"Boom——!!"
"Boom——!!"
"..."
This scene was like war drums sounding from the horizon, followed by a series of muffled thunder!
In an instant, many police officers were somewhat stunned, shaken by the mighty momentum, feeling like their hearts were rumbling, a ringing in their ears, and an inexplicable sense of awe towards nature rising in their hearts.
A moment later, one police officer was the first to come back to his senses, still with a shocked expression on his face.
"Such a spectacular thunderstorm is really rare, almost forming a continuous sheet. Aren’t there people crossing the Thunder Tribulation on Wuling Mountain?"
"Alright, stop joking around, be serious."
Another police officer shook his head speechlessly, naturally knowing his colleague was making a jest.
But looking around at the curtain-like rain and the shining thunder above, he wanted to marvel at the power of nature but, remembering their mission, urged, "Quickly, we must find Lin Beichen soon."
"Hey?"
At this moment, another police officer thought of something and said, "The continuous lightning just now all struck right above us. Do you think it could be related to Lin Beichen? Isn’t he here to research lightning?"
Everyone: ...
"Aren’t you overthinking this?"
"Lin Beichen is just a student. Even if he’s here to study lightning, doing scientific research, it’s just research, right? Can he attract the lightning? That would need a major research project and equipment, right? What a joke!"
"..."
However, despite their claims that it was impossible,
they ultimately decided, under the persistence of that police officer, to have him lead a few brothers to the direction where the lightning struck to investigate.
Searching the mountain from any direction is still searching, having a direction is good too.
...
In the sky, the thick, dark clouds were not showing any signs of dispersing after the series of lightning strikes but instead seemed like a prelude.
"Boom——!"
"Boom——!"
"..."
Thunder rolled.
Lightning seemed to be released without restraint, striking the clouds as if a thunder prison, imprisoning the entire Wuling Mountain.
Outside the forest, within the scenic area.
Scenic spot: Ascension Platform.
Tourists held umbrellas, standing on the Observation Platform that jutted out from the mountain, raising their heads to watch the awe-inspiring scene in the sky, deeply shaken!
"Wow, the lightning strikes, I’ve never seen such a spectacle in my life!"
"Neither have I. By the way, didn’t Wuling Mountain offend the gods? This looks increasingly like divine punishment."
"Divine punishment? Looks more like a Thunder Tribulation to me."
"..."
Talking about Thunder Tribulation, they couldn’t help but think of the scenic spot they were at.
Ascension Platform!
According to legend, Wuling Mountain, designated as a forbidden land of Feng Shui by the Qing Dynasty and sealed for over 200 years, wasn’t only because it was an imperial Feng Shui treasure but also because of a story related to this platform.
The stele beside the Observation Platform has a record, using semi-classical words to tell a small story.
Generally speaking, it’s about: Once an esteemed hermit crossed the Thunder Tribulation and ascended here, hence the platform’s name Ascension Platform.
The protagonist of this story is actually the famous Qing Dynasty Daoist, Liu Yiming.
Naming himself Wuyuanzi, alias Simple Wanderer.
He was notable in Daoism history, and the most renowned Daoist master of Qing Dynasty for over 200 years, giving this place its name.
Of course, the tale of proving Dao and ascending is only a rumor, possibly fabricated to promote Wuling Mountain’s reputation as a ’Qing Dynasty forbidden land’ and ’Qing Dynasty first Daoist’ to attract more tourists.
Nonetheless, the current nine-day thunderstorm and the Ascension Platform on the ground complement each other well, inevitably leading to mythic imaginations based on the site’s history.
Tourists glanced around, surrounded by towering green mountains, torrential rain like waterfalls, mist hovering, nine-day thunderstorm descending, as if someone far away was about to ascend.
At that moment.
A thick lightning bolt exploded with bright radiance.
For a moment, they felt themselves like that immortal proving the Dao, standing in clouds, surrounded by Immortal Qi.
High-spirited and carefree!
"Crack——!!"
The sound of fabric tearing echoed through the sky.
Tourists were startled and snapped out of their trance, their expressions shocked and excited.
"Did someone really cross the Thunder Tribulation in history?"
"Myths really spark imagination."
"In the deep mountains afar, could there truly be a master?"
"..."
Among them,
was a man, in his twenties, whose behavior gave an impression of sneakiness.
Without an umbrella, not very tall, about one meter sixty, dressed in a long black raincoat, covering everything except his face.
Just moments ago.
He seemed more frightened than others, his whole body shivering.
At this moment, the man mumbled, "Thunder Tribulation, divine punishment, nonsense, damn weather, should have come back a couple days later."
After speaking, he nervously glanced at the sky, as if afraid a lightning bolt might strike him.
Then, he craftily observed the surrounding tourists, seeing no one noticed him, quickly slipping away silently into the crowd.
...
Many outside were gazing deeply into the Wuling Mountain.
The weather grew nastier.
Torrential rain, electric flashes, thunder roars.
Momentary flashes of light occasionally illuminated the sky, also lighting up the rain-drenched forest.
"Crack——"
"Crack——"
"..."
Lin Beichen, soaked all over, didn’t mind, continuing to walk in the forest following the direction where Electric Element flowed, footsteps crunching like breaking twigs.
At this time, around him.
The silence was eerie, only the sound of rain pitter-pattering.
No squirrels jumping, rabbits scurrying, it felt like there were no living creatures around.
Ancient trees stood tall but emaciated, their bark dull gray, appearing like they could wither at any moment.
The weeds underfoot were equally stunted, dry, brittle, darker than the ancient trees, even slightly blackened.
"Why is it like this?"
Lin Beichen was confused not by his surroundings; walking along, he noticed the worsening conditions.
He guessed the reason for this...
was closely related to what puzzled him now—the Electric Element in nature!
He discovered...
as he continued walking towards where the Electric Element gathered, the Electric Element in nature grew increasingly concentrated.
It seemed that all the Electric Element nearby was being drawn to some region ahead!