The Yao Clan never reached a final agreement on the proposed marriage between their so-called demon daughter and the Thunder Clan.
As Lei Qi's group prepared to depart, the Medicine Clan offered polite words but little warmth — they clearly weren't eager to push further.
Lei Qi didn't care in the slightest.
In his eyes, women were not prizes to be traded but goals to be earned.
And in this world, he believed one truth above all:
As long as one was strong enough, no woman was beyond reach.
The wind howled as their spatial craft cut through the void. Lei Qi leaned back against the railing, his expression calm, yet his gaze distant.
The Soul Clan's thousand-year plan… it's already begun counting down, he thought.
But there's still time — enough for me to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Soul Emperor himself.
He clenched his hand, black lightning crackling faintly across his palm.
Lei Qi's confidence didn't come from arrogance — but from certainty.
After all, his greatest trump card wasn't his talent.
It was the thing inside him — that mysterious, devouring black lightning — a force that even Dou Shengs couldn't comprehend.
Despite the failed alliance, the journey to the Yao Clan hadn't been a waste.
His understanding of alchemy had grown exponentially, though he knew he'd reached the limit of what self-study could achieve.
Without a proper master, his techniques would remain rough — unrefined.
Still, for now, his focus lay elsewhere.
The Fallen Heart Flame within Canaan Academy was calling to him.
It might not be the most powerful of the Heavenly Flames, but its potential was immense.If he could fuse it with his black lightning… the results would be unimaginable.
And unlike Xiao Yan's "Burning Technique," Lei Qi had no desire to become a slave to flame cycles. He would forge his own path — one of lightning and fire intertwined, destruction and rebirth as one.
After leaving the Medicine Realm, they once again entered the spatial wormhole, guided by Mang Tianchi.
Traveling under the protection of a Semi-Saint made the journey smooth. Even the most arrogant factions of Central Continent would not dare to provoke a being of such strength.
In this age where no true Dou Di walked the land and Dou Shengs were the summit of power, a Semi-Saint was already akin to a god.
For two days, their voyage was silent and uneventful — until Lei Qi finally opened his eyes.
"Elder Mang, how long until we reach the northwest region?"
Mang Tianchi, who stood by the deck, answered calmly, "We're still in the Central Region — near the Dan Domain. We've entered the Danta's sphere of influence."
Lei Qi's lips curved into a faint smile. "The Danta, huh?"
He gazed out at the endless stretch of clouds. "I've heard there are five great families serving under them. Maybe I'll capture a few talented alchemists to teach me how to refine properly."
Mang Tianchi nearly tripped over his robe.
"C–capture…?" he stammered.
Lei Qi looked at him innocently. "What? It's just talent scouting."
Mang Tianchi pinched the bridge of his nose. "You do realize the Danta Patriarch is one of the most powerful people alive, yes? Even the Dou Di Clans prefer not to provoke him. Kidnapping his disciples is… unwise."
Lei Qi shrugged. "Don't worry. If they mind, I'll let them go. If they don't—well, everyone wins."
Mang Tianchi could only sigh. The boy's fearlessness bordered on madness — yet somehow, he made it sound entirely reasonable.
Soon, the spatial tunnel opened before them, revealing a brilliant white light.
They stepped through and emerged atop a vast stone platform, suspended high above the earth. It was constructed entirely from pure white jade, hundreds of meters tall, supported by colossal pillars carved with ancient runes.
The air itself shimmered with spatial distortion — dark cracks flickering like thin lightning veins in the sky.
Below, the sprawling city stretched outward — elegant towers and pill furnaces lining every street. This was no ordinary settlement. This was Cao City — the heart of the Cao Family, one of the Five Great Houses serving under Danta.
"This is the Cao Family's territory. They're the strongest among the five. Even Danta's elders treat them with respect."
Lei Qi's eyes flickered with recognition. "Cao Family…?"
A faint smile crept onto his lips. "Ah. Then she must be here."
Cao Ying.
Known throughout Zhongzhou (the central plains) as the Witch of the Cao Family.
She was a legend even among alchemists — born with terrifying spiritual power, her first cry as an infant nearly killed her mother.
At seven, she became an alchemist. At fifteen, she was accepted by Danta as a core disciple. After five years in seclusion, she returned as the youngest seventh-grade alchemist in Cao history.
And by twenty-two, she had already mastered three-colored flames and refined eighth-grade elixirs.
A woman with no Dou Di bloodline, yet with talent that defied the heavens.
Lei Qi chuckled quietly. "A witch indeed… to reach such heights without divine lineage."
He tilted his head slightly, the corner of his mouth curving. "When Xiao Yan was her age, he'd just reached Dou Zong. She was already refining eighth-grade pills."
He crossed his arms, eyes gleaming with lightning.
"Someone like that… should be by my side."
Mang Tianchi noticed the spark in his eyes and couldn't help smiling. "Don't tell me you're planning to recruit her too?"
Lei Qi smirked. "Recruit? No. That kind of woman isn't recruited."
He looked up at the swirling sky, lightning flashing in his pupils.
"She's conquered."