Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

Chapter 111: Chapter 73: Celestial Dao Field, Profound Fire True Thunder

Before Lin Ling and her companion could make introductions, Yue Yujie’s expression grew serious. He bowed with clasped hands and said, "I am Yue Yujie, honored to be a current True Disciple of Yuxiao."

Xuzhuang readily returned the bow. "So, you are Brother Yue," he said, clasping his hands. "I’ve heard Senior Brother Fang and Junior Sister Lin mention you. I’ve long admired your reputation."

Just then, Lin Ling laughed. "Senior Brother Xu, Senior Brother Fang formed his Top-grade Golden Core after you did. So now, he should be the one calling you Senior Brother."

Xuzhuang let out a hearty laugh and said in return, "Junior Sister Lin, I haven’t yet congratulated you on forming your Golden Core."

Lin Ling shook her head and sighed. "Alas, it’s a pity I didn’t manage to form a top-grade one."

Perhaps because she knew others would find it awkward to console her, or perhaps because she was simply good-natured, Lin Ling didn’t dwell on the matter and changed the subject. "Senior Brother Xu, aren’t you going to invite us in to sit down?"

"My apologies," Xuzhuang said. "I’ve been a poor host." He then led them into the residence.

In the main hall, two Daoist Children had already prepared Spirit Tea and Immortal Fruits. For the past ten years, although Xuzhuang had been focused on his cultivation, he hadn’t been in complete seclusion. He often had fellow disciples and sect members visiting, so he had found two Daoist Children to take care of odd jobs.

Once they were all seated in the hall, Xuzhuang picked up his teacup. "Junior Sister Lin," he asked, "you must all be here to attend the ceremony?"

In truth, Lin Ling was by no means the leader of the three from the Yuxiao Sect, but she knew Xuzhuang best and wasn’t one for formalities, so she answered directly. "That’s right. The elder leading the Yuxiao Sect members to the ceremony this time is a senior from my own clan, so he brought me and my younger sister, Shanshang, along."

Xuzhuang asked, "Didn’t Senior Brother Fang come?"

Lin Ling replied, "You know he only just formed his Golden Core. He’s still focused on his cultivation."

Xuzhuang nodded. "Mm, I assume Senior Brother Fang received the congratulatory gift I sent him."

"Senior Brother Fang loved the Magical Artifact you sent," Lin Ling replied. "When he heard I was coming to Tai Su for the ceremony, he specifically asked me to bring a gift in return." As she spoke, she reached into her embroidered pouch, took out an item, and said with a beaming smile, "Senior Brother Xu, guess what it is."

Xuzhuang took a closer look and saw it was a jade carving. He laughed, "Still trying to keep me in suspense, Junior Sister?"

Lin Ling huffed playfully. "I was just wondering, do you still practice the Red Fire Gang Thunder, Senior Brother Xu?"

"Hm?" Xuzhuang replied. "Of course I do. The Red Fire Gang Thunder is my signature technique these days."

Hearing this, Yue Yujie thought to himself, ’Can a common thunder skill really be considered a signature technique? That must be it. Perhaps this man possesses boundless Magical Power but isn’t actually skilled in any techniques. That would be the only logical explanation.’

But Lin Ling just smiled at his words. She tossed the jade carving to him and said, "This is Senior Brother Fang’s gift in return. Go on, Senior Brother, take a look."

Xuzhuang extended his hand and caught the jade carving. Bringing it closer to inspect, he saw a text engraved upon it in characters as small as ants. The title read: *Profound Fire True Thunder*. As he read it carefully, he realized it was a Superior Thunder Skill derived from the Red Fire Gang Thunder.

Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed. He lowered the jade carving and asked, "This thunder skill is incredibly profound. Is it against the rules to give it to me?"

"You’re overthinking it, Senior Brother," Lin Ling said. "This is a method of practice and application developed by an expert in Senior Brother Fang’s clan, derived from the Red Fire Gang Thunder. It’s neither a secret transmission of our sect nor does it involve the profound techniques of Yuxiao. There’s nothing against the rules."

Xuzhuang pondered for a moment, then broke into a hearty laugh. "In that case, I will gladly accept this skill. It’s quite timely, actually. After I cultivated the Red Fire Gang Thunder to the sixth level, I found its power to be rather unsatisfactory. Senior Brother Fang’s generous gift couldn’t have come at a better time."

The moment he said this, both Lin Ling and Yue Yujie froze, wondering if they had misheard him.

In fact, Xuzhuang was not just bragging. Ever since witnessing Zhong Shenxiu’s Purple Sky Divine Thunder in the Dharma Origin Grotto Heaven, he had inevitably taken a greater interest in thunder skills. Unexpectedly, as his understanding of the Dao deepened, the speed at which he cultivated techniques increased by leaps and bounds, even as advancing his Cultivation Realm grew more difficult. He had quickly mastered the Red Fire Gang Thunder up to the sixth level.

However, the Red Fire Gang Thunder was, after all, just an ordinary technique. After a few tests, Xuzhuang discovered the power increase was unsatisfactory. He realized that no matter how much Cloud Sand he used to refine it, it could never compare to a thunder skill like Zhong Shenxiu’s. As a result, he had already decided against dedicating more effort to mastering it.

Of course, Xuzhuang kept these thoughts to himself. Tucking the jade carving into his sleeve, he teased, "This is quite a significant gift from Senior Brother Fang. It seems I’ll have to prepare a grand gift in return, which will be perfect to present at your wedding."

A blush immediately crept up Lin Ling’s cheeks. "Senior Brother Xu," she pouted, "can you go even a single sentence without mentioning Senior Brother Fang?"

Xuzhuang laughed heartily. "Junior Sister Lin, if I remember correctly, you and Senior Brother Fang made a pact to get married once you formed your Golden Core. Hasn’t that time now come?"

Lin Ling quickly feigned ignorance and awkwardly changed the subject. "Rumor on the Divine Continent is that you fought Zhong Shenxiu to a draw, Senior Brother Xu. Is there any truth to that?"

Seeing her embarrassment, Xuzhuang stopped his teasing. "We merely tested a single Divine Technique against each other," he replied. "It could hardly be called a real fight..."

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