“Only by venturing deeper, and drawing upon the true essence of the storm, can one truly quicken their passage. To linger at the fringes, even were one to absorb ten times the lightning, would offer but a fleeting illusion of progress, a pale imitation of the power within.” Wang Lin stilled his mind, his gaze fixed upon the heart of the Thunder Pool. He took a step forward.

That single step, landing upon the electrified surface, sent forth a ripple of raw lightning, an invitation to the tempest. Instantly, a cacophony of thunder roared forth, eager to answer.

Wang Lin steeled his spirit, his eyes burning with an inner light, “My nascent soul, though it beats not as a heart, pulses with the very lifeblood of the storm. It shall infuse my flesh.”

His body, forged in the crucible of thunder, knew no resistance. It welcomed the surging power of his soul, unleashing it in a torrent that exploded around him in a chain of deafening thunderclaps.

As the echoes of the thunder faded, Wang Lin took another step.

Within the Thunder Pool, a tempest of pure electricity erupted. Howling winds carried a barrage of lightning strikes, a formidable barrier, like a phalanx of celestial spears designed to halt any mortal’s advance.

Within this chaotic storm surged an immense and primal power, dwarfing Wang Lin’s own storm-infused soul as a flickering firefly pales before the moon.

“This place… its inherent power is… overwhelming!” Wang Lin’s next step struck the electrified surface with a resounding boom that echoed through the storm, surpassing even the might of the crashing thunder.

Undaunted, he pressed forward, taking ten more steps. Each footfall echoed with a thunderous impact, more violent than any natural lightning, as if the very fabric of existence protested his intrusion.

His speed was a blur, each step bleeding into the next until the sounds became a singular, earth-shattering roar that reverberated through the heavens. The Thunder Pool itself was shaken, unleashing mountainous waves of electrical energy. For a fleeting instant, the world was consumed by the blinding, awe-inspiring light.

Wang Lin’s advance faltered. Though still at the periphery of the Thunder Pool, he felt a tremor in his soul, a warning that another step might cause irreparable harm.

“I, who have devoured half a primordial Thunder Dragon, whose flesh is woven from lightning itself, am halted here? The power contained within this place is truly… fearsome!” Disappointment gnawed at him as he studied the swirling chaos before him.

Nearby, Shen Gonghu frowned, a shadow of disappointment crossing his face, dimming his earlier fervor. He studied Wang Lin, a thought brewing within him, “Impossible! How can a cultivator of such renowned power be stopped here? Could it be…” A flicker of suspicion ignited in his eyes.

Even the armored Thunder Beast beside him seemed to sense a shift in the air, its gaze hardening, the fear in its eyes slowly receding.

The silver-scaled Thunder Beast, however, continued its rhythmic breathing, seemingly unfazed, as if it had foreseen this outcome.

As Wang Lin remained motionless, Shen Gonghu’s disappointment deepened. He had hoped to witness a glimpse of the legendary power of his master, but all he saw was stagnation.

The stark contrast extinguished much of the ardent reverence he had held for Wang Lin, allowing his long-dormant doubts to resurface.

“A hundred paces is an impassable chasm for me, true, but upon reaching the initial stages of the Seeker Realm, I shall overcome it. How can a master possess so little might?” Shen Gonghu, his face betraying nothing, studied Wang Lin with a calculating gaze.

Wang Lin, however, remained lost in contemplation of the Thunder Pool. All else had faded from his senses. The world outside ceased to exist. Only the swirling electrical chaos filled his vision.

As he had once gazed upon the realm beyond the Great Gate, a hidden space within the fragment of the Heavenly Jewel, he now seemed to shed even his physical form. All that remained was the dance of countless bolts of lightning within the Pool.

Time lost all meaning, and then, imperceptibly, Wang Lin moved.

He took a single, unhurried step forward. It was an unremarkable action, yet, as his foot touched the ground, a bolt of lightning erupted from the Pool, as if by chance, beneath his foot.

In that moment, it seemed Wang Lin had stepped upon the very essence of the storm.

Shen Gonghu’s fading zeal, his calculating stare, faltered. A glimmer of understanding sparked within him, though it remained clouded.

The armored Thunder Beast, too, was startled, its gaze hardening as it fixed upon Wang Lin.

Wang Lin remained impassive, his face serene, his eyes hollow. He took another step, and once more, a bolt of lightning appeared at the instant his foot descended, as if to greet and support his passage.

Then another, and another…

His movements remained casual, as if he were strolling through his own garden. With each footfall, a surge of lightning materialized beneath him. Shen Gonghu’s eyes widened in disbelief, a gasp escaping his lips. The extinguished flame of fanaticism rekindled, and the embers of disappointment were scattered once more. He stared at Wang Lin, his awe growing with each step.

One might attempt to dismiss this as a calculated act, but the very substance of the storm emerged to meet Wang Lin’s stride, bolstering his advance.

This defied all notions of chance or contrivance. It was an act beyond his wildest imaginings.

In Shen Gonghu’s eyes, Wang Lin had become the master of this chaotic place. The Thunder Pool’s actions were unmistakable. It was a welcoming.

“A welcoming! Yes, that is what it is!” The sheer awe of it washed over Shen Gonghu, sending shivers through his body. An explosive surge of excitement tore through him.

After two years of waiting, he was witnessing something truly extraordinary.
The armored Thunderbeast at his side abruptly raised its head, its eyes wide and unfocused. A palpable aura of reverence emanated from it, more intense than before. As a creature of thunder, its understanding of the element surpassed that of its master. Now, it perceived that the Thunder Pool was not merely receiving Wang Lin, but that each of his steps resonated with the very essence of the pool itself, walking the lightning’s hidden pathways.

Nearby, the silver-horned Thunderbeast, previously prone and seemingly indifferent, now shuddered violently. It leapt to its feet, its colossal eyes widening with an unprecedented alarm as it fixed its gaze upon Wang Lin.

In Wang Lin’s eyes, the Thunder Pool was no longer just lightning and water. He saw shimmering strands of light, appearing and vanishing in fleeting moments. Each footfall landed precisely upon these radiant threads.

A profound understanding blossomed within him, as if this was the only true path. Step by step, he moved forward, lost in the moment, forgetting all else.

Shen Gonghu trembled, his eyes unblinking, fearful of missing a single fleeting change. He could scarcely believe what he witnessed. Wang Lin’s pace quickened, blurring into a fleeting image, yet each footfall still summoned forth a surge of thunder.

Finally, Wang Lin became almost entirely wreathed in lightning, a storm of raw energy crackling around him. Violent gusts of thunderous wind erupted, swirling about him like a lone ship sailing through a tempestuous sea, determined and serene amidst the lightning-ridden waters.

“Incredible! This… this is the true mastery of thunder! This is true thunder!” Shen Gonghu’s gaze burned with a fervor that eclipsed even the zeal he had possessed two years prior. His reverence for Wang Lin had ascended to a level of unquestioning devotion.

The Thunderbeast beside him trembled, radiating an even deeper awe. Its perception was far more profound than Shen Gonghu’s. It beheld in Wang Lin the very progenitor of thunder itself, a being of such overwhelming power that it inspired a primal obedience, leading it to complete submission.

At that moment, should Wang Lin command it to attack Shen Gonghu, it would obey without hesitation.

Even more astonished was Wang Lin’s own silver-horned Thunderbeast, now staring transfixed at its master’s figure, its heart filled with disbelief and an ancestral trepidation!

Then, Wang Lin halted. The strange vision vanished instantly, leaving no trace. He blinked, emerging from his trance.

A hint of bewilderment clouded his eyes, but slowly, his awareness returned. The experience had deepened his understanding of thunder. He knew that it was somehow connected to his glimpse of the Third Step. This newfound perception, though without any direct offensive power, held a value far exceeding any magic art or treasure. It was as if an ant had glimpsed the world of men, seen magnificent cities and unbelievable wonders. Upon returning to its burrow, it would now possess a faint, unsettling sense of overlap whenever it observed the familiar changes within its own world.

Such was the state of Wang Lin.

As he regained his senses, he found himself near the inner ring of the Thunder Pool. While still far from its heart, he was now considerably closer than the outer edge.

The surrounding lightning was a thousandfold stronger, each bolt brimming with vast celestial energy. Wang Lin sat cross-legged and absorbed a single strand.

The moment the lightning entered his body, he shuddered, as if struck by an overwhelming force. His entire being went numb, and even his nascent soul felt sluggish, as though wading through water.

Shen Gonghu, recovering his gaze, now held Wang Lin in the highest regard. He had grasped a portion of the earlier experience. Amidst the frantic thumping of his heart, he was about to meditate and further his understanding when a frown furrowed his brow. His eyes flashed with a steely glint as he peered toward the distant, broken terrain.

Moments later, a purple streak shot through the air, revealing a wooden sword upon which stood a figure!

“Well, isn’t this a lively place!” a mocking voice echoed.