Chapter 2117: Thunder Seal Mastery

Mortal Realm

Previously, Qin Sang had always felt a sense of precariousness, but now that the Thunder Altar was fully formed, a great weight had finally been lifted from his mind.

His mind sank into the altar, where a "page" composed of lightning emanated a faint, ethereal bluish light.

Although it was the same Thunder Sacrifice Edict, the fluctuations it emitted varied significantly due to different refiners and the differing thunder power utilized.

Having integrated the might of the Azure Phoenix True Thunder, Qin Sang couldn't definitively say how powerful this Thunder Sacrifice Edict would be upon activation, but he was certain it would far surpass the Thunder Altar at Moon Ditch Bay!

When his mind touched the Thunder Altar, Qin Sang felt waves of deep regret. The Thunder Sacrifice Edict was born from this altar and completed with the assistance of many main altar cultivators. The altar array served as a "talisman disc"; the Edict had to remain attached to the Thunder Altar. It was not an independent spirit talisman and could not be separated from the altar or carried on his person.

In other words, Qin Sang could only activate this Thunder Sacrifice Edict within the Storm Realm.

One day, if he could refine a true fourth-tier thunder talisman without relying on the Thunder Altar, he would fear no one below the Body Fusion stage.

As for reaching the realm of drawing fourth-tier thunder talismans directly from the air, even if he broke through to the late Void Refinement stage, Qin Sang dared not hope for such an accomplishment.

Beyond refining the Thunder Sacrifice Edict, Qin Sang had also gained immensely. It was as if a grand door had been opened, and myriad insights flooded his mind, elevating his comprehension of spirit talismans to an entirely new level. When he looked back at the third-tier thunder talismans, they no longer seemed as complex or profound, including his own third-tier dharma decree, the Five Thunder Secret Decree—the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal Talisman!

At this thought, Qin Sang's eyes slightly closed, and the thunder that had just fallen silent roared back to life.

Boom! Crack! The sky flashed with lightning and boomed with thunder, its light dazzling. In the heart of the storm, the faint outline of a thunder seal was visible.

Qin Sang frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied. With a thought, the thunder seal dissipated, but the heavenly thunder intensified, silver serpents dancing wildly.

Next, Qin Sang raised an arm, pointed a finger at the sky, and gently swayed it. The thunder, powerful enough to devastate the peaks of Qingyang Temple, now obediently danced to the movements of his finger.

The thunder gathered and dispersed, transforming endlessly. Each time it underwent several changes, it would re-condense into a thunder seal, only to quickly dissipate once more.

Each thunder seal dispersed and reformed, appearing identical on the surface—all of them the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal, seemingly without distinction.

Only Qin Sang himself knew that with each reformation of the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal, his comprehension deepened by a fraction.

In a short period, his progress was unimaginable!

In the past, the Dao Court had channeled the Thunder Ancestor's power into him, using his hands to unleash the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal Talisman. Qin Sang had experienced it firsthand, grasping its myriad mysteries. After breaking through to the Void Refinement stage, he hadn't spent much more time on it, yet his understanding of this talisman was incomparable to others at the same level. It remained one of his most formidable combat techniques to this day.

Ultimately, that knowledge had been imparted to him by others. Qin Sang had only recently broken through to the mid-Void Refinement stage, and some aspects he still understood only in form, not in essence. Thus, he was still some distance from truly comprehending the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal Talisman.

This construction of the Thunder Altar and the engraving of a fourth-tier thunder talisman effectively filled the gap in his understanding of *why* certain principles worked.

Both being Daoist thunder talismans of the same lineage, Qin Sang was able to draw connections and apply his existing knowledge. This synergy, combined with his previous accumulation, allowed all his doubts to be easily resolved, as if everything was falling naturally into place.

After the sky had condensed thunder seals countless times, Qin Sang finally ceased. He looked up at the heavens and, with an ethereal grab, the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal trembled faintly before descending from the sky.

A dazzling thunder seal, sparkling with electricity, landed in Qin Sang's palm. Though it contained destructive power of extreme ferocity, Qin Sang held it casually, toying with it at will.

His ability to do this proved Qin Sang's profound understanding of the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal Talisman. While time was pressing, Qin Sang still had a few points he hadn't fully grasped, preventing him from truly comprehending the talisman. However, he was confident that with a short period of secluded cultivation to digest his recent gains and find the answers to those remaining questions, he would achieve complete mastery!

The Five Thunder Skyheart Seal Talisman, an embodiment of the Supreme Divine Firmament Decree's third-tier Five Thunder Secret Decree, would, by conventional understanding, require at least the late Void Refinement stage to be fully comprehended. Yet Qin Sang had achieved this at the mid-Void Refinement stage, making him an exceptionally rare talent even within the Dao Court itself.

This was also one of the reasons Qin Sang had insisted on constructing the Thunder Altar.

This was still not the end. Qin Sang gazed at the thunder seal in his hand, as his phoenix wings gently flapped. Wisps of azure light emerged from the feathers, dancing before tracing along Qin Sang's arm and gradually merging into the thunder seal, replacing its internal thunder power.

Gradually, the Five Thunder Skyheart Seal transformed into an azure thunder seal, appearing as if carved from precious jade.

At Moon Ditch Bay, Qin Sang had barely managed to condense a thunder seal using the Azure Phoenix True Thunder, but it was unstable, and its power was utterly incomparable to what he possessed now.

Now, if Qin Sang were to face that Dog-Seal tribe elder again, he wouldn't need to manifest both his Dharma Body and Dharma Aspect, or use the Sun Wheel Seal to break free from the opponent's Heavenly Might restraint; he could contend with them using only this thunder seal in his hand!

With more trump cards in hand, Qin Sang's confidence grew. He gently shook his palm, and the thunder seal silently vanished.

The celestial phenomena dispersed.

Qin Sang did not leave; he remained seated on the altar, continuing to engrave spirit talismans.

Before constructing the altar, he had already considered that facing the steadily advancing Siyou Tribe army, it would be impossible to directly activate the Thunder Sacrifice Edict. He would need other means to maneuver and create opportune moments.

The Thunder Altar in the Storm Realm could also have other third-tier thunder talismans engraved upon it. When activated through the altar, their power remained formidable. As long as another fourth-tier thunder talisman wasn't engraved, there would be no concern about conflict with the Thunder Sacrifice Edict or exceeding the altar's capacity.

Qin Sang could engrave third-tier thunder talismans by controlling the Thunder Altar himself, without needing further assistance from others.

Qin Sang immersed himself completely, losing track of the days and nights, only stopping once all his designs were complete. Now, he simply had to await the Siyou Tribe army!

One day.

A talisman message roused Qin Sang from his seclusion.

Inside the talisman message was a crystal the size of a baby's fist, a spiritual object capable of recording images.

Upon seeing the recorded scene, Qin Sang left behind his Dharma Body and exited the valley, where Li Yufu, Shen Chen, and others were already waiting.

“Senior Martial Uncle!”

“Master!”

Everyone promptly saluted upon seeing Qin Sang.

Qin Sang swept his gaze across them, noticing worry and unease on their faces, but no panic.

Over the years, Qin Sang had continuously pushed them, applying pressure and forcing the various tribes and sects of the Storm Realm to prepare fully for war. This situation was entirely expected.

“Go, proceed according to the plan,” Qin Sang said calmly.

“As you command!”

Seeing Qin Sang so composed, everyone felt greatly reassured and dispersed to their respective duties.

Qin Sang left Qingyang Temple and traveled to the Western Lands, where he met Silu.

“Brother Qin!”

Silu rose to greet him, his expression solemn. Qin Sang had already informed them of the true situation through the altar.

At this moment, the entire Storm Realm was mobilized. Armies from various regions converged on the Western Lands, and all sub-altar masters had returned to their posts, poised for action.

“Brother Qin, have you found out who the Lu family has sent?”

Silu couldn't help but ask.

“Daoist friend, you will know once you see it.”

With that, Qin Sang took out the crystal, infused it with true essence, and activated the recording, which depicted the Siyou Tribe army moving into position.

When the first person emerged from the teleportation hall, Silu stated gravely, “That is the Lu family’s Grand Enshrinement!”

Qin Sang observed carefully. The crystal could only record external appearances, revealing the Grand Enshrinement’s extraordinary demeanor, but his naked eye couldn't discern further details.

“How much do you know about the Grand Enshrinement?” Qin Sang asked.

“The majority of our tribe’s strength lies in our companion beasts. The two companion beasts the Grand Enshrinement has previously displayed were both remarkably powerful, and their divine abilities matched the records in our ancient texts. However, his other two companion beasts are mysterious, not even recorded in our tribe’s texts, and their divine abilities are rarely known; I don't know how he obtained them. During the great turmoil back then, Attendant Xia once said that we were fortunate to have acted quickly and avoid being intercepted by the Grand Enshrinement, or else there would have been no way for us to escape.”

Silu quickly relayed everything he knew through a sound transmission.

As he spoke, more Siyou tribesmen emerged from the hall. Silu added, “This person is Lu Gan, the Great General under King Lu!”

Qin Sang nodded. “He was the one I fought with previously!”

Soon after Lu Gan appeared, an imperial carriage came into view.

“This is King Lu’s imperial palanquin, a unique treasure passed down by the Hanjiang Lu family. The person beside King Lu must be the Young Tutor; I don’t know much about him.”

Even though it was just a recording, seeing the countless enemy powerhouses made Silu tense up.

When Patriarch Yuanxiang attacked, forcing back the Siyou tribesmen inside the hall, a glint flashed in Silu’s eyes. “They are all elites of the Hanjiang Lu family! There are no Imperial Guards!”

“So, the royal family only sent one Young Tutor?”

Qin Sang looked thoughtful. This was undoubtedly good news, indicating that the royal family had not yet fully sided with the Hanjiang Lu family. Otherwise, with the royal family’s extensive resources, a full-scale assault would have meant an unavoidable fierce battle, even with the Thunder Altar supporting him.

As long as they could severely damage the Lu family, the royal family’s stance could still be swayed.

“The large army is pressing on and will arrive soon. We should prepare, clean the house…”

Qin Sang paused, looking to the west, and calmly added, “...and await our esteemed guests’ arrival!”

Meanwhile, as the Storm Realm made urgent preparations for war, the Siyou Tribe army was advancing eastward.

To avoid disturbing tribes along the way, their route was somewhat circuitous. After traversing countless miles, traveling day and night, they were finally nearing the Changyou Tribe’s territory.

The Changyou Tribe’s territory was encircled by layers of complex misty tides, a popular spot for cultivators seeking mysteries. Yet, at this moment, not a single person could be seen within tens of thousands of miles.

Shadows suddenly appeared on the sea surface, revealing numerous magic boats following an imperial carriage. They moved through the air without concealment, stirring up monstrous waves and exuding an astonishing aura.

Boom! Upon reaching a stretch of misty tides, the imperial carriage abruptly halted.

Inside the imperial carriage, Patriarch Minzhuo pointed ahead. “Reporting to King Lu, beyond this misty tide lies our tribe’s territory. Our warriors are ready for battle, awaiting your command!”

When the army passed through the misty tide and arrived near Shengmu Plain, it was indeed as Patriarch Minzhuo had said: flags below stretched like a forest.

The Changyou Tribe had already assembled their army and were respectfully awaiting them.

Minzhuo knew well that since they were involved, the Changyou Tribe could not withdraw. He had left behind some elites and talented juniors within the tribe, while the rest had gone to the battlefield, arrayed in a stance of fighting to the death.

Both sides understood that the Changyou Tribe's meager strength would not make a significant difference, and victory could not be achieved solely through them. Nevertheless, Minzhuo’s attitude pleased King Lu greatly.

“This King appreciates Patriarch Minzhuo’s resolve. Lu Gan, accompany Patriarch Minzhuo, select some masters, and integrate them into our forces. And let the others follow as well, to bolster our might,” King Lu commanded.

Lu Gan and Minzhuo received the order and departed.

The integration was swiftly completed. The selected masters were taken by Lu Gan, leaving only two confidants by Minzhuo’s side.

Minzhuo summoned one of them closer and set up an isolation barrier. “During my absence, has there been any change in the Land of Corruption?”

The man shook his head. “There’s no sign of the corrupted qi receding yet.”

Minzhuo frowned, deep in thought.

“Patriarch, you needn't worry,” the man said cautiously. “With the Siyou Tribe’s large army pressing down, those foreign tribes can barely protect themselves and certainly won't be able to spare attention to compete with us for the Azure Spirit Qi. This time, we should return with a full harvest!”

“Short-sighted!”

Minzhuo snorted. “If the foreign tribes are wiped out, the Azure Spirit Qi will undoubtedly be exposed. At that point, we’ll be contending with the Zhu Yan Tribe and the Siyou Tribe—how much will they leave for us? Only by controlling the source of the Azure Spirit Qi can our tribe hope to secure greater benefits. It would be best if we could unearth the source and monopolize this opportunity!”

Then, Minzhuo’s tone shifted. “Besides, how do you know those foreign tribes cannot contend with the Siyou Tribe?”

Hearing this, the man’s face revealed surprise. “Those foreign tribes only gained two cultivators at the second tier of the Sky Realm—how can they possibly contend with the Siyou Tribe?”

“If it were truly that simple, why would King Lu lead the army personally and even invite the royal family’s Young Tutor to assist? Just wait and see!”

Minzhuo turned and flew towards the imperial carriage, still pondering when the corrupted qi would recede.

He was determined to obtain Mount Daiyu Immortal, and his dangerous alliance had been forged for this very day. However, given the current situation, attempting to retrieve Mount Daiyu Immortal would be like snatching chestnuts from the fire.

For him, the ideal scenario was for the battle to become a stalemate, with the foreign tribes neither annihilated nor distracted. This would allow him to seize an opportunity to slip away and secretly proceed to the Land of Corruption.

If those foreign tribes were annihilated before the corrupted qi receded, or if they instead routed the Siyou Tribe army, all his schemes could come to naught.

The latter was almost impossible, so the challenge for him was how to guide both sides into a prolonged stalemate.

Minzhuo had personally welcomed the Siyou Tribe army to observe their attitude towards this battle. Everything he saw and heard along the way indicated that King Lu was very wary of those foreign tribes, even with two late-stage powerhouses by his side.

This alone revealed the formidable strength of those foreign tribes!

It could be inferred that King Lu would not act rashly next. He would surely first try to investigate the true strength and weaknesses of those foreign tribes, proceeding cautiously step by step.

This would be his opportunity to act. Since he knew the foreign tribes best, King Lu would certainly consult him. The intelligence in the previous jade slip had been meticulously crafted by him, and when the time came, he would have to act opportunistically, releasing information to guide the war’s progression.

He could even fabricate information if necessary; even if it was later proven false, it would be easy to explain away.

Minzhuo's thoughts raced, but he let out a subtle breath, his expression unchanged, as he stepped into the imperial carriage.