Chapter 2165: Golden Sea
On the shore of the Truth Sea, the tens of thousands of cultivators gathered there all wore expressions of astonishment, their gazes locked onto Zhang Ruochen.
Before this, most of them had not been optimistic about Zhang Ruochen, believing that since he had not condensed a Truth Realm Form, he had no hope of crossing the ninth layer of the sea.
Now, seeing this situation, those who had previously voiced their opinions felt their cheeks burning, as if they had been slapped hard several times.
The Thousand Star Celestial Maiden smiled, extending a hand. "It seems I’ve won. A bet is a bet—hand over the Flying Immortal Flute."
Qie Huairou’s eyes were filled with a strange look, as if she were staring at a monster, as she gazed at Zhang Ruochen. "Zhang Ruochen actually crossed the ninth layer of the sea. How did he manage it? Why did the suppression of the Truth Realm Form suddenly disappear?"
Because of the bet, Qie Huairou had been keeping her attention fixed on Zhang Ruochen, yet even so, she still couldn’t figure out the situation, unaware of how Zhang Ruochen had defeated the gatekeeper.
"It’s the Space True Domain," said the Thousand Star Celestial Maiden.
Although the Space True Domain was formless, it couldn’t escape her Origin Source Divine Eye.
Qie Huairou was startled at first, then fell into contemplation. "To suppress the gatekeeper’s Truth Realm Form in the Truth Sea, an ordinary Space True Domain would never suffice. It would have to be at least a Two Forms Space True Domain."
Like the Truth Realm Form, the Space True Domain also had levels, divided into four tiers: One Origin, Two Forms, Three Powers, and Four Extremes. Four Extremes was the weakest, and One Origin the strongest.
Qie Huairou was well aware that condensing a Space True Domain was no less difficult than condensing a Truth Realm Form, and might even be harder.
After all, cultivators of the Way of Truth were far more numerous than those of the Way of Space. The secret techniques for refining a Truth Realm Form had been perfected over generations, making the process much easier.
Although Zhang Ruochen was powerful, how long had he been cultivating? And he had never even entered the Space Divine Temple to train. Before this, Qie Huairou hadn’t imagined that he had already condensed a Space True Domain.
But on second thought, Zhang Ruochen was the Heir of Time and Space. How could Xumi Saint Monk not have left behind the secret techniques for condensing a Space True Domain?
"Zhang Ruochen has broken the established rules. I admit defeat fair and square. Take it."
Though it pained her, Qie Huairou still took out the Flying Immortal Flute.
On the surface, the Flying Immortal Flute looked no different from an ordinary jade flute. It only revealed its divine nature when actually played.
The Thousand Star Celestial Maiden didn’t stand on ceremony and directly reached out to take the Flying Immortal Flute. She had had her eye on this item for quite some time. Now, she had finally gotten what she wanted.
On the other side, the expression of Archangel Michael turned somewhat gloomy. Zhang Ruochen crossing the ninth layer of the sea completely overshadowed his own achievement.
He had relied on his Truth Realm Form to fight the gatekeeper for thousands of rounds before barely winning. After entering the tenth layer of the sea, he had only advanced three li.
And now, Zhang Ruochen, without relying on a Truth Realm Form, had defeated the gatekeeper with relative ease. The gap was not small.
Worst of all, since he and Zhang Ruochen had crossed the ninth layer on the same day, many people naturally compared him to Zhang Ruochen. All his achievements had now become a foil.
"It must be a high-level Space True Domain. Otherwise, Zhang Ruochen could never have crushed the gatekeeper," Archangel Michael thought to himself.
Around Archangel Michael, those who had been flattering him had now fallen silent, unable to say a word.
The words they had spoken earlier now sounded, in hindsight, like a mockery of Archangel Michael.
At this moment, many cultivators had already guessed that Zhang Ruochen’s ability to defeat the gatekeeper of the ninth layer was likely related to the Space True Domain. This was also something most cultivators had overlooked from the start.
There was no helping it. In everyone’s understanding, any power in the Truth Sea would inevitably be suppressed, and even other Eternal Dao could not escape this rule.
At the threshold of the ninth layer, Zhang Ruochen didn’t rush to enter the tenth layer. Instead, he focused on observing the situations of Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, and Qingsi Xue.
When he saw the Truth Realm Forms behind Xiang Chunan and Qingsi Xue, Zhang Ruochen fell into thought. "Chunan’s master is certainly no ordinary figure. He must be a great titan of the Truth Temple. No wonder he could inscribe patterns containing the Way of Truth outside the Truth Heaven Domain."
Zhang Ruochen had long suspected Xiang Chunan’s origins, and now it was confirmed.
At the same time, the Truth Realm Forms the three had condensed surprised Zhang Ruochen greatly. If he could also condense such a high-level Truth Realm Form, defeating the previous gatekeeper would have been much easier.
Zhang Ruochen activated his Heavenly Eye, carefully observing the three’s Truth Realm Forms. Such high-level Truth Realm Forms might allow him to glimpse more mysteries.
With such a good opportunity, he naturally had no reason to let it pass.
Not long after, the Truth Boats carrying Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan capsized one after another. Both fell into the sea, ultimately failing to cross the ninth layer.
The reason was that Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan’s cultivation levels and strength were still lacking, not yet reaching their peak.
Once they improved their cultivation, their chances of crossing the ninth layer should be much greater.
On the other hand, Qingsi Xue grew stronger as she fought, matching the gatekeeper blow for blow and even gradually gaining the upper hand.
Qingsi Xue unleashed a supremely domineering fist seal, combining it with her Truth Realm Form. It was vast and boundless, enveloping the gatekeeper.
"Boom."
The thick earth beneath the gatekeeper shattered instantly.
Then, the gatekeeper’s body was crushed and exploded, bringing the battle to an end.
"Three people have crossed the ninth layer in a single day. Since the establishment of the Heavenly Court Realm, this has never happened before."
"A Great Saint who can cross the ninth layer, yet was unknown until now. The Truth Temple’s foundation is truly unfathomable."
"I feel that neither Zhang Ruochen nor this mysterious female Great Saint have used their full strength. I wonder if they have the power to challenge the tenth layer."
...
On the shore, the crowd was now in a complete uproar. Cultivators from all realms were discussing animatedly, some in awe, others in anticipation.
Zhang Ruochen and Qingsi Xue exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, and then simultaneously steered their Truth Boats through the light curtain ahead.
The two entered the tenth layer of the Truth Sea together. In the history of the Truth Heaven Domain, this should be the first time.
The tenth layer was different from the previous nine. The seawater had turned golden, and the resistance had multiplied. Even the Truth Boat beneath Zhang Ruochen’s feet rocked violently, unable to maintain perfect stability.
Because of this, most people who entered the tenth layer could only advance a few li. Those who could exceed ten li were extremely rare.
For example, in the last thousand years, among Saint Kings, only Nie Xiangzi had surpassed ten li.
"The suppression of the Way of Truth is even stronger. Even my Great Perfection Sword Dao can’t exert much power here. I must rely on the Truth Realm Form for assistance," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
He could truly feel that the suppression in this layer was comprehensive, affecting both his physical body and spirit.
If one hadn’t cultivated both body and spirit to the pinnacle of the Saint King Realm, entering this layer would make it very difficult to control the Truth Boat.
In other words, if Zhang Ruochen hadn’t sought enlightenment before the Emperor God Ruler, even if he had condensed a Truth Realm Form, he wouldn’t have been able to advance far in the tenth layer.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze swept across the surrounding sea surface. He murmured, "This sea is entirely composed of Truth Rules, containing endless mysteries. Cultivating the Way of Truth here should be no worse than in the Truth Temple."
But staying in the tenth layer for a long time was undoubtedly very difficult.
Zhang Ruochen did his best to control the Truth Boat, advancing slowly while comprehending the Truth Rules in the sea.
In fact, although crossing three layers in a row hadn’t earned him any Truth Esoterica, Zhang Ruochen had still gained some benefits. The Truth Rules within his body had surged, serving as a kind of compensation.
If this continued, it might not be impossible to cultivate the Way of Truth to Great Perfection.
With Zhang Ruochen’s talent in the Way of Truth, combined with the thirty-nine ten-thousandths of Truth Esoterica within him, his efficiency in comprehending the Way of Truth was extremely high. Strands of Truth Rules continuously appeared in the Tongtian River.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhang Ruochen had already steered the Truth Boat twelve li across the sea, surpassing the farthest record held by Nie Xiangzi.
"Junior Brother Dongfang, what do you think?" Nie Xiangzi asked calmly.
As he had said from the start, Zhang Ruochen’s crossing of the Truth Sea had indeed surpassed all of them.
A cold glint flashed in Dongfang Qingyu’s eyes, but on the surface, he smiled faintly. "Senior Brother Nie’s judgment is indeed unique. I didn’t expect Zhang Ruochen to condense a high-level Space True Domain."
"Perhaps there will be even more surprises for you to see," Nie Xiangzi said.
Dongfang Qingyu lightly waved his jade fan. "Does Senior Brother Nie think Zhang Ruochen can cross the tenth layer as well?"
Although Zhang Ruochen crossing the ninth layer had caught him off guard, he absolutely didn’t believe he could cross the tenth.
Even if Zhang Ruochen had condensed the top-tier One Origin Space True Domain, it would still be useless against the gatekeeper of the tenth layer.
In history, the thirteen Great Saints who had crossed the tenth layer had each condensed a Truth Realm Form at least at the "Starry Sea Without Shore" level, and some had even achieved "Universe Without Bound." They had also made remarkable achievements in other Sacred Daos, almost all being masters of Eternal Dao or wielding comparable power.
Without a Truth Realm Form, Zhang Ruochen crossing the ninth layer was his limit. He was destined to stop at the tenth layer, unable to ascend the Truth Mountain.
The reward from the Truth Temple, enough to make even gods jealous, was not something easily obtained.
"Big Brother is truly formidable. It seems the tenth layer still can’t stop him," Feng Yan said with a smile.
Although he had failed to cross the sea, reaching the threshold of the ninth layer was already quite satisfying. He just needed to cultivate harder, raising the "Nüwa Dao Art" to a higher level, and he might succeed next time.
Xiang Chunan laughed heartily. "If he weren’t formidable, how could he be my Xiang Chunan’s big brother?"
"Third Brother, what exactly is the background of you and Junior Sister Qingsi? How have you both condensed Truth Realm Forms? And why is Junior Sister Qingsi so much stronger than you?" Feng Yan asked curiously.
Although he had met Qingsi Xue earlier than Zhang Ruochen, it wasn’t until they encountered each other in the ninth layer that he learned of her true strength.
Xiang Chunan scratched his head vigorously. "We don’t have any special background. The method for condensing the Truth Realm Form was taught by my master’s wife."
"Before, my junior sister and I were about the same in strength. But for a while, she suddenly disappeared. I don’t know where our master’s wife took her. When she came back, she was terrifyingly strong, and I was no match at all."
Clearly, Xiang Chunan himself was just as confused about these matters.
"What is your master’s wife’s name? What does she look like?" Feng Xi suddenly asked.
Xiang Chunan thought for a moment. "I don’t know my master’s wife’s name. As for her appearance, of course, she looks exactly like my junior sister. She was once the number one beauty of the Heavenly Court Realm."
Hearing this, Feng Xi was stunned. She couldn’t, for the life of her, connect Qingsi Xue with the number one beauty of the Heavenly Court Realm.
Given Feng Xi’s status and position, she was very familiar with many gods of the Truth Temple, but she couldn’t recall a female god with a figure like Qingsi Xue’s.
Of course, the Truth Temple had many gods, and some ancient gods hadn’t appeared for years. Not recognizing them was normal.
Still, Feng Xi was very curious about Xiang Chunan’s master and master’s wife. Which two titans had quietly raised such an outstanding daughter and disciple?
In the blink of an eye, an entire day passed. Qingsi Xue reached the twenty-one-li mark of the tenth layer, and her Truth Boat capsized at that moment, signaling her failure to cross the sea.
The next moment, Qingsi Xue returned to the shore, looking very calm, without any disappointment from her failure.
Xiang Chunan was the first to greet her, laughing heartily. "Junior Sister, you’re amazing! You crossed the ninth layer in one go and entered the tenth."
"Yes, Junior Sister Qingsi, I have to admit I’m impressed," Feng Yan said, giving a thumbs-up.
Qingsi Xue smiled warmly. "As long as Senior Brother and Second Brother improve their strength a bit more, they can also cross the ninth layer. I believe that day isn’t far off."
"Actually, I admire Brother Ruochen even more. Without relying on a Truth Realm Form, he crossed the ninth layer, and now he’s almost at the threshold of the tenth. Perhaps he’ll create a miracle."
As she spoke, Qingsi Xue turned her gaze toward the golden sea.
Zhang Ruochen’s figure wasn’t particularly tall, but in the eyes of all the cultivators, he now appeared immensely majestic.
Although many in their hearts weren’t very optimistic about Zhang Ruochen, they paradoxically hoped he could break through the shackles.
After all, the Heavenly Court Realm might have to wait many years before producing another Saint King as brilliant as Zhang Ruochen.