CHAPTER 1002: CHAPTER 1001: THUNDERBOLT SECRET SWORD

The events occurring on the Continent are confined to the upper echelons, with no one keen on making an early high-profile response; everyone is waiting to make a sudden appearance when the ceremony approaches, so they won’t be considered gatecrashers, right?

Therefore, in Dushan, the Sword Cultivators haven’t heard any particularly significant whispers.

They are not disappointed because, historically, the Sword Sect hasn’t had any standout moments. Under the suppression of the Daoist Sect, the Quanzhen Sect only maintains some degree of influence in the Southwest, and it also faces threats from the Wu Sect, making it difficult to expand its influence.

They never intended to turn this Dushan ceremony into a grand event across the Continent; it’s mostly self-amusement and self-entertainment.

Everyone is busy, except for Sect Hierarch Hou Niao, who leisurely hones his swordsmanship. When it comes to these Cultivation World etiquette practices, he is a complete outsider.

Inside the grand hall, the thunder sounds continuously. He is practicing a new sword technique he crafted, the Thunderbolt Secret Sword.

It’s not exactly newly crafted; it started decades ago after receiving sword techniques from Yue Duo on the Hell Star. These are the only two sword techniques he has practiced post-Golden Core—Sword Light Division and Thunderbolt Secret Sword.

Sword Light Division is highly practical, ready-to-use in battles; however, the Thunderbolt Secret Sword is hard to implement effectively until it’s refined to perfection. If it’s just a spectacular round of battle, it might not be worth using.

The Thunderbolt Secret Sword comprises four stages: One Sword One Thunder, One Sword Thousand Thunders, Thousand Swords One Thunder, and Thousand Thunders One Sword.

One Sword One Thunder means that as a flying sword is released, each sword emits thunder. It equals simultaneous sword and thunder attacks. The flying sword is already fast, the thunder even faster; they complement each other superbly. The sword provides damage while the thunder disrupts defenses, making it a formidable combined strike that leaves opponents helpless, with their various defensive methods rendered ineffective under the thunder’s interference, their bodies like lambs to the slaughter under the flying sword.

One Sword Thousand Thunders is the area upgrade of One Sword One Thunder, suitable for dealing with barrier-type spells or mass creatures like the numerous demons in a Blood River or the soldier paper puppets from the Bean Soldiers technique, or the swarm-like winged creatures of the Beast Daoist tradition. Of course, Sword Light Division can do the same, but it needs to be tailored to the nature of the opponent. For instance, the Blood River demons fear thunder more, while those aberrant cultivation creatures fear sword more, having no fixed form, changing based on opponents’ abilities.

The term ’thousand’ is merely a figure of speech, indicating quantity, without a fixed number. If you can release hundreds of fine lightning strikes with one sword, it can be considered a minor achievement, which is the level Hou Niao has now reached.

Thousand Swords One Thunder does not fixate on ’thousand’; it refers to only emitting swords without thunder, yet continuously brewing Thunder Force. The more swords released, the more potent the Thunder Force becomes, poised to strike anytime. Instead of seeking the ultimate power of brewing Thunder Force, this Thunder Sword technique is more about a high-level psychological warfare,

Which thunder is the most terrifying? The one hanging above your head but hasn’t struck yet is the most terrifying. It affects the opponent’s every move and technique response. No matter what they do, they must first consider the thunderclouds above their head, leading to a state of unease, losing confidence in the fight, with predictable results.

Thousand Thunders One Sword is the reverse scenario—only releasing thunder without emitting swords. While the opponent defends against thunder, they constantly have to remember the suspended sword above their head. The logic is the same as Thousand Swords One Thunder.

Therefore, the Thunderbolt Secret Sword is accurately described as having two levels: One Sword One Thunder and One Sword Thousand Thunders are one level, while Thousand Swords One Thunder and Thousand Thunders One Sword are another. There is no sequential progression; except for One Sword One Thunder as the foundation, the other stages can be chosen freely for cultivation.

His progression is sequential. One Sword One Thunder is relatively easy for someone with a Sword Thunder Pill body, what’s challenging is making that thunder a threat to the enemy, not just a decorative display, which is quite difficult.

He can also perform One Sword Thousand Thunders, releasing over a hundred fine lightning strikes, but this storm can only be an auxiliary, unable to cause direct damage to the opponent.

What he is currently practicing is the third stage—Thousand Swords One Thunder, which he sees as the most promising combat style. As an experienced Sword Cultivator, he knows too well what this means. As the thunder calamity cloud above the head keeps thickening, the opponent’s capabilities are effectively halved, with most of their focus on defending against thunder, leaving little room to fight back.

Thunder, the jewel in humanity’s spell system, is difficult to master, even harder to excel in. Many Thunder Strike Warriors ultimately cultivate thunder skills mainly for support, finding them difficult to apply effectively in combat. With a body suited for Sword Thunder Pill and understanding from two Ancient Thunder Talismans, not learning Thunder Sword Techniques would be a waste of talent.

The only regret is that Sword Light Division and Thunderbolt Secret Sword cannot be combined, a limitation for mid-level cultivators. This problem is probably resolved only at the True Monarch level, but by then, who would bother with sword techniques, having begun exploring the Great Dao?

No skill can dominate across realms!

Inside the grand hall, Hou Niao’s actions made a significant commotion, yet outside the Ice Hall, it was barely noticeable, until a figure burst in, disregarding the densely woven net of thunderbolts,

"Little Niao, in a month you will ascend to the throne, everyone is busy for you, yet here you are hiding away in leisure!"

Hou Niao withdrew the sword light, "Aunt Nineteen, I’m not helpful, okay? It’s better to let professionals handle professional matters; the more I help, the more trouble I make."

Little Peacock clamored, "Come, I made a new outfit for you, try it on."

With a flick of the wrist, she unfurled a multicolored cloak, its bright hues instantly making him resist,

"Isn’t it too flashy? It’s not like I’m going on stage."

Little Peacock glared, "You haven’t tried it on, yet you’re saying it’s no good? It took me and my two sisters a month to make it for you; you have to wear it no matter what!"

Hou Niao, resigned, took the Feather Cloak. It felt exceptionally light in his hands, made entirely of feathers, leaving him touched,

"So many feathers, Aunt Nineteen, you’re too good to me. Didn’t you pluck all your feathers for this?"

Little Peacock was furious, "Always thinking about plucking my feathers, dream on! These aren’t mine, they’re from a batch of mundane peacock feathers. I stimulated the bloodline essence, then my sisters personally sewed it..."

Hou Niao chuckled, reluctantly putting on the Feather Cloak, immediately sensing a difference; not one of becoming majestic, but an inexplicable feeling.

"Aunt Nineteen, I feel something strange, there’s a faint power, but I can’t pinpoint what it is?"

Little Peacock, smug, said, "Of course! It’s an innate divine power from the Peacock lineage, related to fate."

Hou Niao was surprised, "Fate, that grand? Aunt Nineteen, are you implying that wearing it bestows me with Qi Fortune?"

Little Peacock giggled, covering her mouth, "Not Qi Fortune, I’m not that powerful. It’s calamity..."