Chapter 47 | The Divine Ability Practitioner

Lu Ming took the purple jade slip and looked at it, unable to help but feel a bit surprised. “Is this... a Divine Ability Jade?”

The so-called Divine Ability Jade was specifically used to record divine ability techniques. However, ordinary Lower Divine Abilities and Mid Divine Abilities did not receive such treatment. At the very least, it had to be an Upper Divine Ability to be recorded in this manner.

Lu Ming sensed it briefly. He could not pry any deeper and could only sense the name and some basic information of the divine ability technique recorded inside the Divine Ability Jade.

“Golden Sun Flame Banner? It seems to be an Upper Divine Ability. Gathering the solar fire energy and refining it into a banner? It's almost like refining a divine ability weapon.” Lu Ming was somewhat surprised. This kind of divine ability technique was quite rare, but it seemed to only have the refinement method and no method of execution.

“My request is for you to cultivate this Upper Divine Ability, the Golden Sun Flame Banner,” Zhou Xuan said.

Lu Ming dithered for a moment. Was there really such a good thing in the world? The requirement for teaching him the Dao of Alchemy was to give him an Upper Divine Ability? Did that even sound logical?

“I think it's better if you explain it more clearly, Ward Master. What exactly do I need to pay in exchange for receiving so many benefits?” Lu Ming asked with a bitter smile.

Hearing this, Zhou Xuan cast an appreciative look at him. To be able to remain clear-headed in the face of such temptation was already much better than many other young people.

“My requirement is that before the Black Rain Season arrives, you must cultivate this Upper Divine Ability to the Great Success stage.”

“Before the Black Rain Season arrives?”

Lu Ming did the math. There was less than half a year left before the eruption of the Black Rain Season. To cultivate an Upper Divine Ability to the Great Success stage in such a short amount of time? The difficulty of this was exceptionally high.

After all, an Upper Divine Ability was not comparable to a Mid Divine Ability. Just the qualification to cultivate it required first condensing a Divine Ability Dharma Inscription and becoming a Grand Divine Ability Practitioner. Because an Upper Divine Ability consumed a massive amount of primordial energy, those in the Bone Refining Realm simply could not support it.

Take his father, Lu Qingyan, as an example. He had cultivated the Thunderfire Whip for so many years and had only barely reached the Great Success stage. It was entirely ground out through sheer time.

If he wanted to cultivate this Golden Sun Flame Banner to the Great Success stage within half a year, even with Lu Ming's talent, he would probably have to invest an immense amount of time and energy.

“It's not as if you are paying absolutely nothing. I believe you have also seen that this Upper Divine Ability only has a refinement method but no method to execute or activate it. In other words, you need to spend half a year bitterly cultivating this divine ability, yet you must also tolerate the fact that it won't bring you any benefits or improvement during this time,” Zhou Xuan said.

Lu Ming frowned slightly. Cultivating other divine abilities could at least boost his combat power, but cultivating this Golden Sun Flame Banner was pure unpaid labor. This indeed made it hard to muster any motivation.

Simply put, Zhou Xuan was using the benefit of teaching him the Dao of Alchemy in exchange for half a year of his bitter cultivation of the Golden Sun Flame Banner.

This made Lu Ming hesitate. His time was also very precious.

“Can't you also give me the method to execute this Upper Divine Ability as well?” Lu Ming asked.

“That, I cannot. It's not that I'm unwilling to give it to you, but rather, I do not have it either,” Zhou Xuan said frankly.

“Then, by having me cultivate this Golden Sun Flame Banner, what exactly do you need me to do in the end? And why is the deadline the eruption of the Black Rain Season?” Lu Ming pressed further. Since the other party was acting so mysteriously, they must have a massive plot in mind.

“This is a necessary link in a plan laid out by an esteemed noble. To be precise, this Golden Sun Flame Banner is one part of an extremely high-grade Grand Divine Ability Restriction. As for the specific purpose, I cannot tell you for the time being,” Zhou Xuan remained frank.

“An esteemed noble? A plan?” Hearing such words, Lu Ming felt an inexplicable sense of dread. He always felt like he would get dragged into some highly troublesome matter, so he immediately had the intention to refuse.

“I know your concerns, but while I believe one shouldn't underestimate themselves, they also shouldn't think too highly of themselves. There are some things that you aren't even qualified to be involved in even if you wanted to,” Zhou Xuan smiled faintly.

“Furthermore, you don't have to rush to refuse. This is a stroke of fate and a path to ascend to the heavens. I believe you should be in need of it.”

“A path to ascend to the heavens? Why would I need that?” Lu Ming cast a puzzled look.

“Because Thunderfire Hall has a hidden threat that makes it difficult for you all to sleep or eat in peace.”

Lu Ming frowned slightly. “The threat that makes our Thunderfire Hall most anxious? What is it?”

Zhou Xuan said calmly, “Naturally, it is that Grade 5 Divine Ability Hall, the Great Golden Crow Hall. You have bad blood with them, and then there's the grudge involving Zhang Yue. Aren't you worried that as Thunderfire Hall continues to rise, it will draw the actual attention of the Great Golden Crow Hall? What if one day, a Divine Ability Grandmaster of the Great Golden Crow Hall feels that you pose even a slight threat and makes a casual move? This rising momentum of Thunderfire Hall would instantly vanish into thin air.”

“Qingyuan Ward has rules, but those rules are limited, and they have absolutely no binding power over a Divine Ability Grandmaster. You probably don't understand yet what a Divine Ability Grandmaster represents in the Great Luo Territory.”

Lu Ming fell silent, his eyes turning somewhat gloomy. Standing to the side, Zhou Fuling stole a glance and could see a fierce light beginning to flicker in the depths of the youth's eyes once more. This fierce light was not directed at them, but rather at the Great Golden Crow Hall. She did not doubt for a second that if this kid had the strength to contend with the Great Golden Crow Hall, he would truly march up to their doorstep and slaughter them until rivers of blood flowed, completely eliminating any future troubles.

Clearly, Zhou Xuan's words had hit the nail on the head regarding the worry buried deep within Lu Ming's heart. Perhaps it wasn't just him; even Lu Jin and the others were aware of this hidden danger.

Although the Great Golden Crow Hall was far from Qingyuan Ward and the news here would be difficult to reach them, what if?

The current Thunderfire Hall was not worth their concern, but what about in the future, as Lu Ming gradually revealed his talent and became increasingly outstanding? At that time, what would the Divine Ability Grandmaster of the Great Golden Crow Hall think?

Perhaps they would have benevolent thoughts, but what if they were malevolent?

Could Thunderfire Hall withstand even a single shred of a Grandmaster's ill intent?

Lu Ming actually did not dare to gamble on that.

Therefore, if he could obtain a layer of insurance for Thunderfire Hall, that would be the best.

The reason Lu Ming had revealed his talent during the Hall Meet was, in fact, also to attract some well-intentioned attention, and use that to leverage more power to add a bit of security for his family, wasn't it?

And this objective, as of now, was actually very successful.

Because this had indeed drawn the attention of Zhou Xuan, a powerful figure with a formidable background.

Lu Ming took a deep breath and asked, “Ward Master, can that esteemed noble ensure the peaceful rise of my Thunderfire Hall?”

“At the very least, if she speaks, no Divine Ability Grandmaster will be able to directly make a move against Thunderfire Hall. You will have more time to grow,” Zhou Xuan said.

“Why choose me?”

“Because the person cultivating this Upper Divine Ability must have talent, and there are also requirements regarding age and gender. Additionally, the innate yang energy within their body must not have been doused by yin energy yet. You understand, right?” Speaking up to this point, Zhou Xuan gave Lu Ming a knowing, half-smiling look.

Beside them, Zhou Fuling's face turned slightly red as she spat in annoyance.

Lu Ming was somewhat embarrassed. It was phrased nicely, but it actually meant being a virgin. Good grief, the pure yang energy he had preserved for over a decade had actually been spotted.

“I understand. May I go back and discuss this matter with my family elders first before giving you an answer, Ward Master?”

He was not actually very tempted by the instruction in the Dao of Alchemy, but the protection for Thunderfire Hall that Zhou Xuan spoke of had touched a chord.

Ever since the incident with Zhang Yue, Lu Ming had often seen Lu Jin sitting on the roof of the ancestral hall late at night, lighting his pipe and taking puff after puff, only returning to his room after everyone in the house had fallen fast asleep.

Lu Ming knew that this was a tightly wound string in the heart of the always-cautious old man.

“Of course you may. After all, your cultivation of this Golden Sun Flame Banner will also have to wait until after you become a Grand Divine Ability Practitioner. However, I must also remind you that the candidates chosen by that great figure are not limited to you alone. If you ultimately fail to satisfy her, the protection you desire might not be realized either,” Zhou Xuan nodded and said.

Lu Ming respectfully handed the purple jade back and took his leave.

Zhou Fuling watched his departing figure and asked curiously, “Will he agree?”

“It doesn't matter. He is not the only candidate. Her Highness wouldn't truly place all her hopes on us. She should have other preparations. We are merely a contingency plan to fill in the gaps,” Zhou Xuan said nonchalantly.