16. Thunderous Roar

Lin Jiuge summoned the golden sword, seeking personal vengeance—she was not afraid! An unknown sword inside her absorbed most of the lightning tribulation, but the remainder was still beyond her ability to endure. Yet, she was the one who had to protect her sister; how could she show fear?

Forcing herself upright, Lin Jiuge urged the golden sword onward. At this moment, the sword felt her intense protective will, and its dim glow suddenly burst into a brilliant golden light, sharply contrasting with the silver lightning crackling in the sky.

Gold and silver collided, emitting an extremely dazzling radiance.

“Hmph, villain,” the lightning hissed three words before dissipating. Before vanishing completely, it scattered fine threads of lightning that knocked Lin Jiuge, who was leaning on the golden sword, to the ground. Only when she lay still did the tribulation finally disperse.

After the lightning passed, the air itself seemed altered, but Lin Jiuge remained motionless at the center. After a while, she coughed a few times, as if signaling to everyone that she was still alive.

Everyone hurried over, and Master Wudao did not hesitate to shove a rare healing pill into Lin Jiuge’s mouth, channeling his energy to enhance its effects and help her recover. Yet as the medicine took hold, Master Wudao’s brows furrowed deeply.

“Return,” he commanded, grabbing Lin Jiuge’s clothing and vanishing in an instant. Li Yun carried Lin Jici along, and although Zhou Yan wanted to follow, he was stopped by the sect leader.

“A Yan, you are not fit to go right now,” the leader explained, and Zhou Yan immediately relaxed.

Back at their residence, Master Wudao immediately immersed Lin Jiuge in various medicinal herbs.

“Old bookworm, is Jiuge in bad shape?” Li Yun’s face turned pale; she was his newly accepted disciple. Surely she hadn’t been struck down by lightning?

“No, not bad—Jiuge’s condition is too good,” Master Wudao shook his head.

“So your urgency to return was because Jiuge’s condition was too good!” Li Yun regained his voice and couldn’t help but say.

“Exactly. Though she looks battered on the surface, Jiuge’s body is slowly recovering without even needing pills,” Master Wudao said. He had never seen such a thing, but understood it was best that as few people as possible knew.

“Then why have Jiuge take medicinal baths?” Li Yun was puzzled. If she could self-repair, wasn’t this unnecessary?

“To help Jiuge absorb faster and simultaneously advance into refining the mortal realm,” Master Wudao continued, occasionally adding one or two spiritual plants.

As Master Wudao said, Lin Jiuge was indeed self-healing, using the cultivation method “Thunder’s Movement.” However, her body was severely damaged and could only cultivate the mental method. Alongside the mental cultivation and the assistance of the unknown sword, occasional bursts of electricity coursed through her body. Lin Jiuge’s body would intermittently seep impurities tinged with blood.

With the internal cultivation and external medicinal baths progressing, Lin Jiuge’s injuries stabilized. Opening her eyes, she could slowly recover—but her sister would worry!

“Master, senior uncle, thank you,” Lin Jiuge said as she opened her eyes, seeing the concerned master and the senior uncle who now and then added spiritual herbs. She felt warmth inside, though she still couldn’t shake the feeling of being stewed alive, as the uncle checked the herbs and seasoning from time to time—ugh, better not think about it.

“You’re really capable of big things, girl,” Li Yun breathed a sigh of relief and said.

“Master, can it really be my fault? I was just meditating and feeling the wind. Since I’m wind-aligned, I thought a little too much about how wind forms and the different types of wind. Then I got struck by lightning. Luckily, there were two swords; otherwise, not even ashes would be left of me,” Lin Jiuge felt wronged. She had only been pondering the formation of wind.

“Hmph, a little too much, huh? Your senior uncle only comprehended the water element at two hundred years old and is called a genius. You’re almost eleven and have already awakened the wind element. You still feel wronged?” Li Yun wanted to hit his disciple, though he knew she wasn’t boasting. He just couldn’t help but itch to give her a good smack.

“Master, what use is the wind element?” Lin Jiuge changed the subject, fearing their mentor-disciple bond would founder.

“What use?” Li Yun didn’t answer; Master Wudao stroked his beard, glared, and took over the explanation.

“The elemental seed is the highest form in the art of magic. It grants the ability to freely manipulate the elements of the air. Even the current Lords may not possess it!”

“Very rare?” Lin Jiuge introspected the small gray wind-shaped seed in her dantian but didn’t see it as impressive as her senior uncle claimed.

“Very rare,” both men nodded in unison.

She seemed a bit ungrateful.

“Jiuge, what did you demonstrate under the lightning tribulation?” Li Yun asked.

“The golden sword’s refining body technique, ‘Thunder’s Movement,’” Lin Jiuge had to place the blame on the golden sword.

“Thunder’s Movement requires the lightning element?” The name alone suggested its nature.

“It uses the power of thunder and lightning to continuously strengthen the body. Without it, Jiuci wouldn’t have her big sister,” Lin Jiuge looked at Lin Jici, still unconscious in Li Yun’s arms, her gaze softening. For now, this was her only motivation to grow stronger.

“Disciple, how strong is your body now?” Li Yun’s eyes gleamed with a thought.

“Probably comparable to a first-grade superior spiritual artifact,” Lin Jiuge answered uncertainly.

“Child, how many more days until your wounds heal?” Li Yun was now excited. What better way than to have a disciple who could take a beating? Of course, she must become tougher and tougher!

“With senior uncle’s medicinal bath, about ten days more,” Lin Jiuge did not notice her master’s strange gaze. Master Wudao looked on with pity at his naive junior nephew.

Lin Jici, well rested, happily showed affection to her sister.

“Jiuge, did you prepare the medicinal bath for Jici?” Master Wudao suddenly asked.

“Yes, senior uncle, is there a problem?” Lin Jiuge asked quickly.

“No problem. It’s very good for Jici’s health,” Master Wudao shook his head, though he couldn’t help but suspect because Lin Jiuge was the one who concocted it.

“Then that’s good,” Lin Jiuge sighed in relief.

That night, the two sisters were alone. As usual, Lin Jiuge nourished Lin Jici’s body with primal energy, but something unexpected happened.

“It hurts,” Lin Jici cried out.

Lin Jiuge quickly withdrew her energy. Hiss—her primal energy was infused with lightning power! It seemed she had to resolve the trouble inside her body first.

After soothing Lin Jici, Lin Jiuge’s eyes glowed purple as she examined her sister’s body, the small green orb in her dantian, and unevenly distributed red spots across her body.

“Jici, it will hurt a little, but sister will make it easier this time,” Lin Jiuge comforted her, then gently sent a thread of primal energy along the meridians. Upon reaching the red spots, she increased the intensity slightly. With a soft pop, the blockage cleared, and Jici’s furrowed brows relaxed.

While coaxing her sister to sleep, Lin Jiuge confirmed her suspicion. Once or twice could be accidental, but if she could control it, that was a problem. She touched her eyes thoughtfully.

The heavens had granted her this advantage, and she intended to make full use of it. She must grow rapidly on her own, strong enough to protect Jici, rather than relying on her master’s influence.