Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds

When Gu Zhao crossed over to the modern world, he found the internet in an uproar.

The reason was simple: everyone’s worldview had been shattered. There really were Extraordinary Beings in the world, a fact personally confirmed by the Grand Commander of Huaqi Country.

"So, everything circulating online is true?"

"The Mongolian Mine disaster, the airliner incident in Shu Province... all sorts of witnesses and people involved have leaked details. It’s definitely true!"

"What about the person who used Sword Flight during the thunderstorm? Is that real too?"

"Umm... that one’s fake."

"What the hell? A Daoist went to Kabia and took out their Grand Commander? How come this sounds a little like The Avengers?"

"Don’t spread rumors. They’re the ones who imprisoned our workers first. They were even going to threaten them with their lives. That’s what drew out our country’s Extraordinary Beings."

"Han Jingyi! My goddess!"

"I’ve been wandering around Lao Mountain for three days and still haven’t caught a glimpse of the goddess."

"Does anyone in the know know where that Sword Cultivator who chopped off the arms of a few human traffickers is training? Are they from the lineage of the Wutai Sect’s Taiyi Primordial Ancestor Master? But I can only find temples on Five Peaks Mountain."

"Aren’t Sword Immortals from Shu Province? Why don’t you go to Emei Mountain?"

"AHHH! I used to joke about worrying that mixed in with all the special effects was a real one. Now my worry has come true, hasn’t it?"

"So it’s true... everyone’s flown away on their swords, and I’m the only one still watching short videos and giggling like an idiot."

"Wait, how can you all be so sure? The government hasn’t made an official announcement yet!"

"True, there’s been no official confirmation, but there’s been no official denial either!"

Gu Zhao read through the various messages online with an amused grin, unconcerned.

Thanks to all the prior foreshadowing, a large number of people in the country already had a vague premonition or even inside information. Moreover, since the news was broken by the Grand Commander of Huaqi Country, it added a layer of distance.

So, while the uproar was significant, it remained manageable. It didn’t lead to the sudden emergence of the Extraordinary and a breakdown of social order, as often depicted in web novels.

On the contrary, people were instead mocking the Grand Commander of Huaqi Country.

"When the master from the Celestial Master’s Mansion descended upon Berkeley, where was your Superpower Special Service Bureau?"

"Our Daoists have already saved people from a collapsed mine and a crashing airliner, and even went overseas to Kabia to rescue a whole factory of workers. So where are the people from the Superpower Special Service Bureau?"

"I hear a lot of people have already died in the hurricane over in Huaqi Country."

"Blasphemy! If they started helping ordinary people, would they still be Huaqi Country? They’d turn into Celestial Xia!"

Of course, there were never any shortage of contrarians.

"You should worry about yourselves. A dozen people died in the rainstorms at the start of summer. Where were your Daoists then?"

"What about that multi-car pile-up on the highway? Why didn’t your Extraordinary Beings show up?"

"If your country’s Extraordinary Beings are so amazing, how come we haven’t seen them make a formal appearance? Why are they still being so secretive? They’re probably fake, aren’t they?"

"I agree. Back when the Divine Land was falling, where were they? Aren’t you plebs still crying for revenge against Sakura Paste? Let them go and try, then."

Gu Zhao had to laugh. He wondered what those Yin-Yang Masters from Sakura Paste would think if they saw these posts. ’Would they empathize with that company that finally learned how to manufacture ballpoint pen tips?’

Reading this, Gu Zhao turned to Taoist Yuan He and asked, "Are the rainstorms really that severe this year?"

Taoist Yuan He nodded. "According to the weather forecast, this is only the beginning. These extreme storms are expected to spread across the entire northern region, and many cities will be threatened by torrential rains.

"Although various regions strengthened their precautions after the extreme weather in Yu Province’s Shangdu a few years ago, they’re helpless in the face of a situation where a year’s worth of rain could fall in a short period of time."

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Looks like those few were right on the money."

Taoist Yuan He, who knew what Changyi and the others were thinking, asked with a smile, "Should we call those young ones back?"

"Zhan Qing just got a girlfriend over there, and they’re all traveling together Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits. Let’s not call them back this time." Gu Zhao chuckled. "Just getting a few of the idle Elders to return will be enough."

At this, Gu Zhao said calmly, "This time, have them reveal themselves directly."

Taoist Yuan He gave a slight smile. "Very well!"

...

In a city in the north, dark clouds gathered, pressing down on the metropolis like a heavy shroud.

[XX City has issued a Red Rainstorm Alert: Over the next twelve hours, accumulated rainfall in parts of the city is expected to exceed 400 millimeters. Areas affected by heavy precipitation face a high risk of urban flooding, flash floods, flooding in small and medium-sized rivers, and geological disasters such as landslides, mudslides, and collapses. Please take all necessary precautions.]

"Hurry, hurry! Get those flood-control sandbags in place!"

"All public officials, get out on the streets to direct traffic and guide citizens home!"

"Pay special attention to the northern river embankment!"

Throughout the city, the storm warning flashed on every citizen’s phone. Those who could had already gone home early, while those just getting off work scrambled to make it back in the little time they had left.

WHOOSH—WHOOSH—

The wind grew stronger, whipping the roadside trees into a frenzy and shaking nearby billboards violently. A few slender young women found it difficult to even walk, struggling to push forward against the gale.

Everyone knew a massive storm was imminent, but no one knew how much damage it would cause.

HONK! HONK! HONK!

Despite the early warning, some companies had kept their employees until the last minute. Now, traffic had gridlocked the streets. The cacophony of horns rose and fell, a clear sign that drivers’ patience was wearing thin and anxiety was setting in.

Just then, a man sitting in his car, bored and anxious as he stared at the long line of gridlocked traffic, looked up at the sky. He wanted to check the state of the ominous clouds, trying to guess when the downpour would begin.

Then, he saw a small black dot appear in the sky.

Although the dot was small and far away, he could still make out that it seemed to have arms and legs, its robes fluttering in the wind.

"What the fuck!?"

The man swore, immediately grabbing his phone. He opened the camera app, pinched his fingers to zoom in a hundred times, aimed at the small black dot in the sky, and subconsciously hit the record button.

A blue-gray Daoist Robe. The figure had the air of an immortal.

He could even see the old Daoist on his screen glance down, looking directly in his direction.

"Amita— Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

Gasps of astonishment rose one after another. Doors of nearby cars were thrown open as people climbed out. Some raised their phones toward the sky, while others simply stared, their eyes filled with fervent awe.

The next moment, the old Daoist on the screen was seen taking a gourd from his waist. He gently removed the stopper, and then his hands began to form a Seal Technique.

Everyone watched, transfixed, as the mouth of the gourd seemed to become a black hole. The dark clouds that blotted out the sky were pulled into a vortex, forming a massive tornado of black vapor that swirled down into the gourd’s opening.

As the cloud tornado vanished into the gourd, the thick overcast above the entire city began to thin. Soon, rays of sunlight pierced through, and the sky started to brighten as if it were dawn instead of dusk.

In just a few moments, the sky above the city was swept completely clear. People gazed upon the setting sun, its brilliant afterglow stretching for miles.

On the screen, the old Daoist had vanished.

Off-screen, everyone was left dumbfounded.