Three days later...
Jian Long reached out and picked up a slice of flying fish.
The moment he placed it in his mouth, its rich flavor spread across his tongue. The meat was so tender that it almost melted in his mouth, with a buttery, rich taste and a slight sweetness, accompanied by a deep oceanic flavor yet completely free of bitterness or any strong, fishy odor.
This dish was the restaurant's signature main course at Quanjude Restaurant, an establishment located on one of the corners of Tie Street.
Jian Long had discovered it during his daily outings around the city, part of which he had begun spending on sampling and evaluating seafood restaurants.
It was a new hobby he had picked up over the past few days.
While enjoying his meal, an open book rested before him.
He lowered his gaze to its pages and read through a chapter concerning Cloud Path.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"Cloud Path... truly a mysterious and obscure Path."
He slowly turned the page and continued reading.
The information regarding Cloud Path was extremely scarce. The Path had not demonstrated much usefulness in combat, as it possessed no particularly powerful offensive or defensive methods.
Its most famous application was movement.
Therefore, most of the available information focused on using clouds for travel and transportation, which was not particularly useful to Jian Long.
He frowned as he turned the pages, then began thinking seriously.
"I've noticed that Cloud Path has a close relationship with Water Path, Lightning Path, Ice Path, and Snow Path. In many cases, it can produce or manipulate these things."
"But the question is... do clouds themselves transform into lightning, water, snow, and ice? Or do clouds merely store them?"
He paused for a moment.
"If the first possibility is correct, then can the process be reversed? In other words... can I turn lightning back into clouds?But if the second possibility is correct... then how can I use clouds to store lightning?"
Jian Long did not believe that clouds were merely condensed water vapor.
It was true that the most common phenomenon in this world was similar to what he knew from Earth. Clouds produced rain or snow, sometimes accompanied by lightning.
But there were many exceptions that could not be ignored.
In the region where the Metal Dragon lived, located between the Central Continent and the Southern Border, there were clouds that produced only lightning without a single drop of water.
And that was not the only example.
There were also places where clouds rained fire, while others released rocks, and there were even more bizarre phenomena.
If all clouds are merely condensed water vapor Then how can all these phenomena be explained?
Jian Long picked up a cup of Bell Fruit juice. Its color was a brilliant golden hue, resembling molten gold.
He took a sip to help wash down his food. A sweet, sour, and fragrant flavor spread across his mouth, followed by a refreshing sensation throughout his body, as if he had suddenly become lighter and more comfortable.
He then picked up another slice of flying fish meat and began to think.
"I sent those purple crystals to one of the laboratories, and the examination confirmed that despite their solid structure, they are actually made of clouds."
"This means that clouds can maintain a solid form and even possess a slow rate of decay."
"Their ability to produce lightning is also far greater than that of ordinary clouds."
Jian Long set the slice of meat aside and furrowed his brows.
"I'm thinking of a way to store lightning in the form of crystalline clouds beneath my skin, like tattoos."
"When I use Blue Bird Gu, instead of releasing the lightning directly, I could channel it into a network of crystalline clouds beneath my skin, extending from the palm of my hand throughout the rest of my body."
"This way, I could store the lightning I produce... and then release the stored amount all at once whenever necessary."
But a problem soon emerged.
"However, to carry out this idea, I first need to understand how clouds are formed I need to ask an expert."
As he thought about it, he took out a small sheet of paper and placed it in front of him.
A specific residential address was written on it.
The previous day, he had used the Researcher Device to search for information related to Cloud Path, but he had found nothing useful.
So he changed his approach and asked whether there was any expert with deep knowledge of Cloud Path.
The device then told him about an old man named Yunfei.
The man specialized in using solid clouds for transporting goods and in construction, and he possessed many years of experience in the field.
Jian Long contacted him, and after a brief conversation, the old man invited him to his home that evening to discuss the matter.
...
That evening...
Jian Long stood before a large residence in the northwestern part of the city.
As he admired the beauty of the white front wall, his eyes moved across the intricate carvings depicting birds and trees, until the red front door of the house opened.
An old man stepped out.
His gray hair was messy, falling down both sides of his head until it reached his shoulders. A thick and long beard and mustache surrounded his face, so dense that it was almost impossible to see his mouth.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long."
Yunfei's voice was deep and warm, with a slight roughness brought on by his advanced age. Despite that, it still retained a noticeable liveliness.
Jian Long replied politely,
"No, of course not. In fact, I was enjoying admiring the carvings on your home's wall. Whoever carved them was a true artist."
He tried to make his tone as courteous as possible.
He realized that leaving a good impression on the old man could prove useful, especially since he had come to him seeking knowledge.
As soon as Yunfei heard his words, he let out a deep laugh that made his large belly shake.
"You have a discerning eye despite your young age! I carved these carvings myself when I was young. In fact, the entire house was designed by me, and I was also the one who supervised its construction..."
He suddenly stopped, as if remembering something.
"Oh! Where are my manners? Come in, come in!"
The old man stepped away from the entrance and invited him inside.
Jian Long entered the house as Yunfei closed the door behind him, and the two began walking farther inside.