Chapter 103: The Heavenly Thunder Formation

After much coaxing and persuasion from Zhou Qi, Huang Qianqian finally agreed to his request to install a railing. The reason was simple: Zhou Qi produced another flame, causing the proud phoenix to once again abandon her principles.

Zhou Qi spent over two hours meticulously crafting the railing to ensure it was both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing, only for the flight across to take a mere two minutes.

Having crossed the chasm, Huang Qianqian noticed Zhou Qi was reluctant to discard the railing, wondering where he had stowed it away. She asked suspiciously, "What are you keeping that for? Surely you don't still intend to ride me? Don't even think about it. That was a one-time exception; principles must not be broken."

"Senior, please do not misunderstand. I am merely keeping it as a memento," Zhou Qi thought to himself, deciding it was best not to bring up her so-called principles.

*Roar...* A dragon's cry echoed, causing Zhou Qi to tense up. He had heard it clearly this time. Were there truly living dragons inside?

"Senior, did you hear that sound?" Zhou Qi asked.

"The cry of a dying dragon, filled with resentment," Huang Qianqian replied.

A dying dragon? There really was a living dragon here. He wondered if there were others; if so, this journey would be arduous indeed. If things went south, he could always unbind the giant dragon’s mate and have her explain things; perhaps they could turn enemies into friends, Zhou Qi calculated.

Next should be the Heavenly Thunder Array. Having been struck by lightning before and possessing the breaking method provided by the giant dragon, he knew that as long as he didn't do anything reckless, passing through shouldn't be difficult. It was time to pick up the pace; he didn't know how much longer Xiu'er’s Golden Core could hold out.

Huang Qianqian transformed back into a bird and perched on Zhou Qi’s shoulder, claiming it saved energy. Zhou Qi had no choice but to let her be, though her beak never stopped moving. *Doesn't talking consume energy?* he wondered.

Moreover, the combination of a man and a bird was easily misinterpreted. In his past life, people would surely say, "Look, here comes the bird-man." Luckily, there was no internet here.

***

Walking over twenty kilometers along the rugged mountain path, the sky grew increasingly gloomy. Dark clouds gathered, lightning flickered across the firmament, and the faint rumble of thunder reached his ears. Zhou Qi knew he was nearing the Heavenly Thunder Array.

After another five kilometers, countless stone pillars blocked his path. The tops of the pillars were completely shrouded in black clouds, their height invisible. Lightning struck repeatedly, accompanied by deafening thunderclaps that exploded near his ears.

Zhou Qi stood at the perimeter, observing and silently reciting the breaking method passed on by the giant dragon: enter from the side of the second pillar, move five meters, turn right and walk twenty meters, move forward ten meters, turn left and walk fifteen meters...

"Hmph, they call this a Heavenly Thunder Array? The Dragon Clan’s skill is small, but their boasting is quite grand," Huang Qianqian said with disdain as she looked at the formation.

Zhou Qi ignored her. Having been harmed by the Dragon Clan, she naturally harbored resentment, so he let her remarks slide. She might look down on it, but the power was not necessarily weak for him. Although he had experienced a lightning tribulation when he reached the Foundation Establishment stage—which was not only long but powerful—he might not have survived it if not for the recovery pill given by Aunt Bing.

Following the giant dragon's instructions, Zhou Qi entered from the side of the second pillar. The moment he stepped inside, he felt electricity gathering overhead. This method didn't prevent him from being struck; it merely mitigated the power. Zhou Qi stood his ground, waiting solemnly; he wanted to test the strength of this heavenly thunder.

*Rumble...* The thunder grew louder and more urgent, carrying the scent of ozone that left him feeling stifled.

Finally, a bolt of thunder struck him directly on the crown of his head. Zhou Qi felt his entire body go numb, but he remained uninjured. His defense was formidable; this spark of lightning could not affect him.

*The power is nothing special,* Zhou Qi thought, feeling reassured. He continued along the designated route, shivering occasionally as lightning struck, before continuing forward.

Two-thirds of the way through, with only a third remaining, his penchant for recklessness flared. He decided to deviate from the route to test the true power of the thunder, planning to retreat immediately if things went wrong.

He acted on the thought, stepping toward the adjacent pillar. The moment he entered, a deluge of lightning poured down, engulfing him.

*Damn it,* Zhou Qi cursed inwardly. He braced himself against the barrage and scrambled to retreat, but the lightning did not vanish; it pursued him relentlessly. Forced into a corner, he had no choice but to endure.

Bolt after bolt struck his body, shredding his clothes once more. The power of these strikes was a hundred times greater than those on the prescribed route. His body remained in a state of constant paralysis, his jade-like skin covered in lightning-scorched marks.

***

After quite some time, Zhou Qi finally adapted to the paralysis. His hair stood on end, and every muscle in his body trembled. Having stepped out and retreated, he realized he was no longer on the original path, and the reference pillars had changed. Helpless, he proceeded in the general direction.

*Boom! Roar!* The lightning before him coalesced into a dragon shape—a thunder dragon, its scales, whiskers, and head clearly visible. It lunged at him, claws bared. Zhou Qi was startled, clenching his fist to strike the oncoming beast.

The thunder dragon felt tangible, as if he were striking a wall of solid steel. Its claws left deep gashes on his body, but the dragon persisted. Zhou Qi had no choice but to absorb the blows, punching the dragon’s head repeatedly.

After countless strikes, the dragon’s head exploded. It shivered and gradually dissolved into a pool of liquid light, which seeped into Zhou Qi’s body. The moment it entered his flesh, he felt as if his very cells were being cleansed; his minor injuries healed instantly, and his physical strength grew slightly.

*Being struck by lightning has such benefits?* Zhou Qi was overjoyed, eager to encounter more.

Before long, two more thunder dragons appeared, lunging from either side. Zhou Qi charged, his eyes filled with the bloodthirsty excitement of a predator. Fighting both, his hair and eyebrows were singed. One dragon bit his arm, leaving a row of puncture marks and blood, even though his body was as durable as a man-made spiritual weapon.

Seeming not to feel the pain, Zhou Qi focused only on attacking. After a long struggle, the two dragons dissipated, their liquid essence healing his wounds and further strengthening his physique.

Five thunder dragons...
Ten thunder dragons...

All were shattered by his fists. Still unsatisfied, Zhou Qi took a single step, finding himself outside the array. Huang Qianqian had stayed on his shoulder throughout, standing perfectly still as if the lightning were completely harmless to her.

Once clear of the formation, Huang Qianqian flew into the black clouds above. Soon, she returned, and the clouds dissipated, leaving no trace of thunder behind.