Zhang Xiaohua was no stranger to heavenly lightning. Back when the first wisp of true qi had appeared in his meridians, and when he had tried to save the herbs of Huanxi Mountain Villa, he had attempted to draw down lightning. He still remembered vividly the sensation of being struck by heavenly lightning and had found it hard to contemplate trying it again. Yet the bolt before his eyes gave Zhang Xiaohua a reminder.
"I seem to have drawn down heavenly lightning twice before. The first time was accidental. I happened to be about to fall asleep, so I never tasted the lightning's power. But when I woke the next day, true qi had appeared in my body, and Big Dipper Divine Fist seemed to have advanced a level as well. The second time was deliberate. I drew it down too early, and the heavenly lightning struck my body, knocking me unconscious outright. Fortunately, it was midnight then too. That feeling was unforgettable, carved into my bones. It truly hurt terribly, but the pain brought abundant rewards. The herbs were saved, my true qi seemed to have increased considerably, Big Dipper Divine Fist advanced another level, and a great deal of black grime emerged from my body. It was very much like the marrow cleansing described in the heart sutra. Every time lightning struck me, I gained something, and my body showed no abnormalities. If I could be struck by lightning more often, wouldn't I gain even more benefits?"
At that thought, Zhang Xiaohua was frightened by his own wild fancy.
He Tianshu had once warned him not to practice internal arts during thunderstorms, lest he suffer Qi Deviation. Yet Zhang Xiaohua was actually seeking out thunderstorms to draw lightning.
Still, the martial path and the immortal path were different.