Chapter 42: Thunder by the Lake

Upon hearing Lin Xiu's words, Xiao Long was certain that he was bluffing.

"Stop him, don't let him escape," Xiao Long commanded another person.

As the other person blocked Lin Xiu's retreat, Xiao Long approached with a cold smile. Seeing the attitude from the new student was actually quite interesting, but even more interesting was teaching these stubborn newbies a lesson.

Looking at Lin Xiu, Xiao Long seemed to see himself from the past.

Back then, he was also very proud, facing older students with disdain. What if they had practiced for one more year? What was there to be arrogant about?

Then Xiao Long spent half a month lying in bed without getting up, after which he joined the gang.

A year passed, and he became stronger. New students also arrived.

"First, let him taste a bit of bitterness. Once we've hooked the White Carp, then break his hands to let him understand the consequences of disrespecting seniors," Xiao Long's eyes flashed with coldness.

Lin Xiu watched Xiao Long approaching and noticed that he didn't entirely conceal his cold intentions. Taking a deep breath, Lin Xiu flipped his right palm downward and struck out toward Xiao Long.

Thundering Palm!

Boom!

Like thunder on a calm ground, suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted by the quiet lakeside.

As if thunder echoing in his ears, Xiao Long looked at the hand pressed against his chest, electric light filling his vision.

"You..." Xiao Long's face was full of horror as he looked at Lin Xiu. Before he could finish his sentence, he was pushed back by a terrifying force.

He flew backward six or seven meters before crashing to the ground. His body trembled, and a mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth.

'One down, one more trash to go'

Muttering in his heart, Lin Xiu turned around and looked at the youth behind him, who still had a shocked expression and hadn't yet recovered, and pushed out his palm

By the lake, thunder resounded once more.

After sending his opponent flying, Lin Xiu bent slightly, hands on his knees, breathing heavily.

His Dou Qi was depleted, feeling extremely exhausted.

"This is only at the Academy. If it were in the wilderness and I encountered them, I'd start with Thundering Palm," Lin Xiu said.

Lin Xiu usually didn't let himself enter a weakened state, instead keeping some Qi reserved to deal with unexpected situations.

Hu Zi, stunned, noticed Lin Xiu's gaze on him and scrambled away from the woods.

'So terrifying, are all the new students like this now?'

"Come back!" Hearing Lin Xiu's voice behind him, Hu Zi maintained his forward posture, not daring to move recklessly. Slowly turning his head, his face was full of panic.

"Take them away." Lin Xiu pointed to the two he had knocked down.

Hu Zi nodded repeatedly, approaching to check on Xiao Long's condition, feeling lucky inside.

Comparatively, it seemed like he wasn't in such a bad situation himself.

On the other side,

Hu Gan and Old Huo stood dumbfounded, their expressions somewhat blank.

After a while, Hu Gan stiffly turned his head, "Huo Qi, did you hear that sound just now?"

"Yeah..." Old Huo nodded woodenly, his face suddenly changing color.

He grabbed Hu Gan's collar, pressing him against a tree, his expression full of resentment, "You're really despicable! You still deny colluding against me! Let me tell you, our decades-long friendship ends here!"

"Wait, just let me explain." Hu Gan waved his hand, gesturing for Old Huo to calm down, "I did teach him Thundering Palm, but I swear I didn't privately instruct him."

"You're telling me you didn't instruct him and yet he can conjure ligthning with his palm? Do you take me for a three-year-old?" Old Huo didn't believe him one bit.

Thundering Palm cultivation is divided into three stages. In the initial stage, the palm carries electricity, causing a paralyzing effect on the opponent. In the middle stage, the palm is covered in lightning, capable of inflicting significant damage. In the advanced stage, the palm strikes like thunderbolts, accompanied by roaring thunder, akin to a thunderbolt descending.

Typically, practicing Thundering Palm to the initial stage requires at least half a month, while reaching the middle stage can take as quickly as a month or as long as half a year. For the advanced stage, it generally requires guidance from someone else; otherwise, it might take even a year to comprehend its essence through self-exploration.

Old Huo understands very well that generally, one must reach the level of a Dou Master, capable of preliminary Dou Qi externalization, to comprehend this point during self-practice.

"Let's go, ask this kid how he trained. I was planning to give him some pointers today, but it seems unnecessary now," Hu Gan said, full of questions.

Considering the time since he taught him Thundering Palm, Lin Xiu has surprisingly mastered it to perfection.

This is beyond belief.

Mainly, they hadn't seen Lin Xiu's training routine.

Pushing aside Old Huo, Hu Gan walked straight towards Lin Xiu.

Seeing this reaction, Old Huo was stunned, feeling that Hu Gan didn't seem to be pretending.

'Could it be that Lin Xiu truly cultivated it himself? If so, this kid's talent in Dou Technique comprehension is too high.'

With fast Dou Qi cultivation and quick mastery of Dou Technique, his future growth in combat prowess would be formidable.

"Headmaster, Elder, when did you arrive?" Lin Xiu looked up and saw the two approaching.

"Quick, according to your previous method, strike me with Thundering Palm," Hu Gan decided to personally experience Lin Xiu's Thundering Palm.

'Huh? Did Hu Gan witness my battle just now?'

Upon hearing his words, Lin Xiu felt somewhat distressed. Now that his true capabilities had been exposed, there was no chance for tricking him anymore.

"Headmaster, I don't have any Dou Qi left at the moment. Please let me recover first," Lin Xiu chuckled wryly, speaking the truth.

Hu Gan turned to look at Old Huo.

'What are you looking at me for?' Old Huo was first puzzled, then he realized that Hu Gan wanted him to fetch a pill.

'This guy, if you want to know yourself, why ask me to fetch a pill?'

Muttering inwardly, Old Huo's hands didn't stop moving as he took out a pill and tossed it to Lin Xiu. He was also curious about how far Lin Xiu had cultivated Thundering Palm.

"Qi Replenishing Pill, catch it," Old Huo felt a bit distressed. He was in a hurry to go out, and the lowest-grade pill he had on him was of second-grade quality.

"Thank you, Elder," Lin Xiu tucked the pill into his ring with a move that left Old Huo stunned.

He shyly smiled, "I found out that with a bit of effort, I can still summon Thundering Palm by squeezing Dou Qi, so I won't waste the pill."

Old Huo's fist inside his sleeve tightened instantly. 'You should have said you didn't need the pill!'

"Lin Xiu, I want to see the effect you demonstrated just now," Hu Gan reminded, not expecting this kid to be so cunning as to keep the pill he was given.

Judging by Lin Xiu's previous display, without sufficient Dou Qi, unless his control over Thundering Palm reached its peak, able to manage Dou Qi without wasting a bit, otherwise, the effect would be greatly diminished due to insufficient Dou Qi.

"Headmaster, I know what I'm doing," Lin Xiu said confidently, mobilizing the Dou Qi within him, striking towards Hu Gan with his palm.

Subtle flashes of lightning surged under Lin Xiu's skin, gathering in the palm, condensing into shimmering electric light, accompanied by thunder echoing from within.

Before his palm could make contact with Hu Gan's body, it was blocked by an invisible barrier. The electric light dispersed from his palm, disappearing into the air.

"So this is what a Dou Emperor-level expert is like?" Lin Xiu retracted his palm, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

His strength is too low, he doesn't even qualify to touch the hem of others' clothes.

No wonder those Dou Venerates, Dou Saints, when they fight, even a slight residual wave is enough to extinguish a large number of lives.

The gap between them is too vast.

At the same time,

Hu Gan and Old Huo's hearts surged with shock, their eyes fixed on Lin Xiu as if he were some kind of monster.

The proficiency this kid displays in Thundering Palm seems to have surpassed mastery, reaching a level of meticulousness and comprehensive understanding.

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