Chapter Forty-Nine: Success Achieved

The Voidboat once again halted at the edge of the Thunderbolt Sea. Another true-body avatar flew directly into the endless thunderbolts, beginning to gradually transform its divine body... Ji Ning could have had one true-body avatar transform its divine body to the point where it could withstand the gray lightning, then stop the transformation and use that avatar to restore the other avatars.

Then the other avatars' divine bodies would also be of the thunder attribute, allowing them to directly attempt the transformation with the black 'Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea,' which would save time. But Ji Ning did not do this; he still had each true-body avatar undergo gradual transformation.

Because the process of transformation was also a process of accumulating experience for Ji Ning.

Being able to withstand the 'gray lightning' was not due to Ji Ning's vast experience, but because his divine body was originally of the Ninth Cycle of the Eighty-Nine Divine Arts, possessing extremely strong endurance, which allowed him to succeed. During each transformation, Ji Ning was also accumulating experience. He would rather spend an extra two or three months to save a bit more of his Chaos Nectar.

...

"Hmm." Ji Ning on the Voidboat frowned. He could also feel the excruciating pain of soul annihilation.

Another failure.

"Go again."

Whoosh.

A streak of light flew out, charging into the Thunderbolt Sea.

Ji Ning's true-body avatars pressed forward one after another, falling before the 'Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea' time and again. Clearly, using the Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea to transform the divine body was far too difficult. However, as his experience improved, the time he could withstand the Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea grew longer each time.

"Nine have died."

"Ten have died."

Ji Ning felt pained.

Each true-body avatar represented Chaos Nectar.

"Hold on a bit longer. If I had been a bit luckier just now, I might have succeeded." Ji Ning strove to maintain absolute calm, attempting again and again.

...

In the gray lightning region, there was a black thunderbolt cocoon. Inside the cocoon, the naked Ji Ning's body surface faintly shimmered with black electric light. His skin and muscles occasionally annihilated in small patches, but instantly recovered. He closed his eyes, focusing all his mental energy on guiding. The power of the Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea was too terrifying; even a wisp could not be forcibly controlled, only guided.

Clearly, at the cost of life after life, Ji Ning's experience grew richer.

Starting from his hands, the transformation gradually spread throughout his body—his torso, limbs, head...

"Whoosh."

Ji Ning's eyes suddenly opened.

Swish, swish.

Black lightning bolts flew directly from his eyes, yet did not harm them.

"Finally succeeded." Ji Ning willed it, and the golden divine rune light shield retracted. The black thunderbolt cocoon collapsed, and the black Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea rampaged freely, naturally sweeping over Ji Ning, who was right next to them. Yet as the black lightning bolts passed through his body, Ji Ning stood there unharmed.

Some black electric light even wandered inside his body for a moment.

"Finally succeeded!" Ji Ning clenched his fists excitedly. His earlier setback at the Thunder God had forced him to take the risk of entering the Thunderbolt Sea, and even the initial consecutive failures had made him worry... If he failed dozens of times, would he have to exhaust all his Chaos Nectar on this?

Fortunately.

As his experience improved, each time he used the Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea to transform his divine body, he could last longer. Seeing progress, Ji Ning grew more confident, until now, he had succeeded.

"From now on, there's no danger." Ji Ning smiled lightly. "The second step is to tame the Nine-Horned Electric Serpent. I don't have Thousand-Rotten Divine Fruits or Ten-Thunder Divine Crystals, but I do have Chaos Nectar. Clearly, the only somewhat troublesome part is finding the Nine-Horned Electric Serpent."

"Let's go."

This time, without any fear, Ji Ning flew directly into the endless black lightning region ahead. These black lightning bolts were all serpentine, darting about wildly with earth-shattering power. But just as the ocean is vast yet cannot drown fish, this 'Lightning-Serpent of the Thunder Sea region,' a death trap, now posed no danger to Ji Ning. However, when he actually entered the Lightning-Serpent of the Thunder Sea region, Ji Ning still slowed down, entering cautiously.

One Lightning-Serpent of the Thunder Sea after another darted past, brushing against Ji Ning.

Ji Ning only felt a warm, comfortable sensation throughout his body.

"Ha." He smiled, then flew freely within this black lightning region.

"Find the Nine-Horned Electric Serpent."

Ji Ning flew through the black lightning region, releasing his heartforce to probe. Heartforce was ethereal and intangible, and the Lightning-Serpents of the Thunder Sea did not harm it. With Ji Ning's vast range of heartforce, he soon discovered a Nine-Horned Electric Serpent deep within the Thunderbolt Sea. Without hesitation, Ji Ning dove straight down, plunging completely into the depths of the Thunderbolt Sea.

Previously, Ji Ning could still see the chaos when looking up, but now, deep inside, all he could see was black lightning.

After flying for over half an hour, a Nine-Horned Electric Serpent happened to approach in Ji Ning's direction.

"Perfect." Ji Ning had long condensed the 'Electric Serpent Egg' divine rune within his divine body. As long as the Nine-Horned Electric Serpent touched Ji Ning's body, it would be drawn in.

"Whoosh."

Ji Ning strained to approach that Nine-Horned Electric Serpent.

Whoosh!

The black serpent with nine horns was extremely lively, swimming joyfully. Sometimes it flew slowly, sometimes quickly. What frustrated Ji Ning most was that the nine-horned electric serpent would suddenly twist and dart off in another direction. At its speed, Ji Ning couldn't even catch a glimpse of it, let alone chase it.

"Sigh, failure."

Once the nine-horned electric serpent began to move away, given its speed, Ji Ning had no chance of catching it. So finding the serpent depended on luck, hoping it would run into him.

"Keep diving deeper." Ji Ning continued flying deeper into the sea of lightning. The entire sea had a core; in an extremely large sea of lightning, the core would condense into a 'Myriad Thunder Divine Crystal.' However, this sea had long been discovered by the Three Realms. If there were a Thunder Divine Crystal, beings like Suiren and Lord Sanqing, if willing to pay the price, could reach the core, and especially Nuwa could enter easily.

Thus Ji Ning didn't think the core would contain a 'Myriad Thunder Divine Crystal.'

He kept flying toward the core...

Flying in the sea of lightning was slow, and the sea was vast. It took over two months. Though he encountered the nine-horned electric serpent over a hundred times, none touched him. Once, he even saw one with his naked eyes, but it flashed past not far away. Ji Ning urgently expanded his body to ten thousand miles, but still couldn't touch it.

It was too fast.

...

After more than two months, Ji Ning finally reached the core of the sea of lightning.

Under his heartforce scan, he could 'see' terrifying waves emanating from the core—the source of the sea. Around it were countless nine-horned electric serpents. Here, they were abundant, unlike elsewhere where one was rare. This was why Ji Ning had come.

"Indeed, no Myriad Thunder Divine Crystal." Ji Ning's eyes were full of excitement. "But I've finally arrived. With so many nine-horned electric serpents, I should be able to touch one."

Slap.

A huge serpent tail swept past Ji Ning, touching the 'Electric Serpent Egg' divine rune inside him. The massive nine-horned electric serpent was instantly attracted; its spiritual nature made it dart directly into Ji Ning's body. The enormous serpent completely entered his human-sized divine body,钻进 the 'Electric Serpent Egg' divine rune.

That divine rune was like its home.

Under his heartforce scan, Ji Ning saw the nine-horned electric serpent coiling comfortably into rings, falling asleep.

"I wonder how the mighty being who created this technique devised the 'Electric Serpent Egg' divine rune, making the nine-horned electric serpent behave like an ordinary little snake in an egg, so docile." Ji Ning was delighted. His goal was achieved; he had finally captured a nine-horned electric serpent. But he knew it was attracted by the 'Electric Serpent Egg' and slept within.

He had no control over it.

To control it, he needed to tame and transform it, causing a qualitative change. Only then could it become a true escape technique.

"Let's go." Ji Ning began to fly outward slowly.

It took three full months to fly from the deepest part of the sea of lightning to its boundary, returning to the Void Boat.

...

Inside the Water Mansion.

Ji Ning sat cross-legged in the hall. Before him were seven black bottles. According to the Nine-Horned Electric Serpent Escape Technique, taming one serpent required six bottles, but Ji Ning, worried about shortage, placed an extra bottle.

"Such a pity."

"But this divine ability is coveted even by the most supreme beings in the Three Realms. Six bottles of Chaos Nectar for this technique—worth it." Ji Ning closed his eyes and began the taming process as recorded.

Whoosh.

Drops of Chaos Nectar flew out, each containing extraordinary power. They drilled into Ji Ning's divine body, guided by him, directly into the 'Electric Serpent Egg' divine rune, and then dripped into the nine-horned electric serpent. The serpent felt extremely comfortable as the nectar entered.

At the same time, a golden divine rune appeared, condensed by Ji Ning, and was imprinted on the serpent's body.

One golden rune after another appeared, continuously imprinting on the serpent. Drops of Chaos Nectar kept entering its body. Because of the nectar, the serpent felt comfortable and did not resist. Otherwise, it would have awakened, flown out of the egg, and escaped, leaving Ji Ning dumbfounded.

Time passed.

Chaos Nectar was consumed continuously. The serpent received more golden runes, gradually changing, becoming closer to Ji Ning. Even Ji Ning's soul faintly sensed its existence, like sensing his own spirit beast. But the connection was still weak.

Bottle after bottle of Chaos Nectar was consumed...

The nine-horned electric serpent grew increasingly gentle, its original offensive power fading.

"Hoo."

Ji Ning opened his eyes and smiled.

He felt the connection between his soul and the little nine-horned electric serpent coiled in the 'Electric Serpent Egg.' The serpent's spirituality was low, only vaguely knowing that Ji Ning was most important to it.

"Indeed, six bottles of Chaos Nectar were used." Ji Ning looked. "The sixth bottle has just a tiny bit left."

...

In the void outside the sea of lightning, Ji Ning stood. With a thought, a black electric serpent coiled around his body, its head nuzzling his face affectionately.

"Go."

Ji Ning willed it.

Swish.

A black electric light flashed, and Ji Ning was already far away. Another flash, and he returned.

"With this divine ability..." Ji Ning's eyes burned with desire. "Senior apprentice-sister, I will definitely make the Abyss Gate release you." Previously, he felt the hope of forcing the Abyss Gate to yield was slim; he was just fighting for his senior apprentice-sister. But now, Ji Ning had true confidence.