Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 214 - 108: Summoning Thunder (4K)_2

Chapter 214: Chapter 108: Summoning Thunder (4K)_2

Actually, I shouldn’t feel that you, Lord of Thunder God, are bad," Xiaoqing said, looking up at the statue with an angry tone: "If I weren’t a temple priest, I might have been eaten long ago. But I still want to ask..."

"Lord of Thunder God, are you just going to watch?"

...

The quiet of Zheng Fa’s temple was shattered.

A group of burly men approached the temple.

In the center of the burly men, sixteen people carried a middle-aged man, who was not very burly, but everyone dared not look at him.

Behind them, a large crowd followed.

Swarming, nearly over ten thousand people.

Most of them were extremely gaunt, their cheekbones protruding, but the fanaticism in their eyes when looking at the middle-aged man was even greater than that of the burly men.

The bright light in their eyes burned in their hollow sockets, like will-o’-the-wisps.

Xiaoqing, hearing the commotion outside, walked to the temple gate to face these uninvited guests.

"What are you trying to do?"

Her voice trembled slightly, and she even dared not look at the middle-aged man, showing greater reverence than in front of the statue.

"The Sect Hierarch, today, wishes to become divine, and this temple should surely belong to our Sect Hierarch!"

A leading burly man in the crowd declared loudly.

"This is the temple of the Lord of Thunder God!" Xiaoqing glared, rebuking them: "Do you dare to offend the Lord of Thunder God?"

"Thunder God? A false god!" the burly man scoffed: "The god in this temple has disappeared for so many years, now only our Sect Hierarch is the true god of this era!"

"Today we will smash the statues of this false god and turn this place into the Thunderbolt Temple!"

Xiaoqing grew even more nervous upon hearing this, positioning herself at the entrance as if to stop these people.

...

Zheng Fa looked at the group of burly men from atop the statue.

There were less than a hundred of them, but their presence was imposing—their broad shoulders and round waists were the most intimidating.

Contrasted with the emaciated common citizens of the city.

It only highlighted their well-nourished, prosperous living, never lacking in meat.

It is to be known that although the Heavenly Stele Realm is rich in waters, fish, and shrimp, fishing is very dangerous—whether on the riverbank or on a boat, it’s easy to get struck by lightning.

Fishermen can only catch fish on days when the thunder stops and the rain lets up.

But such days are irregular and rare. It is hard for a person to catch enough fish in one day to fill their own stomach, let alone feed a family.

Therefore, it is normal in the Heavenly Stele Realm to have an extreme protein deficiency.

This group...

Zheng Fa scanned over the group of burly men and felt disgusted, so he extended his Divine Sense to the middle-aged man sitting on the high platform.

This is probably the so-called Sect Hierarch of the Thunderbolt Sect.

With his Divine Sense, Zheng Fa could see clearly—there was a faint presence of Spiritual Energy in the man’s body, but no trace of a Cultivation Technique.

Such circumstances have also appeared in the Xuanwei Realm:

Ling Ye Fairy is one such example, who ate a certain type of Thunder attribute Spirit Fruit, and if not dead, would have some cultivation without having started the path.

The previous words from Xiaoqing indicated that this person also went up to the mountain to collect mountain goods; perhaps he had some fortune in the mountains.

He later suffered from a strange illness for over a decade, probably digesting the Spirit Fruit.

Now the Spiritual Energy in his body is not dense, just at the level of Qi Cultivation first or second layer, but in the eyes of the people in Half Mountain City, such cultivation indeed seems like the power of Immortal Gods.

What made Zheng Fa feel that this person was not simple was his intentional or unintentional division of his followers into two groups with vastly different treatments...

Greatly enhancing the loyalty of believers.

...

"You’re called Xiaoqing, right." The Sect Hierarch of the Thunderbolt Sect finally spoke: "This temple was built by Half Mountain City to worship the Thunder God. Now that I am indeed becoming divine, this temple should naturally worship me."

"But the Lord of Thunder God has manifested!"

Xiaoqing said angrily.

"Manifested? I have already researched the records," the Sect Hierarch said with a light smile: "Your lineage of temple priests has always been deceiving Half Mountain City. Since the foundation of Half Mountain City, this statue has never manifested!"

"..."

"We worship every day, pray every year, and have never seen this wooden clay idol move an inch!"

Zheng Fa couldn’t help feeling inwardly resigned.

Perhaps what this person said was true...

Heavenly Stele made its appearance not long ago, and the previous Thunder God is probably long gone.

Even the Sealing God Hall has said that the Immortal Gods have lost their positions.

This statue... might be a faith passed down from ancient times, but it likely hasn’t shown any divine manifestations in Half Mountain City.

One could hear the caution of this Sect Hierarch—he even knew to check whether he could provoke the temple first.

"And I!" the Sect Hierarch exclaimed loudly: "Granted by the heavens, wielding the Heavenly Thunder, I am the new generation of Thunder God!"

After speaking, he lightly clasped his hands together, sparks of electric fire flickering at his fingertips.

Seeing such a "miracle," the followers behind him all prostrated themselves on the ground, frenziedly shouting:

"Thunder God!"

"Thunder God!"

"Thunder God!"

Their bodies might be weak, but their shouting was forceful, creating a sight akin to a wild storm that made Xiaoqing, who was standing at the temple entrance, involuntarily step back twice.

"Do you see?"

"This... this is the heart of the people of Half Mountain City!"

"I am the god of Half Mountain City!"

...

The grand procession of the Thunderbolt Sect to the temple also attracted many residents of Half Mountain City.

They followed the crowd, surrounding the temple, their eyes also on Xiaoqing.

Xiaoqing seemed somewhat scared on her face.

She was alone in the face of thousands from the Thunderbolt Sect.

Her gaze swept over the surrounding crowd, as if seeking help.

These people were not followers of the Thunderbolt Sect; on the contrary, most of them had been bullied by the sect.

Some had their fishing territories occupied by the Thunderbolt Sect.

Others had been robbed of their mountain goods.

Even more had daughters who went missing and never returned.

But those she looked at either coldly turned their heads or guiltily lowered their gaze.

The ranks of the Thunderbolt Sect followers gradually encroached, led by several dozen burly men. They were sizable and made Xiaoqing’s figure, that of a mere thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, seem even more inconspicuous.

"Once I ascend to divinity, within the Thunderbolt Sect, everyone shall enjoy peace and happiness!"

Behind this group, that Sect Hierarch murmured softly, a look of excitement in the eyes of these burly men upon hearing his words.

Their gazes toward Xiaoqing were even more malevolent.

As if looking at prey.

Xiaoqing shivered, hugging her arms across her chest, looking somewhat unsure, yet as if she was yearning for something, her gaze set on the statue as she prayed:

"Lord of Thunder God above, your divine might is vast and boundless."

"Here is your faithful devotee, earnestly praying."

"Let Heavenly Thunder descend upon the world, to punish evil and promote good."

"Enlighten the people, grace the world with your divine beneficence."

Her body was frail, her tone low.

It seemed the Sect Hierarch heard her, as he laughed loudly: "Deluded and ignorant, I am the true Thunder God!"

As he finished speaking, sparks of electric fire surged on his body, giving him a semblance of a majestic and holy aura.

"In the future, I shall wield the lightning! All the Cloud Rain Thunder in the heavens will heed my command!" He pointed at the sky, speaking with high spirits.

The enthusiastic glint in the eyes of his devotees grew even more fervent upon hearing this.

"Wield the Heavenly Thunder!"

"Wield the Heavenly Thunder!"

"Wield the Heavenly Thunder!"

From the sky, a grandiose golden lightning bolt descended.

This Thunder Light illuminated all of Half Mountain City, causing people to squint.

The Heavenly Thunder headed straight for the Sect Hierarch’s finger pointing at the sky, reflecting his startled and stupefied face.

The flash of Thunder Light passed, and the figure of the Sect Hierarch had vanished.

The sect’s followers looked left and right, searching long but couldn’t find their leader.

"This Heavenly Thunder..."

"It must have been summoned by the Sect Hierarch! Didn’t you hear him? He can wield the Heavenly Thunder!"

"What about these ashes?"

"..."

"The Sect Hierarch has become divine!" one of the shrewder among the burly men said, seeing the situation amiss, his mind racing as he suddenly spoke: "The Sect Hierarch has shed his mortal coil and become the Thunder God!"

"As long as we continue to worship the Sect Hierarch, we too shall become divine in the future!"

Another flash of Thunder Light streaked by, and another pile of black ashes were left on the ground.

"..." The burly men glanced at each other and ran off, seemingly having no desire whatsoever to become divine.