Boom!
Thunder exploded across the valley, lighting up the darkened sky as the first summer storm of July poured down in sheets of rain.
It was also the first rain since Yang Yunhai returned to the academy — the first lightning strike to fall since he came back.
"Hmm."
In their rooms, Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing were both startled awake, as was Dugu Yan in the room next door.
"Come back safely." Zhu Zhuqing quickly said when she saw Yang Yunhai rising, already knowing what he intended to do.
"Of course." Yang Yunhai smiled faintly and strode out.
He pushed open the wooden door, leapt into the rain, and soon settled himself on a clearing in the distance.
Golden arcs of lightning flickered across the ground. A moment later, thunder snakes rolled through the clouds.
Boom!
A lightning bolt as thick as a leg crashed down.
The current pierced through his body instantly. Inside the soul bone, Yiner trembled under the strike, unable to stop a pained cry.
"Ah!"
"Yiner!?" Yang Yunhai's expression changed as he gritted his teeth to endure.
"Yun, I'm fine… it just hurts a little." Yiner's voice shook, but she forced herself to sound steady. "I can hold on."
"If you feel like the next strike will actually injure you, tell me immediately." Yang Yunhai said firmly.
"Mm, I know."
Reassured, Yang Yunhai drew more lightning. He controlled the pace, giving Yiner moments between strikes to recover.
Boom!
Another bolt fell. Then, three seconds later, another.
"Mm…" Yiner knelt inside the soul bone's space, biting her lip to endure as golden light faintly rippled around her.
A fourth, then a fifth strike fell.
The repeated thunder soon drew Dugu Yan's attention. She stepped to the window and froze.
Her beautiful eyes widened. "That's…!?"
On the clearing, lightning was striking directly onto a seated figure.
"Xiao Hai!?" She could just make out his face under the storm, and her heart trembled.
'He's actually drawing lightning into his body to cultivate!?'
Knock, knock.
A knock came from her door.
"Yan Yan, can I come in?"
It was Zhu Zhuqing's voice.
Dugu Yan quickly collected herself and hurried to open the door. "Zhuqing, Xiao Hai, he…"
"Just as you saw, Xiao Hai is training by guiding lightning." Zhu Zhuqing's tone was calm.
"I'll definitely keep this secret for him!" Dugu Yan promised immediately, forcing down her shock.
Zhu Zhuqing only nodded, stepping inside to the window. Her gaze fell on the distant figure bathed in thunderlight. Her eyes showed both worry and pride as she quietly explained, "Xiao Hai's martial soul has lightning within it."
She briefly shared how Yang Yunhai's martial soul had a flaw, and how for years he had tempered himself with lightning to grow stronger.
Dugu Yan's eyes widened further. "So Xiao Hai actually…"
Looking at the silhouette beneath the storm, she felt deep respect rising inside.
'To use your own body to receive lightning… even knowing it could help cultivation, who else would dare to do this?'
Boom, boom!
Lightning flashed again.
"Yun, I can't endure anymore…" Yiner's trembling voice came inside him.
Yang Yunhai stopped drawing thunder at once. His body was stiff, numb, his muscles twitching with faint tearing pain. Even breathing felt difficult.
"Cough…" He pressed his chest.
"Yun, are you alright?" Yiner's anxious voice came.
"I'm fine. I'm used to this. A bit of rest and I'll be fine." He smiled.
"Yun… I'm sorry. I'm too weak." Yiner whispered.
"Don't say that. You've always been helping your husband greatly." Yang Yunhai replied softly.
Hearing him call himself her husband, Yiner's face lit up with a smile. "Husband, I'll work harder, I promise."
Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly. 'She's really grown wiser since the tournament trip.' He gave a quiet, "Mm."
Splashing footsteps came. Zhu Zhuqing arrived, drenched in rain, Dugu Yan close behind her.
The water-soaked fabric clung to their curves, flashing under the lightning.
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, only came forward and slipped an arm around Yang Yunhai's waist to steady him. He leaned into her support.
"Xiao Hai, amazing! In all my life I've barely admired anyone, but you absolutely count." Dugu Yan's eyes glowed with awe.
Yang Yunhai smiled and teased, "Yan Yan, before we turn into three soaked chickens, let's head back inside."
Realizing her state, Dugu Yan glanced down and flushed red. She spun around, tugging at her clothes. "Since it's fine, I'll head back first!" She rushed off in embarrassment.
"She really is impulsive." Yang Yunhai shook his head lightly.
Zhu Zhuqing only nodded faintly. She hadn't stopped her earlier — when Dugu Yan said she was going to help, she simply followed.
Back inside, Zhu Zhuqing helped him into the bath.
This time, Yang Yunhai enjoyed the care and naturally didn't resist.
"Yun, I feel like I've grown stronger." Yiner's voice whispered later, tinged with surprise.
"Oh?" Yang Yunhai raised his brows. "Come out and let me see."
Yiner emerged, radiant and ethereal, eyes sparkling.
Yang Yunhai looked her over. Her figure was unchanged. 'Could lightning temper her soul itself? Just like how I strengthen my will and spirit under lightning?'
He didn't fully understand — the soul was a mystery to him still. But it had to be a good thing.
"Perhaps the lightning refined your soul. Whatever it is, it's good."
"Mm!" Yiner nodded happily.
Yang Yunhai then turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "I've gained a lot too. Just this session pushed me straight past soul rank 38. Normally I'd need a month of work to break through like that."
"It must be because of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot. They strengthened my body so much that I can draw more lightning power and turn it into cultivation. If only I could absorb more at once, I could probably jump all the way to soul rank 40."
But he held back — for Yiner's sake. He wouldn't risk her spirit being harmed again.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled. "The body needs time to adapt. Too fast a leap can hurt more than help. We're back in the valley now, safe enough. You can wait for the next storm."
Yang Yunhai nodded, and returned to cultivating until near dawn.
The next morning, Yiner curled against his chest, giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek before drifting into sleep.
Days passed in steady training.
At the end of the month-long break, on the very last day, Yu Tianheng entered Qin Ming's office.
"Teacher Qin Ming, I request to leave the team."
Qin Ming froze. "Why?"
Yu Tianheng lowered his head, pain flashing in his eyes. "I've broken up with Yan Yan."
Silence fell. After a long moment Qin Ming sighed. "Have you really thought this through?"
"I have."
"Where will you go then?"
"I'll join the second team for now," Yu Tianheng said. He thought of his uncle's squad, but remembered Dugu Yan's words and hesitated. He didn't want to trouble his uncle.
Qin Ming thought it over. "That works. When Dean Flender arrives, the second team will need someone of your strength. It'll balance both squads."
"Thank you, Teacher Qin Ming." Yu Tianheng bowed slightly and left.
Later that day, Dugu Yan came to Qin Ming. Her beauty and aura had grown even stronger after her training in the valley.
"Teacher Qin Ming, I'd like to request leave for a time. I'm about to reach soul rank 40 and want to enter seclusion to focus on my breakthrough."
Qin Ming smiled. "That's excellent. Approved."
He suspected she also wanted distance from Yu Tianheng, but didn't say so.
The next morning, all team members assembled. Qin Ming told them gravely: "I need to inform you all, Tianheng has officially left the squad. With the council's approval, he has joined the second team."
Gasps and surprise rippled through the group — all except Yang Yunhai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ye Lingling, who already knew.
Yu Feng glanced around, then lowered his voice to ask, "Teacher Qin Ming, what about Sister Yan Yan? Why isn't she here?"
"She's gone into seclusion to break through to soul rank 40," Qin Ming explained.
Yu Feng hesitated, then leaned closer, "Teacher… was it because of her and the captain…?"
"Private matters are not for us to pry into." Qin Ming's voice sharpened. He clapped his hands to change the subject. "Let's focus on training. The last two months of combat training revealed both strengths and flaws. From now on, we'll refine, patch up weaknesses, and prepare for the next stage."
The group listened closely as he laid out the plan.
The days passed in steady rhythm once again.
(End of Chapter)
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