Chapter 2573: Chance Encounter
The ruins of the Origin Divine Temple were extremely vast, filled with secret realms at every turn and deadly traps at every step. Even though Zhang Ruochen and the others possessed considerable cultivation, it took them a long time to reach the area Sheyijing had described.
Here, the seawater was as black as ink and bitterly cold.
Zhang Ruochen's vision and perception were greatly affected, prompting him to become secretly vigilant.
Xue Butcher couldn't help but shiver, staring into the pitch-black, boundless expanse ahead. "So cold it can affect a Great Saint, yet why hasn't the seawater frozen? This is a deadly ground, absolutely a deadly ground."
The Seven-Handed Old Man released his spiritual power, forming a small world that enveloped Zhang Ruochen. "There seems to be a strange force in this seawater, constantly eroding my physical body. If a cultivator below the Great Saint realm came here, they'd probably be corroded into a monster in an instant."
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's demonic qi."
"How could it be demonic qi? I've seen many demonic cultivators, and their aura is somewhat similar to this force, but definitely not the same," the Seven-Handed Old Man said.
"It truly is demonic qi."
Sheyijing said, "This area has existed for who knows how many tens of thousands of years. The demonic path back then was certainly different from the demonic path of today. According to the iron book, the Earth Sparrow, also known as the Earth Demon Sparrow, is the earliest recorded mention of the demonic path in heaven and earth."
"It's precisely because of such dense ancient demonic qi here that I suspect the Earth Demon Sparrow might be hiding in this place."
Xue Butcher said cautiously, "What if the Earth Demon Sparrow is some type of divine artifact, and its artifact spirit still exists with powerful demonic nature? Wouldn't charging in be like seeking death?"
"Artifact spirits of divine artifacts also have to endure Eon Calamities. After so many years, the artifact spirit would have long perished," Night Wanderer said.
Xue Butcher countered, "But what if a new artifact spirit has been born after all these years?"
"Well..."
Night Wanderer was at a loss for words, his gaze turning cold. He felt Xue Butcher was too fond of arguing with him and secretly decided to find another chance to teach him a proper lesson.
Sheyijing said, "The materials used to forge divine artifacts are the ultimate substances of the universe. Even after ten thousand ages, they won't decay. It's indeed possible for a divine artifact to give birth to a new artifact spirit, but for an artifact spirit to cultivate on its own and reach the divine realm is as difficult as ascending to heaven. So, we don't need to worry too much."
The Seven-Handed Old Man said, "There's one thing I think we should clarify in advance."
"What is it?" Sheyijing asked.
The Seven-Handed Old Man said, "If we find the Earth Demon Sparrow and subdue it, who should this divine artifact belong to? It can't all go to you, can it?"
"That's indeed something we should discuss beforehand," Night Wanderer said.
Sheyijing seemed to have anticipated this question and said with a smile, "The place where a divine artifact dwells is bound to be extraordinary, likely containing other rare treasures."
"Our biggest problem right now is getting into this area. How about this: we join forces to break in, and any rare treasures we encounter along the way will be divided equally. If the Earth Demon Sparrow is truly inside, we'll each rely on our own abilities to subdue it. Whoever can subdue it gets the divine artifact. What do you think?"
"Doesn't that mean everyone has a chance?" Xue Butcher's spirits lifted.
Sheyijing said, "Exactly! Legend has it that many divine artifacts choose their masters actively, and there have even been cases of a divine artifact submitting to a Saint."
This proposal made the Seven-Handed Old Man and Night Wanderer's eyes light up, and they had no further objections.
As for the possibility that Sheyijing might try to monopolize the divine artifact, they didn't think it would be easy. After all, with the two of them and Zhang Ruochen joining forces, and in this place filled with residual space formation patterns, she might not come out on top.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm throughout, merely mobilizing the Heart of Truth to activate his Eyes of Truth, carefully sensing and observing.
Unfortunately, this area was too bizarre. Even the Heart of Truth was greatly affected, allowing him to probe only a very small region.
"Let's go. We'll talk once we're inside. Night Wanderer, you and Sheyijing take the lead," Zhang Ruochen said.
Night Wanderer had considerable skill in the Way of Space, and Sheyijing had broken through twice before. So, they advanced slowly, encountering no major dangers for the time being.
Xue Butcher remained at the rear, clearing away their tracks.
Zhang Ruochen studied and observed along the way, then suddenly said, "There are a large number of space bubbles and folded spaces here. Everyone should stay close to avoid getting separated or lost in the layered spaces."
"There are figures!" Xue Butcher exclaimed.
Everyone stopped simultaneously, their gazes fixed on the upper right.
About a dozen miles away, at a height of thirty to forty zhang, there was a path built from piled stones, extending from the ground upward until it disappeared from sight.
Although it was underwater, it looked like a path to heaven, leading to an unknown place.
A long line of figures was walking on that path.
"Why is there a floating path, and at an upward angle?"
"It's too far away to see clearly who they are. Could they be remnants from ancient times?"
"Should we go take a look?"
Zhang Ruochen stopped Night Wanderer, who was about to go over, and said, "The space here is very complex. What seems like a dozen miles away might actually be a thousand or ten thousand miles away. That path, which appears to be sloping upward, might actually be a flat road."
"As for the figures walking on that path, I've already seen clearly. They're not ancient remnants; they're cultivators from the Death God Temple. The one at the front is Yuan Qianmo."
"Master, you can see that clearly?" Night Wanderer found it hard to believe.
How could a Hundred Shackles Great Saint have such sharp eyesight?
Sheyijing approached cautiously and asked, "Is it really Yuan Qianmo?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
The Seven-Handed Old Man's expression turned extremely grave. "Aren't Yuan Qianmo and the Supreme Realm Great Saints of the Death God Temple supposed to be exploring the heart of the Origin Divine Temple? Have we already reached the heart?"
Yuan Qianmo's reputation was overwhelming. Who in the mortal world of the Hell Realm didn't fear him?
Moreover, they had just killed Hai Ke of the Death Clan, so they were naturally a bit uneasy.
Sheyijing said, "Your mastery of space is profound. Can you roughly estimate how far away they are from us?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "It's too far to judge."
"How about we get closer and take a look?" Sheyijing suggested.
Night Wanderer was afraid. "Better not. One Yuan Qianmo alone is enough to destroy all of us. And he's surrounded by a large number of Immortal Realm cultivators from the Death God Temple. If we get close and get discovered, the consequences would be disastrous."
Sheyijing said, "A figure like Yuan Qianmo wouldn't give up competing for Origin Essence to come here unless he had a major purpose. Besides, the Death God Temple's collection of texts surpasses even that of the Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm. They might have more information about the Origin Divine Temple and the Earth Demon Sparrow."
"In that case, why don't we follow behind them? Wouldn't that let us reap the benefits without the effort?"
"That's too risky."
Night Wanderer was timid and didn't dare provoke the powerful Death God Temple.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, "Wandering aimlessly like this really isn't a good approach. Since the Death God Temple cultivators have abandoned the competition for Origin Essence to come here, they must have useful information. Following them is indeed our best option right now."
Sheyijing showed a delighted expression, knowing that Zhang Ruochen had enough courage and boldness.
But Zhang Ruochen was actually worried that if Ji Fanxin had truly fallen into this area, and the Death God Temple cultivators found her, she would be in extreme danger.
Zhang Ruochen gave orders. "I'll take the lead from now on."
"Night Wanderer, set up a formation to conceal our aura. We must not let the Death God Temple sense our presence."
"Seven-Handed Old Man, stay alert on all sides and deal with any unknown dangers that may arise."
"Xue Butcher, clear away the traces."
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the distant right side, where the path extending from the ground upward was rapidly fading, almost disappearing.
"Open!"
Zhang Ruochen secretly mobilized the Space Essence and drew his finger forward.
"Crack, crack!"
The invisible space patterns broke one by one, and where there had been no path, he forcibly opened one.
After that, they encountered space cliffs, space formation ruins, chaotic space formations... all of which Zhang Ruochen solved one by one.
A space cliff was like a real cliff—when they reached it, there was no road ahead.
But Zhang Ruochen merely pointed forward, and a space path automatically extended, leading straight to the horizon.
The space formation ruins were even stranger. It was only a few dozen zhang in size, but when Sheyijing fell into it, she found herself in a ruin realm hundreds of thousands of miles wide, unable to escape.
In the end, Zhang Ruochen had to enter to bring her out.
...
Gradually, they caught up with the Death God Temple cultivators.
Although they were still a dozen miles apart, even Xue Butcher could clearly see Yuan Qianmo's face. This meant that the dozen miles now was a real distance, not separated by layers of space.
As Zhang Ruochen had speculated, the stone path the Death God Temple cultivators were walking on was not sloping upward but was flat and straight ahead.
The earlier impression was an illusion caused by space distortion.
"They seem to have stopped. What are they doing?" Xue Butcher asked.
The Death God Temple cultivators had indeed stopped. They were using pieces of divine-light-emitting crystals to build a small, simple altar.
Sheyijing stood to Zhang Ruochen's right, gently nudging him with her slender arm and smiling. "Do you know who that young cultivator standing next to Yuan Qianmo is?"
Zhang Ruochen observed carefully. "Strange. Why is a Half-Saint-level youth following a group of top-tier experts from the Death God Temple? Could it be Huanzhen?"
"Exactly. He's one of the only six Origin Controllers left in the entire Heavenly Court and Hell Realm, the one I mentioned to you before—Huanzhen. Yuan Qianmo bringing Huanzhen here definitely means they're after something big." Sheyijing's lips curled up, clearly very interested.
At this moment, Night Wanderer and the Seven-Handed Old Man were trembling with fear, being extremely cautious, terrified of being detected by Yuan Qianmo. Only Sheyijing could still smile at a time like this.
Sheyijing said, "Why are you all so scared? The gods of the Blood Absolute family are nearby. Are you afraid of a mere Yuan Qianmo?"
"The gods naturally have to seek their own opportunities. They can't stay by my side all the time," Zhang Ruochen said.
Sheyijing chuckled inwardly. That was more like it.
How could a god entering the Origin Divine Temple not go to explore the heart?
Along the way, Zhang Ruochen hadn't sensed any cultivator following him in secret, so he concluded that Chi Yao was likely being held back by that Angel Clan god.
Zhang Ruochen wasn't too disturbed. In his view, Chi Yao's reason for coming to the Origin Divine Temple was probably on the Dragon Lord's orders. And the Dragon Lord likely wanted to use this opportunity to resolve the hatred and conflict between the two of them.
Unfortunately, the Dragon Lord was ultimately an outsider who couldn't possibly understand the complex web of love and hate between Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao.
How many subjects of the Holy Bright Central Empire had Chi Yao's generals killed?
How many members of the Chi family had Zhang Ruochen killed when he led the remnants of the Holy Bright Empire to break through Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion?
The hatred was no longer just between the two of them.
Moreover, the conflict between them was far more than just hatred.
With Chi Yao absent, Zhang Ruochen felt much more at ease because he didn't want to owe her too much today, lest he soften his heart when they eventually faced each other.
Two people who had already ended up on opposite sides shouldn't get too close.
Chi Yao should understand this principle.
...
Regarding the question of the three divine artifacts of the Origin Divine Temple, some readers think the number is too small. In reality, everyone has overlooked the issue of the Origin Divine Temple's existence timeline.
For example, the ten divine artifacts of the Kunlun Realm accumulated over countless ages. During the time the Origin Divine Temple existed, the Kunlun Realm might not have had a single divine artifact.
It's like a country having three atomic bombs during World War I, versus a country having three atomic bombs today—the significance is different.
Additionally, the three divine artifacts mentioned here are the temple-guarding divine artifacts, not the only ones.
There will be another chapter tonight.