In the village, Grandpa Mark withdrew his fist and asked Quinn, "Did you understand?"
"I understood!"
Quinn pondered, "Each dragon force represents a different power. The order of the dragon forces changes the punch, and if the sequence of the Hundred Dragon Diagrams is scrambled, Nine-Dragon Thunder Rush will have countless variations! Others might block my first punch, but they could never block my second with the same move! Even if I throw a hundred or a thousand punches, each one will be unique!"
Grandpa Mark rarely smiled and said, "Before, your Overlord Body yuanqi had no attribute, so you couldn't cultivate the Grand Buddha Mahayana Scripture, and I promised Great Thunderclap Temple not to teach it outside. Now your yuanqi has gained the Azure Dragon attribute, but I still won't teach you. As long as you grasp the principles of boxing, it doesn't matter whether you learn the scripture or not. You've already acquired the dragon's charm, posture, momentum, qi, and spirit—even without seeing the Hundred Dragon Diagrams, you can deduce their mysteries. With your Overlord Three-Core Art, the power of Thunder Chant Eight-Form will be no less than the Grand Buddha Mahayana Scripture!"
Quinn was greatly encouraged. Grandpa Mark was always cold and rarely praised anyone, so earning his approval made Quinn very happy. Moreover, Grandpa Mark's words inspired him to think differently. If Nine-Dragon Thunder Rush in Thunder Chant Eight-Form is mainly about dragon force, what about the first form, Spring-Thunder Charge to the Eastern Sea?
If he observed the river overturning, surging into the sea, and the booming sound of spring thunder, could he grasp the essence of this form?
And for the move Thunder-Pluck Pipa Flick, is it related to music and rhythm?
There are also moves like Sun-Chaser Thunderstep and Sun-Bathing Soul Refining in Midair; surely each has its own method of comprehension!
The more he thought, the more excited he became. He wished he could leave home right away to travel the world, explore its wonders, and unravel its secrets!
"Tomorrow, remember to get up early and go greet the neighbors in the next village," Granny Sue said with a warm smile.
Quinn asked in confusion, "Granny Sue, the people from the Cult of the Heavenly Demon in the next village call you Cult Mistress. Why do they want you to be their leader? And if you refuse, why do they want to kill us?"
Granny Sue patted his head and smiled, "You'll understand someday."
Early the next morning, Quinn washed up, ate breakfast, and picked up some eggs. The Brood-Hen Dragon came charging in, and Quinn fought it to a standstill. The dragon flapped its wings, slashing at him with blade-like feathers, and spat a stream of fire. Quinn wrapped himself in Azure Dragon qi and used Thunder-Pluck Pipa Flick to block the feather-swords.
"Quinn, don't fight with it anymore. Go pay your respects to the neighbors in the next village," Granny Sue said, shooing the Brood-Hen Dragon away.
Quinn hurried after her, with the Brood-Hen Dragon chasing after them again, only to be scolded back by Granny Sue.
Granny Sue brought him to the neighboring village, where the Enforcer Elder greeted them, sizing Quinn up. "Cult Mistress, everything is ready. As long as the young master passes through the Three Hundred and Sixty Rooms, that's all that's required."
Granny Sue blinked and said, "Passing through all Three Hundred and Sixty Rooms at once? Isn't that asking a bit much?"
The Enforcer Elder smiled, "If he can't pass through all Three Hundred and Sixty Rooms, then we must ask Cult Mistress to return with us."
Granny Sue gritted her teeth and asked, "Can he rest?"
"He can rest as much as he likes. Each room has food, drink, a bed, bedding, healing medicine, and spirit pills—everything he needs."
Granny Sue looked at Quinn, hesitated, and said, "Quinn, go greet everyone in the Three Hundred and Sixty Rooms. Remember to call them Senior Brother or Senior Sister, not Elder."
Quinn nodded and walked toward the first room in the wooden building, smiling, "Three Hundred and Sixty Rooms—I wonder how long it will take to visit them all. Granny Sue, I'm going in."
Granny Sue watched his back, then suddenly called out, "Quinn, do you know what you'll be facing once you go in?"
Quinn turned and smiled, "I know. I won't let them take you away, Granny Sue."
Granny Sue felt a warmth in her heart as she turned away. Years ago, she found this child by the riverbank, never imagining the day would come when he would worry for her.
Quinn entered the first room, which was spacious. Inside sat a sallow-faced man with a goat beard, holding an abacus like an accountant.
"Senior Brother."
Quinn stood respectfully, bowed, then took off his pig-killing knife, bamboo staff, Thunderclap Monk’s Staff, Sword Pack, and Grand Guardian's Sword, placing them by the door. "Senior Brother, please."
The accountant was surprised to see the eleven- or twelve-year-old boy and asked with interest, "Do you know why you're here? Did the Cult Mistress tell you?"
Quinn stretched his body, his yuanqi surging with heroic vigor, and laughed, "No need for Granny Sue to spell it out—I know!"