Main Hall of the Five Elements Temple
Long Taiyang and Xian Taozi had already entered one of the secret chambers, leaving Qi Yuan alone in the main hall.
Long Taiyang, who mastered the fire element, had entered the secret chamber with a fire symbol at the far right corner, next to the water element chamber. Xian Taozi had already entered the chamber designated for physical strength, marked by a clenched fist symbol, even before Long Taiyang made his move.
However, Qi Yuan recalled the words of his master and senior brothers, warning him to be cautious. He also remembered his master's explanation that there were eight secret chambers in this hall, but Huixie, his master, never mentioned the eighth chamber.
Without further hesitation, Qi Yuan stepped toward the chamber with a lightning symbol above its entrance.
"Of course, I'll choose the lightning chamber to train my power," he muttered, approaching the door before vanishing into it.
Swoosh
All three disciples under Huixie were highly dedicated to cultivation and training, especially Xian Taozi, who had already reached the seventh level of the Golden Core realm. Long Taiyang was slightly behind, currently at the fifth level of the Golden Core realm.
Though they were only three years older than Qi Yuan, his progress was remarkable for his age. At just thirteen, he had already broken through to the sixth level of the Qi Foundation realm. However, the gap between him and his senior brothers was still significant.
Inside the Lightning Chamber
Qi Yuan looked around the vast training area within the chamber.
"This place is huge. But… this feels just like when I found the Tianlong Temple in my subconscious. The energy here slightly suppresses the qi essence in my body. The deeper I go, the heavier the pressure," he said, casually strolling forward.
As he ventured deeper, he spotted a massive golden-brown pillar with the inscription "Level One."
"Level one? After all this, I'm still at the first level? Tch, I need to get serious now," Qi Yuan muttered, activating his power.
"Lightning Dragon Steps!"
Bwooozztt
Harnessing the speed of his lightning element technique, he shot forward like a flash of light.
After half a day, he reached Level Two, feeling the pressure intensify. Exhausted, he paused to rest.
"Huff… huff… so exhausting. Good thing I brought some provisions in my storage bag," he sighed, pulling out a small flask of water.
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
"Ahh, refreshing! Alright, time to continue!" he declared, once again activating Lightning Dragon Steps.
Bwoooztttt
At Level Two, Qi Yuan faced numerous obstacles. The chamber unleashed a barrage of lightning attacks from every direction—front, back, above, left, and right. The sheer force left him injured, blood trickling from his lips as he blocked the relentless assaults.
"This… this is insane. Who built this place? Damn it!" he thought while dodging and bracing against the attacks.
But then—
Zwoosh
"Argh!"
A sudden barrage of hundreds of lightning strikes engulfed his body.
"I… I must endure! I will become the strongest! Hyaaa!" Qi Yuan roared, summoning all his strength.
At that moment, the golden Zhenyang symbol on his chest glowed brightly.
"Not now… I won't give in!" He gritted his teeth, suppressing the heat radiating from his symbol while mustering his remaining energy to withstand the brutal storm of lightning.
However, something unexpected happened. The overwhelming energy around him… started to absorb into his body.
Woosh, woosh, woosh!
Qi Yuan's body hovered mid-air, soaking in the devastating lightning strikes. His expression shifted from pain to exhilaration.
"This feeling… it's incredible! Haha!" he laughed, his feet finally touching the ground.
After surviving this life-or-death ordeal, Qi Yuan realized he had broken through to the eighth level of the Qi Foundation realm.
"Haha! I've gotten stronger! Let's move on to the next level!" he exclaimed with excitement.
He spotted the golden-brown pillar marking Level Three, just a few hundred meters ahead.
"Level Three! Finally!" Qi Yuan grinned, dashing toward it.
But then, he stopped in his tracks.
"Wait… I want to test something."
Turning back, he re-entered Level Two.
Zwoooosssttt
Once again, the chamber unleashed a barrage of lightning.
"Haha! Just as I thought! Time to train a new technique!" Qi Yuan smirked, unsheathing his dual-edged sword from his right waist.
With newfound confidence, he refined his sword techniques while enduring the lightning attacks.
Slash!
Splash!
Swoosh!
"Brother Xun's sword techniques… they're truly extraordinary!" Qi Yuan marveled as he struck down bolts of lightning one by one.
His sword moves became sharper, his reflexes faster, and the Zhenyang symbol on his chest reacted once more.
The sky above him was an endless blue, illuminated by violent golden lightning bolts—a sight both breathtaking and terrifying.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed throughout the chamber. The energy within him greedily absorbed every strike of lightning, further strengthening his body and techniques.
His speed, reflexes, and control over lightning had improved significantly. By now, he had absorbed thousands of lightning strikes.
Meanwhile, Outside the Chamber
Morning had arrived, and the sky outside the secret chambers was bright once again.
Long Taiyang and Xian Taozi emerged from their respective training rooms, but Qi Yuan was nowhere to be found.
"Where is that brat? Did he already go to the martial arts hall?" Long Taiyang wondered, glancing around the main hall.
"Don't look at me like that. Sorry, I'm not into guys," Xian Taozi replied with a blank expression, turning away.
"Ugh, whatever!" Long Taiyang scowled.
"Well, your guess might be right, crazy man. But look over there," Xian Taozi said, pointing toward the lightning chamber.
Long Taiyang followed his gaze and froze in shock. The inscriptions marking the levels of the chamber had not disappeared.
"Impossible… that brat is still inside?! He's reached Level Three already? That's absurd!" Long Taiyang gasped in disbelief.
Both he and Xian Taozi had taken two months to clear Level Two of their respective training chambers. Yet, a thirteen-year-old Qi Yuan, only at the sixth level of Qi Foundation, had already reached Level Three in just half a day.
"That perfect-bodied kid is amazing," Xian Taozi admitted, impressed by Qi Yuan's physique.
Just as they continued their conversation—
Wuuush!
The doors of the lightning chamber glowed brightly.
A figure emerged.
It was Qi Yuan.
His body was covered in wounds, his breathing heavy.
"What happened to you?! You're seriously injured, kid!" Long Taiyang rushed forward, catching Qi Yuan before he collapsed.
"A…all I did was train," Qi Yuan muttered before losing consciousness.
To Be Continued...