Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds-Chapter 53: Something Is Wrong with This World

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Something Is Wrong with This World

As evening fell, the sun sank low in the west.

Cui Mountain Village, Purple Sandalwood Forest.

Bai Ke sat under a tree with a ceramic bowl in front of her. Inside the bowl was a roast chicken. She nibbled on it while watching Gu Zhao practice his martial arts up ahead.

Silk Embroideress was right beside her, her gaze fixed on Gu Zhao. This was the first time she had ever seen him train.

Gu Zhao was practicing the White Crane Fist he had learned from his grandfather.

White Crane Fist was a type of Southern Fist. After more than three hundred years of development, it had now evolved into four different styles: Zong He, Ming He, Flying Crane, and Eating Crane.

However, the style Gu Zhao was practicing wasn’t one of these four. It was an evolution of the orthodox White Crane Fist developed by his lineage, not passed down to outsiders. It focused not just on form and presence, but also on intent and the flow of qi.

As Gu Zhao performed the fist style, he imagined himself as an Immortal Crane. His feet were light and nimble, yet rooted to the ground when they landed. His hands flapped and struck, like wings and a beak.

His neck was steady and his shoulders relaxed, his waist taut and his legs mobile, with his qi sunk into his Dantian. His form perfectly matched the White Crane’s nature: light and swift, a blend of hard and soft, internally tense but externally relaxed. Normally, his movements appeared slow and expansive, but when he struck, it was with the speed of lightning.

"It has a bit of a Tai Chi Fist feel to it," Taoist Yan Song commented.

Gu Zhao finished his routine. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

"Master, have some water!" Silk Embroideress trotted over, handing him a bowl of fresh water that had been prepared and left to cool. After Gu Zhao took it, she pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, wanting to wipe the sweat from his brow.

However, after looking closely for a moment, she couldn’t find any sweat on his forehead. Still, Silk Embroideress very earnestly wiped the non-existent sweat from his temples.

Taoist Yan Song watched with a cheerful grin, then teased Gu Zhao, "You need to project the right aura. Be cold and aloof, your gaze sharp, your tone domineering."

Gu Zhao shot Taoist Yan Song a look. "This is real life, not some novel. Who acts like such a blockhead in reality?"

Silk Embroideress pouted and hurried to console Gu Zhao. "Martial Uncle Yan Song just hopes that you, Master, can project the aura of a Sect Leader. We can’t lose face for our Sect when we’re out in the world."

Gu Zhao was taken aback, and Taoist Yan Song also looked a bit dumbfounded.

After consoling Gu Zhao, Silk Embroideress immediately brought a cup of water to Taoist Yan Song and said softly, as if negotiating, "Martial Uncle, please don’t be too strict with the Master. He’s kind-hearted and gentle. How could he act all aloof and domineering right now? Let’s take it slowly."

Taoist Yan Song blinked, then finally broke into a smile. "What a clever girl. You really know how to talk. Gu Zhao is truly fortunate to have you."

Silk Embroideress’s eyes curved into crescents. "It is my good fortune to be able to serve the Master."

Bai Ke scoffed from the side. "I have the bloodline of a Celestial Fox. You are in Harmony with me; your future achievements will be limitless. He’s just a Human Mage. He might be a bit powerful now, but with..."

"I still have two five-spice roast chickens I haven’t given you yet," Gu Zhao reminded her, holding up two fingers.

"...with your magical lineage, I suppose you won’t be too weak in the future. You’re just about qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as Silk Embroideress and me," Bai Ke said with a nod.

Gu Zhao and Taoist Yan Song exchanged a look, each lost in their own thoughts.

After getting the Jade Token of the Spirit Court from Xu Kongting, they had also managed to get quite a few details about cultivation in this world out of Bai Ke.

The most powerful beings in this world were either Ghosts, Gods, Demons, or Spirit Monarchs.

Although Mages existed in this world, they were not at the top of the pyramid. The slightly more powerful Mages were either believers of Ghost Gods who could borrow divine power, or they were in Harmony with a Demon Spirit, allowing them to use Demon Power to fight their enemies.

For example, of the two great powers in the Great Ning Court, the Sect Leader of the Xuanwei Divine Sect was a God, while the leader of the Spirit Court was a Spirit Monarch.

As for Mages who relied solely on their own cultivation, they were at the bottom of the food chain, just one of the common masses. A Pure Mage who could go head-to-head with a century-old ghost was already considered quite remarkable.

Privately, Gu Zhao and Taoist Yan Song had discussed this before.

"This world isn’t dominated by humans."

"But this world must have some kind of connection to ours. Otherwise, the language and culture wouldn’t be so similar."

"The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi is so abundant here, so why can’t Human Mages cultivate to become immortals?"

"There’s something wrong with this world!"

"We’ll probably only be able to understand more once our cultivation is higher."

After all, Bai Ke was still a White Fox that hadn’t achieved Transformation. Although she always boasted about her noble bloodline, she didn’t seem all that powerful, and she only knew some common knowledge.

Gu Zhao already felt very lucky just to have met Bai Ke and learned the general state of this world from her.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Silk Embroideress beside him, then took the Cyan Feather Fan from his bag. "This is for you."

Silk Embroideress was startled and quickly waved her hands. "I can’t, I can’t! This is too valuable. You should use it, Master."

"I have no use for it," Gu Zhao said, shaking his head.

Right now, Silk Embroideress only had the Celestial Fox Nail as an offensive Magical Artifact and lacked any protective measures. This Cyan Feather Fan could create blade-like gusts of wind, making it useful for both offense and defense. It was perfect for her.

As for Gu Zhao, he had enough Yellow Talismans for attack and defense to fight a small battle.

"Then let’s give it to Martial Uncle Yan Song," Silk Embroideress said, turning to Taoist Yan Song.

Taoist Yan Song stroked his beard, shook his head, and his face changed to a Blue Mask. He chuckled teasingly, "Do you think I’m lacking for wind?"

Hearing this, Silk Embroideress also laughed. "Martial Uncle has the Taiyi Divine Wind, of course you don’t lack for wind."

"So, since the Sect Leader is giving it to you, just take it." Taoist Yan Song shook his head, retracting the mask, and said with a grin, "If you protect yourself well, he can focus on his cultivation without worry."

His words made Silk Embroideress blush, but she could no longer find the words to refuse the Cyan Feather Fan.

Gu Zhao held the Jade Flute, looking troubled. "This thing is a pretty good Supporting Magical Treasure, but who knows how to play it?"

Taoist Yan Song raised an eyebrow and sent a voice transmission directly to Gu Zhao using the Thunder Seed. "Go back and teach those two young ladies to cultivate. Don’t they study traditional instruments? They’ll definitely know how to play it."

Gu Zhao was exasperated. "We’re just friends."

"Exactly. What were you thinking?" Taoist Yan Song winked at Gu Zhao. "Can’t friends teach each other how to play the flute?"

Gu Zhao: ʕ(ⓛ–ⓛ)ʔ

"But speaking of which, I do need to go back to Blue Star for a while," Gu Zhao said, changing the subject and sending a voice transmission to Taoist Yan Song. "I can’t miss my school’s graduation ceremony, and I also need to find someone to design a Taoist Palace and Temple based on the terrain."

Taoist Yan Song waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, go on. Leave things here to me. I won’t let your bed-warming maid run into any danger. If anything really happens, you can contact me anytime. We can talk across realms, after all."

The Five Thunders Order could communicate between the Two Realms. So, although the Thunder Seed couldn’t cross over on its own, as an accessory to the Five Thunders Order, it was tinged with the aura of the Two Realms, at least allowing for cross-realm communication.

Gu Zhao nodded and made an "OK" sign with his hand. "Alright."