Struck by Lightning

Southern Heaven Continent, Great Ming Dynasty.

Divine Firmament Mountain Range, a vast expanse of mountains and rivers where legends of immortals and gods have long circulated.

Legend has it that in the deepest reaches of the Divine Firmament Mountain Range lies a sect known as the Divine Firmament Dao Sect.

The immortals within these mountains can fly through the heavens and traverse the earth, move mountains and drain seas; they are omnipotent, looking down upon the entire Southern Heaven Continent as the ages shift and the tides rise and fall...

"Rumble!"

In the pitch-black night, dark clouds gathered thick and heavy.

The Taiyin star and the myriad stars in the sky had long since vanished.

Within the void, the dark clouds churned from time to time, emitting dull rumbles of thunder like a giant beast growling in the shadows...

Every so often, silver snakes of lightning streaked across the void, tearing through the black curtain and illuminating the heavens and the earth.

A ten-thousand-mile-long silver snake, twisting and turning, struck a remote path within the Divine Firmament Mountain Range, emitting a terrifying roar.

Beside the ancient mountain road, a large tree was struck by the lightning, crackling as it began to burn...

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

A torrential downpour poured down from the nine heavens like a waterfall.

Before the fire could spread, the heavy rain extinguished the flames.

The muddy dirt road was already submerged in rainwater, and Li Yunjing lay in the mire, his entire body coated in sludge.

"Damn it! I actually got struck by lightning!"

"I've been here for three years since I transmigrated, enduring countless hardships to obtain a Qi Refining Manual, just as I stepped onto the path of immortality."

"I was lucky enough to find the location of the Divine Firmament Dao Sect and was just about to join the sect to cultivate for longevity."

"Who would have thought that I would die before achieving my goal? Am I really going to die so miserably in this gutter?"

Li Yunjing complained powerlessly, his eyes hollow, a look of disappointment etched upon his face.

His clothes and the bundle he carried had long since been reduced to ashes the moment the thunder struck.

His body was pitch black, as if he were a piece of charcoal burning in a furnace.

Even this torrential rain seemed unable to wash away the charred wounds on his body.

Looking closely, the power of the silver snakes had left terrifying gashes all over Li Yunjing.

Crimson blood flowed from the wounds, merging into the rainwater and washing away slowly.

Li Yunjing's condition was deteriorating rapidly.

His flesh, bones, internal organs, and meridians all seemed to be damaged.

His head was buried in the water, making it difficult for him to breathe.

His severe injuries left Li Yunjing unable to move his body; he couldn't even manage to roll over to expose his nose and mouth to the air.

"Perhaps the heavens didn't strike me dead, only to have me drown in this tiny ditch?"

Li Yunjing sneered, seemingly resigned to his fate, unable to move a muscle.

Yet, the rage in his heart burned fiercely!

Frustrating!

Truly frustrating!

At the thought of his own manner of death, Li Yunjing was driven to the brink of madness!

He had obtained the introductory cultivation technique and had even endured great suffering to find the location of the legendary immortal gate.

Everything had been moving in the right direction, yet he was about to die...

The extreme highs and lows of life left even a man of such firm will as Li Yunjing in despair.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter..."

He did not know how much time had passed, but as his consciousness began to blur, the sound of horse hooves suddenly reached his ears...

"Perhaps it's just an illusion!"

At that moment, he could no longer hold on, and he fainted completely, unable to perceive anything from the outside world any longer.

However, what Li Yunjing did not know was that the power of the lightning strike had not posed a threat to his life.

Instead, it was constantly coursing through his body, strengthening every one of his cells and remodeling his physique on a deep level...

"Miss, there is a dead man ahead!"

An elderly voice rang out, and three carriages approached slowly along the dirt road.

On both sides of the convoy, a team of ten armored cavalrymen in black rode in formation, protecting the carriages.

Each carriage had a driver sitting on the seat, guiding the horses.

At this moment, an old man in a green robe and straw raincoat arrived at the first carriage and spoke softly through the curtain.

This carriage was extremely luxurious, pulled by four tall, sturdy horses; even on the muddy road, the carriage remained steady, with very little jolting.

This was due as much to the driver's high level of skill as it was to the exceptional comfort of the carriage itself.

Four tall, jet-black horses of magnificent spirit showed no fear or panic, even amidst the rain and the crashing thunder, continuing to move steadily along the path guided by the driver.

The four wheels, arranged in two rows, were a full nine feet in diameter, studded with rivets and wrapped in leather.

The carriage body was inlaid with gold and agate, while silk curtains and door hangings shielded the interior, rendering it impossible to see anything inside.

"Patter! Patter!"

Rainwater struck the carriage, sliding down the silk-like curtains and drapes.

The water did not soak the fabric, nor did it seep into the carriage interior.

Clearly, the material was waterproof.

Yet, not a single drop of rain fell upon the old man in the green robe standing outside the carriage.

Within a foot of his body, an invisible force seemed to repel the rain, keeping him completely dry.

"Is that so? Steward Li, go and take a look."

A cold, clear female voice drifted from within the carriage.

The tone was calm and devoid of fluctuation, as if the presence of a "dead man" lying on the road failed to stir her in the slightest.

"Yes, Miss!"

The old man moved, appearing like a wisp of green smoke beside Li Yunjing, who lay ten yards away.

"Thud!"

With a light kick, he flipped Li Yunjing over. Steward Li frowned slightly; the boy still had a trace of breath, which was quite troublesome.

"Clop! Clop! Clop!"

The carriage did not stop, continuing its steady, methodical advance.

The two squads of knights were as cold as frost, not making a single sound.

They were an elite unit, strictly disciplined; beyond protecting the master within the carriage, they paid no heed to anything in the outside world.

Seeing that Steward Li had yet to report back, the woman in the carriage asked softly, "What has happened?"

Her voice was gentle, yet it carried clearly through the heavy rain without the slightest obstruction.

"Sigh! Miss, this person was struck by lightning, but he still has a breath left in him."

Steward Li sighed; his Miss was a kind-hearted soul.

This brat had incredible luck to have snatched his life back from the brink.

It was a pity that it would be a bother for him, the old man, once again.

"Since there is still a spark of life, you should save him."

The cold, clear voice of the woman in the carriage carried a hint of amusement, as if she were well aware of the old man's impatience.

"It seems I have no choice! Yu San, Yu Si, come here and carry this boy to the last carriage."

Steward Li shook his head slightly, looked toward the ten guards nearby, and beckoned two of them over.

"Yes, Steward Li!"

Yu San and Yu Si did not dare to delay; they dismounted with the agility of rabbits and quickly arrived at Li Yunjing's side.