"Thunder-Realm?" John asked for clarification, although the name itself gave a hint as to what it was. "Is it a separate spatial realm?"
"That it is. In fact, it's the reason our Heavenly Lightning Sect was founded in this location in the first place," Thunderzen replied.
John raised an eyebrow at this comment, although it had answered a question he had since arriving here. The Heavenly Lightning Sect's location seemed a bit odd, as he had detected absolutely no lightning sources anywhere nearby the sect when they had arrived.
Normally sects of certain elemental affinities would establish themselves in areas rich in those attributes. For example, an ice based sect would establish themselves in a tundra, while a fire based sect would be next to a volcano.
The natural Qi of these elements would be thicker in such places, which would allow their disciples to thrive. However, he had detected no denser concentration of Lightning Qi upon arriving here, slightly surprising him.
As the Divine Martial Continent was an incredibly massive place, certainly there were locations rich with lightning Qi. Establishing a lightning sect there would make more sense, but it seemed as though the Heavenly Lightning Sect had a reason for its establishment in this location.
"My brother and I discovered this realm tens of thousands of years ago, and as we were already lightning based cultivators at that time, we decided to create a sect on these grounds," Thunderzen continued.
"So what exactly is in this Thunder-Realm," John asked.
"Opportunities," Thunderzen replied with a slight smile on his face. "Such as the one you are seeking for to raise the quality of your lightning attribute body."
John's gaze heated up upon hearing this, as it was exactly what he needed to hear at this moment. Without upgrading his lightning attribute body, his death in his next tribulation was almost certain. For some reason, the heavens wanted him dead, and he needed to be strong enough to defy the heavens desires.
"Are there any restrictions to enter this realm?" John asked, as the realms he had dealt with in the past had such restrictions, usually age requirements.
"There are no such requirements to enter the realm. However, the realm seems to be an ancient lightning inheritance ground, and so there are restrictions to enter certain parts of it," Thunderzen explained. "As for our sect, we impose a restriction that only disciples may enter."
"Why is that?" John couldn't help but ask.
Thunderzen remained silent for a moment as his eyes glanced to the side, seemingly thinking of something else, before shifting back to John.
"Let's just say that the realm…isn't unoccupied, and that those within do not like…older cultivators," Thunderzen replied, keeping his answer quite vague. "As such, we limit the ones who can enter to disciples, which includes those in their fourth year, or twenty one years of age."
At this moment, John was solidly into his seventeenth year of age, and could apparently stay a disciple of the sect for four more years before he would have to graduate to Elder or something else within the sect.
John wanted to ask more about this, but knew Thunderzen had kept his answer vague for a reason. Regardless, he would seemingly find out soon anyways, as it sounded as though the realm would be opening soon.
"The realm will open in one week," Thunderzen continued after a momentary pause. "Now leave us for the moment. Us Elder's here have important matters to discuss. Elder Lowell should still be waiting outside the door to this chamber. He will escort you to your new home."
John nodded his head at Thunderzen, before he turned and left the chamber. As Thunderzen mentioned, the Elder who had escorted him to these chambers was waiting outside, and John followed behind him as he escorted him away.
Thunderzen and the rest watched John leave, before a large sigh escaped Thunderzen's mouth. It was as if a large weight of burden had fallen his shoulders, making even someone as experienced and aged feel as though he had become lighter.
"Why didn't you reveal the truth of the Thunder-Realm to him?" Thunderfist spoke up. "With his lightning talents, he is the one most likely to fulfil that old fart of a spirit's conditions."
Thunderzen glanced at his brother, before his gaze shifted back to John as he left the palace.
"He'll run into that old-spirit undoubtedly, and also have to deal with his antics as we did. What use is there to warn him ahead of time?"
…
After leaving the palace grounds, and eventually the Heavenly Lightning Palace, John followed Elder Lowell to his new house. His new house was located on a singular mountain, which stood roughly a thousand feet tall. The mountain was covered in lush forests, in which marvelous fruits and medicinal herbs that could bolster one's cultivation grew.
It was one of the most luxurious locations in the entire sect other than the areas of the higher ups, which caused John to nod his head in approval as he landed at the top of the mountain. The top of the mountain was mostly flat, atop which a massive mansion rested.
The mansion was several times larger than the one he called home in the Yuan Continent, as well as several times more luxurious. A large courtyard with gardens and fountains surrounded the mansion, while the inside was clad with luxurious furnishings.
Like his home in the Yuan Continent, there were several attendants waiting for his arrival. After greeting them all, John followed one of them as they escorted him through his new home. It had all the amenities that his previous home had, as well as several new ones.
John nodded his head in approval as he walked all throughout his home, as it truly was beyond luxurious.
"You have a guest, sir," one of the attendants instructed him, causing John to raise an eyebrow in slight surprise.
"A guest already? I just arrived here an hour ago."
John followed the attendant back to the main lobby of his mansion, at which point he spotted the one who had sought him out.
"Iris? What do you want?" John asked as he stared at the girl who said she was supposedly his follower.
"I've come to discuss those visions I showed you," Iris replied calmly.
John recalled the visions that Iris had shown him, and thought about it for a moment before he shook his head. He had enough about visions and prophecies for now.
"No need to explain."
