The vision faded, yet etched within Wang Lin’s very soul was the face of the speaker, a figure unknown to him, but branded upon his mind like a sigil. He knew he had never beheld this countenance before, save for one singular detail: within the left eye, a shimmering vortex of five colors pulsed with light. A familiar energy, instantly recognized by Wang Lin, as the legendary Quintessence!

The Quintessence of Five Hues, beheld only once before in his long existence, upon the forgotten world of Vermillion Bird, residing within the being known as Naddo, an echo in the deepest chambers of his memory.

The sight of it sparked an inexplicable sensation within him, a certainty that this light was akin to Naddo’s own Quintessence, perhaps even born of the same source.

His acquaintance with Naddo had unlocked the mysteries of his own Quintessence and revealed that it could exist in many forms. Naddo, one of the pursuers of Situ Nan, had sought refuge as a withered husk on Vermillion Bird, where Wang Lin had seized his belongings, later pursued for revenge after exacting justice in Zhao.

Though the vision was gone, Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with understanding, for he had glimpsed a monumental secret.

“The golden threads encircling him, are undeniably Kunjiyuan. Combined with the words of the Elder of the Lightning Clan and Naddo’s Quintessence… could it be that those enigmatic cultivators did not depart, but crossed into the Inner Realm?”

“What transpired within? How did the Quintessence of Five Hues fall into the hands of Naddo? Even the Kunjiyuan Whip was lost on Vermillion Bird…”

“Naddo must have known more than he revealed… The Five Elements… Naddo!” He exhaled slowly, suppressing his questions, for now was not the time for speculation.

His nascent divinity coursed with a power far greater than before, tendrils of lightning permeated his being, and the very essence of thunder roiled within him like a tempestuous vortex.

Each revolution surged with electricity, enlivening every muscle, every bone. He had transcended mortal flesh, now become a conduit, a vessel of untamed lightning, a thunderbolt rebelling against fate!

His cultivation had undergone a strange transformation, an anomaly rarely witnessed, if ever, in either the Inner or Outer Realms. When channeling the full force of his lightning, Wang Lin’s power soared beyond the Shattered Nirvana mid-stage, approaching the peak.

Yet, when suppressing the thunder’s might, relying solely upon the flames, his intent, and the ambient energies of the heavens, he remained anchored to the mid-stage.

This was linked to the five elements within him.

Rain lashed against the cottage, illuminated by the flickering lightning. It was still night. Wang Lin arose, donned a tattered cloak hanging within, and pushed open the door.

As he emerged, a bolt of lightning illuminated the darkened street, casting fleeting shadows amidst the misty rain. No lights flickered, every home in slumber, save for the occasional cry of a child, startled by the thunder, quickly soothed by their parents.

The rain hammered the ground, creating ripples amidst the scattered leaves. Wang Lin, standing in the doorway, cast his gaze skyward, tightened his cloak, and stepped out into the rain-swept night.

The streets were empty, save for Wang Lin’s solitary figure, walking onward through the storm, accompanied only by the wind and the rain.

At the juncture where West City met North City, a place of lively commerce, usually filled with the din of voices even in the dead of night, now lay silent under the downpour. Only a few taverns, known for their unceasing service, cast a dim glow into the tempest, their lanterns swaying in the wind.

Wang Lin slowly traversed West City, arriving before a tavern. The lamps burned low. A handful of patrons sat within, drinking and murmuring in the rainy darkness. The innkeeper, slumped on a table, snored softly, ready to fall asleep again.

Wang Lin stepped into the tavern and placed his wine flask before the sleeping innkeeper, making a soft sound.

“A flagon of wine.”

Startled by the gust of wind and cold rain, the innkeeper rubbed his eyes, glanced at Wang Lin, grumbled something, and sluggishly went to the back room. Soon he returned, placing the flask before Wang Lin, saying, “Three copper coins.”

Wang Lin paid, grabbed the flask, and took a swig. The familiar bitterness seared his throat, transforming into a fiery warmth that spread through his belly. It was strong, the kind one drank when they sought to kill. He liked it.

Flask in hand, he left the tavern, heading toward the distance in the storm. Lightning crashed in the sky, lighting the way. He didn’t return to West City, but headed north.

Through the rainy night, he took occasional sips. His steps were measured, and with each footfall, the falling raindrops seemed to pause in mid-air.

In the northern sky above the cultivation star, not far from the capital city, the Taoist Elder who had cast the search spell strode onward, his expression grim. The seven disciples who followed him looked weary.

They had searched numerous locations throughout the night, but found nothing. It seemed that the one who had destroyed the Lightning Clan was not there.

“Elder, all of the cultivation stars in this region are crowded with searchers, but we haven’t found anything. Perhaps the culprit is not here…”

“He may not be on this star, but he is somewhere in this region!” The Taoist Elder spoke harshly.
The venerable elder of the Long Zun Society, guided by the celestial divinations of Yun Luo Da Si, spoke with urgency, “Yun Luo Da Si has discerned the general vicinity of the fugitive within the Starshard Nebula. It will not be long before his exact location is revealed. If we could but apprehend him before Yun Luo Da Si pinpoints his hiding place, a reward beyond measure awaits us!” His eyes gleamed with ambition, but his words were cut short.

A deafening roar tore through the heavens, as bolts of lightning illuminated the land in a blinding flash before plunging it back into impenetrable darkness. In that fleeting moment of light, a lone figure emerged from the distant shadows. Clad in a weathered raincoat and clutching a wine gourd, he moved with impossible speed.

His swiftness defied perception. The seven disciples flanking the elder were oblivious to his approach. In the blink of an eye, the rain-soaked wanderer stood a mere three feet from the robed elder.

The elder’s eyes widened in horror as he recognized the impossible speed. Before he could react, the stranger tilted back his wine gourd and emptied it in one long draught. Then, with a casualness that belied the deadly intent, he extended his left hand and touched the elder’s brow.

A thunderclap shook the heavens as the elder’s spiritual core, his very essence, was violently rent asunder. A fragment tore free, ripping through his body and extending beyond him like a spectral tendril.

With a swiftness that mirrored the stranger’s, Wang Lin materialized, seizing the severed fragment of the elder’s spirit. He spun and disappeared into the darkness.

The echoes of thunder still lingered, and the following lightning illuminated the scene once more. The seven disciples remained unaware of the spectral theft, while the elder’s eyes cleared of their momentary terror.

“Such a feat will surely bring us great fortune!” he rasped, his voice betraying a hint of pallor. He seemed oblivious to the horrifying events that had just transpired. Without a second glance, he turned and led his disciples onward.

In the flickering light of the lightning, the retreating figure of the raincoat-clad wanderer grew smaller and smaller. In his left hand, he clutched the stolen fragment of the elder’s spirit, a miniature likeness of the robed man. The spectral figure opened its mouth in a silent scream, but no sound escaped.

The eight pursuers, including their leader, marched on, oblivious to the presence of the predator behind them.

Wang Lin drank deeply from his own gourd as he returned to the slums west of the city. He passed through the muddy streets until he reached his humble dwelling. Stepping inside, he closed the door behind him.

The fragment of spirit remained clutched in his left hand. The moment he crossed the threshold, he crushed it, and its essence evaporated into nothingness. He ripped the memories from it.

Wang Lin would not kill the elder outright, not yet. First, he needed to know the current state of the Ancient Star Domain. This lightning-fast extraction of a spirit fragment had given him a way to extract that information without alerting his quarry.

“As I suspected, the Ancient Star Domain has initiated a widespread search… and this Yun Luo Da Si of the Long Zun Society… his abilities extend to divining my very location…” Wang Lin’s eyes flashed as the elder’s memories revealed the extent of the hunt and the layout of the Starshard Nebula.

A cold smile played upon his lips as Wang Lin waved his right hand, summoning another spirit. This one was frail and fading. It was the Grand Elder of the Flash Thunder Clan, his eyes closed and his breath shallow.

“The five remaining Companion Thunders, aside from the Thunder of Thought, shall be mine from this elder’s spirit! In the past, he summoned all six of the Companion Thunders not from within himself, but from an external source. Though dispersed, they were not truly extinguished. They can be summoned again. Alas, there are nine Thunders, and even these do not complete the set… I wonder, can I complete my Thunder Totem, overcome the Heavenly Tribulation, and reach the Third Step, a Grand Master of Thunder!”

Without hesitation, Wang Lin inhaled deeply. The Grand Elder’s spirit transformed into a stream of light and was swallowed whole. Inside his body, his own Thunder Spirit roared to life, tearing the captured essence apart and absorbing it into its core.

In that very instant, Wang Lin’s Thunder Spirit pulsed and shifted. The Grand Elder’s essence had caused it to morph. Incredibly, his spirit now bore the very appearance of the Flash Thunder Clan Elder!

His spiritual eyes snapped open, and a blinding light erupted from within.

“Thunder of Heavenly Brewing, Thunder of Earthly Fusion, Thunder of Elemental Transformation, Thunder of Magnetic Convergence, Thunder of Taoist Intent, Thunder of Spiritual Thought! Appear before me!”