Chapter 2466: Spirit
Zhang Ruochen’s consciousness, within his Qi Sea, was comprehending, understanding, and controlling the newly acquired Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns.
This was a rare opportunity, allowing him, at the Great Saint realm, to glimpse the mysteries of the Divine realm.
Although the Blazing God Leg contained a hundred million Flame Divine Patterns, unfortunately, they were not in his Qi Sea and could only be used for battle.
Of course, one of the Blazing God’s legs contained far more than a hundred million patterns.
Before the leg was severed, the vast majority of its Rule Divine Patterns had already been withdrawn into the Qi Sea.
Otherwise, a single divine leg would contain at least trillions of Rule Divine Patterns.
If Zhang Ruochen’s Blazing God Leg had trillions of Rule Divine Patterns, he wouldn’t just be able to stomp to death a Ten Thousand Death One Life realm initial stage Danghu; even Wuma Jiuxing wouldn’t be able to withstand it.
As his control over the Divine Patterns became increasingly proficient, Zhang Ruochen’s body dissolved and reformed into a flesh-and-blood form, finally able to move.
Not daring to leave the room, Zhang Ruochen took out the Seven Star Imperial Palace and entered it. He couldn’t wait to release the rules within his body, forming a Dao Domain.
His Dao Domain couldn’t compare to that of a Thousand Questions realm Great Saint; it was merely a formless domain, without transformation or taking shape.
But this time was different. After releasing the rules, countless golden tigers began to run within the Dao Domain.
Each golden tiger was a Burial Gold Rule Divine Pattern.
Tiger shadows filled the sky.
Tiger roars were deafening.
Unfortunately, Zhang Ruochen’s control over the Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns was too weak. The golden tigers ran wildly in chaos, unable to achieve the absolute control over his Dao Domain that a Thousand Questions realm cultivator could. When a Dao Domain pressed down, it could crush a lower-realm Great Saint.
“Although there are only six hundred and seventy million Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns, they contain far more energy than my own seven and a half billion Sacred Dao Rules.”
“The energy contained in a single Burial Gold Rule Divine Pattern is over a hundred times that of my own Sacred Dao Rules.”
“Doesn’t this mean that a peak Thousand Questions realm Great Saint who has cultivated seven hundred billion Sacred Dao Rules would no longer have an advantage if they tried to suppress me with their Dao Domain?”
Thinking this, Zhang Ruochen felt considerably relieved.
For a long time, the number of rules had been Zhang Ruochen’s weakness, to the point that when suppressed by the Dao Domain of a Ten Thousand Death One Life realm Great Saint, he had to rely on the power of the Qiankun Realm, or the domain of the three Eternal Paths plus the supreme power of a Supreme Sacred Artifact, to break free and counterattack.
Now, although his Dao Domain was still inferior to that of a Ten Thousand Death One Life realm Great Saint, it was impossible for a Ten Thousand Death One Life realm initial or middle stage Great Saint to crush him with their Dao Domain alone.
As for Thousand Questions realm Great Saints…
How many Thousand Questions realm Great Saints could cultivate their Sacred Dao Rules to over seven hundred billion?
Zhang Ruochen’s current Dao Domain could completely clash head-on with any Thousand Questions realm Great Saint.
However, Zhang Ruochen now had two troublesome problems.
First, the six hundred and seventy million Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns were too strong, far surpassing his own Sacred Dao Rules.
This was not a good thing; it would affect his Sacred Dao cultivation.
Second, although the Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns were powerful, he could currently control only about a hundred million of them. The remaining five hundred million-plus, even if released, were in a chaotic state and difficult to form an effective attack.
Unless his Spiritual Power could reach the next level, the sixty-seventh rank.
As long as his Spiritual Power was strong enough, he could also control the Rule Divine Patterns.
The second problem required improving his Spiritual Power.
The first problem required improving his own Sacred Dao Rules.
Additionally, Zhang Ruochen thought of a third problem.
How should he use the Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns?
Should he integrate them into his Dao Domain and clash head-on with other Great Saints?
Then, at most, they could only be used to clash with Thousand Questions realm Great Saints.
The Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns were not like the Flame Divine Patterns, which had the Blazing God Leg as a carrier and could be directly converted into attack power.
He still needed Sacred Arts to convert rules into combat power.
Zhang Ruochen consulted the Burial Gold White Tiger, hoping it could teach him one or two prehistoric Sacred Arts or Divine Abilities.
Since they were Rule Divine Patterns, they could certainly be used to perform Divine Abilities.
Besides, Zhang Ruochen had a demigod body and was not lacking in Divine Qi.
Even if it were just an immature minor Divine Ability, it could probably shine brilliantly in the Saint realm, unleashing unparalleled power.
Unfortunately, the Burial Gold White Tiger said lightly, “You are an Eon-level genius, the finest brush in the world. Instead of copying others’ paintings, why not try to paint yourself?”
“Other cultivators, at the Great Saint realm, have already created many powerful Sacred Arts, passed down to later generations. You should be even more outstanding than them.”
“Now, the Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns are an excellent blank sheet of paper for you. I look forward to seeing what marvelous painting you, this brush, can create on the paper.”
“I feel like you’re just unwilling to teach me Sacred Arts and Divine Abilities,” Zhang Ruochen said.
The Burial Gold White Tiger said, “Prehistoric Sacred Arts and Divine Abilities can indeed be used to control the Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns, but they are difficult to align with the Heaven and Earth rules of this era. Without the blessing of Heaven and Earth rules, they will instead be hindered by them. No matter how powerful the Sacred Art or Divine Ability, its power will be greatly diminished. Therefore, creating your own Sacred Arts suitable for the Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns is the right path. I have high hopes for you.”
Had Zhang Ruochen never thought of creating his own Sacred Arts?
It just took too much time.
Those cultivators who created Sacred Arts, whether Great Saints or Saint Kings, the vast majority did so because they felt their cultivation could no longer advance and thus turned their energy to creating Sacred Arts.
Of course, there were also those brilliant individuals who could cultivate and create techniques at the same time.
But how could the Sacred Arts one created compare to those created by the sages?
The Sacred Arts created by the sages, which have been passed down to this day, have certainly been modified and perfected countless times by later generations. It’s even possible that the creator was a supreme being among the gods.
The Fengchen Sword God of a thousand years ago was a first-rate genius, a figure who dominated an era in the Hell Realm, proficient in all fields. With occasional insights, he could create peerless miraculous techniques.
With his talent, he could have become one of the representative figures of this Eon.
Unfortunately, he was too distracted, too proficient in too many things, and in the end, couldn’t even condense a Second-Rank Sacred Intent.
Instead, he was inferior to Que, who was single-minded and focused on nothing else, a Void Sword cultivator.
It was hard to say who would achieve greater heights in the future, Fengchen Sword God or Que.
But at least in terms of Sacred Intent, Que was indeed stronger than the Fengchen Sword God of the same period.
Zhang Ruochen had actually created a sword technique himself.
It was called “One Thought, One Bloom.”
It was a sword technique created by fusing the Sword Dao, the Way of Space, and the Way of Time.
As Zhang Ruochen’s understanding of the three paths deepened, he had continuously perfected this sword technique. Its power was now quite considerable. Although it was only one move, it could be used freely.
This was the advantage of self-created Sacred Arts: they could perfectly align with one’s mind, body, and Saint Qi.
When executed, it flowed like clouds and water; the mind arrived, and the sword arrived as well.
However, Zhang Ruochen had never created a second sword technique, because he simply didn’t know how to evolve the second move.
And he always felt that the sword technique he had created, though seemingly exquisite, lacked something.
It lacked a certain spirit.
A spirit that could represent him.
A sword technique, a Sacred Art, without spirit, was like a person without a soul.
Even if created, it would only be a clay figurine, unlikely to achieve great heights in the future.
From self-created Sacred Arts, Zhang Ruochen thought of his own spirit. And from his own spirit, he thought of his pursuits.
In the past, his motivation for cultivation was to take revenge on Chi Yao.
Later, after learning part of the truth, he was confused for a long time. During that period, he had no pursuit of his own and was always led by various factors, moving forward step by step.
He cultivated every day, but what was the purpose of cultivation?
To save the Kunlun Realm?
To find the ultimate truth of the eight hundred years?
To surpass Chi Yao, defeat her, even kill her, to achieve clarity in his heart?
No, none of these.
Later, awakened by Bore and Luo Sha, Zhang Ruochen had his own vision: to reshape the order of heaven and earth, change the entire universe, and allow all beings in the world to live a different way.
But that vision was too grand and too distant, like a dream that would take a lifetime to pursue.
Moreover, to reshape the order of heaven and earth required a powerful heart, an unparalleled spirit, and the need to transcend oneself first. But what exactly was that spirit?
Zhang Ruochen fell into deep thought.
…
A fragrant breeze brushed by.
The doors and windows remained unmoved, but a breathtaking red-dressed woman appeared in the room, possessing the soft beauty of a human peerless beauty and the sinister allure of a Rakshasa woman.
Sensing the presence of Guyue Jing, Zhang Ruochen awakened from his contemplation, walked out of the Seven Star Imperial Palace, and glanced at her indifferently. “Miss Guyue, you’re not here to seize the top-grade Origin Divine Crystal, are you?”
Guyue Jing stood by the dark brown wooden wall like a painting of a beauty. “If I made a move, could you stop me?”
“I couldn’t stop you, but you wouldn’t get anything,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Guyue Jing said, “Zhang Ruochen, you underestimate the value of the top-grade Origin Divine Crystal and the Origin Divine Temple. Although I can’t do anything to you, as long as I capture you and take you back to Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm, the gods will act. Then, all the secrets on you will no longer be secrets.”
As she said this, her Death Spirit Demon Qi had already been released.
Each wisp of Demon Qi was like a chain.
Zhang Ruochen remained unfazed. “The Blood Absolute War God passed down the Seven Star Imperial Palace and the War God Belt to me, seeing me as the future heir of the Blood Absolute Family. Knowing that I have countless enemies in the Hell Realm, why did he feel at ease going to the Jade Desolate Realm?”
“The War God Belt can block gods, but not cultivators below the Divine realm,” Guyue Jing said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Do you really think I have no other trump cards?”
“I was just thinking of testing them out,” Guyue Jing said.
Guyue Jing manipulated the Death Spirit Demon Qi, integrating rules into it, condensing dozens of blood-red chains that dragged with a clattering sound, winding toward Zhang Ruochen.
The space around Zhang Ruochen was instantly suppressed, becoming extremely solid.
Before the chains even wrapped around him, Zhang Ruochen already felt the world become deathly still, the space infinitely compressed, and his whole body difficult to move.
“Roar!”
A deafening tiger roar came from within Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen’s body emitted a dazzling golden light. The Burial Gold Rule Divine Patterns turned into golden tiger shadows that rushed out, resisting the chains wrapped around him.