Chapter 2269: True Difference of Thunder

This action was bound to provoke a strong reaction from the clan. Qin Sang's first priority was to figure out how to shake off the pursuers. This was Azure Phoenix Clan territory, and one wrong move could trigger a full-scale pursuit by the entire clan.

Since the mysterious Azure Phoenix had instructed Qin Sang to retrieve the True Lightning, it surely had a plan, but there were still risks involved.

The mysterious Azure Phoenix had discovered this lightning forest a millennium ago. It had not taken the True Lightning at the time, considering it insignificant. However, a thousand years would certainly have brought changes to the lightning forest, testing Qin Sang's keen observation skills.

Qin Sang quietly approached. He observed young Azure Phoenixes playing in the lightning above the forest. Occasionally, an adult Azure Phoenix would leave the forest, soaring into the sky. Deep within the lightning forest, several subtle presences remained hidden.

With his current strength, Qin Sang was not yet capable of acting recklessly here.

He settled down stealthily, observing the lightning forest meticulously, and reported all his findings in detail to the mysterious Azure Phoenix.

Then, following the secret technique imparted by the mysterious Azure Phoenix, Qin Sang observed with a fresh perspective. The chaotic lightning arcs and electrical currents gradually revealed discernible patterns to his eyes, causing him to marvel silently.

"'It seems... the True Lightning has not changed over the past millennium. Do you... have confidence?'"

The mysterious Azure Phoenix's tone was grave.

It had found this opportunity for Qin Sang, but whether he could seize it depended entirely on him.

For this endeavor to succeed, he absolutely must not alert the powerful beings here before securing it. This demanded extremely high levels of willpower and control from Qin Sang.

In the eyes of the mysterious Azure Phoenix, Qin Sang's cultivation realm had soared. Although his cultivation level had advanced, he lacked sufficient experience and accumulation, making many aspects of his abilities unmatched by his current realm.

"'Junior is willing to take the risk!'"

Qin Sang said solemnly.

He was no fragile talent whose growth had been forced; in reality, he possessed deep cultivation and experience.

"'Good! I will impart to you... a secret technique... listen carefully...'"

The mysterious Azure Phoenix's voice echoed intermittently in his ears. Qin Sang listened intently, his eyes flickering.

By the end, a peculiar look flashed in Qin Sang's eyes. He nodded repeatedly, marveling at the profound subtlety of the secret technique.

Having comprehended the secret technique, Qin Sang sat cross-legged and summoned his Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol.

The Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol hovered behind Qin Sang's head, facing the lightning forest, remaining perfectly still like a sculpture.

Immediately, the feathers on the Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol's body undulated like waves. Azure lightning permeated its plumes, yet the lightning power was unusually docile. It transformed into a soft light, spreading outwards in concentric circles.

The azure light grew fainter the further it spread from the Dharma Idol, eventually becoming invisible as it quietly diffused into the lightning forest.

With his eyes tightly closed, Qin Sang continuously activated the secret technique. As the first ray of azure light entered the lightning forest, a subtle azure feather quietly condensed within the trunks of the outermost lightning trees. It existed only for a moment before vanishing without a trace.

Silently and imperceptibly, more and more azure feathers formed inside the lightning trees without causing any disturbance, thus not alerting the area's inhabitants.

'Whoosh!'

A fierce gust of wind swept through the depths of the lightning forest, and a bolt of azure lightning streaked across the sky above it.

Qin Sang sensed it was a powerful Azure Phoenix Clan member, and his heart tightened. However, the azure lightning vanished into the horizon in an instant, and the clan member remained completely unaware of the anomaly below.

Seeing this, Qin Sang grew bolder and continuously activated the secret technique, implanting azure feathers into one lightning tree after another.

He patiently and tirelessly continued until he had permeated nearly eighty percent of the lightning forest. At this point, Qin Sang found it difficult to proceed, as the remaining areas were the core strongholds of the Azure Phoenix clan, strictly protected by powerful formations. Even with the mysterious Azure Phoenix's incredibly profound divine abilities, it would be almost impossible to infiltrate them undetected.

Nevertheless, permeating eighty percent of the lightning trees was sufficient. Qin Sang ceased the divine ability and entered meditation to recover.

After fully recovering, Qin Sang gazed at the lightning forest, his eyes glinting. The Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol behind him spread its wings, as if to embrace the entire lightning forest.

The next moment, an azure feather simultaneously appeared inside the trunk of every permeated lightning tree.

The azure feathers were as emerald green as jade. As they manifested, the lightning power within the trees immediately surged abnormally, rushing frantically towards the feathers.

In an instant, the azure feathers completely absorbed the lightning power from the tree trunks and continued to draw it from the roots.

'Rumble...'

The ground shook, mountains swayed, and peals of thunder echoed.

The lightning forest erupted with dazzling azure light that shot straight into the sky, shaking the very ground.

"'What's happening?'"

"'What occurred?'"

"'An earthquake? How can there be an earthquake here?'"

"'Oh no! The lightning forest is in turmoil! Quick, go check it out!'"

Only then did the Azure Phoenix clan discover the anomaly. Chaos erupted within the clan, and its powerful members were all alerted.

However, the anomaly unfolded faster than their actions. As the azure feathers drained the lightning, it seemed to shake the very foundation of the place, causing the ground to overturn. The earth beneath the lightning forest tore open, and countless bolts of lightning sprang from the fissures, like chains being forcibly ripped out by an unseen power. This even extended to the deepest parts of the lightning forest, the clan's core.

It was as if a mass of lightning, dormant for many years, had finally erupted from beneath the ground. The terrifying phenomenon threatened to engulf their homeland, causing all members of the Azure Phoenix clan to turn pale with fright.

Young Azure Phoenixes and ordinary clan members were gripped by panic, and the powerful members of the clan also looked grim. The change came too suddenly; other clan members lacked the ability to protect themselves, and there would undoubtedly be heavy casualties. The strong cultivators had no choice but to prioritize protecting the other clan members before investigating what had actually happened.

By the time they had moved their clan members to safety, almost all the lightning trees in the forest had been obliterated by the raging lightning. Their former home had become a scene of desolation.

At that moment, the powerful members of the Azure Phoenix clan rushed into the lightning forest. Just as they were about to cast spells to investigate, they suddenly noticed a phantom figure flash within the lightning, then flee outwards at an incredibly high speed.

"'Who!'"

Only then did they realize that the destruction of the lightning forest wasn't due to a self-mutation, but rather a hidden perpetrator who had destroyed it right under their noses!

"'Capture it!'"

"'Don't let this villain escape!'"

"'I'll cut it into a thousand pieces!'"

The powerful Azure Phoenix clan members were enraged, but the mastermind's escape technique was incredibly swift, breaking through their encirclement in a blink of an eye.

However, with their homeland destroyed, the powerful Azure Phoenix clan members were consumed by incandescent fury. They could not easily give up and continued their relentless pursuit.

As they pursued the phantom out of the lightning forest, on the other side of the forest, another phantom figure emerged—it was Qin Sang's true self.

The previous phantom was merely an illusion intended to deceive his opponents. However, this illusion was no ordinary feat; it was a divine ability personally cast by the mysterious Azure Phoenix and imparted to him, so realistic that it could easily pass for the true self. The powerful Azure Phoenix clan members indeed failed to discern the phantom's true identity.

Qin Sang glanced in that direction and immediately made his escape.

After escaping the Azure Phoenix Clan territory, Qin Sang found a safe place to rest and summoned his Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol.

The Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol appeared in a peculiar posture: its wings were clasped together, and nestled between them was an azure egg. The eggshell was transparent, allowing a blue lightning bolt to be seen constantly moving within, constrained by the shell, yet still emitting a powerful aura.

This was the Azure Phoenix True Lightning!

The lightning forest's existence was tied to the Azure Phoenix True Lightning. However, the True Lightning was merely the foundation; it had somehow ended up here and never dissipated, continuously attracting the lightning power of the heavens and earth, thereby creating this forest. This forest was later favored by the Azure Phoenix clan and chosen as their base.

Qin Sang detonated the other lightning powers as a diversion, secretly taking the True Lightning.

Of course, with its foundation extracted and the remaining lightning powers unrestrained, the lightning forest ceased to exist. The clan would henceforth have to relocate elsewhere.

Qin Sang gazed at the lightning bolt.

This was the second Azure Phoenix True Lightning he had obtained. Though both were Azure Phoenix True Lightning, there was a significant difference between them.

The Azure Phoenix True Lightning in reality, even after enduring eons of erosion, was clearly of a much higher grade than this one. To unleash the same divine ability with equivalent power, it would only require a trace of the former, but perhaps several times, or even more than ten times, the amount of the latter.

Only by comparison could he truly appreciate how unfathomably profound the True Lightning in reality was. What he had encountered was likely just the surface.

However, in terms of quantity, the Azure Phoenix True Lightning before him was clearly more abundant. The Azure Phoenix True Lightning in reality, sealed within a stone slab, had dwindled over countless ages.

From this, it could be inferred that the master of the True Lightning in reality possessed a cultivation far superior to the one in the illusion.

Qin Sang gained an intuitive impression of the strength of the Azure Phoenix that died in the Storm Realm, which further helped him confirm some of his conjectures.

Suppressing all distracting thoughts, Qin Sang manipulated the Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol to absorb the Azure Phoenix True Lightning. Having done this before in reality, he was familiar with the process, further aided by the secret technique imparted by the mysterious Azure Phoenix.

This step proceeded very smoothly, and the familiar feeling returned.

Qin Sang said excitedly, "'Senior, I have succeeded!'"

"'Good!'"

The mysterious Azure Phoenix's tone also became much lighter, holding greater expectations for Qin Sang. "'In the future... when imparting divine abilities... if you activate them with True Lightning... their power will surely greatly increase!'"

Qin Sang nodded slightly, pondering inwardly.

Having recovered his Void Refinement mid-stage cultivation, he was inherently capable of withstanding stronger divine abilities imparted by the mysterious Azure Phoenix. With the aid of True Lightning, even if his real-world strength had not fully returned, he could still contend with the top cultivators among the other races!

"'The supreme treasure... is about to appear... quickly find a place for secluded cultivation,' the mysterious Azure Phoenix reminded Qin Sang."

Qin Sang assented and hurried towards Mount Yuji.

On the way back from the Azure Phoenix Clan territory to Mount Yuji, he had to pass through a battlefield. As Qin Sang passed, he recalled some scenes he had witnessed when he previously cast divine abilities, subtly feeling that something was amiss. He wasn't sure if it was the layout of the battlefield or an unexpected development in the war that gave him this feeling.

However, now was not the time for deep investigation. This war had already lasted two hundred years with no signs of a ceasefire, and the animosity between the two sides was as deep as the sea.

Without external intervention, hatred would continue to fuel the war. Both sides were willing to pay any price, no matter how many lives were lost.

Returning to Mount Yuji, Qin Sang immediately went back to his cave dwelling, quietly awaiting the supreme treasure's emergence.

After this awakening, Qin Sang had left and returned without alarming anyone; no one on Mount Yuanjing knew he had ever left seclusion.

While waiting for the supreme treasure, Qin Sang refined the remaining sacred artifacts. As expected, his cultivation speed plummeted afterward.

"'It seems it's impossible to break through to the Void Refinement late-stage in this illusion,' Qin Sang thought with regret."

He had a premonition that although this breakthrough occurred in the illusion, it would certainly be of great benefit to his real self.

As for the path of Yin-Yang, if he wanted to achieve anything significant, it would take even longer, and he probably wouldn't have the opportunity. He would have to wait until he returned to reality and had leisure to comprehend the "Suwen Jing".

From then on, his goal became very clear: stall for time, find Liuli, help her resolve her inner demons, and wait for Mount Daiyu Immortal Mountain to recover, then seize the supreme treasure!

His intentions had not yet been exposed, but the other individuals were all prominent figures among the other races, whose wisdom and strength should not be underestimated. Qin Sang knew he couldn't keep it secret for long. Of course, what he feared most were the powerful beings of the other races; Hong Tian's words indicated that they actually had the ability to interfere with the illusion, so he had to be wary.

This time, he might have to directly face a Grand Unity Stage mighty figure!

Qin Sang felt a heavy pressure.

Before the supreme treasure appeared, Qin Sang again asked the mysterious Azure Phoenix to cast a divine ability, but he couldn't find a new stone pavilion.

"'Be careful!'"

The mysterious Azure Phoenix's warning echoed in his ears.

Qin Sang was draped in the Heavenly Awareness Lightning Robe. Immediately afterward, the second divine ability was imparted to him—a combat-oriented technique that would help him contend for the supreme treasure.

Qin Sang's cultivation greatly increased, but he felt no ease at all. The Azure Phoenix Dharma Idol spread its wings wide, raising its head to the sky, and a speck of azure light emerged above its head.

Gradually, the azure light condensed into the outline of a bell. Immediately, a brilliant azure light erupted within the cave dwelling, and the Azure Phoenix True Lightning was activated, surging towards the bell.

The bell transformed from illusory to real, then slowly fell into Qin Sang's embrace. Qin Sang let out a slight sigh of relief, but his expression remained grave.

Should he encounter a powerful enemy, he could unleash this bell for protection. However, until then, Qin Sang needed to constantly maintain it, preventing the lightning power within from immediately erupting.

He not only had to constantly maintain the Heavenly Awareness Lightning Robe but also the bell, making the pressure far more than simply doubled.

As the Heavenly Awareness Lightning Robe and the bell took shape, the mysterious Azure Phoenix acted again, sending Qin Sang into that realm where reality and illusion intertwined.

Qin Sang awoke, his objective clear, and immediately flew towards the divine mountain, completely disregarding everything along the way.

The divine mountain was in sight.

Qin Sang first went to the location where Mount Daiyu Immortal Mountain was stored.

Hovering in mid-air, he concentrated his senses. Qin Sang nodded inwardly, "'The vital energy of Mount Daiyu Immortal Mountain... its recovery speed seems faster than I expected. I wonder how much time has passed in reality. Or perhaps, Mount Daiyu Immortal Mountain is also affected by the illusion's time?'"

Mount Daiyu Immortal Mountain was Qin Sang's greatest source of confidence, and seeing its favorable progress, Qin Sang felt at ease.

After a brief pause, Qin Sang turned and flew towards the divine mountain.

Just like the previous two times, there was no one around the divine mountain. A cloud and mist vortex had formed on the mountaintop, indicating that the supreme treasure had likely 'sprouted' its tender shoots.

Even so, Qin Sang did not relax his guard. He scrutinized his surroundings, confirming there were no anomalies around the divine mountain. Passing through the cloud and mist vortex, he saw a verdant tender shoot at the center of the vortex.

With the supreme treasure before him, Qin Sang showed no mercy and was about to act decisively.

Just as Qin Sang made his move, a warning sign suddenly appeared in his mind.

A transparent barrier suddenly appeared around the supreme treasure. Qin Sang had been completely unaware before the invisible barrier materialized.

'Bang!'

The barrier, upon its initial appearance, received Qin Sang's attack. It had little defensive power, shattering immediately and failing to stop Qin Sang's assault.

At the same time, a figure flew out from beyond the mountain, glaring furiously at the divine mountain. "'Indeed, someone is playing tricks!'"

The next moment, the supreme treasure shattered, and the world collapsed.