Chapter 65: Thunderbolt Enters the Body

“Starting today, I’ll teach you all applications of the Spirit Chart’s Heavenly Resolution – artifact refining, alchemy, setting formations, divination, energy gathering, deadly formations. Learn them well,” Caiyun said excitedly. She recognized Cheng Lingyu’s talent and aimed to master the deepest secrets of the Spirit Chart through him.

“Rest assured, Senior Sister. I’ll study diligently.”

For days afterward, Caiyun refused visitors while instructing Cheng Lingyu.

Having practiced the technique of origins, Cheng Lingyu’s understanding sharpened dramatically. His mental power overflowed as his Magic Eyes technique progressed rapidly, allowing him to grasp Caiyun’s teachings with startling speed.

“Today’s lesson is the Ninefold Gathering Formation. This complex Spiritual Array demands perfect execution – any mistake ruins everything.”

Cheng Lingyu focused completely. This formation maximized absorption of surrounding spiritual energy – exactly what he required.

“Spiritual Arrays fall into two types. Static formations need manual energy activation. Dynamic ones self-activate upon completion, drawing environmental energy automatically. Static are common, dynamic rare and superior. The Ninefold Gathering Formation normally can’t be moved once activated… unless condensed into a spirit seal for portability.”

“Spirit seal?”

Caiyun laughed. “Simplified – spirit artifacts contain seals granting their spiritual nature. Deeper explanations wait.”

As their interactions grew, Cheng Lingyu found Caiyun increasingly enigmatic. Though not supremely powerful, her knowledge depth astonished him.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yun trained intensely with Thousand Layers of Snow. Reaching True Martial, Third Level with reinforced foundations, his cultivation level dipped while overall strength rose.

Jin Miaoyi’s repeated chess academy visits found neither Cheng Lingyu nor Caiyun, fueling his worries.

Qu Wei circulated news – Shenhuo Sect nearly mastered the Ruyi Treasure Vial and attempted Ruyi Pill creation, drawing factional attention.

That afternoon, torrential rain cooled sweltering Yunyang City. Lightning-streaked thunderclaps drew cultivators’ gazes skyward.

Above Xuanhuo Sect’s territory, purple light morphed into the Purple Cloud Banner amidst stormwinds. Intercepting lightning and dispersing rain, it erected an extraordinary shield.

“Is that the Purple Cloud Banner’s aura? Xuanhuo Sect unsealed the high-grade spirit artifact already?”

Shock rippled through observers. Though Xuanhuo acquired the sealed banner mere days prior, they’d apparently broken its restrictions.

The banner’s protection now repelled wind, rain, and lightning around Xuanhuo Sect, its might elevating their status above Shenhuo Sect’s.

Standing rain-drenched above the chess academy, Cheng Lingyu and Caiyun observed distant purple radiance.

“If Cheng Zhaolong turtles under that banner, I’m helpless.”

“Every defense has weaknesses. More curious – this lightning feels unnatural. Notice anything?”

Cheng Lingyu’s obsidian eyes gleamed strangely. Within his vision, a sprout appeared – twin leaves rhythmically parting, etched with glowing patterns.

Shifting sideways, he spread arms welcoming the downpour. Spiritual light specks converged invisibly on his drenched form as mysterious energies flowed toward him.

Caiyun alone witnessed this phenomenon – Cheng Lingyu’s unique Constitution absorbing storm energies… even lightning’s power.

After prolonged observation, Caiyun suddenly flicked jade fingers, redirecting a lightning bolt directly at him.

The violent strike risked severe consequences.

Cheng Lingyu was startled, yet the outcome surprised him. The lightning struck, shredding his clothes into an electric serpent that coiled around him before vanishing into his body in an instant.

His physical body instinctively defended against the invasion, resisting the lightning’s destructive force without major harm.

Caiyun watched in amazement. Moments later, she summoned another lightning bolt. Again, it was absorbed into Cheng Lingyu’s body, triggering a unique lightning-refining process that built his resistance.

The pain, however, was excruciating. Each lightning strike pierced through his flesh like molten needles.

Seeing his endurance, Caiyun intensified the strikes. Dozens of lightning bolts rained down, weaving around Cheng Lingyu until they formed a luminous cocoon pulsating with the Power of Utmost Brightness and Strength.

His face twisted in agony as his clothes disintegrated. Purple-gold veins of electricity spread across his skin before sinking deeper into muscle and bone.

Clenching his teeth, Cheng Lingyu forced himself into meditative stillness until unconsciousness claimed him.

In this trance-like state, his body optimized itself. The pain ebbed gradually, smoothing his tortured expression.

Meanwhile, the Xuanhuo Sect’s Purple Cloud Banner drew most observers’ attention, leaving the chess academy’s events unnoticed. The storm’s sudden ferocity seemed…convenient.

…

Amid the downpour, chaos erupted at the Situ family estate—one of Yunyang City’s four great families.

Men in Black slaughtered indiscriminately, hunting for the mid-grade spirit artifact Red Lily.

Though prepared, the Situ family’s counterattack faltered against the invaders’ overwhelming strength.

“Evacuate the heirs now!” roared the family head, charging into battle while experts whisked his children away.

Situ Yulong dragged his sister Situ Caifeng through howling winds, their escorts falling one by one to relentless pursuers. The Red Lily glinted in Caifeng’s grip—the attackers’ true target.

Yulong raced toward the city lord’s residence. City Lord Yun Ao’s son Yun Feng was known to favor Caifeng, perhaps offering sanctuary.

Bystanders who intervened during the chase paid with their lives. Simultaneously, purple-clad raiders assaulted the Baifo Sect, targeting their beautiful jade coffin in a blood-soaked struggle.

Above it all, thunderclaps shook the skies. Caiyun peered into the storm’s heart, spotting a mirror radiating lightning—the legendary Sky Thunder Mirror? If true, this was no ordinary tempest.

Within Cheng Lingyu, lightning snakes bypassed meridian points, flooding into a void where three stars glowed—pale purple, silver-white, and faint red. These expanding storage spaces, tied to his cultivation level, now welcomed a fourth: a crackling sphere forged from compressed lightning.

Caiyun kept channeling more bolts—ten became fifty, then more—as Cheng Lingyu’s body underwent metamorphosis. The Power of Utmost Brightness and Strength scoured his flesh, burning away impurities while the lightning-star condensed.

News spread rapidly. The Situ family lay in ruins, their leader dead and heirs missing. Blood Martial expert Situ Ming—pillar of the family—was conspicuously absent.

The Baifo Sect fared better, repelling attackers despite heavy losses. Though their Blood Martial Realm leader suffered grave injuries retreating from the purple-clad commander, their Saintess emerged wielding the beautiful jade coffin. Its holy radiance scattered the invaders—a secret triumph falsely credited to the wounded leader.

Mid-air, Cheng Lingyu hovered in Dreamless Technique’s grip, mind blank yet acutely aware of his inner void’s transformation. Countless lightning threads reinforced his body even as they fed the growing fourth star—a reservoir of pure, ferocious power he remained oblivious to.