Chapter 214

Chapter 214: Venturing Deeper into the Storm Sea

"Heavenly fire storm?"

These four words immediately revived Lou Yun. Somehow finding strength, he flipped over and sat up. "Brother Chang, are you saying this storm sea houses a heavenly fire storm?"

Chang Xiang deliberately mocked him, "Didn’t you claim nothing outweighs survival? It’s just a heavenly fire storm. Forget it. Better save your life!"

Lou Yun knew Chang Xiang teased him but felt no anger. He chuckled, "Brother Chang, you know my condition better than I do. Even if I’m interested, my body can’t cooperate. Let’s chat casually! What’s the heavenly fire storm about?"

Chang Xiang paused before answering, "The term ‘heavenly fire storm’ speaks for itself. Legend says it emerged as the first spark from the world’s earliest lightning. Ranked ninth among the Eighteen Known Heavenly Fires, its raw power—or rather, its offensive might when wielded as a weapon—is unmatched."

Lou Yun nodded. "That must be because lightning carries the fiercest assault force, making its attacks supreme."

"Exactly!" Chang Xiang continued. "Beyond scorching heat, it unleashes thunder and lightning. A single ball of Thunderstorm Fire could devastate entire swathes."

Chang Xiang almost continued but hesitated. Since witnessing impossible transformations in Lou Yun’s Fusang Fire, he knew his knowledge of heavenly fires wasn’t as complete as he’d thought.

Lou Yun’s interest flared despite the simplicity of the description. "Sounds incredible! If I absorbed it, who knows what might happen? Ah, but with zero spiritual energy left, even moving is agony. Otherwise, I’d go out and witness it!"

Chang Xiang hesitated before proposing, "I can lend you my power."

"Your power?" Lou Yun pondered briefly. "I’m already at High-Level Five Stars in the magical weapon realm. My major advancement is near. Originally I planned to absorb one of Xiao Huo’s two heavenly fires, but since this heavenly fire storm exists, I’ll give it a try and see if it can be tamed!"

Chang Xiang approved. "I considered that too. Heavenly fires are rare treasures. You’re already here—it’d be wasteful not to attempt capture. But I must warn you: lending all my power won’t make me fall unconscious, but I won’t be able to aid you further. Any danger you face, you’ll handle alone. And I’m not exaggerating—the heavenly fire storm is ferocious. One misstep could cost your life, as you said earlier. Think carefully."

"Ha!" Lou Yu laughed and stood up. "Brother Chang, let’s skip overthinking. Since meeting you, I’ve faced countless hard choices. But every time I deliberated, the outcome stayed the same. Just lend me your strength. I’m going to confront that heavenly fire storm!"

Chang Xiang burst into laughter too. Indeed, Lou Yun always picked the most perilous and unpredictable path since their first encounter, stumbling through to this day. Overthinking truly was pointless now.

Lou Yun distinctly sensed a powerful warm current flowing slowly into his dantian—Chang Xiang’s power. He knew Chang Xiang cultivated within him by absorbing his spiritual energy, though he’d never inquired about specifics. The strength lent now suggested Chang Xiang had recovered fairly well.

Lou Yun also recalled promising to restore Chang Xiang’s physical form, a vow still unfulfilled. Chang Xiang insisted on waiting until his strength grew, but Lou Yun now possessed enough capability. It was time to ask how exactly to rebuild that body.

"Ready!" Lou Yun felt power return to him, stronger than his own.

The ship jerked violently through mountainous waves, yet empowered and somewhat accustomed to the turbulence, Lou Yun stood firm on the deck.

At the cabin door, he opened it silently to avoid alerting others—any noise would invite them to stop or accompany him.

Slipping noiselessly to the stairwell, Lou Yun pushed the door open. Instantly, a massive wave crashed into his face. Unprepared, he couldn’t dodge. It slammed him squarely.

"Pah!"

Lou Yun wiped seawater from his eyes and spat out another mouthful. Shaking his head, he grimaced at his soaked clothes. Outside conditions were truly brutal!

Gritting his teeth, Lou Yun stepped out onto the deck.

The scene resembled doomsday itself. Howling winds whipped towering waves skyward. Sea and clouds thickened into ink-black shades while foam-capped surges threatened to fling the vessel heavenward or smash it into hell’s depths.

Overhead, lightning webs fused with incessant thunderclaps, deafening roars shaking the air like strikes landed inches above. Golden serpents of brilliance writhed across the heavens.

Within moments, five or six waves pounded Lou Yun. Anchored by spiritual energy to the deck, he avoided being swept overboard but winced at each impact—each blow felt like a punch. Without his sturdy physique, the waves alone would’ve flattened him.

"Heavenly fire storm! Where is it?"

Lou Yun’s question to Chang Xiang almost infuriated him. "In the black clouds above!"

"Above? I can’t fly with my magical weapon yet! Or do you expect me to climb along lightning bolts?"

Lou Yun gazed upward. The clouds seemed close, and dancing lightning bridged sea and sky, creating an almost climbable ladder.

Chang Xiang responded lightly, "Kid, remember—you wield my power now. You can fly on Xiang Tian."

"Really?" Surprise flashed across Lou Yun’s face before joy took over. "I can pilot Xiang Tian?"

"Give it a try!"

Xiang Tian sword materialized in Lou Yun’s right hand, yet he hesitated. Flight required magical weapons, and numerous techniques governed control. Having never studied such methods, Lou Yun remained clueless despite his capability.

Chang Xiang reluctantly guided him. "Toss Xiang Tian into the air and step on it. Stay light-footed—you’ve mastered that."

Weight control was easy for Lou Yun, trained through his Wind Play Decision agility technique to near-weightlessness.

"Once aboard, channel spiritual energy into Xiang Tian. It’ll fly. Direction control is yours to discover."

"Right!"

With lightning crackling around him—several bolts even seared his skin—Lou Yun had no time to ponder. Standing exposed on the narrow sword blade, he began immediately.

First, he hurled Xiang Tian skyward, letting it hover. Leaping lightly, he landed on it. Yet the sword’s slim surface left most of his feet dangling. Objects like Wen Hou’s mirror or Tie Sha’s greatsword would’ve offered more comfort—but such troubles were trivial now.

Lou Yun’s priority was flight control. As arcs flashed nearby, he channeled spiritual energy through his feet into Xiang Tian, merging sword and body so falling wouldn’t occur in flight.

Xiang Tian quivered faintly with spiritual energy—a sign of impending lift-off. But it lingered, trembling without moving. Lou Yun intensified the flow.

Whoosh!

The sword shot out like an arrow. Perfectly timed with a cresting wave, it pierced straight through the watery mountain.

Soaked and spluttering seawater from nose and mouth, Lou Yun now endured an agonizing posture: Xiang Tian’s sudden acceleration flung him backward almost ninety degrees against momentum. Only linked feet kept him aboard, forcing him into an upright-kneed, supine arch on the blade’s edge.

Wiping his face, Lou Yun glanced unintentionally overhead—and caught a flash of scorching red light!

The heavenly fire storm!