Tempering the Body with Lightning

Inside the room, Xiao Qing sat cross-legged, Green Spirit Flame roiling in his palm.

Only after refining the last precious herb Zi Yan had taken out into batches of pills and storing them in jade bottles did he slowly withdraw the flame.

"Here, your pills."

Xiao Qing raised the jade bottle in his hand, gesturing toward Zi Yan, who was happily munching on pills nearby.

Zi Yan's eyes lit up, and she happily stepped forward to take the jade bottle.

She carefully tucked the jade bottle into her Storage Ring, then patted Xiao Qing's shoulder with an air of seniority.

"Not bad. Although the energy contained in these pills can't compare to that first one you refined."

"Still, considering how loyal you are, if anyone in the Inner Academy bullies you in the future, just give them my name. I'll take care of them for you."

As she spoke, she did not forget to toss several more pills into her mouth, chewing as she said,

"So? Refining pills for me wasn't a loss, was it?"

Xiao Qing's forehead darkened. Was that how the word "loyal" was supposed to be used?

But seeing Zi Yan's innocent expression, he ultimately chose not to argue with her.

Xiao Qing opened his mouth, about to say something, when a commotion approached from outside the pavilion.

"Where is Xiao Qing? The leader of the Lion Gang is here! Why aren't you coming out to greet me at once?!"

An extremely arrogant voice reached their ears, making Xiao Qing immediately frown.

Zi Yan's expression beside him was not very pleasant either.

She had just said that she would look after Xiao Qing from now on, yet someone had immediately come looking for trouble. Wasn't that a slap in her face?

"Hmph, I'd like to see which blind fool dares cause trouble for you!"

Zi Yan's little face hardened as she stormed toward the outside of the pavilion.

Seeing this, Xiao Qing hurriedly got up and followed her.

Others might not know Zi Yan's strength, but how could he, who had read the original story, not know?

If he arrived even a step too late and this girl failed to control her strength, punching that so-called Lion Gang leader to death would be a real problem.

It had to be said that Xiao Qing had been quite farsighted.

By the time he arrived, several figures were already sprawled haphazardly across the ground outside the entrance.

The burly man at their head was so battered that his face was unrecognizable, foam spilling from his mouth.

Xiao Qing swore that he had not intentionally arrived late.

Only after confirming that none of them were in mortal danger did Xiao Qing finally let out a long breath.

It seemed he had worried too much. Zi Yan still knew how to hold back.

Zi Yan clapped her little hands and planted them on her hips. "So? Refining pills for me wasn't a loss, was it?"

Looking at the smug Zi Yan before him, Xiao Qing did not know whether to laugh or cry. Still, he eventually said seriously,

"Thank you for this. You saved me a great deal of trouble. If you need pills in the future, just come find me."

Zi Yan waved her hand. "I would have come looking for you even if you hadn't said so."

"Alright, I'm leaving first. If anyone dares come trouble you again, just tell me."

Seeing Zi Yan's carefree appearance, Xiao Qing could not help reminding her, "When you head into the mountains to gather herbs next time, remember to bring me along."

"Don't worry, I remember. I won't forget." Though she said that, Zi Yan's short little legs carried her away, and her figure vanished in just a few strides.

Seeing this, Xiao Qing shook his head, inwardly marveling that she truly was an Ancient Void Dragon. Her ability to wield spatial power was truly enviable.

After dragging the people lying on the ground away from the pavilion entrance, Xiao Qing turned and went back inside.

At the same time, news that the Brute Force King had stepped in to deal with the Lion Gang members for Xiao Qing spread to the other factions.

They all gave up on the idea of causing trouble for Xiao Qing. With the Lion Gang serving as an example, none of them dared test the Brute Force King's stance on the matter.

Xiao Qing also enjoyed a rare period of peace.

During the day, he cultivated in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. At night, he returned to his dormitory to refine pills. His days were quite fulfilling.

He immersed himself in daily improvement, until a stormy day arrived.

Inside the pavilion, Xiao Qing walked to the window and gazed at the sky, thick with dark clouds and faint flashes of lightning.

"I've finally waited long enough."

He did not choose to cultivate the Demonic Lightning Body in the dormitory, since using the Heavenly Thunder Guiding Method would cause far too much commotion.

Whether it disturbed others' cultivation or drew unnecessary attention, neither would be good for him.

In the vast mountains, lush green spread like spilled ink to the edge of sight, resembling an endless green ocean.

A whooshing sound suddenly rang out through the sea of trees as a figure rapidly flitted through the boundless forest.

Only after reaching a small hill at a high point did Xiao Qing stop.

Gazing at the endless forest around him, Xiao Qing inwardly clicked his tongue.

He seemed to have gone a little too deep. Would he run into any danger?

Yet before he could think further, a thunderous boom suddenly echoed through the sky concealed by dark clouds.

A dazzling bolt of lightning struck the mountain forest nearby, illuminating the surrounding peaks as brightly as day.

For some reason, Xiao Qing's legs trembled slightly at the sight.

But he ultimately gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and walked to a massive boulder atop the hill before sitting cross-legged on it.

Looking at the dark clouds overhead, Xiao Qing flipped his hand and took out the scroll containing the cultivation method for the Demonic Lightning Body from his Storage Ring.

He spread it open and read through it once more. Only after confirming that he had missed nothing did he put it back into his Storage Ring.

Xiao Qing slowly closed his eyes and began circulating the Heavenly Thunder Guiding Method recorded on the scroll.

Before long, arcs of lightning suddenly began flickering through the dark clouds above Xiao Qing's head.

The next instant, accompanied by a violent thunderclap, a thick bolt of lightning struck straight down at Xiao Qing.

Bzzzz!!!

Xiao Qing instantly felt his consciousness freeze and his ears go deaf as intense pain swept through his entire body.

Almost in an instant, Xiao Qing regained his senses. Gritting his teeth, he suppressed the pain surging through his body and laboriously began circulating the cultivation method of the Demonic Lightning Body.

Fine arcs of lightning coiled around the surface of his body. As the technique circulated, they gradually merged into his flesh.

At the same time, a black lightning pattern slowly condensed on Xiao Qing's chest. As the lightning arcs fused into it, it became increasingly deep and profound.

Time passed second by second. As Xiao Qing gradually absorbed the gains brought by that heavenly lightning, he felt his physical body strengthen considerably.

"This technique is pretty effective, but it's far too brutal."

Xiao Qing opened his eyes. Recalling the unbearable pain he had felt when the lightning struck, a trace of lingering fear flashed through his eyes.

At that moment, he had truly felt that he was about to die. If not for his astonishing willpower carrying him through, his outcome would not have been good.

After resting for a while, Xiao Qing took a deep breath and once again circulated the Heavenly Thunder Guiding Method.

Boom!!!

A thick bolt of lightning tore through the heavens and crashed down violently, scorching Xiao Qing's body black.