He sighed. It was a new day. Perhaps something different will happen today, he thought, stretching lightly as the first rays of the sun spilled over the jagged peaks.
Taiyang Leilong rose at the crack of dawn, as he always did, and moved to his window. Before him, the Hundred Peaks Immortal River stretched endlessly, a kingdom of jagged mountains, misty valleys, and rivers that shimmered like silver threads in the early light.
The peaks were dotted with countless buildings, pagodas, training halls, and sect residences, all carefully carved from the stone of the mountains themselves. The morning sun tipped the highest towers with gold, while shadows still clung to the valleys below.
Even after years of seeing it, the sight never failed to stir him. The Nine Profound Thunder Sect… my home, my responsibility. Yet every day it feels as vast and mysterious as the first time I laid eyes on it. The river below twisted through the valleys, mist rising like delicate threads of white silk, drifting lazily between the mountains, shrouding the world in a veil of calm.
'Ah… how beautiful,' he muttered, the words slipping from his lips without thought. His violet eyes, inheriting the faint trace of lightning from his lineage, traced the flow of the river. Such tranquillity… yet it conceals countless dangers. Cultivators are always tested, even in paradise. Though he had witnessed this scene every day for as long as he could remember, the Hundred Peaks Immortal River never lost its mystique. It had nurtured generations of disciples. Every ripple of the river, every curling wisp of mist seemed to whisper secrets only cultivators could understand.
A few minutes later, after admiring the beauty of nature, a soft knock echoed at the door.
Knock, knock.
'Young master, the Spirit Bath has been prepared,' a gentle voice came from outside. 'Madam requests your presence immediately.'
'Yanruo,' Taiyang Leilong said calmly, 'come in for a moment.'
The door opened gently. Sunlight spilled across the room, catching on Yanruo's skin and giving her a faint, ethereal glow. Her plain servant robes were neat and tidy, every fold in place, her long black hair bound carefully at the back of her head. She lowered her gaze respectfully as she entered, moving with quiet precision.
Taiyang Leilong smiled faintly. 'The second most beautiful sight I've seen today is you. It seems today may not be so bad after all.' He reached out and lightly patted her head before withdrawing his hand.
'Lead the way,' he said.
As they stepped outside, the courtyard revealed itself in full morning glory. Disciples of all ranks were already beginning their routines. Young novices practised basic arrays and energy control in the open courtyards, their movements precise but still unrefined. Senior disciples moved between the halls with authority, occasionally correcting techniques or overseeing the training of the younger generation. The Nine Profound Thunder Sect was alive with energy, every stone and roof steeped in centuries of history and cultivation.
He followed Yanruo down the winding stone paths. Along the way, every servant and sect member they encountered—young and old alike—bowed respectfully.
'Good morning, Young Master.'
He returned the greetings with a nod and subtle smile.
After a few minutes, they reached the edge of a cliff overlooking a valley. The air was thick with the scent of pine and fresh water, and the wind carried a subtle electric charge, a faint reminder of the sect's thunder heritage. Yanruo paused and produced a token from her sleeve. Engraved upon it was the image of the Hundred Peaks Immortal River, clouds swirling with violet lightning that seemed to shimmer even in stillness.
He observed the token closely. What a terrible depiction. It doesn't capture the essence of the mountain or sect. Thunder is aggressive, but it can also be subtle, he mused. I can certainly do a better job.
As Yanruo raised it, the space before the cliff rippled, as though a stone had been dropped into a perfectly still pond. The air shimmered and bent, revealing a hidden vision. A waterfall, thousands of metres high, materialised, cascading down with thunderous majesty before splitting into countless streams and hidden pockets. Mist rose from the torrent, reflecting light like scattered jewels.
Suspended in the air above the waterfall were two women, dressed in exquisite robes that shimmered like the morning sun on water. They looked as though cast from the same mould, both possessing oval faces, smooth and unblemished, framed by the same black hair. Their eyes were an unusual shade of violet, faint lightning dancing within them.
The first carried the air of maturity. Her movements were deliberate, her gaze steady and sharp, weighing the space around her. She exuded quiet authority, the aura of one who had mastered herself and expected respect from all who approached.
The second radiated youthful vivacity. Her posture was relaxed, her head tilting slightly in curiosity. Her eyes sparkled with life, and the faint curve of her lips suggested mischief, a hidden laughter just waiting to be expressed.
Taiyang Leilong ascended into the sky, Yanruo moving quietly behind him. He bowed slightly, cupping his hand in greeting.
'Good morning, Mother. Good morning, senior sister, Leiyun.'
'Long'er,' his mother said gently, 'you are late.'
He replied with a smile. 'It's a beautiful morning. I took the long way here so I could have a look around.'
'Hmph! You always do as you wish,' she said with a gentle scolding tone.
'Little brother, why do you always tease the maids?' Leiyun giggled.
Leilong looked at his sister for a moment, then said, 'It seems I need an array to protect my privacy. And besides, it was not teasing—it was a compliment.'
Leiyun giggled again. 'If she is the second, does that make Mother and I the third?' she asked with a smirk.
'That's enough. We are not here to play around,' their mother said, her voice stern but loving.
She looked at Leilong and said, 'Your Father has gone to listen to the Ancestors' sermon. He entrusted you to me. The Thunder Bath is ready. Are you ready for the baptism?'
'I am ready,' he replied, his voice steady, though a trace of anticipation lingered beneath.
'Follow me,' she said.
They ascended to the very top of the mountain, where the air was thick with the scent of pine and ozone. Before them lay a violet pool of bubbling water, the surface shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow. Faint arcs of lightning danced along the edges, crackling softly, sending a subtle electric tingle through the air.
Surrounding the pool were seven flags, each engraved with the symbols of the Eight Trigrams. The wind fluttered them violently, their movements casting dancing shadows across the violet water. In the centre of the pool rose a long, metal pole—the Thunder Gathering Pole. Carved with the Zhen symbol of Thunder from the Eight Trigrams, it stretched so high that its peak vanished into the clouds above, as though attempting to pierce the heavens themselves. Sparks occasionally leapt from the pole into the pool, sending waves of energy that rippled outward, and the faint rumble of raw thunder vibrated through the stone beneath Leilong's feet.
'Prepare yourself,' she said softly, her eyes reflecting the violet light of the pool.
Leilong clenched his fists and steadied his breathing.
He removed his clothes with ease, paying no mind to the presence of others. Without hesitation, he leapt into the violet pool. The moment his body entered, a shock of numbness ran through him as lightning coursed along his veins. He swam to the centre and grasped the Thunder Gathering Pole. The faint current flowing through his body made his muscles tense instinctively.
Through gritted teeth, he said, glancing towards his mother, 'I am ready.'
She nodded, her hands moving gracefully through a series of precise gestures. Spiritual power flowed from her, infused into the formation. Immediately, the array responded. The flags surrounding the pool ceased fluttering in the wind as bolts of lightning arced between them.
The Thunder Gathering Pole came to life, its surface glowing a fierce violet. Tremors rippled through the pool, shaking the stone beneath it. The sky above darkened abruptly as storm clouds formed spontaneously, gathering with deep, resonant grumbles. Within moments, the clouds had thickened, blotting out the sun, and the atmosphere pulsed with raw, crackling energy.
Leilong gritted his teeth again, feeling the power of the array surge through him. the baptism had begun.