Volume 2: Shenzhou Academy & The Battle of Venice
Chapter 193
Secluded Fusion, The Ascent of Lightning
Three hundred meters beneath the Imperial Magic Capital, absolute silence hung in a state of eternal solemnity.
This was the National Magic Treasury—the most heavily fortified and closely guarded subterranean stronghold in the entire Divine Realm. Shielded by layer upon layer of primordial sealing barriers, the Treasury harbored priceless rare treasures, ancient inheritance scriptures, and peerless elemental seed cores accumulated by the empire over centuries.
At the center of the seventh level, a five-foot-thick stone gate forged from Abyssal Dark Iron stood tightly sealed. Across its pitch-black surface, intricate ancient runes shimmered with a deep, undulating golden glow, completely isolating any internal magical volatility from the outside world.
The chamber hidden behind those doors was known as the Seven Treasures Magic Chamber.
It was one of the nine supreme closed-door cultivation chambers within the Treasury, converging the purest subterranean mana veins of the Magic Capital. The entire floor was paved with top-grade Spirit Gathering Stones. Wisps of emerald-green and deep purple mana mists were so dense they condensed into micro-droplets floating in mid-air; a single breath was enough to make one’s meridians tingle with exhilaration.
Outside the stone gate, two figures stood in stillness.
One was Elder Gu, the senior custodian of the National Magic Treasury—his hair and beard as white as crane feathers, his back slightly hunched, yet possessing eagle-sharp eyes that pierced through the nocturnal gloom. The other was the Dean of the Fire College of the Divine Realm Academy, Xiao Yan, standing upright and imposing in his deep crimson robes.
Staring at the array patterns inscribed on the stone slab, Elder Gu stroked his beard, his voice tinged with deep concern:
“Old Xiao, are you truly certain you want to let this youngster Lin Feng select ‘Frenzied Shadow Lightning’? That Lightning Spiritual Seed has languished at the bottom of the Treasury for over sixty years. Back then, a Lightning Grandmaster brought it back from the perilous rifts of the Borderland Abyssal Thunder Valley. Its lightning might is ferocious beyond compare, contaminated with the insidious slaughter aura of the deep abyss. Thirty years ago, a peak Intermediate-tier lightning genius from the Imperial Clan attempted to absorb it, only to have his meridians burned to ash and his mana scattered, reducing him to a cripple. No matter how monstrous Lin Feng’s talent is, he is after all only eighteen years old, having broken through to Intermediate Tier 3 not long ago... If any mishap occurs, how shall we answer to the Supreme Council?”
Xiao Yan raised his head, his gaze unwavering without the slightest fluctuation:
“Old Gu, you underestimate this lad. He is not some greenhouse flower nurtured by major aristocratic families. He walked his path up from the blood-soaked borders and corpses of monstrous beasts, single-handedly tearing through the turbulent waves of Whale Sea, before trampling over every arrogant genius of the Magic Capital to ascend the throne of the New King. What he possesses is not merely astonishing mana, but an iron will tempered across the razor’s edge of life and death. The upcoming international magic arena is a gathering place for the most ruthless monsters in the world. If he dares not even devour a Spiritual Seed sitting within our Treasury, what qualification does he have to lead the Divine Realm against foreign powers?”
Elder Gu let out a long sigh, though his aged eyes flickered with a surge of high expectations:
“I pray your choice is correct. The barrier of the Seven Treasures Magic Chamber has been activated. Within three days, whether he lives or dies, molts into a dragon or ruins his foundation, it all rests on his own capability.”
With those words, Elder Gu flicked his sleeve, shooting out a magical jade token. The heavy dark-iron gate slowly shifted, revealing a chamber engulfed in thick magical mist before sealing tightly shut behind Lin Feng.
Inside the Seven Treasures Magic Chamber, all worldly sounds instantly vanished. The space was filled only with the faint, whistling hum of mana rushing like wind through a canyon and the steady, profound heartbeat of Lin Feng.
Lin Feng stood at the dead center of the Spirit Gathering array.
At this moment, even though the crystalline core of the “Frenzied Shadow Lightning” had been temporarily stored within his chest since the Ancient Thunder Domain, the ferocious purple-black lightning current continued to bite and writhe just beneath his skin. The pungent scent of ozone and dormant violent thermal energy caused the muscle fibers across his arms to twitch rhythmically.
Without a moment of hesitation, Lin Feng crossed his legs on the white jade cultivation platform, his ten fingers intertwining to seal the Star Plate Magic Mudra.
His eyelids drooped halfway, his consciousness instantly plunging deep into the boundless sea of the mind.
Within the vast expanse of his spiritual space, four brilliant Star Nebula whirlpools rotated slowly. The purple Lightning Nebula reigned in the most prominent position, forty-nine lightning stars linking together into seven complete Star Orbits, mana surging turbulently at the peak of Intermediate Tier 3.
However, along the periphery of the Nebula, the purple-black lightning of the Frenzied Shadow Lightning was tearing madly. It manifested as a ferocious, razor-toothed thunder python, baring its fangs and claws, incessantly discharging destructive electric arcs in an attempt to shatter the boundaries of his consciousness!
The silent, thunderous roar of the abyssal beast reverberated through Lin Feng’s soul. Born from the rifts of the Abyssal Thunder Valley, the very nature of the Frenzied Shadow Lightning was saturated with demonic darkness and untamed arrogance; it would never submit to the captivity of any mortal being.
“You want to counterattack me? In your dreams!”
Lin Feng roared coldly in his mind. All his acupoints and meridians flung wide open, and the Lightning Nebula erupted with ultimate gravitational suction, transforming into a magical cage that slammed straight down onto the thunder python!
BOOM!!
A magical earthquake instantly erupted within his meridians!
The very instant the purple-black lightning flooded his meridians, Lin Feng’s entire body shuddered violently. An agonizing pain that pierced straight to the marrow assaulted him, feeling as though thousands of red-hot lightning blades were clawing through every inch of his flesh, ripping apart his meridian pathways and shattering his blood cells. Beneath his skin, winding purple-black veins bulged grotesquely like crawling venomous serpents. Fresh blood oozed from his pores, but before it could pool, the terrifying heat of the lightning scorched it into wisps of white smoke.
His teeth ground together with a grinding crunch, a streak of bright red blood spilling from the corner of his lips. Sweat pouring from his forehead evaporated the instant it rolled down his cheeks.
Unimaginable agony! If it were any ordinary mage, they would likely have surrendered within the first three breaths, allowing the lightning poison to devour their consciousness and resulting in total bodily destruction.
Yet Lin Feng was different! His willpower hardened like unyielding rock; he mobilized every ounce of his mental energy to lock down every single branch of the purple-black lightning, resolutely refusing to yield even half a step!
Just at the moment when the deadlock reached a suffocating peak, a gentle yet ocean-vast warmth suddenly emanated from his chest.
The Primordial Dragon Pendant!
The ancient dragon-shaped heirloom pendant vibrated softly. A streak of sacred golden light silently seeped through his torn garments, diffusing directly into his meridians.
Omm... Rumble... Roar...!!
A deep, resonant, archaic dragon roar—like a bronze bell echoing from primeval primordial times—suddenly reverberated straight into Lin Feng’s soul!
A supreme, peerless Dragon Might swept across his entire body. In that very instant, the rampaging purple-black thunder python froze dead in its tracks, its entire body trembling violently as if it had just laid eyes on the ultimate apex predator of the universe! Its recalcitrance, brutality, and dark slaughter intent were instantly crushed flat by the aura of the Primordial Divine Dragon, shrinking back submissive-like a gentle stream.
“Tame for me!”
Lin Feng seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He immediately channeled his magic cultivation technique, guiding the cascading torrent of elemental essence from the Frenzied Shadow Lightning to flow smoothly along his eight extraordinary meridians, pouring straight into the center of his spiritual sea!
CRASH!!
At the center of his consciousness, the Lightning Nebula opened its vortex wide, welcoming the cascading purple-black lightning fluid like a pouring waterfall.
An earth-shaking transformation unfolded instantly.
The purple-black lightning blended flawlessly into the traditional purple-blue Lightning Nebula. Much like a drop of magical ink falling onto a serene lake before igniting into an ocean of thunder, all forty-nine original lightning stars instantly absorbed the lightning fluid at a breathtaking pace!
Every single Star, having been tempered through the energy of the Frenzied Shadow Lightning, shone brilliantly, swelling to twice its original volume. The purple-blue radiance gradually shifted, donning a deep, saturated dark purple hue, enveloped by a profound, pitch-black halo reminiscent of abyssal darkness.
The mana contained within the Frenzied Shadow Lightning was simply too boundless. After filling the original forty-nine Stars, the immense energy continued to expand, tearing apart the boundaries of the old Lightning Nebula!
The periphery of his consciousness collapsed with a rumble, layer upon layer of chaotic mist swept clean by the lightning radiance. From the original seven Star Orbits, countless new star branches began to sprout and multiply at a terrifying speed:
Fifty... one hundred... one hundred fifty... two hundred... three hundred...!
New lightning stars successively condensed amidst the deep purple-black galaxy!
Until the number hit precisely three hundred and forty-three (343) stars, the entire Lightning Nebula had expanded to the absolute upper limit of the Intermediate tier, intricately linked into seven complete Star Plates, forming a massive nebula resembling a miniature model of an Advanced-tier Galaxy!
Every single one of the 343 lightning stars radiated a deep purple glow bordered by profound black, flashing continuously with a heavy, oppressive majesty blanketing his entire consciousness!
RUMBLE ————!!
A soul-shaking thunderclap resounded, signaling that the fusion had reached absolute perfection!
Lin Feng abruptly opened his eyes!
Two streaks of purple-black electric light instantly shot forth from his deep pupils, tearing through the air before him and striking a Spirit Gathering Stone slab three paces away, leaving two deep, smoking indentations.
He slowly lowered his gaze to look at his hands.
Wisps of deep purple lightning slithered around his fingertips, interlaced with eerie trails of black smoke. With the slightest flick of his finger, crisp cracking sounds of thunder rang out sharply, tearing the air with a sound as piercing as a blade slashing through fine silk.
Lin Feng clenched his fist slightly, feeling the surging mana coursing torrentially through his veins.
The might of his Lightning element had now skyrocketed by 3.2 times compared to ordinary mortal-grade lightning!
3.2 times!
This was a terrifying figure for a Spiritual Seed! Ordinarily, a top-grade Spiritual Seed boosting power by 2.0 to 2.5 times was already considered a rare treasure. The 3.2-fold boost of the Frenzied Shadow Lightning bordered on the threshold of a Soul Seed!
With this magnitude of increase, a primary-tier level-three Lightning Spell cast now possessed power entirely comparable to an ordinary Intermediate-tier Pelic (Lightning Strike); and if Lin Feng unleashed the Pelic Madness Tide at the peak of Intermediate Tier 3, its absolute burst power was more than enough to crush the armor of any peak Commander-grade monstrous beast in the blink of an eye!
That was not all. Information regarding two specialized auxiliary abilities bestowed by the Frenzied Shadow Lightning immediately surfaced in Lin Feng’s mind.
First: “Shadowless Lightning Shield”!
Lin Feng shifted his mental intent slightly.
Swish!
Instantly, an octagonal shield-shaped purple-black lightning barrier condensed directly before his chest. This lightning shield was not rigid like an Earth-tier stone shield, but rippled fluidly like a dark energy membrane. It possessed both the ability to absorb and disperse the impact of physical attacks and elemental magic, while simultaneously discharging violently reactive electric arcs to paralyze opponents upon contact!
Second: “Swift Thunder Phantom Step”!
This was the ability that excited Lin Feng the most. He sprang up from the stone platform, his right foot sliding forward just a fraction of an inch.
Whoosh ————!!
Lin Feng’s figure abruptly vanished from its original spot like a mirage dissolving into mist!
Right where he had stood, a purple-black lightning afterimage identical to his actual physique remained in place, flickering with light. Meanwhile, Lin Feng’s true physical form had already materialized in the corner of the chamber more than ten meters away, landing as lightly and silently as a falling leaf!
Half a second later.
BANG!!
The thunder afterimage behind him exploded abruptly! A purple-black lightning vortex accompanied by a potent paralyzing current burst outward fiercely within a three-meter radius, shattering the stone debris on the floor into fine powder!
“Exquisite!”
Lin Feng clenched his fist tight, utter exhilaration surging within him.
The “Swift Thunder Phantom Step” not only granted him terrifying short-range movement bursts, but the exploding afterimage left behind served as a fatal trap for any enemy daring to pursue him. Once an adversary fell into the explosive trap, the paralyzing lightning current would instantly freeze their movements for a few precious seconds—more than enough time for him to deliver the finishing blow!
Suddenly, the vibrating pulse from his chest once again drew Lin Feng’s mind back.
The Primordial Dragon Pendant had not stopped glowing!
Within the Seven Treasures Magic Chamber of the National Magic Treasury, the elemental mana was dozens of times denser than outside. After Lin Feng successfully tamed the Frenzied Shadow Lightning, his body seemed to open a gateway for limitless mana absorption. The Primordial Dragon Pendant acted like a massive whirlpool, beginning to frantically draw in the surrounding pure heaven-and-earth mana, funneling it straight into his spiritual sea!
This boundless energy instantly poured into the remaining three Nebulae:
The Fire Nebula blazed fiercely with the scorching flames of Scarlet Flame Flowing Fire, its forty-nine stars glowing red like molten lava constellations, mana churning violently like a rolling sea of fire!
The pitch-black Shadow Nebula spun at a dizzying speed, its dark mist expanding to shroud an entire corner of his spiritual sea, desolate and chillingly cold to the extreme!
The transparent Summoning Nebula emitted ethereal, undulating spatial waves; from the distant Dimension Plane, the excited and loyal growl of the Nether Abyssal Black Wolf transmitted crystal-clear across their soul connection!
Under the intense stimulation of the Dragon Pendant and the supreme cultivation environment of the Seven Treasures Magic Chamber, all four Nebulae—Lightning, Fire, Shadow, and Summoning—sublimated simultaneously, reaching the ultimate state of perfection at Intermediate Tier 3!
The four Nebulae revolved around his spiritual sea like four magnificent magical wheels, energy swollen to the absolute brim, unable to absorb even a single drop more. All that immense, concentrated mana pressure pressed hard against an invisible barrier reigning at the apex of his spiritual sea!
That was the threshold separating the Intermediate Star Nebula and the Advanced Star Galaxy!
At this moment, that barrier had grown as thin as transparent crystal film, waiting for nothing more than a sufficiently powerful catalyst to shatter completely and unveil a brand-new horizon!
Lin Feng sensed clearly that he was merely a fragile step away from the Advanced tier.
Yet this final step could not be broken through through seated meditation. It demanded a life-or-death practical combat opportunity, a blood-soaked trial by fire in the fierce international arena to break the shackles and transform the four Nebulae into four brilliant Galaxies!
“It’s coming soon...” Lin Feng took a deep breath, a blazing inferno of fighting spirit igniting within his chest.
Three days of closed-door cultivation passed in the blink of an eye.
Outside the Seven Treasures Magic Chamber, the subterranean stone hall of the National Magic Treasury was now crowded not only with Elder Gu and Xiao Yan, but also Deputy Dean of the Lightning College Lu Hanba and several senior officials from the Divine Realm Military Region.
The atmosphere within the stone hall was thick with tension and restlessness.
“It is already the final hour of the third day,” a military adjudicator murmured, glancing at the magical hourglass on the table. “Inside remains completely silent, without the slightest commotion... Could Lin Feng have encountered some mishap during the fusion?”
Lu Hanba stroked his dark beard, his brow furrowed deep: “The Frenzied Shadow Lightning has a towering fierce reputation, and the corrosive nature of its dark slaughter intent is exceptionally vicious. No matter how talented an Intermediate-tier youth is, trying to completely tame such a ferocious entity within three days is truly an unprecedented feat...”
Elder Gu sighed, his aged hand gripping the door-opening token tightly: “Old Xiao, if another half-hour passes beyond the deadline and the doors do not open, I will be forced to forcefully shatter the barrier and rush in to save him. We absolutely cannot let a prime imperial seedling be wrongfully consumed by lightning fire.”
Xiao Yan crossed his arms before his chest, his spine straight as a spear. His resolute face betrayed no ripple of emotion, but his hands hidden inside his sleeves had clenched tight:
“Old Gu, wait just a little longer. He will definitely succeed.”
RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT!
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE ————!!
Suddenly, the entire three-hundred-meter subterranean depths of the Treasury shook violently!
The granite stone floor beneath everyone’s feet quivered furiously as if a terrifying earthquake had erupted deep within the mountain. The magic crystal lamps hanging from the cavern ceiling swung wildly, and fine stone dust showered down from the cracks!
On the five-foot-thick dark-iron stone gate of the Seven Treasures Magic Chamber, all the sealing runes simultaneously burst into brilliant, blinding light, emitting piercing screeches!
“An anomaly?!” Lu Hanba shouted, instantly forming defensive magic mudras.
Elder Gu’s expression changed drastically: “Not good! The internal energy has exploded!”
Before Elder Gu could unleash his token to activate the rescue prohibition, however, a muffled detonation rang out:
BOOM ————!!
The thousand-pound dark-iron stone gate suddenly let out an ear-splitting screech, slowly dragging open to both sides!
WHOOSH ————!!
A ferocious gale carrying a chilling and destructive purple-black lightning pressure surged out like a tsunami breaking a dike, sweeping across the entire Treasury hall!
Every single magic torch mounted on the stone pillars along the sides was instantly flattened against its bracket by this domineering aura, their flickering flames nearly extinguished! The suffocatingly dense electrostatic charge permeated the space, causing the gathered adjudicators and elders to feel their hair stand on end and their skin tingle as if stepping straight into the heart of a raging lightning storm!
An invisible oppressive force weighed down upon everyone’s shoulders, forcing even Advanced-tier powerhouses like Lu Hanba to take half a step back to steady his stance!
Amidst the swirling, gradually dispersing magical mist, a tall, poised figure slowly stepped outward.
It was none of other than Lin Feng!
He wore a neat, pitch-black martial arts uniform, the hem of his robe fluttering gently in the lingering aftermath of the vortex. The aura radiating from him was now as profound and razor-sharp as a supreme divine weapon newly unsheathed after a thousand years. Every step he took upon the granite floor rang with the crackle of invisible electric arcs, leaving behind faint purple-black halos that swiftly dissolved into the air.
The youth’s handsome face carried an eerie, profound calmness. His dark, deep eyes resembled an autumn lake, yet deep within his pupils, purple-black lightning arcs spun and flickered incessantly, as though capable of piercing through spatial obstacles to read the deepest thoughts of anyone before him!
The space surrounding him seemed warped by an invisible force field, exuding the arrogant majesty of a young sovereign!
Click!
Elder Gu’s aged hand trembled, the jade token almost slipping from his grasp onto the floor. The elder who had dedicated his life to the Treasury widened his eyes in disbelief, staring fixedly at the figure before him, his voice choking with shock:
“S-Success?! He actually tamed the Frenzied Shadow Lightning?!”
Lu Hanba stood nearby with wide eyes, unable to conceal his utter astonishment: “This lightning aura... just how pure and ferocious is it?! Its lightning power has increased by at least threefold! And it even carries that eerie dark attribute... Good heavens, what kind of monster is this brat?!”
Seeing Lin Feng step out safe and sound with a completely metamorphosed aura, Xiao Yan’s tense expression instantly dissolved.
He tilted his head back, bursting into a hearty laugh that echoed resoundingly through the subterranean cavern of the Treasury:
“Ha ha ha! Good! Excellent! Indeed, this old man did not misjudge you! The New King of the Divine Realm—you truly live up to the name!”
Xiao Yan strode forward, his large hand radiating warm fire energy as he patted Lin Feng heavily on the shoulder.
Swish!
The moment Xiao Yan’s palm touched Lin Feng’s shoulder, a delicate layer of purple-black lightning net automatically activated across the youth’s body in a flash of instinct, snapping with a crisp “pop” that effortlessly neutralized the shockwave from the Dean’s palm!
Xiao Yan paused momentarily, his eyes instantly igniting with extreme delight:
“Automatic lightning body protection?! Ha ha, it seems your harvests from this closed-door cultivation far exceed anything this old man could have imagined!”
Lin Feng withdrew his protective lightning power slightly, cupping his fists to bow to the two seniors with a humble yet unyielding pride:
“Many thanks to the Dean and Elder Gu for guarding me over the past three days.”
Elder Gu stepped closer, looking Lin Feng up and down as if inspecting a legendary creature, before finally letting out a breath of profound admiration: “Frightening are the younger generations! For our Divine Realm to possess a genius like you is truly the greatest fortune of the empire. The ‘Frenzied Shadow Lightning’ that slumbered at the bottom of the Treasury for sixty years has finally found its most deserving master today.”
Xiao Yan reined in his smile, his expression turning gradually solemn and grave. He lowered his voice, looking straight into Lin Feng’s eyes:
“Lin Feng, during your three days in seclusion, the situation outside has undergone massive changes. All elite candidates of the Divine Realm National Team have officially received orders to assemble at the Black Tiger Camp on the outskirts of the Magic Capital. Gathered there are seasoned veterans tempered in the bloody battlefields of borderlands and islands, alongside hidden geniuses from major academies across the nation.”
Xiao Yan paused for a beat, his gaze turning deep:
“The news that you—a freshman who just ascended the throne of the Battle Rankings New King—have been appointed as the Vanguard Team Leader of the national team... has left more than a few veterans unconvinced. In their eyes, no matter how outstanding a freshman is within school grounds, they are merely a lamb that has never tasted the scent of a real battlefield. Tomorrow, the first practical combat test will officially take place at the Black Tiger Camp. They... are eager to ‘test’ you!”
Hearing these words, the corners of Lin Feng’s lips curled upward into an arrogant arc.
Deep within his dark pupils, purple-black lightning arcs flashed like blades eager to tear open the endless night. He clenched his fist, letting the ferocious lightning currents slither around his knuckle joints, his voice calm yet brimming with overwhelming dominance:
“Want to test me? Very well. This disciple is also eager to find opponents to test just how much... this newly ascended Frenzied Shadow Lightning can tear through their pride!”
The fiercest practical combat battle of the Divine Realm National Team was about to commence!