Chapter 72: A Thousand Bolts of Lightning

Fengming Manor’s marketplace, guarded by the Qingyuan Sect, was in truth managed by the Bai family. Thus, the largest and most prestigious business within the market was Bai’s Trading House. The Bai family’s enterprise dealt in every aspect of daily life—clothing, food, lodging, and travel—and within its walls was an auction house said to host grand auctions every three, five, or even ten years.

Eighteen years marked a full cycle.

Of course, such matters were far removed from him. This time, his choice to enter Bai’s Trading House was simply because it was the largest business in Fengming Manor’s marketplace, with a reputation for reliability; he’d never heard of anyone purchasing something here only to find it wasn’t as advertised.

In other words, the goods here might be expensive, but they would never be counterfeit.

Unlike the comfortable service of the Sixfold Pavilion, Bai’s Trading House offered no special privileges to its guests. When Zhou Changwang entered, two well-presented attendant maidens at the entrance merely bowed and said, “Please,” allowing him to proceed inside.

Fortunately, he hadn’t come for any sense of superiority. He walked in on his own, and discovered that within, the displays resembled exhibition stands—approaching them, one could clearly see the treasures atop each counter: magical tools, talismans, puppets, spiritual materials—all exquisitely crafted, radiating spiritual light.

They tempted the heart at first glance.

Soon, Zhou Changwang noticed, not far from the entrance, a humanoid puppet standing taller than a man, imposing and formidable. He couldn’t discern what was special about it, but he felt inexplicably that this puppet was powerful, far from ordinary.

Especially the sword in the puppet’s hand—the spiritual pressure it emitted far surpassed the flying sword magical tool he carried, at least tenfold.

Clearly, it was a mid-grade magical tool.

And a large-scale one at that, its price surely much higher than ordinary mid-grade magical tools. After all, materials for such tools were indeed precious.

“This is a mid-level sword puppet. If you command it, it can unleash strength comparable to a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator. Its exterior was forged from Red Flame Stone and Jade Blood Cold Gold, making it incredibly sturdy, its defensive power not inferior to a mid-tier demon beast. So, ordinary sixth-level Qi Refining cultivators wouldn’t be its match.”

At that moment, a man approached, smiling as he explained.

Zhou Changwang turned to look at the speaker, finding an unremarkable old man, dirty and inconspicuous, yet sensing a faintly powerful aura emanating from him, Zhou dared not be rude and cupped his hands respectfully. “May I ask how I should address you, senior?”

“I am Cao Youde. Just call me Old Cao.”

He waved dismissively, seeming indifferent to his status, and continued, “Well, what do you think? Interested in buying? This puppet is absolutely essential for any cultivator—at home, it guards your gates; abroad, it ensures your safety. Even confronted by high-level cultivators, it can withstand them. In dangerous secret realms, it will shield you from countless attacks—a truly superb protective treasure…”

“How many spirit stones?” Zhou Changwang asked instinctively.

“Not expensive at all. Only fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones.”

The old man replied promptly.

Zhou Changwang gave an awkward smile. “It’s not expensive. For such a fine object, even twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones would be worth it.”

“So will you buy it? You don’t even need to pay twenty thousand—just eighteen thousand will do. How about it?” The old man’s face brightened, eagerly pushing the offer.

Zhou Changwang’s smile froze, and he replied helplessly, “Senior, are you jesting? I only mean that it’s worth that price, but I can’t afford it.”

“How much can you pay, then?” The old man pressed.

“Senior, you overestimate me. Look at my cultivation, at my attire—do I look like someone who can buy a puppet? I simply find it exquisite and powerful. Fifteen, twenty, even thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones—it would still be worth it. But I truly can’t afford it. I’m just a humble itinerant cultivator.”

Zhou Changwang had to speak seriously now; if he were forced into a purchase, he’d have no way to protest.

“Then why bother talking?” The old man snorted, but didn’t pursue further. Just then, a young cultivator in a brocade robe, plump and clearly wealthy, was examining the puppet. The old man smiled and hurried over to greet him.

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly approached a middle-aged man who looked like a manager. “Excuse me, do you have lightning-based spells?”

“Of course we do. May I ask your budget and specific requirements?” The manager replied, first casting a soundproofing spell to prevent eavesdropping, then continuing.

“I prefer area-effect lightning spells. The power isn’t my main concern.”

Zhou Changwang thought for a moment before answering.

“For area-effect lightning spells, we have three: Gathering Thunder into Rain, Divine Sky Five Thunder Strike, and Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder. All are considered high-level lightning spells. Gathering Thunder into Rain draws thunder from the heavens and transforms it into fine rain—rain within thunder, thunder within rain, making it hard to defend against. Divine Sky Five Thunder Strike is a secret art from a sect, said to date back three thousand years. When unleashed, it summons five thunders with unparalleled might. As for Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder, it harnesses the five elements to produce lightning, mysterious and powerful. When cast, a thousand bolts fall at once, unstoppable. Which lightning spell would you prefer?”

The manager replied.

“What are the prices of each?” Zhou Changwang frowned.

“Gathering Thunder into Rain is five hundred and eighty low-grade spirit stones; Divine Sky Five Thunder Strike is pricier at seven hundred and ninety-nine; Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder is seven hundred and fifty. Don’t let the price differences mislead you—they’re all top-tier spells, with little difference in power.”

The manager seemed well-versed in spell prices and explained them directly.

“Too expensive, and high-level spells—I can’t learn them now,” Zhou Changwang muttered, looking oddly at the manager.

Was this meant to tease him?

“Indeed, these lightning spells are powerful but difficult to master. Most cultivators struggle to even begin learning them. Yet, in the cultivation world, there are always wise thinkers who have simplified and broken down high-level spells, making them easier to practice. For example, Gathering Thunder into Rain can be split into Gathering Thunder and Thunder Rain. Learn these two, and mastering Gathering Thunder into Rain becomes much simpler. Divine Sky Five Thunder Strike is similar—it has been split into Water Thunder, Fire Thunder, Metal Thunder, Earth Thunder, and Wood Thunder. Master those five, and learning Divine Sky Five Thunder Strike comes naturally.”

The manager was clearly prepared, speaking smoothly.

“What about Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder?” Zhou Changwang had never considered lightning spells could be approached this way.

Split apart? Truly, there is always a way.

The wisdom of cultivators was undeniable.

“Of course, it can also be split—into Five Elements Lightning Transformation and Thousand Thunder Flash.”

“What are their prices?”

…

In the end, Zhou Changwang chose Thousand Thunder Flash.

One hundred and twenty low-grade spirit stones.

Initially, he’d leaned toward Thunder Rain, but upon learning that it only contained lightning within the rain, and that the lightning merely traveled through the rain at his will—not that every raindrop carried electricity—he abandoned the idea.

Thousand Thunder Flash, though seemingly weak in power, produced a thousand real bolts of lightning as the spell was cast. Even if each bolt’s power was minimal, weaker than even a basic fireball talisman, making it more a spell of spectacle than substance.

It appeared as if countless bolts were flying, but if they struck a cultivator, most could simply shake them off. Yet what Zhou sought was not power, but the spell’s broad coverage—enough to envelop his entire spirit field.

Each bolt, however feeble, was real.

Thus, Thousand Thunder Flash was the perfect choice for cultivating Thunder Spirit Rice Trees.

He took the jade slip containing the spell, feeling that sellers truly outsmart buyers. He had already inquired: Thousand Thunder Flash cost one hundred and twenty, Five Elements Lightning Transformation two hundred and eighty-eight. If one learned both, one would inevitably want to master Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder in the end—altogether, the price would exceed a thousand spirit stones.

Learning Lesser Five Elements Thousand Thunder directly? Possible, but the difficulty was self-evident.

Zhou Changwang didn’t believe he had any particular talent for spells.

His attribute panel was indeed powerful, allowing him to quickly upgrade any spell, but first he needed to actually learn it.

If he couldn’t even get started, what was there to enhance?

“By the way, manager, that senior Cao…”

After the transaction, Zhou Changwang was about to leave when he caught sight of Cao Youde, still energetically talking to another cultivator. He paused.

“No need to worry, fellow cultivator. Senior Cao is a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator and a mid-tier puppet master. He won’t trouble you. Recently, he spent a fortune crafting that swordsman puppet, so he consigned it here to sell—perhaps he’s just eager to make a sale, hence his persistence. Please forgive this.”

The manager cupped his hands in apology.

“So that’s it.” Zhou Changwang felt a touch of awe.

He had suspected the man’s status was unusual, but hadn’t expected him to be both a high-level cultivator and a mid-tier puppet master.

To Zhou, such a figure was certainly important.

Though he seemed amiable enough, Zhou had no desire to provoke him, and so took a slightly roundabout route as he left Bai’s Trading House.

“Despite a few twists, this trip went smoothly after all.”

Standing at the entrance, Zhou Changwang sighed inwardly, then oriented himself and hurried toward his residence.

…

(End of chapter)