Ling Ying was a Peak Dou Emperor, and among those of the same realm, his insight far surpassed that of many Dou Zongs.
For Zhang Yuan, a Five-Star Great Dou Shi, to cause such a commotion, he either possessed an Earth-tier cultivation method and used a High-level Profound tier Dou Technique, or he had used a Low-level Earth-tier Dou Technique—and his mastery of that Earth-tier cultivation method or Low-level Earth-tier Dou Technique had to be exceptionally high.
As for an Earth-tier cultivation method, he knew that his young lady had given Zhang Yuan a copy of the Heavenly Thunder Art. Yet even if Zhang Yuan had begun cultivating it the very day he received it, it had only been half a month at most.
On the Dou Qi Continent, switching to a cultivation method of the same attribute posed no obstacles. However, the higher the grade of the cultivation method, the harder it was to get started and achieve mastery. Zhang Yuan could not possibly have entered the gates of the Heavenly Thunder Art within half a month. Not even the Ancient Clan had such a prodigy.
Therefore, he was certain that Zhang Yuan had mastered a Low-level Earth-tier Dou Technique. But the problem was, he had never seen Zhang Yuan practice one. Where had it come from?
"What an excellent Thunder God Visualization Diagram. I knew there were still many functions I hadn't discovered. This time, I got lucky."
Atop the mountain peak, Zhang Yuan withdrew his finger, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with a cold light.
After discovering that the Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire, like the Fallen Heart Flame, was also a cultivation cheat, he naturally had to make use of that advantage. He had come to the mountain summit to bathe in an appropriate amount of lightning while cultivating.
This time, while increasing his strength, he had also begun seriously converting to the Heavenly Thunder Art. His comprehension deepened, his proficiency improved, and his realm became increasingly stable as he steadily advanced toward the Six-Star Great Dou Shi level.
At his current cultivation speed, if he continued bathing in lightning as he cultivated, he could probably advance one star every two months. In less than eight months, he would be able to touch the barrier of the Dou Ling realm.
However, he could not focus solely on raising his realm. He also needed to temper his body, build his influence, and practice Dou Techniques, so that time would definitely be extended somewhat.
Thinking of practicing Dou Techniques, he recalled the High-level Profound tier Dou Technique Old Yao had given him: the Sky Thunder Finger.
If fully mastered, its power could rival an ordinary Low-level Earth-tier Dou Technique, just like the Eight Extremes Collapse.
A Dou Technique like this could serve as a trump card, so he naturally had to cultivate it as soon as possible.
Once he recalled the complete cultivation method of the Sky Thunder Finger, the Thunder God Visualization Diagram within his Spiritual Sense suddenly changed.
The lightning from the outside world was devoured in greater amounts, while his consciousness was drawn into a strange world filled with lightning, where he tirelessly practiced the Sky Thunder Finger.
Though he had sat here cultivating for nine days, he had actually practiced the Sky Thunder Finger for ninety days within that strange space. The effect was equivalent to cultivating in the outside world for over three months. (Tenfold)
If the level of mastery over a Dou Technique was divided into beginner mastery (ten percent), minor mastery (thirty percent), proficiency (fifty percent), major mastery (seventy percent), and perfection (one hundred percent), he had now reached proficiency.
His charging time, the power of the Dou Technique under the same Dou Qi output, and the amount of Dou Qi consumed to achieve the same power had all improved.
"The description in the cultivation method says that using one's own Dou Qi to create lightning makes this a High-level Profound tier Dou Technique. But if it is used in conjunction with the power of heavenly lightning, its power can rival a Low-level Earth tier, perhaps even surpass it."
"The reason it is ultimately classified as High-level Profound tier is because one can only attempt to draw upon heavenly lightning after reaching proficiency. Furthermore, the farther one is from the sky, the longer the charging time required, making it extremely easy to interrupt."
"But in my hands, this Dou Technique will probably be even stronger than a Low-level Earth-tier Dou Technique."
Power comparable to an Earth Tier Dou Technique required the aid of heavenly lightning, but Zhang Yuan possessed the Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire. He could directly use it as heavenly lightning to assist his attack, meaning there was practically no windup, while its power would be even greater.
If he were given enough time to draw down lightning, the Dou Technique's own power, augmented by the Three Dragon Thunder Gang Fire and then by the power of heavenly lightning, would become even stronger.
"Besides, I can fly without consuming Dou Qi."
"Below the Dou King realm, I am invincible."
Zhang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the clouds ahead that had been swept clean away. A surge of heroic spirit rose within him.
His current combat strength had already surpassed Little Yan during the three-year agreement, so long as Little Yan did not use the Three-Colored Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus.
In another three years, he could become even stronger.
"It's a pity that strange space can only open by devouring lightning, and it only helps me cultivate lightning-attribute Dou Techniques. Otherwise, I could rapidly master countless Dou Techniques."
Zhang Yuan thought greedily.
After a while, he calmed his mind and leaped straight off the cliff, then summoned his Heavenly Flames to form a pair of wings.
Thanks to Qin Zhenming's connections, he could move about freely for nine days. Tomorrow, he would head out to suppress the Beast Tide, so it was time to return to Qingyun Town and prepare the Black Armored Guard under his command.
Half a quarter-hour later, he saw the outline of Qingyun Town in the distance. He began adjusting his altitude and slowly descended.
However, the moment he passed beneath the clouds, his Spiritual Sense stirred. He abruptly looked toward the not-too-distant left.
A figure was weaving through the clouds. Behind her was a pair of illusory azure feathered wings, clearly condensed from her own Dou Qi. Her curvaceous, full-bodied figure was wrapped in a plain dress, while her long black hair had been gathered into an elegant phoenix-shaped coiffure.
She was a beautiful female expert with at least Dou King cultivation. Her lovely face was tranquil and composed, and her simple attire only further emphasized her grace and nobility.
"Yun Yun!"
Zhang Yuan recognized her identity at a glance, a flash of astonishment and admiration passing through his eyes.
As a Dou Emperor, Yun Yun keenly sensed someone watching her. She immediately turned toward the source of that gaze and met Zhang Yuan's eyes.
"A Dou King?"
"No, it's a Flying Dou Technique."
"So young."
Zhang Yuan was dressed in white, his long hair fluttering as he flew. He possessed the elegant bearing of an immortal banished from a painting, like a poet from some distant age. The smile in his brows and eyes was captivating, yet a trace of silver gleamed within his ink-black pupils, as though they could see through the human heart. There was an overbearing intensity that struck the eye.
Yet the youthfulness on his handsome face showed that he was not very old.
A flash of admiration also passed through Yun Yun's eyes.
As one of the Jia Ma Empire's foremost Dou Emperors and the leader of a sect, she had seen countless handsome men and beautiful women. Yet in terms of temperament and appearance, the young man before her was unquestionably the finest she had ever seen.
Only Pill King Gu He could compare to him in bearing, but Gu He was a Sixth-Rank Alchemist!
Other than Zhang Yuan, when had the Jia Ma Empire produced such an outstanding young prodigy?
"Wait, Zhang Yuan!?"
Yun Yun's beautiful eyes lit up.
The Misty Cloud Sect had gathered highly detailed intelligence on Zhang Yuan, complete with a portrait.
Though it was not even half as striking as the real person before her, it was still enough to tell that they were the same person.
And Zhang Yuan was precisely the target of her trip.
Whoosh!
Yun Yun changed direction and flew toward Zhang Yuan.
"Looking for me?"
Zhang Yuan saw through Yun Yun's intentions and simply stopped flying.
Several breaths later, Yun Yun stopped three zhang in front of Zhang Yuan. The two examined each other at close range.
Yun Yun secretly praised him. What a fine young man. No wonder Yan Ran could not stop thinking about him after meeting him. If he were not so young, even I might have been moved.
Zhang Yuan, meanwhile, thought, I thought the character model was already unmatched in the world. I never expected the real person to be even prettier.
No wonder a mere supporting female character could make all those old perverts like her.
"Are you Zhang Yuan, little friend?" Yun Yun asked, her red lips parting.
"Are you Sect Leader Yun Yun, big sister?" Zhang Yuan asked in return.
"You recognize me?" Yun Yun blinked her beautiful eyes.
"Don't you recognize me as well?" Zhang Yuan smiled lightly.
"That is because I have seen your portrait." Yun Yun pressed her lips together slightly.
"I've seen your doujinshi too," Zhang Yuan replied, though it was a far inferior version compared to the real her.
"Doujinshi?" Yun Yun asked with slight confusion. "What is that?"
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