Ultimate Magus in Cultivation World

"…Huh," Tian Lei muttered, blinking. "That's annoying."

The serpent roared, its massive body whipping down. The tail slammed into the ground like a meteor, sending a shockwave that tore a hundred-meter crater through the forest. Tian Lei dodged, appearing on a cliffside in a blink.

He raised his hand again.

"Fine. Let's crank it up."

Black lightning fused more densely around him, swirling like a half-formed storm. The forest dimmed. Animals fled. Even the wind stopped.

He paused mid-gesture.

"…No. This won't work. My black lightning spells are still low-tier. I only picked this element up recently—haven't learned any of the stronger spells from the Magic King's legacy yet."

The serpent lunged again, jaws wide enough to swallow a house.

Tian Lei backstepped lazily, clicking his tongue.

"Alright, alright. No black lightning. Let's try something I've actually mastered."

He lifted his hand, and gold light rippled across his palm.

A golden rune spun to life.

"Gold Bind."

Sharp golden chains formed instantly, wrapping around the Titanjaw Serpent's body. The serpent struggled, scales grinding loudly—but this time the bindings held, tightening with metallic pressure.

"Much better," Tian Lei nodded.

A second golden rune flared.

"Gold Crush."

A blinding pillar of metallic energy slammed into the serpent, sending it skidding back and tearing a trench through the ground. The beast roared, its armor cracking under the golden force.

Tian Lei watched calmly, hands behind his back.

"My gold element spells are high-tier and fully mastered," he said to himself. "Unlike black lightning… this one actually listens."

He raised one finger, golden aura sharpening around it like a blade.

"Gold–Piercing Slash."

One flick.

A razor-thin, golden arc shot out—silent and impossibly fast.

It struck the serpent.

Silence.

Then—

Splat.

The Titanjaw Serpent's head split cleanly in half, sliding apart as its huge body crashed into the forest.

Tian Lei exhaled.

"…Gold magic for the win."

He tapped the corpse with a storage seal, sending the massive remains into his ring without a scratch.

He brushed off his hands.

"That's nine. Should be enough for testing."

Black lightning flickered faintly at his ankles again—weak, unstable compared to his gold magic.

"Time to find a place to start the experiments… and later, I really need to unlock the advanced black lightning spells."

He turned toward the horizon and shot off like a streak of thunder.

Tian Lei flew above the treetops, black lightning flickering weakly around him while gold light pulsed steadily under his skin. The wind howled past his ears as mountains blurred beneath him.

He was thinking about where to set up his "experiment base" when something caught his eye.

Smoke.

Roads.

Walls.

A city.

Tian Lei slowed down, hovering in the sky as he looked at the distant settlement tucked between two rivers. Lanterns glowed along its walls, and cultivators moved in and out of the gates like ants.

"Oh? A city out here?" he tilted his head. "Perfect. Cities always have… ingredients."

He grinned, eyes narrowing.

"Information… unawakened people… and probably lots of trouble."

Without hesitation, Tian Lei angled downward and shot toward the city, streaking through the air like a dark comet. The wind split around him, rooftops coming into view as he descended fast.

He landed lightly on a small hill overlooking the outer district.

"Alright," he muttered, adjusting his black hair and red eyes. "Let's see what this place has to offer."

And with a flick of his cloak, Tian Lei walked straight toward the city gates.

Tian Lei approached the gates, blending into the flow of travelers. Merchants shouted, guards yawned, and a long line stretched toward the entrance.

A bored-looking guard raised a hand.

"Entrance fee. Ten silver coins."

Tian Lei blinked.

"…That cheap?"

The guard frowned. "You wanna pay or not?"

Tian Lei shrugged and tossed him a small pouch. The guard opened it, eyebrows lifting for a moment at the neat stack of polished silver inside. He nodded, stepped aside, and waved him through.

"Welcome to Crimson Rose City."

Tian Lei stepped past the gates.

The moment he entered, the noise hit him—street vendors yelling, spirit beasts pulling carts, low-level cultivators bickering over herbs, kids running around with wooden swords.

He lifted his chin slightly.

"Crimson Rose City, huh?"

His red eyes gleamed with interest.

"Let's see what I can dig up in this place…"

Tian Lei's first stop was simple: food.

He ducked into a small street-side inn with steam rising from its windows. The smell of roasted meat and spirit grains drifted out like a warm welcome.

Inside, he took a seat, ordered everything that looked edible, and ate until the table was empty. Bowls stacked. Plates vanished. The waiter stared like he'd just seen a demon in human form.

"Another round," Tian Lei said calmly.

By the time he finished, half the kitchen was exhausted.

He leaned back, satisfied.

"Good. Now a bath."

He rented a small room, washed off the dirt and monster blood, and changed into a clean black robe with gold-lined edges that matched his new identity. The red eyes and black hair looked far more striking now—less wandering child, more mysterious prodigy.

Once he was done, he stepped back onto the streets.

"Alright… time to explore."

He headed toward the city's inner ring.

The closer he got, the cleaner the streets became. Broader roads. Taller buildings. Expensive carriages pulled by spirit beasts. Guards with polished armor. Shops that sold pills, weapons, talismans.

And—most importantly—

the rich and the powerful lived here.

Tian Lei narrowed his eyes as he scanned the area.

Young masters swaggered around with their followers.

Arrogant heirs shouted orders at merchants.

Spoiled noble brats argued over whose clan was more important.

Tian Lei smirked.

"…This city is full of prime test subjects."

His steps became slow and deliberate as he observed them one by one, quietly collecting information—clan names, power levels, personalities, how much trouble they caused.

He wasn't going to touch innocent people.

But these brats?

The ones who beat servants, threaten merchants, and treat the city like their playground?

"Oh yes," he whispered.

"I can definitely kidnap one or two of these bastards for experiments."

His smile grew sharper as he headed deeper into the wealthy district, already choosing his potential first target.