Chapter 2123: Strategic

Zhimu and his group once again retreated from Thunder Marsh. They had arrived with high morale but left utterly dejected.

Qin Sang and the Grand Supplicant stood in confrontation, but neither made a move. Nevertheless, the Thunder Lords' assault remained fierce, seizing the opportunity to claim enemy lives.

Finally, the Grand Supplicant's eyes narrowed slightly. He retracted his gaze and, along with everyone else, returned to the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram.

The Azure Thunder dissipated, and the Thunder Lords vanished from sight.

Qin Sang's gaze followed the Grand Supplicant, watching them disappear deep into the land, and then he continued to stare for a long time.

As of now, he possessed three methods to counter the Siyou Clan's Inter-Transformation Technique: the Heart-Sea Sword Art combined with the Thunder Altar, the Sky-Severing Spirit Pagoda, and the Five Elements Crown.

He chose to deliberately expose the Five Elements Crown, firstly to pressure the enemy, making them hesitant and cautious, thus allowing this "play" to last longer and appear more realistic. Secondly, it was to probe the enemy's trump cards.

Although he failed to kill the old man this time, he successfully forced out the enemy's escape method.

It was certain that the old man's escape was not due to his own abilities but related to the Profound Yellow Light on him. This Profound Yellow Light originated from that land mass, which was precisely what Qin Sang feared the most right now.

The Profound Yellow Light could actually directly spirit a person away. In the future, when he made a move against the Grand Supplicant, he would first have to find a way to suppress this treasure.

What Qin Sang was now unsure about was whether the old man's escape was because the one controlling that land mass detected his danger and intervened to save him, or if the Profound Yellow Light attached to the old man inherently possessed the ability to seek advantage and avoid harm, automatically activating whenever the old man was in danger.

Or perhaps, it was the Grand Supplicant who secretly made a move, using the Profound Yellow Light as a cover.

The methods to deal with these three scenarios were completely different, and Qin Sang would not act rashly before investigating thoroughly.

He retracted his gaze, looking back. The power of the True Azure Luan Thunder had been exposed, meaning the Twelve Thunder Lords Talismans were about to be deciphered. It was time to prepare the second line of defense.

In the Reed King's Imperial Carriage, the Grand Supplicant and other top experts gathered.

The main hall was silent, and the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Zhimu and others, who had come to assist at the Grand Supplicant's invitation, each had a gloomy expression. Even the Reed King's trusted aides looked displeased.

The Reed King remained impassive, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. He had just learned about the incident and understood their thoughts.

The Siyou Clan's life-saving divine abilities were unparalleled, and Zhimu and others had gladly agreed to assist after receiving the talisman message. Firstly, the reward was attractive enough, and it presented an opportunity to build good relations with the Grand Supplicant. Secondly, the Lu family had a tacit understanding with the imperial clan, ensuring the Sijia family of Yanshan wouldn't be able to cause any trouble. Most importantly, they were confident that even if they encountered an unexpected situation on the battlefield, their own safety would not be compromised.

However, this battle had shattered their confidence. The enemy could counter their Inter-Transformation Technique, and if not for the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram, Elder Duanchun would now be a lonely ghost.

Elder Duanchun's face was as dark as water at this moment, and he appeared still shaken.

Even though the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram was immensely powerful and rescued Elder Duanchun in time, these top experts only trusted themselves. Who would willingly place their life and fate in another's hands?

What's more, the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram might not be unbreakable. Once the enemy found a way to counter it, the Inter-Transformation Technique would also become ineffective, and it was truly possible to lose one's life.

Unlike Silu, who was the master of the altar and observed everything with perfect clarity, and had only sent out companion beasts for harassment on several occasions, they, however, were the ones attempting to breach the formation.

They were completely unaware of the situation within the formation, and it was truly unfeasible to only send out companion beasts to battle while the true self hid behind. Their perception would be limited, and their strength would be greatly affected. Previously, one companion beast had inadvertently been killed by Qin Sang; although it wouldn't completely perish, restoring it to its original state would require a significant price and would not happen overnight. The loss of one companion beast would diminish the owner's strength. If all four companion beasts were lost, any cultivator of the same rank could easily subdue them.

Moreover, the Siyou Clan should not be confused with true beast-controlling cultivators, as many advanced divine abilities within their clan had to be performed by the true self in conjunction with their companion beasts.

The sudden appearance of the Five Elements Crown filled everyone with dread, and it was inevitable that some would consider retreating.

The Reed King took in everyone's expressions. "That True Lord Qin can actually counter our clan's Inter-Transformation Technique; we must be careful," he said. "But looking on the bright side, this person doesn't know we possess the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram, and he exposed this exotic treasure, while we suffered no casualties! The most dangerous time has passed. Going forward, as long as everyone remains vigilant and finds a way to resist this treasure, there will be no need to fear it!"

Upon hearing the Reed King's words, everyone appeared thoughtful, and their morale recovered slightly.

Next, the Reed King turned his gaze to the silver-armored cultivator. "Several fellow daoists have engaged True Lord Qin many times and expended too much energy. Please rest and recuperate first," he said. "After that, I'll ask Mountain Lord Mo to lead the army in breaching the formation!"

The Reed King knew in his heart that at such a time, he could not force these guest cultivators; he could only let his trusted aides step forward.

The silver-armored cultivator readily agreed, "Your subordinate accepts the order!"

The Grand Supplicant interjected, "If True Lord Qin wishes to continue stalling, we need not rush. Let's first break through this first defensive barrier! This old one and Lu Gan will constantly monitor you, so you don't need to worry too much."

Having finally stabilized their morale, the Grand Supplicant continued with the main topic. "This old one has not personally witnessed the Azure Thunder controlled by True Lord Qin. What are your views on it?" he asked.

All present were top experts, knowing the importance of the matter and discarding distracting thoughts. They voiced their opinions one after another. After a round of discussion, as usual, they formulated several strategies to break the formation, followed by sending people to verify them.

The process then repeated itself. Both sides countered each other's moves in a back-and-forth exchange. The Reed King's side proceeded steadily, and Qin Sang did not unleash the Five Elements Crown again.

Another twenty-odd days passed. The Twelve Thunder Lords Talismans finally reached their limit, making it difficult for Qin Sang to further utilize them.

The Reed King's side also detected this, so Zhimu and others came out in full force.

Qin Sang and the Thunder Lords finally couldn't hold on. Leaving behind a sky full of thunder and fire, they proactively retreated.

Zhimu led the cultivators, standing in an ocean of thunder and fire.

Except for a few unlucky individuals, these thunder and fire attacks no longer posed a threat to them. They could clearly feel the surrounding thunderous power rapidly receding.

In front of the Imperial Carriage, the Reed King and the Grand Supplicant stood in mid-air, gazing towards the horizon. They watched as the thunderous light in the sky gradually dimmed and the lightning flashes became sparse.

Thunder Marsh finally receded, revealing the sky and land once more. Before long, the figures of Zhimu and his group also emerged.

"It has been more than three months since we first attempted to breach the formation," the Reed King sighed.

The first defensive barrier alone had stopped them for over three months. They wondered how many more barriers lay ahead.

Although no Void Realm second-tier experts had perished, several companion beasts had been lost, and clans like the Jiugui tribe suffered heavy casualties. Fortunately, he had brought most of the clan's elites, so there was no immediate concern about a lack of manpower.

"Your Majesty, do not worry!"

The Grand Supplicant bowed. "At this point, we can confirm that True Lord Qin has forged a Thunder Altar, and he is undoubtedly practicing thunder arts. Thunder arts are vast and varied, but they also follow certain patterns. Once we pass this first defensive barrier, the subsequent ones will become progressively easier."

"I hope so."

The Reed King nodded, gazing into the distance as Thunder Marsh receded further and further. "What should we do next?" he asked.

"No rush."

The Grand Supplicant lowered his head, looking at the ground. He lightly flicked a finger, and a streak of light plunged into the earth.

A moment later, the land mass gently trembled, its tremors spreading towards the ground through the Sky Pillar.

The sea surface suddenly surged with furious waves, enormous billows rising one after another. Their crests even surpassed the land mass evolved by the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram, forming a terrifying tsunami.

The land was violently shaking, as if to shake all the seawater into the sky. Amidst the wind and waves, new mountain peaks emerged from the seabed.

As the mountain peaks continuously grew taller, the land mass beneath their feet also expanded, spreading towards the coast.

One mountain peak after another seamlessly connected with the land. Soon, the coast appeared in front of them.

The land on the shore was the territory of the Western Land of the Storm Realm.

It was still desolate here; after all, with more abundant moisture, it wasn't entirely desert but rather a Gobi Desert, with scattered patches of green visible.

If not for the nearly thousand-year war with the Changyou Clan, the monks of the Western Land could have properly managed this land, with the potential to transform it into fertile and prosperous ground.

Unfortunately, this place was a battlefield that had changed hands several times, remaining desolate to this day.

Finally, this land mass extended to the shore, connecting with the mainland.

As if two continents had collided, causing a great upheaval, the connection point erupted with dense Profound Yellow Light.

Once the Profound Yellow Light dimmed slightly, the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram had completely merged with the land. However, the original land mass now floated above the sea surface, resembling an exclave extending from the Western Land.

The Profound Yellow Light continuously vibrated, eventually spreading out and covering the lands of the Western Land.

The subsequent changes in the land secretly astonished everyone.

A gentle breeze blew across the land, bringing vitality. Grass seeds and tree seeds, whether buried deep underground, lodged in rock crevices, or naturally weak—possibly affected by the environment and dormant for hundreds or even thousands of years, with no chance of ever sprouting under normal circumstances—all burst forth with life at this very moment. Among the mountains, fields, and stones, tender shoots emerged from the ground, swaying gently as they strived to grow upwards.

In an instant, the Gobi Desert transformed into a verdant plain, barren rocky mountains became lush green hills, tree seeds grew into large trees, and flowers and grasses wove themselves into a green carpet, brimming with vitality.

A miraculous scene unfolded before everyone.

If it were only these changes, it would be nothing significant for Void Refinement cultivators who could effortlessly command natural phenomena.

While the landscape underwent a drastic transformation, the feeling emanating from this land also changed, seeming to exist in a different realm from the desert on the other side of the plain. This feeling was as if a large portion of the Western Land's territory had been swallowed by the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram, severing it from the rest of the Western Land.

And that was precisely the case. For every step the enemy retreated, they advanced, consolidating their gains with the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram and gradually eroding the enemy's territory.

In the future, it would not be so easy for the enemy to reclaim the lost territory.

As Thunder Marsh receded into the desert, Qin Sang observed these changes and couldn't help but sigh at the profound heritage of the Siyou imperial family. This unknown treasure was undoubtedly a divine artifact for conquering lands.

Fortunately, the Thunder Altar was complete; otherwise, Qin Sang would not have been able to devise a good countermeasure.

Even with the expanded territory, the power of the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram would not be dispersed, and everyone within it would remain protected.

Zhimu and others descended from the sky, ordering their respective units to rest and recuperate, while they themselves flew towards the Imperial Carriage.

The Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram's territory expanded as a whole, and the Imperial Carriage and the peak where Lu Gan was located moved forward with it.

"With this precious diagram, this battle is sure to be won!"

The Reed King's spirits were lifted. A hint of greed flashed in his eyes, but was quickly suppressed.

The imperial family's treasures were far more numerous than just this Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram. Unless a major change occurred in the sacred land, causing the imperial family to suffer heavy losses, or even be completely annihilated there, only then would the major royal clans have a chance to challenge the imperial family's position. Past major internal upheavals within the Siyou Clan had always been due to this very reason.

The surprise attack on the Sijia family of Yanshan had already aroused the imperial clan's vigilance. He certainly didn't want the imperial clan to turn its attention to the Lu family now.

Once Zhimu and others returned, the Grand Supplicant said, "That True Lord Qin is probably already waiting at the second defensive barrier. We might as well let him wait for a bit. Everyone, please go and recuperate, gather your strength."

Everyone was delighted to comply. After a brief discussion, they dispersed.

After seeing everyone off, the Grand Supplicant then said to the Reed King, "This old one had some hidden gains previously. Taking this opportunity, I shall visit areas like the North Sea to observe other altars."

"Very well!"

The Reed King nodded and said with concern, "Grand Supplicant, please be careful on your journey."

"No worries!"

The Grand Supplicant smiled confidently, took a step forward, and vanished from sight.

After the Twelve Thunder Lords Talismans were broken, the battlefield entered a period of relative calm. Qin Sang didn't know what schemes the enemy was planning and dared not let his guard down.

Not long after, Qin Sang's dharma body, stationed at the main altar, suddenly felt a sensation and sharply looked towards the north!

On the edge of the Hidden Sun Realm, within the territory of the Profound Heaven Palace lineage, the Grand Supplicant seemed to have sensed something as well. After a moment of hesitation, he finally cast a deep glance at the distant mountain range, but did not step onto the land, quietly retreating instead.

For a period of time thereafter, Qin Sang frequently sensed danger emerging, drifting erratically from the North Sea to the East Sea, and then to the Canglang Sea.

The opponent was certainly a top-tier expert. Their identity was not hard to guess; it was likely the Grand Supplicant himself, out on reconnaissance.

The first time, the Grand Supplicant might have inadvertently exposed himself, but subsequent instances had a provocative undertone.

Qin Sang was not worried about this at all. The Thunder Altar's completion meant he could wield the altar's power to attack any corner.

It was evident that the Grand Supplicant was acting alone, with no helpers by his side.

Not only was Qin Sang not afraid of the Grand Supplicant's reconnaissance, but he was also calculating what percentage chance he had if he attacked with full force now.

Unfortunately, he had not yet fully understood the Profound Yellow Light's true nature, so he ultimately decided to give up, letting the Grand Supplicant circle the Storm Realm and allowing him to roam freely for a while longer.

During this period, both sides remained peaceful.

The Grand Supplicant returned safely, and the Reed King felt a sense of relief, asking what discoveries he had made during his trip.

The Grand Supplicant mused, "In this old one's opinion, this Thunder Altar formation should have a primary and secondary distinction. If True Lord Qin has structured it geographically, the most likely layout is one main and three auxiliary altars. The entire Western Land can be considered an auxiliary formation!"

The Reed King's expression shifted slightly. "An auxiliary formation?" he questioned. "In that case, if we just occupy the Western Land, wouldn't that..."

"Precisely," the Grand Supplicant affirmed. "As long as we destroy that auxiliary altar, it will create a huge flaw in the altar formation, and the enemy will not be far from collapse! From now on, we should press forward step by step, while using the Eight Extremes Unfixed Diagram to gradually encroach upon the Western Land's territory, forcing the enemy to reveal the location of that auxiliary altar!"

The Reed King was overjoyed to hear this. Since their army's arrival in the Western Land, they finally had a clear objective.

A few days later, a unit under the Reed King's command entered the desert and began a new round of attacks.

Time flew by.

For nearly a year thereafter, the Western Land was embroiled in continuous warfare. Qin Sang's meticulously prepared talismans were successively broken, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.