Chapter 153: Joining the Heavenly Thunder Sect! (2/2)

"Reporting to Senior."
"The Heavenly Thunder Sect is a hegemonic force within the Heavenly Water Domain, commanded by supreme experts of the True Martial Realm, possessing immensely formidable strength."
Lu Chengyou spoke quickly.

"It seems the Heavenly Thunder Sect is quite powerful."
"It does meet my criteria for joining."
Qin Feng's eyes brightened as he murmured softly to himself.

"Resume the journey."
"I shall accompany you all to the Heavenly Thunder Sect."
Qin Feng glanced over the caravan, noticing several unoccupied horses, and spoke indifferently.

"But Senior, the Heavenly Thunder Sect only recruits young prodigies under the age of eighteen."
Lu Chengyou said cautiously.

"Let's get moving."
Qin Feng nodded, his figure flickering as he appeared upon the back of a fine steed. Mounting the horse, he spoke calmly.

"Understood, Senior."
Not fully comprehending Qin Feng's intentions, Lu Chengyou took a deep breath, cast a cautious glance at Qin Feng, and said in a deep voice.

"Move out!"
Li Zhou, Tan Yunyao, and the other martial artists kept their heads lowered, not daring to meet Qin Feng's gaze. Hearing Lu Chengyou's command, they quickly pressed forward on their journey.

Qin Feng traveled alongside Lu Chengyou, Li Zhou, Tan Yunyao, and the others toward the Heavenly Thunder Sect. For the first two or three days, the martial artists felt deep apprehension and reverence for Qin Feng, not daring to speak a word as the journey proceeded in absolute silence.

By the fourth day, sensing that Qin Feng had no intention of making things difficult for them, their guards finally lowered. They began to chat idly, recounting various tales and rumors they had heard in the past.

"Spiritual Qi?"
"Defensive spirit treasures?"
"Heaven and Earth spiritual items?"
"Primordial Qi?"
Seated cross-legged inside the carriage, Qin Feng listened to the drifting conversation from outside, thoroughly intrigued as he murmured softly.

Spiritual items existed on the Dragon Soar Continent. From the accounts of Li Zhou, Tan Yunyao, and the other martial artists, these spiritual treasures were armaments endowed with all sorts of miraculous powers.

Then there were defensive spirit treasures, which required no true qi; simply hovering them above one's head could completely envelop and nullify incoming attacks.
Primordial Qi, on the other hand, was the spiritual essence utilized to forge defensive spirit treasures.

"What a fascinating world."
A brilliant light flashed in Qin Feng's eyes as he listened, whispering to himself.
He grew even more eager to reach the Heavenly Thunder Sect. As the overlord faction of the Heavenly Water Domain, it would undoubtedly allow him to gain a much deeper understanding of this realm.

"Senior, ahead lies the registration site for the outer sect disciples of the Heavenly Thunder Sect."
Upon reaching the mountain gates of the Heavenly Thunder Sect, Lu Chengyou approached Qin Feng, speaking with respectful awe.

Along the journey, they had faced five ambushes from external enemies. During one of those perilous encounters, it was Qin Feng's intervention that had effortlessly turned the tide and averted disaster.

This had also significantly narrowed the psychological distance between Qin Feng and martial artists like Lu Chengyou, Li Zhou, and Tan Yunyao.

"Zhou Qing, seventeen years old, late Human Sovereign Realm! Qualified!"
"Chu Lu, seventeen years old, early Human Sovereign Realm! Unqualified!"
"Ji Yanran, sixteen years old, early Qi Martial Realm, qualified!"
"Yu Zhouyun, fifteen years old, late Human Sovereign Realm, qualified!"
"Chen Mumu, seventeen years old, middle Qi Martial Realm, qualified!"
......

As Qin Feng, Lu Chengyou, Li Zhou, and the others drew closer, they saw a long queue winding ahead, accompanied by a continuous stream of announcements.

"Senior, that is the Heavenly Thunder Sect's testing stele. One only needs to press a palm against it, and it will accurately reveal their age and cultivation realm."
Lu Chengyou walked beside Qin Feng, introducing the artifact to him.

"Hmm."
Qin Feng nodded. Listening to the voices echoing from the front, he felt a deep sense of shock. In the Profound Martial Continent, Human Sovereign-level martial artists were as elusive as dragons, yet here on the Dragon Soar Continent, they could be seen everywhere.
Even more terrifying was the fact that these individuals were mere youths of sixteen or seventeen.

"Now these are true youthful prodigies!"
Qin Feng gazed at the long line ahead, sighing inwardly with admiration.

"Senior, the Heavenly Thunder Sect strictly requires recruits to be under eighteen years of age. If anyone tries to falsify their age and is discovered, they will suffer severe punishment from the sect."
Noticing that Qin Feng had joined the queue, Lu Chengyou quickly hurried to his side to offer a reminder.

"Hmm."
"I am aware."
Qin Feng nodded, then waved a hand dismissively at Lu Chengyou.

*Could it be that his age really doesn't exceed eighteen?*
*Impossible, that is absolutely impossible.*
*A martial artist of eighteen could never possess such terrifying strength—a prowess far exceeding the early Genesis Martial Realm.*
Lu Chengyou shook his head violently, quickly banishing the thought that had just surfaced in his mind.

"Wang Bo, eighteen years old, late Human Sovereign Realm, qualified!"
"Wang Yuan, nineteen years old, late Human Sovereign Realm! Unqualified!"
Up ahead, the voice of the Heavenly Thunder Sect's outer sect elder suddenly paused. A violent, fierce, and tyrannical aura swept out from the front, though it vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

"Defying the rules! Today, I shall cripple your Dantian!"
Aura erupting from his body, Elder Liu Changxiao suppressed the youth standing before the testing stele and spoke in a chilling voice.

"No!"
"I was wrong."
"I was wrong."
"I didn't mean to conceal my age on purpose."

Suppressed by the overwhelming pressure of Liu Changxiao's aura, Wang Yuan collapsed directly onto the ground, looking utterly wretched. Hearing those words, he pleaded desperately for mercy.
If his Dantian were crippled, he would be reduced to a useless cripple, and his cultivation would forever remain stagnant.

"Hmph!"
"I am crippling your Dantian—do you submit to this punishment?"
Liu Changxiao let out a cold snort. Channeling true qi into his palm, he delivered a ruthless strike straight onto Wang Yuan's Dantian.

"This disciple submits."
A miserable shriek escaped Wang Yuan's lips, his expression plastered with utter despair. Hearing Liu Changxiao's demand, his heart trembled as he hurriedly gave his assent.
He knew the rules; if he dared to express refusal, the Heavenly Thunder Sect would ensure he submitted completely.

"Throw him out!"
Liu Changxiao nodded in satisfaction, then waved his hand. An outer sect disciple at the Qi Martial Realm, standing nearby, stepped forward, hoisted Wang Yuan up by his collar, and tossed him unceremoniously away.

"You need not be nervous, everyone!"
"As long as you abide by the rules, you are all welcome to join the Heavenly Thunder Sect!"
Liu Changxiao raised his voice, addressing the anxious young prodigies gathered below.

"Senior, must we really go through the test?"
Lu Chengyou asked with visible anxiety.

"Step."
Without sparing Lu Chengyou a glance, when his turn arrived, Qin Feng strode forward, his eyes fixed on the testing stele.

"Young hero, please!"
Seated to the side, Elder Liu Changxiao sensed something unusual about Qin Feng—his composure was simply too profound. Nodding toward Qin Feng, the elder wore a benevolent smile.

"Qin Feng greets Elder Liu."
Qin Feng returned the smile with a slight nod, extending his palm to press against the testing stele.

"Qin Feng, seventeen years old, middle Qi Martial Realm! Qualified!"
Upon seeing the test results, Liu Changxiao felt a surge of wild elation. This was undoubtedly a rare genius! He announced the result in a loud voice.

"What?"
"Seventeen years old?"
"How can this be?"
Lu Chengyou’s body trembled, his face contorting into an expression of sheer disbelief and astonishment.
The young man possessed monstrous strength, far surpassing the Genesis Martial Realm in combat prowess, yet his actual age was merely seventeen.