Chapter 38: You Nearly Got Me Killed

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: You Nearly Got Me Killed

However, before he could think about the benefits he might gain, Sui Sui still had to solve the problem in front of him.

Heavenly tribulation lightning was not something that could be dealt with easily. It carried the authority of Heaven itself, and with his current cultivation, Sui Sui had no chance of enduring a direct strike.

What puzzled him was why a heavenly tribulation was taking place beneath the lake when there was nothing above the surface. However, this was not the time to investigate its origin. His priority was to find a way to retrieve the blue crystal without being caught in the lightning’s range.

Sui Sui stared at the cracked crystal, his brows slowly drawing together.

Each time the golden lightning descended, countless thin strands spread through the surrounding spirit water, turning the area around the blue crystal into a dangerous field. He remained unharmed only because he was still outside its reach.

If he carelessly approached, he would likely be struck before he could even touch the crystal.

His gaze followed the thin strands of golden lightning as they travelled through the water.

The spirit water was filled with dense spiritual energy, which might have allowed the heavenly lightning to spread through it so easily.

An idea suddenly appeared in his mind.

Back in the modern world, Sui Sui has occasionally come across books and articles discussing basic scientific knowledge.

Although he had never been particularly interested in the subject, he remembered learning that pure water was not actually a good conductor of electricity. However, water containing dissolved minerals and other impurities could carry an electric current much more easily.

Ice, by comparison, restricted the movement of those charged particles and was therefore far less conductive than liquid water.

Of course, heavenly lightning was not ordinary lightning, and the spirit water before him was certainly different from the water in his previous world.

Still, the golden lightning was clearly using the surrounding water as a path.

If he could push the water away from the crystal and freeze whatever remained, perhaps he could weaken the lightning’s path long enough to reach it.

It was only a guess, However, it was worth the try.

Sui Sui turned toward the little ball of light.

"Can you control the water around the crystal?" he asked.

The little ball hovered in front of him. Its faint blue light flickered twice, as though it did not understand what he meant.

Sui Sui pointed toward the blue crystal.

"Every time the lightning strikes, it spreads through the surrounding water. I can’t get close while the water is still carrying its power." He paused before spreading his hands apart. "If you can push the water away and create an empty space around the crystal, I might be able to weaken the path the lightning is using and stop it from spreading so easily."

The little ball remained still. It floated in place for several moments before slowly drifting closer to his hand, its light flickering uncertainly.

Sui Sui understood that it was still confused.

"I know it sounds strange," he continued. "I’m not certain that it will work either. But I don’t have the strength to withstand heavenly lightning, and I can’t think of any other way to reach your crystal."

Another bolt of golden lightning descended.

BOOM—!

The entire underground chamber was swallowed by a blinding golden flash. The force of the strike sent a violent shockwave through the water, pushing against Sui Sui’s body and causing his long hair and robes to drift wildly around him.

A sharp crack echoed through the chamber.

Another fracture spread across the surface of the blue crystal.

The little ball trembled at the sound. Its light flickered weakly before it circled Sui Sui’s wrist once, as though gathering its courage. Then it flew toward the cracked crystal.

The spirit water surrounding the crystal began to stir.

At first, only a faint current moved through the water. Gradually, the current grew stronger, pushing the surrounding spirit water outward as though an invisible force was forcing it away.

A small hollow space slowly formed around the blue crystal.

However, the surrounding lake immediately pressed against the empty space. The moment the little ball’s strength weakened, the spirit water began rushing back in.

The little ball trembled violently, and the hollow space quickly started to shrink.

Sui Sui’s expression changed.

The little ball was already struggling. It would not be able to keep the water back for much longer.

He lowered his gaze to his palm and slowly drew a strand of Yin energy from his dantian. He had no idea whether his plan would work, but there was no time left to hesitate.

"Keep holding the water back," Sui Sui said. "I’m going to freeze the area around the crystal."

Sui Sui continued, "The ice won’t be able to stop the heavenly lightning completely, but it may weaken the path it uses to spread through the water. If we can slow it down for even a few moments, that should be enough for me to reach the crystal."

The little ball’s light flickered uncertainly.

"You don’t have to worry about the rest," Sui Sui added. "I’ll be the one entering the lightning’s range."

He took a slow breath and closed his eyes.

The Yin energy within his body had always been difficult to control. Cold and heavy, even guiding a small amount through his meridians required considerable effort.

Sui Sui carefully drew a faint strand of Yin energy from his dantian and guided it toward his palm. The energy moved slowly through his meridians, resisting his control at every turn.

The moment it reached his fingertips, frost spread across them.

The surrounding spirit water gradually grew colder. Thin sheets of ice formed along the edge of the hollow space, slowing the water that was beginning to rush back toward the crystal.

The little ball continued forcing the spirit water outward while Sui Sui released more Yin energy.

The ice slowly spread, sealing the gaps along the edge of the hollow space and gradually forming a frozen barrier around the cracked blue crystal.

However, maintaining this was draining both of them.

The little ball’s light dimmed, while Sui Sui’s face gradually turned pale. The more Yin energy he released, the deeper the cold seeped into his body. A chilling sensation travelled from his palm, up his arm, and toward his chest.

Sui Sui clenched his teeth and continued.

The frozen barrier gradually thickened.

It would not be enough to completely stop the heavenly lightning, but it might be able to delay it.

He only needed a few seconds.

Sui Sui opened his eyes.

The little ball was already trembling, its faint light flickering weakly.

"Hold on a little longer," Sui Sui said. "I’m coming to you."

He pushed himself away from the nearby rock and swam toward the crystal. As he moved forward, frost spread from his body, and a thin layer of ice slowly formed along the path behind him.

The closer Sui Sui drew to the crystal, the more terrifying the pressure from the heavenly lightning became. Even with the surrounding water pushed aside, faint strands of golden lightning continued to flicker along the frozen barrier, filling the space with an oppressive sense of danger.

Sui Sui ignored them and continued forward.

His long white hair drifted behind him, while the turbulent currents tugged at the hem of his robes.

He was almost there.

Another bolt of heavenly lightning descended.

BOOM—!

The golden lightning struck the frozen barrier.

The entire underground chamber was swallowed by a blinding flash as cracks rapidly spread across the ice.

Sui Sui’s pupils contracted.

He immediately reached forward, his fingers closing around the cracked blue crystal.

It was far colder than he had expected.

The moment his skin came into contact with its surface, an icy chill seeped into his palm and travelled up his arm.

At the same time, the remaining strands of golden lightning suddenly changed direction, it rushed toward him.

When he saw this, Sui Sui’s expression changed. Without hesitation, he pulled the crystal free from the lakebed.

The surrounding rocks cracked apart, and the blue crystal trembled violently in his hand.

By then, the little ball had already exhausted most of its strength. Unable to maintain the hollow space any longer, its control over the surrounding water weakened.

The spirit water immediately surged inward, at the same time, the frozen barrier shattered and the golden lightning followed closely behind.

Sui Sui immediately activated the pocket dimension.

However, he was still a moment too slow as a thin strand of golden lightning slipped through the shattered ice and struck his shoulder.

"Ah—!"

A searing pain tore through his body.

The sudden impact caused the spiritual energy within his meridians to fall into chaos, and the blue crystal nearly slipped from his hand. Sui Sui gritted his teeth and tightened his grip, refusing to let go.

The next moment, the underground chamber vanished from sight.

His body fell heavily onto the ground inside the pocket dimension.

For several moments, Sui Sui remained motionless.

The pain in his shoulder slowly spread down his arm, leaving it numb. He lowered his head and saw that the fabric covering his shoulder had been torn apart.

A thin blackened mark stretched across his pale skin. Faint traces of golden lightning continued to flicker around the wound before gradually fading away.

Fortunately, the lightning had only grazed him.

If he had been even a moment slower, the consequences would have been far worse.

Sui Sui let out a slow breath before lowering his gaze to the blue crystal in his arms.

After enduring the continuous strikes of heavenly lightning, the crystal had been severely damaged. Several deep cracks ran across its surface, and the once-bright blue light within had faded until only a faint glow remained.

A moment later, the little ball of light slowly emerged from the crystal, It drifted toward Sui Sui before gently bumping against his uninjured hand.

A faint emotion entered his mind through their connection.

Gratitude.

Sui Sui stared at the little ball for a moment before letting out another sigh.

"You nearly got me killed."