Zhong Shenxiu’s words hit Fen Linna like a direct strike to her vital point, causing her entire demeanor to collapse.

She had previously doubted whether Zhong Shenxiu knew any Lightning-element magic; now it seemed not only did he know it, but he was apparently quite proficient! At this moment, Zhong Shenxiu had walked over, stopping only when he stood beside Elina.

A sly smile curved his lips.

He repeated his question: “Hey, woman, want to see what true ‘Lightning-element magic’ looks like!?” Elina instinctively nodded, truly speechless at this juncture.

The shock felt by her students was no less than her own! Hearing this young boy speak with such a tone, it was as if a teacher were schooling a student, and the one being schooled was the very teacher who had just instructed them! Zhong Shenxiu wasted no more breath.

He lightly raised a small hand, and in the palm of that tiny hand, a ball crackling with blue light and emitting a sharp ‘crackling’ sound had already appeared! From the outside, it was clearly an Orb of Lightning! But it was so small—no bigger than an egg.

Was this the so-called “true Lightning-element magic”? Some of the students couldn't help but snicker.

While they were surprised Zhong Shenxiu knew Lightning magic, witnessing this seemingly powerless little sphere made them unable to restrain themselves, especially given Zhong Shenxiu’s preceding confident declaration! Elina also looked bewildered.

Although she desperately wanted to believe the lightning orb held hidden depths, at such close range, she couldn't sense any significant energy from it, making her wonder if Zhong Shenxiu was just playing a trick.

But was it truly as simple as it appeared? This seemingly ordinary lightning orb was generated from the lightning power within Zhong Shenxiu himself, not from ambient Lightning-elemental magic.

Just then, Zhong Shenxiu spoke: “Woman, watch closely!” With that, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly clenched his small hand into a fist.

In an instant, several streaks of light flashed out from between his fingers and vanished immediately! While everyone was still puzzled, a bizarre and terrifying sight unfolded! Suddenly, the entire training ground was enveloped in a blinding blue glare.

Blue lightning erupted continuously from all directions, resembling coiling dragons.

This was followed by a cascade of thunderous ‘booms.’ Every spot where this lightning struck was left with a deep pit the size of a steamed bun! One might argue that a pit the size of a steamed bun is nothing to be alarmed about.

However, when such pits appeared relentlessly, as if in a downpour, the situation became dire! In scarcely more than ten seconds, everything except the area where Elina and her students stood was utterly devastated by the sudden onslaught of lightning! And it wasn't over.

The lightning bolts didn't disappear; though they ceased their attacks, they continued to weave and dart around, like restless specters! At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what had happened—how so many lightning strikes could manifest from thin air.

A conservative estimate placed them in the thousands! Even more astonishingly, these lightning bolts seemed capable of self-replication and could autonomously draw in more Lightning-elemental magic, achieving a state of endless sustenance! No one dared move, fearing one of these phantom arcs would decide to embrace them! If anyone was the most stunned, it was Elina.

Unlike the students, she could perceive the true power and profound nature of this magic.

Never mind the individual power of each bolt; if two lightning strikes overlapped, their destructive force multiplied fivefold! She had witnessed two bolts intersect, blasting a shockingly deep crater into the corner of the training ground! What in the world was this magic? Why had she never seen anything like it? Furthermore, what level did this technique belong to? What was the underlying principle of this spell? Question after question flooded Elina’s mind.

She was truly shaken, her body, mind, and soul undergoing a violent, torrential cleansing! Now she finally understood why Zhong Shenxiu had spoken as he did earlier; compared to this display, her own spells were utterly insignificant! Yet, what Elina could not have conceived was that Zhong Shenxiu’s display was far from over; it had only just begun! Zhong Shenxiu simply extended his hand, and a bolt of lightning shot over, stopping precisely in his grasp, transformed as if into a javelin! “H-how is this possible?” Elina’s eyes widened further.

Lightning magic was supposed to be ephemeral, without physical form.

Yet, Zhong Shenxiu had once again overturned that convention through action, firmly holding the heavenly thunder in his hand and adopting a throwing posture! “H-he’s going to do what?” The question echoed in everyone’s mind, but they soon found their answer, as Zhong Shenxiu hurled the lightning bolt upward into the sky! Everyone involuntarily looked up, seeing only a fleeting blue flash, seemingly nothing more.

But the next moment, their mouths gaped wide, nearly falling open in shock! Where there had been soft, scattered white clouds moments before, they were instantly transformed into black masses that swelled rapidly, becoming a dense, oppressive blanket of storm clouds in the blink of an eye! This was immediately followed by flashes of lightning and continuous thunder! As mentioned before, mastering the “Heavenly Thunder Art” meant mastering control over nature; what Zhong Shenxiu was demonstrating now was merely the surface! “Hey, woman, close your mouth.

The real show is just starting now!” Zhong Shenxiu smiled, seemingly amused by Elina’s current expression.

What could Elina say? She was almost forgetting who she was.

She never imagined that a single small bolt of lightning could command the sky to change color.

It was profoundly eerie! As Zhong Shenxiu gestured with his small hand, the dark cloud mass appeared to split open, and a colossal bolt of lightning erupted from within, descending toward Elina and the others like a crazed dragon! “Ah!” The fainthearted turned pale with fright, nearly swooning! Even Elina displayed an expression of sheer despair at that moment, because the lightning was overwhelmingly potent.

Even from a distance, she sensed this was something beyond her capacity to resist; if this bolt struck, they, along with the entire training ground, would instantly be vaporized! At that critical, hair-trigger moment, Zhong Shenxiu waved his small hand, and the descending lightning instantly dissipated.

Not just that one bolt, but all the surrounding lesser arcs and the black clouds above vanished, as if the entire event had been a mere illusion.

“I’m done playing with you!” Zhong Shenxiu declared, and with those words, he departed with Robin! The remaining people stood frozen, looking as though they had been struck by actual lightning! Of course, Zhong Shenxiu’s brief demonstration sent a minor shockwave through the entire “Stay-at-Home Magic and Martial Arts Academy.” Everyone in the vicinity had witnessed the descent of that massive lightning strike.

Amidst their terror, they were intensely curious about the fate of whatever had been struck.

Consequently, more and more people gathered around! When they saw Elina and the others standing motionless, they paused in utter bewilderment! They simply couldn't fathom how that lightning had managed to destroy the training grounds without harming a single person! Back in the dormitory, Elina remained lost in thought, the bizarre lightning bolts still swirling in her mind.

She pondered for a long time, unable to deduce how such an effect could possibly be achieved.

In her estimation, it exceeded human limits; it was simply not something achievable by mortal hands! Yet Zhong Shenxiu had done it, and with what appeared to be absolute ease! “Hey, Sister Linna, why are you back so early today?” Marco Xin, in the room, blinked in surprise when she saw Elina enter.

Elina, however, did not answer.

She walked straight to her bed, sat down heavily, and stared blankly ahead, her gaze unfocused! “Sister Linna?” Marco Xin called softly and approached.

“Sister Linna, what’s wrong?” Elina mechanically turned her head, staring at Marco Xin for nearly a full minute before managing to utter one phrase: “You were right.

He really can use ‘Lightning-element magic’!” Marco Xin was not obtuse.

Sensing Elina’s expression and hearing her words, she grasped the reason.

She gently wrapped an arm around Elina.

“Sister Linna, I know you must be shaken.

But you really don’t need to dwell on it.

If it’s him, nothing is impossible!!” This was Marco Xin’s own summation, but at this moment, it offered no comfort whatsoever! Having witnessed such a soul-shaking spectacle, Elina simply could not afford not to dwell on it! Marco Xin offered a few other comforting words, all of which proved largely ineffective.

However, one final sentence finally stirred Elina from her stupor: “Sister Linna, if you’re that concerned, just have him teach you!” Marco Xin spoke carelessly, but Elina heard with sudden focus.

Her eyes lit up, and she sprang up from the bed with a ‘whoosh,’ startling Marco Xin! “Sister Linna, where are you going?” Seeing Elina heading for the door, Marco Xin inquired.

“I’ll be right back,” Elina replied, and by the time the words were finished, she had already bolted out the door, leaving Marco Xin staring in confusion.

Elina’s outing, naturally, was to find Zhong Shenxiu.

Unlike others, she knew exactly where he could be found: if she went to the "Dark Guild," she was sure to wait for him there! Using the "Special Access Card" Zhong Shenxiu had given her previously, she passed through the gates of the "Dark Guild" unimpeded.

However, to her utter surprise, Robin was already waiting for her there, and the first thing he said was: “Follow me!”