# Chapter 1379: Life Spring
Southern Domain.
After the parasol divine tree self-immolated, it left behind a fiery region spanning hundreds of thousands of miles. On the ground of this fiery region, residual flames still had not completely extinguished even now.
The Fire Clan was entrenched deep within this fiery region.
At the center of the fiery region, the soil had been baked golden by the flames. Digging up a clump of this soil and taking it out could be used as material for refining battle weapons.
A section of withered parasol divine tree wood stood upright upon the earth.
The withered wood had a diameter of over a hundred miles thick and a height exceeding ten thousand meters, more towering and majestic than any mountain. Divine light surged from within the withered wood like countless waterfalls cascading down from the nine heavens.
From inside the withered wood, Qiu Yu's laughter rang out: "Zhang Ruochen, Sacred Bright Crown Prince... haha, truly you have not disappointed me. Only now do you finally qualify to be my opponent."
An elder of the Fire Clan stood below, a flame mark on his brow, and said: "One hundred thousand years ago, Xumi Saint Monk dug out the roots of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, hoping to awaken the vitality within those roots and cultivate new seedlings. Xumi Saint Monk has already died, but Zhang Ruochen is his successor and most likely knows where the roots of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree are located."
Qiu Yu transformed into human form, wearing a green robe, full of confidence, and said: "Whether as the Heir of Time and Space or as the Sacred Bright Crown Prince, Zhang Ruochen is destined to be my foil. And I will step on him to tread the path to godhood. Now, I am increasingly looking forward to the seventh day of next month. I will marry that Ice Phoenix of the Mu Clan right in front of Zhang Ruochen. The roots of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree will also become my nourishment, making me even stronger."
---
At the main altar of the Moon Worship Demon Sect, Wuding Mountain.
Zhang Ruochen's identity was simply too shocking; the entire Mu Clan was rocked by an earthquake.
Yun Zheng, Mu Lingxi's father, turned deathly pale. Previously, he had severely underestimated Zhang Ruochen. Who could have imagined that this young man was actually the Sacred Bright Crown Prince?
Since the Zhang Clan could establish a Central Empire, it naturally possessed terrifying foundations. Even though the Sacred Bright Central Empire had already fallen, as the Crown Prince, Zhang Ruochen could still mobilize astonishing resources.
The Mu Clan Sacred Lord remained relatively calm, glancing at Yun Zheng, and said: "Why are you so panicked? The Sect Leader has already reached the Great Saint Realm, enough to suppress everything. The Fire Clan could destroy Fengdu Ghost City; can they not destroy a prince of a fallen nation? Besides, how could the Imperial Court allow the Sacred Bright Central Empire to rise from the ashes? Even if Zhang Ruochen is the Sacred Bright Crown Prince, what waves can he stir up?"
Yun Zheng breathed a slight sigh of relief, calming down, and said: "The Sacred Lord is right. With the Sect Leader's current cultivation, he is enough to be titled Emperor, enough to suppress all living beings under heaven. If Zhang Ruochen dares to come to Wuding Mountain for the memorial ceremony, he is undoubtedly coming to his death."
---
Above Sacred Bright City, Sacred Dao characters lingered in the air for a long time, shining like brilliant stars illuminating the earth.
From within the former palace of the Sacred Bright Central Empire, now the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor, a thunderous roar erupted: "Sacred Bright remnants dare to show themselves? Are they seeking death?"
"Boom."
A burst of golden light surged from the Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor.
The golden light condensed into a fist as massive as a mountain, striking toward the Crown Prince Edict Sacred Characters suspended in the sky.
Sacred Bright City was the place where Sacred Bright rebels were most active. The Imperial Court had sent Lingxiao Heavenly King to garrison this city precisely because his cultivation was profound and his methods were ruthless, enough to intimidate the rebels.
Now, Lingxiao Heavenly King personally made his move, unleashing a fist seal, intending to destroy the Edict Sacred Characters.
The moment Lingxiao Heavenly King's Sacred Might erupted, a large number of cultivators in Sacred Bright City knelt down. The aura emanating from Lingxiao Heavenly King made them tremble all over, struggling to breathe.
Zhang Ruochen stood within Phoenix Dance Palace, looking toward the direction of Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor, and said: "What a formidable Lingxiao Heavenly King. Just the Sacred Might he releases is more than ordinary Saints can withstand."
Qin Yutong stood behind Zhang Ruochen, her red lips sparkling and alluring, her beautiful eyes flowing like misty waves, and said: "Among the imperial clan of the First Central Empire, Lingxiao Heavenly King is the strongest below Chi Yao. He has been stationed in Sacred Bright City all along, killing countless old ministers of the Sacred Bright Central Empire. His methods are bloody, he stops at nothing, and he has even killed many innocents. This man can be called our number one great enemy. Unfortunately, Lingxiao Heavenly King's strength is too great; no one can kill him."
"Didn't the Bright Hall Ancestor make a move?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"The Bright Hall Ancestor made a move once, striking with full force and heavily injuring Lingxiao Heavenly King. But when he struck a second time, Empress Chi Yao performed a sacred technique from afar and saved him."
Being able to withstand a full-force strike from Kong Lanyou clearly showed that Lingxiao Heavenly King's cultivation was not inferior to Zhongying King's.
Zhang Ruochen narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he sensed something and turned his gaze toward the direction of the Imperial Clan Tomb Forest.
There, the tombs of successive Ming Emperors in the Imperial Clan Tomb Forest erupted with vast Sacred Mist, condensing into thousands of dragon shadows that soared into the sky, resonating with the Crown Prince Edict Sacred Characters in the air.
Lingxiao Heavenly King's hand seal collided with the Crown Prince Edict Sacred Characters.
"Boom."
The Crown Prince Edict Sacred Characters still hung in the void, but Lingxiao Heavenly King's hand seal shattered into pieces, unable to shake even a single character.
The Cai Clan Ancestor exclaimed in shock: "The successive Ming Emperors in the Imperial Clan Tomb Forest have all manifested their divine presence. This proves that the Edict was indeed issued by the true Crown Prince. Has the Crown Prince truly returned? Has Ming Emperor also returned?"
At the same time, from within Lingxiao Heavenly King Manor, a Sacred Order was issued: "Activate the City-Protecting Grand Formation, seal the city gates. Only allow entry, no exit. Search the entire city for the Sacred Bright Crown Prince and Sacred Bright remnants."
The City-Protecting Grand Formation of Sacred Bright City was activated, enveloping all the city gates.
Simultaneously, large numbers of troops began patrolling the streets, and the entire Sacred Bright City became tense and alert.
White Su Elderly Woman entered from outside the door. Seeing Zhang Ruochen's back, she bowed and said with profound meaning: "Your Highness truly will not leave?"
"Since I have already issued the Crown Prince Edict, how could I possibly leave?" Zhang Ruochen countered.
White Su Elderly Woman could see that Zhang Ruochen had made up his mind and no longer tried to persuade him, saying: "Twelfth Master will reach Sacred Bright City tomorrow night. Your Highness, over these years, Twelfth Master has not had it easy. This old servant hopes that the two of you can join forces to fight the Imperial Court and stop the internal strife."
Zhang Ruochen said: "I hate internal strife the most, and I very much want to cooperate with Twelfth Imperial Uncle. The key lies in how he chooses. All of you, leave. I need to go into seclusion. Notify me when Twelfth Imperial Uncle arrives."
After White Su and Qin Yutong left, Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the ground. While circulating his techniques to cultivate, he also condensed a clone and entered the Qiankun Realm.
Over the past year, while drinking wine, Zhang Ruochen had also been integrating his own Sacred Dao rules into the Qiankun Realm.
Now, Zhang Ruochen's Sacred Dao rules and the Heavenly and Earthly Rules of the Qiankun Realm had merged by thirty percent.
This meant that Zhang Ruochen could more easily mobilize the power of the Qiankun Realm. Roughly, he could succeed once out of ten attempts.
Previously, he might not succeed even once out of a hundred attempts.
Of course, being able to mobilize the power of the Qiankun Realm did not mean Zhang Ruochen was invincible.
First, only the stronger his cultivation and Spiritual Power, the more World Power he could mobilize.
Second, only the stronger his physical body, the more World Power he could withstand. For example, if a Half-Saint forcibly used Saint-level power, his meridians, Sacred Meridians, and physical body would all explode.
In other words, the World Power Zhang Ruochen could mobilize and unleash depended on his cultivation, Spiritual Power, and physical body. All three must advance together to unleash the greatest strength.
Achieving invincibility under heaven—how easy was that?
Moreover, the World Power of the Qiankun Realm could not be used casually. Once people learned that Zhang Ruochen carried an entire world inside him, even Great Saint-level figures would disregard their status and attack him.
Without powerful cultivation to protect the world within him, Zhang Ruochen needed to be even more cautious.
---
Within the roots of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, a spring had appeared.
From the spring flowed Life Spring water, each drop containing abundant life force. Even taking a single drop could allow a cultivator on the verge of death to live several more years.
The ability to produce Life Spring meant that the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree had become quite powerful.
Of course, the current Life Spring was still very small, incomparable to the Medieval Period. It only produced a few thousand drops each day, and in total, it had only accumulated a small pool.
During the Medieval Period, the Life Spring was a great river, rolling and flowing endlessly.
At that time, the lifespan of living beings in the Kunlun Realm far exceeded the present. Even ordinary humans could live to a hundred years.
A Le's corpse lay above the Life Spring, continuously absorbing the spring water into his body. The Taiji Life-Death Seal within him spun faster and faster, and the Life-Death Qi grew increasingly vigorous.
"Master Chen, an entire pool of Life Spring water is about to be drained dry by this dead man. Can you leave me a mouthful? Just one mouthful. I've never tasted the legendary Life Spring water before. Let me have a taste!"
Guoguo stood beside the Life Spring, extremely covetous, drool flowing from his mouth.
But every time he approached, he was sent flying by the roots of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, so he could only beg Zhang Ruochen.
"What's the rush? The Life Spring is still very scarce now; it must be used for those who need it most. As the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree continues to grow, the Life Spring will flow faster. When that time comes, you won't be left out. Keep guarding here. Once A Le wakes up, immediately send me a message."
Having said this, Zhang Ruochen headed toward the direction of the Sun-Moon Crystal Palace.
The Demon Sect and the Fire Clan had been passed down until now, naturally possessing terrifying foundations that should not be underestimated.
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that the seventh day of next month would definitely be a hard battle.
Zhang Ruochen was recalling his old subordinates not to let them die with him, but to bring them into the Qiankun Realm, give them a brand new future, and create an even more glorious Sacred Bright Central Empire.
To protect them and let them see the future required a considerably powerful force as support—a power capable of contending with the Great Saints of the Demon Sect and the Imperial Court, and even opposing Chi Yao after she became a god.
The current Zhang Ruochen was not enough.
The current Sky-Connecting Divine Tree was also not enough.
Zhang Ruochen fixed his gaze on the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin, his eyes narrowing, and said: "I brought you out from the Underworld. You continuously absorb the Life Qi of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, constantly strengthening yourself, and now you even refuse to speak with me. Undeniably, you are very powerful. In your eyes, I am probably as insignificant as an ant. But as the master of the Qiankun Realm, today, I will have a proper talk with you."
Having said this, a sharp, cold light flashed in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. The Sacred Qi within his body surged violently. He pushed both palms forward, and two pillars of Purifying Divine Flame surged toward the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin.
She wanted to remain silent, but Zhang Ruochen would force her to speak.