Chapter 1293: Peak of the Cloud Sea, A Terrifying Conjecture

With Wang Lin's powerful Divine Sense, it didn't take much time for him to thoroughly understand the mysteries of the Lightning Gathering Seal. This seal can only be used by Lightning Cultivators, and its power changes based on the amount of Thunder Force within the body; the more the lightning is compressed, the greater the power!

For example, Zhong Dahong, with his Soul Transformation cultivation, could compress the Thunder Force within his body tenfold in a short time, achieving an instantaneous burst of power. While this might be common within the Flashing Thunder Clan, on the Vermilion Bird Star where Wang Lin was born, it would be enough to make him a regional powerhouse.

However, that is secondary. To truly utilize the Lightning Gathering Seal, one's cultivation must surpass the First Step of Cultivation and reach the Second Step, allowing them to draw Thunder Force from the heavens and earth. This enables the Lightning Gathering Seal to compress wildly, reaching thousands or even tens of thousands of times.

In this way, its power would be earth-shattering!

This method of controlling lightning is merely one of the Flashing Thunder Clan's Divine Abilities. It is precisely because of the Flashing Thunder Clan's continuous exploration and research over countless millennia into various Spells for controlling lightning that they remain one of the great clans of the Primordial Stars, even without a Third Step mighty being.

Wang Lin withdrew his Divine Sense from the Jade Slip, his expression calm, his eyes thoughtful.

"The strongest expert of the Flashing Thunder Clan is an Old Ancestor who has reached the Fifth Heavenly Decay. This person is only one step away from the Third Step. Although that single step is like the separation between heaven and earth, their strength is beyond doubt. If the Lightning Gathering Seal were used in their hands, I don't know how many tens of thousands of times it could compress… even a Third Step mighty being might be able to be held off for a moment by this person…"

While pondering, Wang Lin silently memorized the Lightning Gathering Seal. He raised his right hand and formed a seal. Immediately, thunder roared around the hall where he stood, and countless streaks of lightning appeared out of thin air, like silver snakes, instantly rushing toward his right hand. In a moment, they condensed into a Lightning Orb the size of a fist.

Inside the Lightning Orb, popping sounds could be heard as it continuously compressed. Ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times—in the blink of an eye, the Lightning Orb compressed nearly thirty thousand times.

The Lightning Orb dissipated, invisible to the naked eye. Only when Divine Sense was spread out could one see the Thunder Force, compressed thirty thousand times and reduced almost to dust, hovering above the seal on Wang Lin's right hand.

"Although this Physical Body has been modified by me, it can only exert, at most, the cultivation of Soul Transformation. However, my Primordial Spirit is vast, so I am not affected by the body, nor can outsiders detect my Primordial Spirit! Because my Primordial Spirit has already become lightning, an existence equal to the Undying Thunder. Even an Old Ancestor at the Fifth Heavenly Decay—as long as they Cultivate the Flashing Thunder Clan's Seal and Cultivate the Undying Thunder—even if their cultivation surpasses mine, they cannot reach the height of my current lightning!" Wang Lin fell silent, gazing at the compressed Thunder Force that resembled dust.

"Thirty thousand times compression is the limit that this Physical Body can withstand. If increased further, this Physical Body would instantly collapse." Wang Lin waved his right hand, and the thirty-thousand-times compressed dust silently dissipated within the Great Hall.

"Zhong Dahong is inherently a member of the Flashing Thunder Clan, so attracting attention while acting here is fine. As for Xu Ligou, he is not a Cultivator but a Sword Spirit; let him enjoy himself. Because of the existence of the outer Thunder Region, those who are not members of the clan cannot enter, so there are no security checks or identity inspections within the clan.

I don't need to be overly discreet in my actions…" Wang Lin's eyes flashed. He stopped thinking about the matter, closed his eyes, and began studying the Flashing Thunder Clan's Clan Seal.

The Flashing Thunder Clan Seal is a branch of the Undying Thunder. Every seal is derived from a trace of the Undying Thunder's power. Studying this Clan Seal is equivalent to studying the Undying Thunder indirectly.

The Lightning Seal Wang Lin was studying was Yu Fei's Clan Seal. Although Yu Fei had torn it off, because it was integrated into the Soul, tearing it off the Physical Body could not destroy it.

The more he studied, the more Wang Lin could feel the antiquity and power of the Undying Thunder. Just a branch seal contained various transformations of thunder, and faintly, this small seal actually contained the Origin of Thunder.

However, this Origin could not be absorbed. It contained a will, a will that seemed to be dormant, yet constantly absorbed the cultivation power of the Flashing Thunder Clan members from every branch seal and integrated it into the seal.

Time slowly passed. Wang Lin had already stayed in this Great Hall for over a month. Through his continuous research, Wang Lin vaguely noticed something strange.

He slowly opened his eyes, revealing exhaustion, but a strange light flickered within them.

"All members of the Flashing Thunder Clan Cultivate the Undying Thunder. Over countless years, by activating the Clan Seal on their brow, they gain endless Thunder Force, thus raising their cultivation… but at the same time, they are constantly offering up their own life force and the thunder they Cultivate… This phenomenon is extremely similar to disciples' Incense Offering!" The light in Wang Lin's eyes grew brighter.

"If the Undying Thunder is viewed as a Third Step mighty being, then the entire Flashing Thunder Clan, which sprung from it, are the disciples of the Undying Thunder… These disciples possess seals, and through continuous cultivation, they offer everything… but in return, they receive different levels of cultivation based on the amount they offer… This entire process is also similar to the Thunder Crystals on the Flashing Thunder Ranking among the Flashing Thunder Clan members!"

Wang Lin vaguely felt as if he had uncovered a shocking secret. He took a deep breath and muttered, "All the races across the entire Primordial Stars possess seals… These seals are not just fixed on the brow; for instance, the blue hair of the Blue Silk Clan is also a type of seal! If the Clan Seals of all the tribes in the Primordial Stars are like those of the Flashing Thunder Clan… then could it be that the Primordial Stars… could it be…"

Wang Lin's pupils contracted. He abruptly looked up, his gaze piercing through the Great Hall and settling upon the heavens and earth, his expression as gloomy as water.

"Could the Primordial Stars actually be a Place of Captivity established by some unimaginable, strange existence? Just like when Daoist Shui fought me years ago, he opened up a realm containing two billion Daoist Shui Disciples and many Cultivation Planets. Those Daoist Shui Disciples lived there, and Daoist Shui was like a deity to them!"

The more he conjectured, the colder Wang Lin felt in his heart. His gaze toward the sky could not pierce through the surrounding mist.

"All of this is just my conjecture… perhaps it isn't true… But if this is the case, the existence of the Sealed Realm Grand Formation does not seem to be, as the Sealed Realm Master claimed, purely for trapping those in the Inner Realm… Also, the Silver-Robed Woman once said that Incense Offering is poisonous and a deception… Coupled with Daoist Blue Dream mentioning that the Venerable Master was severely injured in the Inner Realm by a single roar and fled in panic… Is there any connection between all these events? What kind of secret is shrouding the Inner Realm and the Outer Realm!

And what role does the existence of the Ancient Immortal Realm play…" The more Wang Lin thought, the more terrifying he found it. His heart trembled, a rare shudder appearing in his spirit.

He took a deep breath, falling silent, and deeply buried his recent conjectures in his heart.

"Regardless of whether it's true or false, I absolutely will not Cultivate Incense Offering easily!" Wang Lin's eyes flashed with determination.

Several days later, Zhong Dahong returned, beating Xu Ligou back. As soon as he stepped into the Heavenly Thunder Sect's mountain gate, he immediately adopted an expression of excitement mixed with reverence. Especially upon hearing that Wang Lin was in secluded cultivation, he quickly came to the Great Hall where Wang Lin was cultivating. After chastising the accompanying Cultivators to retreat, he stood alone outside the Great Hall, his back to the entrance, his expression highly vigilant as he surveyed the surroundings, displaying the image of a loyal protector.

It was as if even if a Soul Transformation Cultivator arrived, they would have to step over Zhong Dahong's corpse before they could enter the Great Hall.

Not long after putting on this display, Wang Lin's voice summoning him echoed in Zhong Dahong's mind. Zhong Dahong instantly brightened up, quickly turned around, and before entering the Great Hall, patted his clothes as if dusting off clean garments. After tidying himself, he bowed low, wore a flattering expression, and rapidly walked into the Great Hall.

The moment he entered, even before seeing Wang Lin, Zhong Dahong immediately spoke excitedly: "This junior, Zhong Dahong, has not failed Senior's trust! I have collected many items that can be exchanged for Thunder Crystals on this trip, and I have come specifically to present them to Senior." As he spoke, he was already inside the Great Hall. He patted the seal on his brow with his right hand, instantly taking out everything he had collected over the past few months, piling them up high like a mountain inside the Great Hall.

With an invigorated expression, he took a deep breath inside the Great Hall and spoke even more excitedly: "This junior hasn't seen Senior for several months, but seeing you now instantly refreshes my spirit! Just smelling the Qi that Senior exhales during meditation makes my cultivation feel like it has increased! I only regret that I cannot follow Senior constantly, but serving Senior also makes Dahong feel honored. I wish I could have countless Clones to collect everything more quickly."

Wang Lin's expression was normal. He glanced at Zhong Dahong, waved his right hand, and all the items for exchanging Thunder Crystals in the Great Hall were collected.

"Not bad. This is your reward." Wang Lin flicked his index finger, and a Medicinal Pill immediately landed in Zhong Dahong's hand.

Zhong Dahong looked down, his mind shaking with excitement, and his joy was unconcealable. He quickly said, "Serving Senior is this junior's honor. Senior's bearing is like the brilliance of the sun and moon; even without a reward, this junior would be sincerely devoted. Senior, the day for exchanging Thunder Crystals is in a few days, and the Thunder Crystal Hall is about to open. Should we depart now to exchange for some first?"

Wang Lin pondered briefly, looked at Zhong Dahong with a half-smile, and nodded.

Seeing Wang Lin agree, Zhong Dahong immediately felt excited. He had deliberately rushed back ahead of Xu Ligou precisely so he could spend time alone with Wang Lin, allowing him to deploy his Invincible Technique, and also to accompany Wang Lin to the Thunder Crystal Hall so that Xu Ligou would miss them upon his return.

"Hmph, Xu Ligou, Zhong Dahong is going to war with you now! I refuse to believe I can't beat you! As long as Senior accepts me, what are mere items exchanged for Thunder Crystals? Staying by Senior's side will bring me immense benefits! Judging by Senior's demeanor, he must be preparing to seize the Flashing Thunder Ranking. When the tide rises, I, Zhong Dahong, will also have my day! Maybe in the future, I, Zhong Dahong, will even have a place within the Flashing Thunder Clan!"

Zhong Dahong had ambition. This was the biggest difference between him and Xu Ligou.