Inside his quarters, Zhou Yu sat quietly.His eyes were closed as his spiritual energy flowed.In front of him, a tiny sword hovered between his fingers.It was only the size of a finger, yet it carried a sharp and dangerous aura.
The Fast Sword Technique.
Zhou Yu focused completely on controlling the tiny sword.The technique did not rely on size or appearance. The smaller the sword, the faster and more precise it could become.A moment later, the tiny sword trembled before disappearing.
Zhou Yu opened his eyes.He had been cultivating for a long time, trying to perfect his control.Before he could continue, a knock came from outside.
"Junior brother Zhou, are you inside?"
Hearing the voice, Zhou Yu stood up and opened the door.His senior brother and senior sister stood outside.
"Senior brother, senior sister."
They entered his quarters.His senior brother looked at him and smiled.
"You have been cultivating seriously these days."
Zhou Yu nodded.
"The competition is approaching."
His senior sister sat down and looked at him.
"We came because we wanted to ask you something."
Zhou Yu became curious.
"What is it?"
His senior brother smiled.
"Are you interested in an opportunity?"
Zhou Yu looked at them.
"What opportunity?"
His senior sister answered.
"We know the location of a Thunder Lotus."
Zhou Yu's expression changed.A Thunder Lotus was an extremely rare treasure containing pure lightning energy. It could greatly benefit someone who cultivated lightning-related abilities.
"Where is it?"
"Stormfall Valley."
His senior brother continued.
"It is near the Imperial City, close to the Blood Heaven Sect's territory."
Zhou Yu thought to himself
The Blood Heaven Sect controlled a powerful region, and any treasure near their territory would not be easy to obtain.
His senior brother continued.
"We discovered its location by chance. However, obtaining it will not be simple.The valley is dangerous, and there may be other cultivators who have discovered the same thing."
His senior sister looked at Zhou Yu.
"That is why we came to ask you.We need another person with strength if we want a better chance of obtaining the Thunder Lotus."
Zhou Yu understood.They were not simply offering him an opportunity.They wanted his help.But a Thunder Lotus was indeed a valuable treasure.After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yu nodded.
"When do we leave?"
His senior brother smiled.
"Tomorrow."
The next morning, the three of them departed.Their destination was Stormfall Valley.The journey toward the Imperial City region took several days.Along the way, they crossed through forests and mountain paths, encountering many cultivators traveling in the same direction.
The closer they got to Stormfall Valley, the darker the sky became.Thunder clouds covered the heavens.Lightning occasionally flashed in the distance.Finally, they arrived.
Stormfall Valley.
A place where lightning had gathered for countless years.The moment they entered, Zhou Yu could feel the terrifying pressure in the air.
His senior sister spoke.
"Be careful. This place is dangerous. The Thunder Lotus has survived here because of the environment protecting it."
They continued deeper into the valley.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning struck nearby, causing the ground to shake.No one spoke.They all understood.The closer they got, the more dangerous it became.
After traveling for several hours, they finally reached the center of the valley.There, surrounded by countless lightning currents, stood a stone platform.On top of it was a single lotus.Purple petals.Lightning flowing around it.
The Thunder Lotus.
The three looked at it.But none of them moved.Because they all felt it.The treasure was not unguarded.The moment they stepped closer
Rumble!
The entire Stormfall Valley trembled.The thunder clouds above gathered together. The thunderclouds above twisted like a living sea.Lightning gathered in thick spirals, converging toward the center of Stormfall Valley.Then a pillar of lightning descended.
BOOM!!
It struck the ground not far from the stone platform, splitting the earth open and forcing the three of them to step back instantly.Zhou Yu narrowed his eyes.
"This isn't just natural lightning…"
His senior sister's expression turned serious.
"It's the will of the valley. The Thunder Lotus is protected by a formed lightning spirit."
As she spoke, the shattered ground began to glow.Cracks of light spread outward like veins.From within the lightning, something slowly rose.A humanoid shape made entirely of crackling thunder.Its body had no clear face—only shifting arcs of electricity where features should be. Every movement it made caused the air itself to tremble.
The Lightning Spirit.
It stood between them and the Thunder Lotus.Then it moved.Without warning, it raised its hand.A bolt of compressed lightning shot forward.
Fast,Deadly.
Zhou Yu's senior brother reacted instantly, pulling them aside as the ground behind them exploded.The impact left a deep, burning scar in the earth.
"This thing… it's not weak,"
the senior brother muttered.
The Lightning Spirit tilted its head slightly, as if sensing them.Then it raised both hands.The clouds above responded immediately.Dozens of lightning spears formed in the sky.
They pointed downward.
All aimed at the three intruders.Zhou Yu's eyes sharpened.Even without speaking, they all understood the situation now.If they wanted the Thunder Lotus They had to pass this trial first.
The lightning spears fell.
WHOOSH!!
The battlefield erupted in white light.Explosions of thunder and earth shook Stormfall Valley as the three scattered in different directions to avoid the barrage
Zhou Yu slid across the ground, barely avoiding a strike that melted the stone beside him.
He looked up.
The Lightning Spirit was already turning toward him.It had chosen its target.And in that moment he used the fast sword technique the thunder spirit dispersed he calmed but in an instant it came back it shot lightning spears at him before he could even dodge
It tore a part of his clothing the senior brother acted next he formed a hand seal.A massive blade-shaped spiritual construct condensed in the air and slashed downward like a falling mountain.The Lightning Spirit raised its arm.
BOOM!
The attack exploded against a wall of lightning.At the same time, his senior sister moved like a shadow.She appeared behind the spirit, releasing a spinning arc of energy that cut across its back.Sparks scattered violently, but the spirit did not fall.