Beneath a tapestry of starlight, Regulus, a behemoth of living storm, carved a path of awe-inspiring majesty through the western territories of the Alliance. His very presence radiated a potent dominion, and not long did he travel ere distant glimmers, like shooting stars, heralded the approach of a company of celestial warriors from the Realm of Luotian.

At their fore rode a champion, one of the dreaded Terrestrial Fiends from the celestial roster of one hundred and eight Immortals. Upon beholding the immensity of Regulus, he halted, his eyes narrowing with wary appraisal. Behind him, the warriors of Luotian echoed his apprehension, their hands tightening upon their enchanted blades, weaving spells of potent defense.

In that moment, the leader’s gaze sharpened. He caught sight of Wang Lin and the Great-Headed Child, perched atop the colossal beast. A gasp escaped his lips, and he recoiled a pace, bowing deeply with clasped fists. “Greetings, Thundering Immortal.”

The name of Xu Mu resonated mightily within the Realm of Luotian. This warrior had witnessed, with his own eyes, the glorious ascent of Wang Lin to immortality. A deep respect was thus etched into his heart for the man, and his reverence was genuine.

Wang Lin offered a slight nod in acknowledgement, remaining silent. Regulus, with the roar of thunder contained within his being, surged past the assembled warriors, his passage leaving a wake of bewildered awe. Only when Wang Lin was a distant speck did the Terrestrial Fiend dare to lift his head, his eyes filled with a wistful yearning. “Truly, a mount befitting the rightful Thundering Immortal of Luotian,” he muttered.

He was not alone in his envy. The surrounding warriors murmured amongst themselves, their hearts stirred by a similar longing.

As Regulus journeyed onward, encounters with warriors of Luotian grew ever more frequent, a testament to their dominion over these lands. Each meeting brought forth a display of respect towards Wang Lin. The gaze directed towards Regulus, however, was a mixture of astonishment and envy. Whispers of Xu Mu’s reappearance spread like wildfire amongst the ranks of Luotian, fueled by countless rumors.

Many tales spoke of Xu Mu’s cowardice, his refusal to engage in battle, or worse, his alleged treachery and defection to the Alliance. Xu Ting, ever eager to sow discord, found such rumors to his liking, and subtly fanned the flames of suspicion.

The elders of Luotian, for reasons of their own, did little to quell the rising tide of speculation. Coupled with Wang Lin’s prior disappearance, the tales grew increasingly outlandish, painting him as a traitor, a spy for the Alliance.

With each stride, Regulus drew the attention of countless warriors of Luotian. Some greeted Wang Lin with reverence, while others observed with a gleam of amusement, as if anticipating a grand spectacle.

A day later, Regulus halted before a desolate, barren star. Bereft of vital energies, it was of little interest to the conquering armies of Luotian, who had left only a handful of sentinels to guard its desolate surface.

Wang Lin surveyed the barren sphere. Its remote location, though within the territory controlled by Luotian, offered the seclusion he sought for his forthcoming meditation.

With a flicker of movement, Wang Lin descended from Regulus, stepping onto the surface of the desolate world. The Great-Headed Child and Ta Shan followed close behind. Regulus, with a rumble of power, shrunk into the form of a towering warrior, three fathoms tall, and lumbered after his master.

As they approached the star, a cacophony of roars echoed from the wilds. Though barren, the planet teemed with ferocious beasts, creatures of instinct and savagery. Serpents of immense length slithered through the dust, winged tigers stalked their prey, and a host of other monstrous forms roamed the blighted landscape.

The moment Wang Lin’s foot touched the ground, the Luotian sentinels, roused from their meditations, sprang into action. After a moment of hesitation, they soared towards him on trails of shimmering sword light. Wang Lin chose a towering, monolithic mountain as his destination. The strange formation rose sheer and unclimbable, like a single, colossal finger pointing defiantly at the heavens.

Reaching the strange peak, Ta Shan, without a word, unleashed a devastating punch upon the mountaintop. The peak shattered, revealing a cavern, carved by magic.

By now, the Luotian sentinels had arrived, five or six in number, their sword light illuminating the scene. Halting a hundred paces away, they bowed, offering their respects. “Greetings, Thundering Immortal.”

Wang Lin offered a curt nod. “I have chosen this place for arcane study. Do not disturb me.”

The sentinels hastened to agree, bowing once more before retreating.

Once they were gone, Wang Lin raised his right hand, weaving intricate hand seals. The Power to Destroy All Illusion materialized in his grasp, and he began to inscribe layers of protective wards, weaving potent enchantments throughout the surrounding space.

With the wards in place, Ta Shan and the Great-Headed Child seated themselves a distance away, assuming their positions as protectors. Regulus, too, found a suitable spot, settling into meditation. He felt a peculiar stirring within his innate powers, a subtle shift that he sought to unravel.

Wang Lin closed his eyes. Silence descended, broken only by the distant roars of the wild beasts. As the protective wards took hold, the creatures of the star, sensing the aura of overwhelming power, began to flee from the vicinity.

In this hard-won solitude, Wang Lin’s mind cleared. The two celestial techniques, passed down through the lineage of Clear Water, surfaced in his thoughts: Rain Summoning and Bean Soldiers.

Wang Lin had once inadvertently conjured a few drops of rain during an attempt to summon wind. Although he gained a faint understanding of the art, it was after studying the Clear Water Inheritance that he understood the nature of the spell. Calling the Wind and Summoning Rain were deeply connected, and a master could transition from one to the other. Wang Lin spread his arms out, slowly comprehending the art of Rain Summoning.

The crux of Rain Summoning lied in the manipulation of celestial energies. This required the spellcaster to take control of the elements and mold them into water. Each water droplet carried concentrated life force. In essence, it was the manipulation of the rules of nature.

As he meditated, clouds materialized above Wang Lin, blotting out the sun and casting long shadows. Eventually, droplets began to fall, soaking into the ground. Because the earth had been so dry, a layer of dust rose into the air and mixed with the downpour. A vast expanse of earth was churned in the resulting mud. It was an incredible scene.

Wang Lin immersed himself in the falling rain, but suddenly, the precipitation stopped as two figures traversed the air towards him.

The raindrops that surrounded the two dissolved soundlessly into mist. As they journeyed, the two stayed completely dry.

“Xu Mu, do you recognize your crimes!” one of the figures shouted. He was an elder. Wang Lin recalled having seen him at the Thunder Celestial Hall. He was the Palace’s Elder of Punishments!

Beside the elder, Yan Leizi fixed a dark glare upon Wang Lin, his eyes as cold as glacial ice. The falling rain turned into clouds around Yan Leizi, flickering with burning flames. He radiated a terrible power. It felt as if he could shatter the very world with a simple thought.

“What crimes?” Wang Lin asked calmly, his eyes meeting the elder’s.

“I will ask you again, where were you during the battle of Luotian! What shameful deeds have you committed? You disappeared prior to the battle, a certified Thunder Immortal. Do you deny it!” the elder bellowed.

Yan Leizi remained silent. In this period, he had searched for Wang Lin with his divine consciousness, but he could never reach him. He feared intruding into the other’s domain.

Wang Lin stayed placid. “I killed the Domain Kill of the Alliance of Cultivation, Sha Yufei!”

The elder was shocked, while Yan Leizi’s eyes flashed.