I flew out of the pool, drenched from head to toe, excited and anticipating. I walked toward my mother at a steady pace, searching her face for any sign of shock, or… anything at all.
Yanruo approached with a fresh set of clothes and quietly assisted me in putting them on.
'I succeeded,' I said.
'Indeed, you have,' Xuanjing replied, a loving smile on her face.
'You did great, little brother,' Leiyun said, her smile more sincere than usual. 'Hahahaha!'
'Of course I did' I said with a smile, the same one i always wore on my face.
'Hmph! Arrogant!' Leiyun snorted.
'Also… does the lightning always do that?' I asked.
'Do what?' my mother replied.
Hmm?
'You know… does it normally $=#*,@^@^^&÷£ i####—'
Or at least, that was what I tried to say.
A sharp pain exploded in my head, as though a spike of red how steel had been driven straight through my skull.
'HAAAAAAAA!!!'
I screamed—
—and then everything went black.
A few days later.
My eyes slowly opened.
A familiar ceiling came into view. Hmm? I'm in my room… how?
I turned my head to the right. Sunlight shone brightly through the window.
Hmm? It's noon?
It shouldn't be. Just a few moments ago, it was dawn.
I sat up—and immediately it hit me.
A terrible headache, like thunder exploding inside my skull.
"Tsssss…"
I sucked in a sharp breath.
What happened? I wondered. I was just at the Thunder Pool.
…What happened?
I frowned.
Ah—I remember. I wanted to tell them about the ##$%¥#&¥#€£€€—
I said it aloud.
The pain came again.
Though weaker than before, it was still unbearable.
I clenched my teeth.
Why? What's wrong? Why can't I say it?
"Young Master, you're awake!"
Yanruo's voice snapped me back to reality. She rushed to my side, shock, and perhaps relief—clear on her face.
Only then did I truly notice my surroundings.
Multiple sticks of incense and candles burned around the room, filling the air with a light medicinal scent. A healing talisman rested on my chest, emitting a faint greenish glow.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Reporting to the Young Master," she said quickly. "After stepping out of the pool, you screamed and immediately passed out."
"Is that so? How long have I been unconscious?" I asked.
"It's been five days, Young Master," she replied.
"Hmm? Is that so" I asked.
"Young Master, I must go report to Madam that you have come to. She has been really worried these past few days," she said, a bit frightened by my voice.
"You can leave," I said. She hurried off.
It seems some force is restricting me from saying its name aloud—or even describing it—but the voice from the heavens… surely they would have heard it. Or the blue lightning bolt. Or even my change in appearance. I pondered this carefully.
Then a bolt of lightning struck in my courtyard, followed by a booming, hearty laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Little brother, I heard you fainted after your baptism. I always told you—you're too soft! You should follow me to hunt those demonic scum, to toughen you up!"
The man suddenly barged into my room, his presence filling the space. He towered above me, nearly ten feet tall, his body carved from sheer muscle, veins coiling like iron cables. His presence alone made the air feel heavy. Long wild hair cascaded down his back, and a rough, unkempt beard framed a battle-hardened face.
A pair of massive axes were strapped across his back, each seven feet in length, the blades etched with purple thunder patterns that pulsed faintly with energy. He wore a purple-and-black battle robe, lightning sigils embroidered across the fabric. His eyes glowed deep violet, as if storms raged within them. His temperament matched his appearance—fiery, unrestrained.
He was Tianyang Leihu, my elder brother.
"Greetings, senior brother Leihu," I said, cupping my hands respectfully.
"Always as stuck-up as usual, I see? Hahaha!" he laughed, the sound rolling like thunder.
Hmm? He is acting the same as usual? If he noticed the changes in my hair and eyes, he would immediately ask, what's going on? What could affect cognition on such a large scale?
"Senior brother, can you notice anything different about me?" I asked.
"Hmm? Now that you say that, I do notice something different about you," he replied seriously.
" What do you notice?" I asked expectantly.
"You seem a bit… softer. Hehe, hehe!" Leihu's laughter boomed through the room. Hehehe! Heheheh…
Sigh… it was my fault for asking, but it seems he really can't notice. Intriguing, I thought.
"Mother heard you woke up, so she sent me to fetch you. Also, father is back," he said, ruffling my hair. "Get up, let's go."
Hmm? "Father is back so soon? Doesn't the ancestor usually preach for longer?" I asked.
"Hmm, who knows," Leihu replied.
I got up, got dressed, and followed my brother to our parents' mountain abode. We descended from the sky to the foot of the mountain and started ascending.
The path through the winding stone terraces led us to the peak, where the residence lay. The air was thick with the scent of pine and frozen ozone; it seemed charged with faint lightning.
Leihu produced a token from the storage ring on his finger and pointed it ahead. A massive gate manifested from the void. It was pitch black, lightning dancing across its surface, and engraved on it was a name: NINE PROFOUND THUNDER PEAK GATE. The gate rumbled, then slowly opened, revealing the scene beyond: a vast sky unlike the one above.
There was no blue—only endless black clouds spattered with intermittent lightning. In the distance, a vast heavenly mountain drew the gaze. Its peak, impossible to see from the ground, rose even above the clouds, like a ladder to heaven.
We entered the gate and started moving toward the mountain.
"Magnificent. No matter how many times I see it, it's magnificent—but I don't like it. I prefer a tranquil environment," I said.
Hahahaha, Leihu laughed. "That is indeed like you, but you will come to love it when you reach Foundation Establishment," he replied.
At the peak of the mountain stood a vast but simple building, its simplicity in sharp contrast to the grandeur around it. At the entrance were two guards in full black armor. They bowed as we approached.
"Greetings, Young Masters," they said.
I simply returned a nod and asked, "Where is Father?"
One of them replied, "The Sect Master is in the garden, with your mother and sister."
I nodded and stepped into the building, moving toward the garden.
Arriving at the garden, it was a serene atmosphere, like spring, the garden meticulously cultivated, two tall ancient trees framed the entrance as if a gateway to another realm, their leaves whispering in the wind, a small stone path led to a low elegant table set for tea, steam rising gently from the cups.
Seated around the table where my family. My mother, Tianyang Xuanjing, radiated calm authority, her violet eyes catching the sunlight. Leiyun sat to her left as playful as ever, her hands lightly clasped on her lap, and there in the centre was my father, Tianyang Leiming, with long black hair framing a sharp but gentle face, his purple eyes faintly flickering like storms rested on me with calm warmth, a soft smile played on his lips, the kind that put those at ease.
They spoke easily, as families should. Laughter here, familiarity there.
I catalogued it all calmly, like a painting already finished.
Simultaneously, I and my brother bowed and greeted.
'Greetings father, Greetings mother',
'Come, join us', my father said.
My brother and I took our seats at the table.
"How do you feel?" my mother asked, her eyes carefully scanning me.
"I'm all right," I replied. "Better than ever, in fact."
"I heard you fainted," my father said, lifting his teacup.
"Unfortunately, I did," I answered honestly.
He smiled faintly, the corner of his lips curling.
"Fainted after your own Thunder Baptism… truly impressive," he said lightly. "Most cultivators faint from fear before entering the pool."
My sister snorted, while my brother let out a short laugh.
"Why did you faint?" my father asked, his tone casual, but his eyes sharp.
"I don't know," I said after a moment. "Perhaps I simply needed rest."
"Mm," he hummed, as if accepting the answer… or setting it aside for later. "Then perhaps it is time you moved into the family residence. It would be more convenient."
"I'd rather not," I replied. "I prefer living outside. I like it outside, the hustle and bustle."
My father laughed softly. "Is that truly the reason?" he asked. "Or is it because your peculiar hobbies are… less suitable for polite company?"
He looked at me with gentle amusement. "Relax. Live here if you wish. I won't restrict you. We are cultivators, not mortals—everyone has their oddities."
Then his gaze shifted, the warmth fading just slightly, and landed on my elder brother.
"I heard you've been at the battlefront again," he said.
"Yes," my brother replied without hesitation.
"And?" my father asked. "Any changes? Or does the Primordial Demon Sect still send their disciples like insects to a flame?"
"They still come," my brother said calmly. "But for every wave that arrives, thunder answers. None return."
My father nodded, swirling his tea. "Good. Some of the elders are growing… restless. Victories calm them."
The table fell briefly silent.
It seems even my father cannot notice the differences in my appearance at all. Could this be the doing of a Law-stage cultivator? but what is this strange sense of unease that i am feeling? as if the whole world is about to come crashing down.
"Later, your mother will take you to the Nine Profound Thunder Banner," my father said. "You will receive the inheritance and the cultivation technique there."
He set his teacup down gently.
"I expect you to finish gathering the qi of the Five Elements, as well as Yin and Yang, and to establish your foundation within six months."
"I will make sure to achieve it," I replied seriously.
"Good. Once you succeed, you shall follow your brother to the front lines," my father said.
"Husband! Isn't that too early?" Xuanjing asked, frowning.
"Hmph. You pamper him too much, woman," Leiming replied, smiling. "He is a man. He will shoulder the duties that men of this family have carried for generations."
"What man?" Xuanjing retorted, her frown deepening. "He is still a boy."
"Mother, it's alright," I said with a smile.
'I have sent some people to bring your things and your servant from your previous residence, a building will be arranged for you here.', my father said.
'Understood', I replied.
The conversation gradually drifted to other matters, sect affairs, border reports, the allocation of resources, I rarely spoke, only answering when i was spoken to, I preferred to observe, I see the world as if its a painting, if I stand outside perhaps I can see the full picture, Leihu, has become tired, he is not one to sit around, it seems he would soon depart, leiyan as cheerful as she may appear, is an enigma, impossible to read, i wonder what's she is like inside.
Six months.
Foundation Establishment.
Front lines.
Any other cultivator would have felt pressure, fear, or pride.
I felt… nothing in particular.
The tea in my cup had long gone cold by the time the gathering came to an end. One by one, the servants cleared the table, their movements quiet and efficient. Leihu was the first to rise, stretching his arms with a lazy grin before excusing himself, already speaking of heading back to his training grounds.
It seemed my life of leisure was truly nearing its end.
If so, I should at least indulge one last time.
A faint smile curved my lips.
"Go and rest," my mother said gently. "Tomorrow, we go to the inheritance ground."
My life seemed to be already planned out, I listened as if it were someone else's.
I stood and followed a servant toward my new residence. At the entrance of the manor, Yanruo was already waiting.
"Welcome, Young Master," she said softly.
"Everything has been arranged."
I nodded and followed her inside. The residence was quiet and elegant, too orderly for my liking. After entering my room, I glanced at her and said casually,
"Prepare my painting materials."
She froze.
A heartbeat passed. Then another.
The tips of her ears slowly turned red before she bowed her head and hurried away. A short while later, she returned, carefully arranging brushes, ink, pigments, and silk scrolls within the inner courtyard pavilion. When she finished, she stood to the side, posture straight, hands folded, her tension impossible to hide.
I stepped forward and sat before the board, testing the brush, adjusting the pigments, letting the familiar calm settle into my mind. Painting was different from cultivation. No thunder, no expectations, only lines, balance, and intent.
When everything was ready, I finally looked up at her.
"Disrobe and sit," I said, pointing toward the smooth stone near the pavilion, bathed in moonlight.
She hesitated, just for a moment. Her fingers trembled at the fastenings of her robe. Then, slowly, she let the silk fall away, pooling like liquid shadow at her feet. She stepped free and sat as instructed, bare skin kissed by cool moonlight, her gaze fixed forward, breathing carefully measured.
I raised my brush.
The world narrowed.
The night breeze stirred the leaves. Lightning flickered faintly within distant clouds, illuminating the courtyard for a brief instant. In that moment, I captured the posture, the quiet vulnerability, the subtle play of light across collarbone, the gentle rise of breast, the shadowed curve where thigh met hip. Not mere flesh, not crude desire, but presence rendered in ink and intent.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
By the time I lowered the brush, the moon had climbed high, and the courtyard was silent once more.
"You may go," I said at last.
She rose, gathered her robe without haste, bowed deeply, and left without a word.
Alone, I studied the unfinished painting.
"Beautiful, I shall call it tranquillity," I murmured.
People thought this indulgence, in truth its the only time I am truly me.
Heaven moved. The sect moved.
I painted.
For the first time since the thunder baptism, my mind was truly at peace, Yet the creeping certainty that the world had moved without my consent. Intriguing.