Thunder Art

"I did it!"

After three bitter years, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had finally recovered. He felt tears welling up in his eyes, while Xiao Le remained much calmer.

Just as Medicine Elder had guessed, Xiao Le indeed possessed lightning-attributed Dou Qi. His silver Dou Qi vortex crackled with lightning snakes and flashing arcs, surging with every rotation of the vortex in a truly astonishing display.

At last, he remembered the entry that had only recently downloaded into his mind.

He immediately used [Mortal Realm Mid-Stage Soul Power].

Looking at [Second-Tier Alchemist Experience], Xiao Le's heart began to race. Somewhat nervous, he tried changing it to [Lightning Second-Tier Alchemist Experience].

It worked!

Lightning contained the power of creation. The ancient great powers had battled the heavens, endured lightning tribulations, and comprehended the power of creation. Lightning alchemists tempered medicinal ingredients with lightning and used creation to nurture their medicinal properties.

Xiao Le beamed, his face full of delight.

Seeing that the two had successfully broken through to become Dou Zhe, Medicine Elder appeared, looking rather pleased as well.

"That was much faster than I expected! Since you've broken through to Dou Zhe, it's time for cultivation methods. I've already prepared them for you. The strongest lightning-element cultivation method I have is only low Earth-tier. As for the fire-element one..." Medicine Elder's expression grew more complicated as he continued, "I have a very strange cultivation method here. Though it is only low Yellow-tier, it can..."

"Evolve!"

Those shocking words stunned them. Who had ever heard of such a cultivation method?

"If you don't choose it, I also have an Earth-tier fire-element cultivation method. What do you think?" Medicine Elder looked at Xiao Yan, waiting for his decision.

Xiao Le silently accepted the silver scroll Medicine Elder handed him. The instant he touched it, his palm went numb, as though the scroll itself was charged with electricity.

Low Earth-tier: Silver Radiance Thunder Glory.

"I'll choose the low Yellow-tier one!" After hesitating for a long time, Xiao Yan ultimately chose the cultivation method decreed by fate, Flame Mantra.

The moment Medicine Elder took out Flame Mantra, Xiao Le hurriedly downloaded it.

Watching the download finish, Xiao Le could no longer suppress his joy.

"Brother, Medicine Elder, you both know that I've recently founded a faction. I want to go out and gain some experience with them." Xiao Le brought up the matter of going out to train.

Medicine Elder did not stop him. Instead, he held back Xiao Yan, who was about to persuade him otherwise. "Be careful in all things. It is indeed time for you to gain experience. Little Yan, you still need to learn alchemy. Otherwise, I'd like to take you out training too."

Medicine Elder gave Xiao Le a thorough set of instructions on what to watch out for during his travels.

The moment he returned to his room, Xiao Le hurriedly locked the door and buried himself under the blankets, laughing uncontrollably.

Whoever obtained Flame Mantra obtained the world! To Xiao Le, that was no joke. With Xiao Yan, the protagonist, around, he would never lack Heavenly Flames in the future.

[(Low Yellow-tier) Thunder Art] What made Xiao Le even more ecstatic was that Flame Mantra had been judged to be low Yellow-tier and light-blue quality. How could that not thrill him? As expected, the Thunder Art obtained after modification could absorb and refine lightning to evolve.

He directly sacrificed the cultivation method Medicine Elder had given him. Xiao Le was far too poor right now, and an entry energy resembling a cyan starlight mote emerged.

[(First-Tier) Peach-Scented Flower Lightning].

"Hiss!"

After using Thunder Art, Xiao Le immediately used the modified beast lightning without hesitation. Yet even a first-tier mild beast lightning was not something someone as unprepared as Xiao Le could simply refine directly.

The peach-red lightning entered his body and immediately began its destruction, tearing through his meridians. If Xiao Le's meridians had not been reforged and nourished by Mountain Essence Milk and Foundation-Building Elixir, he might have been crippled here today.

He did his utmost to refine the peach-colored lightning that had rushed into his body. His Dou Qi, which had only just broken through, began to grow once more.

Xiao Le understood the principle of exhausting the pond to catch fish. He desperately suppressed his breakthrough, causing the Dou Qi within his body to become increasingly solid while his Dou Qi vortex grew ever more refined.

"Huff, huff!" Completely exhausted, Xiao Le gave a bitter smile and passed out.

In the morning, sunlight shone directly into the room.

Only then did Xiao Le wake up. The soreness in his body nearly made him cry out, and he hurriedly formed hand seals and began circulating his Dou Qi.

Peach-red lightning snakes of Dou Qi flowed out as they revolved with his Dou Qi vortex, nourishing his aching muscles.

"Two-Star Dou Zhe!"

Xiao Le was deeply disappointed that Thunder Art had not advanced.

After leaving behind a letter, Xiao Le departed from the Xiao Family.

Hundred Joy Hall.

The former headquarters of the Surging Waves Mercenary Group.

Hundred Joy Hall had gained many new faces and was flourishing, which made Xiao Le quite happy. Without needing anyone to announce him, Duan Quan arrived together with the four members of the Xiao Family.

At this point, with the help of the entries Xiao Le had provided, the four from the Xiao Family had already broken through to Dou Zhe. Every one of them was now a Dou Shi. Although Hundred Joy Hall still could not compare to other large mercenary groups in terms of foundation, and even fell short of some established mid-sized mercenary groups, that was because it still lacked top-tier combat power.

"Things have developed well. This time, I'm planning to visit that ancient tomb, but before I go, I intend to refine some pills to further develop Hundred Joy Hall." Xiao Le had been very satisfied with Duan Quan recently.

Duan Quan withdrew to arrange everything.

Before Xiao Le could begin refining pills, he still needed to do one thing: comprehend the power of creation within lightning. That was the most crucial aspect of being a lightning alchemist.

Unfortunately, Xiao Le's golden finger did not allow experience infusion to directly bring him to mastery. It was more like adding a film to his mind, one that he still had to comprehend for himself.

This process left Xiao Le without the slightest progress even after half a month, making him increasingly frustrated.

Wasn't lightning supposed to be violent, supremely yang, and utterly unyielding?

He reviewed the memories of experience in his mind again and again. Gradually, without even realizing it himself, Xiao Le became immersed in them.

For three days and nights straight, he did not eat a single bite. If Duan Quan had not recognized his state as the legendary enlightenment and prevented the others from waking him, Xiao Le might have missed this opportunity.

"Hahahaha!"

As Xiao Le threw back his head and laughed loudly, Duan Quan and the others were alerted and hurried over.

They saw Xiao Le staring at the lightning-attributed Dou Qi in his hand with a mesmerized expression.

"Boom!"

A three-legged, two-handled medicine cauldron half the height of a man crashed onto the ground, but Xiao Le paid it no attention.

With a wave of his hand, five hundred portions of medicinal ingredients prepared for practice piled up at his feet.

"Crackle!"

Peach-red lightning snakes shot into the medicine cauldron. Lightning also carried high temperatures, and the cauldron quickly became scorching hot.

Xiao Le's expression turned more serious. His gaze stayed fixed on the medicine cauldron as he carefully tossed in a medicinal herb. A miraculous sight appeared: when the herb met the extraordinarily hot lightning, it did not turn to ash.

Duan Quan and the others, watching from the side, hardly dared to breathe.

Strands of impurities within the herb drifted away amid flashes of lightning. Very soon, the herb turned into a handful of medicinal powder, wrapped in a streak of bright lightning and remaining completely unharmed.

"Success!"

Xiao Le was thrilled beyond measure. A lightning alchemist had officially been born—the future great alchemist, Xiao Le.

Perhaps because he was overly excited, he lost control for a moment and the medicinal powder turned to ash. But he was not discouraged. He continued by adding another herb, and with his earlier experience, this attempt went even more smoothly.