Chapter 2286: Stealing Heaven and Changing the Day

Wuxia and Xianxia

At the peak of the sacred mountain, the cluster of green treasure light grew increasingly brighter. Within this radiant glow, the tender sprout had already matured into a half-human-tall divine tree.

The scene of that realm gradually became clear in Qin Sang's vision. At the same time, Qin Sang sensed the presence of other individuals. It appeared that although the anomaly was caused by Shu Li and Yu Ji Shan, its effects extended to everyone present.

Once the connection between them and that realm was established, the struggle for the ultimate treasure would begin. However, Shu Li's condition...

Qin Sang turned his head and saw Shu Li still sitting cross-legged on the white light. The white light enveloped her entire body, her aura merging with it. He wondered when she would awaken.

Shu Li's demonic shadow had only been killed once. According to Qin Sang's experience, the demonic shadow would need to be killed at least three times to be completely eradicated. Qin Sang worried that the demonic shadow might return with renewed chaos, exploiting any weakness.

Unsure if Shu Li could handle the danger, Qin Sang pondered for a moment before releasing the Thunder Beast Battle Guard, ordering it to protect her.

The Azure Dragon divine ability sealed within the Thunder Beast Battle Guard had already been depleted. It now possessed only the combat power of a Void Refinement peak cultivator. Qin Sang's current strength far surpassed his past abilities, so he no longer needed to rely heavily on the Thunder Beast Battle Guard.

With the Thunder Beast Battle Guard as a protector, everything would be foolproof. Qin Sang's doubts immediately vanished. He fixed his gaze on the sacred mountain, and when the moment arrived, his aura surged, and he stepped forward!

Qin Sang returned to this realm. He looked back and saw a white vortex suspended in the void behind him. He couldn't yet see inside the vortex, but he could sense two auras within it, belonging to Shu Li and the Thunder Beast Battle Guard, respectively.

However, the aura within the vortex was too chaotic for outsiders to make an accurate judgment.

Moreover...

Qin Sang looked around and saw white light flashing in every direction. All the alien race experts still trapped in the illusion had been pulled in. Initially, the situation would undoubtedly be chaotic, which could temporarily conceal Shu Li's presence.

Qin Sang felt relieved. He soared towards the sacred mountain, being the first to ascend it. Standing on the summit, he gazed at the divine tree before him.

In a short time, the divine tree had grown to be as tall as his chest. A layer of dense, protective treasure light surrounded it, appearing very substantial and capable of resisting external attacks, thus guarding the divine tree.

He wondered if the treasure light would disappear once the divine tree fully matured.

Just then, Qin Sang heard a whooshing sound. He turned his gaze and saw several streaks of light flying from the horizon, all familiar faces—it was Yi Rui and his companions.

The alien powerhouses arrived swiftly, but as their gazes met Qin Sang's, they all involuntarily paused, landing on a distant peak to confront him from afar.

The Winged Human Prince scrutinized Qin Sang, his attention primarily on the single bone creature remaining by Qin Sang's side. The more he looked, the more uncertain and surprised he became. That bone creature...

He wondered if it was an illusion; though the number of bone creatures had clearly decreased, he felt an even greater threat.

"True Immortal Qin is unfathomable; we must not be careless!" Yi Rui also cautioned in a deep voice, his gaze warily fixed on the bone creature.

They had noticed only one bone creature remained, initially believing that Qin Sang had suffered mutual losses with them in the previous battle. Now, it seemed things were not that simple.

The previous encounter had taught them a profound lesson. Even if they suspected Qin Sang was bluffing, they dared not act rashly.

Qin Sang observed their actions and sneered. He secretly sent a message to Ji Tui, instructing them not to reveal themselves for now and to remain hidden nearby.

Ji Tui and the Yuan Xiang Patriarch were only slightly behind Yi Rui and his group, deliberately concealing their presence.

Hearing Qin Sang's message and seeing the actions of Yi Rui and his companions, Ji Tui showed a look of surprise.

He had only heard Qin Sang mention that battle and wasn't aware of the details, but seeing them act as if facing a formidable enemy, he could infer that Qin Sang alone could control the situation, making their appearance unnecessary.

Ji Tui nodded secretly and said to the Yuan Xiang Patriarch, "True Immortal Qin has instructed us to act when the opportunity arises. Fellow Daoist, you still have time to heal. I will continue to protect you."

"Thank you!" The Yuan Xiang Patriarch hastily entered a meditative state, concentrating on refining the medicinal power.

Just then, Yi Rui and the others heard a soft exclamation. "Your Highness!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a streak of fire light rapidly approaching. Within the light was a woman, robust in build and unusual in appearance.

She had a tortoise shell on her back, making her resemble a tortoise demon. Two streams of flame shot out from either side of the shell, forming fiery wings that propelled her through the air.

Everyone immediately recognized her; her name was Wei Cheng, and her tribe was known simply as the Jia clan. The Jia clan was born with incredibly tough tortoise shells, but due to their innate ability to control fire, they were not associated with the Water Tribe. They were close to the Winged Tribe, and during the competition for seats on the sacred mountain, Wei Cheng had performed great services for the Winged Human Prince.

Seeing Wei Cheng, the Winged Human Prince smiled. "I knew, Fellow Daoist Wei, that you wouldn't be misled by the demonic shadow!"

The Jia clan not only resembled tortoise demons, but their carapaces also possessed formidable defensive capabilities. As long as she retracted into her shell, the demonic shadow would find it difficult to kill her.

"Indeed! I have been barely surviving by relying on my carapace, preparing for a long time. I managed to set up a killing formation to forcefully battle the demonic shadow, but I suffered serious injuries as a result. I wanted to contact Your Highness earlier, but I dared not move..."

Wei Cheng landed and instinctively stood beside the Winged Human Prince. After a brief explanation, she looked towards the sacred mountain and saw a sight that surprised her.

"Is that True Immortal Qin?" Wei Cheng, being forthright, directly voiced her confusion. "Your Highness, fellow Daoists, why don't we join forces to drive him off the mountain? Why allow a human cultivator to monopolize such an advantage?"

Everyone's expressions became somewhat unnatural. The Winged Human Prince sighed softly and had no choice but to explain the situation to Wei Cheng.

Wei Cheng's mouth fell open, her face filled with shock.

While Wei Cheng had actively revealed herself, there were naturally others who preferred to remain hidden, observing the situation from the shadows.

All attention was focused on Qin Sang and Yi Rui's factions. Yi Rui and his companions, undoubtedly the strongest and most influential force present, were unexpectedly blocked from the sacred mountain by a single human cultivator, retreating and daring not to attack.

"Is this truly a human sacred land, or is it ours, the alien races' sacred land?" This question simultaneously arose in everyone's minds, filling them with a sense of absurdity. However, it was undeniable that Yi Rui's actions made them extremely wary of Qin Sang. Everyone was now observing Yi Rui's group's reaction.

Yet, Yi Rui and his companions made no move, watching as the divine tree continuously grew taller.

In a short time, the divine tree's canopy had already surpassed Qin Sang's head. Its trunk gradually became thicker, and it began to sprout branches and leaves. To the naked eye, the divine tree appeared exceptionally peculiar, as if existing between reality and illusion.

As the divine tree grew, it continuously absorbed the power of the illusion. Some keenly noticed the changes in the world. "The illusion seems to be receding; we are gradually returning to reality!"

The Aquatic Human Queen looked up at the sky and whispered, a glint of sharpness flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Qin Sang, standing beside the divine tree, felt the changes even more clearly. His expression grew solemn. The power of the illusion continued to wane, and the great cultivators from the outside world would soon be able to directly intervene to seize the treasure. They had to seize this fleeting opportunity.

At the same time, Qin Sang noticed new changes in the divine tree: new leaves had unfurled at the ends of two branches, and between these two new leaves, a faint aura was developing.

This was clearly not a new bud. Could it be the ultimate treasure spoken of by the mysterious Azure Creature, or the "seed" mentioned by Hong Tian?

"The ultimate treasure is indeed a fruit borne by the divine tree!"

A thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind. He carefully observed each branch and soon found another with similar changes.

"I wonder how many fruits the divine tree will ultimately bear. It seems two will ripen first..."

Thinking of this, Qin Sang immediately informed the mysterious Azure Creature.

If he wanted to secretly acquire several fruits without anyone noticing, he would need to bypass the perceptions of Yi Rui and others, as well as the great cultivators from the outside world. He couldn't do it alone; the mysterious Azure Creature's assistance was essential.

It was time for his deal with the mysterious Azure Creature to be fulfilled!

After secretly communicating with the mysterious Azure Creature, Qin Sang closely monitored the changes in the divine tree and the illusion.

At this moment, the Aquatic Human Queen outside the mountain gave the sacred mountain a cold smile and flew towards a nearby peak.

With a wave of her jade hand, an underground spring surged forth, and water flowed continuously, overflowing the mountainside until it reached the summit's level. During this time, the Aquatic Human Queen threw out numerous gems. These gems fell into the water, emitting beautiful, shimmering lights.

Her Earth Treasure Divine Spring was almost depleted, but she had a backup plan. These were not ordinary gems, but a unique type of formation artifact belonging to the Aquatic Human Tribe. When the illusion receded to a certain extent, she could use this formation to contact the Empress, transmit what was happening in the illusion, and even guide the Empress's divine ability to manifest prematurely.

At that point, it would be Qin Sang's downfall.

It wasn't just her; the Winged Human Prince and other alien powerhouses in the shadows also made similar preparations for the upcoming struggle for the ultimate treasure.

Only Yi Rui made no special moves, instead actively protecting the others.

Just as everyone was busily preparing, sensing that the time was drawing near to activate their methods, a sudden clap of thunder reverberated.

Thunder rumbled across the nine heavens, startling everyone. They all looked up at the sky in shock.

High above, at some unknown moment, azure clouds had spread, clearly composed of streaks of lightning, darting like dragons and serpents. The thunderclouds covered the sky, vast and boundless. Amidst thousands of azure bolts, an Azure Creature bathed in the lightning, appearing and disappearing intermittently, as steadfast as thunder. The thunderclouds grew heavier, pressing lower and lower, and a terrifying thunderous might filled the heavens and earth, greatly shaking everyone's minds.

Yi Rui and the others' eyes showed profound shock. They urgently looked towards the sacred mountain, only to see its peak already covered by thunderclouds. The divine tree and Qin Sang had become indistinct, and the bone creature by his side was gone!

"This thunderous might—could it be the power of that bone creature?"

The Aquatic Human Queen found it hard to believe. The thunderous power emanating from the thunderclouds filled them with dread; it was at least a divine ability of Saint Realm caliber!

"Is that bone creature a Saint Realm mighty cultivator?"

She hastily activated the grand formation. Water rippled, and various colored lights shimmered at the bottom, reflecting dazzlingly, embodying subtle and profound changes.

Yet, no matter how she urged it, it was like a stone sinking into the sea. The thunderclouds in the sky seemed like a grand lock, sealing off everything inside and out!

Everyone else, like the Aquatic Human Queen, discovered that the methods their ancestors had left for them had become ineffective. No one could transmit any message to the outside world.

The thunderclouds descended even lower, completely engulfing the divine tree and Qin Sang. It was as if the sky had fallen, and a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere permeated the air. The Aquatic Human Queen and the Winged Human Prince finally felt a surge of panic. They had never expected Qin Sang to possess such a method. Now they could only see the azure lightning, having completely lost sight of Qin Sang and the divine tree. They didn't know what was happening at the peak of the sacred mountain. Were they to stand by and watch Qin Sang take the divine tree?

But they dared not approach the sacred mountain. If they provoked the thunderclouds, everyone might be utterly annihilated!

Now they could only pray that the great cultivators outside would quickly discover the anomaly and intervene to disperse the azure lightning.

However, the thunderclouds' function was not merely to deter everyone and obstruct their vision. The thunderclouds were a great divine ability transmitted by the mysterious Azure Creature, capable of concealing the divine tree's aura. When the fruits matured and were taken, outsiders would know nothing, and ultimately no one would know how many fruits the divine tree had borne.

Furthermore, the thunderclouds had one most crucial function: to forcibly support this realm and deceive the great cultivators from the outside!

Outside the Heart Lake.

Hong Tian and the others' attention was drawn here.

Hong Tian grunted softly, his brow slightly furrowed.

All the great cultivators had noticed that the changes at the sacred mountain seemed to have paused, yet it was different from before; they hadn't completely receded.

They only knew that dream seeds would emerge but were unclear of the method or even their appearance. At this moment, they could only observe for now.

Just then, someone spoke up, probing with a suggestion to jointly attack the dream realm to see what variables it might trigger. This was met with strong opposition from Hong Tian and his allies.

The others clearly understood Hong Tian's intentions but were powerless due to the oath. It was because Hong Tian possessed unique foresight and had seized the initiative.

Moreover, they not only had to guard against each other but also against those old fellows interfering. If those old fellows personally intervened, they would have to unite to stand a chance of retaining some of the dream seeds. Thus, for now, they chose to wait and see.

This deceptive tactic, "hoodwinking the heavens and crossing the sea," bought valuable time for Qin Sang and the mysterious Azure Creature.

Qin Sang stood before the divine tree, bearing the terrifying pressure brought by the divine ability. He resiliently held his ground, his eyes intently fixed on those two branches. Even with his composure, he couldn't help but feel a surge of tension.

The leaves at the end of the branches slowly opened. What grew from the center of the leaves was not an ordinary fruit, but a small sphere of light. The sphere of light emitted a faint green glow and grew rapidly, as if inflating, eventually reaching the size of a baby's fist. The branches swayed, and the fruits gently bobbed, emitting strange fluctuations. Looking into the fruits, light and shadow shifted erratically, as if containing an independent, illusory world, with various fantastical scenes constantly appearing. It was unclear what meaning these scenes held, making them appear mysterious and unfathomable.

"Finally matured!" Qin Sang activated his true essence, forming a large hand, and reached for the fruit.

The next moment, it was effortlessly grasped by Qin Sang!

As the fruit naturally detached, falling into his hand, Qin Sang suddenly heard a phoenix cry and saw the bone creature in the sky lowering its head, staring intently at him.

It appeared the mysterious Azure Creature could not bypass Qin Sang to forcibly seize the fruit by controlling the bone creature. However, Qin Sang did not break his word. Without hesitation, he tossed the fruit in his hand towards the bone creature, then swiftly reached for the other fruit.

The bone creature's eyes gleamed as it swallowed the fruit in one gulp. At the same time, with the other fruit now in hand, Qin Sang immediately drew upon the surrounding azure lightning to envelop it. He could have directly placed the fruit into his mini-cave-heaven, which might have isolated it from the alien race great cultivators' perception. However, for added security, he opted to use the mysterious Azure Creature's divine ability to create an additional barrier. The azure lightning transformed into layers of lightning prohibitions, sealing the fruit and completely isolating its unique fluctuations. Qin Sang was overjoyed and immediately placed it into his mini-cave-heaven.