Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the Lightning Sword Sect, the Chief, who’d reached the Divine Transformation stage, was the most powerful adept.
The guardians and elders were beneath the Chief. There were just three guardians in the Lightning Sword Sect, all Ultimate Primordial Soul adepts.
Although there were many elders, just four had attained the Ultimate Primordial Soul stage. These were the four chiefs of the valleys of the inner sect.
The four chiefs of the valleys of the inner sect were also the four chief elders of the Lightning Sword Sect. Their power was equivalent to the sect’s three guardians.
However, among the seven Ultimate Primordial Soul adepts in the Lightning Sword Sect, He Jin was considered moderate in terms of his power. He was not the weakest but far from the strongest.
Zhou Donghuang had learned about this hierarchy from He Mengxi.
Hence, he was sure that once He Jin converted to the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique,’ he would become the strongest of the Lightning Sword Sect’s seven Ultimate Primordial Soul adepts.
In fact, on the whole planet, or even in the entire Hengliu Galaxy, he would be the most powerful person below the Divine Transformation stage.
“With the help of my elixir, it’s like he’s taken a shortcut from the Ultimate Primal Core stage to the early Dharma stage. But, in his future practice, unless he receives a precious herb or spirit fruit to produce a potion to aid hm, there will be no more shortcuts for him.” When Zhou Donghuang remembered this point a few days later, he went to inform He Mengxi so that she could tell He Jin to take be on the lookout for precious herbs and spirit fruits. If he had the means to obtain them, no matter the price, he should get his hands on them.
“As for the spirit stones, I will find a way to pay Chief. I have many recipes for potions and elixirs that are far superior to those that can be found here in Hengliu Galaxy,” said Zhou Donghuang to He Mengxi.
“Little Brother, I will let Father note down the things you need,” replied He Mengxi, looking at him gently. “As for the spirit stones, you don’t have to worry. Nor do you have to return them to Father. Although I do not understand the full value of the technique that you gave him, Father has already told me. that it is worth far more than all the wealth in the Lightning Sword Sect!”
As she spoke, He Mengxi’s face revealed her amazement. She looked around carefully. After confirming that they were alone, she asked Zhou Donghuang, “Little Brother, that technique, what grade is it?”
In the limitless universe, techniques had different grades and levels.
The best techniques in the universe allowed one to train until the Deity stage. These techniques included the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique’ and the ‘Fiery Thunder Training Regimen.’
The ‘Technique of Everlasting Youth’ only allowed one to train to the Immortal stage.
Nonetheless, those who trained in the ‘Technique of Everlasting Youth’ had a strong foundation and a much longer lifespan than those at the same level. Adepts in the Ultimate Immortal stage could easily attain the Deity stage if they wanted to.
“It’s a Deity grade technique.” When he had given the technique to He Mengxi and He Jin a few days ago, Zhou Donghuang had not told them its grade. But now that He Mengxi had asked, Zhou Donghuang casually revealed it.
These words stunned her. “Deity grade technique?”
A technique’s grade was related to the level of skill.
The ‘Lightning Sword Technique’ used by the Lightning Sword Sect was a Divine Transformation technique—and a low-level one at that. This meant that disciple could only use it to train up to the Early Divine Transformation stage but would require further trial and error to break through this frontier. Furthermore, it was extremely difficult for a disciple to figure out a method of training beyond this stage.
As for the techniques of the Middle Divine Transformation grade and above, after completing the training which the technique required, a disciple could easily attain the Middle Divine Transformation stage.
In the Hengliu Galaxy, the best technique around was a Middle Divine Transformation technique. It was a secret technique that only the supernatural force ruling over the many sects, including the Lightning Sword Sect, was able to use.
The best technique in the Hengliu Galaxy was only a Middle Divine Transformation technique.
Now, her Little Brother was telling her that the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique’ was a Deity grade technique?
“But the portion I gave to you only allows you to train to the Ultimate Divine Transformation stage. Once you attain this stage, I will give it to you, as I told you the other day.”
Indeed, Zhou Donghuang had told He Mengxi and He Jin that he would give them the rest of the technique after they had attained the Ultimate Divine Transformation stage.
However, even then, He Jin had only guessed that the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique’ was a Divinity Separation grade technique.
To He Jin, a Divinity Separation technique was unbelievably precious.
And now, Zhou Donghuang had just informed He Mengxi that the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique’ was a Deity grade technique. Naturally, this shocked He Mengxi.
After a moment, He Mengxi regained her senses but still appeared to be in a daze.
“Little Brother…thank you.”
He Mengxi did not know what else to say, so she thanked Zhou Donghuang in a quivering voice.
“Third Sister, ever since my dream about the future, I have regarded you as my sister. Which is precisely why I came to the Lightning Sword Sect to find you.”
Zhou Donghuang stared at He Mengxi seriously as he continued, “You are my Third Sister, and I am your Little Brother. Between the two of us, we will never have to say a word of thanks.”
“I understand, Little Brother.” He Mengxi nodded and smiled. Her gaze was gentle as she looked at Zhou Donghuang.
Then, Zhou Donghuang explained the importance of the items that he had requested of her: “Third Sister, if Valley Chief is able to get the herbs and spirit fruit that I mentioned, I can use them to produce many elixirs. Then, not only me, but also you and Da Zhuang will be able to quickly increase the rate of your practices.”
“Don’t worry. I will ask my father to look for them.” He Mengxi nodded thoughtfully.
“Mm.” Zhou Donghuang bid farewell to He Mengxi and returned to his room.
In the days that followed, Zhou Donghuang stayed quietly in the Autumn Valley practicing without leaving his room. Soon, the Lightning Sword Sect disciples who had been amazed by how he’d managed to defeat the Summer Valley disciple, Lian Can, just after attaining Dharma also slowly forgot about him.
Of course, some people could never forget Zhou Donghuang.
For instance, Lian Can.
Also, the Summer Valley elders and disciples who had witnessed Zhou Donghuang defeat Lian Can with their own eyes.
…
Time passed quickly.
It had already been half a year since Zhou Donghuang first arrived at the Lightning Sword Sect. By now, he had successfully attained the Middle Dharma stage.
This was in large part due to He Jin’s help.
He Jin had spared no effort in helping Zhou Donghuang find the herbs and spirit fruits that he required. He’d spent a large number of spirit stones.
But he did not feel the pinch.
He Jin had found out from his daughter that the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique’ was not a Divinity Separation technique, but a Deity grade technique— supreme throughout the whole universe!
When he had first learned this, he had been stunned for a long time.
Since converting to the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique,’ although he had not sparred with any other Ultimate Primordial Soul adepts, he was sure that his current power was vastly superior compared to what it had been.
In fact, he was confident that he could defeat his old self with just a single blow.
“Father, I have broken through.”
The first thing that He Mengxi did when she left her room was find her father. Her face was filled with excitement. “The elixir that Little Brother produced is seriously amazing!”
“You broke through?” He Jin’s eyes lit up. He chuckled and said, “That boy, Donghuang, is truly our benefactor. You just broke through to the Middle Dharma stage, and I have also been able to reach the frontier of the Divine Transformation stage after converting to the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique.’”
He Jin grinned widely.
“Congratulations, Father.”
“Lass.” Suddenly, He Jin’s smile disappeared, and his expression turned serious as he suddenly remembered something. “Although you have converted to the ‘Thousand-Star Sword Technique’ and attained the Middle Dharma stage, before you reach the ultimate Dharma stage, you better maintain a low profile, just like Da Zhuang.
“Few people in the sect know about Zhou Donghuang’s background. No matter how strong his Dharma is, nobody will think that it this is because of his superior technique. Most people just think that he spent a long time sharpening his Dharma while he was still in the Ultimate Primal Core stage.
“Furthermore, in recent months, I’ve been asking people to spread the news. Now, the whole Lightning Sword Sect believes that the reason Zhou Donghuang’s Dharma is so strong is because he perfected it while still in the Ultimate Primal Core stage.
“But you and Da Zhuang are different. Everyone knows your backgrounds. Before attaining the Ultimate Dharma stage, you must not reveal your perfect Dharma.”
As the Autumn Valley Chief, and one of the foremost elders of the Lightning Sword Sect, He Jin was cautious and meticulous in his thinking.
“Father, I know.” He Mengxi nodded thoughtfully.
At that moment, a loud voice rang out from outside. “Elder He Jin, the sect leader has summoned you to the main hall right away to receive a group from the Thunder Knife Sect, including their leader.”
“The Thunder Knife Sect is here?”
He Jin raised his eyebrows, and his lips curled into a smile. “A while ago, I heard that the Thunder Knife Sect had accepted a rare talent as disciple. I was just thinking that the sect would not waste a chance to show off to us. Now, they are finally here!
“Twenty-four years old and already at the Middle Dharma stage. This disciple of theirs is very talented. But now, our Lightning Sword Sect also has a Middle Dharma adept who is only twenty-four years old!”
He Jin was referring to Zhou Donghuang.
For the past few centuries, besides Zhou Donghuang, the youngest Middle Dharma adept in the Lightning Sword Sect had been twenty-five years old.
He Jin said to He Mengxi, “Daughter, you rarely leave your room. Why don’t you follow me to Lightning Peak to watch the fun?”
The two of them left Autumn Valley and made their way together toward Lightning Peak.
