Chapter 134: A Learning Problem

Yun Jiao didn’t notice Bai Yu’s sudden excitement. After thinking for a moment, she answered honestly, “For example, in The Heart of the Mystic Art, there’s the Thunder Chapter, right? Inside it, there’s a spell called the Summoning Thunder Technique. But right now, I can’t accurately call forth the kind of heavenly thunder I want.”

“Oh, it’s the Summoning Thunder Technique? That one’s simple!” The old man’s grin grew wider, almost smug. Of all the chapters, he was most familiar with the Thunder Chapter—mainly because he still had psychological trauma from the last time he took the registration exam. Since thunder was the greatest nemesis of evil spirits, he had practiced it countless times afterward and was now quite proficient. Not to boast, but even compared to the Eight Flower Elders of the Celestial Master Hall, his thunder technique wasn’t necessarily inferior.

“Ahem!” He coughed lightly, suppressing the rising pride in his chest. Stroking his beard, he put on a “benevolent elder” face and explained seriously, “The Summoning Thunder Technique is merely the foundation of the Thunder Chapter. It’s not difficult, and it doesn’t consume much internal spiritual energy. The key lies in communicating with the surrounding thunder spirits—using incantations to guide and summon them. The heavenly thunder will naturally respond!”

Yun Jiao frowned slightly, as if something was bothering her. “That makes sense in theory, but every time I try… something feels wrong.”

She stopped mid-sentence, frowning harder, then sighed. “Forget it. I’ll just go ask Ancestor Master.”

“Ah—don’t!” The old man quickly stopped her. “No need to bother the Ancestor Master with something this small!”

“But—”

“Trust me!” he said, patting his chest proudly. “Leave it to me. I’ll teach you the Summoning Thunder Technique myself.”

Without waiting for her to respond, he grabbed her by the arm and started pulling her toward the courtyard. “Come on, I’ll teach you right now!”

“Old man—”

“Girl, you have to believe me!” he said in a tone of someone who’d “been through it all.” “You see, what’s written in books and what’s done in practice are totally different. I’ve memorized The Heart of the Mystic Art for years, but I’m only at the fourth stage so far. So I’d say this—your problem is lack of practice! Once you practice enough, you’ll get it.”

Yun Jiao gave him a suspicious look. “Really?”

“Of course!” He nodded emphatically. “The Summoning Thunder Technique is simple. Back then, the Ancestor Master struck me with lightning until I learned it! How about I show you now? Maybe you’ll learn just by watching.”

Yun Jiao didn’t refuse. She nodded. “All right.”

The old man stepped forward, forming hand seals while channeling his inner spiritual energy. After a moment, he shouted loudly,

“By the decree of Pure Heaven, scarlet thunder descend!”

Sure enough—

BOOM!

A blinding white bolt struck down from the sky, hitting the right side of the courtyard. With a loud bang, it left a one-foot-wide crater in the ground.

“How’s that, girl? Did you catch it this time?” The old man turned to her, smiling kindly—but his tone was dripping with smug pride.

Yun Jiao’s expression didn’t change. She simply shook her head. “No.”

“That’s fine, I’ll show you again.” He repeated the seal and once more,

BOOM!—another lightning bolt.

“Now?”

“Still no.” She shook her head again.

“I’ll do it again. Watch carefully this time.”

Third strike—

“Still not working. Maybe one more?”

Fourth strike—

“I blinked that time. Didn’t see.”

Fifth strike—

“Could you move a little to the right? I need a better angle.”

By the Nth time—

“Maybe we should switch to the other courtyard? You can strike a few more there.”

An exhausted, half-dead Bai Yu: “……”

(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

She’s doing this on purpose, isn’t she?! Definitely on purpose!!

“I can’t… I can’t anymore…” Even the strongest spiritual reserves couldn’t handle this many lightning calls. The old man collapsed onto the grass, all his enthusiasm gone. He shot Yun Jiao a pitiful look. “What exactly are you not understanding?”

“I think… it’s about controlling spiritual energy?” Yun Jiao said hesitantly.

“Control? You just guide it, don’t you? What’s there to control?” He panted heavily, waving his hand. “Why don’t you try it yourself? Watching me won’t help.”

“Me?” Yun Jiao blinked.

“Yeah! Maybe it’ll work for you this time.” He could barely stand anymore.

“I doubt it.”

“You won’t know unless you try,” he said encouragingly. “Practice makes perfect—more practice, more progress!”

Yun Jiao gave him a long, strange look, scanning him up and down. “You’re sure?”

“Of course!” he said confidently. “Go ahead—strike away. I’m right here. You’ll be fine!”

Yun Jiao hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “All right.”

She stepped into the center of the courtyard, took a deep breath, and formed the same hand seal. Unlike the old man’s rigid gestures, hers were loose and relaxed, almost lazy. Then, in a calm voice, she recited:

“By the decree of Pure Heaven, scarlet thunder descend!”

Silence.

The courtyard remained utterly still—no lightning, no sound.

Bai Yu glanced at her still holding the hand seal and felt a sudden pang of sympathy. He took a step forward and said softly, “Don’t worry, it’s normal to fail once or twice. You just need to—”

“Not yet,” Yun Jiao interrupted him.

“Huh?” The old man blinked. “What do you mean?”

“It takes a bit of time.”

“What?”

“It’s coming now.”

“…”

Before he could process what she meant, the entire sky flashed white.

A deafening BOOOOOOM rolled across the heavens. A colossal pillar of lightning, thicker than ten men standing shoulder to shoulder, tore through the clouds and slammed straight down from above.

For a split second, Bai Yu’s vision went white.

When it cleared, half the courtyard—along with the rear halls and more than ten adjoining buildings—had been obliterated. The once grand and majestic Qingyang Temple, painstakingly rebuilt by Wen Qing, was now reduced by half to a smoldering wasteland, scorched black and reeking of burnt earth.

Crack.

Bai Yu’s jaw hit the ground. His eyes were wide, face frozen in disbelief. He couldn’t even form words.

He must have been seeing things—right? Surely that wasn’t real?!

“Ah,” Yun Jiao sighed deeply, her tone filled with resignation. “See? I told you this spell was hard to learn.”

Bai Yu: “…”

Hard to learn?!

That was the Summoning Thunder Technique?!

Are you kidding me?!!!

w(Д)w

Who in the world summons thunder like that?!

You didn’t call thunder—you basically blew up the Thunder God’s house!!

This is way too demoralizing for us mortals!

---

A while later—

Yun Jiao stared at the blackened ruins before her, looking troubled.

“Old man.”

“Ah? Ah??” he stammered, still dazed.

“You think it’s possible to bring the Martial Uncles out of the cellar early?” she asked thoughtfully. “Maybe they could, you know… rebuild the temple? Something sturdier. Preferably lightning-resistant.”

Bai Yu: “…”

(End of Chapter)