Chapter 1957: The Survivor of Xianji Mountain from One Hundred Thousand Years Ago
After absorbing all the Divine Wood Qi that permeated the void space, Zhang Ruochen did not linger. He immediately flashed out at top speed.
The great battle at Xianji Mountain was not truly over yet. Ji Fanxin, Feng Yan, and the others were still outside. He had to rush over and reunite with them as quickly as possible.
As for the secrets hidden within the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, he could investigate them slowly after everything had settled.
After all, the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree had already entered the Qiankun Realm. Unless he died, no one could take it away.
The moment he emerged from the void space, Zhang Ruochen sensed a warning sign. He immediately executed a Spatial Displacement, leaving only an afterimage behind.
"Boom."
A beam of Saint Light shot over, striking the afterimage Zhang Ruochen had left behind. The afterimage shattered instantly.
Ji Fanxin flashed out from the side, appearing beside Zhang Ruochen. Her gaze was icy as she stared at a dark corner. "Bi Yunhai, what are you trying to do?"
Bi Yunhai stepped out of the dark corner. Seeing Ji Fanxin protecting Zhang Ruochen, his expression darkened. "Fairy, this has nothing to do with you. Zhang Ruochen, hand over the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree."
"The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree is something I need. How could it have nothing to do with me?" Ji Fanxin said.
Bi Yunhai said, "That's simple. Once I obtain the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, I can share it with you, Fairy. Only I can keep it safe."
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward. "The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree belongs to the Kunlun Realm. No one can take it away, not even a god."
Hearing this, Bi Yunhai's gaze turned much colder. "Zhang Ruochen, don't be ungrateful. My patience is limited. Hand over the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree now."
"And if I refuse?" Zhang Ruochen's aura suddenly became sharp and fierce.
"Hiss."
Spatial ripples appeared before Bi Yunhai, and clusters of blue flames flew out from within, rushing toward him.
These blue flames were, of course, Devouring Flame Insects, each the size of a washbasin. They were enough to threaten top-tier Lin Dao realm experts.
Zhang Ruochen could not yet control the Devouring Flame Insects, but he could release them from the Qiankun Realm to launch indiscriminate attacks against everyone nearby.
In fact, inside the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, there were even larger Devouring Flame Insects, the size of millstones, capable of threatening Great Saints.
For now, however, Zhang Ruochen did not dare to provoke them, afraid of causing big trouble.
After all, Devouring Flame Insects of that size were too terrifying. Once released, whether he could take them back was another question entirely.
Legend had it that before the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree was cut down, even more powerful Devouring Flame Insects had been parasitic within its trunk, capable of burning even top-tier Great Saints to ashes.
Unfortunately, after the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree was felled, those powerful Devouring Flame Insects had all died.
With only the dead trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, it could no longer nurture such powerful Devouring Flame Insects.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen released dozens of washbasin-sized Devouring Flame Insects, instantly overwhelming Bi Yunhai.
"Damn it! Zhang Ruochen can actually control these Devouring Flame Insects?" Bi Yunhai was both shocked and furious.
"Boom."
Executing the Blue Sea Sky Palm technique, Bi Yunhai sent five Devouring Flame Insects flying.
However, the five Devouring Flame Insects were not seriously injured and immediately charged back at him.
At the same time, Bi Yunhai sensed a hint of danger. Turning his gaze, he saw the Azure Sky Floating Tower held in Zhang Ruochen's hand.
Moreover, Ji Fanxin had summoned a large number of Witch Curses before her, exuding a very strange and dangerous aura.
Dealing with dozens of washbasin-sized Devouring Flame Insects was already quite difficult. If Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin also attacked, it would only make things worse.
"Hmph."
With a heavy snort, Bi Yunhai immediately chose to retreat.
Zhang Ruochen did not give chase. He immediately opened the Qiankun Realm and used the new sapling and trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree to recall the dozens of washbasin-sized Devouring Flame Insects.
Once he truly tamed them, these Devouring Flame Insects would become an important trump card for him. Each one was extremely precious and could not be lost.
"Who's there?"
Suddenly, Ji Fanxin let out a cold shout.
Zhang Ruochen was slightly startled. He had not expected there to be someone else in this cyan palace, and he had not sensed them at all.
"Tap, tap."
Crisp footsteps sounded as a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
It was a young man dressed in a black-and-white Daoist robe, with a compass hanging from his waist. His features were delicate and handsome, but his face was very pale, giving off a sickly aura.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze locked onto the compass at the man's waist, and a strange light flickered in his eyes. "So it was you who took the Xianji Compass. Who exactly are you?"
At this moment, both Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin were on high alert, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
This person had managed to easily take the Xianji Compass right under the noses of all the top experts and had not been found afterward. That was no small feat.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression changed slightly as he sensed a special aura from the young man.
This aura was extremely unique. He had sensed it on another person before, and it had left a deep impression on him.
That person was none other than Jiang Yunchong of the Jiang Clan.
"Could it be..."
A guess began to form in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Calming his thoughts, Zhang Ruochen looked directly at the young man. "You are an Awakener from the Xianji Sect."
Hearing this, a hint of surprise flickered in the young man's eyes. "It seems you have encountered someone like me before. Yes, I am a survivor of the Xianji Sect. My name is Hong Tianji. Zhang Ruochen, Heir of Time and Space, I need your help."
"What can I help you with?" Zhang Ruochen asked curiously.
Hong Tianji turned his gaze toward the void space. "The void space was created by Xumi Saint Monk. It contains a powerful divine force. If that divine force is released, it can form a time-space barrier, sealing off the entire Xianji Mountain. Only you can do this."
"Have you met Xumi Saint Monk?" Zhang Ruochen's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Hong Tianji nodded. "I did meet the Saint Monk once, and that is why I became a survivor of the Xianji Sect. When I woke up, the world had already changed beyond recognition."
Zhang Ruochen could tell that although Hong Tianji's tone was calm, there was a deep sadness in his words.
His sect had been destroyed, all his fellow disciples had died, leaving only him to shoulder the sect's mission, sleeping since the Middle Ages until now.
"What do I need to do?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Hong Tianji pointed ahead. "Insert the Space-Time Secret Scripture into this groove and use the power of time and space to activate it, releasing Xumi Saint Monk's divine force to form a time-space seal. Although it cannot completely stop the Death Clan from entering the Kunlun Realm, it will make it much more difficult for them in the future."
Zhang Ruochen looked in the direction Hong Tianji was pointing. Sure enough, he saw a shallow groove on the wall, exactly the same size as the Space-Time Secret Scripture, clearly made specifically for it.
Walking up to the groove, Zhang Ruochen did not immediately insert the Space-Time Secret Scripture. Instead, he turned to Hong Tianji. "The Death Clan has set up a Death Altar up there, drawing on the revival power of the Northern Domain. It is extremely powerful. Do you have a way to deal with it?"
"That Death Altar is indeed no simple thing. Destroying it will be very difficult, but it is not impossible. Take the Xianji Compass. It can activate the remnants of the formation that the Xianji Sect set up in the past. Even if it cannot destroy the Death Altar, it can severely damage it," Hong Tianji said.
Clearly, after awakening, he had already secretly investigated and had a general understanding of the current situation at Xianji Mountain.
As he spoke, Hong Tianji took the Xianji Compass from his waist and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Xianji Compass but did not reach out to take it. "Why don't you do it yourself?"
"I cannot reveal myself for now. Many things can only be entrusted to you. As the Heir of Time and Space, from the very beginning, you were destined to bear a heavier mission than others," Hong Tianji said meaningfully.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen said nothing more and decisively took the Xianji Compass.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Hong Tianji's face. He turned and slowly disappeared into the darkness.
Only then did Ji Fanxin speak. "It seems the waters of the Kunlun Realm are deeper than I expected. But that makes sense. As an eternal, indestructible great world, how could the Kunlun Realm not have some backup plans?"
Zhang Ruochen put away the Xianji Compass, his expression serious. "Fairy, please guard me."
Ji Fanxin did not speak, only nodded gently. She released her powerful spiritual power, filling the entire cyan palace.
With Ji Fanxin there, Zhang Ruochen had no worries. He immediately raised the Space-Time Secret Scripture and inserted it into the groove on the wall.
In the void space, the Space-Time Secret Scripture had once merged with a strand of Xumi Saint Monk's divine force, establishing a strange connection with the void space.
Without a doubt, Xumi Saint Monk had calculated everything long ago.
"Whoosh."
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Ruochen activated both the laws of time and space, releasing a powerful time-space force that he poured into the Space-Time Secret Scripture.
Immediately, the Space-Time Secret Scripture began to change. A silver light spread across its surface, and many complex and profound time-space patterns emerged, merging into the void space.
"Rumble."
The entire cyan palace shook, as if an earthquake were occurring.
In the end, the cyan palace did not collapse, but the void space rapidly collapsed, returning to nothingness.
As the void space collapsed, a vast divine force hidden within was released.
"Boom."
The vast divine force shot up into the sky, breaking through all obstacles, reaching tens of thousands of zhang high, surpassing the highest peak of Xianji Mountain.
The next moment, this divine force rapidly spread out, forming a time-space barrier that completely enveloped the entire Xianji Mountain.
"What's happening?"
As soon as the time-space barrier formed, all the cultivators on Xianji Mountain were greatly alarmed.
Whether it was the Heavenly Court side or the Death Clan side, everyone was tense, not knowing how the time-space barrier had formed, fearing it was a move by the other side.
Some powerful experts could not help but attack, unleashing high-rank ten-thousand-pattern Sacred Artifacts against the time-space barrier.
"Boom."
The high-rank ten-thousand-pattern Sacred Artifact released a terrifying force, but it could not damage the time-space barrier in the slightest.
"Time and space power... It's Zhang Ruochen."
Sensing the power attribute of the time-space barrier, someone immediately thought of Zhang Ruochen.
"Zhang Ruochen again." Source Demon Son clenched his fists.
The next moment, Source Demon Son shook his head. "No, with Zhang Ruochen's strength, how could he create such a powerful barrier?"
"It might not be Zhang Ruochen's own power. It could be a hidden move left behind by Xumi Saint Monk in the past," Bore said indifferently.
Hearing the words "Xumi Saint Monk," all the Death Clan experts changed color. Not to mention them, even the gods of the Death Clan were deeply wary of Xumi Saint Monk.
Back then, if Xumi Saint Monk had not exhausted all his divine power to seal all the broken holes in the Kunlun Realm, the Kunlun Realm would have been destroyed by the Hell Realm during the Middle Ages.
If this time-space barrier was truly Xumi Saint Monk's doing, it would be a huge problem.