Chapter 95: Zhou Mo's Path, The Old Southern King Rises from the Grave!

Another month quickly passed.

During this time, Zhou Mo had stayed at the Seven Martial Sect, constantly pondering deeply, neglecting both food and sleep, to the point where he appeared noticeably haggard.

Finally, one morning, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind!

He realized… he did indeed have a unique talent.

He was exceptionally good at stealing!

From childhood until now, just the thought of stealing would get his blood pumping, and his entire being would feel invigorated and alert.

He still remembered when, at the age of eight, he had successfully stolen a cousin's undergarment. This feat had never been discovered.

Because to steal such an item, he had calculated the actions of twelve people, set up eight interconnected traps, and orchestrated three different reversals, completely clearing himself of any suspicion… It was a flawless plan!

However, as he grew older, he began to suppress this impulse and came to despise such petty behavior.

After all, stealing was considered despicable by society.

So, in the years that followed, he abandoned his innate passion and talent, focusing instead on cultivating like everyone else, striving for what was thought to be a grand and proper future.

But time after time, he was crushed by the brilliance of geniuses around him, eventually losing all confidence and accepting his mediocrity, succumbing to a life of ordinariness.

That was, until he met Qin Chuan!

Under Qin Chuan's insightful guidance, he had an epiphany.

All humans are born extraordinary!

However, most people end up abandoning their own unique gifts, thus inevitably becoming mediocre.

"All paths lead to the same end. Even theft has its way. From now on, I, Zhou Mo, will walk my own path—the path of the God of Thieves!"

Standing atop a mountain peak, Zhou Mo lifted his head toward the heavens.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

At that moment, the sky roared with thunder, and the wind howled fiercely, as if the heavens and earth themselves were responding to his will, manifesting a sign of his newfound resolve.

But in reality, that wasn't the case.

It was simply… starting to rain.

"Whoosh!"

A torrential downpour began, drenching the entire world in a curtain of rain, creating a paradoxical blend of noise and tranquility.

Zhou Mo stood silently at the mountain peak, allowing the rain to soak him instead of shielding himself with energy. Strangely, it felt refreshing and liberating.

"Boom! Crackle!"

Thunder rumbled across the sky, while flashes of lightning illuminated the rain-drenched, misty world.

"Lightning?"

Zhou Mo narrowed his eyes, a bold idea forming in his mind. He muttered under his breath, "I wonder… can I steal lightning?"

Without hesitation, he began working out a plan!

In an instant, countless ideas poured into his mind. He felt like the young boy who had once stolen his cousin's undergarment—his mind was clear, sharp, and brimming with confidence, as if the whole world belonged to him.

In the library.

Qin Chuan was reading when he suddenly heard a loud explosion accompanied by a shrill scream.

"Ahhh—!"

Turning to look through the intricately carved windows of the library, he saw flashes of light illuminating the outside, and the crackling of electricity echoed through the air.

Approaching the window, he saw a figure suspended in mid-air, with four silver-white bolts of lightning binding his limbs, as if being drawn and quartered in the sky, crackling wildly.

Qin Chuan paused.

His mind flashed to a meme from his previous life, one where a photo showed someone using a hacking tool and asking, "Which fellow Daoist is transcending their tribulation here?"

"Hahaha, is this all the power you've got? Did you skip breakfast? Bring on the lightning, strike harder!"

In the sky, the figure being struck by lightning, despite having smoke rising from his body, arrogantly taunted the thunderclouds.

"Boom!"

As if provoked, the thunderclouds seemed to grow angrier. The four bolts of lightning intensified, growing even thicker as they aimed to fry the defiant figure.

"Awooo!!"

Zhou Mo let out a wolf-like howl of pain.

Qin Chuan was about to intervene, but he quickly realized the young man didn't seem to be in any real danger.

Zhou Mo was wearing a specialized armor, with an insulating material between his body and the suit. The lightning was being directed through a thick gold wire into an iron container he had set up.

"Is he… stealing electricity?"

Qin Chuan was surprised, mostly at the fact that this young man, at such a young age, seemed to have some knowledge of basic physics.

Who taught him that?

Could he be… self-taught?

After some time, the thunderclouds, as if exhausted, flickered a few times before reluctantly dispersing.

Qin Chuan flew into the air and asked, "What do you need that lightning for? Its power isn't enough to even harm a Heavenly Ascension-level cultivator."

"Senior, you don't understand."

Zhou Mo grinned, looking smug as he explained, "The power of lightning isn't in its raw damage. In moments of surprise, it can cause temporary paralysis. Even Heavenly Ascension cultivators can't avoid this."

"And in that brief moment of paralysis, if used correctly, I can help someone lighten their burden…"

"Lighten their burden?" Qin Chuan was puzzled.

Zhou Mo raised an eyebrow and explained, "Worldly possessions often weigh people down. If I encounter such a situation, how could I not lend a hand?"

Qin Chuan understood immediately.

This kid was planning to steal things!

However, this realization led Qin Chuan to a strange thought…

Out of the two people he had guided so far, one had become a grave robber, and the other was turning into a master thief. Something about this didn't quite sit well with his image as an upstanding individual.

After thinking for a moment, he still gave some praise: "I didn't expect you to comprehend so quickly and find your own path."

"It's all thanks to your teachings, Senior."

Zhou Mo replied earnestly.

"No need for humility. I didn't do much—just said a few words in passing. You had the insight to grasp it all on your own."

Qin Chuan refused to take credit!

"Regardless, I will never forget your great kindness, Senior!" Zhou Mo declared with utmost sincerity.

The way he looked at Qin Chuan was filled with genuine respect.

After all, Qin Chuan had saved his life, giving him direction when he was at his most lost.

It was a debt of profound gratitude!

"Hmm, as long as you remember it in your heart, there's no need to say it out loud. I don't care for fame or recognition."

Qin Chuan remarked nonchalantly.

"Understood!"

Zhou Mo nodded vigorously.

By now, Qin Chuan's image as a supreme senior had firmly solidified in his mind. Qin Chuan's words held more weight than his own father's.

Truthfully, Zhou Mo had thought about formally becoming Qin Chuan's disciple, but he feared Qin Chuan might refuse, so he didn't dare bring it up.

"The great path begins with a single step. You don't need to stay in the Seven Martial Sect all the time. Travel more, explore. I'll inform you when I'm ready to leave the Seven Nations."

Qin Chuan said.

"Yes, Senior!"

Zhou Mo's eyes gleamed with excitement. He had been eager to venture out for some time. Although the Seven Nations was a bit barren, it wasn't entirely without opportunities.

After all, this land had once been an ancient battlefield. Plenty of valuable relics lay hidden, waiting to be discovered. Some families even held priceless treasures without knowing their true value.

Previously, Zhou Mo had no interest in this barren land, only coming because he had an old friend at the Tianfeng Dynasty's palace. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered visiting.

But now, his perspective had changed. Everything looked different.

Seeing the world from a new angle, he felt as though everything sparkled with possibility, as if the entire world belonged to him!

He realized that life was truly wonderful, and the world around him was filled with hope and beauty.

…

Two days later, a letter arrived from the Southern King's estate. It was written personally by Yang Tu, the current Southern King. The message read:

"Uncle, my father's grave has burst open. He seems to have come back to life! His mind is unclear at the moment. Please come as soon as possible!"

Ah, seems like the dead have risen!