Pre-Match Reconnaissance: A First Glimpse of Blue Lightning

Night fell like spilled ink, soaking the streets and alleys of Heaven Dou City. Yet scattered lights still shone in the resting areas of the competing academies around the Soul Fighting Arena. Lin Che slung the Azure Water Sword across his back and brushed his fingertips over the inch-tall cauldron formed from the Universe Cauldron. Its inscriptions glimmered faintly in the darkness. "Tang San, there's a blind spot in the shadows beneath the parasol tree at the western corner of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. We'll slip in from there."

Tang San had already silently extended the roots of his Blue Silver Grass into the ground. The vibrations carried through the blades allowed him to precisely capture the patrol guards' footsteps. "The guards pass by every seven breaths and stop for three breaths each time to inspect the barrier. Their Soul Power Fluctuation is around level fifteen—ordinary soul masters." A pale cyan glow spread across his palm, and three Blue Silver Grass plants abruptly bloomed by the wall ahead. Their purple petals emitted a faintly disorienting aura—an infiltration technique he had developed through studying the Purple Demon Eyes.

The two moved like ghosts merging into the night. Using the visual distortion created by the Blue Silver Grass, they silently slipped past Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's barrier. The pale golden runes on the barrier flashed only once before returning to calm. Lin Che's Universe Cauldron had long since released an extremely faint Soul Power field, pressing their auras three inches into the ground and perfectly evading the Soul Power Detection device.

"There are Soul Power Fluctuations at the eastern training grounds." Tang San's voice was barely above a whisper. The Purple Demon Eyes turned silently in his gaze, and the scene over thirty meters away became clear in his mind. In the center of the empty training grounds stood a young man dressed in fitted silver-white clothes. A Dragon-shaped Phantom faintly appeared behind him, while tiny arcs of lightning entwined all over his body.

Lin Che looked in the indicated direction when a system panel suddenly appeared before him. [Detected high-intensity lightning martial soul energy reaction. Distance: 120 meters. Energy level: Level 38 Soul Elder.] His heart tightened. He pulled Tang San behind a stone griffin statue at the edge of the training grounds. The statue happened to conceal them while allowing them to observe the field through gaps in its wings.

The young man in the field was Yu Tianxin, a core member of Thunder Academy. He suddenly raised a hand. Pale purple lightning gathered in his palm like a living thing between his curled fingers, crackling as it filled the surrounding air with a scorched smell. "Watch closely!" His voice carried unquestionable authority as he coldly addressed the four team members around him. "Thunderous Might isn't released through brute force. You need to let the lightning spread along the Soul Power Trajectory, creating coverage without blind spots!"

The four team members hurriedly nodded and released their martial souls: Thunder Leopard, Thunder Snake, Thunder Bird, and Thunder Bear. The four lightning-type martial souls glowed pale blue at once, but they looked dim and lackluster before Yu Tianxin's purple lightning. Lin Che noticed a pale golden dragon-pattern mark on Yu Tianxin's brow center. As he operated his Soul Power, the mark slowly opened, revealing a point of light like a vertical eye.

"Rise!" Yu Tianxin suddenly stepped forward and stomped heavily on the ground with his right foot. His third soul skill, Thunderous Might, erupted. Deep purple lightning surged from beneath his feet like a fountain, instantly turning into dozens of twisting electric dragons that spread outward from him. The ground within a thirty-meter radius was instantly covered in purple lightning. The smooth bluestone slabs shattered beneath the bombardment, blackened fragments flying everywhere as a thick smell of ozone filled the air.

"What a powerful area attack!" Lin Che instinctively held the Universe Cauldron in front of himself, and three streaks of Golden Light instantly lit up across its inscriptions. A system prompt rang urgently in his mind. [Detected extreme lightning energy containing dual paralysis and burning properties. Universe Cauldron—Cauldron Suppression can offset 60% of paralysis effects and reflect 30% of damage. Continuous Soul Power input is required for maintenance.] He could clearly feel that even from thirty meters away, the violent lightning force was still battering his Soul Power barrier. A faint prickling pain even spread across his skin.

Tang San had already pushed the Purple Demon Eyes to their limit, the violet-gold light in his pupils nearly becoming tangible. His gaze locked onto Yu Tianxin's movements, precisely capturing the entire process from lightning accumulation to eruption. "He needs three breaths to charge before releasing the skill. The circulation of Soul Power around his chest noticeably slows. Look—" He discreetly pointed at Yu Tianxin. "When the lightning reaches its peak, the Dragon Scale Armor over his chest opens a small gap. That's the hub of his Soul Power output, and his greatest weakness."

Lin Che followed his finger and indeed saw scale-like protrusions trembling beneath Yu Tianxin's silver-white outfit as the lightning erupted. An extremely faint purple glow leaked from the gap. "That weakness lasts only one breath. We have to seize the moment precisely." He took a piece of beast-hide paper and a charcoal pencil from his Storage Soul Tool, quickly sketching by the distant lamplight. "My Cauldron Suppression can block his area attack and reflect part of the damage, but it needs three seconds to charge. While I activate Cauldron Suppression, you need to strike his weakness as fast as possible."

The charcoal pencil raced over the beast-hide paper, quickly drawing a tactical diagram. Lin Che stood at the center front of the formation, using Cauldron Suppression to create a semicircular Defense Barrier, marked with "Reflect 30% Damage" and "Duration: 5 Seconds." Tang San was positioned on the left flank, marked "Blue Silver Grass Restraint + Precise Strike," with a small hidden weapon drawn beside it. Lin Che explained as he sketched, "His lightning has broad coverage, but it affects his movement speed. I'll use Cauldron Suppression to draw his attention. You'll bind his legs with Blue Silver Grass first to limit his dodging, then seize the opportunity to attack the weakness in his chest."

Tang San studied the tactical diagram for a moment before adding, "His lightning has a paralysis effect. My Blue Silver Grass can only hold out for two breaths. We have to complete the attack before it gets burned away. Also, Thunderous Might has a cooldown. From what we just saw, he needs at least ten breaths before he can release it again. That will be our counterattack window." He tapped the beast-hide paper. "I can prepare the Silent Sleeve Arrow in advance and use the Purple Demon Eyes to lock onto his weakness. I'll guarantee a hit."

Yu Tianxin seemed to sense something and suddenly glanced toward the stone statue. The dragon-pattern mark on his brow center lit up again. Lin Che's heart tightened, and he immediately compressed the Universe Cauldron's Soul Power field to its limit, pulling Tang San close as they held their breath. Yu Tianxin merely gave a cold snort and did not come over to investigate. Instead, he barked at his team members, "Focus! Whose Soul Power broke off just now? If you make that kind of mistake in a match, get the hell back to the academy!"

The four members shuddered in fright and hurriedly focused, releasing their martial souls again. Only then did Yu Tianxin nod in satisfaction and gather lightning once more. This attack was even fiercer than before—faint Golden Patterns were mixed into the purple lightning. When it struck the ground, it created a blackened Deep Pit three feet across, its edges still crackling with electricity.

[Detected mutated lightning energy. Damage increased by 20%. Cauldron Suppression reflection remains at 30%. An additional 10% Soul Power must be injected to offset the increase.] The system prompt sounded again, and fine cold sweat formed on Lin Che's forehead. He had not expected Yu Tianxin's lightning to mutate. Thunder Academy was clearly even stronger than they had anticipated.

"He's deliberately activating his Soul Power to increase the attack's intensity." Tang San's voice was grave. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is indeed a top-tier beast martial soul. It has hidden explosive power. That attack just now was already close to the level of a level-forty Soul Ancestor." He paused, then added, "But his weakness has become more obvious too. Look at the Dragon Scale Armor over his chest. The gap it opened just now was half an inch wider than before."

Lin Che nodded and added another note to the tactical diagram. "Mutated lightning requires additional defense. Cauldron Suppression's charging time will be extended to four seconds. Tang San, your hidden weapon must be faster. It would be best to strike during his weakened period after the mutated lightning erupts." He folded the beast-hide paper and handed it to Tang San. "Once we're back, we'll discuss it with Dai Mubai and the others. Rongrong needs to prepare boosts to both speed and strength in advance, and Oscar's Anti-Lightning Sausage needs to be ready too. We can't leave anything to chance."

Tang San carefully put away the tactical diagram. Just as he was about to rise and leave, Yu Tianxin suddenly stopped training and walked to a stone table at the edge of the grounds, where he picked up a scroll. By the lamplight, the two clearly saw the words "Cauldron Sword Team Battle Analysis" written on it. Yu Tianxin's finger rested on Lin Che's name as he scoffed. "Universe Cauldron martial soul? Interesting. But before the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, even the strongest defense is futile."

Lin Che and Tang San exchanged a glance, both seeing caution in the other's eyes. Thunder Academy had clearly already studied them. This match would not be easy. Yu Tianxin seemed to detect a Soul Power Fluctuation from the scroll. He suddenly clenched it tightly, and purple lightning instantly enveloped it. "Since you're here, why hide?"

The two hesitated no longer. Lin Che hurled the Universe Cauldron into the air. Its body expanded to three feet tall as Cauldron Suppression instantly activated, enveloping them in a pale golden Soul Power field. At the same time, Tang San released Blue Silver Grass. Countless blades lashed the ground like long whips, creating chaotic Soul Power Fluctuations to cover their retreat.

Yu Tianxin's lightning pursued them closely. Purple lightning slammed into the Golden Light barrier with a huge crackle. Thirty percent of its force was instantly reflected, striking the nearby stone statue and blasting a large hole through the griffin's wing. "Trying to run?" Yu Tianxin roared angrily and was about to give chase when one of his team members stopped him. "Captain, the match is about to begin. We shouldn't create unnecessary trouble. It'll be a problem if the referees discover we broke the rules!"

Only then did Yu Tianxin halt. Watching their silhouettes vanish into the night, the dragon-pattern mark on his brow center flickered uncertainly. "Cauldron Sword Team... you have some skill. But in the next match, I'll show you what true lightning power is."

Lin Che and Tang San ran at full speed until they were far from Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's resting area. Only then did they stop. Leaning against a wall, both took big mouthfuls of air. Lin Che put away the Universe Cauldron, feeling the Soul Power consumed within him, and said in a low voice, "Yu Tianxin is far stronger than expected. His mutated lightning must be our main concern."

Tang San took out the beast-hide paper and checked the tactical details again. "His weakness is obvious. If we coordinate properly, we're confident we can suppress him. After we return, I'll use the Purple Demon Eyes to analyze the lightning trajectories I recorded earlier. We might find a way to break Thunderous Might."

Moonlight filtered through the treetops and fell over the two of them. Lin Che looked at the Universe Cauldron in his hand. Its inscriptions still bore traces of the lightning's impact. He knew this coming battle of lightning would not only test the Cauldron Sword Team, but also serve as the ultimate test of the coordination between him and Tang San. And the tactical diagram marked "Cauldron Suppression + Sword Intent" would be the key to defeating the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

"Let's go." Lin Che sheathed the Azure Water Sword, determination flashing in his eyes. "It's time to go back and make the final battle plan with everyone." Tang San nodded. Their figures merged into the night once more, leaving behind only the faint scent of ozone still lingering in the air, foretelling a fierce clash of lightning and blades.