That distorted black lightning was a direct manifestation of insufficient magic manipulation ability, unable to fully restrain the death energy through spiritual power.
Noland Lee had to carefully study the fluctuation patterns and laws of each type of energy and understand the influence of different energy transmission mediums on energy to improve his magic manipulation.
For example.
Ordinary sea water without extraordinary traits has a density about 800 times that of air. Most magic that can function normally in the air would fail immediately in the sea water. Projectile spells in the Metal System, elemental spells and elemental reactions in the Elemental Faction, and all energy beams in the Death Series.
How to cast spells when the medium parameters change drastically is a basic skill that every wizard must master.
As a combat wizard, one must learn to adapt to different energy transmission mediums, or risk losing their life.