The rain lasted for a long time.
By the time the dark clouds receded, the sky had already turned pitch black, leaving only a crescent moon hanging high above. A cool breeze drifted through the mountains, carrying a bone-chilling cold.
"Hooo..."
Exhaling a breath of turbid air tainted with black smoke, Zhou Changqing felt a sense of relief wash over him, his entire body feeling cleansed and refreshed.
"It's been a while since I've felt like this."
He clenched his fists, feeling the considerable increase in his strength, and a smile spread across his face. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before his physical body surpassed the Dou Ling realm.
Tossing the iron wire aside, Zhou Changqing looked up and saw Medusa staring at him with a peculiar expression, which left him a little confused. He decided not to dwell on it.
He was unaware that, aside from the tattered remains of his pants, he was completely bare. His smoothly contoured, perfectly refined physique was on full display for Medusa to see.
Fortunately, Medusa was no blushing maiden. She felt no shyness, instead observing him openly. Still, there was a natural distinction between men and women, and staring at a young man with such a mouth-watering figure felt a bit awkward.
Awkwardness aside, Medusa noticed that Zhou Changqing's subtly bulging muscles, though not massive, were brimming with explosive power, as if forged from steel. His skin, moreover, radiated a faint golden luster. With her sharp eyes, she could tell that his physical body was incredibly formidable, perhaps no weaker than that of some high-level Dou Wangs.
After getting to his feet, Zhou Changqing immediately circulated his Dou Qi, condensing a portion of his lightning energy into an arc. He then used his Dou Qi to send it floating over to Medusa.
"Your Majesty, would you see how much stronger its essence has become?"
Medusa shifted her gaze from him to the arc of lightning. Without ceremony, she snatched it from the air and refined it in an instant. As she felt the state of her own bloodline's source, her beautiful eyes lit up.
"It is a bit stronger than before. It seems your method is indeed effective."
"But of course. I would not dare deceive Your Majesty," Zhou Changqing said with a smiling nod.
The moment he had finished his physical tempering, his keen perception had already told him that the essence of his lightning energy had grown a fraction stronger. While the increase seemed minuscule, with continued tempering, it would eventually lead to a qualitative change.
Medusa nodded as well. With this problem solved, her bloodline could once again improve steadily, and a weight lifted from her heart.
"Huh?!"
It was only then that Zhou Changqing finally noticed he was almost naked. He froze, completely dumbfounded. A moment later, he scrambled to pull a new set of clothes from his storage and hastily put them on.
Watching his slightly flustered and embarrassed state, Medusa couldn't help but let the corners of her lips curl up in a faint, private smile. Although this young man possessed world-class talent and a resilient mind, he was, at the end of the day, still just a youth.
Once he was dressed, Zhou Changqing led Medusa back to their dwelling at the foot of the mountain.
The cave was the same as before, fully furnished with everything they needed. However, two new stone doors had appeared on either side of the main chamber. Behind these doors were the bedrooms Zhou Changqing had arranged for himself and Queen Medusa. The main part of the cave now served as a living area. When he lived alone, such arrangements had been unnecessary, but now they were essential.
At that moment, Zhou Changqing was busy in the center of the cave. A small pot sat on a stone table, heated by a stove fire below. Inside, a rich, red broth bubbled, with spices rolling in the liquid and steam rising in fragrant clouds. He had already hunted, butchered, and cleaned a second-rank Magical Beast, slicing the meat into thin pieces and pairing it with crisp, refreshing wild vegetables. An otherworldly version of hot pot was ready.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Your Majesty? I've made some food. Would you care to join me?" Zhou Changqing called out, tapping lightly on her stone door.
He didn't really expect her to agree. It was simply a matter of courtesy, as they were living under the same roof.
Just as Zhou Changqing was about to turn away, the stone door creaked open.
Dressed in her red robes, Medusa emerged, her serpentine tail swaying gently behind her.
Seeing this, Zhou Changqing was rather taken aback.
Ignoring his stare, Medusa gracefully slithered to the stone table and took a seat. She didn't pick up her chopsticks, instead looking at Zhou Changqing. Her meaning was obvious: she was waiting for him to join her. He had cooked the meal and politely invited her; though Medusa was domineering, she was not entirely without manners.
"Oh, right."
Understanding her silent gesture, Zhou Changqing hurried over and sat down as well.
"Please, help yourself, Your Majesty. I won't stand on ceremony."
After saying his piece, Zhou Changqing began to eat with gusto.
Medusa didn't reply, instead sampling the food with a slow, deliberate grace. The spicy, slightly numbing flavor, combined with the tender texture of the meat, was a unique delicacy. Even for someone like her, who hadn't eaten mortal food in a long time, it was an enjoyable experience.
Ever since his adoptive parents had passed away, Zhou Changqing had lived on his own. All these years, he had cooked for himself. Combined with the culinary knowledge from his past life, his skills in the kitchen, while perhaps not the best on the Dou Qi Continent, could certainly be called delicious.
"When you draw the lightning, relying on natural strikes is rather inefficient," Medusa said suddenly, interrupting their meal.
Zhou Changqing slowed his eating, replying as he chewed, "I don't have a choice. I can't guide the lightning to strike the lightning rod directly, so I can only wait for it to fall on its own."
That iron pillar was called a lightning rod? But it was used to attract lightning, so why give it such a name? A flicker of confusion passed through Medusa's eyes, but she didn't pursue the thought.
Coating her hand in a layer of Dou Qi, she elegantly wiped the grease from her lips and looked at Zhou Changqing, who was still eating. "This Queen may have a way to draw the heavenly lightning down to strike only that... lightning rod of yours," she said, her red lips parting slightly.
"Hmm?!"
Zhou Changqing's hand, holding his chopsticks, froze mid-air. He snapped his head up to look at the bewitching woman across from him, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Gulp. Really?!" he asked hurriedly after quickly swallowing the food in his mouth.
Medusa gave a slight, affirming nod. This was the very reason she had come out of her room—to tell him this.
"That's fantastic! If we can do that, the rate at which my lightning essence strengthens will increase dramatically!" Zhou Changqing exclaimed in delight upon receiving her confirmation.
A restless energy stirred within him; he wished a thunderstorm would arrive right then and there so they could test it immediately.
Are you really just happy that my essence will grow stronger? Aren't you just thrilled that you'll be able to increase your own strength faster?
Medusa saw through his thoughts in an instant. His words seemed to be for her benefit, but his joy was for himself. However, since the matter was mutually beneficial, she didn't mind.
After they finished eating, they each returned to their own stone rooms to rest.
The sun rose and the moon set, the days turning into nights. In the blink of an eye, the third day arrived, and with it, another thunderstorm.
This time, things were different. As Zhou Changqing began his lightning tempering, Medusa did not stand idly by.
Spreading her Dou Qi wings, she soared high into the sky. Her Dou Qi surged out of her like a mighty river, bathing the dim sky in a brilliant crimson light!
"RUMBLE!"
A bolt of heavenly lightning struck down, but it was not heading for the peak where Zhou Changqing was.
Medusa's eyes narrowed. The instant the lightning appeared, she stretched out a jade-like hand, and a torrent of Dou Qi condensed around it. The Dou Qi formed a chain that latched firmly onto the bolt of lightning!
Then, with a powerful tug of her arm, the lightning, which was meant to strike elsewhere, was forcefully wrenched off its course, changing its trajectory to slam directly into the iron pillar on the mountain peak!
Catching this sight from the corner of his eye, Zhou Changqing's mind reeled in shock.
To alter the path of heavenly lightning!
The power of a peak Dou Huang expert... was terrifying to behold