Under One Person: I Have a Billion Taoist Gods Within Me

In the courtyard.

The uproar caused by Lu Jin's three victories in three battles and Zhang Zhiwei's effortless palm strike that "illuminated" through the three levels of Reverse Life is slowly subsiding.

The younger generation sat in their seats.

Countless gazes still occasionally drifted toward the languid figure in the gray-white Taoist robe, their eyes filled with awe, curiosity, and a hint of barely perceptible eagerness.

However, most people are only "eager to try".

Although that palm strike didn't injure anyone, it was enough to make anyone with self-awareness see the difference in skill level.

If the gap is too large, it is not a challenge, but a self-inflicted humiliation.

Just when everyone thought this "friendship through martial arts" was about to come to an end.

A clear and firm voice suddenly rang out from the direction of the Shenxiao Sect's seats:

"As Senior Brother Zhang just said, the essence of thunder magic lies in 'faith'."

"Believe that you can summon thunder, believe that thunder will respond to your call, believe that you are at the point where yin and yang meet in that instant."

A young man stood up. He was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old and wore a dark blue Taoist robe with faintly visible cloud and thunder patterns embroidered on it. He had a handsome face and a calm demeanor between his brows that was different from that of ordinary extraordinary people.

His aura was clear and refined, with a faint flow of thunder and fire, yet it was not as domineering and outwardly aggressive as that of the Fire Virtue Sect. Instead, it carried a restrained calmness and unfathomable depth.

He is a true disciple of the Shenxiao School in the present day.

His surname is Qin, his given name is Muting, and his Taoist name is "Suxin".

The Shenxiao lineage holds a revered position in the world of supernatural beings.

Although it is not as majestic as the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain, which has a thousand-year history, it has its own unique system of thunder magic.

Qin Muting is a rising star among the younger generation of the Shenxiao Sect, known as the "seed of thunder magic." Although his reputation is not as widespread as Zhang Zhiwei's, he is still a force to be reckoned with among the younger generation.

He stepped out of his seat, faced the main table, and first bowed deeply to the leader of the Shenxiao Sect.

He then respectfully bowed to the Lu family patriarch, Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing, Zuo Ruotong, and others before finally turning to Zhang Zhiwei and solemnly clasping his hands in greeting:

"Qin Muting, a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, has long admired Senior Brother Zhang's profound knowledge of thunder magic."

"Just now, Senior Brother Zhang discussed the essence of Thunder Magic, saying that its core lies in 'faith'."

"The word 'faith' is indeed the foundation of thunder magic, and also the basis for our interaction with heaven and earth."

"The rumors are indeed true. Senior Brother Zhang's understanding of the essence of thunder magic has truly reached a high level, which is admirable."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Zhang Zhiwei, but there was not a trace of provocation in his eyes, only the sincerity of a seeker of the Way facing a fellow practitioner:

"However, as a disciple of the Divine Firmament Sect, I have practiced the sect's thunder magic since childhood and have gained some understanding of its principles."

"Our sect's founder, the True Man Wang Wenqing, once said: 'The Dharma originates from all the Ways, and the Way originates from the heart. If one can use one's spirit to merge with the spirit of the One Qi, and use one's creation to appropriately measure the creation of the Five Elements, then the Dharma will be wondrous.'"

"It is also said: 'The Five Elements are rooted in the Two Qi, and the Two Qi divide into the Five Elements. If a person can gather the Qi of the Five Elements and circulate the Qi of the Five Elements into the Five Thunders, then the Thunder Magic is the innate Way, and the Thunder God is my own God. By combining Qi with Qi and God with God, is it not as good as the resounding echo?'"

Qin Muting's voice was clear and melodious, and everyone present could hear him clearly.

He continued:

"Therefore, our school believes that the foundation of thunder magic lies not only in 'faith', but also in 'unity'."

"Harmony means the unity of heaven and humanity, and the correspondence between the inner and outer worlds."

"Heaven and I are one body; the human spirit is connected with the timing of heaven, yin and yang, and the five elements; what one senses, the other responds."

"With my spirit, I merge with the spirit of the One Qi; with my creation, I appropriately utilize the creation of the Five Elements."

"Therefore, the Divine Firmament Thunder Method emphasizes internal cultivation, taking the cultivation of the inner elixir as its foundation, combining one's own Qi with the Qi of the five elements of heaven and earth, and combining with the thunder of heaven and earth, so that 'my body is heaven and earth, and heaven and earth are my body.'"

"If a practitioner's inner cultivation is profound, then wind, clouds, thunder, and rain can be summoned at will; if the inner cultivation is insufficient, then the magic will be ineffective, and thunder will not respond."

His gaze toward Zhang Zhiwei became increasingly candid, and his words were utterly undisguised:

"Brother Zhang just said that 'faith' is the foundation of thunder magic. I have thought about it many times and found it to be extremely profound, but it is slightly different from the principle of 'harmony' in our sect."

"I wonder if Senior Brother Zhang would be willing to enlighten me, allowing me to personally experience the 'faith' of the Zhengyi Thunder Method and the 'harmony' of our sect's Shenxiao Thunder Method, and what the similarities and differences are?"

"Junior brother, this time you are not here to compete for superiority, but to experience it firsthand and let Senior Brother Zhang see whether the thunder magic of our Shenxiao sect has its own unique features."

These words sparked another round of murmurs in the courtyard.

"The Shenxiao Sect...that's a major Taoist sect that also specializes in the Five Thunder Technique!"

"This Qin Muting is said to have obtained the true teachings of the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique, and can command ghosts and gods and summon thunder and rain. He is also a top figure among the younger generation."

"He actually wants to challenge Zhang Zhiwei? And he specifically wants to fight Lei Fa?"

"It's not a challenge, it's a 'request for advice,' an exploration; we've adopted a very humble attitude."

"But Zhang Zhiwei's thunder magic... that's the Zhengyi Thunder Magic of Longhu Mountain, personally taught by the Celestial Master. How could it be ordinary?"

The sect leader of Shenxiao Sect sat upright in his seat. Upon hearing his disciple's words, he was slightly taken aback, and then his brows furrowed slightly.

Qin Muting is an extremely talented child with a deep understanding of thunder magic. He has always taken it upon himself to revive the Divine Firmament Thunder Magic.

His stepping forward this time may have been driven by the competitive spirit of youth, but more likely it was because he genuinely wanted to use this opportunity to prove what he had learned and let the world see the extraordinary nature of the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique.

only......

His chosen opponent happened to be Zhang Zhiwei.

The leader of the Shenxiao Sect subconsciously looked towards the main table, his gaze falling on Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing. Just as he was about to say something, he saw that the Celestial Master was already looking at him with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to take it to heart," said Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing in a gentle voice.

"It's a good thing that young people have a desire to seek the truth and a willingness to verify it."

"The Divine Firmament Thunder Technique has a long history and is of the same origin as the Orthodox Unity Thunder Technique, but they have different origins. If we can take this opportunity to learn from each other, it would be a blessing for the Taoist school."

"Let the child give it a try."

"There is a sense of proportion in this matter."

Upon hearing this, the leader of the Shenxiao Sect felt reassured, rose, and bowed respectfully to the Celestial Master from afar.

"Thank you for your understanding, Master."

"This unworthy disciple is young and impetuous. If he has been disrespectful, I hope the Heavenly Master and your disciple will forgive him."

The Celestial Master waved his hand, indicating that it was alright.

Li Yuan sat quietly to the side, taking in the whole scene.

His gaze fell on Qin Muting.

Inside the Great Luo Palace.

The divine light associated with "Thunder", "Divine Firmament", and "Five Thunders" swirled slightly, reflecting the hidden thunderous energy surrounding this person.

"The Divine Firmament Thunder Technique...summons and commands the Thunder Gods and Generals using talismans, based on internal alchemy and utilizing talismans, emphasizing the unity of heaven and man, and the resonance between the inner and outer realms."

Its theoretical basis is indeed different from that of the Zhengyi Thunder Method.

The Zhengyi Thunder Method emphasizes "I am the law," using one's own Qi to invoke the power of heaven and earth, placing personal will above thunder.

The Divine Firmament Thunder Technique emphasizes "unity," achieving a state of "my body is heaven and earth" through internal cultivation, making thunder a natural extension of one's own will.

"In comparison, the Zhengyi Thunder Method is like a king commanding the world, fierce and domineering; the Shenxiao Thunder Method is like a wise minister following the will of Heaven, moderate and peaceful."

"And Zhang Zhiwei's concept of 'faith,' seemingly simple, actually points directly to the higher essence of thunder magic—"

Li Yuan's gaze swept over Zhang Zhiwei, who was still lazily eating sunflower seeds, and his heart stirred slightly.

It's not about merging with heaven and earth, but about making heaven and earth merge with you.

"Don't try to sense the thunder; become the thunder yourself."

"When faith reaches its utmost, I am thunder, and thunder is me."

"At that time, what need will there be for internal alchemy as a foundation? What need will there be for the five elements?"

"When my heart stirs, thunder arises."

These two paths, though seemingly different, ultimately lead to the same destination.

"only..."

His eyelids drooped slightly, concealing the deep meaning in his eyes.

Zhang Zhiwei has reached the other side of "faith".

"And Qin Muting, still on this side of 'union,' is striving to swim to the other side."

"But Zhang Zhiwei... I doubt he'll let this match turn into a crushing defeat."

What he wanted to see wasn't how badly Qin Muting lost, but rather what made the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique so different.

"This is a good opportunity to see just how far he has come in his mastery of thunder magic."

Sitting at the table, Zhang Zhiwei listened to Qin Muting's words, and a genuine interest flashed in his excessively bright eyes.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead looked at his master beside him.

Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing nodded slightly to him, her eyes filled with encouragement and expectation.

Zhang Zhiwei then stood up, still looking lazy, but his gaze towards Qin Muting was more serious than when he looked at the others.

"Junior Brother Qin, that's a good question."

As he spoke, he walked toward the center of the courtyard, his steps leisurely yet each one firm and steady.

"Trust and cooperation may seem different, but they are actually two sides of the same coin."

Without faith in Heaven and Earth, how can one achieve harmony with them?

"Without 'harmony' with heaven and earth, how can you verify whether your 'faith' is true or false?"

Having said this, he had stopped about three zhang in front of Qin Muting and casually rolled up his sleeves.

"Since Junior Brother wants to compete in lightning magic—"

Zhang Zhiwei raised his eyes and looked at Qin Muting, his gaze so clear it seemed to see into people's hearts:

"Then today, let's simply compete in thunder magic."

"I will not defeat you through cultivation level."

"We will only compare the application and transformation of thunder magic, as well as the understanding of the word 'thunder'."

"Is that fair?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Muting's eyes flashed with surprise, which quickly turned into heartfelt gratitude and admiration.

He was well aware of the gap between himself and Zhang Zhiwei—Zhang Zhiwei was the Little Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, a peerless figure renowned throughout the world. In terms of profound cultivation and high realm, he probably couldn't even withstand three moves.

However, Zhang Zhiwei took the initiative to propose "not to suppress others with cultivation level" and only to compare the thunder magic itself.

This means that this contest will no longer be a crushing defeat of cultivation level, but a true exchange of understanding of thunder magic.

This is a matter of respect for oneself, and also for the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique.

Qin Muting took a deep breath, solemnly clasped his hands, and bowed deeply:

"Thank you so much, Senior Brother Zhang, for making this possible!"

"I know that my cultivation is far inferior to my senior brother's, but I am determined not to lag behind in the art of thunder magic."

"Today, I am deeply honored to meet my senior brother using thunder magic and to personally experience the profound mysteries of the Zhengyi Thunder Magic!"

Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand: "Alright, alright, don't be so polite."

"Come on, let me see just how divine the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique really is."

The words fell.

Zhang Zhiwei's hands hung naturally at his sides, his aura still languid, as if he were just standing casually in the courtyard.

But everyone held their breath at that moment.

Qin Muting took a deep breath, took three steps back, stood still, and his aura began to change.

No longer reserved, no longer calm.

It was a unique "power" that was completely different from that of ordinary extraordinary people.

It was as if an invisible portal had quietly opened within him.

Qin Muting slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers spread out, palm facing the sky.

He didn't make any hand seals, didn't chant any spells, and didn't even close his eyes.

He simply stood there quietly, his right hand supporting the void.

However, everyone present with keen senses clearly "sense" it.

Something is responding to him.

The sky remained clear and cloudless.

But in this corner of the courtyard, the air began to change.

Dull.

Repressed.

It was like the calm before a storm.

A faint purple glow began to appear around Qin Muting.

The light did not emanate from his body, but rather converged from all directions, like rivers flowing into the sea, gathering towards his palm that held up the void.

This is the starting posture of the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique – "Gathering Thunder Qi from the Five Directions".

Using himself as a furnace and his inner elixir as a hub, he attracts the scattered Five Elements Thunder Qi from heaven and earth and condenses it in his palm.

The gathered thunder energy began to rotate, compress, and condense about three inches above his palm.

In just a few breaths.

A ball of lightning, about the size of a fist and shimmering with purple light, floated in his palm.

The ball of lightning was not large, but it contained a terrifying power.

Even more astonishingly, it wasn't still; it was slowly "breathing."

With each "breath," the color of the lightning ball deepened, and countless tiny flashes of lightning could be faintly seen within it.

Qin Muting looked at Zhang Zhiwei, his eyes brighter than ever before, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement:

"Senior Brother Zhang, this is the first level of the Divine Firmament Thunder Technique—Gathering Thunder."

"I will use my own body as a furnace to gather the thunderous energy of heaven and earth, and make thunder serve my purposes."

"Please enlighten me, senior brother!"