zhou Shuo of the Quanxing sect, a master—be careful." Zhang Chulan, seeing Honorable Mountain's face turn white and shiver, couldn't help shouting a warning to Zhang Lingyu.

Translation: "Junior Uncle Lingyu, he's Zhou Shuo of the All‑Nature sect, a master—be careful." Zhang Chulan, seeing Rongshan's face turn white and shiver, couldn't help shouting a warning to Zhang Lingyu.

Check.

"Quanxing…" Zhang Lingyu narrowed his eyes, but before he could act, a sudden flash of green light appeared before him.

Translation: "All‑Nature…" Zhang Lingyu narrowed his eyes, but before he could act, a sudden cyan flash appeared before him.

Check.

"Then let me see how well you two, the orthodox heirs of the Celestial Master's mansion, have cultivated the Five Thunders." Zhou Shuo looked at the startled young Celestial Master, extended his right palm outward, and a jealous‑tinged green electric arc surged forth, rolling toward them to crush them.

Translation: "Then let me see how well you two have cultivated the Celestial Master's Mansion's orthodox Five Thunder." Zhou Shuo looked at the startled little Celestial Master, palm facing outward, and a jealous cyan‑green electric arc surged forth, rolling toward his opponent.

Check includes all.

Without any hesitation, the green electric arc engulfed Zhang Lingyu, who was clad in white Daoist robes; as Zhou Shuo just released the arc, his eyebrow twitched, he swung his right arm to the left, and the green electric arc in his hand swept sideways, blocking several white, finger‑thick lightning snakes; the bright white lightning snakes were caught by the green arc, twisted twice, and then dissipated in the air.

Translation: Without hesitation, the cyan‑green electric arc engulfed Zhang Lingyu in his white Daoist robes; as Zhou Shuo released the arc, his brow twitched, he swung his right arm left, and the cyan‑green electric arc swept sideways, blocking several white, finger‑thick electric serpents; the bright white serpents were caught by the arc, twisted twice, then torn apart in midair.

Check.

"Junior Uncle, join forces." Zhang Chulan, seeing the technique dissipate in the green lightning net, shouted, simultaneously releasing a large sheet of electric arc from his palm; in response to his words, Zhang Lingyu, who had broken free of the green electric net, flicked his sleeves, and a layer of mud‑like substance clinging to his body poured straight toward Zhou Shuo.

Translation: "Junior Uncle, join forces." Zhang Chulan, seeing his technique dissolve in the green‑thunder net, shouted, simultaneously releasing a large sheet of electric arc from his palm; in response to his words, Zhang Lingyu, who had broken free of the cyan‑green electric net, flicked his sleeves, sending a layer of mud‑like substance clinging to his body straight toward Zhou Shuo.

Check.

"Indeed, as expected of one yin and one yang, their attack methods are nearly identical!" Zhou Shuo stepped back slightly, continuously releasing the green electric arc to block both the white lightning Zhang Chulan emitted and the mud‑like substance Zhang Lingyu flung; that mud‑like substance is precisely the Celestial Master's mansion's inherited Yin Five Thunder—innate yang energy leaks out, so kidney water guides liver wood to replenish yang, then the five vital energies are refined into thunder; compared with the clear, bright Yang Five Thunder, it is pitch‑black and has the consistency of filthy water and mud.

Translation: "Indeed, as one yin and one yang, their techniques are nearly identical!" Zhou Shuo stepped back slightly, continuously releasing the cyan‑green electric arc, blocking the white electric light from Zhang Chulan and the mud‑like substance from Zhang Lingyu; that mud‑like substance is exactly the Celestial Master's Mansion's orthodox Yin Five Thunder—innate yang exhausted, so kidney water guides liver wood to replenish yang, then refined into five‑qi thunder; compared with the clear, bright Yang Five Thunder, it is pitch‑black and has the consistency of filthy water and mud.

Check.

The green electric arcs surged everywhere, colliding with the pure Yang Five Thunder and the black, mud‑like Yin Five Thunder; the three‑colored arcs immediately began to cancel each other out, the rumbling sound expanded, and almost simultaneously the three of them unanimously chose to increase their output; within a radius of a hundred meters, lightning arcs and snakes wandered, Zhou Shuo's Taiyin Thunder occupied half the area, while Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan's Yin‑Yang Five Thunder occupied the other half.

Translation: The cyan‑green electric arcs surged everywhere, meeting the clear Yang Five Thunder and the black‑mud‑like Yin Five Thunder; the three‑color arcs immediately began to cancel each other, the rumbling expanded, and almost simultaneously the three increased their output—within a hundred‑meter radius, lightning arcs and serpents roamed, Zhou Shuo's Taiyin Thunder occupied half the field while Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan's Yin‑Yang Five Thunder held the other half.

Check.

"This thunder?" Zhang Lingyu peered through the viscous black lightning's gaps at those green arcs, his eyes widening; in the instant they had just clashed, he felt a bit surprised—his opponent also practiced thunder law, yet upon engaging, he was even more astonished; the green jade thunder was unheard of, and beneath it, the sticky lightning formed from his own Yin Five Thunder seemed to be trending toward freezing.

Translation: "What thunder?" Zhang Lingyu peered through the sticky black‑thunder light's gaps at those cyan arcs, his eyes widening; in the instant of their clash he'd been a little surprised that the other also practiced Thunder Method, but now, upon contact, he was more surprised—green cyan thunder was unheard of, and beneath it, his own Yin Five Thunder's sticky radiance showed a tendency to freeze.

Check.

"This guy, terrible…" Zhang Chulan peered through the white electric arc at the figure within the green electric arc; compared to Zhang Lingyu, he was no better—upon contact, the clear, lively Yang Five Thunder immediately showed a tendency to go soft, and he also recalled that this person had once extorted thunder‑law knowledge from him, making it easy to guess what was happening.

Translation: "This guy, terrible…" Zhang Chulan looked through his white electric arc at the figure within the cyan‑green arc; compared to Zhang Lingyu, he was no better—his clear, lively Yang Five Thunder meeting the cyan‑green arc immediately gave a sense of softness, and he recalled that this guy had once pressed him for Thunder Method secrets here, so it's easy to guess what's going on.

Check.

Zhou Shuo maintained the green electric arcs with both hands, feeling those that were either freezing or weakening being gradually smashed apart by the sticky lightning arcs; a faint smile appeared on his face, for whether it was Zhang Chulan's Yang Five Thunder or Zhang Lingyu's Yin Five Thunder, they were being restrained by his modified Taiyin Thunder—quite a sense of achievement!

Translation: Zhou Shuo kept both hands on the cyan electric arc, feeling the sticky thunder arcs either freeze or weaken, being chipped away bit by bit; a faint smile appeared on his face—whether it was Zhang Chulan's Yang Five Thunder or Zhang Lingyu's Yin Five Thunder, both were suppressed by his modified Taiyin Thunder, giving him a sense of accomplishment.

Check.

In the intertwining of the three‑colored arcs, the white arcs were softened while the black sticky lightning was frozen and shattered; the coverage of the green electric arcs began to expand gradually, and Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan naturally felt this, yet they had no choice—if they withdrew or yielded, the opposing green electric light would instantly blanket the sky and overwhelm them.

Translation: In the intertwined three‑color arcs, the white arcs softened, the black sticky thunder was frozen and shattered, while the cyan‑green arc's coverage began to expand; Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Chulan naturally felt this, but they had no choice—if they withdrew, the opposing cyan‑green light would instantly overwhelm them.

Check.

"Zhang Chulan, take Honorable Mountain Senior Brother with you; I'll hold them off for a moment." Zhang Lingyu watched the encroaching wall of green electricity, gritted his teeth slightly, stepped forward to join Zhang Chulan, and while doing his utmost to emit the black, sticky Yin Thunder, he called out.

Translation: "Zhang Chulan, take Senior Brother Rongshan with me; I'll hold them off for a moment." Zhang Lingyu gazed at the advancing sheet of cyan electricity, gritted his teeth, stepped to join Zhang Chulan, pouring out as much black sticky Yin Thunder as he could while calling out.

Check.

"Alright." Zhang Chulan looked at the young Daoist pouring out the black, sticky thunder without hesitation, immediately snapped the white electric arc in his hand, turned, hoisted Honorable Mountain onto his shoulders, threw the 180‑catty man away, then his body paused and instantly transformed into an electric arc that leapt up to follow.

Translation: "Good." Zhang Chulan, seeing the young Daoist pouring out all his black sticky Yin Thunder, hesitated not, snapped his white electric arc, hoisted Rongshan onto his shoulder, hurled the 180‑jin man away, then his body stalled and instantly transformed into an electric arc to leap after him.

Check.

"Escaping?" Zhou Shuo precisely caught the sound of the thunder arcs exploding, curled the corner of his mouth into a slight smile, sensed the opposing white arcs vanishing, instantly halted his Taiyin Thunder output, then drew his side‑sword, swiftly darted around Zhang Lingyu, pretending to pursue Zhang Chulan as he fled with Honorable Mountain.

Translation: "Running?" Zhou Shuo precisely caught the sound of the thunder arcs' explosion, curled the corner of his mouth, upon sensing the opposing white arcs fading, he instantly cut off his Taiyin Thunder output, drew his sidearm, darted around Zhang Lingyu, feigning pursuit of Zhang Chulan as he carried Rongshan away.

Check.

"Terrible." As the first line of resistance against the green electric arcs, Zhang Lingyu felt the arcs disappear; his body jerked suddenly, a few drops of sticky lightning sprayed out, and his form blocked Zhou Shuo, who was chasing after Zhang Chulan.

Translation: "Too bad." As the first line of resistance against the cyan‑green thunder arc, Zhang Lingyu felt the arc vanish, his body jerked, a few drops of sticky thunder sprayed, and he placed himself in front of Zhou Shuo, who was chasing Zhang Chulan.

Check.

"You think I'm going after Zhang Chulan, right?" Zhou Shuo looked at the handsome Daoist who had leapt to block his face, involuntarily bared his teeth, shook his right wrist gripping the sword, and the blade turned into a cold light that thrust toward the opponent's face.

Translation: "You think I'm going after Zhang Chulan, huh!" Zhou Shuo looked at the handsome Daoist who had leapt to block him, involuntarily bared his teeth, shook the wrist gripping his sword, and the blade turned into a cold light thrusting at the opponent's face.

Check.

Faced with the cold light lunging at his face, Zhang Lingyu flinched slightly, instinctively turned his head and shifted his body, yet Zhou Shuo would not let him off; his wrist trembled repeatedly, his long sword stabbing and slashing, while sword qi flew from the blade, making the air hiss, and although Zhang Lingyu was remarkably agile, slipping through the sword qi with ease, his white Daoist robe was pierced through and through by the qi.

Translation: Facing the cold light thrust at his face, Zhang Lingyu flinched slightly, instinctively swayed aside, but Zhou Shuo wouldn't let him go—his wrist trembled repeatedly, his long sword stabbing and slashing, sword qi flying from the blade, making the air hiss; Zhang Lingyu, meanwhile, was no slouch, his body slipping through the sword qi with ease, though his white Daoist robe was pierced through and through by the qi.

Check.

"Terrible." Zhang Lingyu felt layers of cold rising on his exterior, inwardly cursing; before he could free himself from his opponent, he heard a tearing sound, the sash in front of him was cut off, and the skin there felt light, as if something had been taken away.

Translation: "Too bad." Zhang Lingyu felt a sudden chill rising from outside his layers, silently cursing; before he could shake off his opponent, a rip sounded, the sash at his front was cut, and the skin there felt light, as if something had been taken away.

Check.

"No…" Zhang Lingyu sensed something leaving his body, and his pupils involuntarily constricted.

Translation: "No…" Zhang Lingyu sensed something leaving his body, his pupils constricting.

Check.

"Hehe, indeed…" With one swing, Zhou Shuo severed Zhang Lingyu's sash, his eyes instantly catching the falling object—a small booklet.

Translation: "Hehe, indeed…" Zhou Shuo's sword cut Zhang Lingyu's sash, instantly spotting the falling object—a small booklet.

Check.

At that very moment, Zhang Lingyu, unable to dodge the lethal sword qi reaching his body, reached out to snatch the departing object, but he didn't expect a sudden, fierce force from somewhere to strike his abdomen, sending him flying backward; the booklet that had drifted from his body was firmly caught by Zhou Shuo.

Translation: In that instant, Zhang Lingyu, unable to dodge the sharp sword qi assailing his body, reached for the falling object, but his lower abdomen suddenly ached—an unseen force struck him, sending him flying backward, while the booklet that had drifted from his body was firmly caught by Zhou Shuo.

Check.

"Binggou, defeated one Celestial Master's mansion disciple, dropped a copy of the Tongtian Lu." Zhou Shuo seized the booklet that had flown into his hand, looking at the fellow who had been knocked to the ground by the Ruyi force, his white Daoist robes now torn and stained red.

Translation: "Ding, defeated one Celestial Master's Mansion disciple, dropped a Celestial Ledger." Zhou Shuo seized the booklet that had flown into his hand, looking at the fellow blasted apart by a Ruyi Force, his white Daoist robes now torn and stained red.

Check.

"You bastard, give back the Tongtian Lu!" Upon hearing the words, Zhang Lingyu instinctively sprang from the ground, ignoring the wounds sliced by sword qi across his body, and his eyes toward Zhou Shuo instantly turned blood‑red.

Translation: "Damn, give back the Celestial Ledger!" Zhang Lingyu, hearing the words, sprang from the ground without regard for the sword‑qi cuts on his body, stared at Zhou Shuo whose eyes instantly turned blood‑red.

Check.

"So it really is the Tongtian Lu." Zhou Shuo looked at the man, eyes wide with panic and red, his own eyes brightening; frankly, he didn't think he'd be this lucky to just have the item pop out—he'd merely asked to make sure he hadn't taken the wrong thing—but the fellow opposite him was far more straightforward than he'd imagined.

Translation: "So it really is the Celestial Ledger." Zhou Shuo looked at the man whose eyes were red with panic, his own eyes lighting up; frankly, he didn't think he'd be this lucky to just pull it out—he'd only asked to make sure he hadn't taken the wrong thing—but the opposite fellow was far more straightforward than he'd imagined.

Check.

"I…" Zhang Lingyu looked at the person whose eyes had just brightened; his own red eyes, not yet flashing killing intent, drooped, and he almost felt like vomiting blood—this guy actually didn't know it was the Tongtian Lu, and yet he himself had just told him!

Translation: "I…" Zhang Lingyu gazed at the person whose eyes had brightened, his own red eyes not yet radiating killing intent before he slumped, nearly vomiting blood—this guy actually didn't know it was the Celestial Ledger, and he himself had just blurted it out!

Check.

The air fell silent for a moment; Zhang Lingyu wanted to vomit blood, Zhou Shuo glanced at this aloof young Celestial Master for three seconds, then instantly turned and ran; having secured the Tongtian Lu, he had also bought enough time for Gong Qing, his deeds tonight at the Celestial Master's mansion were already sufficient—if he didn't leave now, staying would mean waiting to be fed wherever he went.

Translation: The air fell silent for a moment; Zhang Lingyu wanted to vomit blood, Zhou Shuo glanced at the supremely aloof little Celestial Master for three seconds, then turned and bolted; having the Celestial Ledger in hand had also bought Gong Qing enough time, his deeds tonight at the Celestial Master's Mansion were already sufficient—if he didn't leave now, staying would mean waiting to be fed wherever he went.

Check.

Don't you run. Zhang Lingyu watched the guy who turned and fled, not bothering with the bloody sweet taste welling up in his throat, he leapt forward in pursuit. The winner of this Luotian Grand Rite was originally supposed to be Zhang Chulan; the Heavenly Master's Scroll was never meant to fall to him, and he originally hadn't wanted to accept it, but for various reasons he still felt ashamed to receive Senior Lu's favor. If today he lets the secret manual leak out like this, he'll have no face to meet Senior Lu in the future.

You make me not run, so I won't run? Zhou Shuo's inner feelings, compared to Zhang Lingyu's anxious fury, could no longer be described merely as pleasure.

You little monster, if you have the ability, fight me for three hundred rounds! Zhang Lingyu, his eyes turning red again from anger, yet facing his provocation, Zhou Shuo opened his arms that were holding the sword and book, making a posture of free-spirited running, and at the same time let out a loud cheer.

The Heavenly Master's Scroll is in my hands; I'm truly so fortunate...

Pfft! Zhang Lingyu, hearing the cheers ahead, could no longer hold back; he staggered two steps, almost collapsing to the ground; a mouthful of blood he could no longer hold back spurted onto the ground; as that mouthful of blood was spat out, Zhang Lingyu could no longer hold back, his legs went weak and he knelt on the ground; looking at the fleeing figure disappearing ahead, his eyes gradually rolled upward.