Secrets of the Divine Artifacts Between Heaven and Earth

Suppressing the urge to break through once more, he withdrew his Qi and calmed his breath, settling at the peak of the four-star Great Dou Shi.

Elder Qian stroked his beard, feeling increasingly satisfied with Xiao Li.

"Very well, come with the two of us for some real-world experience. We're heading to the Black-Corner Region to get a taste of blood."

Ever since he had read the Headmaster's cultivation insights, Elder Qian felt his ability to mentor disciples had become terrifyingly effective; all he lacked now was a disciple with a talent for the lightning attribute.

Xiao Li stood up and bowed in gratitude. "I'll be troubling you both."

Stepping out of the spatial rift, they found that Hu Gan and the others were no longer there. Xiao Li looked toward the direction of the Inner Academy with a hint of regret.

"A pity about the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower. I suppose I'll have to return in a year."

Glancing at the two elders who were carrying him through the void, Xiao Li offered a helpless, wry smile. Forget it. Having these two big shots ferrying me around is probably much better than staying in the Inner Academy, even if I don't know why they're being so good to me.

Elder Bai took charge of finding a place to land, while Elder Qian discussed cultivation matters with Xiao Li.

Elder Qian produced two books. "Here, Xiao Li, these are for you."

Xiao Li took the books with curiosity, but the words written on them made his hands tremble.

"Earth-tier low-grade cultivation method: Thunder Fusion Body."

"Record of Seeking Lightning."

"Seniors, this is..."

Seeing Xiao Li's agitated state, Elder Qian feigned an air of profound mystery and tilted his head. "Just some small trifles. Take them."

As expected of big shots at the peak of the Dou Zong realm; they could casually hand out Earth-tier techniques.

The Thunder Fusion Body could contain the lightning of the world to temper one's own body...

The lightning of the world?

Xiao Li looked up sharply. "Senior, what does this book mean by lightning that can be used by humans?"

"Well, why don't you take a look at that Record of Seeking Lightning and find out?" Elder Qian smiled.

Xiao Li hurriedly flipped it open, finding it filled with records of various types of lightning.

"Just as there are Heavenly Flames between heaven and earth, why wouldn't there be Heavenly Lightning?"

Xiao Li's mind shook; he felt a path emerging in the darkness.

"The world is vast, and there are countless strange lightning phenomena. Take the Nine Profound Golden Lightning found in pill lightning, for instance. If one could find such a thing, it would surely rival the possessor of a Heavenly Flame—invincible among peers."

The following pages were filled with long accounts of travels, though the author lamented at the end that they had never found such a Heavenly Lightning and sighed at their lack of fate.

"Senior, can pill lightning also be refined and used for oneself?" Xiao Li asked expectantly.

"Of course. Ordinary pill lightning is a tribulation sent by the heavens and cannot be absorbed, but if you can find the source of these lightning phenomena in the world, you can naturally absorb their essence," Elder Qian explained.

"Besides, the Nine Profound Golden Lightning isn't the only Heavenly Lightning in existence; there are many others that simply haven't been discovered by humans yet," Elder Bai chimed in from the side, his tone filled with awe at the vastness of the world.

A look of longing appeared in Xiao Li's eyes. If this Heavenly Lightning truly rivaled Heavenly Flames, wouldn't he be soaring to the heavens if he obtained one?

After Xiao Yan obtained the Fallen Heart Flame, he went from a Dou Ling to a peak Dou Wang; the Three Thousand Burning Flame allowed him to leap from a four-star Dou Zong to a nine-star, even allowing him to fight above his rank—it was practically a cheat code.

Moreover, the existence of Heavenly Lightning was definitely authentic. Recalling the Nine Profound Golden Lightning Dragon mentioned in the original work, even if a low-level Dou Sheng couldn't absorb it, it proved the validity of the theory.

Temporarily suppressing his craving for Heavenly Lightning, Xiao Li understood that with his current strength as a Great Dou Shi, he couldn't absorb one even if he found it. Not everyone had the fortuitous encounters of Xiao Yan.

Looking at the gloomy, cloud-covered horizon in the distance, Elder Bai stopped traversing space. "Xiao Li, we've arrived at the training site."

Xiao Li looked out with curiosity, wondering where these two big shots had brought him.

Gazing at the desolate mountains and forests outside, Xiao Li's mouth twitched. He had just returned from the Magical Beast Mountain Range; surely he wasn't going to be a savage for another year?

The two elders landed on a cliffside and blasted out a cave with a wave of their hands. "Stay here and cultivate with us for a month. You need to learn new Dou Techniques and cultivation methods."

Hearing this, Xiao Li felt a bit better. At least he had two big shots providing one-on-one—or rather, two-on-one—tutoring.

"Now, take out the Nine Steps to Heaven you obtained from the Library Pavilion. I'll teach you," Elder Qian said.

Xiao Li was stunned. "How did you know I obtained the Nine Steps to Heaven, Senior?"

Now it was Elder Qian's turn to be stunned. "Uh, well, this, hmm..."

"As expected of a senior, your strength is truly formidable." Xiao Li looked solemn, assuming the elder had seen his actions in the Library Pavilion. Truly a big shot capable of tearing through the void.

Hearing Xiao Li fill in the blanks himself, Elder Qian nodded awkwardly. "Indeed, I still possess that much strength. Bring it out; let me see."

Xiao Li complied and took out the Nine Steps to Heaven. Only now did he realize that this wasn't a movement technique, but a secret skill for explosive power.

It consisted of nine steps. Below the Dou Huang realm, each step could increase one's strength by more than two stars; at the Dou Zong realm, each step added one star. If a peak Dou Zong used this technique and unleashed all nine steps, they could briefly ascend to the Dou Zun realm.

Seeing the technique, Elder Qian's eyes held a hint of regret. "This technique is indeed heaven-defying. A one-star Dou Zong using it can fight a peak Dou Zong, but alas, alas..."

"It's a pity the requirements for the physical body are too high. None of us have been able to take the ninth step," Elder Bai added, his tone filled with regret.

Xiao Li could tell that these two had clearly practiced this technique and that it had physical requirements.

Xiao Li looked at the Thunder Fusion Body in his left hand: it could use lightning to temper the body, forging it into a hardened Thunder Body...

The two books seemed to complement each other perfectly. A flash of inspiration struck Xiao Li, and he felt as if he had understood something.

Elder Qian took a deep breath, as if shaking off his regrets, and looked up. "It just so happens that the Thunder Fusion Body and the Nine Steps to Heaven complement each other. By my estimation, once the Thunder Fusion Body is cultivated to the Great Sun Thunder Body, it will be enough to withstand the burden of the Nine Steps to Heaven."

The Thunder Fusion Body is divided into three realms: the minor accomplishment of the Mystic Thunder Body, the major accomplishment of the Desolate Thunder Body, and the perfection of the Great Sun Thunder Body.

Having said this, Elder Qian walked out of the cave, pointed his right hand toward the sky, and used his Dou Qi to gather the dark clouds above, where dense bolts of lightning began to accumulate, poised to strike.

Watching the gloomy sky transform in an instant into a canvas of rolling dark clouds, Xiao Li's eyes trembled. Is this the power of a Dou Zong? To alter the weather with a casual gesture and gather clouds and lightning from within a hundred miles—it is truly terrifying.

Elder Qian grabbed Xiao Li by the collar. "You memorized the Thunder Fusion Body on the way here, didn't you?"

Elder Qian's beaming words made Xiao Li shudder. "Uh, I memorized it all."

Elder Qian's smile grew even brighter as he flicked his right hand, tossing Xiao Li directly into the sky.

"Then go put it into practice. I will make sure to control the intensity for you."

"Wait, no, I—aaaaah!"

Xiao Li soared into the sky, flying hundreds of meters in an instant, staring at the lightning and dark clouds within arm's reach.

Xiao Li squeezed his eyes shut in agony. I'm done for.