**Chapter 15: The Thunder Immortal's Ambush**
The next morning, in Chixiao's modest courtyard, a Daoist child was sent to fetch Qingyun at dawn. Now, Qingyun stood awkwardly before his master, head bowed, eyes fixed on the ground—not daring to glance at Chixiao's robe hem, as he had yesterday.
Recalling Chixiao's fiery outburst, Qingyun shivered and quickly averted his gaze.
Chixiao's deep, silent stare unnerved him. With his master mute, Qingyun dared not speak, counting the courtyard's stone tiles instead. The rising sun warmed him, sweat beading on his forehead.
Finally, Chixiao coughed twice, breaking the silence. His gentle tone, however, unnerved Qingyun further. "Qingyun, you understand now, don't you? Practicing the *Great Evolution Void Travel Technique*[23] requires severing *nothing*," he said, emphasizing "nothing" with a weight that made Qingyun tremble, sensing his master's lingering resentment.
Yesterday, Qingshu had pulled him aside, whispering tales of old. Their grandmaster once viewed love as a hindrance, decreeing his first male disciple must lack romantic fate. When choosing Chixiao, he divined carefully, selecting one destined for solitude. Initially dismissed as rumor, Chixiao's lifelong bachelorhood sparked whispers. For cultivators, this was no great matter—many avoided partners—but Chixiao bristled at the talk.
Qingyun puzzled inwardly: Qingxuan wasn't one to rub salt in wounds; her warning must have been unintentional. But why dissuade him from the Great Evolution technique?
"Qingyun!" Chixiao's low growl snapped him from his thoughts.
"Y-yes, Master!" Qingyun stammered, startled.
Shaking his head, Chixiao moved on. "Chi Yan told me you had an incident practicing the *Kunwu Technique*[15]."
"Yes, but—" Qingyun began.
Chixiao raised a hand, silencing him. "I've retrieved *Void Roc Wings*[32]. With them for your *Enlightenment* ritual[20], entering the *Dao*[2] should face little obstruction."
Surprised but unquestioning, Qingyun followed Chixiao to the outer room and sat on a prepared cushion.
"Calm your mind and attempt to meditate, observing *yuan*[19]," Chixiao instructed.
Qingyun followed Qingxuan's teachings, focusing on his breath, slowing each inhale and exhale to a crawl. Scriptures noted that seasoned Taoists, once in meditation, could stretch a single breath over months.
Eyes closed, Qingyun didn't see Chixiao scatter eight *fuzhi*[5] talismans, landing precisely around him. Chixiao's hands glowed red, weaving intricate seals in the air.
Above Qingmu Peak, Chi Yan and Chi Song hovered, their bodies radiating *Dao light*.
A slit on Chi Yan's forehead hinted at her third eye. Solemnly, she addressed Chi Song, "Junior Brother Sect Leader bids us shield the heavens' gaze. If you falter, step back. I'll open my *Imperial Eye*[37]; don't force yourself."
Knowing her prowess, Chi Song bowed. "I understand."
As Chixiao's movements below quickened, Qingmu Peak's clear skies darkened. Clouds surged from all directions, swift and visible, laced with flickering lightning, an ominous sight.
In moments, the peak plunged into darkness, an oppressive aura seeming to demand submission. Only two glowing figures remained vivid in the sky.
Oddly, no other Taoists appeared. The previous night, Chixiao had ordered all to leave, save Qingyun and the Daoist child Liuzhi.
Liuzhi cowered within an *Eight Gates Formation*[6] Chixiao had set for him, trembling. Chixiao had called this a trial and opportunity: enduring it would aid his path to the Dao. Originally intended as Chixiao's third disciple, Liuzhi's poor aptitude relegated him to a Daoist child. Had he chosen to leave, Chixiao would have sent him down the mountain to a life of wealth. Liuzhi, however, vowed to face the ordeal.
Back above, Chi Song, drenched in sweat, retreated, hovering cross-legged to recover.
Though the cloud's lightning hadn't struck, shielding the heavens' gaze exacted a toll. The oppressive celestial force pressed on them; without it, Liuzhi below would have suffered more than trembling—his heart might have shattered.
Chi Yan's forehead eye opened, transforming the clouds in her vision. Atop them stood a bare-chested *Thunder Immortal*[38], red-faced, winged, with eagle-claw feet, scanning below. It wielded twin lightning bolts, a chisel and hammer slung on its back.
As it searched, cold sweat slid down Chi Yan's face, her cheeks flushing as she grunted.
"Senior Sister, I'll aid you!" Chi Song, sensing her strain, rose.
Chi Yan, fully exerted, couldn't respond. Without waiting, Chi Song drew a long ruler from his chest.
Holding a *fuchen*[6] in one hand and the ruler in the other, both glowed red. He cast them skyward, where they spun, conjuring a phantom Eight Gates Formation over the peak.
With Chi Song's aid, Chi Yan caught her breath.
She shouted, "What secret does this boy hold? Chixiao refuses aid from other Chi or Xuan elders. Since he trusts us, I'll shield this heaven's gaze at all costs. Chi Song, fall back if you can't hold—my royal lineage carries treasures to see us through."
Chi Song, ignoring her use of Chixiao's name, shook his head silently. His ruler cracked mid-air, blood seeping from his mouth.
Panicked, Chi Yan drew a golden token, ready to cast it.
But the Thunder Immortal, finding nothing, retreated on its clouds. The storm, fierce in arrival, vanished swiftly, skies clearing in moments.
Chi Song relaxed, his ruler and fuchen falling. Chi Yan caught him, guiding his artifacts to her palm.
Feeding him a pill, she channeled *Dao light* to aid his recovery. As they turned, her eyes widened.
Unseen, the Thunder Immortal stood behind them, sneering, its chisel and hammer in hand.
"What stone blocks my sight? Just the filthy Taoists of the Five Elements Sect," it scoffed, raising its hammer.
Chi Yan paled. A Thunder Immortal, it had feigned retreat, catching her off-guard. Protecting Chi Song, she'd fallen for its ruse. Injured and close, she flung Chi Song back and thrust her palms forward.
*Clang!*
The hammer struck the chisel, lightning flashing toward Chi Yan. Her palms met it, barely activating her *Battle Body*[39], muscles bulging, form expanding.
Their forces clashed.
Unrelenting, the Immortal struck repeatedly, lightning barraging Chi Yan. She faltered, each bolt drawing blood from her lips, soon staining her mouth.
"Ho, how many more can you take?" the Immortal taunted, pausing.
It shouldn't have given her respite.
Chi Yan's swollen frame shrank instantly, reverting to her slender form, her body denser. This was the Kunwu Technique's second-stage Battle Body, hardening flesh and amplifying strength. At its peak, it could draw foes uncontrollably and slow time—a divine feat.
Though not there, Chi Yan's pull tugged the Immortal toward her.
The Immortal's arrogance—dismissing its cloud treasure, a divine gift for thunderous judgment—left it with only its forged chisel and hammer, potent but evenly matched with Chi Yan. Caught off-guard, she wouldn't have struggled so.
"Foul-faced beast, let's see how many punches you can take!" Chi Yan roared, fists swinging.
Sensing her might, the Immortal retreated, summoning its cloud treasure to stall.
Chi Yan knew the cloud's return would overwhelm her. She had to crush it now.
A punch sank into its abdomen, caving it inward. As it retched, her elbow loomed.
*Crack!* Its head snapped back, blood spraying.
Grabbing its shoulders, Chi Yan headbutted it, eliciting a scream.
Relentless, with clouds nearing, she seized its wrist, pulling it back for a knee to its chest, her full force behind it.
The Immortal spewed blood and fragments.
No pause—she yanked it back, pummeling it until it gasped for air.
But the clouds returned, shrouding Qingmu Peak.
Their weight forced Chi Yan to spit blood, her knees buckling, about to plummet.
In the clouds, lightning brewed, a massive bolt aimed at the wounded Chi Yan below.
**Footnotes**:
[2] **Dao**: Core Taoist principle, "the Way," embodying universal order and spiritual growth.
[5] **Fuzhi**: Taoist talismans channeling spiritual energy or repelling evil.
[6] **Eight Gates Formation**: Protective Taoist array based on the Eight Trigrams.
[11] **Five Elements Sect**: Taoist sect mastering the five elemental forces.
[15] **Kunwu Technique**: Cultivation method for wielding heavy weapons, enhancing physical prowess.
[19] **Yuan**: Fundamental energy units in a cultivator's body.
[20] **Enlightenment**: Taoist initiation ritual to enter the Dao, often using rare materials.
[23] **Great Evolution Void Travel Technique**: Advanced Taoist art requiring severing emotional roots.
[32] **Void Roc Wings**: Rare material from Void Roc Immortals, used in cultivation rituals.
[37] **Imperial Eye**: A mystical third eye, granting enhanced perception, tied to Chi Yan's royal lineage.
[38] **Thunder Immortal**: A powerful Immortal wielding lightning, often bearing divine artifacts.
[39] **Battle Body**: A Kunwu Technique state enhancing physical strength and resilience.
原始中文文本
翌日,在赤霄的小院裡.
一大早,赤霄便遣道童將青雲帶來.然後,便是眼前這副模樣,青雲手足無措地站在師父面前,垂首地看向師父下擺⋯⋯不,看著地面.
青雲想起昨天赤霄火冒三丈的樣子,不禁打了個冷顫,連忙移開視線.
赤霄目光幽深,沉默地看著青雲.師父不說話,青雲也不敢說話,只能繼續數地上的青磚,已經升起的朝陽照得他有些熱,腦門上都凝結出了汗珠.
這時,師父才咳了兩聲,開口說話,但嗓音依舊和藹地讓青雲有些害怕.赤霄問道:「青雲啊,你應該也明白了.修行大衍空行訣毋須斬斷『任何東西』,你師伯之前不過是隨口一提罷了.」
語氣輕描淡寫,只在「任何東西」四個字上特別加重了力道.讓青雲忍不住又是一抖,知道師父心裡非常介意.
昨日二師兄便將他拉到一旁,低聲跟他說了一些往事.
據說當年師祖有段時間視情愛為阻礙,決意首位男徒只收沒有姻緣的徒弟.因此,當年師祖收赤霄時,刻意掐指一算,挑選出命中注定沒有姻緣的那位.起初眾人只當謠傳,但當赤霄一直未結道侶時,便出現了一些傳言,雖然這對於修道者來說並不是什麼大事,畢竟許多道士也不願有道侶,然而老道士卻總是為此跳腳.
青雲心底有些納悶:師姊並不是會刻意揭瘡疤之人,想必是無心之失,不過為何師姊要勸阻自己不要學大衍空行訣?
「青雲!」青雲遲遲不回話,師父終於忍不住低喝道.
「啊,是.」青雲從思緒中驚醒,連忙應道.
赤霄搖了搖頭,沒有繼續糾結這個問題.他轉而問道:「赤煙和老道說了,她說你修行昆吾訣時曾出現意外?」
「是,不過⋯⋯」
老道士伸手制止欲言又止的青雲,繼續說道:「貧道已帶回空鵬翅.以此開光,入道不會有太大阻礙.」
青雲有些詫異,師父似乎並不意外.但他沒有多想,便在老道士的帶領,來到了外室,並坐到了中央準備好的蒲團上.
「執心靜氣,嘗試入定觀元.」赤霄吩咐道.青雲連忙照著青璇教導的步驟,注意力放在一呼一吸之間,努力將吸氣和吐氣的動作降至最慢.據道經所述,尋常道人入定觀元後,只要不出定,一呼一吸之間可以長達數月之久.
閉上眼的青雲沒有看見,赤霄隨手灑下八枚符紙,卻分毫不差地散落在徒弟端坐的八個方位.而後,其雙手發出赤光,在空中結出繁雜手印.
此時,青木峰上空.
赤煙與赤松懸浮在此,兩人身上閃耀各自道光.
眉心多了一道縫的赤煙,神色肅穆地對赤松道:「掌門師弟讓吾等為他遮掩天機,稍後若師弟承受不住,退下便可,貧道會開啟皇瞳,不必硬撐.」
赤松知曉赤煙能耐,躬身道:「赤松明白.」
隨著下方赤霄的動作加快,青木峰上本來晴空萬里的天氣,逐漸轉陰.烏雲由四面八方向此匯聚,速度之快,肉眼可見.其上更是閃過絲絲電芒,看上去頗為駭人.
傾刻間,青木峰上便一片漆黑,懾人氣息彷彿要逼迫所有生物屈服,只剩兩具閃爍道光的身影懸在空中,極為醒目.
奇怪的是,青木峰上卻無其他道士出現.原來在前一晚,赤霄便命所有道士先行離開,只留下道童柳枝和青雲.
而此刻,柳枝正躲在赤霄替他搭建的八門陣內瑟瑟發抖.赤霄告訴過他,這是機緣也是劫難,若他撐過,對入道頗有幫助.
其實柳枝為赤霄原定的三徒弟,但其資質不堪,最後只被收在身邊當道童.若柳枝此次選擇離開,赤霄打算將其送歸山下,使之富貴一生.柳枝卻一口答應,願受此次磨難.
回到青木峰上空,赤松已然渾身大汗,退到一旁,懸空盤坐調息.
雖然,烏雲中的閃電並未擊落,但遮掩天機的代價,那些懾人天勢已經向赤松與赤煙發起攻勢.否則下方的柳枝絕不只發抖如此簡單,可能已經心臟碎裂而死.
赤煙額頭豎瞳已經張開,在豎瞳裡,天上的烏雲霎時變了樣.在赤煙眼中,烏雲頂端,站著一名裸胸坦腹,背生雙翅,臉色赤紅,足似鷹爪的仙.祂正四下張望,手持兩道雷電閃爍,背後還揹著鍥與鎚.
就在此仙四下張望時,赤煙冷汗滑落精緻臉龐,面色湧上潮紅,發出一聲悶哼.
「師姊,赤松來助妳.」赤松察覺赤煙受創,連忙起身相助.
赤煙此時卻已用盡全力,無法分心.赤松也未等赤煙回話,伸手在胸間一抽,一把長尺被赤松從胸口抽出.
他一手持拂塵,一手持長尺,雙手道武皆溢出紅芒.下一刻,他將兩把道武拋出,拂塵和長尺離手後便開始旋轉,空中也隨之出現八門陣虛影,籠罩住青木峰.
此時,赤煙在赤松相助下,終於得以喘息.
她向赤松喊道:「不知這小子究竟有什麼秘密.赤霄竟然不願請其他支脈赤輩,玄輩真人相助,但師弟既然相信我等,師姊拚了命也會掩蓋住此方天機.赤松,你若支撐不住便退下.師姊出身皇家,身上有不少寶貝,用上一兩件便可安然渡過此劫.」
赤松此刻也不再計較赤煙口稱掌門名諱,只是無聲地搖頭.空中長尺驀地迸裂,赤松胸口一顫,嘴角也隨之溢出鮮血.
赤煙著急了,掏出一枚金令,就要將其拋上天.
此時,卻見雲上之仙似乎看不出所以然,乘雲退去.烏雲來時洶湧匆匆,去時同樣乾淨俐落,不過數息,天上已然恢復晴朗.
赤松立即鬆了力,本命尺與拂塵隨即從天上落下.赤煙一把攙扶住赤松,並伸手朝赤松的本命尺與拂塵一指,兩樣法寶便聽話地飛到赤煙掌中.
赤煙又餵了赤松一粒丹丸,攙扶著他的手上道光閃耀,默默運功幫其恢復傷勢.赤煙帶著赤松在空中轉身,下一瞬間,美目卻驀然地圓睜.
原來,雲上之仙,不知何時竟站在兩人身後,嘴角掛著一絲冷笑,雙手赫然已經把持著鍥與鎚.
「本仙道是哪來的大石阻礙了目光,原來是五行觀的雜毛臭道士.」雲上之仙冷笑著,就要以鎚敲擊手上的鍥.
赤煙臉色慘白.她清楚對方乃是雷仙,沒想到對方竟然使計來了個回馬槍.而擔憂赤松之下,赤煙也沒有多想,一不小心就著了道,如今兩人傷勢在身,又如此接近,她只來得及將赤松朝身後一甩,便雙掌朝前拍去.
鏘──
鎚鍥交擊瞬間,霹靂閃爍,雷光朝赤煙打去.而赤煙奮力拍出雙掌後,只來得及初步開啟戰體,只見她渾身肌肉隆起,身形暴漲一圈.
掌雷相交.
然而雷仙並不想就此放過赤煙,而是連連敲擊,電閃雷光不停噴向赤煙.赤煙霎時被逼得狼狽不堪,每接一記閃電,嘴角便溢出一絲鮮血,不過多時,赤煙唇嘴便淌滿了血.
「唷,本仙看看妳還能阻擋幾下.」雷仙手上略停,尖聲笑道.
然而,他卻不該給赤煙喘息的機會.
赤煙暴漲的身軀瞬間向內縮回,瞬息便回到窈窕身姿,肉體密度隨之大增.此乃昆吾訣中戰體第二階段,可使肉體更加堅硬,更具破壞力.據說昆吾訣修至極致,這第二階段戰體,不只可讓對手無法控制地旋轉流向修練者,更可以延緩周遭時間流速,端的神乎異常.
即便赤煙如今沒有到那種地步,但雷仙卻仍然感到一股吸力,想要將祂扯向赤煙.
這也是雷仙托大,將烏雲散去.那些烏雲乃是天賜仙寶,是更高層次存在賜予祂行雷罰之寶,而祂方才雙手所握持的閃電亦是.反到祂如今手持的鼓鍥,乃自身所煉之仙武,威力雖然也不可小視,卻堪堪只與赤煙在伯仲之間.若不是赤煙猝不及防,怎會被祂打得如此狼狽.
「呔!尖嘴猴腮之輩,貧道便看你能吃得幾拳.」赤煙暴喝一聲,雙拳掄起朝雷仙揮去.
雷仙遠遠便能感受到赤煙體魄之力,連忙用盡全力地後退,一邊在手上試圖招來烏雲仙寶,想要拖延時間.
赤煙也明白,若是雷仙招來仙寶,自己定非其對手.只能趁現在自身優勢,盡力將對方擊潰.
一拳擊打在雷仙腹部,強大力道將其腹部打得凹陷進去.雷仙張口欲嘔,一肘卻又在祂眼前快速放大.
啪.雷仙頭部被肘擊後仰,灑出一串鮮血.
雙肩又被赤煙按住,雷仙臉部還在火辣辣地生疼,又被赤煙一額頂撞,發出一聲慘叫.
然而赤煙並沒有就此放過雷仙,遠處天邊的烏雲已經出現,不過數息便會君臨上空.
赤煙連忙又伸手握住雷仙手腕,將其即將被拋飛的身軀拉回,一膝頂上,狠狠地朝其胸口而去.
這一頂,可以說是用了赤煙全力.
哇地一聲,被頂得向後仰的雷仙口中吐出伴隨著碎塊的鮮血.
來不及喘氣,又將雷仙拉回,一陣亂拳打在祂身上,霎時將祂打得背過氣去.
然而,烏雲卻已經再度籠罩在青木峰上.
巨大的壓力讓力盡的赤煙也哇地吐出一口鮮血,雙膝一屈,就要朝下方跌落.
而烏雲間,電芒密布,一道巨大閃電正在其中醞釀,目標正是下方重傷的赤煙.