Imperial Scepter

As dawn broke, Gaojia Village was still shrouded in a thick, impenetrable morning mist.

The room, filled with high purity, was already lit with a soft, dark light, even more dazzling than the morning sun.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, with several Thunder Profound Fruits lined up in front of him.

The boy, not yet nine years old, still had a childish and thin frame, but his back was straighter than the old locust tree at the village entrance.

His eyes were sharp as cold iron, devoid of any of the childlike innocence or playfulness typical of his age, displaying only a composure and ruthlessness far beyond his years.

"swallow!"

A low shout, crisp and clean, without the slightest hesitation.

The Thunder Profound Fruit on the far left landed precisely in his mouth, melting instantly upon entry.

The sour fruit pulp burst open instantly, transforming into thousands of tiny electric snakes that surged wildly down the throat and into the meridians!

"hiss--"

A burning pain swept through his entire body, as if his meridians were being torn apart by lightning. Instantly, beads of sweat appeared on Gao Chun's forehead, rolling down his cheeks and soaking a large area of ​​the dry grass.

But he clenched his teeth, his cheeks puffed out, and he didn't even flinch.

What's a little pain?

He felt as if he had entered a field of thunder, constantly observing the changing shapes of the lightning.

As dawn breaks, the sun blazes overhead, and the sun sets in the west.

All day long, Gao Chun's courtyard was bustling with people, just like a busy market.

"Village Chief Gao, congratulations! Your son has given birth to a three-colored Dao Seed; he is truly a young hero!"

"This is a second-grade mystical herb treasured in my family. It's just a small token of my appreciation, but I hope Village Chief Gao will accept it!"

"My niece Xuemei, your younger brother is truly remarkable. He will surely be just as capable as you in the future, protecting our entire Gaojia Village..."

Gift-givers came in an endless stream, their footsteps, polite words, and hearty laughter filling the Gao family courtyard, making it impossible to move.

Gao Chun remained deaf to the noise, as if the outside world had nothing to do with him.

He knew perfectly well that these people weren't genuinely congratulating him.

What he was fighting against was his father Gao Changhe's identity as the village chief!

The two publicly known owners of the three-colored Dao Seeds in Gaojia Village are him and his nephew. But who has ever seen so many people specifically giving gifts to the nephew?

The entire Jiuyang Town, consisting of the town proper, 36 villages, and the fiefdoms of the five major clans, has at least dozens of Xuan practitioners with three different paths.

Without the village chief's backing, even if he were to develop a three-colored Dao Seed, he would at most receive a verbal praise and wouldn't even get half a Xuan Crystal!

"In the end, this world is ruled by strength."

"Only by becoming stronger yourself can you truly earn real wealth!"

Gao Chun's eyes grew sharper and his mind more focused as he continuously perceived the changing forms of the Thunder's essence.

The noise outside the courtyard continued from dawn until dusk.

The mountains of mystic crystals, mystic medicines, and mystic beast pelts reflected the village chief's wealth and also highlighted his "insignificance."

His father Gao Changhe's hearty laughter, his sister Gao Xuemei's gentle responses, and his brother-in-law's polite greetings entered his ears time and time again, but they could not shake his Daoist heart in the slightest.

This only strengthened his resolve to become stronger!

"I want everyone to know that I am Gao Chun, not a good-for-nothing who relies on my father or relatives!"

Time passed by, second by second.

He had already refined all seven Thunder Profound Fruits.

The essence of lightning within his body grew increasingly intense, and its circulation speed increased rapidly.

Just as the sun was about to sink below the western mountains.

"boom!"

A muffled, loud thud came from inside my body!

The essence of thunder has been broken through with a thunderous roar!

Middle-grade realm!

Without pause, the spiritual energy and lightning power continued their frenzied clash, lasting only a moment.

"boom!"

Another explosion!

Dachengjing!

Breakthroughs continue!

Gao Chun suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of lightning passing through them, and a smile of undisguised ecstasy curled at the corner of his mouth.

That night, Gao Chun slept exceptionally soundly.

In his dream, he transformed into a bolt of silver-white lightning, rampaging across the vast land, crossing rivers and traversing mountains and forests.

It was faster than the wind, faster than light; wherever it passed, thunder roared and all things submitted!

This was the scene he had dreamed of countless times, and it was also his lifelong longing!

The next day.

The sky was still dark, with only a faint glimmer of dawn appearing in the east.

Gao Chun had already sat cross-legged again, his eyes closed.

Today is his ninth birthday.

It was also the crucial moment for him to reach the pinnacle of the Thunder Intent, open his Qi Sea, and advance to the Bronze Realm!

"Squeak—"

The door was gently pushed open, and the older sister, Gao Xuemei, walked in carrying a bowl of longevity noodles.

Her tone was full of concern: "Xiao Chun, take a break first, have some longevity noodles before you practice, okay? Today is your birthday, don't push yourself so hard."

Brother-in-law followed closely behind, also advising, "Xiao Chun, cultivation requires a balance of work and rest, one more day won't make a difference."

"A lot of guests have come to the courtyard... all your classmates and playmates are here, aren't you going out to meet them?"

Gao Chun slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as firm as iron, and gently shook his head: "No."

"Today, I will comprehend the essence of thunder, open my Qi Sea, and advance to the Bronze Realm!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable determination.

He wanted to let those who gave him gifts know that the person they were currying favor with would one day be Gao Chun!

Gao Xuemei and her brother-in-law exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness and relief in each other's eyes.

This child has been stubborn since childhood; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it.

This tenacity is his greatest strength.

"Then be mindful of your limits and don't push yourself too hard."

Gao Xuemei put down the longevity noodles, gently closed the door, and left.

The lively atmosphere in the courtyard continued, with children's laughter and adults' chatter blending together, creating a stark contrast to the silence inside the room.

Gao Chun took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all distractions.

He opened the gift bag in front of him, poured out a pile of Xuanjing crystals, and densely spread them around his body.

These are all the congratulatory gifts I received yesterday.

He used the gifts others gave him for his cultivation, and he would repay them many times over in the future!

"Let's begin! Thunder Intent perfected, Qi Sea opened, advancement to Bronze!"

He kept consuming the Thunder Profound Fruit in front of him, as well as other Profound Fruits with the Thunder attribute.

He closed his eyes again, held his breath, and focused all his energy on comprehending the essence of thunder!

The thunder dragon roared, its scales clearly defined, and spewed out thick pillars of lightning from its mouth, turning everything in its path to dust!

The Razer snake darts about, agile and cunning, at an incredible speed, coiling around its prey and tearing at it relentlessly!

The lightning blade pierced the air, its sharpness fully revealed, carrying an invincible momentum that cut through all obstacles!

The lightning shield solidified, layer upon layer, like an iron wall, resisting the violent attack!

The form of lightning, its speed, its ferocity, its defense... flashed rapidly through his mind, and he mastered them one by one!

He could even "see" that beneath the forest destroyed by lightning, the seemingly withered roots of old trees were quietly sprouting tender green shoots under the nourishment of the lightning power, eventually growing into incredibly tough lightning-struck wood!

Destruction and rebirth!

This is the first layer of the true essence of the Thunder's artistic conception!

Gao Chun suddenly understood, and all his previous confusion vanished!

"Perfect! The first layer of lightning intent has been perfected!"

He roared inwardly, and with a thought, he made a move.

Boom boom boom!

Deep within his dantian, a thunderous roar, as if ancient divine thunder had exploded within his body, resounded!

A void space was born out of thin air, initially only the size of an egg, and shrouded in a faint purple-gold halo.

In the blink of an eye, it swelled to the size of a fist!

Another breath passed, and it transformed into the shape of a bowl!

"Explode! Explode!"

Gao Chun roared inwardly, urging all his power to fiercely impact that space!

"boom--!"

With a deafening roar, space exploded, no longer confined to a concrete form, transforming into a vast and boundless microcosm!

This world is large enough to contain the profound energy of ten thousand miles!

Qi Sea! Initially formed!

The profound energy in the high-purity room boiled over completely, surging wildly into his dantian like rivers flowing into the sea!

The dense array of mystic crystals in front of him melted like mercury, continuously transforming into mystic energy that surged into his dantian.

Gao Chun sat cross-legged in meditation, feeling an endless suction force coming from his dantian. His meridians were stretched and swollen by the Xuan Qi, as if they were about to burst.

But he gritted his teeth and persevered, letting the profound energy wash over and nourish him.

Nourished by the source of Qi in the sea of ​​Qi, the meridians become increasingly resilient and expansive, and the barrier of the dantian completely disappears, replaced by the boundless sea of ​​Qi!

Time passed little by little, and I don't know how much time had gone by.

As the last wisp of profound energy returned to his dantian and transformed into transparent profound power, Gao Chun's violent aura suddenly subsided, transforming from its previous outward and flamboyant nature into a calm and reserved one.

He slowly opened his eyes, and lightning burst forth from them, like two small suns. A powerful aura far beyond his years surged into the sky!

A Bronze Realm One-Star Mystic!

Nine years old!

he made it!

Gao Chun suddenly stood up, his bones crackling and popping like popping beans.

The power within him surged forth, and the exhilarating sensation rushed to the top of his head, making him want to let out a long roar!

He took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and opened the window.

As the sun began to set, its rays cast long, slender shadows that made him appear tall and imposing, like a young war god.