Chapter 13: Lightning and Parents

Two weeks later, as Chu was guiding Lei to the training room after two weeks of no training because he was attending all manner of events as Xiang's betrothed and getting fitted for clothes befitting a royal, Chu began to say, "Young master Lei, I like you and admire you. I fear you have just made an extremely powerful enemy. I know you are now under the protection of the king, as his future son-in-law, but I fear they will find ways to make your life difficult. I worry for you, Lei." Lei understood his concern and said, "Chu, thank you so much for your concern. I'll keep an eye out for nobleman Suu and his son. Thank you for warning me." They then arrived at the training room's doors and their conversation was cut short. Lei entered the room and greeted the king. 

"Good morning Lei, you're looking particularly happy this morning. I wonder why?" He said with a small smile. "Today I will teach you the arcane lightning technique. It's a technique of great power and affects both the soul and the body. It damages both of them and is the main damage inflicting technique I can teach you until you reach the immortal stages. My other techniques require a powerful soul and will tear the soul of anyone below the body forging stage apart. The king handed Lei a manuscript which he studied.

Once he felt he had a general grasp of the technique he began to cycle his qi and the king, using the spiritual sense earned at the body forging stage, pointed out flaws in his cycling. Finally, when the king was satisfied with the technique he instructed Lei to release the attack. The attack burst from Lei showering the room in purple lightning. If Lei had been able to see himself, he would have realised that even his eyes and faint purple lightning flickering through them. The attack stopped as Lei stopped cycling the technique. He stood there, jaw hanging open as he realised the destructive force of the lightning. He realised that it could probably kill an manifestation stage cultivator and severely injure an authoritarian stage cultivator. 

The king cackled, a manic glint in his eye. The king, as a body forging cultivator had been unaffected by the attack. "Well done, I will now teach you to control the power output which can be useful for duelling and sparring or if you wish to bring someone alive." The king walked Lei through the different power levels of the technique and demonstrated how to perform them. The arcane lightning technique could range in power from knocking someone unconscious to killing them outright. Lei began to practise and he expected the king to leave as he usually did. But instead the king leaned against the wall and watched. 

Finally, Lei ran out of qi and began to head to the cycling room when the king began to speak to him. "Lei, I spoke to Xiang last night about informing your parents of your betrothal and at first I suggested bringing them here to experience our kingdom but then she suggested that the two of you make the journey to the Jai kingdom and make it your first official visit as a couple." At the mention of his parents Lei realised how much he missed them and nodded, "I would like that. It's been a month and a half since I saw my parents. It doesn't feel like so much time has passed. My time here really has passed quickly but I truly do miss my parents. The king nodded and said, "Then tomorrow night you will start the journey to the Jai kingdom." The king started to walk out of the room and then Lei suddenly said, "Your majesty, no one has told me when the wedding will be. I know I am still young and I don't wish to rush you. I am just curious." The king turned and said, "Royals are betrothed at a young age and get married once both partners reach eighteen. If I recall your documents correctly you turn 17 in just over a month. Xiang turns 17 in four months. So your wedding will probably be in about a year and a half. The royal planners have already begun to plan." The king walked out of the room leaving Lei to continue to train his techniques.

Lei had been training for a few hours when suddenly the king returned holding two crystals. "I wasn't expecting these to be ready for a while but they finished ahead of schedule. These are skill crystals. They allow you to learn skills just by absorbing them. Usually they can only be absorbed by immortal cultivators, but like I said before: arcane cultivators are different and one of their oddities is their ability to absorb skill crystals at any age. However, you do still need to practise the technique. These just make it a lot easier. Don't expect to get many of these, however, they are extremely expensive and difficult to make. Just money is not enough to procure these. I now owe a wandering refiner a personal favour over and above the massive sum it cost me." Lei looked at the crystals in awe and then bowed, "Thank you, your majesty. Words cannot expect how grateful I am." The king nodded and passed a crystal to Lei, "This first skill allows you to predict an opponent's movements. Now to absorb it I need you to hold it flat in your palm. Then guide your qi into your hand, through the crystal and back into your body. Once the skill is absorbed you should instinctively be able to predict your opponent's movements." Lei followed the king's instructions and absorbed the crystal. As he did he felt his perception of the world grow sharper and felt how the qi was more effectively channelled to his eyes." The king handed Lei the next crystal and said, "This is a fighting technique that I created just for you. This isn't a skill that uses qi, however. When you absorb this crystal the knowledge will flood your qi and when your qi enters your head it will be absorbed by your brain. This process is long and painful and I fully expect you to pass out. I will have you brought to your room when the crystal is absorbed so you can sleep the effects off and wake up comfortable." Lei nodded, took a deep breath, and began to absorb the crystal. He was overcome with unbearable pain and then passed out."