Chapter 71: Hall of might

Li Meng was currently sitting within his pavilion practicing the 9-thunder body art. Bu Puti had asked him to practice it the most, and his bet lied in this art. The art was one of the core practiced mantras in the force which the thunder god hall belonged to. According to Bu Puti, the competition for the entrance into the core force would happen after a year, and Li Meng was to prepare for it. He wanted Long Tao to become a seeded participant. To at least rank in the top 100. Li Meng laughed within himself after listening to his master's expectation. He knew that his master didn't know about his true prowess. Also, he was going to rank on the top if he was to participate in the test.

The current objective of Long Tao was to improve his strength as fast as he can. The encounter with the Blood general reminded him of his powerlessness. He needed to enhance every bit of his strength to the best of his capability. The resources for Qi cultivation and Blood tempering art were already enough as of now. The rest requirement would be fulfilled by the army and the sect. Now the only thing remaining was to devote time to cultivation and learn more attack style. The other thing that he needed to concentrate on was on the intents. His intent was already on the advanced level of the 1st stage. To move to the second stage required more in-depth realization of the weapon. He needs to practice the arts that he had acquired in the royal library, the sect library, and the crimson lord world. Also, there were some attack arts from three manuals.

The concern now was how to get enough thunder power to cultivate it at its maximum speed. The 9-thunder body art was a little bit similar to the 12 forges. While it didn't re-forge the organ after nearly destroying them, the art reinforces the organs and changes the body's compatibility with the thunder element. The process was every bit as painful as the 12 forges. Long Tao 's body was becoming more and more strong with every additional art he was practicing. Currently, he had the overlap of three arts namely 12 forges, weapon's tempering art, and 9-thunder body art. That along with the body cultivation realm he had reached made a deadly combination, which made him very scary. If the same trend continued, Long Tao had some assurance of facing the blood general after he reaches the Qi master's 9th layer.

The problem Long Tao was currently facing was the proper offensive elemental training that he needed. Most of his fights until now were a combination of all his powers and hence single attributes were not developing at the proper speed. This was also the reason that his speed in cultivating the 9-thunder body art was so slow. He consulted Bu Puti about it.

So, you want a location where you can practice your offensive elemental arts. Bu Puti asked Long Tao." I do have a location in mind. Go to the Hall of Might within the academy. You can consult the keeper about the problem. The Hall of Might is the practice ground for Thunder arts in this academy. You will challenge the disciples of the academy from now on, and you are only allowed to use your thunder rats or your body strength. Also, choose some suitable thunder arts from the library for yourself.". Long Tao bowed and left Bu Puti's pavilion. The Hall of Might was his first to visit list and after that, he would visit the art library.

Tamar-

The public hearing as underway now. The judging panel was sitting around the pavilion, Lin Bao was one of them and so was the person who had invited Long Tao to the north-eastern military regions. The hearing was about to commence within an hour. The appeal was made by the Black-buck squad to discuss an urgent matter with the whole camp of Tamar. The appeal was accepted because of a special reason. It was because of the fest that the Black-bucks have just achieved. They managed to climb to number 1 from the last position within the squads within just two months of training and completing missions out of the camp. They managed to achieve the unachievable. The credit of course went to the vice-leader of the Black-bucks who was quite famous in the north-eastern regions.

After the tribunal and all the soldiers sat, the black-buck squad presented themselves one after the other. Long Tao came up too, but much to the audience's surprise, he sat down. The one coming forward was the squad captain, Su Menqi. "She bowed to the tribunal and all the soldiers presented and then started" This hearing was invoked by the black-buck squad for multiple reasons. The first one of them is to showcase the result of the two-month-long venture that the squad took". She then forwarded all the documents and ring of holdings to the panel, who sent it to be verified. Soon enough the keeper of the mission hall came and reported that all the items were in excess and all the missions were completed as per the schedule. "Now along with the achievements we gathered, we are also here to report some news about our enemies. The Chu country is probably planning something, most probable cause being, to have a partnership with our other neighbor, which would soon lead to war if made into existence."

One of the panel members objected" How are you so sure about that?". Su Menqi forwarded another set of documents, among which was an imperial edict stating the intention of the Chu emperor, who forwarded a hand of friendship to the Mo emperor. This was a serious matter of allegation, as well as a threat to the Jiao country. "Any other pieces of evidence that you would like to prove." Long Tao stepped forward at this time and said" I have something to report your honor."

Thunder god hall-

Li Meng was instructed and directed towards the Hall of Might. It was a grand hall, which was divided into two areas, one was the practice area, and the other was the arena. The practice area, constituted the practitioner to use the arts against a generated shadow who could use the art they have chosen to practice. The arena was to fight against other practitioners in terms of strength. Long Tao did choose art from the library when he first entered into the tutelage at the thunder god hall. It was called "Lightning claw". He wanted to practice it in the Hall of Might, and once learned perfectly, he would use it to fight against opponents in the arena.

As Li Meng approached the counter, he was met with the receptionist who asked for his purpose of visit. Long Tao forwarded his identification slab, along with the plate belonging to Bu Puti and informed about the purpose here. The receptionist was shocked to learn that the grand elder's personal disciple had come here to train. She asked Long Tao abut the room he wants to book. Long Tao told her his preference and that he wanted one that represented the claw arts section. Long Tao took the room key he was allocated and went in search of the room. Soon enough he was in front of the door and just as he was about to enter, he was abstained by a certain voice.

"If you don't mind, can you hand the key to me brother.", A man in a regal outfit came forward, leading a group of people, towards Long Tao. "I am sorry brother, but it is necessary that I train for the moment, otherwise my master is going to spank me to death." Long Tao gave a polite reply in return. The expression of the guy changed." Are you sure about your decision brother."? Long Tao knew that the current approach was not friendly. This guy was trouble. But since when did he start to fear of having trouble. "Fuck off", Long Tao said in a plain tone, which was extremely cold, unlike his previous polite attitude. The man and his group were surprised to see the change of personality. He had never been insulted like this by a student of the academy. One of the members of the group came forward.

"How dare you speak to young master like that. Do you know who he is.", then the guy turned to the person who spoke and said," Should I break his legs or cut his arms.". The man was about to speak when there was a sudden flash, and there was blood everywhere. A loud shout of extreme agony could be heard from the guy who just came forward. The guy was lying on the ground. Rather, just his main body was on the ground. The legs and arms were now severed and thrown elsewhere. The group could see Li Meng carrying a bloody sword in his hand, a bloodlust spread throughout the area. Li Meng turned to the group and said" Who was the one who was going to confirm his action. Please step forward."

The man who previously spoke was extremely nervous now. Not only the person in front of him was not weak, he was extremely ruthless. Just a single sentence led him to decapacitate the man. Who is this guy? How dare he show such disrespect to him? He was the brother of the sole disciple of the Sect Master, how could a disciple be so merciless when dealing with him, even if they are stronger." You just wait. My Sister will come forward to avenge my man. You bastard, don't you know who I am". The man was rushing off when Long Tao spoke" Tell your sister, if I see her showing support for you in front of me, I will send her your decapacitated head.".

Li Meng entered the room and saw that the peripherals were quite good. He decided to get some more skills and train for a month in here. Long Tao asked his master to suggest some more offensive skills for him, and Bu Puti told his servant to get him three more sets of skills. They were Lightning trail, Lightning pal, and lightning burst. One was a movement skill and the other was two beginners' offensive arts, that Bu Puti wanted him to practice. Although Long Tao didn't understand the reason, his master thought the best for him. So he followed the path shown.