Tarthocas : Chronicles of the Transmigrating Scribe

“You first,” Xia Fugui gestured, and Lei Tei accepted the invitation. Qi began to agglomerate around him, and sparks of lightning started to crackle and dance across his body.

For starters, Lei Tei only threw a punch.

WHOOSH! The air rippled as his fist, charged with immense speed and energy, hurtled towards Xia Fugui, who remained standing calmly in his position.

BOOM!

The sound of the impact echoed across the large room. Xia Fugui stood firm, his expression unchanging. “Is that all you’ve got?” he asked, his voice filled with calm authority. He held Lei Tei’s fist in his hand, having caught it with effortless ease.

“My turn.” With that, Xia Fugui threw a swift punch at Lei Tei’s stomach.

BANG!

Lei Tei flew across the room, crashing into the marble dragon statue at the end. The impact left him winded, and he groaned in pain, struggling to catch his breath.

“Is this the power you will use when you fight against those who destroyed your Sect and killed your brother?” Xia Fugui questioned as he walked towards Lei Tei, his steps echoing in the vast chamber.

As he heard these words, Lei Tei felt a surge of rage bubbling inside him. Memories of his brother’s face before his death flashed before his eyes, fueling his anger.

“No! I will tear apart Shen Mingyue and feed his corpse to the Qilin! I will hunt down all Supreme Yin disciples and burn them to the ground!” Lei Tei roared, his eyes reddened with fury.

“Humph. If you can’t even land a hit on me, how dare you say you can accomplish your task?” Xia Fugui snorted, his tone dismissive.

Lei Tei didn’t respond with words. Instead, he focused his anger and determination into his next move. He summoned more Qi, allowing it to flood through his body, enhancing his strength and speed. His muscles tensed, and his eyes locked onto Xia Fugui with renewed resolve.

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning crashed down upon Xia Fugui, momentarily engulfing him in a blinding flash of light and a cacophony of thunder. Lei Tei seized the opportunity.

“Now is my chance!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards Xia Fugui, determination burning in his eyes.

Thunder Sect Martial Technique - Limitless Lightning!

Lei Tei’s body surged with raw power as he unleashed the Thunder Sect’s most prized fist technique. Lightning crackled and danced around him, each spark a testament to the immense energy he was channelling. He launched a flurry of punches, each strike imbued with the ferocity of a Great Qilin !

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

The air rippled and crackled with each punch. Lei Tei’s fists moved with blinding speed, creating afterimages as they hurtled towards Xia Fugui.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Each hit the mark as intended, and slowly but surely, Xia Fugui was being pushed back!

Yet that was not the only surprising part.

HAAAAAAAARRRRRRRMMMMMMMM!

The shriek of the Qilin echoed through the chamber as it slowly manifested itself into a more corporeal form, its majestic and fearsome presence adding to the intensity of the battle. Lei Tei, feeling the surge of power from the Qilin, knew it was time to unleash his ultimate technique.

Thunder Law Martial Technique - Fist of The Thunder God Leigong!

The very air itself folded around his fist as it hurtled towards Xia Fugui with unrelenting force. The room seemed to hold its breath, the tension palpable as Lei Tei's attack made contact.

Yet no sound was produced.

And then it happened.

BOOM!

A shockwave exploded outward, shaking the very foundations of the room. The marble dragon statue trembled, and the air was filled with the aftermath of the powerful strike. The punch had been so fast that it had essentially broken the world’s sound barrier!

WHOOSH

The punch sent Xia Fugui back five steps, a testament to the power behind Lei Tei’s attack.

“Very good,” Xia Fugui muttered, a glint of approval in his eyes. These were the last words Lei Tei heard before he felt a swift, powerful kick to his gut. The world around him blurred, and darkness swiftly enveloped his consciousness as he blacked out.

—---------------------------------------------------

“Aghhh.” As Lei Tei opened his eyes, he was greeted by Xia Fugui’s smiling face.

“So, you’ve woken up, eh?” Xia Fugui exclaimed with a hint of amusement, his voice echoing slightly in the grand hall. Lei Tei blinked, taking in his surroundings. He realized he was lying beneath the imposing Marble Dragon Sculpture, its eyes seemingly watching over him.

“Come on, get up.” Xia Fugui extended his hand, and Lei Tei gratefully accepted, feeling the firm grip that effortlessly pulled him to his feet.

“Thank you, senior,” Lei Tei said, bowing respectfully, a gesture that conveyed both gratitude and deference.

“Nothing to worry about,” Xia Fugui replied, waving off the thanks. “You were quite strong for an Inferior Grandmaster, being able to push me five steps back.” His eyes gleamed with a mix of respect and curiosity.

Hearing this, Lei Tei felt a pang of disappointment. He, who had once been the revered Thunder Law Sect Grandmaster and possessed the formidable power of the Thunder Qilin, had only managed to make Xia Fugui take five steps back. The realization weighed heavily on him.

Seeing the shift in Lei Tei’s expression, Xia Fugui’s smile softened. “Now, I have an offer for you. Do you want to grow even stronger?” His voice was calm, yet there was an underlying intensity to his words.

“Huh?” Lei Tei’s mind raced, trying to comprehend the sudden proposition. His confusion was evident in his wide-eyed stare.

“I said, do you want to become far stronger than your current self and become the strongest Thunder Sect Sect Master ever?” Xia Fugui repeated, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

“How?” Lei Tei asked, the single word carrying a mix of hope and scepticism.

“Easy,” Xia Fugui replied, his eyes locking onto Lei Tei’s. “Just become one of my Dragon Generals. Do you agree?”

The question hung in the air, charged with the weight of its implications.

“Yes!” Lei Tei instantly agreed, the allure of power and the chance to reclaim his former glory too enticing to resist.

Hearing this, Xia Fugui nodded approvingly. “Alright, now before you become a Dragon General, I’ve got to inform you about a few things.” As he spoke, he reached behind him and produced a piece of paper, its edges slightly frayed, suggesting it had been handled often.

“So here are the terms and conditions. Read them carefully.” Xia Fugui handed the paper over to Lei Tei, who took it with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. As he began to read, he couldn't help but curl his lips in surprise.

The terms of service included some alarming clauses. The signer of the contract would be considered dead to the outside world from that moment on. They would sever all ties with their previous life, friends, and family. Additionally, they would be confined to Dragon Heart, the stronghold of the Dragon Sect, and could only leave if granted explicit permission by the King. The commitment was absolute and irrevocable.

Despite the gravity of these conditions, Lei Tei, known for his impatience, merely skimmed through the text. His eyes flicked over the intricate characters and formal language, but he paid little attention to the finer details. He quickly reached the end of the document and handed it back to Xia Fugui.

“I agree,” Lei Tei declared, his voice resolute.

Xia Fugui raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Lei Tei’s haste, but he said nothing. “Very well,” he replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Now, to complete the process and be considered a Dragon General, you have to drink my blood.”

“Okay—wait, what?” Lei Tei’s eyes widened in shock. The casual mention of such a macabre ritual caught him off guard.